Satisfactory Academic Progress
SAP Appeal DEADLINE for SUMMER 2024: July 18th, 2024
What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?
The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards measures a student's progress toward degree completion using both qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (units completed compared to units attempted) methods.
To be eligible for federal and state aid, students must be maintaining progress toward a degree, certificate or transfer. For detailed information about our policy, please review the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy.
The following three (3) components are evaluated at the end of each semester (Fall, Spring & Summer):
STANDARD #1 - GPA (Grade Point Average)
- You must have a minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0.
STANDARD #2 - Pace of Progression (Completion Rate)
- You must successfully complete a cumulative 67% (2/3) of all credits for which you attempt.
- "Attempted" coursework includes all classes that appear on your official transcript. See specific on impacts of grades.
- "Completed" coursework includes all classes with a passing grade. Credits that are dropped, failed, or incomplete will negatively impact your completion rate.
STANDARD #3 - Maximum Time Frame (MTF)
- You may not enroll for more than 150% of the number of credits needed to complete
your degree objective. Transfer credits and prior degree credits are included in this
evaluation.
- Example – An Associate’s Degree (AA) is typically 60 units. A student must complete that AA degree within 150% of the published degree length (150% of 60 units = 90 units).
Failure to meet one or more of the SAP standards may affect whether or not you can continue to receive your aid.
Evaluation of SAP takes place after EACH SEMESTER (Fall, Spring & Summer) and final grades have been posted.
Not meeting SAP means you are not eligible for financial aid without an approved appeal and financial aid is not retro-active if you choose not to appeal or your appeal is not approved before the semester deadline (listed below).
If you do not meet any one or more of the three SAP standards, you will be notified via MyCOD email and the notification will include details on why you didn't meet SAP and your options to move forward. No financial aid can be offered or disbursed to a student that has not met a component of SAP.
Note, some students may be automatically suspended based on their previous academic history (transferred or previous AA/AS/Certificate) as they have reached their maximum time frame allowed for an Associates or Certificate program.
If any financial aid was offered to you prior to the official SAP evaluation, the funds will NOT disburse until you have an approved SAP appeal (placed on Probation status).
If you do not meet SAP, you're given the opportunity to appeal the loss of financial aid by addressing the cause and issues with your academic progress as well as working with an counselor to create a Student Educational Plan (SEP) to make sure you see success in the future!
Starting Fall 2024, no lifetime limit on SAP Appeals. Students can appeal ONCE per semester.
If you have justifying circumstances that led you to not meeting minimum SAP standards, we would encourage you to appeal before the semester deadline (posted below).
Examples of justifying circumstances include, but are not limited to:
- Medical illness or injury
- Death of a family member
- Personal difficulties
- Military Services
- Family circumstances
- Financial difficulties
- Difficulties managing priorities
Steps to Appeal:
- Request the SAP Appeal Form from the Financial Aid Office. Contact our office via phone, email or in-person if you would like to appeal.
- Meet with a Counselor to discuss resources and create a Student Educational Plan (SEP) to guide your future academic success. You will submit a copy of your SEP with your SAP Appeal.
- Submit the SAP Appeal Form and supporting Document(s) in your Self-service portal under financial aid.
- We will notify you via MyCOD email of the results of your SAP appeal within 45 days from when the completed appeal was submitted to the Financial Aid Office.
- If appeal APPROVED, the student will be placed on "Probation" status for the approved semester. Students on a probation status will be monitored at the end of each semester to ensure they are meeting the signed SAP appeal
contract.
- Failure to meet contract will result in automatic suspension status.
- Failure to meet contract will result in automatic suspension status.
- If appeal DENIED, students are allows to request a 2nd Appeal review from the VP of Student Services. Those interested should email FAO@collegeofthedesert.edu (include your COD ID).
We encourage you to appeal, but if this is not the best time to appeal or you do not have any justifying circumstances, you have the following options:
- Continue on Suspension for the remaining of the semester, OR
- In some cases, students are eligible for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG),
tuition waiver, unless you have been Academically Disqualified by Admissions & Records. If you lost CCPG eligibility, you can submit an CCPG Appeal with Admissions & Records.
- In some cases, students are eligible for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG),
tuition waiver, unless you have been Academically Disqualified by Admissions & Records. If you lost CCPG eligibility, you can submit an CCPG Appeal with Admissions & Records.
- Reinstate Your Aid by raising your cumulative GPA up to a 2.0 and/or a completion rate of 67% or higher (pace of progression).
- Note: Students not meeting SAP due to Maximum Time Frame will need to have an APPROVED
appeal to receive aid.
- Note: Students not meeting SAP due to Maximum Time Frame will need to have an APPROVED
appeal to receive aid.
Note: Review your award letter to determine which aid is impacted by not meeting SAP. If you continue to enroll in classes while not meeting SAP, you are responsible for paying any expenses on your own.
Impacts of Grades
- Grades A, B, C, D, and CR are considered completed coursework and count towards all calculations of SAP standards.
- Grade F and FW are NOT considered completed credits but count in a student's GPA calculation (standard #1) and overall attempted credits (standard #2 and #3).
- Grades I, IF, IP, NC, NP, RD, W, *EW, or MW are NOT considered completed units but count towards a student's overall attempted
credits (standard #2 and #3).
- *Effective May 27th, 2023, EW grades posted after 05/27/23 will count towards SAP calculations.
- *Effective May 27th, 2023, EW grades posted after 05/27/23 will count towards SAP calculations.
- Grades RD and P are considered completed credits but do not count towards the GPA calculation.
- Audit or Zero Credit courses are NOT included in SAP calculations as these are ineligible for financial aid.
- Transfer Credit(s) are NOT included in the GPA calculation (standard #1) but included in overall credits attempted (standard #2) and total units (standard #3)
- Non-Degree/ESL coursework (any grade) are included up to the maximum of 30 units.
- Remedial coursework (any grade) is included in the overall assessment of the student SAP status; up to the maximum of 30 units.
- Repeating coursework is considered completed credit and calculated in a student's pace of progression
(standard #2) and maximum time frame (standard #3).
- When courses are repeated, only the earned units associated with the most recent attempt
will be counted in the completion rate calculation as completed units. If there are
two equal grades, only the earned units from the earlier course will be included as
completed units in the completion rate calculation.
- If the student repeats the course three times, the two most recent grades will be averaged in the GPA calculation.
- The student may repeat a course twice, and receive aid for a passed course twice.
- When courses are repeated, only the earned units associated with the most recent attempt
will be counted in the completion rate calculation as completed units. If there are
two equal grades, only the earned units from the earlier course will be included as
completed units in the completion rate calculation.
*Note that during the COVID-19 National Emergency, EW grades were not included in the SAP calculation as these were considered excused withdrawals due to COVID-19 pandemic.
2023-2024 SAP Appeal DEADLINES
- FALL 2023: December 1st, 2023 (DEADLINE PAST)
- SPRING 2024: May 10th, 2024 (DEADLINE PAST)
- SUMMER 2024: July 18th, 2024 (Thursday)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
- Satisfactory Status - SAP status for students meeting all SAP standards. Eligible for aid*.
- Warning Status - SAP status for students who do NOT meet the SAP standards after a semester. Eligible for aid*.
- Suspension Status - SAP status for students NOT meeting the SAP standards after a warning semester. Not eligible for aid.
- Probation Status - SAP status for students with an approved SAP appeal and meeting SAP appeal contract. Eligible for aid*.
*Eligibility for aid is based on federal and state regulations. Students must meet these regulations in addition to meeting SAP standards.
Typically a student not meeting SAP is NOT eligible for the following federal or state programs: Federal Pell Grant, Cal Grants, FSEOG, Student Success Completion Grant, Federal Work-study (FWS), and Federal Direct Loans (and some private loans depending on lender).
For more information about the programs listed above, visit our Type of Awards webpage.
Note: The tuition waiver, California College Promise Grant (CCPG), is tied to your GPA/PACE of Progression NOT your overall SAP status. A student who LOST CCPG eligibility will need to appeal with Admissions & Records to re-gain CCPG eligibility.
