Academic Requirements and Your Financial Aid

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy (pdf)

Cabrillo College Financial Aid

PLEASE READ THIS DOCUMENT CAREFULLY AS FAILURE TO COMPLY WITH THESE REGULATIONS AND REQUIREMENTS COULD RESULT IN THE LOSS OF YOUR FEDERAL AND STATE FINANCIAL AID.

As a financial aid recipient, it is your responsibility to understand the terms and conditions of the Cabrillo College Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy (SAP) as it applies to you.

To maintain financial aid eligibility, you must maintain academic progress according to our Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy. Federal regulations require that we monitor your academic progress toward completion of a Certificate of Achievement, Associate degree, or Transfer program. SAP is evaluated at the end of each term and applies to all periods of enrollment whether or not you have received financial aid.

After your academic progress is evaluated, your SAP status will either be Satisfactory, Financial Aid Warning, Disqualified, Probation, Maximum Time Frame, Extended or Ineligible.

NOTE:  These standards are different than, and separate from, Admissions and Records; they only apply to federal aid.

The Board of Governors Enrollment Fee Waiver (BOG) is subject to State of California regulations and eligibility determined by the Cabrillo Admissions and Records Office.

To assist in meeting your educational goal in the quickest possible time frame at Cabrillo all students are encouraged to have an educational plan completed with the assistance of an Academic Counselor.

Status and appeal decisions of the Financial Aid office are final. There is no alternative procedure for appealing Financial Aid decisions.

Minimum Standard Requirements
Students must meet both minimum standards, (GPA and Pace of Progress) each term. Please note that this is a federal regulation, not a specific Cabrillo policy.

Grade Point Average	Maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.0 in all coursework attempted
Pace of Progress (see examples A, B & C)	Maintain a cumulative course completion ratio of at least 67% of all coursework attempted at Cabrillo

You can now check your SAP Status in  eForms through WebAdvisor with ‘Check My SAP Status.’

BOTH minimum standards must be met each term.
1.Grade Point Average

• Maintain a Cumulative Grade Point Average of at least 2.0.

2. Pace of Progress

• Students must have successfully completed at least 67% of all coursework attempted at Cabrillo.

Pace of Progress Example A: 

• Sheila is a new student at Cabrillo. She attempts five courses in the spring semester totaling 15 units. She withdraws from 2 classes totaling 6 units, but completes the other 3 classes totaling 9 units. Her unit completion ratio is 9 completed units of 15 attempted (9/15) or 60% which is less than the required 67% minimum requirement. Sheila is NOT meeting the Pace of Progress Standard. She must attempt and complete enough units to bring her ratio back above 67% to get back to Satisfactory status.

Pace of Progress Example B: 

• Ana has completed three semesters at Cabrillo with a total attempted 45 units and 45 units completed. This fall she attempts another 15 units, but withdraws from all of her classes. After her fourth semester, Ana’s record reflects that she has completed 45 units. However, she has attempted 60 units. Ana’s completion ratio is 45/60 or 75%. She is meeting the Pace of Progress Standard.

Pace of Progress Example C: 

• Cory attended Cabrillo 6 years ago just after high school. Over three terms he completed 3 units and attempted 24 units. He came back to Cabrillo last fall and completed all 6 units that he attempted; he also completed all 6 units attempted this spring. He now has attempted 36 units and completed 15 units. His completion ratio is 15/36 or 42%. Cory is NOT meeting the Pace of Progress Standard.

 

Maximum Time Frame Requirement
Your status is Maximum Time Frame if you have reached or exceeded 150% of your program.  

Maximum Time Frame Chart
Degree Program	Maximum Time Frame
Associate Degree or Transfer Programs	90 units attempted
Certificate Programs	45 units attempted
Bachelor Degree or beyond	Has exceeded 90 units

NOTE: Maximum units attempted will be adjusted for students enrolled in programs that are longer in length (RN, RT, DH, etc.)

SAP Status

SATISFACTORY 
Your status is SATISFACTORY if you meet Minimum Standard Requirements and have not reached or exceeded the Maximum Time Frame for your program.

FINANCIAL AID WARNING 
Your status is FINANCIAL AID WARNING if you did NOT meet any one, or combination, of the Minimum Standard Requirements. You can still receive financial aid while on Financial Aid Warning. If you meet all the Minimum Standard Requirements at the end of your Financial Aid Warning term, your status will be SATISFACTORY. You may continue to receive Federal aid while on WARNING status.

DISQUALIFIED 
If you do not meet all of the Minimum Standard Requirements at the end of your Financial Aid Warning term, your status will be DISQUALIFIED and you will not be eligible to receive financial aid the next term.

PROBATION
If your Minimum Standard Appeal is APPROVED, your status is Probation and you can receive financial aid; however it is not retroactive. 

While on Financial Aid Probation, you must meet the following guidelines or you will be Disqualified the next term and unable to appeal again:

• If your cumulative GPA is under 2.0 you must achieve a GPA of at least 2.5 each semester until you are off probation.
• If your cumulative completion percentage (Pace) is less than 67% you must successfully complete all units attempted until you are off probation.

Once you meet both minimum standards your status will become SATISFACTORY

 

MAXIMUM TIME FRAME
Your status is MAXIMUM TIME FRAME if you have reached or exceeded 150% of your program.

 
EXTENDED
Your status is EXTENDED if your Maximum Time Frame appeal has been approved. You will have been given a specific length of time to complete your program based on your educational plan.
While on EXTENDED you must meet the following guidelines or you will be Ineligible the next term and unable to appeal again:

• You must achieve a GPA of at least 2.5 each semester until completion of your program.
• You must successfully complete all units attempted until completion of your program.

INELIGIBLE
You are not currently eligible for Financial Aid at Cabrillo College.

Reinstatement

Students who are Disqualified and do not have extenuating circumstances (see Minimum Standard Exceptions), or already have one approved Minimum Standard Requirements appeal on file with our office must meet Reinstatement Requirements without financial aid to be considered for aid the next term.

Reinstatement Requirements and Process 

• Meet BOTH minimum standard requirements.

Once you have met these requirements, your status will be Satisfactory and you will be considered for financial aid provided you have not reached or exceeded the Maximum Time Frame for your program.

Minimum Standards Appeals

If you do not already have an approved appeal on file and are Disqualified because of extenuating circumstances beyond your control, (federal regulations specify these as one-time events such as student illness or injury, or death of a relative) AND, your situation has changed to allow you to demonstrate SAP, you may submit a Minimum Standard Requirements Appeal form. Official supporting documentation explaining the extenuating circumstances is REQUIRED or your appeal cannot be considered.
Minimum Standards Appeal Process:

• Submit a Minimum Standard Requirement Appeal from eForms.
• Submit official supporting documentation explaining the extenuating circumstances as described above.
• Comprehensive Approved Educational Plans must be archived by Counseling (479-6274). Once your Educational Plan has been archived notify Financial Aid using a student correspondence from your eforms library.
• Some students may be required to attend an Education Plan Workshop prior to scheduling a counseling appointment to begin working on an ed plan. Details for the processs, and schedules, are available at: www.cabrillo.edu/services/counseling/edplanning.html You may also need to meet with a counselor during a scheduled 30 minute counseling appointment to complete your comprehensive education plan. Appointments can be scheduled by calling either 479-6274 or 479-6385.
  
  Your Educational Plan should extend until your date of program completion, graduation, or transfer. Be clear with your counselor about what you need. If you have attended other colleges, arrange to have official transcripts sent to Cabrillo Admissions and Records. Official transcripts from previously attended colleges need to be on file before you schedule an appointment with a counselor.

If you did not have extenuating circumstances, your status will remain DISQUALIFIED.
Appeals are not automatically approved and will ONLY be considered for extenuating circumstances. Students may have only ONE approved Minimum Standard Requirements Appeal while at Cabrillo College. 

If your appeal is APPROVED, your status is Probation and you can receive financial aid; however it is not retroactive. 
While on Financial Aid Probation, you must meet the following guidelines or you will be Disqualified the next term and unable to appeal again:

• If your cumulative GPA is under 2.0 you must achieve a GPA of at least 2.5 each semester until you are off probation.
• If your cumulative completion percentage (Pace) is less than 67% you must complete all units attempted until you are off probation.
• Once you meet both minimum standards your status will become SATISFACTORY.
• Important Notes: If you previously have had a minimum standard appeal approved you must complete the Reinstatement process.

If your appeal is DENIED, you may qualify for Reinstatement the next term if you meet the Reinstatement Requirements.
Status and appeal decisions of the Financial Aid office are final. There is no alternative procedure for appealing Financial Aid decisions.

 

Maximum Time Frame Appeals

Maximum Time Frame Exceptions
If you have reached or exceeded the Maximum Time Frame for your program but have classes remaining to complete your academic goal at Cabrillo College you may appeal for an extension.  
NOTE: Extensions may not be granted for changes in majors, multiple degrees, or if approaching Lifetime Pell or Loan Aggregate limits.

Maximum Time Frame Appeal Process
To be considered for an extension, you must:

• Submit a Maximum Time Frame Appeal from eForms to Financial Aid. 

• Meet with an academic counselor and obtain a comprehensive Educational Plan that clearly states your academic goal, what remaining classes you need to obtain that goal. Be clear with your counselor that you need a comprehensive Education Plan.
  
• Some students may be required to attend an Education Plan Workshop prior to scheduling a counseling appointment to begin working on an ed plan. Details for the processs, and schedules, are available at: www.cabrillo.edu/services/counseling/edplanning.html. You may also need to meet with a counselor during a scheduled 30 minute counseling appointment to complete your comprehensive education plan. Appointments can be scheduled by calling either 479-6274 or 479-6385.
  
• Comprehensive Approved Educational Plans must be archived by Counseling (479-6274). Once your Educational Plan has been archived notify Financial Aid using a student correspondence from your eforms library.

Students may have only ONE approved Maximum Time Frame Appeal while at Cabrillo College. 
If your appeal is APPROVED, your status will be EXTENDED for the specific number of units needed to complete your program based on your Educational Plan.

While on EXTENDED you must meet the following guidelines or you will be INELIGIBLE the next term and unable to appeal again:

• You must achieve a GPA of at least 2.5 each semester until completion of your program.
• You must complete all units attempted until completion of your program.

If your appeal is DENIED, your status will remain Maximum Time Frame. If it is DENIED due to changes in majors or multiple degrees, you will become Ineligible.

Status and appeal decisions of the Financial Aid office are final. There is no alternative procedure for appealing Financial Aid decisions.

Appeal/Reinstatement Deadlines

2016-2017 SCHOOL YEAR

Fall 2016:	November 30, 2016
Spring 2017:	April 28th, 2017
Summer 2017:	TBD

 

Other Important Information

Students with Disabilities
We are sometimes asked if there is a full-time enrollment standard that may be applied for disabled students that is different from the standard applied to other students. Federal regulations require that a school apply its standards consistently to all students enrolled in the same course of study. There is no provision in the Higher Education Act governing federal Title IV programs that allows a school to waive full-time enrollment requirements.

Prior College Units
All prior units and degrees from other colleges that have been submitted to Cabrillo will be counted as units attempted toward your Maximum Time Frame.

Bachelor’s/Master’s Degrees
If you have already completed a BA or Master’s degree you are currently not eligible for federal financial aid except loans at Cabrillo. If you are interested in a student loan, you must be enrolled in an eligible program and complete the Maximum Time Frame Appeal process. Your loan funding will be restricted to the units on your Educational Plan.

Remedial and/or ESL Courses
If you are required to take remedial and/or ESL courses in order to meet your educational goal your Maximum Time Frame can be extended. Remedial course work is limited to 30 funded units.

Course Repetitions
For financial aid, passed courses with a grade of “D” or better can only be repeated once for payment.

This is different from and separate than the Admissions & Records repeat policy.
ALL units attempted are counted toward your Maximum Time Frame whether or not you received payment for them.

If you have any questions regarding these Standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress, please contact the Cabrillo College Financial Aid Office at 831-479-6100.

 

 

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