Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy

To maintain eligibility for financial aid, a student must comply with Federal regulations 34 CFR 668.34, the Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. Failure to meet any of the standard requirements may result in the denial of federal financial aid at the College. A copy of the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress policy is available at the Financial Aid Office and on our Financial Aid webpage under Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Satisfactory academic progress is defined as passing 70% of the required number of hours (pace), and achieving a required cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0 during 150 percent (approximately 135 credits for a two-year degree and 75 for a one-year certificate) of a student’s program (maximum time frame). Your academic records are reviewed at the end of each term in which you are enrolled to determine compliance. Federal regulations require that your entire academic history be considered, even if you have never received financial aid. State and non-federal programs and scholarships may have different standards for evaluating satisfactory academic progress.

You are notified of your SAP standing after SAP is calculated. This includes good standing, warning, termination, and probation. You are sent a courtesy notification if you are close to being below GPA and pace. All communications are sent to your LBCC email. If you fail to meet SAP requirements due to extenuating circumstances, you may appeal to the Financial Aid Appeal Committee.

Reinstatement of Aid Eligibility

A student may submit an appeal for reinstatement on the basis of mitigating circumstances or after successfully rehabilitating the cumulative 2.0 GPA or better and completion rate of 70%.

Appeal Procedures

Appeals are made through the Office of Financial Aid utilizing the official appeal form located within Webrunner and require the following: an explanation and documentation regarding why the student failed to make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) and a statement and documentation as to what has changed in the student’s situation that would allow the student to meet SAP in future terms. Appeals are referred to the Financial Aid Appeals (FAAC) committee. If an appeal is approved, aid eligibility will be restored beginning with the current term and not retroactively. More information regarding the appeal process and deadlines can be found on our website.