Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

South Louisiana Community College students maintain eligibility for Federal Student Aid by meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress throughout their time at the college. The Department of Education considers Satisfactory Academic Progress as meeting both the qualitative and quantitative criteria explained in this section. Additionally, students are not eligible for Federal Student Aid once they have attempted 150% of the credits required for graduation with that degree or diploma (Maximum Time Frame). All credits, including repeat and transfer credits are applied to a student’s degree or diploma. These credits will be applied to the student’s GPA, Rate of Progression, and Maximum Time Frame calculations. It does not matter whether a student received Federal Student Aid for these credits or not, all will be applied toward Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Satisfactory Academic Progress is monitored by the financial aid office at the end of each term. Students should review their SAP status by logging onto LoLA and clicking on the Financial Aid tab, then Financial Aid Status.

For the first term in which a student fails to meet one or more of the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements, the student will automatically be placed on Financial Aid Warning for the next term. The student is still eligible for Federal Student Aid during a term in which he or she is placed on Warning.

If a student fails to bring his or her GPA or Rate of Progression in line with the minimum standards by the end of a term during which he or she was on Financial Aid Warning, that student is placed on Financial Aid Suspension and is not eligible for Federal Student Aid for future terms. If a student is placed on Suspension and loses Federal Student Aid eligibility, he or she may appeal, but only on the basis of: an injury or illness, the death of a relative, or other special circumstances. The appeal must explain why the student failed to make satisfactory progress and what has changed that will allow the student to make satisfactory progress during the next term.

No. If SoLAcc determines, based on the appeal, that the student should be able to meet SAP standards by the end of the next term, SoLAcc may place the student on an Academic Plan which a student must follow in order to maintain financial aid eligibility. If SoLAcc determines, based on the appeal, that the student will require more than one term to meet progress standards, that student will not be eligible for and Academic Plan. If a student is placed on an Academic Plan, SoLAcc will review the student’s progress at the end of the term for which the Academic Plan was granted, and if the student has met all SAP standards, Financial Aid eligibility will be restored.

Maximum time frame is 150% of the credit hours required to graduate in your major. You are expected to complete your degree within the maximum time frame. When evaluating maximum time frame, we consider your full academic record at SoLAcc, including transfer hours, regardless of whether you received financial aid during those terms. If a student reaches 150% of the credits required for a degree, an appeal may be granted provided that the student meets with an Academic Advisor to get an audit showing what classes are still needed in order to graduate and that graduation can be reached in one term. If this is not possible, the appeal will not be granted. If an appeal is granted, it is for one semester only; no further eligibility will be approved.

If you drop classes, it may be determined you are not progressing at a reasonable rate towards graduation. Reasonable progression toward your degree is shown by completing the courses for which you register.