Satisfactory Academic Policy (SAP)

Changes in Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Requirements

Revised Federal Regulations mandate KCTCS modify its Satisfactory Academic Policy to hold students to a higher level of accountability. At the end of this Academic term (Fall 2011) all students were reevaluated to determine if they meet the new Federal requirements for Title IV Financial Aid that went into effect July 1, 2011. Students who did not met the SAP standards in the past, were given an opportunity to improve their academic standing through Fall 2011. The changes to the SAP policy due to new regulatory guidelines included:

Limiting students to only one consecutive probationary period
Students must be on pace to progress toward graduation by a 150% of credit requirement
Students must be enrolled in a program other than Undecided or Pending beyond the 30^th credit hour.

Students must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA and complete at least 67% of their classes to remain eligible for financial aid. Students, who fail to maintain this standard for more than one consecutive term exclusively or in combination, will no longer be eligible for Federal or state aid.

Students must be evaluated to determine if they are able to graduate from their stated degree by attempting no more than 150% of the hours required to obtain the degree. This is referred to as Maximum Time Frame (MTF). For example as student enrolled in a 60 hour associate degree program cannot receive financial aid beyond their 90^th credit hour attempted. Students not “on pace” to obtain a degree within this 150% time frame will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid.

Students must be enrolled in a declared major or accepted in an eligible program other than “pending” or “undecided” to receive aid beyond their 30^th credit hour attempted. Students enrolled in a “pending” program must be evaluated to determine if they are eligible to be accepted in the desired program within a reasonable period. A reasonable period is a term that allows a student to be accepted and graduate prior to a student becoming ineligible for financial aid because he/she exceeds maximum time frame.

Students who believe they have or had extenuating circumstances that prohibited them from making the Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards may appeal to a committee appointed by the home campus to review such requests. Students requesting their circumstance be reviewed for special consideration must:

Complete a SAP Appeal Request form,
Provide type written explanation of circumstance,
Provide supporting documentation of circumstance(i.e. medical records, obituary, etc), and
Provide a stated plan of goals, strategy to regain eligibility.
Submit a Academic Plan of Action form.

Refer to your home campuses financial aid information page for specific Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) information.

Do you still have questions? If so, refer to the SAP FAQs.