SAP - Satisfactory Academic Process

Conditions for Appeal

You may regain eligibility once you have met all standards listed in your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) contract or if you are eligible to file an appeal and it is approved.  You may view your current SAP status in your Student Center.  The disqualification notice sent to your To-Do list will provide instructions for filing an appeal.  Eligibility is determined at the end of the academic year for all students.

Sacramento State Academic Standing

Students who did not meet the University academic standards at the time SAP was reviewed and are now in good standing, may establish financial aid eligibility by providing our office with written notification of their status.

Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Standing

Students who did not meet the minimum cumulative GPA and/or satisfactory pace standards may file an appeal. If approved the student will be placed on a probation status for a term SAP review or until all SAP standards have been met.

Students who exceed the 150 percent attempted units required of their degree program, are allowed to appeal only once for consideration of aid.  If approved the student will be placed on a probation status for a term SAP review. In addition to the appeal, students in this category must submit an official academic plan from their major advisor.  The academic plan must include the specific courses needed to graduate, the semester you will complete each course and your expected graduation term.  Requests to extend your aid due to a change in your expected graduation term, will not be considered.

Official Academic Plan Conditions

  • Financial aid awards will be based on coursework required for degree completion.  
  • Academic plans will be reviewed each term to determine enrollment of required degree objective coursework.  Failing to enroll in degree objective coursework may result in the repayment or adjustment of aid for the subsequent term.

Students pursuing a 2nd degree or certificate are automatically disqualified and may appeal only once for consideration of aid.  If approved the student will be placed on a probation status for a term SAP review.  In addition to the appeal, students in this category must submit an official academic plan from their major advisor.  The academic plan must include the specific courses needed to graduate, the semester you will complete each course and your expected graduation term.  Requests to extend your aid due to a change in your expected graduation term, will not be considered. Official Academic Plan Conditions as stated above also apply.

APPEAL PROCESS

Appeals will be available after grades have posted

  • Annual SAP review: mid-June for upcoming year aid

You must wait to submit your appeal until you have been notified of your disqualification on your To-Do list.

You will receive a SAP hold specific to the term in which you failed to meet one of the SAP standards. Holds can be viewed in your Student Center.

  • If you are eligible to file an appeal, your To-Do list will populate with a link to complete an appeal online.  Print a hardcopy of your appeal to submit to the Financial Aid Office.
  • You must also provide all other SAP checklist items as requested on your To-Do list.  Monitor your My Sac State Student Center regularly.

The timeline for appeal decisions is up to three weeks.  Please note during our peak periods, appeal decisions may take longer. All applicants will receive a Sac State message regarding the outcome of their appeal. All appeal decisions are final.

Appeal Deadlines 2012-2013
Appeals submitted after the published deadlines will not be reviewed


Fall Term:  Monday, September 24, 2012  - 

  • If you are a fall 2012 only student at Sacramento State, you must adhere to this deadline for fall 2012 aid.
  • If are attending Sacramento State for the academic year and you submit an appeal after this deadline it will not be considered for fall 2012 aid.  You will need to submit another appeal for spring aid.

Spring Term: Friday, February 22, 2013

  • If you are a spring 2013 only student at Sacramento State, you must adhere to this deadline for spring 2013 aid.
  • If you attended fall 2012 and missed the fall term deadline, you may submit an appeal for spring aid.

Career        

Disqualification Status                  

Appeal Conditions                                 

Undergraduate / Graduate

Minimum Cumulative GPA Standard

and/or

Satisfactory Pace Standard (75%)

Students disqualified in these categories may appeal if they meet at least one of the following conditions:

- Death of a parent, guardian, spouse, sibling or child

- Extreme change in financial or legal circumstances

- Loss of Child Care

- Serious illness or injury of a parent, guardian, spouse or   child; birth of child; clinical diagnosis of disorder or assessment of disability that impeded academic learning

- Compulsory military duty

Undergraduate / Graduate

Overall Degree Progress Standard (150%)

Students disqualified in these categories may appeal if they meet at least one of the following conditions:

- Break in enrollment

- Death of a parent, guardian, spouse, sibling or child

- Extreme change in financial or legal circumstances

- Loss of Child Care

- Serious illness or injury of a parent, guardian, spouse or   child; birth of child; clinical diagnosis of disorder or assessment of disability that impeded academic learning

- Compulsory military duty

Undergraduate / Credential / Graduate

Pursuit of 2nd Degree

Students disqualified in this category are allowed to appeal if they meet at least one following conditions:

- Medical situation requiring career change

- Unemployment in original degree field