Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

The U.S Department of Education Federal regulation (34 CFR 668.34) mandate that students receiving Financial Aid assistance under Title IV programs must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards in his/her course of study regardless of whether or not financial aid is awarded each semester. To be eligible for federal, state, and institutional financial aid, all students are required to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards.

Students must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards when perusing a Bachelor's, Associate's, or an authorized Certificate Program. SAP, or Satisfactory Academic Progress, is a federal regulation mandating that Laredo College Office of Financial Aid to monitor each student's progress toward completing their degree or certificate program while receiving financial aid.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Standards will be evaluated at the end of each semester (Fall, Spring, and Summers). Students may lose eligibility for federal, state, and institutional financial aid handled by our office if they fall behind in their coursework, do not meet minimum grade point average requirements, or do not complete classes within a maximum timeframe.

The information below will assist you in determining, tracking, maintaining, and re-establishing your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

Academic statuses are explained below:

Supporting documentation may include bills, death certificates, obituaries, police reports, divorced decree, court reports, a letter/statement from a doctor or counselor, judge, clergy, military liaison, homeless shelter director, academic advisor or faculty/staff member, or other relevant third party. If no supporting documentation is provided, the SAP Appeal will be automatically denied.

The submission of a SAP appeal does not guarantee its approval, nor does it relieve the student of the obligation to pay tuition and fees to the college by the payment deadlines. While the appeal is being processed and the student is determined to be eligible for financial aid, students must pay their own expenses or make payment arrangements at the bursar's office.

The following are NOT considered extenuating circumstances:

• Incarceration resulting from a guilty verdict
• Voluntary pause, lapse or termination of employment
• Voluntary overtime
• Young and irresponsible
• Changing majors due to being undecided

Student appeals for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility are reviewed by SAP Appeals Committee. The student does not meet with the SAP Appeals Committee. All correspondence with the student is conducted via e-mail. The SAP Appeals Committee is the final authority in determining whether financial aid is extended or denied.

Financial Aid Probation (SAP)

If the SAP appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and will be required to follow an Academic Improvement Plan outlined by an Academic Advisor. Once placed on probation, the student will become eligible for Title IV funds (Financial Aid) once again. The student must continue to advance toward the successful completion of his or her degree or certificate program.

Each semester that a student is placed on financial aid probation, he or she must maintain a 2.0 GPA and complete 100% of all classes attempted. If a student fails to meet the SAP appeal requirements he or she loses eligibility for financial aid.

The Office of Financial Aid monitors students on financial aid probation at the end of each semester to determine if they met the GPA and Completion Rate component requirements before extending their financial aid probation for another semester.

If the student’s appeal is denied, the student will be ineligible for financial aid until the student meets the SAP requirements (2.0 GPA and 67% completion rate overall).

Probation MTF

Students fall into MTF suspension, placed on MTF Probation if appeal is approved, will receive a plan that will indicate how many credit hours and terms under the assumption the student will graduate from their program of study in such timeframe. This plan will come from Laredo College academic advisor). Any deviation of the plan will result in Permanent Financial Aid Suspension at LC.

MTF appeals will be allowed twice per student in their academic life at LC. If the student does not graduate from their program of study during their MTF Probation status, the student will not be eligible for financial aid for any subsequent term, under no circumstance.  

Evaluation of student grades at LC

• LC will accept transfer credit hours applicable toward a program of study. This includes hours earned.
• Transfer credit course work will be calculated for the purposes of determining financial aid eligibility and academic standing.
• For the purposes of financial aid eligibility, developmental and ESL credit hours will be counted towards 67% calculation after each semester SAP requirements. Developmental and ESOL coursework will NOT be included when assessing the student’s progression toward the maximum time frame.
• Grades of “A”, “B”, “C”, and “D” will be considered credit hours attempted and earned.
• Grades of “F”, “W”, “I”, will be considered as credit hours attempted towards the 67% rule and MTF rule. Additionally, this will be considered as credit hours attempted for the semester, and will be calculated into the overall GPA.
• Students who withdraw from the college must still maintain financial satisfactory academic progress to meet the 67% pace of progress rule, and for the MTF rule.
• Students cannot receive financial aid for audited courses, credit hours earned through placement exams, or Continuing Education courses.
• Developmental courses will be considered to assess the financial aid student's grade point average and completion rate. Developmental courses do not count toward a student's maximum timeframe. Federal aid allows for a maximum of 30 attempted developmental hours This limit on fundable developmental hours does not apply to state and institutional aid.
• A student may receive aid for course no more than two times, at the third attempt and beyond, financial aid will not pay for the class.

 “F” or a failing grade, “W” or withdrawn: no grade given but counts toward hours attempted, “I” or “IP” or incomplete: no grade given or an “NR” no record but counts toward hours attempted. It is the student’s responsibility to comply with the instructor before the end of the next Fall or Spring semester, or the “I” “Incomplete” grade will revert to “F”. All courses count toward the completion rate, whether the course is a repeated course, remedial course, or courses with the grade I, IP, F, or W as well as the maximum time allowed.

Transitional Coursework: All transitional courses will be counted as attempted hours. 

NOTE: Students are allowed a total of twenty-seven (27) attempted transitional hours, including transitional coursework taken at other institutions. 

Student who graduates and returns to LC for a second degree

If a student graduates from LC and re-enrolls at LC to pursue another educational program, all developmental courses are excluded. Classes from the program the student graduated from, which do not count toward graduation for the new program, will be eliminated from the total. The review for a new degree after graduation is limited to one-degree plan review per graduation. In other words, students are allowed to do this only once after graduation or lifetime at LC.

 Public Law 112-74 which was amended in the Higher Education Act - section 401(c)(5) reduces the duration of a student’s eligibility to receive a Federal Pell Grant from 18 semesters (or its equivalent) to 12 semesters (or its equivalent). This provision applies to all Federal Pell Grant eligible students effective with the 2012-13 award year. The calculation of the duration of a student’s eligibility will include all years of the student’s receipt of Federal Pell Grant funding.