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Requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations require that all students who receive Federal Student Aid must maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress in their course of study, regardless of whether they have ever applied for or received financial aid for all periods of attendance.

Financial Aid

SAP Requirements

  1. You must be enrolled in an approved certificate, associate degree, or transfer program and must be taking courses toward completion of that program.
  2. You must also choose an educational goal and be making progress toward that goal.

What is considered satisfactory?

The WCC Financial Aid Office monitors that progress using the following criteria:

  1. Quantitative,
  2. Qualitative,
  3. Maximum Timeframe

All three standards are evaluated each semester during the academic year for all the periods you were enrolled (Fall, Spring, and Summer terms).

1

Quantitative—Complete the units you enroll in each semester

A student is required to complete at least 67% of the units attempted each semester and cumulative to ensure an acceptable pace of progression toward completion of their selected educational goal within a maximum timeframe. Pace is defined as Completed units divided by Attempted units.

Warning: Failure to meet this pace of progress standard during the prior semester will place you on a Financial Aid “Warning” status.

 

Calculate your pace of progression

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Pace of Progression Example

Allen and Marie enroll in the Associate Degree program for Psychology.

1st Semester:
Both Allen and Marie enroll in 14 units.
Allen successfully completes 9 of those units and Marie successfully completes all 14 units, both making the minimum GPA of 2.0.

After one semester, Allen’s pace is 64% (9 ÷ 14) and Marie’s pace is 100% (14 ÷ 14).

To be making Satisfactory Academic Progress for pace they must have a pace of 67%.

Allen is below the required 67% and is placed on “Warning” status, Marie is above the required 67% and continues in Satisfactory status.

2nd Semester:

Allen enrolls in 9 units and Marie again enrolls in 14 units.
Allen successfully completes all 9 units and Marie successfully completes 9 units, both making the minimum GPA of 2.0.

After two semesters, Allen’s pace is 78% (18 ÷ 23) cumulative and 100% (9 ÷ 9) for the semester, and Marie’s pace is 82% (23 ÷ 28), cumulative and 64% (9 ÷ 14) for the semester.
Now, Allen is making Satisfactory Academic Progress for pace, but Marie is not.

Allen has now fulfilled the qualitative (GPA) and quantitative (67% units completed) requirements, putting him in Satisfactory status.

Marie has fulfilled the qualitative (GPA), but not the quantitative (Pace per semester) requirement, putting her now in “Warning” status.

2

Qualitative—Maintain at least a 2.0 GPA

A student is required to maintain a Grade Point Average (GPA) of at least 2.0 for each term attempted and cumulative. The GPA standard is used at all times in the determination of eligibility for financial aid, even when a student does not receive financial aid.

Warning: Failure to meet this GPA standard during the prior semester will place you on a Financial Aid “Warning” status.

3

Maximum Timeframe—Pace

Complete all courses attempted to maintain a pace of 67%

Students are expected to complete their educational objectives within 150% of the published length of his or her chosen educational program.

Warning: You will be placed in “Warning” status when your total unit count reaches 30 units (for a Certificate of Achievement) or 60 units (for an AA, AS or a Transfer Certification.

Tip: It is  important that a student decide on an educational goal early, and enroll only in courses required to complete that goal. We encourage you to take advantage of Counseling services and develop an Educational Plan.

Woodland Community College offers counseling services provided by academic and career counselors and career planning courses to assist you in deciding on the educational goal that is best for you.

Maximum Timeframe

In general, maximum unit limit for an AA, AS or a Transfer Certification is 90 units (60 X 150%); 45 units for a Certificate of Achievement (30 X 150%).

Programs requiring more than 60 units (ex. Nursing) will be a unit limit exception that will be reviewed in case of an appeal.

Because of the 45- or 90-unit limit and the 150% Rule, it is important that a student decide on an educational goal early, and enroll only in courses required to complete that goal.

150% Rule

The Financial Aid Office will issue financial aid to eligible students for the units in which he or she is enrolled until reaching the 45- or 90-unit limit and/or the 150% length of enrollment (prorated to full time or part-time).

Once you reach that limit, he or she will no longer be eligible for financial aid, except the student may be eligible for the California College Promise Grant (CCPG) – formerly known as the Board of Governors Fee Waiver (BOG).

Exceptions to the maximum timeframe will be considered through appeal by the Director of Financial Aid or his/her designee.

Remedial and ESL units are included in your maximum timeframe

Remedial units include any coursework numbered 100 and above.

Federal regulations stipulate that students may receive federal aid for up to one academic year’s worth of remedial coursework (30 semester units).

Students will be placed in “Warning” status when their total remedial unit count reaches 20 units.

Students who exceed 30 units will no longer be eligible to receive financial aid for remedial coursework, however; they will be eligible to receive financial aid for non-remedial coursework that is numbered 1 through 99.

It is the student’s responsibility to meet all progress standards each semester and cumulative.