Satisfactory Academic Progress Policies
NOTE: All units attempted in the Kern Community College District (KCCD)-Bakersfield College, Cerro Coso College, and Porterville College will be used to determine satisfactory academic progress. All units from other institutions accepted for credit by KCCD will be used to determine satisfactory academic progress. Failed or incomplete courses from other institutions outside of KCCD may also affect my academic progress status. Students are permitted to appeal once per academic year.
MAXIMUM TIME FRAME IN PROGRAM:
LENGTH OF ELIGIBILITY (Maximum in Program): Federal regulations require you to complete your academic program within 150% of the standard timeframe for your program. For example, if you are in a Liberal Arts A.A. program requiring 60 units of coursework, you will need to complete your program within 90 attempted units, or your financial aid will be suspended. The calculation of attempted units includes all coursework at the KCCD as well as all other transferable coursework completed.
On a case-by-case basis, students may be permitted to receive financial aid beyond the maximum timeframe if there is a change in major or if a degree or transfer program requires units more than 90. If a student transfer in coursework from other institutions, we will count all attempted units accepted in the SAP calculation, for both progress and maximum time frame.
MAXIMUM in Program APPEALS: Students who have extenuating circumstances or major change may appeal for reinstatement of Financial Aid eligibility. Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals uploaded in Verification Connection/Inside Portal (if required, paper forms can be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid) by the date indicated on the Appeal Form. Requirements include a counselor-approved Comprehensive Student Educational Plan, documentation of the extenuating circumstances, a statement of circumstance, and a Counseling Center Get Counseling session. Students granted an exception are placed on approved appeal status and must meet the conditions of the Student Success Plan determined by the Appeal Committee. Not meeting the conditions of the Student Success Plan will result in TERMINATION of Title IV aid at all KCCD campuses and may result in denial of future appeals.
ACADEMIC PROGRESS: 2.0 GPA & 67% COMPLETION:
Maintain a minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA (Qualitative Standard): To maintain satisfactory academic progress and remain eligible for financial aid, students must maintain a minimum cumulative grade point average of 2.00. KCCD will review each student’s academic progress at the time of determining eligibility and after each payment period.
Complete a cumulative 67% of all attempted units (Quantitative Standard): To maintain satisfactory academic progress, students are required to complete 67% of the total number of cumulative units attempted. Unit progress is evaluated by comparing the number of cumulative units attempted with the cumulative units completed to determine whether the student is progressing at a rate that allows them to complete the program within the maximum time frame. The calculation of unit progression will be rounded up to the nearest tenth.
WARNING: Students who fail to meet the unit and/or grade point average requirement after one semester will be placed on financial aid warning. Students in warning status will want to use the next enrolled semester to bring up their cumulative GPA, cumulative completion rate, or both to the SAP standards to be considered eligible for future financial aid.
SUSPENSION: Students on warning who then fail to bring their cumulative units and/or GPA up to satisfactory academic progress will be placed on financial aid suspension.
REINSTATEMENT: Students not maintained satisfactory academic progress and have been suspended from financial aid may re-establish eligibility by successfully completing the unit completion requirement and/or raising the cumulative grade point average to 2.00 during a semester or semesters without aid.
SUSPENSION APPEALS: Students who have extenuating unusual circumstances may appeal for an exception to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Regulations. Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeals uploaded in Verification Connection/Inside Portal (if required, paper forms can be submitted to the Office of Financial Aid) by the date indicated on the Appeal Form. Requirements include a counselor-approved Comprehensive Student Educational Plan, documentation of the extenuating circumstances, a statement of circumstance, and a Counseling Center Get Counseling session.
Examples of extenuating circumstances:
- Death of a relative or other significant person
- Injury or illness, including, but not limited to, behavioral health conditions, of the student or a relative or other significant person
- Pregnancy or birth of a child
- Homelessness
- Loss of childcare
- Loss or change in employment
- Loss of access to personal or public transportation
- Being a victim of a serious crime, including, but not limited to, domestic abuse, even if the crime was not reported or did not result in criminal prosecution or civil liability
- Natural disaster
- Change of major
- Change of occupation
Students granted an exception are placed on approved appeal status and must meet the conditions of the Student Success Plan determined by the Appeal Committee. Not meeting the conditions of an approved appeal will result in suspension in the next term and may result in denial of future appeals.
GRADE INTERPRETATION: A student completes a course as they earn credit by receiving a passing grade. The following grades count towards attempted units, not completed F (Fail), W (Withdrawal) EW (Excused Withdrawal), I (Incomplete), IP (In Progress), NC (No Credit), NP (No Pass), RD (Report Delayed). Either audit units or any zero-unit courses are not included in the attempted or completed figures as these units are ineligible for financial aid.
Program of Study/Major/Pathway: Financial aid is intended to fund students’ program of study, including any preparatory courses needed. Therefore, funding is not available for classes not needed to complete the program. Students may change their major; however, changing majors repetitively will greatly increase the likelihood of losing Financial Aid eligibility (due to 150% limitations) before graduation. Only 30 units of non-degree/remedial courses may be funded by federal financial aid. Students may also be paid for any repeated class (two times) if the student previously passed ('D' or better) and for repeating classes if they failed.
Failure to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress or comply with the Terms of Agreement listed above may result in cancellation of my financial aid payments.
