Satisfactory Academic Progress

Federal regulations require CSU, Chico to establish, publish, and apply satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards for student financial aid recipients. CSU, Chico measures SAP in the following three areas: completion rate, cumulative grade point average (GPA), and maximum units.

The Financial Aid and Scholarship Office is responsible for ensuring that all students who receive financial aid at CSU, Chico meet these standards. SAP standards apply for all financial assistance programs including Federal Pell Grant, ACG and SMART Grants, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Work-Study (FWS), Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Direct Stafford Loans, State University Grant, Cal Grants, and institutional aid.

Completion Rate

At the end of the academic year, you must have earned (passed) 75 percent or more of the units in which you enrolled at CSU, Chico to maintain SAP for the following academic year. Your academic progress is measured by comparing the number of units attempted with the number of units earned. This includes any course for which you remained enrolled past the add/drop period. You must earn 75 percent of units attempted to maintain SAP.

Units earned include grades of A, B, C, D, or CR. Grades of F, WU, NC, AU, RD, W, I, and challenged course grades do not count as satisfactory completion of units for financial aid purposes. A grade of incomplete may be made up within one year, according to university policy. However, for the purpose of determining SAP, it will not count until a passing grade is posted.

If you are receiving financial aid based on concurrent enrollment at another institution, the combined units from both institutions will be used to determine the total number of units attempted.

Units attempted are the units in which you are officially enrolled at university census date. See the 2008-2009 Academic Calendar (PDF) and view our home page for updates. To calculate the number of units for which you are responsible, use the following formula:

(Fall Completed Units + Spring Completed Units)
÷ (Fall Financial Aid Census Units + Spring Financial Aid Census Units)
= Percent Completed

For example, if you earned credit for nine units in fall and 12 units in spring, and were enrolled in 12 units at financial aid census for each semester, the calculation would look like this:

9 + 12 = 21 units completed

12+12 = 24 units census

21 ÷ 24 = 87.5% (Passed SAP)

Probation/Denial

At the end of the academic year, if you do not complete 75 percent of the units you attempted, you will be on financial aid probation for the following academic year. If you do not complete at least 50 percent of the units you attempted, you will be denied financial aid. If you are funded for only one semester during the academic year, you must complete 50 percent of the units attempted or you will be denied financial aid.

Students on probation are still eligible for financial aid. To maintain financial aid eligibility, you must complete 75 percent of the units that you attempted while on probation. If you do not, you will be denied financial aid for the following year due to insufficient unit completion. Students on financial aid probation are required to file a confirmation of financial aid probation form with the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office.

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Cumulative GPA

CSU, Chico’s satisfactory academic progress (SAP) policy is the same as the school’s academic policy on academic probation and disqualification (see CSU, Chico Catalog). After each spring semester, the Office of Academic Advising will determine if your grade point average (GPA) is below the cut-off for academic standards required for graduation. If your GPA does not meet the minimum required, you will be academically disqualified and ineligible for aid.

Maximum Units

If you are an undergraduate, you are no longer eligible for aid after you have attempted 180 units or completed 168 units. A graduate student is no longer eligible after completing 60 post-baccalaureate units. Maximum units will be monitored prior to the beginning of each academic year.

All attempted units, including transfer units and units completed through consortium agreements, are counted, whether or not you received financial aid or successfully completed the course work.

Students who have exceeded maximum units will be denied financial aid.

Appeal Process

Completion Rate: A student who has mitigating circumstances may file an insufficient units appeal. Extenuating circumstances might include medical problems, illness or death in the family, relocation, or employment changes.

Maximum Units: Students who exceed maximum units may file a maximum units appeal. Circumstances that may be grounds for an appeal include change of major or a break in college attendance resulting in a change in catalog requirements.

Visit the index of printable forms to access all appeals and complete instructions. Documentation must accompany all appeals returned to FASO. A financial aid advisor will review your appeal and send a written response. If the advisor denies the appeal, you may appeal to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office director. The decision of the director is final.

Reinstatement Policy

If you are denied aid for insufficient units and do not appeal, or your appeal is denied, you may regain financial aid eligibility by completing 75 percent of attempted units in one year, without CSU, Chico federal or state financial aid.

Units may be completed at a community college if the coursework is transferable and satisfies graduation requirements at CSU, Chico. It is your responsibility to meet the reinstatement requirements and to provide proof of completed units to the Financial Aid and Scholarship Office.

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