Satisfactory Academic Progress

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

To receive financial aid, students must meet Satisfactory Academic Progress regulations as determined by the U.S. Department of Education. Federal regulations require that students' make measurable progress towards completion of their course program of study (major) in order to continue to remain eligible for federal financial aid or Title IV funding. Tri-C reviews the academic progress of all students and notifies students receiving federal financial aid each semester of their status.

 What is considered part of federal financial aid (Title IV) funding:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
• Federal Work-Study
• Federal Student Loans

How to Keep Your Financial Aid Eligibility

Students should Review and be familiar with Tri-C's Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy to ensure compliance, including:

• Complete 67% of all classes attempted and
• Maintain a Tri-C Grade Point Average (GPA) of 2.0 or higher and
• Complete your degree within the 150% time frame (e.g. associates degree of 60 credit hours must be completed within 90 credits hours)

These requirements apply to all credits attempted, for part-time and full-time students, for all semesters of enrollment within an academic year, including those semesters for which no financial aid was received.

Students who lose their financial aid for failing to maintain SAP may be eligible to appeal. Please refer to the SAP Appeal Process below.

The Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal Process

Please note: If you have extenuating circumstances that have caused you to fail to meet the minimum SAP requirements, you may appeal your loss of financial aid by electronically submitting a SAP Appeal via your my Tri-C space portal, under the “Financial Aid Requirements” section.

Guidelines for Submitting your SAP Appeal:

1. Contact the Student Financial Aid & Scholarships Office for the SAP Appeal application if the form is not available to you after creating your account in the student portal.   You can contact the financial aid office via Tri-C FA Chat, email us at financialaid@tri-c.edu,  or call us at 216-987-6000, Option #2.
   
   
2. Student are required to complete a FAFSA prior to submitting the SAP appeal.
   
   
3. After accessing your electronic SAP appeal, type in a detailed personal statement telling us why you were unable to meet the minimum requirements of SAP for the specified term(s), addressing all insufficient terms and what happened.  Be clear and concise regarding your situation and specifying timeframes of what took place.  Please review the Personal Statement Outline for further guidance.
   
   
4. Upload the following documentation: 
   1. A completed Academic Plan that consists of courses in your program of study (major). Courses that are not part of your program of study will not be covered by financial aid. *Optional: For assistance completing the academic plan, please contact the Counseling Center.
   2. A copy of your Degree Works. The audit can be printed to a pdf document from your student portal. DegreeWorks Audit printing instructions
   3. Any additional documentation that helps support your appeal. For example, if your situation was medical related, submit the SAP Medical documentation signed by your doctor’s/healthcare professional.

Results of the Appeal

• The appeal decision will be made by the SAP Appeal Review Committee within 10 business days.  You will be notified of the decision through email, or directly in the student portal of the decision or if there is any further information needed.
• If your SAP appeal is approved, you will be contacted by a Student Financial Aid Advisor to complete a year-long financial aid plan required to complete the SAP Appeal approval process.  To maintain your financial aid eligibility, follow the SAP guidelines for Title IV financial aid eligibility.
• If your SAP appeal is not approved, please connect with a Student Financial Aid Advisor to discuss your options, and questions or concerns. 

SAP Appeal Deadlines

Fall 2020 - September 8, 2020
Spring 2021 - TBD

SAP Appeals submitted after the deadlines will be reviewed for the next semester.

Virtual Financial Aid Workshops

Please visit our website for various virtual workshop opportunities relating to Satisfactory Academic Progress, FAFSA completion, and other important topics.  Call the Student Financial Aid & Scholarships Office at 216-987-6000, select option #2 for more information and questions concerning your account status.