Financial aid eligibility is determined in compliance with federal and state regulations as well as institutional policies and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, age, disability, medical condition, sexual orientation, or other legally-protected basis. If a student wishes to file a grievance they should follow the directions outlined in the college catalog.
Eligibility
Students who do not meet the satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards to receive aid may be eligible to appeal. Appeals are to be submitted in writing only. Students can appeal once each term. Once a decision has been rendered, the appeal committee decision is final and cannot be appealed.
In order for the student to be eligible to appeal the dismissal of aid for not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), the student must meet the requirements listed below and/or provide documentation (if any) of extenuating circumstances:
- Statement from the student detailing the reason for any deficiencies and/or reasons for remaining at this level of education and what action has been taken to ensure it will not occur in the future, and
- An academic plan developed by Sacramento City College, or
- Medical documents that support that the student was medically unable to complete the term with a GPA of at least 2.0 or higher for reasons beyond the students control, or
- Verification (obituary or death certificate) of a death in the student’s immediate family. Immediate family for purposes of a financial aid appeal is parents, siblings, children, spouse, or grandparents, or
- Verification of military orders for military personnel and their families that have been temporarily reassigned or called to active service, or
- Personal tragedies that are beyond the students control and is documented by a 3rd party professional, i.e. police, courts, or medical, or
- Verification of natural disaster beyond the students control that impacted the student’s academic performance.
If the student is approved on an appeal, the student will be placed on probation, be required to have an agreed upon academic plan, and the student’s academic performance will be reviewed at the end of each term. If the student fails to meet the requirements of their probation outlined below, the student will be denied aid and will need to appeal again the following term:
- Student successfully completes at minimum 66.67% of all courses attempted in each term following the appeal approval, and
- Student completes all coursework with a term GPA of 2.0 or higher in each term following the appeal approval, and
- The student is within the maximum time frame allowed in any prior appeal.
If the student complies with the requirements of their probation, they may continue to receive aid for the following term.
Students who fail to meet SAP standards and were either denied or did not submit an appeal, may regain Title IV eligibility by meeting the SAP Standards based on their own actions. Students who reestablish their Title IV eligibility by meeting the SAP standards while on probation are no longer required to meet the requirements of their probation criteria. Once the student has resolved his or her deficiencies and meets the SAP criteria, the student should notify the financial aid office to reevaluate their financial aid eligibility.
Students who have attempted 150 or more units, 70 or more units for a transfer program, or have Bachelor degree or higher are not eligible to appeal the denial of aid regardless of the reason. (This total attempted units includes units transferred in from other colleges and completed at other LRCCD colleges). If a student has been approved on appeal prior to reaching 150 units, the student may continue to receive aid until the end of their program as long as they meet the requirements of their probation. If the student fails to meet the requirements of their probation and is beyond 150 units, the student is no longer eligible for appeal.