Academic Requirements for Receiving Financial Aid at SJCD
The Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) and the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board mandate institutions of higher education to establish a standard of satisfactory academic progress for a student to receive financial aid. This standard must apply to a student’s entire academic history, whether financial aid was received or not. In order to remain eligible to receive aid at San Jacinto College a student must meet these standards, as approved by the San Jacinto College Board of Regents.

Satisfactory Academic Financial Aid Components

The San Jacinto College requirements for receiving financial aid include the following three components:

  1. Grade Point Average (GPA) Component
    San Jacinto College uses the 4.0 grade point average system:
    4.0 = A 3.0 = B 2.0 = C 1.0 = D 0.0 = F
  2. A student is expected to maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 based upon the aggregate number of hours attempted at San Jacinto College whether he/she changes majors or is pursuing multiple degrees or certificates. This calculation does not include transfer hours. For repeated and developmental courses only the highest grade is calculated in the GPA. 
  3. Rate of Completion Component — A student is expected to complete a minimum of 75 percent of all hours attempted at San Jacinto College. Transfer hours are not used in this calculation. The following grades are considered successfully completed: A, B, C, D.
  4. Time Frame Component — Any student, current or transfer, receiving financial aid funds is expected to complete his/her SJC educational objective or course of study within the first 90 hours attempted whether he/she changes majors or is pursuing multiple degrees or certificates. Grades of F, I, W, NG, and N, repeated courses, and developmental courses are counted in the aggregate total number of hours attempted. During the last term in which a student will reach the 90-hour limit, he/she may receive aid for the number of hours for which he/she is enrolled.

All attempted hours for transfer students must be taken into account in determining whether or not a student is in compliance with the Time Frame Component. Transfer students must have a transcript from each college/university attended, including foreign schools.

Review Procedure

Satisfactory academic progress (SAP) will be measured at the end of each term for all students who are enrolled in credit classes, including those who have not applied for financial aid. All students are expected to be in compliance.

Warning

A student who has not met either the GPA or Rate of Completion Component will be placed on financial aid warning. Under a warning status, a student who has been awarded can continue to receive financial aid.

Probation

A student who is on financial aid warning and does not bring him/herself into compliance with either the GPA or Rate of Completion Component will be placed on financial aid probation. By the end of the probationary term, the student is expected to be in full compliance. Under a probation status, a student who has been awarded can continue to receive financial aid.

Suspension

A student who fails to meet either the GPA or Rate of Completion Component of academic progress by the end of the semester of probation, or who has reached the 90-semester hour Time Frame Component limit, will be placed on financial aid suspension and is no longer eligible to receive financial aid.

Regaining Eligibility

A student who has been suspended due to either the GPA or Rate of Completion Component may regain eligibility for financial aid by:

  1. Enrolling at his/her own expense and bringing him/herself into compliance with the requirements (the student must notify the Campus Financial Aid Services Office after exercising this option), or
  2. Filing an appeal with the Campus Financial Aid Services Office no later than 3 weeks prior to the end of the term.
  3. The appeal must be in writing, and supporting documentation regarding special circumstances must be provided.
  4. Appeals are considered for extenuating circumstances such as injury, illness, and death in the immediate family, or undue hardship.

A student who has met the maximum Time Frame Component must file an appeal to be able to receive financial aid.

If an appeal is approved, a student is placed on financial aid probation and required to meet the conditions stated on the approval letter without exception. If a student does not meet the conditions of the financial aid appeal probation, the student will be placed on financial aid suspension.

NOTE: Students can obtain more specific information or receive counseling regarding SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS by visiting the Campus Financial Aid Services Office.