FINANCIAL AID & SCHOLARSHIPS
WE CAN HELP YOU PAY FOR COLLEGE
Eligibility
To be eligible for federal financial aid, students must meet the following minimum requirements
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen (a permanent resident who has valid documentation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security verifying that his/her stay in the U.S. is for other than a temporary purpose).
- Be making satisfactory academic progress in a course of study leading to an associate degree, certificate, or transfer to a baccalaureate degree program.
- Not be in default on any federal student loan (including but not limited to: Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Family Educational Loan or Direct Loan).
- Not owe a refund or overpayment on a federal or state educational grant.
- Be registered with the Selective Service System if required.
- Be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program of study during the academic year for which you are applying for financial aid.
- Have a valid Social Security number.
- Demonstrate an "Ability to Benefit" as defined below (students who meet one of the qualifications listed below have demonstrated the ability to benefit from post-secondary education in accordance with applicable federal regulations):
- received a high school diploma, or
- passed a high school proficiency examination, or
- received a certificate of General Education Development (GED)
To be eligible for state financial aid (California College Promise Grant (CCPG) and Cal Grant program), students must meet the following minimum requirements
- Be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen (a permanent resident who has valid documentation from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security verifying that his/her stay in the U.S. is for other than a temporary purpose), or meet the eligibility provisions in state law AB540. ***NOTE: This is the only requirement applicable to CCPG applicants; all other bulleted items below are not used to determine eligibility for the CCPG program.***
- Be making satisfactory academic progress in a course of study leading to an associate degree, certificate, or transfer to a baccalaureate degree program.
- Not be in default on any federal student loan (including but not limited to: Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Family Educational Loan or Direct Loan).
- Not owe a refund or overpayment on a federal or state educational grant.
- Be registered with the Selective Service System if required.
- Be enrolled as a regular student in an eligible program of study during the academic year for which you are applying for financial aid.
- Demonstrate an "Ability to Benefit" as defined below (students who meet one of the qualifications listed below have demonstrated the ability to benefit from post-secondary education in accordance with applicable federal regulations):
- received a high school diploma, or
- passed a high school proficiency examination, or
- received a certificate of General Education Development (GED)
What is Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)?
To be eligible for federal and state financial aid programs, students are required by the U.S. Department of Education and the State of California to maintain satisfactory academic progress as they work toward completing their educational objective; certificate, associate degree, or transfer program. The Los Angeles Community College District (LACCD) has established guidelines to promote timely completion of its educational programs, which are applied to all classes taken in the LACCD.
The following questions and answers are provided to further explain who is affected by SAP, which financial aid programs are affected, how the policy is applied, and what you can do to maintain progress or appeal.
Which financial aid programs are affected by the Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements?
Programs governed by the LACCD SAP policy include: Federal Pell Grant, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), Federal Direct student and parent (PLUS) loans, Cal Grants (B & C), and Student Success Completion Grant (SSCG). The California College Promise Grant (formerly known as the Board of Governors (BOG) Fee Waiver) is exempt from these SAP requirements.
Who is affected by the SAP policy?
All students who apply for, receive, and/or wish to receive financial aid are affected by the SAP policy and requirements.
All students are monitored for Satisfactory Academic Progress at the end of each payment period (Summer, Fall/Winter, and Spring comprise our payment periods). Federal guidelines require that we count all classes even if a student was not receiving financial aid at the time they were enrolled. Units from all semesters and terms are counted and evaluated. Also, units from non-LACCD colleges noted on transcripts received by Admissions & Records Offices in the LACCD will be counted and evaluated.
Classes taken at any of the colleges in our District count toward your enrollment status when determining how much you will be disbursed. We therefore hold you accountable for all of the classes that you take within the District.
What are the SAP policy standards?
- GPA: Maintenance of a 2.00 or higher cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA).
- Pace of Progression: Successful completion of a minimum of 66.5% of cumulative units attempted.
- Maximum Time Frame: Attempted less than 150% of the number of units required for your academic program.
What is a 2.00 GPA?
Basically, a 2.00 GPA is a "C" average. Your GPA is calculated by dividing the number of grade points you received by the number of units completed with a grade point equivalent (i.e., letter grades of A, B, C, D, or F). Grades are assigned the following point values:
A = 4 points
B = 3 points
C = 2 points
D = 1 point
F = 0 points
For example: If you enrolled in four three-unit classes in a semester and received two B and two C grades, you will have earned a 2.50 GPA.
2 classes x 3 units/class x 3.00 (grades of B) = 18 grade points
2 classes x 3 units/class x 2.00 (grades of C) = 12 grade points
(18 + 12 grade points)/12 total units = 2.50 GPA
How do you calculate your Pace of Progression?
Students must successfully complete a minimum of 66.5% of the cumulative units they attempt. Classes in which you earn grades of A, B, C, D, CR, or P are considered successfully completed. Classes in which you earn grades of F, W, EW, INC, NCR, and NP are not considered to be successfully completed and will negatively affect your Pace of Progression.
To calculate your Pace of Progression, take the total of your successfully completed units and divide them by the cumulative units you have attempted. For example, if you have attempted 30 units (i.e., ten 3-unit classes) and have passed 24 units (eight 3-unit classes), your Pace of Progression is 80%.
Military Withdrawal (MW) grades are not used in calculating a student's Pace of Progression.
How do you determine your Maximum Time Frame?
Federal guidelines allow colleges to account for circumstances that may extend the period of time a student requires to complete their academic program. As such, the LACCD will allow students to attempt up to 150% of number of units normally required for their academic program.
For example, most associate degree and transfer programs require 60 units, so students may attempt up to 89 units (less than 150%) before being disqualified from financial aid.
The Maximum Time Frame for students enrolled in certificate programs is generally shorter, as most certificate programs require fewer units to complete when compared to associate degree and transfer programs. Community Colleges are two-year institutions. Most of our degree and certificate programs require approximately 60 units (or less) and are designed to be completed in two years or less. Additional units are allowed, by the LACCD SAP policy and federal guidelines, to provide for unforeseen circumstances. For example, a change of major or unexpected medical issue may result in a student attempting more than the minimum number of units required to complete his/her academic program.
How are ESL and remedial classes treated?
Remedial ESL and Basic Skills/remedial classes are excluded from the Maximum Time Frame calculation. All other credit coursework is counted in the Maximum Time Frame calculation.
What happens when a student does not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress standards?
Warning Status: Students will be placed on Warning Status if a) they were initially in good standing (based on SAP standards or do not have a previously-calculated standing, and b) at the end of their most current semester they do not meet the GPA or Pace of Progression standards. Students will remain eligible for financial aid during their Warning Status, assuming they are not disqualified due to the Maximum Time Frame or External Degree standards. Students will be sent a Warning Status notification.
Students who receive Warning Status notifications should see an academic counselor as soon as possible. Students should work with their counselor to determine the steps they can take to improve their GPA and/or percentage of successfully completed classes (Pace of Progression).
Advisory letters are sent to students after the end of the first semester where their number of units attempted reaches or exceeds 75% or 100% of the number of units required for their academic program. Students should see an academic counselor to ensure they are taking the classes needed to reach their educational goal before reaching the 150% Maximum Time Frame limit.
Disqualification: Students are disqualified if they have one or more of the following academic deficiencies:
-Does not meet the GPA standard following a semester of attendance for which they were placed on Warning Status.
- Does not meet the Pace of Progression standard following a semester of attendance for which they were placed on Warning Status.
- Exceeds the Maximum Time Frame standard for their academic program.
- Has earned an associate degree or higher outside the LACCD.
Disqualification notifications are sent to students if they have one or more academic deficiency noted above.
What is the procedure if a student wants to appeal a disqualification from financial aid?
Students may submit a written petition to the Financial Aid Office explaining why they were unable to meet SAP policy requirements.
The Financial Aid Office may also require the submission of a Student Educational Plan approved by an academic counselor. Students who do not meet the GPA and/or Pace of Progression standard should complete a Petition for Reinstatement of Financial Aid. Students who have attempted 150% or more of the units required for their academic program and/or have completed an associate or higher degree outside of the LACCD should complete a Petition for Extension of Financial Aid.
Petitions for reinstatement should address why the student's academic progress has not met standards and what the student has done to rectify this situation. Petitions for extension should address either a) why the student needs additional units/classes to complete their program, or b) why they are working on a new educational program (for students who have already completed an associate or higher degree). Students should include any and all documentation that supports their written statements regarding their past academic performance.
Students must submit their petition during the semester for which they want their financial aid eligibility reinstated or extended. Check with the Financial Aid Office for filing deadline dates, as petitions cannot be accepted after the college’s deadline.
If a student's first petition is denied, they may submit a second petition during the semester, assuming there is still time before the filing deadline date. There is no guarantee that a student will have time to submit a second petition if their first petition was not submitted in a timely manner.
If a student believes the Financial Aid Office has not followed federal, state, district, and/or college policies and guidelines, they may submit a request for an SAP Administrative Review. The form, available in the Financial Aid Office, must be submitted during the semester for which the student is requesting reinstatement or extension of financial aid eligibility, and must be submitted before 80% of the given semester has elapsed in order for the student to retain any rights to federal and/or state aid for the given semester.
An Administrative Review is not a third petition. It can only be submitted when a student believes the college did not follow the policies and guidelines that govern the SAP criteria, calculation, and/or petition process.
Need a Petition form?
Need a Petition form?
The Petition for Extension of Financial Aid form is an online form, available through the Student Portal. Click on the Finances Menu button at the top and you will see SAP Petition Form under the Financial Aid group of options. On the next screen you will select the View/Apply SAP Appeal link to access the form. As part of the process, you will need to meet with your academic counselor in order to develop your Student Educational Plan, listing the remaining courses for your academic program.
The Petition for Reinstatement of Financial Aid form is available at the Online Forms webpage.
This information is subject to change without notice for reasons related to changes in Federal and State regulations and District policy. Students who have questions about financial aid and the SAP policy of LACCD should consult with the Financial Aid Office at their campus. This text (as taken from the LACCD "SAP" brochure) is a summary of federal, state, district and college regulations, policies and procedures. Additional information is available regarding the SAP policy, status determination, and petition procedures and deadlines in your college’s Financial Aid Office.
Financial Aid & Scholarships Office
Office Hours and Location
Physical Counter Hours
Mondays and Tuesdays: 8:30AM - 4:00PM
Wednesdays and Thursdays: 8:30AM - 12:00PM
Fridays: 8:30AM - 1:00PM
Saturdays and Sundays: Closed
Virtual Counter Hours
Mondays and Tuesdays: 8:00AM - 4:00PM
Wednesdays and Thursdays: 8:00AM - 12:00PM
Fridays: 8:00AM - 1:00PM
Saturdays and Sundays: Closed
Located at the Student Services Center (inside the Instructional Building, near the clock tower)
Contact
Phone: (818) 364-7648
Phone: (818) 364-7649
Phone: (818) 364-7708
Email Us
Federal School Code
012550