INTRODUCTION
Federal regulations require that colleges set standards that you must meet in order to be eligible for financial aid and to keep it from one academic year to the next.  Even if you have never applied for or received financial aid, your overall history in college will be reviewed before you are awarded financial aid to make sure you are meeting these standards. 

A. DECLARATION OF YOUR MAJOR You must declare a specific major area of study. You may choose an associate degree, certificate program, or transfer program. Our catalogs list the requirements for various majors. If you are undecided about your major course of study, we suggest you discuss your educational objective with an academic counselor.

B. EDUCATIONAL PLAN
You are encouraged to submit a counselor-approved educational program plan* to your campus Financial Aid Office. Your educational plan is an unofficial outline of the courses you need to complete your major. You use it as a guide to see how many credits and required courses you have completed at all colleges, and how many more credits and required courses you need.
*To get an Educational Plan, make an appointment with an academic counselor at your campus.

C. STUDENTS TRANSFERRING FROM ANOTHER COLLEGE
If you transferred from any other college outside the San Diego Community College District (SDCCD), you must request an original academic transcript from the college(s) you attended. Transcripts will be reviewed by the District Student Services staff to determine the transferable units. These units will be used to determine if you have exceeded the maximum time frame. (See Section D.)

D. MAXIMUM TIME FRAME
Completion of an Associate Degree normally requires 60 units. Based on federal regulations, a student is allowed a maximum time frame not to exceed 150% of the published length of the educational program (60 units x 150% = 90 units).

1. You may receive aid until you have attempted 90 semester units (134 quarter units) of college credit. Transfer students: We will include in the calculation all transfer units accepted by the District.

2. You may receive aid until you have earned an Associate or higher degree.

3. A student may be paid financial aid for up to 30 attempted units of remedial course work. A maximum of 30 units of remedial course work will not be included in the calculation of maximum time frame.

4. The maximum time frame will not be adjusted for a change of major.

5. Repeated courses will be included in determining the maximum time frame.

E. DETERMINATION OF ACADEMIC PROGRESS
In order to be making satisfactory progress a student must complete at least 67% of all units attempted in the San Diego Community College District (60 units )/ 90 units = 67%). 

• Units completed are "A" through "D" grades, or "CR" passing with credit.

• Units not completed are "F" grades, "W" withdrawal, "I" incomplete, or "NC" no credit.

• Remedial courses and repeated courses will be used in the determination of academic progress. 

Your academic progress will be determined once each year at the end of the spring semester. A year is defined as summer, fall and spring. Your interim status will be reviewed at the end of the fall semester. Note that Summer is used as a leader only for determining your Satisfactory Academic Progress. To remain eligible for aid, you must comply with all standards regarding minimum grade point average, minimum cumulative units to be completed, and maximum units attempted.

GPA PROGRESS
We will use a 2.00 GPA standard for determining the GPA progress. Students with a cumulative GPA of 2.00 or higher in the SDCCD will be in Good Standing. Students who drop below a cumulative 2.00 GPA will be placed on Probation for the academic year. Students who are on Probation and fail to bring their cumulative GPA to 2.00 or higher will be Disqualified for the following academic year.

DISQUALIFICATION STATUS
Students will be disqualified if they -

• Completed less than 67% of the total cumulative units attempted or

• Have a cumulative GPA of less than 2.00 for two consecutive years or

• Attempted 90 or more units or

• Have earned an Associate or higher degree

You may appeal these limitations if extenuating circumstances exist. (See section F on appeals below.)

F. APPEALS
If you are disqualified from receiving financial aid and extenuating circumstances exist, you may submit an appeal to your campus Financial Aid Office for the Appeal Committee's consideration. Appeals will be considered in the date order in which they were received. All appeal and supporting documents must be received in the Financial Aid Office by the last day of the term for which you are appealing.  THE DECISION OF THE APPEAL COMMITTEE IS FINAL.

G. REINSTATEMENT FROM DISQUALIFICATION
If you choose not to appeal, or if your appeal is denied, you may apply again for financial aid after one year of attendance AND after meeting the minimum standards for satisfactory progress.  You may then be reinstated and qualify for financial aid.

APPLICABILITY OF THESE STANDARDS
These standards apply to the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work Study (FWS), Federal Family Education Loans, Federal Direct Loan Program, and the Cal Grant programs. They are effective for the current Summer semester and will be used at the end of the Spring semester for eligibility determination for the following school year. These standards supersede all previous standards.

The "Policy for Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Recipients" was approved by the San Diego Community College District Student Services Council on February 6, 1997