Regulations require schools to participate in financial aid programs to establish academic progress standards that measure a student's progress toward an educational goal. As a financial aid recipient, it is your responsibility to understand the terms and conditions of the IVC Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy as it applies to you.

Financial aid is limited to a certain number of units based on your current program of study. All students are encouraged to have an educational plan completed, with the assistance of an academic counselor, in order to ensure they are taking the courses required to complete your program within the standards listed below.

EFFECTIVE DATE: This policy applies to all financial aid recipients beginning with Fall 2022. These standards will be applied to federal financial aid as well as Cal Grants and supersede any prior year SAP standards. All academic coursework attempted through Spring 2023 will be evaluated using these standards whether or not you received financial aid for those semesters. Note: students enrolled in programs of one year or less must be evaluated at each term (this may include Summer 2023 which would be evaluated using these standards). Using professional judgment, we may monitor SAP by term on a case-by-case basis. 

GOOD STANDING: Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) will be evaluated at the end of Spring 2023 semester (except for short-term programs noted above). In order to maintain eligibility for financial aid, you must meet the following standards:

*EWs granted due to COVID-19 during Spring 2020 do not count as units attempted for PACE or MTF purposes

REMEDIAL COURSEWORK: Financial aid is limited to 30 attempted units of remedial, prerequisite, and preparatory coursework. ESL courses are not subject to this limit.

REPEAT COURSEWORK: Repeated coursework will be counted toward the completion rate and maximum timeframe standards. Only the highest grade will be counted toward GPA. In addition, you may only receive financial aid for one repeat of a previously passed course.

TRANSFER COURSEWORK: Units acceptable for transfer into IVC will be included in your SAP evaluation. It is your responsibility to request transcripts from previously attended institutions if you choose to apply units toward your current educational objective. 

ACADEMIC RENEWAL: Academic Renewal is not recognized for financial aid purposes. The original earned units and grades are always counted as units attempted, in the GPA calculation, and toward the maximum timeframe as appropriate.

GRADE CHANGES: Grade changes will be reflected in the next regular SAP evaluation. SAP evaluations that were accurate at the time they were performed will not be updated. You may request a retroactive recalculation only in case of an error. 

DISQUALIFICATION (DQ): If SAP standards are not met for all coursework attempted by the end of the Spring semester you will be disqualified for the entire year. Note: Students enrolled in programs of one year or less must be evaluated each term. You will be notified via your IVC email account and WebSTAR of the Disqualified (DQ) status. Disqualified students with extenuating circumstances may appeal (see the process below). Students may also remove deficiencies for prior academic years in the Summer session. Otherwise, SAP status will be re-evaluated at the next annual evaluation. Students who meet SAP standards at that point will be reinstated.

MAXIMUM TIMEFRAME (MTF): Once you have reached the MTF unit limit for your declared primary program of study or it is determined you are unable to complete your program within the MTF limit, you will be notified via your IVC email account and WebSTAR. If you have had a change of major or enrolled in a high unit major you may request a unit extension, the form is available on the Financial Aid webpage. If you feel you may have extenuating circumstances you may appeal (see the process below).

FINANCIAL AID PETITION/APPEALS PROCESS: If you have extenuating circumstances that prevented you from meeting SAP standards you may file an appeal. The first step is to complete all your financial aid requirements to determine if you are otherwise eligible for financial aid. The second step is to request an appeal from the financial aid office, you will be directed to complete the appeal form. You must explain the extenuating circumstances and what has changed that will allow you to make SAP by the next term. Documentation will be required to support your statement. Each appeal will be reviewed by the Appeal Committee and will be recommended for approval or denial based upon the student's individual circumstances. All decisions are final and there is no higher appeal. If your appeal is approved, you will be required to meet with an academic counselor to develop an Academic Plan. Once financial aid receives the Academic Plan, you will be placed on Probation Status and awarded aid according to the conditions of the Academic Plan which will be reviewed each term.