Academic Standing
There are three academic standards that may affect your financial aid eligibility. These are:
1- Institutional Academic Standing
This requirement applies to all financial aid programs. Institutional standards for maintaining matriculated status are defined in the academic rules. A copy of the academic rules is available in the Onondaga Student Handbook or in the Office of Certification and Records.
Students who lose matriculation are not considered to be in good standing in accordance with College policies. These students forfeit eligibility for all financial aid programs – institutional, state, and federal. Information on reinstatement to matriculated status is available at Student Central or in the College’s academic rules.
2- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for Federal Aid
This is a federally mandated standard that must be met by eligible recipients of Title IV (federal) financial aid – Federal Pell Grant, ACG, FSEOG, Federal Work-Study, Federal Stafford Student Loans, and Federal PLUS. SAP Policy for Federal Requirements (pdf)
3- Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for NYS Aid
This is a state requirement for recipients of state student financial assistance (TAP, APTS, Child of Veteran, NYS scholarships, etc.). SAP Policy for NYS Requirements (pdf)
Additional Information
Both the federal government and the New York State Education Department have mandated that each institution adopt a measure of good academic standing and satisfactory progress to be applied to students who are receiving financial aid under their programs. Onondaga Community College’s standards are established in accordance with the College’s academic rules.
The standards are quite complex and are not always parallel. Students should be aware that they may lose eligibility for one or more financial aid programs under any individual standard or a combination of standards, and that reinstatement under one standard does not necessarily mean that eligibility is restored under all standards. Students should further understand that dropping or adding coursework may have impact on financial aid eligibility and should contact Financial Aid any time such changes are being considered.
Federal and State financial aid SAP reviews are conducted at the conclusion of each semester, including summer. If the result is unsatisfactory, students are notified and given several options to become eligible again. Students with serious hardship situations may submit an application for waiver of satisfactory academic progress standards:
- SAP Appeal Instructions and Application (pdf)
- SAP Appeal Application Only (pdf)
- SAP Appeal Instructions Only (pdf)
Please contact the Financial Aid office if you have questions.
