Satisfactory Academic Progress

TVCC is required by law to formulate standards to measure a student’s progress toward completion of a program of study while receiving financial assistance through federal, state, or institutional student aid programs by applying both qualitative and quantitative measurements to academic work (34 CFR 668.34). To comply with applicable laws and accreditation standards, TVCC has developed a policy describing Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for both applicants and recipients of student financial aid.

The following SAP policy measurements become effective July 1, 2019. These measurements shall be used to determine student eligibility for all need-based and federal Title IV financial assistance, unless the terms of a particular grant or funding source state otherwise. All current and returning students, after a lapse of one semester or longer, will be re-evaluated under the current SAP policy. Satisfactory Academic Progress is measured at the end of each payment period of enrollment. Some financial aid programs have specific requirements. In those instances, the program requirements will supersede the general SAP policy stated here.

Each financial aid applicant must select a primary program of study with TVCC Advising prior to receiving financial aid payments. A student can receive a retroactive financial aid payment for a prior term within the payment period only if he or she had a program of study selected or a degree program through Advising for that particular payment period of enrollment and are still currently enrolled for the school year. Students may not be allowed financial aid funding for multiple program changes for the purpose of extending financial aid eligibility. All previously repeated college-level courses will be counted in the Satisfactory Academic Progress calculations.

Transfer students must submit official transcripts from all previous colleges attended. If you have an unevaluated transcript with a print date that is more than three years old, you must submit a new one for evaluation.

Regulations for federal, state, and institutional aid require that students make satisfactory academic progress (SAP) to receive financial aid funding. These requirements take into consideration not only grades and hours but also a cumulative timeframe to receive Title IV student financial aid. This policy applies to all students at Trinity Valley Community College receiving financial aid from the programs identified below. All standards must be met for SAP to be maintained. If a student is applying for federal assistance, SAP will be analyzed and determined, even for periods of enrollment where federal assistance was not received.

Effective Spring 2022:

If your financial aid has not been processed or your SAP Appeal has not been reviewed 2 weeks prior to the first day of class, please enroll in an installment plan, pay your balance in full or drop your classes prior to the first day of class so that you are not charged for them.  Please make sure you have access to your MyCardinalConnect to receive all updates and important messages.  No exceptions will be made.

Effective Summer 2022:

SAP appeals will not be reviewed to determine fall eligibility (after summer courses are completed) until the fall census date.  If you are placed on financial aid suspension, please enroll in an installment plan, pay your balance in full or drop your classes prior to the first day of class so that you are not charged for them.  Please make sure you have access to your MyCardinalConnect to receive all updates and important messages.  No exceptions will be made.  

PELL, SEOG, DIRECT STUDENT LOANS, Direct PARENT LoANS, WORK STUDY, TPEG, Institutional Scholarships, STATE OF TEXAS EXEMPTIONS

Students must meet SAP standards in order to receive financial aid listed above.  Exception: Hazelwood Act Waiver for spouses and children of service members killed in action, missing in action, or deceased from a service-related injury or illness.  Please contact The TVCC Veterans Office for assistance or send an email to veterans@tvcc.edu. Foster Care and Adoption Exemptions may also be exempt from SAP requirements.  

Measurement 1: Qualitative Progress

A cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale or higher must be attained by the end of the student’s first semester of enrollment at TVCC. This average must be maintained at the end of each subsequent semester for a student to continue to receive financial aid. Students who do not meet this minimum CGPA requirement will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for one payment period of enrollment. If a GPA of 2.00 on a 4.00 scale or higher is not reached by the end of the warning period, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Measurement 2a: Quantitative Progress (Pace of Progress 67%)

To avoid exceeding the maximum timeframe required to complete a program of study using financial aid, students are expected to maintain a specific completion rate that is known as the “pace of progress.” At the end of each period of enrollment, students must have a cumulative passing rate of at least 67% of all classes attempted. Grades of W, WX, E, F and I will be counted as hours attempted but will not be counted as hours successfully passed. Repeating a course will be counted in the completion rate and against the overall maximum timeframe required to complete the program of study. With the exception of those students who exceed the maximum timeframe, students who do not maintain the minimum 67% pace of progress will be placed on Financial Aid Warning for one period of enrollment. If a 67% cumulative pace of progress is not reached by the end of the warning period, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.

Measurement 2b: Quantitative Progress (Maximum Timeframe 150%)

A student may apply for and, if eligible, receive financial aid for attempted credit hours that do not exceed 150% of the minimum number of hours required to complete the student’s primary program of study. All hours attempted toward the completion of a program of study will be counted regardless of whether financial aid was received or not. Credit hours transferred to TVCC are counted when calculating the 150% maximum timeframe. Once SAP is calculated, students who have attempted 150% of the minimum number of credit hours needed to complete their primary program of study will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. Students who are placed on Financial Aid Suspension may have exhausted their financial aid eligibility to complete the program and may not receive financial aid benefits to complete their primary program of study.

Examples:

  1. For a student completing an associate degree program that requires 60 hours, the student must complete the degree within 90 attempted hours. The student will lose eligibility for additional financial aid to complete the program after 90 attempted hours.
  2. For a student completing a certificate program that requires 32 hours, the student must complete the certificate within 48 attempted hours. The student will lose eligibility for additional financial aid to complete the program after 48 attempted hours.

*Financial attempted hours include all courses listed on a student’s transcript, counting other institutions attended, including classes with grades of W, F, FD, I, IP, repeated courses, and college preparatory courses.

TEOG SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

Students must maintain the following requirements in order to maintain financial aid eligibility and avoid suspension consequences:

  • Initial and First year students must meet TVCC’s SAP Policy
  • Second year
    • Must maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5.
    • Must maintain a 75% completion rate of all attempted* hours.

*Financial attempted hours include all courses listed on a student’s transcript, counting other institutions attended, including classes with grades of W, F, D, I, IP, repeated courses, and college preparatory courses.

Each recipient’s maximum timeframe must be monitored to ensure compliance. The maximum timeframe for receiving the grant is the first of:

  • 4 years from the start of the semester in which the student received the first award through the program;
  • 75 Semester Credit Hours (SCH's) attempted while receiving the grant; or
  • Completion of an associate degree or a bachelor's degree.

Beginning with awards for the 2015-2016 academic year, a student's eligibility for TEOG ends once he or she has attempted 75 SCH's or the equivalent, unless the student is granted a hardship extension.