Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) is the term used to define successful completion of coursework to maintain financial aid eligibility. The College of Southern Nevada (CSN) is required by federal, state, and institutional policies to determine whether a student meets SAP requirements. SAP evaluation for undergraduate students will occur at the conclusion of each semester.
The student's entire academic career history must be considered when determining SAP status regardless of whether or not the student has received financial aid during each enrollment period.
SAP Standards
Qualitative Measurement
Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of each semester to remain in good standing. Students failing this standard will be placed on a “warning” status for the following semester.
Students can view CSN’s grading system and grade point value here.
Quantitative Measurement
Students must have a PACE of completion of 66.67% at the end of each semester to remain in good standing. Students failing this standard will be placed on a “warning” status for the following semester.
The Pace or completion ratio is calculated by determining the cumulative number of credit hours the student has successfully completed divided by the number of cumulative credit hours the student has attempted. Credits accepted from other schools that are applied to a College of Southern Nevada degree are counted in the calculation as both attempted and completed hours.
For financial aid purposes, the following definitions and conditions apply:
- To earn hours at CSN, one must receive a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D- or P. *All other grades, including F, I AU and W do not earn credit hours.
- Audited courses count as attempted but not earned hours. Therefore, auditing classes will negatively affect a student’s ability to satisfy the hours earned standard. Accepted transfer credit will have no effect on cumulative GPA.
Maximum Timeframe Measurement
Students must complete their program within 150% of the published length of their program in credit hours. The number of attempted credits cannot exceed 150% measurement for their degree.
For example, if an Associates degree is 60 credit hours in length, students cannot exceed 90 attempted credit hours.
Please note: A student who completes the academic requirements for a program but does not yet have the degree or certificate is not eligible for further additional federal student aid funds for that program.
Regaining Eligibility for Financial Aid & SAP Appeal Process
It is highly recommended that students consult with the CSN Financial Aid Office to determine the best route to regain eligibility
The following may be considered for regaining eligibility for financial aid:
- Taking courses during the summer sessions(s)
- Repeating failed courses
- Completing incomplete grades
- Completing courses at another institution
Cumulative GPA can only be improved by coursework at CSN. Hours-earned deficiencies may be remedied by attendance at CSN or another institution. However, if enrolling elsewhere, the student must complete the appropriate transfer credit evaluation request forms and have the course work pre-approved by the academic school/department prior to enrolling at the other institution. After completing course work elsewhere, the student must request that an academic transcript be sent to the Student records department and follow the appropriate policy to have transfer credits evaluated. Once deficiencies have been remedied, the student must notify the CSN Financial Aid Office and request reinstatement of eligibility. This request should be made after all grades and credit hours are officially recorded by the appropriate academic offices.
Neither paying for one’s classes nor sitting out for one or more terms affects a student’s academic progress standing, so neither is sufficient to reestablish aid eligibility.
Students wishing to be considered for SAP Probation must submit a SAP appeal on or before the semester deadline as indicated in our Important Financial Aid Dates.
Appeal Process & Procedure
A student who fails one or more of the three measures (qualitative, quantitative, and maximum time frame) after being placed on one semester of financial aid “Warning” will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension. The student is not eligible for federal, state, and institutional financial aid, which includes grants, scholarships, work-study, and loans. However, students failing SAP standards who have had extenuating circ*mstances beyond their control may request reinstatement of their financial aid eligibility by completing and submitting the SAP Appeal Form.
The appeal must include the following:
- A completed SAP Appeal Form
- A signed, typewritten personal statement explaining:
- Any extenuating circ*mstances that caused you to be placed on SAP suspension.
- How the extenuating circ*mstance(s) caused your academic underperformance; and
- What you have done to overcome the extenuating circ*mstance(s).
- Provide official documentation that supports your extenuating circ*mstance.
- A completed Academic Rehabilitation Plan completed with your Academic Counselor or Health Sciences Advisor
Important Information about Appeal Processes
Families and students should realize that financial aid funds are limited and aid programs have statutory annual limits per student. In many cases, even if an appeal meets the criteria above, it may not result in any additional aid.
- CSN limits financial aid eligibility to two earned degrees. A degree received at another institution will count as a degree (s).
- If a second appeal is required, the same recurring circ*mstances in a sequential year will be scrutinized more vigorously, as they are not extraordinary circ*mstances.
- Review and decisions about SAP Appeals are made by a committee of staff professionals and are final.Decisions cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.
SAP Appeals Committee and Decision
Students will be sent official notification of the appeals committee decision via email and placed in the MyCSN communications center. The decision of the SAP Appeals Committee is final.
If the extenuating circ*mstance, documentation, and Academic Rehab Plan are acceptable to the Appeals Committee, the appeal will be approved. The student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and the student’s financial aid eligibility will be reinstated for one subsequent semester.
At the conclusion of the subsequent payment period after the approved appeal, if the student meets the standards of SAP, the Financial Aid Probation status will be removed. If not, the student’s academic performance for the term will be evaluated against the student’s SAP Academic Rehab Plan.
If the student meets the requirements of the Academic Rehab Plan, the student will be assigned Financial Aid Probation for the subsequent payment period.
If the student fails to meet SAP standards or the requirements set forth in the SAP Academic Rehab Plan, the student will be deemed ineligible for financial aid. Once deficiencies have been remedied, the student may notify the Office of Financial Aid and request reinstatement of eligibility. This request should be made after all grades and credit hours are officially recorded by the appropriate academic office and with the Office of Enrollment Services at CSN.
SAP Appeal Deadlines
Students must submit SAP Appeals by the 30th day of the semester in which they are requesting financial aid reinstatement. The Financial Aid Important Dates page lists the deadline for the SAP Appeal for the academic year.
- Students may submit a SAP Appeal immediately after being suspended for the following semester they wish to enroll in. There is no longer a “sit out” semester.
- The SAP Appeal deadline for each semester is 30 days after the semester starts. Please note that students must make payment arrangements with the Cashier’s Office if they have not received an approved appeal decision by the payment deadline of the semester in which they are appealing.
- Effective Summer 2023: A student is eligible to submit one Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeal per Suspension period. For example, if a student is suspended on two separate occasions throughout their CSN academic career, they may submit one SAP Appeal after each new suspension period. Note: A suspension period is defined as the time in which a student is not meeting one or more SAP standards (GPA, PACE, and Maximum Time Frame). Additionally, if a student is returned to suspension for not following the conditions of their approved SAP Appeal, it shall be considered a new suspension period, thus allowing for the submission of a new SAP Appeal.
- SAP Appeal decisions are final, and if denied, a student may not re-appeal until they have regained eligibility on their own and then have subsequently been placed back into another suspension period.
- Financial Aid will not hold students in their courses while their appeal is pending. In addition, students will be responsible for any charges on their student account if the SAP Appeal decision is not approved.
Definition of SAP Statuses
At the end of each semester, the CSN Financial Aid Office reviews students’ academic progress and notifies students of their statuses through their MyCSN Communication Center and CSN-issued email. The following statuses are determined.
Good Standing
The student meets the minimum GPA, Pace, and maximum time frame standard and, if otherwise eligible, can receive financial aid.
Warning
The student fails to meet the minimum standard for GPA, Pace, or both GPA and Pace the student will be placed on a warning status. The student can receive financial assistance for one additional semester but will be suspended if they do not improve their academic performance and meet the minimum standards by the end of the next evaluation period.
Financial Aid Suspension
Financial Aid Suspension is a status assigned to a student who fails to make SAP, fails to regain eligibility by meeting the minimum SAP standards after a successful appeal and a probationary period, or does not fulfill the requirements set forth in their Academic Rehab Plan when placed on Financial Aid Probation.A student who is placed on Financial Aid Suspension may only receive financial aid if the student regains eligibility by meeting the standards set forth in this policy.
Financial Aid Probation
Financial Aid Probation status is assigned to a student who fails to make SAP and who has successfully appealed and has had eligibility for financial aid reinstated. A student who is placed on financial aid probation may receive financial aid for one subsequent payment period. A student on Financial Aid Probation may be required to meet certain terms and conditions.A student placed on Financial Aid Probation will be placed on an Academic Rehabilitation Plan.At the conclusion of the SAP Academic Probation payment period, the student must either meet the SAP standards or fulfill the requirements specified in the SAP Academic Rehab Plan or be placed on Financial Aid Suspension.
Previous SAP Standards Prior to 2022-2023
At the conclusion of the summer 2022 semester, the pace of progression or PACE standard changed from 67% to 66.67%.
Students suspended at the end of the spring 2022 semester or before based on the previous Standard of 67% PACE will remain suspended until they have reinstated their aid eligibility through the SAP Appeal process OR complete courses at their own expense until the new SAP standards have been met.
SAP Standard | Old Standard | New Standard effective end of Summer 2022 |
Cumulative GPA | 2.0 | 2.0 |
PACE | 67% | 66.67% |
Maximum Timeframe | Students cannot exceed 150% of the published number of credits in their program | Students cannot exceed 150% of the published number of credits in their program |
Standards previous to the 2022-2023 academic year
Qualitative Measurement
Students must have a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 at the end of each semester to remain in good standing. Students failing this standard will be placed on a “warning” status for the following semester.
Students can view CSN’s grading system and grade point value here.
Quantitative Measurement
Students must have a PACE of completion of 67% at the end of each semester to remain in good standing. Students failing this standard will be placed on a “warning” status for the following semester.
The Pace or completion ratio is calculated by determining the cumulative number of credit hours the student has successfully completed divided by the number of cumulative credit hours the student has attempted. Credits accepted from other schools that are applied to a College of Southern Nevada degree are counted in the calculation as both attempted and completed hours.
For financial aid purposes, the following definitions and conditions apply:
- To earn hours at CSN, one must receive a grade of A, A-, B+, B, B-, C+, C, C-, D+, D, D- or P. *All other grades, including F, I AU and W do not earn credit hours.
- Audited courses count as attempted but not earned hours. Therefore, auditing classes will negatively affect a student’s ability to satisfy the hours earned standard. Accepted transfer credit will have no effect on cumulative GPA.
Maximum Timeframe Measurement
Students must complete their program within 150% of the published length of their program in credit hours. The number of attempted credits cannot exceed 150% measurement for their degree.
For example, if an Associates degree is 60 credit hours in length, students cannot exceed 90 attempted credit hours.
Please note: A student who completes the academic requirements for a program but does not yet have the degree or certificate is not eligible for further additional federal student aid funds for that program.
Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility
The following may be considered for regaining eligibility for financial aid:
- Paying out-of-pocket for courses until you regain eligibility on your own.
- Students facing extenuating circ*mstances can submit a SAP appeal and supporting documentation to be reviewed for consideration of eligibility.
**SAP Appeal Deadlines for all terms prior to the 2022-2023 academic year have passed**
SAP FAQ
Q: I haven’t attended CSN since prior to the 2022-223 academic year and am currently suspended because my PACE was below 67%, am I now reinstated?
A: No, because you were suspended under the previous SAP Standard, you must still resolve that suspension by completing new courses or reinstate your aid through a SAP Appeal.
Q: My PACE is currently at 66.67% and I have not attended since prior to the start of the 2022-2023 academic year, and I am suspended from financial aid. Can I appeal for financial aid due to the change in the standard?
A: The reason for an appeal must be extenuating circ*mstances beyond your control that resulted in your current PACE. Changes to the SAP Policy did not cause your PACE percentage. It is just a change in how the financial aid office determines your eligibility.
If you have any questions about Satisfactory Academic Progress, pleaseContact Our Office.
