Financial Aid (SAP) Appeal

The SAP Appeal Process is now under a new platform in CUNY Student Forms.

When you receive financial aid, federal guidelines require that you make real and measurable progress toward your degree in order to continue to receive aid. This requirement is called Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

CUNY evaluates a student’s academic progress annually. When evaluating SAP, all semesters of enrollment for the program of study will be evaluated regardless of whether the student received financial aid during those semesters or not. If a student is not meeting one of the defined measurable progress standards, their federal financial aid will be suspended. If there are extenuating circumstances, a student may appeal the financial aid suspension, and, if the appeal is granted, begin to receive federal financial aid once again.

If you have a Financial Aid Academic Progress Issue task on your CUNYfirst account, you may complete a SAP Appeal by logging into CUNY Student Forms and completing all SAP Tasks. To view instructions on how to log into CUNY Student Forms, click here.

Before you can access the SAP appeal on your checklist in CUNYfirst you must file your FAFSA application. After you have filed your FAFSA and it has been processed, you must allow 48 10 72 hours before you can log in to view checklist on CUNYfirst.

Students should aim to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress by keeping the following GPA Requirements:

  • Less than 12 Credits = minimum of 1.5 GPA
  • Less than 24 Credits = minimum of 1.75 GPA
  • 25 Credits (or 4 semesters) = minimum of 2.0 GPA

Pace of Progress

You must make satisfactory academic progress in your program of study to continue receiving federal financial aid at BCC.
There are 3 parts to the college’s federal satisfactory academic progress standard:
1.     Minimum GPA — You must have the GPA needed to meet the college’s minimum retention standard (that is, you cannot be on academic probation, special probation or academic dismissal).
2.     Maximum Time-frame — You may not attempt more than 150% of the credits normally required to earn your degree (that is, you cannot attempt more than 90 credits to earn 60).
3.     Pace of Progression — You must successfully complete a certain percentage of the total number of credits that you attempt according to the following table:
 
Credits Attempted
12
18
24
30
36
42
48
54
60
66
72
78
84
90
Credits Earned
0
2
4
6
13
19
23
27
33
39
44
49
55
61

If you require a Financial Aid (SAP) appeal, the student would have been notified by the Office of Financial Aid. When a Financial Aid (SAP) Appeal is required, this means that the student did not meet Satisfactory Academic Progress.
In order for Financial Aid to be reinstated, the student must file a Financial Aid (SAP) Appeal. The student MUST also file a FAFSA application and complete any checklist items on your record to receive financial aid if your appeal is granted. Additionally, if your Financial Aid (SAP) appeal is granted, the student must adhere to the guidelines that were placed on their Academic Plan.

Please note, filing a SAP appeal does not guarantee an automatic approval and reinstatement of financial aid. When a student submits an SAP Appeal, the following documents are needed:

  • A completed SAP Form
  • Personal statement explaining past performance and indicating a change in the circumstances
  • Supporting Documentation
  • Realistic (C+ predictive) academic plan

If you need assistance with submitting a Financial Aid (SAP) Appeal, you should contact your academic advisor. For questions regarding the Financial Aid (SAP) Appeal process you may contact the Office of Financial Aid at 718 289 5700 or via e-mail at financialaid@bcc.cuny.edu

Required Appeal Document Definitions

Academic Planner: An agreed upon plan created by the students academic advisor that shows the student the classes that they must take alongside the grade that they MUST earn.
Typed Personal Statement: A statement that documents the circumstances that the student faced that affected their academic performance. Each statement must reflect a detailed account of the circumstances and the students reasons for not being academically successful during the semester in question. The statement must also reflect if the circumstances that led to their academic performance have changed and express how they will prepare for academic success in the future. If applicable, the student should also express why they did not properly withdraw from their classes.
Supporting Documentation: Official documentation that supports what is written in the student’s Personal Statement. This may include but is not limited to medical documentation, birth certificates, housing paperwork and court documents.

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