Students who have received a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Ineligible Notification via email may submit a SAP Appeal Request Form to request to regain financial aid eligibility.

Students can become SAP Ineligible if they do not meet one or more of the following requirements for maintaining financial aid eligibility:

  • GPA: maintain a cumulative 2.0 GPA
  • Pace of Progression: successfully complete at least 67% of attempted units
  • Maximum Time Frame: Exceed the Maximum Time Frame (MTF) for completing your program of study

Please refer to the information on your SAP Appeal Task included on your financial aid portal and ensure you follow the appeal instructions related to the reason you are not meeting SAP.

Please Note: Students must be registered for the semester they are requesting aid to be reinstated. Students not registered at time of SAP Appeal submission will automatically have their appeal cancelled and will be required to resubmit upon becoming registered.

To Submit a SAP Appeal

Log into your Rio Hondo College Financial Aid Portal

Complete all required tasks associated with your SAP Appeal including:

  • SAP Appeal Agreement
  • SAP Appeal Request Form
  • Meet with an Academic Counselor and submit a copy of your Comprehensive Student Education Plan
  • Provide proof of extenuating circumstances that align with the explanation you provided on your SAP Appeal Request Form (only required for students who are not meeting the GPA and/or Pace of Progression requirement – refer to the information on your Financial Aid Portal)
    • Extenuating circumstances may include, but are not limited to:
      • Death in the family
      • Serious Illness
      • Other circumstances beyond student’s control

SAP Appeal Deadlines

The deadline to submit a SAP Appeal is always two weeks prior to the end of the semester you are requesting your aid to be reinstated.

  • Example: Submit SAP Appeal for Fall Semester – Due date is two weeks prior to end of Fall Semester – Refer to Rio Hondo College Academic Calendar for more information.
  • SAP Appeals are available for the Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters only.

Approved Appeals

Students with an approved SAP Appeal will be required to follow the requirements outlined in the SAP Appeal Agreement to maintain financial aid eligibility from semester-to semester.  Students not meeting the terms of the financial aid agreement will have an updated SAP Status of Ineligible and will be required to resubmit an appeal (with new extenuating circumstances), or continue on without financial aid assistance.

Denied Appeals

Students with a denied appeal will receive notification via your student email within 45-days of submission. Students wishing to request a secondary review of their denial can submit a request to [email protected]. Be sure to include your name, student ID number and reason for requesting a secondary review. Secondary reviews are reviewed by the Director, Financial Aid & Scholarships, and their decision is final.

Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility

Students who have not reached the Maximum Time Frame for receiving financial aid, have reached a 2.0 cumulative GPA and a 67% pace of progression will have their aid reinstated automatically if they were previously ineligible.