Keeping Your VA Benefits

Satisfactory Academic Progress
The law requires that educational assistance benefits to veterans and other eligible persons be discontinued when the student ceases to make satisfactory progress toward completion of his or her training objective.

Policy
The policy of the Office of Veterans Services is to provide guidance and to ensure students maintain consistent progress towards an approved educational goal. Schools are required by law to have and enforce standards of progress and conduct in order for their school to be approved for VA benefits. It is the responsibility of all VA educational aid recipients to understand the terms and conditions of the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy in order to maintain eligibility for aid.

Standards
There are three standards used for the assessment of SAP: 1. A minimum cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.00. Completion of at least 50% of units attempted each semester. Student progress is reviewed at the end of each semester.  Under this policy it is possible that a veteran or dependent's VA educational benefits could be suspended due to unsatisfactory progress while they are still technically in a probationary status with the College and allowed to continue in attendance.

THERE ARE TWO NON-SATISFACTORY STATUSES:

Warning Status
Is the status assigned to a student who fails to make SAP. A student on WARNING status will receive email notification that they may continue to receive aid. WARNING status does not require an appeal or other student action.

Probation Status
At the end of the WARNING semester, a student is expected to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress standards. Students who fail to make SAP by the end of the WARNING semester will be notified by email about their probation status for VA benefits. At the discretion of the Las Positas College VA Certifying Official, a student may be placed on PROBATION and continue to receive benefits. If approved on a probationary status, the student will be required to sign a Probation Agreement which outlines the terms and conditions that must be met for the student to maintain eligibility. The Probation Agreement must be in place before certification of benefits will be filed with the Veterans Administration for subsequent terms.

Academic Suspension
Is only assigned to a student who has failed to meet SAP standards after a probationary term. Students will be placed on "Academic Suspension" and educational benefits will be discontinued.

Reinstatment
Students may regain eligibility for education benefits, after being placed on Academic Suspension, under the following circumstances: Student must complete at least one term unaided in which the following conditions are met:

• Completing a minimum of six units with a 2.0 GPA during the unaided semester;
• Completing at least 50% of units attempted during the unaided semester.

Students whose educational benefits have been reinstated after suspension may receive benefits on a probationary status. However, those students must continue to show progress during that probationary semester by completing at least 50% of units and improving the overall cumulative grade point average (if previously below a 2.0).