VEBO Satisfactory Academic Progress
All students receiving Veterans Affairs (VA) Education Benefits must meet the Portland Community College (PCC) Veterans Education Benefits Office (VEBO) standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
Please note there are differences between VEBO SAP standards, PCC academic standards, and PCC Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress.
How do I meet VEBO SAP standards?
VEBO SAP standing is based on all academic history at PCC, regardless of whether or not VA Education Benefits were used. The standards to maintain Good Standing are:
Successful completion
Successfully complete two-thirds (66.67%) of attempted credits each term with a grade of A, B, C, D, or Pass. Grades of F, NP (no pass), W (withdraw), I (incomplete), or CIP (course in progress) are considered not successfully completed.
Grade point average
Maintain a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.0. Cumulative grade point average is calculated from all grades achieved by a student, not just from one term.
What are VEBO SAP statuses?
VEBO SAP status is calculated after each term of attendance.
VEBO SAP Good Standing
All students begin at PCC in a status of VEBO SAP Good Standing. Students who meet the standards after their most recent term will remain in VEBO SAP Good Standing.
VEBO SAP Warning
A student who does not meet the above standards after their most recent term at PCC will have their SAP status updated to VEBO SAP Warning. Students in Warning will receive a notification of status that will include suggested resources to support academic success. If that student successfully meets the SAP standards in their next enrolled term the status will update to VEBO SAP Good Standing.
VEBO SAP Suspension
A student in a status of VEBO SAP Warning who fails to meet the standards during that term will have their status updated to VEBO SAP Suspension and will be ineligible to receive VA Education Benefits until they either 1) meet the SAP standards by raising their cumulative GPA to 2.0 and successfully complete a term passing two-thirds (66.67%) of their attempted credits, or, 2) submit an appeal that is subsequently approved.
Students in VEBO SAP Suspension will receive a notification of status that includes information about how to appeal their status and will include suggested resources to support academic success. A student may appeal if the reason for failure to meet SAP standards was the result of extenuating circumstances and if the situation that caused them to not meet SAP standards has been resolved. Documentation of extenuating circumstances may be required. Appeal decisions will be made on a case by case basis and students will be notified of the outcome via MyPCC email.
Appeal process
The appeal process for reinstatement of VA Education Benefit eligibility involves responding to three questions:
- What challenges impacted your success in the recent terms you attended PCC?
- How have these challenges been resolved?
- What specific actions will you take to be successful in your program at PCC moving forward?
When an appeal is approved, the student will be placed into a status of VEBO SAP Probation and will be able to use VA benefits for the next term they enroll. If the student is successful in meeting the SAP standards in the next term their status will be updated to VEBO SAP Good Standing for the next term they enroll.
When an appeal is denied, or if no appeal is submitted, that student will remain in a status of VEBO SAP Suspension and will not be able to receive VA Education Benefits until they meet the standards and raise their cumulative GPA to 2.0 and successfully complete a term completing two-thirds (66.67%) of their attempted credits using another source of funding.
Please note that your VA Education Benefits SAP status is separate from your PCC Financial Aid SAP status and PCC academic standards. A student may have a different status under each policy and need to respond to more than one office.
Questions?
Students with any questions about the standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress should contact the Veterans Education Benefits Office.