Senior Spotlight: Completing the 2021-22 FAFSA |
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ACC is here to help!
October is Financial Aid Month,
Check out their webpage:
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FAFSA opens October 1st. and it is highly recommended students apply as early as possible. The FAFSA is available a whole year in advance and will cover the following school year: fall, spring, and summer. If you have a high school senior have them complete the FAFSA now!
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ACC is offering free virtual workshops, open to the public, October 12-17. During these workshops students can get 1:1 assistance completing the FAFSA.
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Non-citizens and undocumented students
Students who are not U.S. citizens or eligible non-citizens are not eligible for federal aid and cannot submit the FAFSA. However, they may be eligible for other financial aid, including TASFA, for Texas residents. For information on how to access those resources, go to: Residency status and undocumented students
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ECHS Senior Scholarship Spotlight |
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Free tuition is available for students who graduate high school with at least 30 credit hours from an ECHS: Visit Texas A & M University San Antonio and learn more about their program "Jaguar Excellence Guarantee & Achiever Promise" click below.
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Student Academic Progress (SAP) Why it's important! |
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What is it?
SAP is the measure that colleges and universities (not just ACC!) use to determine a student’s eligibility for financial aid.
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Why does this matter to me/my student?
Glad you asked! Dual Credit/ECHS students are ineligible for financial aid, but SAP still matters right now. There are two reasons why:
- Whatever your student’s SAP is when they graduate high school, it goes with them wherever they go -- so if they’re below SAP at ACC, they could be below SAP at their new institution, too!
- SAP is a good way for ACC advising staff to check in with students who may have struggled in previous semesters or may be struggling now. It’s a great way for us to identify students who may need extra support to reach their goals!
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Ok, so what does SAP consist of?
Students need two things to be at or above SAP:
- GPA: Your student’s cumulative ACC GPA needs to be 2.0 or higher (C average) -- this does not factor in any of their non-dual credit high school grades!
- Completion Ratio: Your student’s completion ratio (ACC classes attempted vs. ACC classes successfully completed with a grade of A, B, or C) needs to be 67% or higher -- and unfortunately, we can’t round up! Grades of D, F, or W will negatively affect their completion ratio.
Your student must have a GPA of 2.0 or higher and a Completion Ratio of 67% or higher to meet SAP -- if they’re below on either one, they are not meeting SAP.
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My student took a grade of Pass (P) or No Pass (NP) in Spring/Summer 2019. Does that affect SAP?
Well, yes and no.
- Pass (P): No effect on GPA or Completion Ratio.
- No Pass (NP): No effect on GPA, but negatively affects Completion Ratio.
So, if my student is below SAP, what should they do?
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Talk to their assigned Academic Success Coordinator ASAP -- they can walk your student through next steps for improving their SAP before they graduate. Your student can find their assigned coordinator under the “My Advisors” tab in their MyACC portal.
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They will also need to complete the online midterm form (also located in the MyACC portal) if they are currently enrolled in courses. This will allow your student’s coordinator to review their current progress and recommend any supports.
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Plan. Prepare. Transfer.
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The Transfer Resources Department aims to help ACC students increase understanding of the transfer process, develop individualized transfer plans, and support exploration of transfer destinations. We provide opportunities for students to connect with universities, train ACC staff and faculty on the transfer process, provide workshops for students, as well as assist with the transfer application process.
Helpful tips & reminders for ECHS/Dual Credit students:
- For most institutions, a student applying to enter a university immediately following high school will apply as a freshman applicant - not a transfer student - no matter how many college credits they have completed while in high school. However, it is helpful when high school seniors are applying to colleges for them to examine how their ACC courses will transfer or be evaluated by any university they are considering attending.
- ACC courses taken in high school will remain on a students transcript and will be reviewed by universities so remind students that GPA and course completion matter.
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It’s important to note that while a course may transfer to a university, it may not apply to the degree plan a student is seeking to complete. Transfer Guides are a great tool to help students understand how courses taken at ACC will apply toward their future bachelor’s degree.
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Tips for Your ACC Student |
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FAFSA Opens: October 1st
Fall Graduation Applications Due Friday, October 2nd
The new spring registration dates are as follows:
- Current Students: October 26, 2020
- New Students: November 2, 2020
- Same Day Pay: January 4, 2021
All 2020 Payment Deadlines
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