When the pandemic struck, college students quickly went to distance learning, including JBAY Youth Advocate Taivon Payne, a former foster youth enrolled at City College of San Francisco.
For Taivon, the pandemic was a disaster. He no longer had access to in-person student support services and found himself struggling with on-line classes. His grades quickly dropped. As a former foster youth, he didn’t have the guidance that many college students received during the pandemic from their parents.
One day, Taivon was informed he was no longer making “Satisfactory Academic Progress,” commonly known as SAP. To make SAP, students must maintain a 2.0 grade point average and complete 67% of courses attempted. For Taivon, failure to make SAP meant he lost all of his financial aid and had to leave City College.
According to Taivon, the impact of not meeting SAP cannot be understated, “It changed everything.” He lost his housing near campus and his spot on the football team.
Sadly, Taivon is not alone. In 2021, JBAY conducted an analysis that found one in four incoming community college Pell Grant recipients did not make SAP for their first two consecutive terms. Black students were more than twice as likely as white students to not make SAP: 34 percent vs. 15 percent.
The stakes are high for students who don’t make SAP. Like Taivon, they lose all state and federal financial aid, including their work study job. For low-income students, such as youth who have been in foster care or homeless, losing financial aid is a one-way ticket out of higher education.
JBAY is working to change this. With the generous funding of College Futures Foundation, JBAY has launched a two-year project to reform SAP standards on college campuses. JBAY is providing intensive technical assistance and training to 19 colleges.
One important part of JBAY’s work is reforming campus appeals policies. In the case of Taivon, he tried to appeal his SAP determination but was required to take a test on SAP before his appeal would be considered. Despite multiple attempts, Taivon didn’t pass the test and the very real, difficult circumstances he faced during the pandemic were not considered.
Senior Project Manager Sarah Pauter is leading JBAY’s SAP work and is encouraged by the progress the campuses are making, “I’m inspired by their level of commitment and ingenuity. I’m often asked by our partners what they can do to ensure that more students can maintain their financial aid. We are constantly exploring that question and identifying new ways to leverage the flexibilities granted to campuses.”
In addition to reforming individual college policies, JBAY is identifying needed changes in state and federal law that will address this issue at its roots. JBAY will pursue these policy reforms.
Today, Taivon is fighting to get back on track. He is currently working and says he will consider re-enrolling in college if in-person classes resume this summer, and he can play football again. “I don’t know what’s going to happen, I like to think for today.” At JBAY, we’ll keep working to help inspiring young leaders like Taivon.