VIII. Student Financial Aid Academic Progress

Appeals

Each college is required to have a primary and a secondary process for students to appeal their eligibility. The secondary process is meant to address appeals of denied appeals from the primary process. All decisions made at the secondary level are final.

The process for appeals at the primary and secondary level will be defined by the College. A student may appeal when they have been placed on Ineligible for Aid status. These appeals must be submitted to the College Financial Aid Office or designated location with supporting documentation.

The student is responsible for presenting sufficient information and documentation to substantiate the existence of extenuating circumstances. Each college may request additional documentation as student's extenuating circumstances warrant it.

1. Appeals must include the following information:
• Why the student failed to make SAP; and
• What has changed that will allow the student to make SAP at the next evaluation.
2. Appeals may be submitted for extenuating circumstances, such as:
• Medical problems (family illness);
• Family emergency (death of a family member); or
• Other documented extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control.
3. Students may also appeal on the basis of:
• funding for an additional degree or certificate.
4. Colleges may approve an appeal if:
• the college has determined the student will be able to meet SAP standards at the end of the subsequent term given the merits of the appeal and reasonable resolution of a student's extenuating circumstance; or
• the college and the student develop a plan that ensures the student is able to meet the college's SAP standards by a specific time or that the plan takes the student to successful program completion.
5. Students will be notified by the College of the outcome of their appeal. Under no circumstances can Probation be assigned to a prior term.
6. Colleges may notify students prior to the end of the term or prior to official posting of the financial aid SAP status if the student's academic progress indicates they will be ineligible for aid at the end of the term. This includes students who withdraw from the term or fail to meet the terms of their conditional probation.
7. Colleges may set deadlines for SAP Appeal submissions to allow for processing of the appeal and, if successful, the processing of financial aid prior to the end of a term.