Appeals-Special Circumstances
Family’s financial situation changes during the school year
If your family’s financial situation changes due to adverse change in circumstances such as divorce, separation, death or employment, you can request a review of your FAFSA application. Please provide all necessary documents listed in the income adjustment form and schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor.
Independent Status/ Self-Supporting Students
A self-supporting student is not an independent student.
Only in rare cases where there are extreme extenuating circumstances will a student’s dependent status change from dependent to independent. This might include documented abuse, abandonment, or neglect. It is important families are aware that dependency status changes are very uncommon.
To prepare for the appeal, third party documentation of the family situation is required. This could include: letters from clergy, school counselors, social workers, and or extended family members as well as police reports, restraining orders, and/or other court documents.
Please schedule an appointment with a financial aid counselor to discuss your case. Once all appropriate documentation is submitted and reviewed, the decision of the Financial Aid Office is final.
A parent’s unwillingness to contribute to educational costs is not sufficient justification to be considered financially independent. Student can submit parent refusal form and will be eligible for federal unsubsidized loan.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)
A student that is ineligible for financial aid for failure to meet the SAP requirements may file a SAP appeal. If approved, the student will be granted a waiver and placed on “Probation” and be aid eligible. However, any student who is academically dismissed will not be eligible for a financial aid waiver.
A one semester waiver may be granted to students with documented extenuating circumstances who fail to meet the federal satisfactory academic progress standards. A waiver is not automatic. The decision of the school to grant a waiver is based on the extenuating circumstance, the belief that the extenuating circumstance was a one-time situation, and the likelihood that the student will be able to make up the deficit and successfully complete the course of study. This decision is made on a case by case basis.
After the semester in which the waiver is granted, students will be expected to have made up the required deficit and meet standards required at the time the waiver was granted.
Students requesting a waiver must complete Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal form, provide supporting documents and meet with their financial aid counselor who will assess their status and provide counseling. All appeals will be reviewed by the Financial Aid director.