12.8 Appeal Process
When a student loses Federal Student Aid (FSA) eligibility and are put on SAP Suspense Status because he/she failed to make satisfactory progress, the student may appeal that result on the basis of: his/her injury or illness, the death of a relative, or other extenuating/special circumstance that prevented them from meeting SAP standards. To appeal, students must complete a SAP Appeal Form available in their Student Self-Service.
Extenuating/special circumstances are defined as situations beyond the student's control that created an undue hardship and caused the student's inability to meet satisfactory academic progress standards. Appropriate documentation may be required at the discretion of the student’s home college. If a student cannot provide requested documentation the student must communicate in their appeal why documentation cannot be provided.
To appeal, students must complete a SAP Appeal Form available in their Student Self-Service and provide any additional information/documents required by the college. The appeal will be evaluated by the SAP Appeals Committee of the home college. Students will be notified of the committee’s decision, typically within ten days of the committee meeting. Since deadlines for submission of appeals, frequency of SAP Committee meetings, and other details of the process may differ by college, students must refer to the SAP information provided on their college’s website (College SAP Website Links).
Students are responsible for payment arrangements with the institution pending a decision of the appeals committee.
SAP appeals will be evaluated by the college SAP Appeal Committee. Students will be notified of the committee’s decision, typically within ten days of the committee meeting.
If the SAP appeal is approved, the student will be assigned a Financial Aid SAP Probation status and given an academic plan of action/contract that stipulates certain conditions and academic requirements. Upon acceptance of the academic plan of action/contract, the student may receive financial aid for one additional term. At the end of that term, the student’s status will be re-evaluated. Federal student aid for the next term will not be awarded or disbursed until the student has successfully completed all terms specified within the academic plan of action contract or is found to have met SAP requirements.
If the SAP appeal is denied, the student is not eligible for federal student aid will remain ineligible until they are again in compliance with SAP standards. These students may continue to attend college at their own expense. A student who is suspended from financial aid and achieves SAP standards without the assistance of federal financial aid, may request to be evaluated for re-instatement. All requests must be submitted to the local Student Financial Aid office of the home institution.
NOTE: Students are responsible for all expenses such as tuition, fees, books, and supplies pending the decision of the SAP Appeals Committee and must contact the Business Affairs Office to make payment arrangements with the institution. Decisions made by the SAP Appeals Committee are final and are not subject to further appeal.
