Appeals

Students and parents can request a review of their financial aid package for a re-evaluation of their expected family contribution only under specific circumstances.
For further details and instructions on submitting a "qualifying" appeal, please review the following information:

Type of Appeal	Who?	When?	How?
Hardship Consistent with federal regulations, the Office of Student Financial Services reviews special circumstances where current financial situations of students and/or their families may not be accurately reflected in a student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The University is committed to assisting students and families throughout the financial aid process.	Incoming & Returning Students	An appeal should be submitted for major or unforeseen changes in circumstances that affect your ability to contribute to college costs. Examples include loss of income, unemployment, high medical expenses (already paid), divorce, etc. Appeals can also be submitted in situations where important financial information was not included in your original application materials or may not have been considered when your application was reviewed. Appeals based on discretionary expenditures such as car payments, wedding expenses, vacations, or high credit card debts are not considered.	All appeals require the following: Completed Appeal form Signed copy of parents'/student's 2010 year federal tax form (including W-2 forms) Certain circumstances may also require specific information We must receive all of the documentation outlined in the Appeal Form before we will review your request for an appeal. Please remember that students are responsible for payment of their university charges even if an appeal is under review. 2011-2012 Hardship Appeal Form
Dependency A dependency appeal allows students who should be considered independent from their parent(s) for financial aid purposes, even if he/she does not meet any of the automatic independent criteria as outlined in the FAFSA.	Incoming & Returning Students	An appeal should be submitted when a situation exists in your family that makes it unreasonable or impossible for you to obtain your parents' income and asset information.	Please complete the dependency appeal form and return it to our office via mail or fax.
Unsatisfactory Academic Progress Students are reviewed in the Spring to ensure they remain eligible for financial aid because they meet Satisfactory Academic Progress toward their degree. Students who do not meet the requirements established for GPA and progression toward their degree will receive a letter identifying the issue(s).	Returning Students	An Appeal can be submitted when a student believes that the failure to meet the standard was due to extenuating circumstances beyond his/her control. Examples can include an illness, injury or death in the Immediate Family.	Request UD to make an exception by completing the USAP Appeal form. This request for review must be done within two weeks of the first day of classes in order to receive aid for that term. It is the responsibility of the student to initiate an appeal before the specified deadline.