Appeal Procedure

The student must submit a written appeal to SFIEC Financial Services Leader describing why they failed to meet satisfactory academic progress standards. A student may appeal the Financial Aid ineligible decision if the student has a reason for not making satisfactory progress, if the student can document that the circumstances that caused the unsatisfactory academic progress determination have in some way changed and that satisfactory academic progress standard can be met by the end of the next evaluation period. A student has ten (10) school days from the date of notification that they are not meeting the second consecutive satisfactory progress determination to appeal the unsatisfactory academic progress determination.

The reasons for which a student may appeal a negative progress determination include death of a relative, an injury or illness of the student, or any other allowable special or mitigating circumstances.

The Appeal documents will be reviewed and a decision will be made and reported to the student within 30 calendar days. The appeal and decision documents will be retained in the student’s file. If the student prevails upon appeal, the satisfactory academic progress determination will be reversed and federal financial aid will be reinstated, if applicable.

If the appeal is granted the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for one evaluation period. If the student has not met academic and/or attendance requirements for two (2) consecutive evaluation periods, and does not prevail on appeal, the student will be determined as not making satisfactory progress and may be terminated.