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Can I appeal if I lost my financial aid?
A student on financial aid Suspension because of extenuating circumstances may appeal. An appeal is also used when a student has exceeded or is projected to exceed the 150% maximum timeframe.
A student is limited to three lifetime SAP Appeals at SF. This limit applies whether or not the student has received financial aid in the past. A student who has used all three appeals can complete coursework without aid to meet SAP on their own, or submit a Program Change Appeal.
What counts as an extenuating circumstance?
An appeal has to explain extenuating circumstances that affected the student's ability to meet SAP. Examples include:
- Personal illness or injury
- Serious illness or death of an immediate family member
- Other circumstances beyond the student's control
The circumstances must have affected the specific semesters in which the student fell below SAP. They also have to be resolved or under control at the time of appeal. An appeal based on ongoing unresolved circumstances isn't granted, because the student can't show a path back to meeting SAP.
Poor planning, general academic difficulty, or a preference for a reduced course load is not an extenuating circumstance.
What do I need to submit?
A complete appeal includes all of the following:
- SAP Appeal Form. Downloaded from the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal document in the Financial Aid Portal in eSantaFe [WEB LINK: eSantaFe login]. Completed per the directions on the form and signed by the student.
- Academic Plan. Completed with the student's academic advisor. The advisor signature is required.
- Typed statement. Explains the extenuating circumstances for all affected semesters and shows that the circumstances are resolved or under control. Handwritten statements aren't accepted.
- Supporting documentation. Verifies the circumstances described in the statement.
What documentation do I need?
Documentation varies by circumstance. Common examples:
- Letter from a physician on official letterhead, dated and signed
- Death certificate or obituary notice
- Divorce decree
- Letter from an attorney, social services agency, employer, or other third party with direct knowledge of the circumstances
Documents must be legible. Letters from family members or other third parties require notarization. Documents in other languages must be translated.
How do I submit my appeal?
The student uploads the completed set (form, Academic Plan, statement, and documentation) to the same Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal document in the Financial Aid Portal in eSantaFe. A student who wants help submitting can bring everything to the Financial Aid Office.
Appeal availability and due dates for each semester are published on the SF Financial Aid website [WEB LINK: SF Financial Aid website] and on the SAP Appeal form itself.
How long does a decision take?
The Financial Aid Appeals Committee reviews appeals in the order received. Standard review is 2 to 3 weeks. Peak periods around the start of a semester run longer. The student is notified of the decision through eSantaFe.
What happens if my appeal is approved?
An approved appeal places the student on a probationary term or directly on a FAAPP depending on the circumstances. Aid is reinstated for the upcoming semester. The student has to meet the conditions of the probationary term or FAAPP to keep eligibility.
What happens if my appeal is denied?
A student whose appeal is denied stays on Suspension. The notification includes the reason for denial. The student has two paths forward:
- Add to the same appeal. Provide the Financial Aid Office additional documentation, or correct the deficiencies the denial identified. This is part of the same appeal, so it does not use another of the three lifetime appeals.
- Meet SAP on their own by completing coursework without financial aid until all three requirements are met. Options for covering cost include private loans, payment plans, or out-of-pocket payment.
Appeals are commonly denied when:
- Documentation doesn't support the circumstances described in the statement
- Documentation shows circumstances outside the semester in question rather than during it
- Circumstances aren't resolved or under control at the time of appeal
- The statement describes poor planning rather than an extenuating circumstance
- The statement doesn't explain the impact on academic performance
- The appeal is incomplete
I'm on a FAAPP and want to change my program. What do I do?
A student on FAAPP who wants to change their program of study submits a Program Change Appeal before making the change. Changing program without approval suspends aid. The appeal explains why the change is necessary and how the student will make academic progress in the new program. This appeal does not count against the three lifetime SAP Appeal limit.
What if I've hit the 150% maximum timeframe?
A student who has exceeded or is projected to exceed the 150% maximum timeframe submits a SAP Appeal with mitigating circumstances. An approved Maximum Timeframe Appeal places the student on a FAAPP requiring 100% completion of all attempted coursework. For a student who has already exceeded the federal 150% limit, eligibility can be restored once the program of study is complete.