Appeal Timelines, Requirements, Outcomes, and Deadlines
Timeline
The Financial Aid Appeals Committee reviews all SAP Appeals submitted to the Financial Aid office. Students will receive an email which communicates the committee's decision or requests additional documentation after their appeal is reviewed. If a student did not submit supporting documentation which directly relates to their appeal statement, the committee may request the student submits additional supporting documentation before review of the appeal can be completed.
- Typical processing for appeals is 10 business days once grades post for a term (quarter).
- Appeals submitted prior to grades posting will not be reviewed until grades post for the current term (quarter) unless the student withdrew from all of their course(s) in a given term (quarter).
- When/if appeals are approved, financial aid is not retroactive to previous quarters. Rather, students will be awarded starting the term (quarter) the appeal is approved.
Requirements
Appeals must be submitted in writing via the Financial Aid Forms portal* found in the mySPSCC Quick Links menu or Navigate360 and should respond to the following questions:
- Why the student failed to make Satisfactory Academic Progress?
- What has changed in the student’s situation that will allow them to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress at the next evaluation?
- What is the student’s plan going forward on how they will maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress?
- If this is not the student’s first appeal, the appeal should include what has changed since the last time the student submitted an appeal.
*We strongly encourage students to submit appeals via the Financial Aid Forms portal either found in the mySPSCC Quick Links menu or Navigate360. If this is inaccessible, appeals can be submitted in-person at the One-Stop.
Appealable Reasons
Extenuating Circumstances
SAP appeals are typically considered when a student’s academic progress is negatively impacted by unforeseen and documented circumstances. Students should submit an appeal even if they do not have a reason that is outlined in the circumstances below.
Examples include (but are not limited to):
- Medical Emergency
- Death or illness of a family member
- Severe Illness or accident
- Catastrophic event
- Natural disaster
Note: Lack of awareness of the SAP or withdrawal policies, lack of understanding of the requirements for Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), challenges with technology and/or Instructors, and/or general unpreparedness for college coursework will not be considered acceptable reasons for the purpose of an appeal and may be denied
Documentation
If/when able, students should submit relevant documentation with an appeal. However, students should still submit an appeal if they do not have documentation available. The committee reviewing the appeal may ask the student to submit additional documentation if not previously provided.
Examples include (but is not limited to):
- Medical records
- Letter from mental health counselor
- Doctor’s release to return to school
- Medical bills
- Police report
- Obituary
Tips for Writing an Appeal Statement
Practice Accountability, Critical Thinking, Problem-Solving, Decision-Making and Self-Advocacy Skills
Taking accountability ensures that students are willing to be honest about issues that may be impacting their academic success, and are willing to think critically about the steps they will take to ensure, to the best of their ability, that those issues will no longer impact their academic progress. Seeking help for challenges such as time management and/or study skills, or scheduling a meeting with a tutor or counselor for support are all good examples of ways to practice accountability as well as take proactive steps for continued success in school.
Students should be mindful of long-term and short-term issues and whether or not attending school is the right decision at the particular time a student may be facing challenges. When in doubt, meeting with a Financial Aid Specialist can support students in understanding potential impacts to financial aid and clarify whether to stay in school or take a break to address challenges and return once these challenges are resolved.
Finally, the Financial Aid office strongly suggests that students review the Financial Aid SAP policy on an ongoing basis to ensure a thorough understanding of the requirements under which students are accepting financial aid funds. Students should reach out to the Financial Aid office if they have questions about the policy or how their specific situation would be impacted by lack of progress in any particular quarter.
Outcomes
One Quarter Probation
If a student’s appeal is approved, they will be on "Probation" for the next quarter of attendance with financial aid. Probation means the student will need to successfully complete all of the credits they register for during the next (or current) quarter and keep (or raise) their cumulative GPA (CGPA) above a 2.0. If a student successfully meets the requirements of their probationary quarter, they will be back in good standing for the following quarter.
Long-term Probation
Depending on your CGPA and your PACE, students may be placed on “Probation” for more than one quarter. During that time, the student will need to successfully complete all of the credits they register for during upcoming quarters and keep (or raise) their cumulative GPA above a 2.0, as well as their PACE. If the student successfully meets the requirements of their probationary quarters, they will be back in good standing following the final quarter of probation.
If a student’s appeal is denied for lack of supporting documentation, these are their options:
- A student can submit documentation and have their appeal re-reviewed, and/or
- A student can pay their tuition and successfully complete all of their credits (while keeping their CGPA above a 2.0) to earn reinstatement.
If a student’s appeal is denied because the circumstances in their personal statement were not considered "unusual or extraordinary," these are their options:
- A student can submit a new appeal statement and relevant supporting documentation to include circumstances they may have left out in their initial statement, and/or
- A student can pay their tuition and successfully complete all of their credits (while keeping their CGPA above a 2.0) to earn reinstatement.
Academic Plan
Students submitting an appeal may also be required to create an Academic Plan that shows how they will remediate the standards not being met:
- An Academic Plan will need to be developed with and approved by an Academic Advisor.
- Once an Academic Plan has been completed, it should be reviewed by the student. If this plan satisfies the SAP requirements and meets the student’s needs, the student should upload a copy of their Academic Plan to Financial Aid Forms for review.
Deadlines
- Priority Deadline: Submit by the 1st day of the next quarter for priority processing. Students who meet this deadline will be held in class(es) while appeal review is completed.
- Final quarter deadline: Submit by the 7th week of each quarter. Failure to submit and/or complete your appeal by the end of the 7th week of classes will result in your appeal review being completed the following quarter of attendance.
- Deadline for the Academic Year: Submit by the 1st business day of June. Appeals for the current academic year will not be accepted after this point.
