Reinstatement/Appeals Procedures

Reinstatement/Appeals Procedures

REINSTATEMENT: A student, who was previously disqualified, may have their financial aid reinstated if they meet the Pace of Progression calculation with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.

APPEALS/PROBATION STATUS: A student disqualified for not meeting the federal satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards may appeal based upon the following documented extenuating circumstances which directly affected their academic performance:

• Death of an immediate family member,
• Serious medical condition affecting the student or immediate family member,
• Family emergency directly affecting the student,
• Or other documented extenuating circumstances.

In addition to the criteria above, only the stated major on the Financial Aid Disqualification Petition form will be accepted for those who are disqualified for reaching the maximum time length. A change in major or additional degree will not be accepted or paid on after petition approval.

Steps to be taken:

1. A student who wants to appeal his or her disqualification status must meet with the Director of Financial Aid and Scholarships or their designee to obtain a Financial Aid Disqualification Petition form. The Director or their designee will explain the form and the steps the student must follow to complete the required paperwork. When the Director receives all the required forms/documentation and determines it meets the extenuating circumstances criteria the packet will be submitted to the Financial Aid Advisory Committee (FAAC). If the required forms and/or documentation is not complete or doesn’t meet the extenuating circumstances criteria it will be denied by the Director. All denied packets at the Director level will be presented to the FAAC as an informational item only.
2. The FAAC will review the student’s appeal and supporting documentation and make a decision regarding the student’s financial aid status. A written notification will be mailed to the student within three (3) working days of the committee’s decision. All decisions made by the FAAC are final and binding.

Any student who is on financial aid disqualification and wishes to appeal his/her status is required to meet with a counselor to establish a comprehensive educational plan.

A student who has been placed on financial aid disqualification will not automatically be reinstated simply by paying for their own classes (i.e., not receiving Title IV aid) for a semester, or by sitting out a semester. The student must bring their cumulative GPA up and/or complete the required units for their enrollment status or go through the appeal process for review if a special circumstance exists.

Barring an approved petition for unusual or mitigating circumstances, a student can reestablish eligibility only by taking action which brings the student into compliance with the required GPA of 2.00, the Pace of Progression calculation, and Maximum Time Frame standard.

Any student who petitions for financial aid and is determined unable to meet satisfactory academic progress (SAP) by the end of their educational plan will be denied.

Ineligible to Appeal

Students who do not meet the Federal Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines based on the Pace of Progression calculation or GPA may not be eligible to appeal again if, in the last semester enrolled at Taft College, the student appealed and the appeal was approved. Unless the student has made Satisfactory Academic Progress or the institution determines the student met the requirements specified by the institution in the academic plan for the student another appeal could not be filed. The student would need to reinstate themselves (without financial aid) by meeting the Pace of Progression calculation with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 while enrolled in classes at Taft College.