Financial Aid Appeals

Appeals to Academic Standards, Scholarship, and Financial Aid Committee

Depending on the circumstances, the student could be required to complete additional requirements (i.e., see a career counselor or another type of counselor, meet with an advisor to develop an academic progress plan for completion, limit enrollment, etc.) before an appeal is granted. The goal is to help the student get back on track for graduation. The reasonableness of the student’s ability for improvement to again meet SAP standards and complete the student’s program of study will be carefully considered. To appeal financial aid eligibility termination after an appeal has already been considered by the committee, the student must accomplish all of the following prior to submitting a subsequent appeal:

1. Demonstrate improvement in GPA (attaining a 2.0 or higher) while taking a minimum of 6 credit hours for a time period of one or more semesters. The student will need to pay for these “interim credits” him- or herself.
2. Demonstrate improvement in completion rate (67% of credits successfully completed for any enrollment period) for a time period of one or more semesters.
3. Demonstrate that any circumstances which previously led to financial aid eligibility termination (unable to commute to campus, unable to access the internet or functional computers, medical issues, family issues, employment issues, etc.) are resolved to an extent so as to no longer impede satisfactory academic progress.

If there has been an extended time period between the second and third appeals (5 years or more), the ASSFA committee may review the third appeal without having the above described conditions met.

Appeals will be approved or denied based on the above criteria. Students who have appeals approved will be in probationary status for the coming term. During probationary status, the student must meet the conditions of the appeal as communicated to him or her by the Financial Aid Office, or the student will return to suspension. If an academic progress plan has been pre-approved by financial aid, continuing to meet the requirements of that plan will put the student back into good standing.

Academic Progress Plan

Students who have appeals approved will be placed in probationary status for the coming term(s) on an Academic Progress Plan (APP). While you are on the Academic Progress Plan (APP), you must meet the conditions of the Plan as communicated to you in this notice; otherwise, your financial aid eligibility will again be terminated. If you continue to meet the requirements of this plan, you will be placed into good standing. If you should fail the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) for a reason other than that outlined in your original termination notice, you must appeal to the Academic Standards Committee through the Financial Aid office and ask that your transcript and circumstances be reviewed again.

Students must meet the following requirements on a term-by-term basis while on the Academic Progress Plan:
Students who failed Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) because of the 67% and/or GPA rules must adhere to the following requirements:

• Student must successfully complete 67% of the credits he/she attempts each semester (remember that grades of “W, F, and U” all count toward this attempt percentage).
• Student must make a minimum of a 2.0 GPA each semester.

Students who failed Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) because of the 150% rule must adhere to the following requirement in addition to those above:

• Students who failed Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) because of the 150% rule must successfully complete all courses attempted with a grade of A, B, C, D or S. Withdrawals are considered as credits attempted. In addition, all courses taken must be included in the student’s intended major.

A student’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) status will be reviewed at the end of each semester to determine if they will be allowed to stay on the Academic Progress Plan. As long as the student is meeting the above-referenced requirements on a term-by-term basis each semester after being placed on the Plan, they will be allowed to continue with the same unless they are terminated for a different requirement of the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy.

Non-Discrimination Statement:
This College promotes and maintains educational opportunities without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, ethnicity, marital status, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions including lactation, age (except when age is a bona fide occupational qualification), veteran status, or other non-merit factors.

The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding the college’s non-discrimination policies: Dr. Mark C. Rowh, Vice President for Workforce Development and External Relations and Equal Opportunity Officer, 217 Edwards Hall, 540-674-3600, ext. 4241. Inquiries concerning Title IX (sexual harassment, sexual assault/domestic violence/dating violence, and stalking) may be directed to Dr. Deborah Kennedy, Dean of Student Services, 268 Rooker Hall, 540-674-3690. or, Deputy Title IX Coordinator, Mr. John Bowler, Academic Advisor for the Center of Disability Services, 115 Christiansburg site, 540-674-3600, ext. 4418. Inquiries concerning ADA and Section 504 may be directed to Ms. Lucy Howlett, Coordinator of the Center for Disability Services, Advising Center, 275 Rooker Hall, V/TTY 540-674-3619.