Appeals
APPEALING FINANCIAL AID INELIGIBILITY
A student whose financial aid is suspended based on the SAP Policy can submit a Financial Assistance Appeal Form up to a maximum of three times throughout their academic career. The appeal should be based on mitigating circumstances that have had a direct effect on the student’s ability to make progress. While not totally inclusive, the appeal form provides examples of mitigating circumstances. Mitigating circumstances are those which are unexpected and beyond the control of the student.
The appeal must explain in detail why the student failed to meet the minimum academic standards, what exactly caused the failure, and what has changed or improved that will allow the student to demonstrate SAP at the next evaluation. Documentation supporting the appeal must be submitted with the appeal, not separately. Appeals without proper documentation will not be reviewed by the committee.
Students who have exceeded the maximum number of hours to complete an academic program are eligible to appeal. In this case the student must submit an appeal form with a copy of their Degree Works audit or a statement from the student's advisor indicating the number of hours remaining to complete the degree.
If the financial aid appeals committee approves an appeal for a student who has an insufficient cumulative GPA or pace deficiency and determines that the student can meet the SAP standards by the end of the next term, the student will be placed on financial aid probation. All federal, state and/or institutional aid will be reinstated for one term. The student will be reviewed at the end of the term to determine if continued eligibility is warranted.
If the financial aid appeals committee approves an appeal and determines that the student cannot meet the SAP standards within the next term, the student will be placed on a financial aid academic plan. The student must adhere to specific terms and conditions as determined by the committee. Aid will be reinstated for one term and the student‘s progress will be reviewed at the end of the term. At that point, the student must meet the requirements of the individual academic plan.
Undergraduate Academic Plan Requirements:
• You must achieve a GPA of at least 2.0 each term of enrollment until all SAP requirements are met.
• You must successfully complete all attempted hours (no W’s, F’s, or I’s) each term of enrollment until all SAP requirements are met.
• You must only enroll in classes pertaining to your degree.
Graduate Academic Plan Requirements:
• You must achieve a GPA of at least 3.0 each term of enrollment until all SAP requirements are met.
• You must successfully complete all attempted hours (no W’s, F’s, or I’s) each term of enrollment until all SAP requirements are met.
• You must only enroll in classes pertaining to your degree.
Students who do not meet the requirements of the academic plan will become ineligible for federal, state and/or institutional student aid, and not be allowed to appeal for the semester immediately following the failure of the academic plan. Students who are ineligible for federal student aid by not meeting the requirements of the plan may regain eligibility by meeting the minimum standards of SAP.
Students who receive Incomplete grades or Administrative Withdrawals will fail their requirements of their academic plan and be suspended. In the case of extenuating circumstances, Incompletes and Administrative Withdrawals will be evaluated on a case by case basis.
The Office of Financial Assistance Services will notify the student via their Cameron University email of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee’s decision. If approved, the student must respond to the email to acknowledge and accept the terms of the appeal. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee’s decision is final.
Students who are not meeting the Cameron University Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy also have the option of attending Cameron at their own expense or possibly through the use of alternative (private) educational loan financing until which time they meet the conditions of the SAP policy.
APPEALS REVIEW SCHEDULE
We strongly encourage students to submit their appeals as early as possible. The schedule below will help you determine when you will be notified of the committee's decision based on the date you submit your appeal.
