Financial Aid Appeal Policy

Before You Begin...

Students disqualified from Financial Aid may appeal if there are documented extenuating circumstances which affected the student's ability to make academic progress. Examples of mitigating circumstances include but are not limited to:

• Death in the family
• Serious illness
• Severe injury (ie., car accident, job-related, etc.)
• Various reasons which were beyond the student's control

Circumstances which are not considered extenuating circumstances:

• The student enrolled in the wrong course, or the course was deemed too difficult
• The student enrolled in too many units during a semester and did poorly as a result
• Poor time management
• Transportation issues
• Work schedule conflicting with course times

Student Process

To appeal for Financial Aid, students are required to complete the following steps:

1. Complete The Key Components to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Financial Aid Appeal Process with a passing score. If this is your first time, please register before logging into the portal.

2. Once the session is completed with a passing score, complete and submit the following:

   • An Appeal Form (available after successful completion of The Key Components to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Financial Aid Appeal Process session).
     
   • A copy of the completion of key components session.
   • The appeal must include an explanation of contributing factors, documentation of those circumstances, and must outline corrective or preventive measures to ensure that the student will meet Satisfactory Academic Progress in the future. The appeal must also explain each semester which the student failed to make SAP, regardless of prior appeal.
   • A Student Education Plan (SEP), listing two or more semesters, completed by an Academic Counselor. Any changes made to the SEPT by students will void the SEP and will require the student to meet with an Academic Counselor again for an updated SEP.
   • Third Party Statement (if applicable) should address your extenuating circumstances.

Notice of Appeal Status

Submission of an appeal DOES NOT GUARANTEE a reinstatement of financial aid. If an appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and will be eligible for financial aid. Approved appeals will clearly state the condition(s) for eligibility and/or reinstatement.

If the appeal is denied, the student may complete a 2nd-Level Appeal and submit it to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid, explaining why they believe the denial should be overturned. If the original decision is upheld, this decision is final.

Only one (1) financial aid appeal submission per semester, per student. Students who submit more than one appeal must provide differing extenuating circumstances in subsequent appeal(s). Each appeal must show successful completion of The Key Components to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Financial Aid Appeal Process every time. Failure to do any of the preceding steps may result in automatic denial.

NOTE: With the 2024/2025 aid year --- a maximum of three (3) first-level financial aid appeals will be considered during a student's attendance at San Joaquin Delta College. No exceptions.