P.O. Box 4040 Phone 404.413.2600 Fax: …

1 What are the SAP Appeal Guidelines? This appeal is for students who are enrolled in a Certificate or Associate Degree program who have lost financial aid eligibility due to not making Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) toward graduation and are petitioning for reinstatement of eligibility. Federal and state regulations require students to comply with standards of academic progress as defined by the Office of Financial Aid. Students that fail to meet at least one of the SAP standards cumulatively for two consecutive terms will lose their eligibility to receive federal and state financial aid. Additionally, students who are at or have exceeded the allowed maximum hours attempted timeframe will lose their eligibility to receive financial aid.

2 Regulations allow the Office of Financial Aid to extend eligibility if the student can document that there were mitigating circumstances beyond their control that: 1) occurred during the terms where the student did not meet the standards; or 2) prevented the student from graduating within the allowed program maximum timeframe. What is a Mitigating Circumstance? A mitigating circumstance is an event that occurred during the terms where you cumulatively did not earn at least percent of the courses attempted, did not have the required cumulative grade point average (CGPA), or you are at or have exceeded the allowed maximum hours attempted timeframe. Working, taking care of children, did not study, was not prepared for college, etc. are not examples of mitigating circumstances.

3 Circumstances that may be considered mitigating with supporting documentation Medical emergency or health issues affecting student or family Hospitalization for 14 days or more days Death of immediate family member (parent, spouse, sibling, child). Divorce experienced by you or your parent Significant trauma in student s life Other significant unexpected and documented circumstances beyond the control of the student Supporting Documentation of a mitigating circumstance All mitigating circumstances must have documentation to support statements provided in the appeal. Failure to submit or incomplete documentation will result in an appeal denial. Please write your panther ID on all documents submitted. Emergency Withdrawal or Academic Exclusion If you have been approved for an institutional Emergency Withdrawal or Academic Exclusion appeal and you are not meeting the financial aid SAP standards, you must submit a financial aid appeal to petition for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility.

4 If documentation was submitted with your approved Emergency Withdrawal or Academic Exclusion appeal, and the same circumstance exists on this financial aid appeal, then you must submit a copy of that documentation with your financial aid appeal. An approved Hardship Withdrawal or Academic Exclusion appeal does not guarantee approval of a financial aid appeal. Appeals Committee Your appeal will be reviewed by an anonymous committee of financial aid administrators. The appeal decision will be based on your entire academic performance, the mitigating circumstance(s), and the supporting documentation submitted. You will be notified of the committee s decision through: letter mail; student email; and you may check your SAP standing for the status of the appeal by logging into your account on PAWS at Processing Timeframe The processing timeframe is 2 4 weeks from the First Day to Submit an Appeal ; example if you submit a Fall 2017 appeal on April 1, 2017, then the 2 4 week processing timeframe begins June 15, 2017 as the Appeals Committee will not begin reviewing Fall appeals until June 15, 2017.

5 If you are currently enrolled and are submitting an appeal for an upcoming term, then your appeal will be reviewed 2 4 weeks after grades are made available for the term you are currently enrolled. If you are/were enrolled Fall 2017 and are appealing for Spring 2018, the processing time after Fall grades are available will be longer due to the institution being closed for Winter Break December 20, 2017 to January 2, 2018. TERM First Day to Submit an Appeal Last Day to Submit an Appeal Fall 2017 June 15, 2017 September 15, 2017 Spring 2018 October 10, 2017 February 16, 2018 Summer 2018 February 27, 2018 June 22, 2018 **An appeal submitted after the Last Day to Submit an Appeal will not be processed for that term, but will be processed for the following term.

6 Submit the Appeal form, Academic Plan, and Supporting Documentation via one of the methods below: Mail: Office of Student Financial Aid, Box 4040, Atlanta, GA 30302 404 Fax: 678 891 3427 On Campus: Alpharetta, Atlanta, Clarkston, Decatur, Dunwoody, and Newton SUBMISSION OF AN APPEAL DOES NOT GUARANTEE APPROVAL PLEASE PLAN TO PAY YOUR TUITION & FEES THROUGH OTHER RESOURCES WHILE YOUR APPEAL IS UNDER REVIEW What are the SAP Appeal Guidelines? Box 4040 Atlanta GA 30302-4040 Phone Fax: SAP APPEAL: Associate Degree 1 | Page GSU FINAID SAP Appeal Certificate and Associate Degree rev. ID Number Box 4040 Atlanta GA 30302-4040 Phone : Fax: SAP-FA SAP-SP SAP-SU For an appeal to be considered, you must complete all sections of this form and attach the appropriate documentation.

7 You may submit additional information with this form. Incomplete forms may result in the appeal not being reviewed or a denial decision. PRINT OR TYPE ALL INFORMATION. What term are you appealing for financial aid eligibility reinstatement? Only check one box. FALL 2017 SPRING 2018 SUMMER 2018 Please indicate the mitigating circumstances that have contributed to your inability to maintain SAP by checking the category that applies to you. Event dates must correspond. Follow the instructions for the category. The appeal and documentation must be submitted as a complete package. Incomplete appeals will be denied. Mitigating Circumstance Appeal Required Document(s)Date(s) of Circumstance Serious illness, accident or injury, to student or immediate family member (parent, spouse, sibling, child) Hospitalization for 14 or more days Significant trauma in student s life that impaired the student s emotional health Documentation from: a physician, social worker, counselor, police, attorney, hospital bill/discharge with dates, or insurance explanation of benefits with dates, etc.

8 Death of an immediate family member (parent, spouse, sibling, child) Submit a copy of the obituary and/or death certificate. Divorce experienced by you or your parent Attach an attorney's letter on law firm's letterhead or copy of divorce decree. Other significant unexpected and documented circumstances beyond the control of the student Attach supporting documentation from a third party; physician, social worker, counselor, police, attorney, etc. Additional Hours Appeal I am meeting the financial aid SAP standard(s) with a minimum cumulative GPA of and a pace of completion of percent, but I will reach or have exceeded the 90 attempted hours maximum allowed for financial aid eligibility. I am appealing for additional hours because: I am enrolled in the Nursing Program ( ) or Dental Hygiene Program.

9 I have earned a degree at Georgia State University, and am pursuing a subsequent degree. I am a transfer student or I changed my major, and all the hours accepted do not apply to my program of study. NAME AND ADDRESS Student s Last Name First MI Home Phone (area code + number) Cell Phone (area code + number) Street Address Apt/Suite No. City State Zip Code INSTRUCTIONS SECTION I: Purpose of Appeal SAP APPEAL: Associate Degree 2 | Page GSU FINAID SAP Appeal Certificate and Associate Degree rev. ID Number Box 4040 Atlanta GA 30302-4040 Phone : Fax: SAP-FA SAP-SP SAP-SU 1.

10 Please provide an explanation below of the circumstances that occurred which caused you to fall below the minimum financial aid academic standards? Attach an additional sheet if needed. Please attach supporting documentation of your circumstance. A. How have you overcome the above circumstance? SECTION II: Explanation of Circumstance(s) SAP APPEAL: Associate Degree 3 | Page GSU FINAID SAP Appeal Certificate and Associate Degree rev. ID Number Box 4040 Atlanta GA 30302-4040 Phone : Fax: SAP-FA SAP-SP SAP-SU Federal regulations require that students maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in their program of study to continue receiving Federal Title IV aid (federal student financial aid).