SAP Appeal
You will need to complete the e-Form to submit an SAP appeal.
If you have experienced extenuating circumstances beyond your control that prevented you from satisfying the requirements to maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP), you may appeal that status.
What type of appeal do I need to file?
GENERAL APPEAL
Extenuating circumstances beyond a student's control include, but are not limited to:
- Documented medical condition or serious illness
- Documented learning disability
- Death of a family member or friend
- Domestic violence
- Involuntary call to active military duty
- Documented change in conditions of employment
- Other extraordinary/emergency circumstances, such as natural disasters (i.e. hurricane, tornado, earthquake, flash flooding, etc)
- Maximum Time Frame - Appeals may include, but are not limited to the following:
- Dislocated workers having to change vocations
- Lost job and had to enter a new career field
- Prior degree(s) can be considered contingent upon the circumstances for having to pursue an additional degree(s)
FAILED Student Success Plan
Extenuating circumstances occurring during the term in which the student failed their Student Success Plan:
- Death of an immediate family member (spouse, mother, father, guardian, sister, brother, son or daughter)
- Major medical issue (i.e. requires hospitalization) experienced by the student or an immediate family member of the student (as designated above)
- Domestic violence
- Involuntary call to active military duty
- Other extreme circumstances (case by case basis)
The following circumstances are not considered extenuating and beyond the student's control, but based on personal choices:
- Incarceration resulting from a guilty verdict
- Voluntary pause, lapse, or termination of employment
- Voluntary overtime
- Young and irresponsible
What form do I need to submit?
Choose and complete the form that fits your situation.
- Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal - Complete this form if you are on Financial Aid Suspension for Financial Aid GPA, Completion Ratio, Maximum Time Frame or a failed Student Success Plan (formerly called Financial Aid Academic Plan), and are submitting an appeal to a previously denied SAP appeal.
- SAP Appeal Additional Documentation - Use this form to submit any additional documentation.
A verbal appeal will not be accepted.
What do I need to include in my appeal?
Explanation
Appeals must be typewritten, signed, and include a detailed explanation of how extenuating circumstances beyond your control prevented you from meeting the requirements. In addition, you must explain what has changed that will allow you to maintain academic progress moving forward. If Maximum Time Frame Appeal, you must explain why you are not on target to complete your degree program within 150% of the credit hours needed for your current degree.
Documentation
Attach date-specific documentation from a disinterested third party. Keep supporting documentation to the minimum amount needed to provide sufficient proof of what is written in your appeal. FAS reserves the right to require a student to reduce the number of pages if there is an abundance of documentation NOT needed for an approval.
Documentation includes, but is not limited to the following:
- Letter from a physician or counselor on letterhead indicating the dates you were under their care
- Copy of a death certificate, obituary or third-party documentation of death
- Accident reports, police records, court records, etc.
DO NOT submit original documents - they will not be returned. Make sure all copies are legible.
Letters from family, relatives, and friends are not recommended; however, if this is the ONLY information that can be provided, you must meet with a Financial Assistance Counselor to determine what is acceptable. If the FAS Counselor approves submission of such letters, they must be returned to Financial Assistance Services.
Appeals submitted without documentation will be denied or returned without review.
Documents must be submitted according to the requirements listed above; however, this DOES NOT GUARANTEE approval.
Student Success Plan
If your SAP Appeal is approved, you must meet with an Academic Advisor to assist you with developing a Student Success Plan that will get you back on track to maintaining academic progress and completing your current academic program of study. Once the plan has been finalized, you must "accept" the plan in MySPC before the SAP Appeal process can be completed and your financial aid can be reinstated.
My Learning Plan
As of Fall 2021, the My Learning Plan is no longer required as part of the Student Success Plan
Appeal time frame
Appeals are reviewed within 15 working days of receipt of all required documentation in Financial Assistance Services. You will be notified by email if the above timeframe is revised during peak processing times. NotificationResults will be emailed to your SPC student email. If you do not have a FAFSA on file for the term in which you are appealing, you will not be notified via email. You may call or visit your campus Financial Assistance Services for results.
You may also view your status in MySPC.
Reinstatement
Students with an approved SAP Appeal will have their financial aid reinstated, will be placed on Financial Aid Probation for one term only and be assigned a Student Success Plan.
Any student whose SAP Appeal has been denied or whose eligibility has been suspended for Satisfactory Academic Progress reasons will have financial assistance eligibility reinstated once the requirements are met, whether or not the student submitted an appeal.
What is an SAP Appeal?
