APPEALS PROCESS, RETURN OF TITLE IV FUNDS

Below is information for current students with regard to maintaining financial aid eligibility:

APPEALS PROCESS

Appeal Process: A student who has lost financial aid eligibility due to SAP may submit an appeal with supporting documentation for reinstatement of financial aid eligibility if mitigating circumstances exist. Mitigating circumstances include, but are not limited to, the following:

Serious injury of the student and/ or the student’s immediate family member
Serious extended illness of the student and/or the student’s immediate family member
Death of the student’s family member

The appeal must be submitted to the Director of Financial Aid for consideration. Appeals must be received before the start of the semester, excluding summer, after aid eligibility was lost. The appeal should address the following:

Explanation for failure to meet the SAP requirements. The student must list the special mitigating circumstances that impacted their ability to be academically successful. If it is due to an illness, accident, or death of a family member, then the student must provide documentation such as a death certificate, medical proof of illness or injury, or documented evidence of special circumstance that was beyond the student’s control.
Documentation of problem resolution. The student must include a self-evaluation explaining what steps are being taking to ensure academic success in future semesters. A personal statement and corroborating documents must be submitted in order for the appeal to be considered complete.

New York State TAP Grant One-Time Waiver: The New York State Commissioner of Education Regulations permit a student to receive a onetime waiver of the good academic standing requirement as an undergraduate student. Students are allowed only one waiver in during their lifetime and only for undergraduate study. To receive the one-time waiver, the student must clearly demonstrate that the academic deficiencies are the result of a documented medical condition, a documented family emergency or some other extraordinary, documented condition. Requests for one-time waivers must be done in writing and must provide appropriate documentation surrounding the circumstances for the appeal.

Reinstatement after Self-Funding If a student decides not to appeal or if an appeal is denied, the student may be eligible for a private loan or other outside funding. The Financial Aid Office can certify a student’s enrollment for alternative funding upon request. To regain financial aid eligibility a student must successfully meet the SAP requirements for federal and state aid during the period of non-aid eligible attendance.

Transfer Students: Students who have been awarded transfer credit will be evaluated using the increment that is nearest, but does not exceed, the number of transfer credits accepted by the College. For example, a student who transfers in 18 credits will be placed at the second interval and be expected to achieve the qualitative and quantitative standards of the third interval. For New York State TAP grant eligibility, placement may be either in accord with the number of payments received or the number of credits earned, whichever is more beneficial to the student.

Incomplete and “W” Grades: For purposes of evaluating a student’s eligibility for financial aid, incomplete and withdrawn grades are considered the same as failing grades. These grades will be evaluated as credits attempted but not earned and treated as 0 quality points. A student’s eligibility for financial aid will be reevaluated upon successful completion of an incomplete grade.

Noncredit Remedial Grades: For the purposes of evaluating a student’s eligibility for financial aid, satisfactory, noncredit remedial grades will be evaluated quantitatively for the equivalent credit hours, and qualitatively as a minimum passing grade. Unsatisfactory noncredit remedial grades will be evaluated quantitatively as the equivalent credits attempted but not earned, and qualitatively as 0.

Additional Degree: If a student completes 1 degree at Maria College, is seeking an additional degree and has been accepted into the new degree program, satisfactory academic progress will be evaluated using the methodology for transfer students. This is based on the number of credits accepted from the previous degree and applied towards the new degree.

Resumption of Study: Students resuming their educational objective after an absence of at least one increment will be evaluated using either the next increment based on previous attendance or will be evaluated using the methodology for transfer students based on the number of credits previously earned, whichever is more beneficial for the students. Students must follow either of the following steps:

Re-Enroll — Students wishing to resume their studies at Maria College can be reactivated in the previously admitted program of study if they were in good academic standing upon leaving the College no more than five years ago. For some programs of study, the permission of the department chairperson will also be required.
Re-Apply — Students wishing to resume their studies at Maria College, who were academically dismissed or left the College more than five years ago, must reapply for admission and again meet the criteria for acceptance.

RETURN OF TITLE IV FUNDS (R2T4)

Federal regulations require Maria College to prorate financial aid eligibility for recipients of Title IV Federal Educational Assistance who withdraw from the College. If more than the student’s eligibility has already been advanced, Maria College must repay the programs affected and 42 recoup the money from the student. The proration formula is based on the number of days in the enrollment period from the scheduled start date until the day of withdrawal. The withdrawal date is the date on which the student notifies the College of withdrawal from all classes though the established process.

Maria College is required to refund a portion of the financial aid received until 60% of the enrollment period has elapsed. If a student withdraws without notifying the College, the student is considered to have completed 50% of the term and is recalculated with