A. Application Procedures
Financial Aid provides application procedures to new and continuing students in a number of publications and on its web site. The Department of Education provides application procedures with the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and through its web site.
B. Review/Appeal Procedures
Students and families may request a review of an award decision by contacting Financial Aid in writing. Generally, only cases involving the following special circumstances are reviewed for consideration: Loss of income (unemployment, retirement, loss of child support), medical expenses not covered by insurance for a situation which is critical and/or life threatening, death of an immediate family member, unusual expenses related to educational needs, disability, or child care. In connection with such a review, the student and/or family may be asked to provide written explanation and documents supporting the financial situation they are reporting. Requests for additional consideration based on special circumstances will be reviewed by the student’s financial aid counselor and members of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee as necessary. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee includes the Director and Associate Directors of Financial Aid and faculty members. Upon request, a report on the results of the formal appeals process will be sent to the Senate Committee on Undergraduate Studies. Students may further appeal a decision of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee by making an appeal in writing to the Chair of the Committee on Undergraduate Studies if 1) the appeal does not concern federal financial aid funds and 2) the appeal consists of unusual or mitigating circumstances. This appeal must be received no later than 21 days after the date of the decision of the Financial Aid Appeals Committee. The Chair of the Committee on Undergraduate Studies will designate within ten business days a minimum of three members of the Committee on Undergraduate Studies to review and decide on the student’s appeal.
The Committee on Undergraduate Studies’ responsibility in the appeal process is as follows: They will consult with the Director of Financial Aid about each appeal and will render a decision in writing on the appeal within ten (10) business days of their appointment; they will apply generally accepted standards of professional review and judgement; and they will communicate the decision in writing to the student applicant and to the Director of Financial Aid. The appeal to the Committee on Undergraduate Studies must be initiated before the beginning of the first day of classes for the semester in question. The ability of the committee to respond to approved appeals after the first day of classes will necessarily be circumscribed by the availability of the funds at any given time.
Senate action, December 1998. Provost approval, January 1999. Effective spring 1999.
http://www1.american.edu/american/registrar/AcademicReg/New/reg45.html
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