A student who has lost financial aid eligibility due to an unacceptable status may appeal their status. Appeals should be based on circumstance beyond the student’s control such as, injury or illness, death of a relative, or other special circumstances. Supporting documentation will be required. A student who wishes to appeal must complete a Satisfactory Academic Appeal Request Form. Other forms of appeal will not be accepted.
If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on an academic plan and is eligible to receive financial aid on a semester-by-semester basis until they meet the qualitative and quantitively factors described above. For students on academic plans who do not meet qualitative and quantitively factors, their academic progress will be determined based on whether they have met the terms of their academic plan for the prior semester. If they have met the terms of the academic plan, they will be placed on a continued academic plan. If they have not, their SAP status will remain unacceptable.
Bachelor's level students who have attempted more than 150% of their program and master's level students who are unable to complete their degree requirements within 5 years (20 semesters) are no longer eligible for financial aid. They can appeal to the Financial Aid office and if approved, will be placed on an academic plan. The student will remain eligible for financial aid as long as the student meets the terms of the academic plan. If the student fails to meet the terms of the academic plan, the student will no longer be eligible for financial aid for the remainder of their program.
Regaining Financial Aid Eligibility
A student who has lost financial aid eligibility due to SAP or has been denied an SAP appeal will be reviewed at the end of their next semester of enrollment at Walsh College. Their SAP status must be Acceptable to receive financial aid for which they qualify.
Transfer Credits
Transfer credits from other institutions at the time of the SAP review are included in both the attempted and completed credits. Transfer credits are also included in the 150% maximum timeframe. The cumulative grade point average is determined only with courses taken in residence at Walsh College.
Attempted Coursework
Withdrawals, earned F-grades, F-grades due to non-attendance (see Attendance Policy for Financial Aid), incomplete and NR coursework, retroactive drops, repeated courses, coursework removed from transcript due to clean slate and non-credit remedial coursework count as attempted coursework, and may cause a student to be placed on SAP status which could jeopardize future financial aid eligibility. Students who have a grade change after SAP has been determined must notify the Financial Aid Office from their Walsh College email to finaid@walshcollege.edu. Upon notification the student’s SAP will be recalculated to determine if the SAP status needs to be modified. The student will be notified of the outcome of the recalculation.
Change of Major
A student who decides to change majors will have all classes already taken count in the maximum timeframe.