Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Process
for Graduate Students

All graduate students who file a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) are subject to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy. Each year, the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will evaluate your SAP status at the end of the spring semester. If you have an earned credits deficiency, the financial aid office will send you a letter regarding this matter. Your department and the College of Graduate and Outreach Programs will monitor your compliance with GPA and maximum time requirements.

If you were unable to meet the grade point average, earned credit, or maximum time requirements during your previous enrollment, you cannot receive financial aid. However, if extenuating circumstances contributed to your inability to meet the earned credits standard, you may request reconsideration through the financial aid office by submitting this Appeal Form, with appropriate supporting documentation. See the graduate catalog for information about GPA requirements, time limitations, and exceptions to regulations.

Without mitigating circumstances, students may regain eligibility for financial aid by resolving their academic deficiency. If you believe this describes your situation, use the Appeal Form to notify us of the possible change in your status. We will reevaluate your transcript to confirm your compliance with SAP requirements. Remember that your JMU transcript must reflect this change.

Extenuating or Mitigating Circumstances
If extenuating circumstances contributed to your inability to meet SAP requirements and you need financial assistance to attend school, you should submit an appeal. Mitigating or extenuating circumstances may include:

• Illness
• Death in the family
• Family problems

This is not a comprehensive list. Any documentable event(s), outside your control, that prevented you from meeting SAP standards may qualify.

Appeal Form
The Appeal Form gives you the opportunity to tell us about the event(s) that contributed to your unsatisfactory progress.

In your appeal form, you should:

• Describe the extenuating circumstance(s) that led to your noncompliance.
• Explain your plan of action to ensure your future academic success.
• Describe the timeframe of your extenuating circumstance(s) for the period that you failed SAP.

We realize that sharing personal information can be difficult. Be assured that your statement will remain confidential. Only financial aid personnel will review your appeal.

Supporting Documentation
To confirm your extenuating circumstance(s), you must attach documentation from an objective third party (e.g., physician, counselor, lawyer, social worker, teacher, religious leader, academic adviser, JMU Office of Disability Services, and JMU Health Center).

Your third party documentation must:

• Be submitted on official stationary or by e-mail from a valid JMU e-mail account.
• Verify that the extenuating circumstance(s) will no longer influence your future academic performance.
• Confirm the timeframe referenced in your appeal.

After reviewing your appeal form and supporting information, we may request additional documentation for clarification purposes.

Appeal Decision
We will review your appeal within 30 days of receipt and notify you in writing of its status. You will receive either our decision to grant your appeal, deny your appeal, or a request for additional documentation. If we grant your appeal and you have submitted all required financial aid materials, you will receive an award notice. If we deny your appeal, you may choose to apply for an alternative loan. Review loan options at: http://www.jmu.edu/finaid/altloans.shtml