Regaining Eligibility

Regaining Eligibility After Financial Aid Suspension

Reinstatement of financial aid after a student who has not met the SAP standards and is on Financial Aid Suspension is achieved in one of the following ways:

1. The student attends Humboldt or another institution, pays for tuition and fees without the help of student financial aid, and completes at least 6 units without benefit of aid.  The student regains aid eligibility.
2. The student submits an appeal and the Financial Aid Appeals Committee grants the appeal. The student is placed on Financial Aid Probation for the next semester of enrollment. Financial Aid Probation means that the student failed to make SAP, has appealed and has had eligibility for aid reinstated. At the end of that probationary semester, their SAP status will be re-evaluated. The student must meet all SAP requirements at the end of that semester or he/she will return to Financial Aid Suspension and must reestablish eligibility.

Appeal Process

1. The student must submit an appeal of Financial Aid Suspension to the Financial Aid Office.  (Use the "Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal" form on the Student Forms portal.)
2. The appeal must include documentation of the circumstance that led to the student not meeting SAP standards as well as a description of how he/she will be able to meet SAP at the end of the next enrollment period. Circumstances which may be considered include death of a relative, unexpected injury or illness of the student or other circumstances, as supported with documentation. For an appeal to be considered it must contain: The SAP appeal form and any documentation that supports the extenuating circumstances (death certificate, divorce decree, police report, medical documentation)

The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will review the appeal and notify the student in writing of its decision after the Appeals Committee meets and makes its determination. Appeals will not be granted unless the student's proposed enrollment in the upcoming semester would be adequate to reestablish their progress under this Policy.

Appeals are approved for just one semester of Probation ‚– if the student does not meet SAP at the end of the probationary semester they will be returned to Financial Aid Suspension.  Appeals for a second probationary term are only considered if the reason is different than the first appeal, and are only approved in rare circumstances by the Financial Aid Director.

Requesting an Extension for Maximum Time Frame

Students who are beyond the maximum timeframe to completion cannot regain financial aid eligibility except on a semester‚–by‚–semester basis through the appeal process.

1. The student must submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Office. Use the "Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal" form on the Student Forms portal)  Extenuating circumstances include death of a family member, injury/illness, military service, vocational units taken at another institution or other extenuating circumstance that can be documented. Financial need, double majors, and or adding of minors are not extenuating circumstances.
2. The Financial Aid Appeals Committee will review the appeal and notify the student in writing of its decision after the Appeals Committee meets and makes its determination.  Extensions are generally granted for one additional semester only.

Mitigating Circumstances

Appeals are granted as a one-time exception however, exceptions to satisfactory academic progress standards are granted on a case-by-case basis when mitigating circumstances warrant special consideration; however, due to lack of funds, many programs generally cannot be reinstated after cancellation. Financial need, double majors, and or adding of minors are not mitigating circumstances. Second appeals will be reviewed by the Director of Financial Aid and will only be granted under exceptional circumstances.

If you have questions about the appeal process or would like to discuss your situation, a Financial Aid Advisor is always available to speak to you.