Appeal Process

Federal Regulations require Utah Valley University to monitor whether or not a student is maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) in his or her course of study. Students who have been denied financial aid because they have not met the requirements of the SAP policy are offered the opportunity to complete the UVU Financial Aid appeal process to be considered for an exemption from the policy. For appeals due to GPA or credit hour completion, the student must complete a SAP Appeal. For appeals due to exceeding the maximum time frame, the student must complete a Maximum Credit Hour Academic Plan.

As mentioned on the Satisfactory Academic Progress page, the UVU Financial Aid & Scholarships SAP policy allows for a student to be placed on financial aid warning if the student fails SAP at the end of a semester, if the student was in good standing in the prior semester. A student on financial aid warning will be eligible to receive financial aid for the semester after completing counseling, either in person with a Financial Aid Counselor or by completing the Satisfactory Academic Progress Warning Counseling form. Students will be notified through their UVLink email account if they are placed on warning. The Satisfactory Academic Progress Warning Counseling form will be sent to students in the same email.

If a student fails to maintain SAP after the warning semester, the student will not receive further financial aid until they regain his or her eligibility. Options for regaining eligibility include the student attending at his or her own expense until meeting all standards or completing the
SAP appeal process, as described below.

Completion of this process does not guarantee that your financial aid eligibility will be reinstated. You are responsible for payment of your tuition regardless of your financial aid status. It is also your responsibility to be aware of all UVU deadlines. If your appeal is not approved, you must attend at your own expense until you are back into compliance with the SAP standards. If your appeal is approved, you will be expected to maintain all SAP standards every semester. 

 

SAP Appeal Process for Reestablishment of Financial Aid Eligibility:

In some cases, a student’s failure to be in compliance with SAP is due to events beyond the student’s control. (Examples of mitigating circumstances may include serious illness, severe injury, death of a family member, etc.) If such mitigating circumstances can be well documented for the specific  semester(s) when the deficiencies occurred, the student may complete the appeal process.

In order to appeal any decision regarding your financial aid status, you must complete the SAP Appeal Form to request an exception to the Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Policy. Your appeal must include the following items to be considered complete (incomplete appeals will not be considered):

• A detailed , signed personal statement must accompany the appeal, explaining the circumstances that caused you to fall below the minimum academic requirements for financial aid (statement should be typed and attached to the appeal form). It is assumed by the Financial Aid Appeal Committee that any student filing an appeal is doing so based upon the need for financial aid. Therefore, students should not discuss their need for financial aid as part of their rationale for reinstatement of Title IV Federal Financial Aid. This statement should include:

• the date(s) the circumstance occurred and whether it was a one-time or ongoing problem,
• how this circumstance affected you personally, and
• the steps you have taken to resolve the circumstances and your ability to make Satisfactory Academic Progress.

• Documentation from an impartial third party (not a family member, friend, or roommate). Examples of third party documentation include a statement from a physician, counselor, lawyer, social worker, teacher, religious leader, employer, death certificate, divorce decree, etc.
  • Your documentation:
    • must include the name of the person providing the statement and his or her relationship to you,
    • must support the claims made in your detailed personal statement,
    • should confirm your ability to return to school and be successful; and
    • must be signed and notarized or on letterhead.

Additionaly, you must complete an individual counseling session with a Financial Aid Counselor that will address your specific situation.

 

Maximum Credit Hour Academic Plan Process for Reestablishment of Financial Aid Eligibility:

Your academic plan must include the following items to be considered complete (incomplete plans will not be accepted or reviewed):

• A properly signed and initialed Maximum Credit Hour Academic Plan form.
• A signed, detailed personal statement explaining the reason(s) you have exceeded the maximum number of credit  hours allowed for your degree program.
• A Max Credit Plan in Wolverine Track that an Academic Advisor has approved.

 

Wolverine Track Max Credit Plan Instructions:

1.)    Log into Wolverine Track via UVLink.

2.)    Click on the Planner Tab.

3.)    Click on the Planner drop down menu and select "Add new plan" and “Load.”

4.)    On the Planner side of the screen, click on the link to “Load in a pre-defined plan.”

5.)    In the pop-up window, click on the “Clear All” button and then the “Search” button.

6.)    In the search results screen, scroll to the bottom until you locate the plan titled “Financial Aid-Max Credit Plan” and highlight the plan by clicking on it.

7.)    Click on the “Load into my plan” button located at the bottom of the pop-up window.

8.)    Create semester by semester course plan and click on Save Plan. (To make sure that you have planned for every class that you need, click on the “Check All Terms” button and then the “Process New” button.) * Please include current semester in the plan.

9.)    Once the plan has been created, meet with your Academic Advisor to have the plan approved.

If you previously created a plan, select the plan from the drop down menu and click on “Load”. Next, click on the “Save As” button on the bottom of the planner side of the screen and save the plan with the description “Financial Aid-Max Credit Plan.” Be sure to delete any terms which you have already completed. Then, meet with your Academic Advisor to have the plan approved.

Note: You will need to inactivate the first plan before activating the “Financial Aid-Max Credit Plan”.

For additional information on how to create a plan in Wolverine Track, please visit the Wolverine Track webpage.