91社区

What is professional judgment?

When there are unusual situations or circumstances that impact your federal student aid eligibility, federal regulations give a financial aid administrator discretion or professional judgment on a case-by-case basis and with adequate documentation to make adjustments to the data elements on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA庐) form that impact your Expected Family Contribution (EFC) to gain a more accurate assessment of your family's ability to contribute to your cost of education. The Department of Education does not have the authority to override a school's professional judgment decision.

It is important to note that we cannot process professional judgments after the student is no longer enrolled for the academic year for which the request has been submitted. Also, submission of these forms do not guarantee approval nor guarantee increased financial aid eligibility.聽

There are 3 main types of professional judgments.

Special Circumstances

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) uses income information from two year's prior and does not allow students the opportunity to explain if there has been a change in circumstances. Therefore, under federal law, financial aid administrators have been given the authority to take some circumstances into account and make adjustments to certain items on the FAFSA application, potentially impacting the EFC and as a result, the financial aid eligibility.

Examples of circumstances we may be able to consider:

• Significant Reduction in Income or Loss of Employment
• Legal Separation or Divorce AFTER Filing FAFSA
• Death of a Parent or Spouse AFTER Filing FAFSA
• Significant Medical Expenses Paid Out-Of-Pocket
• One-Time Income Distribution (ex. IRA or Pension Distribution)

Graduate/Professional students do not qualify for need-based grants or loans and would not likely benefit from the Special Circumstance process. Student鈥檚 seeking a second bachelor鈥檚 degree do not qualify for need-based grants. Please contact 91社区 Financial Assistance聽to discuss if a Special Circumstance would still benefit you.

Remember, there must be very good reasons for the Financial Aid Office to make any adjustments. Not all adjustments will change your financial aid eligibility (see examples below) and you'll have to provide adequate proof to support those adjustments. Also, remember that the Financial Aid Office鈥檚 decision is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.

**It is important to note that the examples above are very general. The FAFSA/EFC calculation looks at everything from marital status, household size, number in college, taxable income, untaxed income, assets, etc.**

You may download and complete the Special Circumstance Form online in the Student Financial Assistance forms library聽for the application.聽Please submit all requested documentation with the form. Incomplete Special Circumstances will not be processed. Submission of this form does not guarantee approval.

Unusual Circumstances/Dependency Overrides

Many students feel they are independent because they currently live on their own or because their parents no longer claim them on their income taxes. Others feel they should be considered independent because their parents refuse to provide information on the FAFSA or because their parents cannot afford to help with college expenses. However, these reasons are not sufficient for an appeal.

We are required to consider parent information and expect a parental contribution for students who are not independent according to the U.S. Department of Education. Check out the video on this page or visit the聽for more information about dependency status.

There are unusual circumstances that may warrant a Dependency Override. Dependency Overrides may only be performed when adequate documentation of extenuating family circumstances exists. Unusual circumstances are generally defined by students' inability to have contact with their parents.

Circumstances we may be able to consider:

• Inability to obtain parent financial information due to severe circumstances such as abusive home situation, abandonment by both parents, parental alcohol or drug abuse or incarceration of both parents/Incarceration of the custodial parent and the other parent meets one of the circumstances described below.
• Both parents reside in a foreign country and are unable to communicate with you because of political policy, war or civil unrest OR your custodial parent resides in a foreign country and is unable to communicate with you because of political policy, war or civil unrest and your other parent meets the circumstances described above or below.
• Death of parent after filing FAFSA and the surviving parent meets the circumstances described above.
• You are legally divorced after being married for at least two years and have maintained a residence apart from you and your former spouse鈥檚 parents during the time you were married and continue to do so and you pay all expenses from your own income and assets.

If you have unusual circumstances, you may download and complete the Dependency Override online in the Student Financial Assistance forms library聽for the application.聽Please submit all requested documentation聽with the form. Incomplete Dependency Overrides will not be processed. Submission of this form does not guarantee approval.

Budget/Cost of Attendance Adjustments

The Financial Aid Budget, also known as the Cost of Attendance (COA), includes allowances for tuition and fees, housing and food, books and supplies, and other miscellaneous expenses. The allowances are determined with consideration for direct costs (costs billed to the student) and indirect costs (costs not billed to the student).

Approval of a Budget Adjustment Appeal only adjusts the budget, not your billed costs. It will not likely result in additional grant or scholarship eligibility and will not automatically increase any loans already borrowed. Increasing your COA may allow for additional borrowing through the Direct Loan Program(s) if you have not already been awarded the maximum amounts permitted for your dependency status, grade level and degree; the Direct PLUS Loan or Graduate PLUS Loan programs; or an alternative private student loan.

This type of adjustment is typically only beneficial when your financial aid has been reduced due to being over-budget. This means that the total amount of financial assistance you qualify for exceeds your Financial Aid Budget/COA.

Circumstances we may be able to consider:

• Child Care Expenses (Independent students who are paying out-of-pocket for daycare/childcare)
• Transportation Expenses (Commuter students who are traveling over 60 miles round-trip per day)
• Off campus-housing (Students who reported living on-campus or with parents on FAFSA, but are now living off-campus in an apartment or house)
• Computer Expense (One-time purchase of a computer, not to exceed $1800)

If you have extenuating circumstances, you may download and complete the Budget Adjustment Appeal online in the Student Financial Assistance forms library for the application.聽Please submit all requested documentation聽with the form. Incomplete Budget Adjustment Appeals will not be processed. Submission of this form does not guarantee approval.