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Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships

 

Appeals Process

SAP Appeals

Students disqualified for failing to meet any of the four SAP components will be notified in writing (by campus email) of their disqualification. Exceptions to the SAP policy may be appealed on a case-by-case basis when a student feels there were circumstances unforeseeable and beyond their control.  A student cannot use the same reason for multiple appeals.

SAP_Appeals

Examples of conditions that could justify an appeal:

Appeals will NOT be accepted for the following conditions:

Your own serious illness or injury that led to a complete/partial medical withdrawal from the University or extensive hospitalization, chemotherapy or other ongoing treatment

A situation that could have been anticipated (i.e. need for transportation, need to pay living expenses, need for child care)

Death of a parent/guardian, spouse, sibling or child during the academic year

Multiple changes of major or addition of a major or minor, unless required by the major department

The serious illness or injury of a parent/guardian, spouse or child that required you to be primary caregiver

Dissatisfaction with course material, instructor, instructional method, class intensity

You have an approved medical withdrawal

Lack of motivation, poor time management, change in academic interests, or academic overload

 You experienced extreme change in financial or legal circumstances

Increased work hours or difficult work schedule

You took part in compulsive military duty

Participation in extracurricular activities (i.e. clubs, sororities, fraternities, sports, band)

 Along with the SAP Appeal, the student is required to submit an explanation of why the student failed to meet SAP, what has changed in the student's situation that would allow the student to demonstrate satisfactory academic progress at the next evaluation, and any supporting documentation.

If the appeal is approved, the student will be placed on probation and/or will need to follow a set SAP plan.

Requirements To Submit An Appeal Request

SAP appeals must include ALL of the following:

1. A completed Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal:

  •  For 2019-2020, you will submit the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form (Form #82) found on our website.
  • For 2020-2021, you will submit your Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form electronically through our Student Forms portal at fresnostate.studentforms.com.

2. A TYPED one page statement, which gives details about each of the following questions:

  • What was the serious and compelling circumstance that occurred during any term which caused you   to not meet the standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress, including prior terms and/or years?
  • How have your circumstances changed since then, so your failure of the situation will not occur again?
  • What steps have you taken to ensure you will make Satisfactory Academic Progress in the future?

For MAXIMUM UNIT SAP Status Appeals, also include the circumstances that contributed to your excess units.

3. Written documentation or evidence that supports the reason(s) given in your statement:

  • The documentation may include a letter from your doctor, court documents, death certificates or copies of University documents such as approved requests for incompletes or withdrawals accompanied by posted grade changes on transcripts, etc.
  • Financial hardship must be documented by bank statements, layoff notices, foreclosure notices, court documents, or other relevant legal documents.

Please attach copies. Original documents will not be returned.

In addition to the above, include for Maximum Unit SAP Status and/or 2nd SAP Appeals:

  1. Copy of a graduation plan or graduation evaluation, signed by your academic advisor on department letterhead.

Appeal Outcomes

  • If the SAP appeal is approved, student is eligible for financial aid. Financial aid awards will depend on availability of funding.
  • If the SAP appeal is submitted AFTER the deadline, processing may not be possible.
  • If a student does not appeal by the listed SAP appeal deadline(s) AND was already awarded financial aid, all awards may be canceled.
  • If you SAP appeal is approved AFTER the financial aid awards were canceled, reinstatement of the awards will depend on the availability of funding.  Financial aid awards will be processed in date and/or priority order.
  • If a student has a pending SAP appeal, they are responsible for paying their fees due to the University. Enrollment is not protected by financial aid until your SAP appeal has been reviewed, processed and approved by the Financial Aid Office.
  • If the SAP appeal is denied, student is not eligible to receive financial aid funding.

Please be advised that the disclosure of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, domestic or dating violence, stalking or abuse of a minor will be referred to the appropriate campus of legal authorities. Your statement will remain private to the extent possible but subject to disclosure by the Financial Aid Office as required by applicable executive orders and federal and state laws.

If you have been a victim of discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, domestic or dating violence or stalking, please find more information about your rights and options at /studentaffairs/victimadvocate/