Satisfactory Academic Progress Instructions

Request for Review of Title IV Aid Eligibility Suspension

Right to Request a Review

If your eligibility for Title IV aid has been suspended because you have not met one or more of three standards of academic progress, you may request a review of that suspension to the University Committee on Student Financial Aid. You must have experienced unusual circumstances that affected your ability to meet those standards in order to appeal.

Definition

An unusual circumstance for this purpose is a serious situation outside the student’s control that has had a negative impact on the student’s ability to complete courses at UNA and maintain satisfactory grades. Freshman or transfer year adjustment, for example, is probably not a truly unusual circumstance.

Review Process

Requests for review are screened and are considered individually and independently by Committee members who are appointed by UNA’s president. You must submit an appeal within two (2) weeks of the start of the semester. Submission of an appeal does not guarantee approval. Appeals may take up to two (2) weeks to process. If a student enrolls in classes before an appeal is reviewed, they are responsible for payment of tuition and other education expenses out-of-pocket. Appeals submitted after the final payment deadline will be reviewed at a later date and considered for the next semester. If you submit a written request for review, you will be notified via email or letter of the Committee’s decision, which is final. Check your UNA Portal e-mail for updates on your status.

Types of Title IV Aid

Pell Grant
Federal Work Study
Alabama Student Assistance Program
Stafford Loan, including Unsubsidized
Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students and Graduate PLUS Loan for Graduate Students

Preparing Your Appeal

If you decide to appeal, here are some suggestions that we recommend to include with your submission: 

  • You may attach additional pages or supporting documents to your appeal, if necessary.
  • Stick to the facts. Write about facts relevant to the unusual circumstances leading to your academic standing.
  • Discuss how you plan to improve your academic performance in future semesters.
  • Do not write about your “need” for financial aid. It is not the function of the Committee to evaluate your financial need. Rather, the Committee determines the impact of your unusual circumstances on your academic progress.
  • Be specific. Call attention to the specific semesters or years in which the unusual circumstances took place. Remember that the committee reviews your entire academic history, so make sure your statement addresses each and every semester that was affected by the unusual circumstances.
  • Observe Standard English and college composition guidelines.
  • Type or neatly handwrite your request to the Committee.