Reinstatement/Appeals Procedures
Reinstatement: A student, who was previously disqualified, may have their financial aid reinstated if they meet the Pace of Progression calculation and a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00.
Appeals/probation status: Students who feel they do not meet the above criteria due to special circumstances may appeal to the Financial Aid Advisory Committee (FAAC) for review. Special circumstances may include, but are not limited to, illness, accident, death in the family, remedial/basic skills course work, or a change in educational goal. Steps to be taken:
- A student who wants to appeal his or her disqualification status must meet with the Financial Aid Director to obtain a Petition for Appeal of Financial Aid form. The Director will explain the form and the steps the student must follow to complete the required paperwork for submission to the FAAC.
- The FAAC will review the student’s appeal and make a decision regarding the student’s financial aid status. A written notification will be mailed to the student within three (3) working days of the committee’s decision. All decisions made by the FAAC are final and binding.
Any student who is on financial aid disqualification due to a change in major is required to meet with a counselor to establish a new educational plan and must appeal to the FAAC for review.
A student who has been placed on financial aid disqualification will not automatically be reinstated simply by paying for his/her own classes (i.e., not receiving Title IV aid) for a semester or by sitting out a semester. The student must bring his/her cumulative GPA up, complete the required units for his/her enrollment status, or go through the appeal process for review if a special circumstance exists.
Barring an approved petition for unusual or mitigating circumstances, a student can reestablish eligibility only by taking action which brings the student into compliance with the required GPA of 2.00, the Pace of Progression calculation, and Maximum Time Frame standard.
Ineligible to Appeal
Students who do not meet the Satisfactory Academic Progress guidelines based on the Pace of Progression calculation or GPA may not be eligible to appeal again if, in the last semester enrolled at Taft College, the student appealed and the appeal was approved. Unless the student has made Satisfactory Academic Progress or the institution determines the student met the requirements specified by the institution in the academic plan for the student, another appeal could not be filed for the next enrolled semester. The student would need to reinstate themselves (without financial aid) by meeting the Pace of Progression calculation with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.00 while enrolled in classes at Taft College.
Incomplete Grade
In the case of a student receiving an incomplete grade (I), the student must complete all work necessary to remove the incomplete grade within 8 weeks from the beginning of the semester.
A progress report signed by the instructor involved must be submitted to the Financial Aid Office by the end of the 4th week of the semester. If the incomplete grade is not made up, the letter grade to be assigned will be used to determine the financial aid status.
Incoming Transfer Students
Transfer students must meet the same criteria as students matriculating at Taft College. Students must be enrolled in a program of study approved by a counselor/academic advisor. Repeated courses for which the student has petitioned with approval will be considered as part of the academic load.