Financial Aid Appeal Policy

Before You Begin...

Students disqualified from Financial Aid may appeal if there are documented extenuating circumstances which affected the student's ability to make academic progress. Examples of mitigating circumstances include but are not limited to:

  • Death in the family
  • Serious illness
  • Severe injury (ie., car accident, job-related, etc.)
  • Various reasons which were beyond the student's control

Circumstances which are not considered extenuating circumstances:

  • The student enrolled in the wrong course, or the course was deemed too difficult
  • The student enrolled in too many units during a semester and did poorly as a result
  • Poor time management
  • Transportation issues
  • Work schedule conflicting with course times

Student Process

To appeal for Financial Aid, students are required to complete the following steps:

  1. Log into the Financial Aid Document Portal (Campus Logic)
  2. Click on the 'Request' button, located in the upper right-hand corner. Select 'SAP Appeal' and go through the process.
    • The appeal must include an explanation of contributing factors, documentation of those circumstances, and must outline corrective or preventive measures to ensure that the student will meet Satisfactory Academic Progress in the future. The appeal must also explain each semester which the student failed to make SAP, regardless of prior appeal.
    • A Student Education Plan (SEP), listing two or more semesters, completed by an Academic Counselor. A comprehensive Student Education Plan (SEP) is required for students appealing maximum time frame or maximum units. Any changes made to the SEP by students will void the SEP and will require the student to meet with an Academic Counselor again for an updated SEP.
    • Third Party Statement (if applicable) should address your extenuating circumstances.
    • All academic transcripts from previously attended colleges need to be on file at the SJDC Admissions & Records department.

Submission Deadlines for Each Semester

  • Fall: December 1st
  • Spring: May 1st
  • Summer: July 15th

NOTE: Student must be enrolled in the semester which they are requesting their appeal.


Notice of Appeal Status

Submission of an appeal DOES NOT GUARANTEE a reinstatement of financial aid. If an appeal is approved, the student will be placed on Financial Aid Probation and will be eligible for financial aid. Approved appeals will clearly state the condition(s) for eligibility and/or reinstatement.

If the appeal is denied, the student may complete a 2nd-Level Appeal and submit it to the Assistant Director of Financial Aid, explaining why they believe the denial should be overturned. If the original decision is upheld, this decision is final.

Students who have attempted 150 or more units are not eligible to appeal the denial of aid, regardless of reason. (Note: Total attempted units will include those transferred from other colleges/institutions.)

Only one (1) financial aid appeal submission per semester, per student. Students who submit more than one appeal must provide differing extenuating circumstances in subsequent appeal(s).