About Appeals

Students that have lost their financial aid eligibility may have an opportunity to appeal the decision.

About the Appeals Process

• Students cannot appeal in person and will not have the opportunity to present your appeal to the Appeals Committee. The committee reviews the appeal and makes a decision based on the academic record, the student's statement, and the documentation provided.
• The appeal must include all the needed details for a decision to be made.
• All explanations are carefully considered.
• Appeals are approved or denied. All appeal decisions are final.
• To grant an appeal, students may need to fulfill additional requirements, such as meeting with an academic advisor to develop an academic plan. The goal is to help students get on track for graduation.
• Students who have appeals approved may be in a probationary status. During the probationary status, the student must meet the conditions of the appeal, as communicated in the Maricopa Student Official Email. If the student does not meet the probation terms, the student will be placed back on suspension.

Appeals Committee Review

• The Appeals Committee frequently meets every month. The committee will make every effort to review an appeal within 14 business days from the date the financial aid office receives an appeal. Due to the volume of appeals, during the college's busiest time of year, such as July, August, January, and February, the appeals process may require more than the typical review time frame.
• All communications about appeal decisions go to the Maricopa Student Official Email. The email is sent from the Financial Aid Office and provides the student with information about Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

Appeals for Cumulative and GPA Measurements

Students are required to explain and submit official documentation for every failed course or "W/Y" (withdrawn) grade for each semester during the lifetime enrollment at Rio Salado College.

To determine all courses and semesters that contributed to unsatisfactory academic progress:

Log in to Student Center and under Academic History, select Maricopa Student Progress

Appeals submitted without supporting documentation may be denied. The documentation provided with a Satisfactory Academic Appeal depends on the extenuating situation. Students should:

• Provide any documentation that supports the appeal and shows the extenuating circumstances during the semester(s) that contributed to being placed on suspension.
• Attach date-specific documentation that supports the appeal.
• Please do not submit documentation that is more than seven pages.
• Submit copies only, not original documents.
• Ensure that all copies of documentation are legible.

Examples of Documentation

• Letter from a physician or counselor on letterhead indicating the dates under their care
• Copies of death certificates, obituaries, or third-party documentation of death
• Accident reports, police records, court records
• Involuntary changes in employment

Cumulative and GPA Appeal Form

Maximum Timeframe Appeals

A Maximum Timeframe Appeal appeal must clearly explain:

• Why the student has attempted more than 150% of the published credits needed to complete their degree or program plan.
• What the student's first degree is in and why the student needs to complete an additional degree (if the student is pursuing another degree).
• The explanation should match the degree program the student has declared and the restricted course list that is submitted.

Circumstances considered when filing a Maximum Timeframe Appeal:

• Changes in major - Explain why the student changed majors and what the student's academic and career plans are for the completion of the new major.
• Incomplete grades, failing grades, course withdrawals - The student needs to explain why they were not successful in these courses and the plan for the successful completion of future courses.
• Repeated courses - Explain the reason for attempting the same course multiple times.
• Transfer credits - Explain why the transfer credits do not apply to the declared degree program.

Academic Plan portion of the Maximum Timeframe Appeal

Students will need to meet with a Rio Salado Academic Advisor to have the Academic Plan portion of the Maximum Timeframe Appeal completed. All courses required for completion of the declared degree must be included in the appeal, as listed on your Academic Plan or Degree check sheet.

Maximum Timeframe Appeal Form

Add or Substitute a course (s) on an Approved Maximum Timeframe Appeal

A change of Degree/Certificate Program requires a NEW Maximum Timeframe Appeal.

If a student needs to add or substitute a course on an approved Maximum Timeframe Appeal, a student may complete the Academic Plan Restricted Course List Addendum. The student's explanation needs to include why the student and the assigned Advisor did not identify the "Added" or "Substituted" course on the original approved Maximum Timeframe Appeal.

Academic Plan RCL Addendum

If your Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal is Denied

If the student receives an email denying the Cumulative and GPA Measurement SAP appeal or if the student has decided not to appeal, the student can regain their eligibility by meeting the Satisfactory Academic Performance (SAP) standards.

If the student receives an email denying the Maximum Timeframe appeal or if the student has decided not to submit this appeal, the student is not eligible to regain their eligibility.

Students should avoid withdrawing, failing, or getting incomplete grades and aim for a 100% passing rate each semester to help reach the SAP standards.

For questions regarding the SAP standards or the appeal process, students should call the Rio Salado Financial Aid Office at (480) 731-8900.