Financial Aid Appeals

Overview

Students who wish to have educational or living expenses above and beyond Cal Lutheran's standard Cost of Attendance considered by the Financial Aid Office must explain what items they want considered, why the items should be considered, and include documentation of those expenses. 

Items that may be considered include, but are not limited to:

• Child care
• Purchase of computer or other large expense related to education
• Commuting costs above those already considered in the budget
• Additional unit charges (over 18 units)
• Living in a more expensive residence hall with a meal plan

Procedure

Review and submit the Cost of Attendance Appeal Form.

2024-25 Cost of Attendance Appeal Form

Determining Your Dependency Status

There are strict guidelines set by the federal government that govern dependency status. Almost all undergraduates are considered dependent for the purpose of awarding financial aid,  even if the student does not live with their parents..

If you're not sure, the Federal Student Aid website provides a list of criteria to determine if you are a dependent or independent student for financial aid purposes. All graduate students are considered independent for purposes of awarding financial aid.

If none of the above criteria apply, then the student is considered to be a dependent student – even if the student can claim themselves on their taxes. However, the Financial Aid Office has the authority, through Section 480(d)(7) of the Higher Education Act, to change a student's status from dependent to independent in cases involving unusual circumstances.

Circumstances that do not merit a dependency override

Note that all of these circumstances below are largely discretionary in nature. A student cannot become independent just because the parents are unwilling to help pay for the student's college education. These circumstances can be either alone or in combination.

• Parents refuse to contribute to the student's education;
• Parents are unwilling to provide information on the application or for verification;
• Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes;
• Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

Circumstances that do merit a dependency override

Although these circumstances are not always sufficient for a dependency override, they do not preclude it.

• an abusive family environment (e.g., sexual, physical, or mental abuse or other forms of domestic violence)
• abandonment by parents
• incarceration or institutionalization of both parents
• parents lacking the physical or mental capacity to raise the child
• parents whereabouts unknown or parents cannot be located
• parents hospitalized for an extended period
• an unsuitable household (e.g., child removed from the household and placed in foster care)
• married student's spouse dies or student gets divorced

Procedure

Please speak with your Financial Aid Counselor if you have questions or would like to discuss your dependency status.

Contact The Financial Aid Office

Overview

In order to receive gift assistance from Cal Lutheran, a student must be enrolled full time (12 to 18 units per semester).

Procedure

Students who wish to receive their institutional gift assistance while attending part time must submit a letter to the Financial Aid Office stating the reason for their part-time status and asking for a re-evaluation of financial aid. Speak with your Financial Aid Counselor for more information.

Contact The Financial Aid Office

Overview

For a Federal Parent PLUS Loan, the Department of Education will perform a check for adverse credit history and generally notify both the parent and the Financial Aid Office within 1-2 business days whether the parent's credit was approved or denied.

If the parent receives a denied credit decision

If the parent's credit is denied, the parent may choose to add a credit-worthy endorser or appeal the credit decision or request an Additional Direct Unsubsidized Loan for the student.

See below for your options:

• Option 1: How to add an endorser
  • Find a credit worthy endorser and provide them with your PLUS loan reference number
  • The endorser must request an FSA ID with the Department of Education.  They will then use that FSA ID to sign into www.Studentaid.gov
  • Have the endorser complete an endorser addendum
  • Have the parent complete a new PLUS MPN to include your endorser
• Option 2: How to appeal your credit decision
  • Have the parent log in using your FSA ID and follow the on-screen instructions
• Option 3: How to receive an Additional Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan for the student
  • Once the denied Parent Plus loan is processed by the Financial Aid Office, an additional Unsubsidized Loan will be added to the aid offer and the student will be sent a revised aid offer notification email via their Cal Lutheran email address
  • The student must accept the Additional Unsubsidized Loan in Financial Aid Self-Service

Additional Requirement When Choosing Option 1 or 2:

PLUS loan applicants who successfully appeal their credit decision or obtain an endorser will be required to complete PLUS Credit Counseling.

• Complete online Plus Credit Counseling
  • This will need to be completed before your loan can disburse. Please note this counseling must be completed in one sitting as there is no ‘save progress’ function.
  • For questions about whether you need to complete this counseling or not please contact the Student Loan Support Center at 800-557-7394.

Overview

We recognize that you or your family's financial situation may change unexpectedly.

If your financial circumstances have changed in the past year or since filing the FAFSA, you may submit an appeal to be reviewed by the Financial Aid Review Committee. In all cases, the appeal must come from the student.

Visit our special circumstances page for more specific information on what is required.

Special Circumstance Appeal Information

Overview

A student placed on Financial Aid Suspension may submit an appeal to the Financial Aid Appeals Committee if there were extenuating circumstances that prevented them from meeting SAP requirements.

Procedure

Students must submit the following to the Office of Financial Aid within sixty (60) calendar days from the date of the suspension notification. Students receive a link to the necessary appeal form in their SAP decision email notification.

1. Financial Aid SAP Appeal Form (Choose GPA/Pace or Maximum Timeframe Form)
   • Personal Statement: Within the form, student must provide a concise statement explaining why they were unable to maintain SAP, what has changed, and the action to be taken to ensure they will be successful going forward; and
   • Provide acceptable documentation of extenuating circumstances (see below for examples) that prohibited them from meeting SAP.
2. For Maximum Timeframe Appeals only: Students must also include a Student Educational Plan or “Program Evaluation”, developed in consultation with a Cal Lutheran Faculty Advisor or Student Success Counselor to outline courses required to complete degree.

Examples of Extenuating Circumstances

Extenuating Circumstance	Example of Acceptable Documentation
Personal injury or illness	Detailed letter, on letterhead, from physician explaining dates and types of illness, recommended treatment, dates of non-attendance, prognosis, etc.
Death/illness or injury of a close family member	Death certificate, obituary notice; documentation of illness or injury of close family member.
Legal Issue	Divorce decree, separation agreement, police report detailing incident, date and those involved
Job Conflict	Letter from supervisor, on letterhead, stating scheduling problems, etc.
Disability	Letter from Disability Services Office addressing problems that arose during the term in question and the resolution for future terms or medical documentation from other outside sources, letter from a doctor, etc.
Other	Any other documentation that will support the appeal (letter from faculty, or third-party source)

Additional Information

Financial Aid SAP Appeals will be processed in the order received. Incomplete documentation or late appeal submission may delay the committees review and final determination.

Students are responsible to pay any charges for the term out of pocket or enroll in the Monthly Payment Plan while waiting for a decision on an appeal in order to meet Student Account Financial Clearance requirements.