Professional Judgment Appeals
Financial Aid

This type of appeal means a student is asking the FLC Financial Aid Office to increase their overall cost of attendance (COA) used to create a financial aid package. The COA is the foundation for establishing a student’s financial need, as it sets a limit on the total aid that a student may receive for purposes of Federal, State, and campus-based programs.

Listed below are the types of appeals in which a student’s COA can be increased through the appeals process.

1. Dependent care – If approved, the increased amount will be based on the documentation provided with a maximum allowed of $1096 per month, per child, in accordance with Colorado Commission on Higher Education guidelines.
2. Study-abroad expenses- Cost of attendance increases for approved study abroad expenses, beyond regular cost of attendance budget components, will be considered.
3. Disability expenses - Cost of attendance increases due to expenses related to special services, personal assistance, transportation, equipment, and supplies that are reasonably incurred and not provided by other agencies will be considered.

How to appeal for a COA adjustment 

COA increase appeals must be submitted in writing and signed by the student. Electronic submissions are acceptable only if sent through the student's FLC email address. All supporting documentation must be signed and printed on the agency letterhead (if applicable). 

Deadline  

The request and the supporting documentation must be received by the Financial Aid Office by midterm of the Spring semester, for either Fall or Spring term consideration, or the 1st day of summer term if beginning attendance in the summer term. 

Aid adjustments  

An increase in a student's cost of attendance budget does not guarantee an increase in financial aid awards. 

Notification of appeal  

Completed COA appeals process within 2-3 weeks after submission. The student will receive an email to their FLC email account with the outcome of their request.  

*Students must have a FERPA release on file for the Financial Aid Office to share information with anyone else about their account, appeal application, and/or results of their appeal. 

This type of appeal means a student is asking the FLC Financial Aid Office to review their dependency status to determine if they qualify as an independent student based on their family situation. 

For the Financial Aid Office to consider an appeal, the student must document an extreme, unique, and/or unusual family circumstance that prevents them from obtaining parental information. 

Circumstances considered include: 

•     Abandonment by parents 
•     An abusive family environment that threatens the student's health and safety 
•     Inability to locate parents 
•     Incarceration or institutionalization of both parents 
•     Severe estrangement from a parent 

Circumstances that DO NOT qualify for consideration include:  

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

How to appeal for a Dependency Override 

If a student believes they qualify to appeal for a dependency override, they must contact a financial aid counselor at Skyhawk Station for the Dependency Override Appeal Form.

General Instructions

Students appealing for a dependency override must: 

• Submit a signed Request for Dependency Override form, along with a signed personal statement outlining why they should be considered independent, what their current living situation is, how they are supported, and details of the relationship/situation with both biological/adoptive parents 
• Have a current year FAFSA on file that has the "special circumstances" box checked without parental information 
• Submit a minimum of two signed letters from third parties confirming the student's situation and/or an official document such as a court order. At least one source must be from an unrelated professional that can verify the student's situation (A third party includes, but is not limited to, a teacher, counselor, medical authority, social worker, or government agency) 

Deadline:  

The request and the supporting documentation must be received by the Financial Aid Office by the midterm date of the Spring semester or 1st day of summer term if beginning attendance in the summer for the current academic year.

Aid adjustments:

Approving a dependency override appeal does not guarantee an increase in financial aid awards.

Notification of appeal 

Completed Dependency Override appeals process within 2-3 weeks after submission. The student will receive an email to their FLC email account with the outcome of their request. 

*Students must have a FERPA release on file for the Financial Aid Office to share information with anyone else about their account, appeal application, and/or results of their appeal.

Students with a significant change in their household's financial circumstances from their FAFSA form can submit a Reconsideration of Need appeal for reconsideration of their financial aid eligibility based on the new information.   

*In most cases, approved appeals will only change Federal Pell Grant and/or Federal Direct Subsidized loan funds. 

General Instructions: 

Listed below are situations the Financial Aid Office will consider a Reconsideration of Need appeal for possible changes in financial aid eligibility: 

• My own, my spouse's, or my parent(s)' employment income has changed considerably due to layoff, termination, etc. 
• I, my spouse, or my parent(s) have/has unusually high unreimbursed, non-elective out-of-pocket medical or dental expenses. 
• I, my spouse, or my parent(s) lost untaxed income or benefits such as child support. 
• I, my spouse, or my parent(s) have/has elementary or secondary tuition. 
• I, my spouse, or my parent(s) have/has a loss of income and/or assets due to reasons beyond their control. (i.e., fire, natural disaster, death) 
• I, my spouse, or my parent(s) have/had a conversion of traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs in a reported tax year. 

Students can find the Reconsideration of Need Form and complete instructions on how to submit an appeal application on the Forms page. 

Deadline to appeal: 

Reconsideration of Need appeals must be received by the Financial Aid Office by the first Monday in August for students starting in a Fall semester and the first Monday in December for students beginning in a Spring semester. 

Students who have not received a final decision regarding their appeal should expect to start the school year with the original official financial aid award they received for that academic year. 

If a student does not believe they can afford to attend without additional aid, they should withdraw before school begins to avoid any financial obligation to the College. 

Aid adjustments 

Adjustments to a financial aid award due to an approved Reconsideration of Need appeal are neither guaranteed nor immediate and depend upon funding availability.

Notification of appeal 

Completed Reconsideration of Need appeals process within 2-3 weeks after submission. The student will receive an email to their FLC email account with the outcome of their request.  

*Students must have a FERPA release on file for the Financial Aid Office to share information with anyone else about their account, appeal application, and/or results of their appeal.