PROFESSIONAL JUDGMENT / SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
Students whose families experience a change in financial circumstances are eligible for a review of those changed circumstances.
Special circumstances include, but are not limited to:
· Loss of job or reduction in income
· Loss or reduction of some type of untaxed income or benefit
· Low parent income and student support of household expenses
· Separation, divorce or death of one of the student’s parents or student’s spouse
· Reduction in student income due to lack of a summer job
· Student leaving a full-time job to attend UMD
· Unusual medical expenses
· Other unusual expenses or one-time sources of income
· Addition of parent to the number in college (granted only if related to job / employment, retraining, career advancement / promotion)
Process:
Students who wish to have their special circumstances reviewed, should submit a detailed letter describing the circumstance. You may be asked to submit additional documentation including, copies of the most recent Federal tax return, W-2, and pay stubs, to the Financial Aid Office.
The administrator will review the information contained in the letter and accompanying documentation and determine if an adjustment is warranted.
APPEAL FOR INDEPENDENT STATUS
The 2008-2009 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) asks the following questions to determine if a student is considered independent for financial aid purposes:
· Were you born before
· At the begining of the 2008-2009 school year, will you be working on a masters or docorate program (such as MBA, MD, JD, PhD)
· As of today, are you married?
· Do you have children who receive more than half of their support from you?
· Do you have dependents (other than your children or spouse) who will live with and who will receive more than half of their support from you, now and through
· Are both of your paents deceased or are you (or were you until age 18) a ward/dependent of the court?
· Are you a veteran of the U.S. Armed Forces?
· Are you currently serving on active duty in the U.S. Armed Forces for the purposes other than training?
The Financial Aid Services Office may consider exceptional circumstances to allow an otherwise dependent student to apply for aid without parental financial information. Only extreme, documentable cases in which parents’ information cannot reasonably be obtained will warrant a change in the student’s status by Financial Aid Services' Office. Parental refusal to assist with educational costs, student decision to be independent, or living separately from parents are not, by themselves, considered valid reasons for a dependency override by the Financial Aid Appeal Committee.
Process:
The student must complete the Appeal for Independent Status Form and attach the following:
· A written statement of the unique family circumstances. The statement must explain why the student should not be required to submit your parents’ financial information. The student should include a complete history of where he/she has lived, sources of income, and means of support since not living with parents.
· Three letters of support documenting the situation. Third parties such as foster parents, social workers, counselor, clergy, etc should write these letters.
The responsible administrator will review the information to ensure completeness. Failure to submit required information will result in automatic denial. Independent status appeals are granted either by the individual administrator or in consultation with all financial aid administrative staff.
Any decision rendered from UMass Dartmouth applies to the current award year and only to this University. Renewal of independent status is granted following student written confirmation that the situation that resulted in approval of independent status has not changed. Additional information may be required to document this request.
Last Updated On: 12/17/07
