Appeals for Financial Aid

A student may appeal the loss of federal aid eligibility if they can document that extenuating circumstances caused the poor academic performance. Appeals are for unforeseen, extenuating circumstances and are not for ongoing medical issues or patterns of poor performance. Student may only submit one appeal in an academic year. 

Steps to appeal:

• Students MUST have a FAFSA on file for the academic year they are appealing to receive Federal aid funds.
• Log into your MyNCC Portal and select the Verify My FAFSA tile.  If this is your first time logging into Verify My FAFSA, you will be asked to create an account. Important, when confirming student information, the student’s name, date of birth and SSN you enter must match the information on your FAFSA exactly
• Complete the tasks: the appeal form, personal statement and upload any supporting documentation which can justify why your academic progress suffered and how you plan to remedy it for future semesters.
• Students must also complete the online, SUNY Smart Track Financial Literacy course: College & Money  and upload it with any supporting documents.
• Deadline to submit appeals is July 15.
• The appeal decision is based on the information you provide and notification will be sent to your NCC email.

Students who are under the age of 24 and not married are required to provide parental data on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). They are referred to as dependent students. However, dependent students with unusual circumstances may appeal to the Office of Financial Aid for a dependency override. A dependency override would allow the student to be considered an independent student (for financial aid purposes only) and exempt the student from providing parental data on their FAFSA.

Dependency overrides often involve an involuntary dissolution of the family or situations in which it would be harmful for the student to have contact with their parents.

The following conditions may be considered for appeal:*

• Student is no longer in the parent's home due to abuse/neglect/abandonment
• Student is considered an unaccompanied youth or at risk of being homeless
• Incarcerated parent(s)
• Parent(s) whereabouts unknown
• Parental drug and/or alcohol addiction
• Parents Death – in the case that parent is remarried and the custodial parent dies, the stepparent is no longer considered a parent for federal student aid purposes. The surviving, non-custodial parent then becomes responsible for completing the FAFSA. If any of the above situation apply toward the surviving parent, the student should proceed with the appeal

The following conditions generally may not be considered for appeal:*

• Student is self-supporting
• Student is not claimed as a tax exemption by parents
• Parents cannot afford or refuse to help with college or living expenses
• Parents are unwilling to provide their financial information to complete the FAFSA

*There are limitations to the circumstances the U.S. Department of Higher Education will allow financial aid professionals to consider for appeal. To remain equitable, our office will review all applications on a case-by-case basis.

To request and complete a Dependency Appeal (student instructions):

1. Student must be enrolled at the time the appeal request is submitted.
2. A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year in which you are requesting an appeal must be on file with Nassau Community College.
3. Go to ncc.verifymyfafsa.com. If you haven’t already, you will need to create an account. Important, when confirming student information, the student’s name, date of birth and SSN you enter must match the information on your FAFSA exactly.
4. After you have logged in to ncc.studentforms.com click on the "+- Request" button near the top of the page.
5. Find “Professional Judgement: Unusual Circumstance Appeal” listed. Click the green plus + sign to add the request for the appropriate aid year you will be attending.
6. The system will ask you to briefly explain your reason for this request. This does not need to be in-depth. You will provide more information as part of the appeal later in the process.
7. Once you have added the appeal, a tab should be listed on your account with this  appeal for the aid year. Click on the tab to see and take action on your appeal tasks.
8. Your Unusual Circumstance Appeal tasks will include providing a detailed statement for your appeal and third-party documentation to strengthen and support your appeal. Your statement should include:
   • An explanation of the extraordinary family circumstances that led to leaving your parents' household
   • Your past and present relationship with both of your parents
   • How you are supporting yourself
   • The date you last had contact with both of your parents
9. Once you have filled out the web form and uploaded your supporting third-party documentation, click the Submit button to submit your appeal.
10. An email notification of the outcome of the review will be sent to your NCC email within five to seven business days. Please note this time may be extended during peak processing times.

Sometimes the information provided on the FAFSA no longer accurately reflects your or your family’s financial situation for the academic year you, the student, are attending. There are certain circumstances where financial aid professionals at Nassau Community College can review and update your FAFSA.

There are limitations to the circumstances the U.S. Department of Higher Education will allow financial aid professionals to consider for appeal. To remain equitable, our office will review all applications on a case-by-case basis. Decisions are final and based upon the information provided.

Please note: If the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) on the FAFSA is  "0" the student is already receiving the maximum in federal grant aid.

The following conditions may be considered for appeal:

• Loss of employment or reduced hours of work (Proof of termination, reduced hours or unemployment benefits)
• Divorce or separation (Divorce decree, proof of separate residence)
• Death of spouse (Death Certificate and proof of their income in order to be excluded)
• Medical expenses not covered by insurance and exceed 11% of the AGI (Schedule A of tax return)
• Termination of untaxed income such as social security benefit (Letter from agency that provided the benefit)
• Private grammar or high school expenses (Paid tuition bill for the current year)
• One-time event, such as an inheritance, gift or withdrawal from retirement account (documentation showing how the funds were applied)

The following conditions generally may not be considered for appeal:

• Information on the FAFSA resulted in a 0 Expected Family Contribution (EFC)
• Bankruptcy, foreclosures or collection costs associated with outstanding debts
• Consumer debt (credit cards, car payments, loans, etc.)
• Payments on back taxes owed to the IRS
• Lottery or gambling winnings or losses

To request and complete a Family Contribution Appeal (student instructions):

1. Student must be enrolled at the time the appeal request is submitted.
2. A valid Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year in which you are requesting an appeal must be on file with Nassau Community College.
3. Verification of your FAFSA is required prior to any review of an EFC appeal. (This has been waived for the 21/22 academic year.)
4. Go to ncc.studentforms.com.  If you haven’t already, you will need to create an account. Important, when confirming student information, the student’s name, date of birth and SSN you enter must match the information on your FAFSA exactly.
5. After you have logged in to ncc.studentforms.com click on the "+- Request" button near the top of the page
6. Find "Family Contribution Appeal" listed. Click the green plus + sign to add the request for the appropriate aid year. Example: 2021-2022 is for fall 2021 and spring 2022.
7. The system will ask you to briefly explain your reason for this request. This does not need to be in-depth. You will provide more information as part of the appeal later in the process.
8. Once you have added the appeal, a tab should be listed on your account with a Family Contribution Appeal for the aid year. Click on the tab to see your appeal tasks.
9. Click on appeal link that says either "Dependent" or "Independent PJ Expected Family Contribution (EFC) Appeal" to show the tasks associated with the appeal. This should include filling out the web form and submitting third-party documentation to support and strengthen your appeal.
   • Reason you are requesting a professional judgment for an income adjustment,
   • Dates that the extenuating circumstance occurred including date the extenuating circumstance ended or will end,
   • Your projected income for the current tax year, and
   • Any additional information that would substantiate your extenuating circumstance.
   • Signed statement 

10. Once you have filled out the web form and uploaded your supporting third-party documentation, click the Submit button to submit your appeal.

11. Once all requested documentation is submitted, the student will receive an email notification of the outcome of the review within five to seven business days. Please note this time may be extended during peak processing times.

Cost of Attendance (COA) is the estimated full and reasonable cost of completing a full year of higher education. COA is not your actual charges, but rather an estimate of all possible education related expenses you may incur.  The standard cost of attendance includes an average cost for housing (room and board), tuition and fees, books and supplies, transportation, and personal expenses.

If you have additional expenses which exceed the standard cost of attendance at NCC for the academic year, you may submit a Cost of Attendance appeal.  A Cost of Attendance appeal is used to identify and request further loan funding.

These additional expenses may include, but are not limited to:

• Study Abroad
• Computer purchase
• Child care
• Housing costs that are more than what is reflected in the standard cost of attendance

 The following conditions generally may not be considered for appeal:

• Consumer bills (cell phone, car payment, insurance, utilities, etc.)
• Credit card or other consumer debt payments
• Travel, hobby, and entertainment costs
• Veterinary costs, unless for a service animal

Instructions to request and complete a Cost of Attendance Appeal:

1. The student must be enrolled at the time the appeal request is submitted.
2. A Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the academic year in which the student is requesting an appeal must be on file with Nassau Community College.

3. Make an Appointments with a Financial Aid Counselor

   Financial Aid Counselors are for assisting students with determining how much in additional loan funds they may need.

   Alternative/Private Loans

   Mark.Campbell@ncc.edu   or    Make a zoom appointment

   Federal Parent Loans (PLUS)

   Andrea.Warmbrand@ncc.edu   or   Make a zoom appointment

Note: There are limitations to the circumstances the U.S Department of Higher Education will allow financial aid professionals to consider for appeal. To remain equitable, our office will review all applications on a case-by-case basis.

Satisfactory Academic Progress standards for New York State TAP recipients follows a different structure than that of the federal requirements.

There are three elements of satisfactory academic progress that all financial aid recipients must achieve in order to receive financial aid from the New York State sponsored Tuition Assistance Program (TAP):

Based on the number of TAP payments the student received;

1. must complete a designated number of credits in the prior semester they received TAP,
2. must earn a specific number of overall credits
3. must achieve a minimum grade point average

TAP Satisfactory Academic Standing Waiver

After the end of each semester, TAP recipients who fall below the satisfactory academic progress standards can apply for a waiver. Such a waiver can only be granted once during the student's undergraduate career. Appeals are a one-time option for unforeseen, extenuating circumstances beyond the student's control and not chronic circumstances that cannot be remedied such as, but not limited to, ongoing medical issues.

• Complete and submit an NCC New York State TAP Waiver Form.
• Forms must be received by the Financial Aid Office prior to the end of the current semester the student is enrolled in.
• Supporting documentation must be submitted with the waiver form and the student's NCC ID must be on all pages.
• Since the waiver is neither automatic nor an entitlement, the decision will be final.
• Students will receive the decision via their NCC email. 

Excelsior Scholarship Eligibility Determination (Appeals)

To receive your Excelsior award students must have been enrolled in at least 12 degree-bearing credits per term and have successfully completed at least 30 credits each year through continuous study with no break in enrollment.   Students with a disability under the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, are required to successfully complete all credits attempted each semester.

If a student has failed to meet the annual credit load or continuous enrollment requirement and who can demonstrate good cause may appeal the decision by completing an Excelsior Scholarship Eligibility Determination form.

Students with disabilities determined to be ineligible who can demonstrate good cause for completing fewer credits than attempted or a break in attendance may appeal the decision by completing an Excelsior Scholarship Eligibility Determination form.

The following 5 scenarios are the only allowable reasons that may be considered for retaining the scholarship:

 1.  I have/had a medical diagnosis that required that I leave school or attend less than full-time.

                Note: the break in attendance or decrease in credits must coincide with dates from your physician/health care provider.  Any additional documentation from physician/health care provider must be on official letterhead.

2. I took parental leave.

                Note: the break in attendance or decrease in credits must be within one year of the newborn’s birth.

3. An immediate family member was ill or experienced a major medical issue and I was unable to continue full-time for the term/semester I am requesting the review.

                Note: A family member is defined only as the student’s spouse, parent, stepparent, sibling, child or grandparent.

4. I was called to active military duty.

                Note: the required Personal Statement must include dates of service/deployment.

 5. Bereavement- Death of an immediate family member.

                Note: An immediate family member is defined only as the student’s spouse, parent, stepparent, sibling, child or grandparent. The required personal statement must include the relationship to the student and the break in attendance or reduced credit completion must coincide with the date of death.

Read the form carefully, check the conditions that apply and be sure to include the requirements for the reason the student is appealing.  Failure to do so will result in an automatic denial.  The decision is final and no further appeal will be accepted.

Excelsior Scholarship Eligibility Determination Form