Special & Unusual Circumstances

The WNCC Financial Aid Office has established special appeal procedures to allow for adjustments to a student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) when the student has experienced special or unusual circumstances. Under federal financial aid regulations, financial aid administrators may utilize "professional judgment" to make adjustments to a student's FAFSA data elements on a case-by-case basis. Students may appeal to have these "professional judgment" situations considered by submitting to the WNCC Financial Aid Office the appropriate appeal form along with substantiating documents that support the circumstance. The following professional judgment appeal options are available:

• Special Circumstances refer to financial changes to the household that affect the financial data reported on the student's FAFSA. Such financial situations may include, but are not limited to, unemployment or a reduction in hours or wages, retirement, separation or divorce of parents, death of parent or spouse of a dependent students, or excessive unreimbursed medical expenses.
  Required appeal form: Income Change Appeal
• Unusual Circumstances refer to conditions that justify a student being considered independent for FAFSA purposes when the student would generally be required to provide parents' information but is unable to. Such unique situations may include human trafficking, refugee or asylee status, parental abandonment or estrangement, or other situations where contact with parents is non-existent.
  Required appeal form: Unusual Circumstances Appeal
• The student uses Special Expense Appeals to request their Cost of Attendance budget be increased to allow for educational expenses incurred outside of the typical components used in the standard Cost of Attendance. The types of expenses that may be requested are disability expenses, educational expenses of a parent in college, child or elder care expenses, computer purchases, or transportation expenses.
  Required appeal form: Special Expense Consideration

Students who believe they may qualify for a Professional Judgment appeal may contact the WNCC Financial Aid Office to initiate a conversation about their situation. Appeal forms are available online through the ClassLink WNCC eForms app or from the Financial Aid Office. WNCC must have a completed FAFSA on file. Not all requests for professional judgment will result in an increase in financial aid eligibility. For more information, go to Professional Judgment and Appeal Options. Professional judgment decisions made by the WNCC Financial Aid Office are not appealable to the U.S. Department of Education.