Appeal Process

Students can appeal decisions related to full-time, continuous enrollment for certain reasons.

Nearing Degree Completion Appeal

The student is nearing degree completion and has insufficient hours remaining to warrant full-time enrollment. Students with 6-11 credit hours remaining may appeal for an exception for a single term.
The nearing degree appeal should be accompanied by a letter on institutional letterhead from the appropriate dean, director, or academic advisor.
The letter from the faculty/administrator should indicate 1) the expected graduation date, 2) the total number of hours the student needs to complete his/her degree, and 3) the number of hours the student intends to take each term. A template is available for institutions to complete the requested information. The template may be completed digitally, but should be printed on institutional letterhead and signed. TEMPLATE for Verification of Appeal

Student undergoes a significant personal event, such as a serious illness, personal injury, divorce, or the death of an immediate family member. An immediate family member is defined as a parent, spouse, sibling, or child. (Historically, appeals have not been granted for students with certain learning disabilities. However, if a student submits an appeal for such a reason and provides compelling documentation from a physician, the appeal will be considered.)

The Office will NOT consider appeals related to deadline dates, residency, grades (high school or college), or ACT/SAT scores. If the Office has made a determination of eligibility based on an incomplete/incorrect transcriptAn academic record that lists the courses taken, grades received, and credits or credit hours received. or grade verification, the student should have the high school or college submit an official updated grade verification directly to the Office.

The STUDENT must submit the appeal in writing using the Appeal Form.
The personal event appeal must be accompanied by appropriate supporting documentation.
There is no deadline for student appeals. Appeals are received and considered year-round.
The appeal and supporting documentation may be uploaded, emailed, faxed, or mailed to the attention of “Appeals Committee”:
- Mail to:
  Mississippi Office of Student Financial Aid
  3825 Ridgewood Road
  Jackson, MS 39211
- Scan and email to: sfa@mississippi.edu
- Fax to: 601-432-6527