Federal and NYS Appeals

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Appeals

SAP appeals are designed to address documented extraordinary circumstances beyond a student's control. Appeals are not granted for poor judgment, academic irresponsibility, or difficulty adjusting to college life. Once an appeal is granted, the student must make minimum academic progress moving forward.

Note: No SAP appeals are allowed for students who have reached the maximum timeframe for degree completion.

Types of Appeals

  1. Federal Appeals
    • Available for students who fail to meet SAP standards.
    • Appeals follow U.S. Department of Education guidelines and University policies.
  2. New York State (NYS) Appeals
    • TAP: One appeal allowed for Pursuit of Program in both undergraduate and graduate careers; GPA or academic progress appeals can be submitted multiple times.
    • Excelsior: Appeals available for breaks in attendance or failure to meet credit requirements, based on NYS guidelines and University policies.

Required Documentation

Third-party documentation is required for all appeals. Students must meet with a financial aid representative as part of the process, and appeals must be approved by an academic advisor before being reviewed by financial aid.

Steps to Appeal (Federal & NYS)

  1. Meet with a financial aid counselor to discuss circumstances.
  2. If eligible, obtain an appeal form.
  3. Collect supporting documentation and attach it to the appeal form.
  4. Meet with an academic advisor for planning and approval.
  5. Submit the appeal and documentation to Financial Aid.
  6. Decisions are made within 10 business days, with notifications sent via Binghamton University email.

Appeal Outcomes

  • Federal Waivers: If approved, students are placed on “Probation” and federal aid is reinstated for one semester. Students must meet SAP standards in subsequent semesters to maintain eligibility.
  • State Waivers: If approved, HESC will process the TAP or Excelsior award, which may take 2-3 weeks to reflect on the student’s account. Continued eligibility depends on meeting award-based standards.

Important Notes

Appeals are not automatically approved and can be denied for invalid reasons or insufficient documentation.