State Financial Aid Grant and Scholarship Appeal Criteria

State Financial Aid Grant and Scholarship Appeal Criteria

The Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) at the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC) understands that students experience special circumstances that may cause them to fail to meet certain requirements for receipt of State awards. Therefore, OSFA has developed an appeal process which allows students, in certain instances, to appeal for (re)consideration of their State award.

How to appeal:

Applicants must complete and submit the online appeal request form by the applicable deadline. All required documentation must be uploaded and submitted with the appeal request. Once the appeal has been submitted a decision of the appeal request will be provided by email within 45 business days. Incomplete and late appeal requests will be denied.

Click the following link to submit an appeal: 2021-2022 Scholarship and Grant Appeal Request Form

Appeal Type	Eligible Program(s)	Appeal Description	Deadline to Submit Appeal
Special Financial Circumstance Appeal	Educational Assistance Grant/Guaranteed Access Grant Award/2+2 Transfer Scholarship Programs	If your family has experienced a significant reduction in income, the Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA) may be able to reevaluate your financial need based on your 2020 income or your total projected 2020 income.	May 31, 2021
Late FAFSA Appeal	Educational Assistance Grant Program	If an applicant does not file, the FAFSA by March 1 due to extenuating they may appeal to the OSFA.	May 15, 2021
2.5 High School Cumulative Grade Point Average Appeal	Guaranteed Access Grant Program	Students who fail to earn a minimum 2.5 cumulative GPA in high school due to extenuating circumstances and have been denied a Guaranteed Access Grant may appeal this decision.	June 15, 2021
5^th Year Appeal	Guaranteed Access Grant & Educational Assistance Grant Award Programs	The maximum time frame of eligibility for the Guaranteed Access Grant and Educational Assistance Grant is 8 terms. Under certain circumstances students may appeal to receive this award for an additional semester/academic year.	June 15, 2021
Delayed College Entrance Appeal	Guaranteed Access Grant Program	If an applicant fails to begin college within one year of their high school graduation, they are denied the Guaranteed Access Grant, and my appeal this decision.	June 15, 2021
3.3 Cumulative GPA Appeal	Teaching Fellows for Maryland Scholarship Program	If a recipient fails to maintain the 3.3 cumulative required grade point average to maintain their renewal award, may appeal if they provide documentation of extenuating circumstances that prevented them from meeting the GPA requirement.	July 15, 2021
2.5 Cumulative GPA Appeal	Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship Program	If a recipient fails to maintain the 2.5 cumulative required grade point average to maintain their renewal award, may appeal if they provide documentation of extenuating circumstances that prevented them from meeting the GPA requirement.	July 15, 2021
Allowable Interruptions of Study Appeal	Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship Program	A recipient receiving the Promise Scholarship who failed to maintain continuous enrollment at the community college due to extenuating circumstances and have been denied a Promise Scholarship may appeal this decision.	July 15, 2021
Credit Completion Appeal Due to Academic Program	Educational Assistance Grant or Guaranteed Access Grant Award Programs	A recipient must complete 30 credits to renew the full amount of their EA or GA award and a minimum of 24 credits to receive a prorated amount after the second year of enrollment. A recipient may appeal this requirement if they were enrolled in a specific course or activity (e.g., internship, study abroad, clinical) that prevented them from completing at least 12 credits per term. The following documents must be completed by the appropriate representative at your institution, and submitted with your appeal request: Ø Financial Aid Officer Certification Form	August 1, 2021
Credit Completion Appeal Due to Disability Appeal	Educational Assistance Grant or Guaranteed Access Grant Award Programs	A recipient that completes less than 24 credits after the second year of receiving the award may be eligible to appeal this requirement, if they have a disability that prevents them from completing 24 credits but have completed at least 18 credit hours. The following documents must be completed by the appropriate representative at your institution, and submitted with your appeal request: Ø Financial Aid Officer Certification Form	August 1, 2021
Enrolled in Less than 12 Credits due to Academic Program Appeal	Educational Assistance Grant/Guaranteed Access Grant Award/Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship	A recipient may be eligible to appeal and receive an award, if enrolled for less than 12 credits, in a specific course or activity (e.g., internship, practicum, clinical) as a requirement for your academic program. The following documents must be completed by the appropriate representative at your institution, and submitted with your appeal request: Ø Financial Aid Officer Certification Form Ø Department Chair Certification Form	Fall Term Oct.15, 2021 Spring Term March 15, 2022
Enrolled in Less than 12 Credits Due to Disability Appeal	Educational Assistance Grant/Guaranteed Access Grant Award/Maryland Community College Promise Scholarship	A recipient may be eligible to appeal this requirement and receive an award, if you have a disability that prevents you from enrolling in 12 credits. The following documents must be completed by the appropriate representative at your institution, and submitted with your appeal request: Ø Financial Aid Officer Certification Form	Fall Term October 15, 2021 Spring Term March 15, 2022

For questions concerning the appeal criteria and requirements email the Office of Student Financial Assistance at osfamail.mhec@maryland.gov.