Professional Judgements

Financial Aid

A Professional Judgement Request allows students to petition the Office of Financial Aid to consider special circumstances in order to adjust the student’s financial aid eligibility.

Adjustments can be made in the event of a loss of employment or income, a death or divorce of student’s parent or spouse, or a change in the student’s dependency status. If you believe that your circumstances qualify you for a Professional Judgement, return a completed Professional Judgement Request form along with all supporting documentation for consideration.

Once a request is submitted, the student will have 30 days to turn in all necessary supporting documentation. If the student does not provide all necessary documentation within 30 days, the request for professional judgement is denied and cannot be requested again for that aid year. Professional Judgements are not guaranteed and are approved only for the aid year requested, except Dependency Overrides which could carry over to following aid years.

If you believe that your current financial situation falls under one of the categories listed below, you can complete and return this Professional Judgement request form or this Dependency Override request form and all supporting documentation to the address listed on the form.

Types of Professional Judgements and Required Documentation

Signed letter from parent/student explaining the situation including date of occurrence with the name(s) of the deceased parent(s) or spouse.
Copy of official death certificate.
Copy of signed IRS Federal Tax Return for year entered on the FAFSA if IRS Data Retrieval Tool was not used.
Supporting documents from the year death occurred: Signed tax return, W2s, 1099s, and schedules.

Signed letter from parent or student explaining the situation and requesting an income adjustment review.
Signed letter of termination or end of employment from employer with the date employment ended.
Official Letter of Unemployment Benefits.
Signed copy of IRS Federal Tax Return for parent and, if applicable, the student for year FAFSA requested and year of loss of employment or income if IRS Data Retrieval Tool was not used.
W2s, 1099s, and all federal tax schedules if applicable.
If you were not required to file taxes, in accordance with the IRS guidelines, attach a signed statement indicating I did not file taxes and was not required to file taxes based on IRS guidelines.

- Tax forms (tax return transcript, all W2s, and all 1099/1098s and schedules if applicable) for base year of divorcee and spouse if filed jointly.
And either:
- Final divorce decree or petition for divorce with Clerk of Court stamp and filed date.
OR
- Proof of separation for past 6 months: utility bills with separate physical addresses, letter from student, and letter from friend or relative detailing specific time frames of circumstances.

Receipts for expenses

Invoices showing payments, canceled checks, etc. (Does not include payments for books, uniforms, registration fee, etc.)

Insurance statements, medical bills, tax return transcript including schedule A showing itemized deductions.

Circumstances of abuse or abandonment by biological or adoptive parents.
- Letter from student with detailed information about why it is not in their best interest to live with biological or adoptive parents.
- Letter from relative (or if not available, friend, neighbor, etc.) explaining living situation of student.
- 3rd party documentation including, but not limited to: custody papers; letter from doctor, counselor, or social worker; letter from clergy; work supervisor, etc. on official letterhead.

Circumstances of homelessness or risk of homelessness for those aged 22 or 23.
- A letter from the student explaining the situation.
- Letter from a relative (or if not available, friend, neighbor, etc.) explaining the living situation of the student.
- 3rd party documentation including, but not limited to: documentation from either a director or designee of a homeless youth basic center or transitional living program; either a director, or designee, of an emergency shelter or a transitional housing program funded by HUD, a director, or designee of a homeless youth basic center or transitional living program; a high school or school district homeless liaison; or as requested by financial aid administrator. All documentation should be on official letterhead.