MASFAA 2013October 6th – 9th, 2013Indianapolis, Indiana

Professional JudgmentSue Allmon – Western Governors UniversityLeo Hertling – Purdue UniversityJoAnn Ross – West Virginia State University

Professional Judgment HEA 479; GEN-03-07; GEN 08-01The financial aid administrator can exercise discretion in certain areas when a student’s family has special or unusual circumstances that are not adequately addressed by need analysis, regulations, or legislation. ED does not regulate PJ. The HEA explicitly authorizes the financial aid administrator to exercise PJ in the following areas:

• Dependency status (dependent to independent only)

• Certain data elements used to calculate the expected family contribution (EFC)

• Cost of attendance (COA)

• Satisfactory academic progress (SAP)

• Denial or reduction of FFEL and Direct Loan eligibility

NASFAA Monographs Monograph 26: Professional Judgment in Eligibility Determination and Need

Analysis Monograph 26 identifies a variety of situations in which it may be appropriate to use professional judgment in need analysis. Alternative methods are suggested to assist financial aid administrators in better assessing the ability of a family to pay for postsecondary education.

Monograph 24: Developing the Cost of Attendance Defines acceptable expenses for cost of attendance purposes and outlines consistent methodologies for establishing reasonable budgets. It also covers adjustments to cost of attendance using professional judgment authority.

Monograph 25: Satisfactory Academic Progress Monograph 25 is the third edition of a NASFAA publication that first appeared in 1982. Practicing financial aid administrators and NASFAA staff have prepared this document for reviewing and evaluating an institution’s satisfactory academic progress standards as part of NASFAA’s continuing effort to assist financial aid administrators in fulfilling their professional responsibilities.

Guidelines CASE BY CASE BASIS ONLY

◊ TWO REASONS• Adjust student’s cost of attendance• Adjust the date used to calculate the

student’s EFC

EFC and COA Section 479A of the Higher Education Act of 1965,

as amended –“(a) IN GENERAL – Nothing in this part shall be interpreted as limiting the authority of the financial aid administrator, ON THE BASIS OF ADEQUATE DOCUMENTATION, to make adjustments on a case-by case basis to the cost of attendance or the values of the data items required to calculate the expected student or parent contribution(or both) to allow for treatment of an individual eligible applicant with special circumstances”

On line review of PJ practices

http://ifap.ed.gov/qadocs/FSAVeriModule/activity2verif.doc

PJ and Unemployment Benefits

◊ DCL GEN- 09-04◊ DCL GEN- 09-05◊ DCL GEN- 11-04

SPECIAL GUIDANCEWith documentation, you can adjust the income from work and from unemployment to zero

-Documentation can be state letter or other evidence that student is receiving unemployment

-Other adequate documentation of the adjustment

Students WithoutParental Support

Documentation◊ Parents refuse to provide information for FAFSA ◊ Parents do not and will not provide any financial

support to the student (date support ended)

If parents refuse to sign and date a statement, then you must get documentation from a third party.

Student will then qualify for Unsub Loans ONLYDCL GEN-08-12

Special Circumstance Appeal◊ Adjustments to core criteria◊ Adjustments to budget◊ On-time appeal

Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal◊ Pace (Credit completion)◊ Maximum Time Frame◊ Cumulative Grade Point

Boiler Judgment

PurdueBudget Adjustments

Will not begin making budget adjustments until academic year has begun.◊ We only want to use the current information

of the family situation Budget adjustments that are made will

ONLY affect loan eligibility, never grant or equity assistance.

Statistically have remained relatively level for the past 4 years.

PurdueBudget Adjustments

Adjustments are made to address living or transportation costs most commonly. ◊ Adjustments made to reflect actual receipted

costs◊ Can be approved by committee member ◊ Denials go to full committee for review

Adjustments for computer expenses◊ Only allowed 1 computer per 4 years.

• If appropriate documentation is presented, will allow for a 2nd adjustment with significant proof.

• Max computer allowance $2500

PurdueOn-Time Status

Purdue has a priority deadline of March 10 of the year in which an academic year beings

State aid also has a hard deadline of March 10

Students may appeal “late” status if they can “prove” that they mailed the application prior to March 10.

If they do not have proof they may still appeal their late status

PurdueLate Status Appeal

Primarily used for Freshman◊ Out of state student who do not know the

priority status date are the most common. • Allows incoming students to qualify for equity based

financial assistance.• While upperclassmen may appeal, very rarely is this

appeal approved.◊ Does not create eligibility for state aid

automatically. • Students may appeal directly to the state for an

exception to the on time status for state assistance.

Purdue Monitor GPACredits completed Minimum GPA

0-14 1.5015-29 1.6030-44 1.7045-59 1.8060-74 1.9075-89 2.00

90-104 2.00105+ 2.00

Grad / Prof 2.00

Purdue Monitor PACE Students must complete 67% of total

cumulative hours attempted◊ Transfer hours are counted in the total hours.◊ Courses being retaken are counted in

attempted hours for each occurrence of taking. However, if taken more than once, only one passing grade is counted toward successful completion.

◊ Once falling below 67% given one semester warning.

Purdue Monitor Time At such time a student passes 150% they

become ineligible to receive further assistance.

All transfer hours are counted into attempted hours.

Purdue begins to warn individuals who are 45 hours away from Maximum time frame and warns them again after every 15 hours are completed.

There are instances when a student will exceed the 150% of total hours allowed.

Purdue URLS Special Circumstances http://

www.purdue.edu/dfa/policies/specialcircumstances.php

Budget Adjustment http://www.purdue.edu/dfa/policies/budgetadj.php

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy: http://www.purdue.edu/dfa/policies/SAPPolicy.pdf

Western Governors University Western Governors University is an non-profit

online university with our headquarters in Salt Lake City, UT and branch offices in Indiana, Missouri, Texas, Tennessee and Washington. The total student population is just over 40,000 students. We have a start date monthly, with 6 month nonstandard terms.

WGU Special Circumstance Adjust EFC based on documentation

provided to the Financial Aid Office by student.

Only three categories• Reduction in income• Unusual medical/dental• Non-recurring income

WGU Budget Adjustments

The only budget adjustments we make are for students who are in Demonstration Teaching or Nursing program

WGU Process of Professional Judgment

The student must fill out the PJ form and provide all documentation that is requested.

Reviewed by committee Results do not impact institutional

scholarships

WGU SAP Process Students receive SAP email at end of

each term of enrollment. Student is encouraged to file appeal in 5th

month of term if it appears TM will result at end of term.

Student files appeal packet. If the appeal is approved, student is sent

Academic Plan Contract to complete with advisor and submit back to Financial Aid.

West Virginia State University

West Virginia State University was founded under the provisions of the Second Morrill Act of 1890 as the West Virginia Colored Institute, one of 17 land-grant institutions authorized by Congress and designated by the states to provide for the education of black citizens in agriculture and the mechanical arts. West Virginia was one of the states that maintained segregated educational systems at that time.

Today WVSU offers 21 bachelor's degrees and four master's degrees. With a rich history, and promising future, WVSU is positioned to become the most student-centered research and teaching, land-grant university in West Virginia, and beyond.

West Virginia State University

Same basic standards as Purdue and WGU in exercising Professional Judgment.

Require extensive documentation when adjusting income, unusual medical/dental expenses and dependency overrides.

Budget adjustments typically affect loan eligibility (one time computer purchase).

We have specific forms tied to the specific situation, ie., special circumstance, dependency override, projected year and SAP Appeals.

Committee meets every Monday to discuss PJ cases.

QUESTIONS???

Contacts

Sue Allmon – Western Governors University, Indiana– sue.allmon@wgu.edu

Leo Hertling – Purdue University – lhertlin@purdue.edu

JoAnn Ross – West Virginia State University, jross15@wvstateu.edu

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