Special Circumstances and Professional Judgment for New Financial Aid Professionals April 3, 2019

Jessica Hemenway – Financial Aid Manager, Lakeshore Technical College Stephanie Mealy – Director of Financial Aid, Milwaukee School of Engineering Laura Sinclair – Senior Advisor, University of Wisconsin Green Bay

How long have you been in Financial Aid? Before we begin, How long have you been in Financial Aid? More than 10? 5-10? 1-5? Less than 1? Icebreaker

What is Professional Judgment? “authority for the financial aid administrator to exercise professional judgment (PJ) discretion to make adjustments on a case-by-case basis in a number of areas when an applicant, parent, or spouse has special or unusual circumstances” HEA Section 479A

Professional Judgment can be used to: change Dependency Status to Independent adjust a Needs Analysis Data Element adjust a Cost of Attendance component waive Satisfactory Academic Progress standards change direct loan eligibility (deny) Note: Changing from Dependent to Independent status not allowed for: Parents refuse to contribute Parents refuse to provide information Parents do not claim the student as an income tax dependent Parents live in another country Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency

Cannot use Professional Judgment to: change an Independent student to Dependent create a new cost of attendance category make a bottom line change to the EFC change the federal methodology formula or tables make across the board changes make an otherwise ineligible student eligible

Professional Judgment must be: based on a Financial Aid Administrator’s decision done on a case-by-case basis fully documented (by family and the decision) based on unique circumstances Student cannot appeal a PJ decision to ED. Document both approval or denial, and explain.

Discussion on common situations—Your Turn! Loss of Income/one time income Marital Status Changes of parents or student (marriage, separation, divorce, death) Dependency Status Medical Expenses Parent in College/Sibling in Private Elementary or Secondary School Cost of Attendance Increase Satisfactory Academic Progress Does your college use calendar year for new basis of income? Academic year? Other? (Can use any 12 month period).

Questions?