1. MASFAA 2013 October 6 th – 9 th, 2013 Indianapolis, Indiana Professional Judgment Sue Allmon – Western Governors University Leo Hertling – Purdue University JoAnn Ross – West Virginia State University

2. Professional Judgment  HEA 479; GEN-03-07; GEN 08-01 The 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

3. 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 26: Professional Judgment in Eligibility Determination and Need Analysis  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 24: Developing the Cost of Attendance  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. Monograph 25: Satisfactory Academic Progress

4. Guidelines  CASE BY CASE BASIS ONLY ◊ TWO REASONS Adjust student’s cost of attendance Adjust the date used to calculate the student’s EFC

5. 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”

6.  On line review of PJ practices http://ifap.ed.gov/qadocs/FSAVeriModule/ activity2verif.doc

7.  PJ and Unemployment Benefits ◊ DCL GEN- 09-04 ◊ DCL GEN- 09-05 ◊ DCL GEN- 11-04

8. SPECIAL GUIDANCE With 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

9. Students Without Parental 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 ONLY DCL GEN-08-12

10.  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

11. Purdue Budget 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.

12. Purdue Budget 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 2 nd adjustment with significant proof. Max computer allowance $2500

13. Purdue On-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

14. Purdue Late 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.

15. Purdue Monitor GPA Credits completedMinimum GPA 0-141.50 15-291.60 30-441.70 45-591.80 60-741.90 75-892.00 90-1042.00 105+2.00 Grad / Prof2.00

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. Purdue URLS  Special Circumstances http://www.purdue.edu/dfa/policies/specialcircums tances.php http://www.purdue.edu/dfa/policies/specialcircums tances.php  Budget Adjustment http://www.purdue.edu/dfa/policies/budgetadj.ph p http://www.purdue.edu/dfa/policies/budgetadj.ph p  Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy: http://www.purdue.edu/dfa/policies/SAPPolicy.pdf http://www.purdue.edu/dfa/policies/SAPPolicy.pdf

19. 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.

20. 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

21. WGU Budget Adjustments  The only budget adjustments we make are for students who are in Demonstration Teaching or Nursing program

22. 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

23. WGU SAP Process  Students receive SAP email at end of each term of enrollment.  Student is encouraged to file appeal in 5 th 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.

24. 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.

25. 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.

27. Contacts  Sue Allmon – Western Governors University, Indiana– sue.allmon@wgu.edusue.allmon@wgu.edu  Leo Hertling – Purdue University – lhertlin@purdue.edu lhertlin@purdue.edu  JoAnn Ross – West Virginia State University, jross15@wvstateu.edujross15@wvstateu.edu

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