Federal regulations allow an aid administrator to use professional judgment (PJ), on a case-by-case basis only, to alter the data used to calculate the SAI (Student Aid Index) or to adjust the student’s cost of attendance. Adjustments must be determined to be appropriate and reasonable as deemed by the aid administrators. The reason for the adjustment must be adequately documented in the student’s file, and it must relate to the special circumstances that differentiate him — not to conditions that exist for a whole class of students. Any inconsistent or conflicting information must be resolved before making any adjustments. An aid administrator’s decision regarding adjustments is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education or other individuals of the institution.

Instructions to Students/Parents:

All requests for the execution of professional judgment:

• Must be initiated by a letter from the student in which the student requests consideration of his/her particular circumstances. It must be legible, signed and dated. The student is encouraged to focus on events in the prior year that have affected or will affect his/her family’s ability to pay for the current year's college expenses.
• Require documentation. Please refer to the "Documentation Requirements" when preparing your request for consideration of special circumstances.
• Require a valid and verified Student Aid Report. Please file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) according to the instructions provided by the Department of Education. Your special circumstances will be considered only after we have received your FAFSA. If you have been selected for verification, we must complete that process before considering your special needs.
• May require a signed copy of the previous year's IRS tax transcript. If you have not already provided a copy of all required tax documents for verification, please include one with your request for consideration of special circumstances.

Remember: Any adjustments made to your FAFSA as a result of your request for a professional judgment decision may delay or change your financial aid package.

All Requests Should Be Directed to the Financial Aid Counselor:

• Parent’s death or divorce for dependent students; death of or divorce from spouse of independent student.
• Loss of employment: Parent of dependent student, student or spouse of independent student.
• Loss of untaxed benefit: Parent of dependent student, student or spouse of independent student.
• Extraordinary medical expenses in the household to which the student belongs. These must exceed the medical allowance in the Income Protection Allowance.
• Tuition for private schooling of siblings of dependent student.
• Dependent child care for children of independent students.
• Travel expenses beyond those allowed in the student expense budget.
• Extreme business or farm debt or bankruptcy payments.
• Dependency overrides
• Computer Purchase

Documentation Requirements

For Death or Divorce:

• A copy of the death certificate for the parent of a dependent student, spouse of an independent student.
• A copy of the court documentation verifying a divorce decree or separation agreement.
• A signed copy of the parents and/or student's prior year IRS tax transcript

For loss of wages:

• Termination or resignation letter that includes the last date of employment.
• Completed, signed copy of prior year's IRS tax transcript, W2 forms and any relevant worksheets or schedules, and the final paystub.

For loss of benefits:

• Copy of court order that specifies termination date and amount of child support.
• Copy of letter from appropriate state or federal agency that specifies termination date and amount of benefits.
• Completed, signed copy of prior year's IRS tax transcript, W2 forms and any relevant worksheets or schedules.

For extraordinary medical expenses:

• Receipts for medical expenses paid that show the total patient liability, that is, the amount due and not covered by insurance.
• If the receipts do not indicate whether or not the expense was covered by insurance, they must be accompanied by a letter from the medical provider or insurer stating that the expense, or a specified portion of the expense, was payable by the patient.
• Completed, signed copy of prior year's IRS tax transcript, W2 forms and any relevant worksheets or schedules.

For private school tuition for siblings:

• Copies of official tuition invoices showing payments made. Only tuition for the prior year may be considered.
• Completed, signed copy of prior year’s IRS tax transcript, W2 forms and any relevant worksheets or schedules.

Extraordinary travel expense:

• If the expense involves travel via commercial conveyance to/from school, provide a copy of receipts for fare.
• If the expense relates to the use of the student's own vehicle, provide a statement of travel needs that includes the origination point, the destination point, the number of trips per week/month, the reason for the travel.
• The student's statement must include an acknowledgment that any false statements will result in the cancelation of student financial aid.
• Federal regulations prohibit including in student expense budgets the direct expenses of purchasing and maintaining an automobile.
• Completed, signed copy of prior year's IRS tax transcript, W2 forms, and any relevant worksheets or schedules.

Extreme business or farm debt, bankruptcy:

• Documentation of the debt.
• Documentation of the value of the business or farm liable for the debt.
• Copy of court ordered bankruptcy payments.
• Completed, signed copy of prior year's IRS tax transcript, W2 forms and any relevant worksheets or schedules.

Dependency overrides:

• If a student is under the age of 24, an undergraduate, not married, has no dependents, and is not a veteran, an orphan or a ward of the court, the student is considered to be dependent for the purposes of federal student aid.
• A dependency override may be requested in cases of complete alienation between a parent and a student, or in cases where the student's well-being is at risk if the student remains a dependent of the parent(s). In support of a request for dependency override the student should submit statements from third-parties having first-hand knowledge of the circumstances. These should include statements on agency letterhead from authoritative figures such as: social workers, school officials, church officials or others in positions of authority who are familiar with the situation.
• The Director of Financial Aid will make the final determination in requests for dependency overrides. Federal regulations do not permit a financial aid officer to perform a dependency override because of a parent's unwillingness or inability to pay for education.

Computer Purchase:

The U. S. Department of Education permits institutions to include in a student’s Cost of Attendance (COA) the purchase of a computer for educational use. The Office of Student Financial Services will include this expense for students upon request and according to the following policy:

• The maximum allowance for purchase of a computer is $2,000, which may include the cost of a printer and maintenance contract.
• A student may receive this allowance only once as an undergraduate and once as a graduate student.
• Additional purchases of software, printer supplies, online service fees etc. will be assumed under the allowances already included in the COA for books and supplies.
• In order to have the cost of the purchase of a computer added to COA, the student must provide a dated receipt/proof of purchase.
• A petition for this change should be submitted no later than April 1 of the academic year during which it is requested.