Unusual Circumstances Appeal Form

WWC Financial Aid Office

Unusual Circumstances Appeal Form

The Department of Education’s belief that the primary responsibility for financing a student’s education rests with the student and their family. Unless a student is classified independent for Financial Aid purposes by Federal definition, parental income and asset information must be included in determining eligibility for Financial Aid.

Federal regulations on the FAFSA define the criteria that you must meet to be considered an independent student. If you do not meet any of those criteria, you may submit an appeal to the WWC Financial Aid office to review your situation and determine if you are eligible to be considered an independent student.

Appeal circumstances may include, but are not limited to:

Human trafficking, as described in the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000
Legally granted refugee or asylum status
Parental abandonment or estrangement
Student or parental incarceration

The following conditions DO NOT merit a dependency override:

Student demonstrates total self-sufficiency
Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education
Parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA
Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes

** Note: Parent means your mother and/or father or your adoptive parents. Parent does not mean foster parents or grandparents.

If you do not meet one of the conditions listed on the FAFSA, but still feel there are extenuating circumstances, which might warrant you being considered independent of your parents, for purposes of Financial Aid, you may explain those circumstances in an appeal.

Completion of this form and submission of documents does not guarantee approval of an unusual circumstances appeal. Approval of an appeal does not guarantee additional aid nor does an approval at a prior institution guarantee an approval at Warren Wilson College.

To begin the petition process, please answer the questions listed on the appeal form and submit all documentation. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed.

*WWC Financial Aid reserves the right to update FAFSA information based on conflicting information. Any conflicting parental information may reverse an unusual circumstances appeal.

Name*

First Name

Last Name

Student ID Number*

Must be 6 digits

Student's Warren Wilson Email*

Phone*

Please specify the academic year for the dependency appeal*

Required Documentation for the Unusual Circumstances Appeal

Once this form is submitted, the WWC Financial Aid Office will be in touch on how to upload the required documentation.

1. Complete the FAFSA or Free Application for Federal Student Aid at www.studentaid.gov for the appropriate academic year

Use School Code: 002979

2. Provide two signed and dated letters from third party professionals documenting their first-hand knowledge of your unusual circumstances. Include contact information. The Financial Aid Office may contact these references for additional information or clarification of your situation.

Professionals may include (but not limited to): employer, lawyer, counselor, courts, doctor, mental health providers, etc.
Letters should be detailed and refer to their actual knowledge of your circumstances.
You may not include letters from friends or family.

3. If applicable, provide documentation that you are self-sustaining. Documentation may include (but is not limited to) the following:

Rental or lease agreement
Utility bill
Health insurance

Please provide a detailed explanation of your circumstance. Be as specific and detailed as possible. Your response is what the appeal committee will use to evaluate your appeal, so please make sure your response is full, professional, and well-thought out. Your statement must include:

Your relationship with your biological or adoptive parents (mother and father)
Specific dates of events that caused your separation from your parents
Where you have lived since separating from your parents
Your sources of income and how you have supported yourself while living apart from your parents

Signature

By signing and dating this form, I certify that all information is complete and correct. I understand that purposefully providing false information could result in a reduction and/or repayment of aid, and/or denial of future appeals in this and future years. I understand the decision of the WWC Financial Aid Office is FINAL and cannot be appealed.

Signature*

[clear]

Use your mouse or finger to draw your signature above

Date/Time*

Internal Use Only:

Approved by: ________________________________ Date: _______________________________