Navigating the ASU Scholarship Appeal Process: A Comprehensive Guide
For students at Arizona State University (ASU), scholarships represent a vital resource in financing their education. However, circumstances can arise that impact a student's ability to meet scholarship renewal criteria. This article provides a detailed overview of the ASU scholarship appeal process, including eligibility, acceptable reasons for appeal, required documentation, and important deadlines.
Understanding the Scholarship Appeal Form
The scholarship appeal form is an opportunity for students who have not met the scholarship renewal criteria to request a review of their scholarship eligibility, particularly if they have experienced special or unusual circumstances. It's important to understand that the appeal process is designed for significant extenuating circumstances beyond a student's control. Challenges such as difficulty with classes, time management, work or family responsibilities, or other co-curricular commitments are generally not considered valid reasons for an appeal.
Extenuating Circumstances for Appeal
To successfully appeal a scholarship decision, you must demonstrate that significant extenuating circumstances beyond your control hindered your academic performance. ASU recognizes the following as potential grounds for appeal:
Medical Circumstances
Serious medical conditions, both physical and mental, may be considered extenuating circumstances. A doctor’s statement is crucial, indicating that the illness significantly hindered your ability to attend class or fulfill academic obligations.
Compassionate Circumstances
Extraordinary personal circumstances beyond your control that prevented you from continuing classes may be considered extenuating circumstances. These typically involve situations that demand your immediate attention and make academic pursuits nearly impossible.
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- Compassionate Care of a Seriously Ill Immediate Family Member: If you provided compassionate care for a seriously ill immediate family member, this may be a valid reason for appeal, provided you supply credible documentation.
- Death in the Immediate Family: The death of an immediate family member may be a valid circumstance. The death of an extended family member or friend may be considered a valid circumstance if you can explain and document why that death was exceptionally distressing.
- Victim of Crime or Abuse: If you are a victim of crime or abuse and can explain how it significantly impacted your ability to attend classes or fulfill academic obligations, you may be eligible for an appeal. Credible documentation, such as a copy of a police report, is essential.
Required Documentation
Appeals must be supported by credible documentation that substantiates the extenuating circumstances. This documentation is critical for the review committee to make an informed decision. Here's a breakdown of documentation typically required for each circumstance:
- Medical Circumstances: A statement from a medical doctor or licensed therapist detailing the condition, its severity, and its impact on your academic performance.
- Compassionate Circumstances (Illness of a Family Member): Medical records or a statement from the treating physician, along with documentation verifying your role as a caregiver (e.g., power of attorney, letters from medical staff).
- Death in the Family: A copy of the death certificate or obituary, and a statement explaining your relationship to the deceased and the impact of their death on your academic performance.
- Victim of Crime or Abuse: A copy of the police report, medical records, or a statement from a counselor or therapist.
Important Deadlines
Adhering to deadlines is crucial in the scholarship appeal process. Note the following deadlines:
- All scholarship and financial aid programs: August 1
- Merit students with conditionally approved, fall-only awards: December 31
- Completed appeals must be received by close of business on the appeal deadline. Late requests will not be accepted.
Special Circumstances and Financial Aid Adjustments
In addition to appealing scholarship eligibility, students facing significant financial changes may also be eligible for a Special Circumstance or Family Contribution appeal. This appeal allows for a financial aid adjustment due to recent financial or household changes, such as unemployment or a reduction in work earnings of the student or their parent(s). This refers to a significant change in current 2025 income compared to the required 2023 income/tax data reported on their 2025-26 FAFSA. At ASU, this appeal is made through the Special Circumstance Process.
Financial aid eligibility for each academic year is calculated based on the information you provided on the FAFSA. The income and asset information that you submitted was evaluated by a formula called Federal Methodology as set by Congress. This formula assumes that 2025 income is a good predictor of the family’s financial strength during the student’s 2025-26 enrollment.
The primary reason for a special circumstance is to make qualifying adjustments to the family adjusted gross income which may lower a student’s Student Aid Index (SAI). In some instances, this adjustment will assist in qualifying the student for grant funding. One-time taxable income used for life changing events (e.g. Standard living expenses (e.g.
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Seeking Support and Resources
Navigating the scholarship appeal process can be complex. ASU offers various resources to support students:
- Academic Advisor: Your advisor can help you review your progress and discuss possible summer enrollment options that can help you meet the enrollment criteria. Please note that scholarships are only applied to fall and spring semesters, and may not be used toward summer sessions, so you will need to find other options to pay for summer courses. View your advisor information, eAdvisorTM tracking status, academic status reports and progress reports.
- Counseling and Mental Health Services: Counseling and mental health services are available to you at each ASU campus. Counseling staff have training and experience in issues facing university students and are committed to helping you adjust to campus life and meet your academic goals.
- Student Success Center: The Student Success Center offers free academic support resources for all students including tutoring, writing support, structured study groups, coaching, success courses or a place to study on your own.
- Financial Aid and Scholarship Services: If Financial Aid and Scholarship Services needs a form to complete your financial aid file, they’ll alert you through Priority Tasks on My ASU. You can find a list of any form we may need below. University employees reviewing financial aid forms are mandatory reporters. Specific information related to acts of sexual harassment, which includes sexual assault, dating/domestic violence and stalking, committed by an ASU student or employee, or that happened on ASU property, or in an ASU program or activity, must be reported.
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