Appeals, Special and Unusual Circumstances

If you or your parent(s) have experienced a significant change in financial circumstances, such as loss of income, employment, or financial resources, the Office of Financial Aid may be able to review and update your FAFSA information to reflect your current financial situation.

We can consider the following types of changes:

• Loss of employment or substantial change in income (must be at least a 20% reduction and have occurred for 60 days or more prior to the date of appeal)
• Loss of Alimony or Child Support
• Death of a Parent
• Legal Separation or Divorce

If you believe one of these circumstances applies to you:

1. Email the Office of Financial Aid at ofa@unco.edu from your BearMail account.
2. Include your full name and the last four of your Bear ID in the message.
3. Provide a summary of your situation to request access to a Student Aid Index (SAI) appeal form.

You’ll receive a response within 2-4 business days with instructions for submitting your appeal statement and supporting documentation through Ursa.

Please do not submit documentation by email; all appeals must be completed securely through your Ursa account.

In certain situations, students may be considered independent for financial aid purposes even if they do not meet the standard federal criteria. The Office of Financial Aid can review unusual circumstances on a case-by-case basis to determine if a dependency override is appropriate.

Examples of unusual circumstances that may qualify include:

• Parent abandonment
• An abusive family environment that threatens your health or safety
• Inability to locate your parents despite reasonable efforts

If you indicate on your FAFSA that you have unusual circumstances, you may be granted provisional independent status. This allows your FAFSA to be processed while you submit documentation for review by the Office of Financial Aid.

Circumstances that do not qualify for a dependency override include:

• Parent refusal to contribute to educational costs
• Parent refusal to provide FAFSA information or verification documents
• Parents not claiming you as a dependent on tax returns
• Demonstrating self-sufficiency or financial independence alone

Appeals based solely on these reasons cannot be approved under federal regulations.

If you believe your situation may qualify, please schedule an appointment with UNC’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) for independent students to discuss your next steps and available support.

Schedule an Appointment with the SPOC

If you indicated on your FAFSA that you are an unaccompanied homeless youth or at risk of being homeless, you may need to submit documentation to confirm your status before your financial aid can be processed.

You are considered unaccompanied and homeless if you lack fixed, regular, and adequate housing and are not living with a parent or guardian. This may include living in shelters, motels, cars, campgrounds, public spaces, or temporarily staying with others because you have nowhere else to go. You may also be considered homeless if you are fleeing an abusive parent, even if that parent could otherwise provide housing.

Required Documentation

Students must provide documentation confirming their homeless or at-risk status. This determination can be made by:

• A high school or district homeless liaison,
• The director or designee of an emergency shelter or transitional housing program,
• The director or designee of a runaway or homeless youth program, or
• A college financial aid administrator (FAA), if none of the above are available.

If you already have documentation from one of the first three sources, submit it through your Ursa Financial Aid Requirements.

If you do not have documentation or need a new determination, please schedule an appointment with the UNC’s Scingle Point of Contact (SPOC), the Financial Aid Administrator who assists students experiencing homelessness.

Schedule an Appointment with the SPOC

To keep receiving financial aid, you must meet the university’s Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) standards.

If you’re not meeting these standards, you’ll receive a notification in Ursa and your BearMail letting you know that you’re ineligible for aid and that you may need to submit an appeal to regain eligibility.

You can review what’s required to stay in good standing, like GPA, completion rate, and maximum timeframe, on the Maintaining your Aid page.

When to Submit a SAP Appeal

Submit an appeal if you had unexpected or difficult circumstances that affected your academic progress, such as illness, family emergencies, or other personal challenges.

If you’ve attempted more than 150% of the credits required for your degree, you’ll need to coordinate with your academic advisor to complete a Maximum Hours Appeal form as part of your submission.

Access the Maximum Hour Appeal Form

How to Submit Your Appeal

1. Log in to Ursa and open the Financial tab.
2. Click Eligibility Requirements and select the Ineligibility hyperlink.
3. Use your UNC student login to access the forms portal.
4. Select the “Ineligibility” hyperlink.
5. Choose SAP Appeal from your task list.
6. Follow the instructions to complete the appeal form and upload any supporting documents.

Need Help?

If you have questions about your SAP status or the appeal process, contact the Office of Financial Aid at ofa@unco.edu or 970-351-4862.

Your Cost of Attendance (COA) – also called your student budget – is an estimate of the average costs of attending UNC, including tuition, fees, housing, books, transportation, and personal expenses.

If your actual education-related expenses are higher than what’s included in your COA, you can submit a COA Adjustment Appeal for review.

• Actual tuition and fees that exceed the standard budget
• Higher housing costs (on or off campus)
• Required educational expenses, such as a computer, instruments, or specialized equipment
• Books and supplies that cost more than the budgeted amount
• Transportation or commuting expenses that cost more than the budgeted amount
• Child or dependent care expenses

Submit the Cost of Attend Adjustment Form and include documentation supporting your request (such as receipts, leases, or invoices).

Access the COA Adjustment Form

Loan Adjustment Form

Please use this Loan Adjustment Form if you would like your already accepted loans increased, decreased, or canceled. If you are requesting this for a PLUS loan, the Parent of the loan must request the increase, decrease, or cancellation. A picture ID will be required for any PLUS loan adjustments.

Cost of Attendance (COA) Adjustment form