Professional Judgement
The College may exercise discretion to accommodate special circumstances, with respect to some aspects of eligibility, using professional judgment. Professional judgment allows the College to treat a student individually when the student has special circumstances not sufficiently addressed by standard procedures. The College uses professional judgment on a case-by-case basis. Not every situation warrants a review, nor does every review guarantee a change in any federal aid awards. Special circumstances will include conditions that differentiate an individual student from a whole class of students.
The College retains the discretion to accommodate special circumstances concerning eligibility for federal financial aid by exercising professional judgment. This principle allows the College to evaluate individual circumstances that standard procedures may not adequately address. Professional judgment is applied on a case-by-case basis, recognizing that not every situation requires a review, nor does every inquiry result in an adjustment to federal aid awards.
Special circumstances may encompass a variety of conditions that set an individual student apart from their peers. These may include, but are not limited to, significant medical expenses, unusual dependent care costs, loss of income, or other unforeseen financial hardships. Such conditions should be well-documented and pertinent to the students’ eligibility for aid.
The College will not accept professional judgments made by another institution. Instead, it will conduct an independent review of the student’s circumstances and, if deemed appropriate, document and communicate the findings of its professional judgment decision. The College's determination in these matters is final and not subject to appeal to the U.S. Department of Education.
Students who wish to initiate the professional judgment process should contact the Financial Aid Office directly for guidance. Students must understand that verification of financial aid information will be completed before any consideration of professional judgment for those selected for verification by the College.
For further information, students may consult the U.S. Department of Education’s resources on professional judgment, which outline additional guidelines and examples of qualifying circumstances. The Department emphasizes the importance of transparency and consistency in applying professional judgment, encouraging students to provide comprehensive documentation to support their requests.
The College will not accept professional judgments made for a student by another school but will independently review the circumstances and document the professional judgment decision if appropriate. The decision of the College regarding professional judgment is final and cannot be appealed to the US Department of Education. Students should contact Financial Aid if interested in submitting a professional judgment request. The College will complete verification before exercising professional judgment for students selected for verification.