<p>To Whom it May Concern,
I am writing to make a formal appeal regarding my disqualification from eligibility to receive financial aid. I understand the need for rules, regulations and policies and am not at all taking this dismissal from financial aid eligibility personally nor am I disagreeing with the process. I think that requiring students to appeal decisions such as this helps to weed out the students whom may not be committed to achieving their academic goals, as well as help those who truly do wish to succeed stand out.
I did quite a bit of reading into how to write an effective appeal letter , I found the common consensus to be that the best practices were to; Accept responsibility for my poor academic achievement, Provide honest and detailed information regarding the reasons for my poor academic achievement, Not place blame on others, Provide evidence to support my argument(s) for re-instatement and finally to Provide details about my plan to ensure future success of achieving my academic goals.
In regards to the reasons for my lack of academic progress to date I feel as though I have made earnest and sufficient progress towards completion of my Liberal Arts Associates Degree with the exception of my academic performance in the last semester I attended (summer 2011). I feel that when considered in its entirety my overall academic performance and progress during my time at Great Bay has remained relatively consistent as well as in a forward motion. I am proud of the fact that I am only 7 classes away from achieving this goal of graduating with an Associates degree in Liberal Arts/Teacher Prep, as well the 6 plus consecutive semesters in which I have maintained a G.P.A. close to if not above a 3.00 with a ¾ or full time course load.<br>
Although my past academic performance, course load, program credit totals and G.P.A. do not excuse my lack of maintaining satisfactory progress in the last semester I attended (Summer 2011) I think they do speak to the fact that I am/have been a relatively good student up until now. I also feel that my previous academic performance over the past 3 years illustrates just how out of character this past semesters progress truly is for me.
I also am a firm believer that regardless of extenuating circumstances I am ultimately the only one responsible for my life situation, whether that be in my financial, professional, academic or personal life. Additionally I can absolutely admit that I contributed to my poor academic performance in the summer 2011 semester.
Looking back I can see now that there were things that I could and should have done differently such as; registering earlier for the Summer semester, checking and double checking all information I received, being more persistent in my efforts to obtain specific financial resources and maybe even raising a bit of a stink per se in certain situations.<br>
Before I go into detail about some specific events and experiences which I feel really truly did contribute to my current academic situation I would like to reiterate that I honestly believe I am ultimately responsible for my own life and situation completely. I would also like to say that I am in no way attempting to cite any one specific experience or event for my poor academic performance during the summer 2011 semester, but rather explain how and why the culmination of these experiences, which seemed to compound when combined, affected my academic standing.
At the end of spring 2011 semester I met with Patricia Corbett, the Department Head for the Teacher Preparation Program, together we filled out a Program Requirements Worksheet to see where I stood in regards to the completion of my Liberal Arts/Teacher Prep Associates degree. We identified every course I had taken and which classes remained in order to reach my goal of graduating, after everything was laid out I had 7 courses I still needed.
After talking to staff at the one stop in person, combing through the Colleges website resources, and financial aid staff on the phone, I felt comfortable making the decision to take the summer off from working full time and chose 4 courses (14 credits) to enroll in so that I would be able to complete my degree and graduate in December of 2011.<br>
I had been informed I would be able to split my financial aid in half for the Summer and Fall Semesters, I submitted my FAFSA information, as well as completed my financial aid verification paperwork literally on the day it was requested. I handed each document to a staff member at the One-Stop in person and repeatedly asked if any other documents or forms were required, and each and every time anything additional was requested I filled out the necessary forms on the spot with the assistance and/or under the supervision of One-Stop staff and was again ensured I could continue without the worry of any other road blocks.
After all my requirements had been met and I had again and again been ensured I would be all set I registered for the Summer 2011 semester and waited for my award letter so that I could apply for my book loan as soon as possible. After a few days passed I called and inquired about the status of my award letter and was informed that I had not completed all my requirements for financial aid verification and needed to re-fill out my Means of Support Form because it had been filled out incorrectly the first time.
Once again I drove the ½ hour to the college completed the paperwork immediately, and after some persistent questioning on my part was told my award letter would be available that day around 5pm. I again made the ½ hour drive to the college that evening and signed a copy of my award letter to expedite the process rather than waiting for it in the mail, as well as completed my Deferment form, Master Promissory Note and applied for my book loan.<br>
I was told that I had plenty of financial aid to cover my book loan, that there should not be any further delays and to expect my book loan funds approved within the next 3 days. When I returned on the third day I was told that the book loan funds had dried up and that I would not be able to purchase my textbooks from the bookstore on credit. At this point I asked to speak to someone regarding this issue. A woman came out from financial aid shortly and I explained to her my situation; and how I didnt understand how this could happen. I made sure to do so in a polite, calm and respectful manner as I truly thought this must be a simple misunderstanding or clerical mistake.
I was told that I had only turned in my paperwork the day before and that the funds had dried up on already and that the woman didnt know what to tell me, I should have gotten my paperwork taken care of sooner.
This was especially upsetting and frustrating to me because I had initially turned in this very form two weeks prior, and had filled it out in the One-Stop at the counter in front of a staff member, with their supervision and assistance, and had been ensured that I had filled it out accurately and completely, as then again resubmitted the form 3 days prior with the assurance it was definitely the last requirement needed.<br>
The woman responded to my account of what had happened regarding this form and its submission and resubmission by saying you have filled out this form before, with the clear implication that I was at fault for the errors and that I should not have assumed that the One-Stop staff was qualified to tell me if it was correct or not and that I should have checked with someone in the financial aid department.
To this response I was even more upset and frustrated, I felt it was unfair to blame me for believing staff was qualified enough to give me accurate information as well as to put the blame on me for filling out a form incorrectly, I asked the woman very sincerely what I am supposed to do? I cannot afford text books and classes begin tomorrow and to this she responded once again that she didnt know what to tell me and that I was only one student out of hundreds. I informed her I absolutely understood I was only one of many students but with all due respect this mattered to me because it was my life, my finances and my education. I was once again told she didnt know what to say and she returned to the financial aid office.
I received an email a 2-3 days later informing me that additional book loan funds had become available and I once again returned to the school to apply again for a book loan, upon arriving at the One-Stop I was told that they had already dried up and I was out of luck. Soon after this (within a few days) I was in the One-Stop dropping off some form or document and inquired about the book loan situation and was told that just the day before a girl had been in there and raised a stink and had been granted funds even after they were all dried up the second time around.
Just recently I received an email stating that there was to be a new book loan program in place, one that was not based on a limited amount of funds to be awarded on a first come first serve basis, and that could be instantly approved or denied after applying.
I can 100% guarantee that if granted re-instatement for financial aid eligibility in combination with the new book loan program which enables me to purchase my text books and/or course material before the beginning of the semester I can complete my remaining 7 courses within the Fall 2011 and Spring 2012 semesters, and graduate with my Liberal Arts/Teacher Prep Associates degree. I know myself and I know what I am capable of. I feel like I have proven I am capable of achieving satisfactory academic progress through my pervious academic performance. Even if enrolled in ¾ time late start classes for the Fall 2011 semester I know I am capable of achieving my goal of graduation by Spring of 2012.
I understand that an appeal is a second chance, a privilege not a right, and I am treating it as such, and although I feel as though in some ways I have gone against what has been agreed upon as the best way to write an appeal letter, not placing blame and taking responsibility for screwing up I also feel as though I have stuck to the recommended practice of being honest.
In regards to the plan I have in place to help ensure my academic success in the future I have additional financial and personal support from my family members, a ¾ time course load for the Fall 2011 semester, and I am going to be afforded with the blessing of not having to work until I graduate if my eligibility is reinstated. I also plan to retake all the classes which I failed during the summer 2011 semester in order to prove myself as well as improve my G.P.A.
I thank you genuinely for your time and consideration regardless of your decision in this matter.
Sincerely,
Emma Mellen</p>