<p>I was put on financial aid suspension due to a low GPA. I am a Phd student at an online university where I took and graduated with my Masters in 2009 with a 3.3 gpa. I enrolled in the PhD program and six of my graduate classes transferred to my PhD program, four A's and two B's. I take one class every 12 weeks. The first 12 weeks I got a C in my class due to health issues. </p>
<p>I had cancer in 2007 while a graduate student. I went through surgery, chemo and other treatments and in 2008 was declared cancer free. Unfortunately the chemo took it's toll and in January 2010 I started to have health issues from the chemo. After the C in course one I enrolled in course 2. The medical issues became so great that I had to drop out while I recouperated. I immediately contacted my advisor and applied for a late withdrawal and tuition waiver. I provided documentation from my doctor that it was a combination of health concerns stemming from the chemo AND back issues (bulging disc). The college took FOUR months to approve my waiver, which brought my GPA from a 1.66 to a 2.5. The college did not factor in the six classes that transferred into my GPA so we were working with two grades, a C and an F (which was changed to a W). Since I had recovered in the four months it took to get an answer I was already enrolled in course 3 which I got a B in ( a C plus a B equals a 2.5).</p>
<p>I applied for a SAP waiver to give me one more 12 week term to bring my GPA up over 3.0. The financial aid officer denied my request stating I had a 1.66 average. They did not address my medical issues at all. My advisor wrote up a long plan and documented that my GPA was NOT a 1.66 and in fact was a 2.5. She included my medical documents as well and explained how I would bring the 2.5 to a 3.0 within the 12 weeks. We waited and waited (meanwhile I owe the college $2200). I never got written word about the SAP appeal. My advisor told me that my appeal was denied even with the proper information. I spoke with someone at financial aid who said that even though I had a 2.5 and even had a 3.19 if you factored in the six classes that transferred in and were on my transcript they were denying my appeal for one more term because CANCER IS NOT TEMPORARY. </p>
<p>Although my medical situation was partly brought on by the after effects of my chemo treatment it was NOT A RECURRANCE of my cancer. How can they deny me becaue of my cancer diagnosis in 2007?? If someone has depression and has a flare up of that they get a waiver, if someone has a sick parent with cancer they get a waiver. </p>
<p>I have taken this to my ombudsman but was hoping for any advice or support. I plan on taking this to the Department of Education/Civil Rights but any other suggestions would be appreciated. In reading SAP policy it is clearly written that colleges have latitude on how they apply the appeal process. I feel I am being punished because I had cancer and now any medical issues I have will be considered a "pre-existing" condition when it really is not that simple.</p>
<p>This is the norm at most schools; you only get to transfer credits, you do not get to transfer your gpa to the new school. Should you get a transcript from your new school, it will indicate that you have credit, it will nto indicate the GPA asociated with those courses.</p>
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<p>That is not going to happen. Your gpa is based on the grades that you received at your current school. Your grade was changed from a “F” to a W (withdrawl without penalty) due to your medical condition (as you were sick during that term). If you have a 2.5 gpa based on the courses you completed at your current school, at the grad school level it is considered “failing” as you need a 3.0 gpa in order to graduate. Your current GPA consists of 2 classes you took when you were feeling “better”. The overall reason that your financial aid was suspended is because the college believes that you are not making satisfactory progress toward the degree .</p>
<p>I think that from the college’s position, the due diligence falls with you. It is one thing if you are not feeling well to ask for a medical withdrawl from classes or request an incomplete if you feel that you are not healthy enough to complete the work before the end of the term and you need an extension. It is another thing to complete the course, get a grade and after the fact say that your grades are due to your illness. If you were not feeling well, I believe that the owness was on you to either drop the classes or request an incomplete from your professor before you received the “C” in your class.</p>
<p>The FA officer at each school has the final say over things like special circumstances adjustments and SAP appeals for their school. There may be someone at the school you can talk to (though I assume you have tried that already) but there is no higher level over the school that you can go to. They are the final say for their institution. If the school wont budge then there is not much you can do. </p>
<p>Another school might be more willing to work with you so that is something you might consider looking into…</p>
<p>Thanks for your reply. First, the credits from my masters program were from the SAME university. I did my masters there then transfered to the Phd program when I graduated. </p>
<p>Second, I requested a late withdrawal from the second class which was finally approved after a four month wait. I realize in hindsight that the C was earned during the first term becaue I was struggling health wise, but it was too late to ask for more time, incomplete, etc. and I never did ask for such accomodations. </p>
<p>My issue with the college is that they considered my SAP appeal with the wrong information (the 1.66 gpa) instead of the 2.5. I admit that the 2.5 is not satisfactory but simply wanted the extra term to bring it up to a 3.0. My other issue is that they are telling me that my cancer diagnosis is not a temporary situation and thus does not deserve the one term waiver. I do not currently have cancer. My type of cancer can come back at any time or never. Right now I am healthy. During the end of the first class and the second which was granted a withdrawal I was suffering from side effects from a lowered immune system. </p>
<p>The college grants SAP appeals for depression, divorces, etc. My past cancer treatment should not be held against me as ongoing, like a chronic illness that one deals with every day.</p>
<p>It is currently being reviewed by the powers that be. I am cautiously hopeful, either way I will be over a 3.0 at the end of this term, but the financial burder on having to pay the tuition without financial aid is really hurting me. I do love the school and the learning experience.</p>
<p>Good luck to you on your appeal. Would you be better served attending a brck and motar school where you could possibily get the chance for tuition remission by possibily working as a TA or GA or even get funding from the school for your PhD program?</p>
<p>Thanks for all your replies. I made my complaint to the ombudsperson at my school and included all the details, etc. and timeline. When I got home from work I had an email from Financial aid granting me the extra term and financial aid. Going through the chain of command, so to speak, and using the ombudsperson as suggested really worked! YEA! Now that I am feeling better I don’t anticipate any more problems.</p>