<?xml version='1.0' encoding='utf-8'?>
<regulation prefix="Regulation" num=".09" citation="COMAR 13B.08.01.09" title_num="13B" subtitle_num="08" chapter_num="01" heading="Appeals.">
  <paragraph num="A.">
    <text>Basis of Appeal. An appeal may be filed only on the basis of:</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>Failure to maintain full-time enrollment;</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>Failure to maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average; or</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Changed financial circumstances.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="B.">
    <text>Appeal Based on Full-Time Enrollment.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>“Full-time” means enrollment for at least 12 semester hours of courses each semester or its equivalent.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>To be considered full-time, the actual time spent in the classroom, lab, supervised activity, or clinic shall equal 180 clock hours or more in a regular semester.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>Students enrolled for at least 6 credit hours but less than 12 credits can appeal to receive the 2+2 Transfer Scholarship if they are participating in a specific course or activity (such as an internship or a practicum) that is required by the institution to complete their academic program. The student may appeal by submitting documentation, in addition to the appeal form, from the student’s department chair that describes and confirms the program requirements for that semester, along with a catalog description of the program and classes involved. The documentation shall also list the number of clock hours required for each activity.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="C.">
    <text>Appeal Based on Grade Point Average.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>If a student fails to meet the grade point average requirement, the student may appeal on the basis of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A serious illness or injury of the student;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A serious illness of a member of the student’s immediate family;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>Serious emotional difficulties experienced by the student;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The death of a member of the student’s immediate family; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>Other serious personal circumstances.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The student’s appeal information shall clearly demonstrate that one or more of the factors in §C(1) of this regulation prevented the student from achieving the required grade point average.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>The student’s appeal shall be supported by documentation from an appropriate professional, such as a treating physician, psychologist, or health professional, sufficient to substantiate the student’s claim.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="D.">
    <text>Appeal Based on Changed Financial Circumstances.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>A student may appeal if the student’s financial circumstances change, after the filing of the student’s application under Regulation .03, as a result of one of the following reasons:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>The student’s parent or spouse dies;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>The student or the student’s parents’ divorce or separate;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>The student, student’s parent (if dependent), or student’s spouse (if independent) as defined by FAFSA becomes involuntarily unemployed for at least 10 consecutive weeks in the current year; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>The student or the student’s parent(s) loses, as a result of the student reaching the age of majority, benefits from Social Security, AFDC, or child support.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>The student’s appeal shall be supported by appropriate documentation sufficient to substantiate the student’s claim, including, but not limited to, copies of:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>A death certificate;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>A divorce decree or separation agreement;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>A notice of job termination or layoff;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>Federal tax transcript or W-2; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(e)">
        <text>A copy of a termination notice of unemployment benefits.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>If OSFA sustains a student’s appeal, OSFA shall provide the following relief:</text>
      <paragraph num="(a)">
        <text>If the appeal was based on the death of the student’s parent or spouse, OSFA shall adjust the student’s FASFA income information to exclude the income of the deceased;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(b)">
        <text>If the appeal was based on the student or the student’s parents’ divorce or separation, OSFA shall adjust the student’s FASFA income information to exclude the income of the affected parent or spouse;</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(c)">
        <text>If the appeal was based on the student, student’s parent (if dependent), or student’s spouse (if independent) becoming involuntarily unemployed for at least 10 consecutive weeks in the current year, OSFA shall calculate the student’s family contribution and total family income using an estimated income for the current calendar year; or</text>
      </paragraph>
      <paragraph num="(d)">
        <text>If the appeal was based on the student or the student’s parent losing, as a result of the student reaching the age of majority, benefits from Social Security, TNAF, or child support, OSFA shall calculate the student’s family contribution and total family income using an estimated income for the current calendar year.</text>
      </paragraph>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
  <paragraph num="E.">
    <text>Appeal Procedures.</text>
    <paragraph num="(1)">
      <text>An appeal may only be filed by the submission of a completed appeal form to the Director of Student Financial Assistance.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(2)">
      <text>An appeal shall be received by OSFA within 45 days of the date the student is notified that the scholarship award has been nonrenewed.</text>
    </paragraph>
    <paragraph num="(3)">
      <text>In completing the appeal form, the student shall document the conditions upon which the appeal is based as specified in §A of this regulation. Upon receipt of the appeal, the documentation shall be reviewed and a decision shall be rendered. The student shall be notified of the outcome of the appeal in writing.</text>
    </paragraph>
  </paragraph>
</regulation>