Financial Aid Professional Judgment

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Policy Number:

UW-1039

Old Policy Number:

OSFA 611

Responsible Office:

Office of Student Financial Aid

University Policy

Rationale/​Purpose:

To outline UW–Madison’s authority under federal law to make professional judgments by adjusting data factors on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to adjust a student’s expected family contribution (EFC) or components of an individual student’s cost of attendance (COA).

Definitions:

Cost of attendance (COA)

The estimated cost for an individual student to attend UW–Madison including tuition, fees, books and supplies, room and board, transportation, and miscellaneous expenses.

Professional judgment 

Authority granted to institutions to exercise discretion for a student who has experienced special or unusual circumstances.

Scope:

All UW–Madison students.

Policy:

1. The Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, provides the authority for the financial aid administrator to exercise discretion in several areas when a student has experienced special or unusual circumstances. The professional judgment process allows the financial aid administrator to treat a student individually when conditions exist that differentiate an individual student from a class or group of students. Professional judgment decisions must be made on a case-by-case basis as the result of examining an individual student's unique circumstances.
   
   
2. Expected family contribution adjustments:
   1. UW–Madison will use professional judgment on a case-by-case basis to adjust the data used to calculate the expected family contribution.
   2. Professional judgment adjustments are only valid at the school that makes the adjustment, and UW–Madison may not accept a professional judgment made by another institution.
   3. Must relate to the special circumstances of an individual student and not a whole class of students.
   4. Special circumstances must be documented by the student.
   5. UW–Madison’s professional judgment decisions cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.
   6. UW–Madison can adjust data elements on the FAFSA but not the formula used to calculate the expected family contribution.
3. Budget Adjustments
   1. UW–Madison may use professional judgment to adjust an individual student’s cost of attendance.
   2. A budget adjustment may be requested to cover certain additional costs above the standard cost of attendance (which includes tuition and fees, estimated costs for health insurance, books and supplies, long-distance travel, utilities/internet, rent, food, local travel, and miscellaneous/personal expenses during the academic school year).
   3. Adjustments must be made for reasonable and allowable expenses within federal regulations.
   4. Students must provide documentation of expenses.
4. Dependency Overrides
   1. Federal regulations define which students are considered “dependent” on the FAFSA. Dependent students are required to provide parent information and a parent signature on the FASFA, which contribute to the determination of financial aid eligibility.
   2. UW–Madison will override the requirement to provide parent information on a case-by-case basis for students with unusual circumstances.
   3. A student must provide a written statement detailing those circumstances and provide supporting documentation as needed.
   4. None of the following conditions, singly or in combination, qualify as unusual circumstances meriting a dependency override:
      1. Parents refuse to contribute to the student’s education.
      2. Parents are unwilling to provide information on the FAFSA or for verification.
      3. Parents do not claim the student as a dependent for income tax purposes.
      4. The student demonstrates total self-sufficiency.

External References:

The Higher Education Act of 1965, Section 479A

Policy Administration

Approval Authority:

Director of Student Financial Aid

Policy Manager:

Associate Director for Federal Awards

Contact:

Associate Director for Federal Awards -- Shane Maloney, shane.maloney@wisc.edu, (608) 262-3384

Revised Dates:

01-01-2020

Reviewed Dates:

01/01/2020

Retrieved:

04-27-2024 01:21:42