Legal Shit Question

[Alluveal]

So, yeah, I get an email from Financial Aid saying:

Federal and State regulations require that all institutions have a satisfactory academic progress policy for students receiving financial aid. Based on your University academic records, you are no longer maintaining satisfactory progress in the following areas: You have exceeded the maximum number of credits for your program and have not graduated.

(Meaning, they are pulling my financial aid).

Here's the thing. I got one degree (MFA) back in 2011. That degree was fully, 100% conferred (meaning finished). I'm in a new graduate program now. On THEIR website, it states: "If the student graduates and enters a new program, new credit limits apply and the class level violation will be automatically cleared."

Another pal got the same letter. She also has one MA (in literature) and is getting another MA in some kind of computer/math deal.

When I called financial aid and quoted them their own website, they told me all I could do was "appeal" the decision. WTF? How can they not fucking follow their own rules? I'm nowhere NEAR to maxing out my credit hours for the current program. For the program I'm in now, I have 24 credit hours done and the max is 45!!!

I just want to make sure I'm reading this bullshit correctly. I've contacted an advocate in the graduate school department who is apparently speaking with other students having this same issue. This has not (according to this advocate) ever happened before, so I'm wondering what kind of BS is going on and also preparing to write my appeal letter in the nicest way possible.

What worries is me that I'm applying to the PhD program for next fall and if they pull this BS again, I'm gonna bust a move on someone. Now, the good news is that I do have full funding (full tuition waiver and stipend), but I usually take out around $2000 a semester to cover health insurance costs and daycare. I'd like to know I can continue to do that.

[Freecare Spiritwise]

Well, just in general, attorney initial consultations are free. Once you find the one who finds your situation interesting enough. But yeah, we've gotten all manner of legal advice for free from actual attorneys. It certainly doesn't cost anything to send some emails explaining your situation.

I know from my stepdaughter that financial aid is a pain in the ass. They look for stupid reasons to try to cut people off. Navigating that shit has been almost a full time job for her. She set my mother in law up with financial aid and she lost it by calling and asking them a question. My stepdaughter spent a month filling out forms and my mother in law got it all taken away just from a phone call asking what was probably a common question.

Hope you get it all worked out.

[Kulaf]

I would not advise seeking a lawyer until you have exhausted your options at the University. First thing I would do is go down in person and speak with someone at the Financial Aid office. If that does not result in a satifactory result, ask to speak with the head of Financial Aid. Then seek out the Dean of Admissions who is usually the person that oversees the Fiancial Aid office in addtion to other things. Finally seek out the Dean.

My guess is you are seeing blowback from the State. See if your state representative will speak with you on the phone and tell them your issue to see if anything at the state level is occuring that is putting pressure on the Universities.

[Ddrak]

When I called financial aid and quoted them their own website, they told me all I could do was "appeal" the decision.

There's your answer. Ask them the exact process for appealing the decision. It's unlikely that any other action will tick the boxes they are being made to jump through to fix this up.

Remember, from the person on the other end of the phone's perspective, you've been cut off. They don't give a damn why and they will NEVER give a damn why. They have a process, "carefully crafted" (probably by someone who's never talked to a person outside their cubicle in 20 years) to ensure that no one in Financial Aid is actually responsible for anything. If you go off that process then you'll get absolutely nowhere fast because no one will have any authority to do jack shit. If you ask the right questions like "what do I need to do to get this fixed up", and get answers in excruciating detail then you'll likely get things done a lot faster.

Also, make someone at Financial Aid your consistent contact. If you find someone nice on the phone who seems to give a little bit of a damn or is a little bit helpful then make sure you find out how to get back in touch with THEM, and go out of your way to make your interaction with them pleasant so they won't avoid you when you ask to be transferred.

Kulaf's point about visiting in person is a good one too. The more you are a person to them and not just an angry voice on a phone, the more they'll be inclined to actually tell you what you need to know to fix this.

Dd

[Alluveal]

I definitely plan to do all of these things and to act like a responsible, even-headed person, but when they don't even acknowledge their own rules, that pisses me off.