Financial Aid

Instruction One

You may appeal to be placed on financial aid probation and reinstate your financial aid eligibility on the basis of:  injury or ill­ness, the death of a relative, or other special circumstances.  You will be asked to address all of the following items in your appeal:

  1. Explain what has happened - why you have not earned at least 67% of your cumulative course work attempted (grades of F, I, W and U) and/or why you have not earned a cumulative 2.0 GPA.
  2. Provide proof of the problem or proof that you are resolving the problem.  Suggested sources of proof depending on your problem:
    1. Illness or injury – either 1-2 pages of proof from health care provider or confirmation from another WIU office that proof is already on file in their office.
    2. Death in your family – copy of obituary or funeral program.
  3. Explain what has changed – what circumstances have changed that will allow you to regain the 67% pace and/or 2.0 GPA standards.
  4. Contact your academic advisor - ask your advisor to confirm by email to FinAid-SP@wiu.edu that you have been advised for the semester for which you want aid and that your courses are appropriate for your degree.
  5. If this is your first appeal, and you cannot document the problem or its resolution, complete the UCC Study Skills Program on Western Online.
      • Go to www.westernonline.wiu.edu
      • Sign in with your ECOM name and password
      • Go to the Communications tab
      • Select Self Registration from the drop down menu
      • Select the UCC Study Skills Program
      • Complete Self Registration Form
      • UCC will notify you by email once you may access the material
      • Complete the Study Skills Presentation and Exam
      • Notification will automatically be sent to the Financial Aid Office when you have completed the program

Please note:

  • Depending on your circumstances, you may also be required to contact the University Counseling Center, Math Resource Center, Writing Center, or other services offered on campus.
  • An Academic Plan will be sent to you for completion if it is not possible for you to attain the 67% pace and 2.0 GPA standards within one term.
  • Completed appeals are reviewed in the order they are received.
  • If you are submitting your third appeal and have submitted all the requested information by Thursday afternoon, the Financial Aid Advisory Committee will meet on your file the following Tuesday afternoon.