Special Circumstances and Professional Judgment Flashcards
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Read the first 7 Special Circumstances and Professional Judgment flashcards as text
What is 'professional judgment' in the context of financial aid?
Answer: The authority of a financial aid administrator to adjust a student's aid package based on special circumstances
Professional judgment is the authority granted to financial aid administrators (FAAs) to adjust a student's aid eligibility based on documented special or unusual circumstances not reflected in the standard FAFSA data.
Which federal law grants financial aid administrators the authority to use professional judgment?
Answer: Section 479A of the Higher Education Act
Section 479A of the Higher Education Act of 1965 explicitly grants financial aid administrators the authority to make professional judgment adjustments on a case-by-case basis.
Who has the authority to approve a professional judgment adjustment at a college or university?
Answer: The financial aid administrator at the institution
Only the financial aid administrator (FAA) at the student's institution has the authority to approve professional judgment adjustments; the federal government delegates this discretion to the school.
Which of the following is a common reason a student might request a professional judgment review?
Answer: A parent recently lost their job after the FAFSA was filed
A significant change in a family's financial situation—such as a parent's job loss occurring after the FAFSA was submitted—is a classic example of a special circumstance that justifies a professional judgment review.
What must a financial aid administrator do when making a professional judgment adjustment?
Answer: Document the reason for the adjustment and retain it in the student's file
FAAs are required by law to document the specific reason for any professional judgment adjustment and retain that documentation in the student's file for audit purposes.
Which of the following is NOT a valid basis for a professional judgment adjustment?
Answer: The student's desire to receive more grant money
A student's desire for more aid is not a special circumstance; professional judgment must be based on documented, unusual situations affecting a family's financial condition—not personal preference.
Which component of a student's financial aid eligibility can a financial aid administrator adjust through professional judgment?
Answer: The Student Aid Index (SAI), Cost of Attendance (COA), or dependency status
Through professional judgment, FAAs may adjust the SAI (formerly EFC), the Cost of Attendance, or in extreme cases a student's dependency status, providing broad flexibility to address varied circumstances.