Applying for Extenuating Circumstance – Request for Adjustment to Tuition Bill
Student requests for an adjustment to a tuition bill due to an extenuating circumstance is reviewed by a committee and may be approved to move forward for consideration by the Bursar and/or Financial Aid office. To receive consideration, a student must:
- Submit a written request to for an Extenuating Circumstance – Request for Adjustment to Tuition Bill Application
- Obtain official documentation that supports the extenuating circumstance was unforeseeable and unavoidable and caused a serious disruption in academic functioning.
(Please note: a student may submit appropriate documentation to the corresponding campus unit to include but is not limited to counseling, health services, disability services, and/or institutional equity. The corresponding campus unit may submit a statement of verification to the Office Student Life) - The application and official documentation and/or verification statement should be submitted as part of your application
Incomplete applications or insufficient documentation will not be reviewed.
- Organize the details of your case. It’s often helpful to write a statement detailing the grounds for your request (for example, what occurred, when it occurred, how it affected you, and what you have done or plan to do about it)
- Organize your documentation to verify the facts of your request. It is the student’s responsibility to notify providers of the expectation(s) for documentation as well as of any deadlines. Incomplete applications or insufficient documentation will not be reviewed
- Medical Emergency: Certification by an appropriate medical professional of a serious disruption in academic functioning for medical reasons.
- Psychological: Certification by a licensed mental health professional of inability to continue for psychiatric/psychological reasons.
- Unforeseen Personal Hardship: Verification that a documented unforeseeable circumstance of any kind resulted in it being unreasonable for the student to continue. Examples include: police report, court/legal documentation, and/or an insurance claim confirming the destruction of primary residency due to fire, obituary, etc.
- Military Service Obligation: Verification that the student has been called to active duty or training in the United States Armed Forces, including service in the National Guard or Reserve.
Extenuating Circumstance request for adjustment to tuition bill will not be considered if the request is based on:
- a request outside of the current academic year in which the request is submitted
- poor academic performance
- missed deadlines
- change of major
- academic status
- employment conflict (exception for military service obligation)
Following the submission of materials (i.e. application and documentation) a committee meeting will be held to review the extenuating circumstance request for adjustment to tuition bill. (*Where appropriate, the Title IX Coordinator may take part in a meeting to present and/or expound on a request*)
A decision letter will be sent to the student via their RIC email address following the committee meeting. The letter will indicate the committee’s determination to approve or not approve the request to move forward for consideration to the Bursar and/or Financial Aid Office. The decision of the committee is final. The Bursar and/or Financial Aid Office will take into consideration any approved extenuating circumstance request for adjustment to tuition bill to determine the impact that such an adjustment would have on a student’s finalized aid package and/or balance owed. The bursar and/or financial aid office will communicate with the student regarding the final determination.
