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Tuition Appeal

Tuition Appeal

Learn about the process, requirements, and potential financial consequences of a Tuition Appeal.

Before submitting your Tuition Appeal, it is advisable to check your funding sources and the PPSC Financial Aid Office regarding potential reimbursement requirements for deleted courses. 

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What is a Tuition Appeal?

A Tuition Appeal is a process through which you may request the removal of failed or withdrawn courses, applicable grades (D, F, U or, W grades), and associated tuition from your student record due to experiencing a Qualifying Event during the semester that was not a result of your choices.

Retroactive Withdrawal: If you are interested in withdrawing from a class after the withdraw date has passed, you should note this on your Tuition Appeal application.
A withdrawal is different from a course deletion. You will still be financially responsible for withdrawn courses and a W grade will show up on your transcript.

Tuition Appeals can take 4-6 weeks to process.

What a Tuition Appeal is Not:
Complaints about Technology Issues
Complaints about Books or Other Course Materials
Complaints about a Faculty or Staff Member
Complaints about Accessibility Accommodations
Please visit the Tuition Appeal FAQ page for more information about resolving these types of issues. 

 

Is a Tuition Appeal Right for Me?

Please consider the following requirements before filing a Tuition Appeal.

student in class

You have one academic year to submit a Tuition Appeal. If your appeal is older than one year, please contact Student Accounts for more information about your balance due. 

Example: Spring 2024 appeals must be submitted by the first day of Spring 2025. 

Timeline exceptions exist for Unplanned Military/First Responder Call to Service. These students have two academic years from completion of service to submit a Tuition Appeal. 

Tuition Appeals for the current semester will close on the day after the final F15 Part of Term withdrawal date for that semester. Once final grades are posted, that application will reopen for students to submit appeals. Grade post timelines can be viewed on the Instructional Calendar

Appeal requests for previous semesters will be accepted on a continual basis until their respective deadlines are reached.

If you have not yet received a grade in the course and you are sure you want to appeal, please withdraw from the course through your student portal. Remember, once you withdraw, you cannot be reenrolled in the course. 

If you have questions about how to withdraw, please contact Enrollment Services at 719-502-2000 or enrollment@pikespeak.edu.

Consider an Incomplete Instead of a Tuition Appeal
If you're in the middle of a semester you want to appeal, talk to your professor about an "Incomplete." An Incomplete allows you to pause your progress in the class. You and your professor will determine a future date of completion for the remaining coursework. You still have to pay for the class, but you won't have to delete it and start all over again. Incomplete contracts are granted at the discretion of each professor.


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Grade post timelines can be viewed on
the Instructional Calendar

Before submitting your Tuition Appeal, it is advisable to check with your funding sources and the PPSC Financial Aid Office about potential reimbursement requirements for deleted courses.

If you utilize Military, Veteran Chapter, VR&E (VOC Rehab) benefits, you are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED to speak to Military and Veteran Programs (MVP) BEFORE submitting a Tuition Appeal because you will be asked by VA to return funds/stipends you received to go to school if your appeal is approved and courses are deleted.

Submission of this appeal assumes that you understand and accept the financial consequences of this rule.

Tuition Appeal Process 

Once you have verified your eligibility, follow the steps below to submit a Tuition Appeal.

1. Check Your Classes and Grades

Ensure you have all course information ready. Only withdrawn courses or courses with posted failing grades are eligible for appeal. Follow the instructions below to view your grades and course information.

Active Student:
         1. Log into your student portal
         2. Go to the Dashboard Under Student Tools
         3. Click "Transcripts" and "View/Print Unofficial Transcripts"
         4. Transcript type: "Unofficial Web Transcript"
         5. Click "Submit"

Inactive Student: If you have not attended courses in three semesters or more, you need to order an official transcript through Parchment.

Contact Enrollment Services at enrollment@pikespeak.edu or 719-502-2000 for help viewing your grades.

Student at Computer
Student at Computer

2. Gather Your Documentation

  • Find the required documentation under your Qualifying Event below and follow the instructions on the form for your event.
  • Incomplete or alternative documentation cannot be considered.
  • Forged documentation will be automatically denied and further reporting action may follow.
Contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff if you have questions about required documentation.

3. Complete and Submit Paperwork

IMPORTANT: Have your supporting documentation ready before starting your Tuition Appeal application.
  • View the list of Qualifying Events below and complete the Tuition Appeal application according to the instructions under your specfic event.
  • Any additional documentation that cannot be attached to the Tuition Appeal application should be emailed to tuitionappeal@pikespeak.edu.
  • PPSC is unable to accept Tuition Appeal submissions from anyone except the student unless the student is medically incapacitated, deceased or constrained to a location where access to outside resources is limited.

Please contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff for assistance.

Idea Light BulbAppeals submitted without the required documentation will automatically be denied.

Student Gathering Documentation Near Computer
Student Waiting for Communication

4. Watch Your Email

Watch for Communication from Us
  • Monitor the email address you put on your Tuition Appeal Application for updates, committee decisions, and/or requests for additional information.
  • Tuition Appeals can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to fully process. We may contact you at any point during this period.
Please Note: 
  • PPSC is legally unable to speak with anyone outside of the student regarding the Tuition Appeal unless there is a FERPA release of information on file.
    • Exceptions may exist for students who are medically incapacitated, deceased or constrained to a location where access to outside resources is limited. 

Please contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff with questions.

Idea Light BulbIf you received a confirmation screen upon submitting your Tuition Appeal application, we have received your documents. You will not receive a confirmation email stating your documents were received.

5. Appeal Decisions

  1. Tuition Appeals are reviewed by a multi-disciplinary Tuition Appeal Advisory Board and Tuition Appeal Committee.
  2. Due to the volume of cases, research and processing of each case, Tuition Appeals can take anywhere from 4-6 weeks to fully process.
  3. Once processed, you will receive an email with the committee's decision.
    • All appeal decision are final.
Student Looking toward their right

 

ppsc student in class

Qualifying Events

The student became a critical caregiver for a qualifying family member. The Family Caregiver Tuition Appeal Form must be completed in full by a licensed medical professional. The medical professional must discuss how the student played a critical role in direct care for this person.

Qualifying Family Member:

Grandparent, Parent, Sibling, Spouse, In-laws, Partner, or Child. This includes step relatives, common law and legally adopted families. Other caregiving situations may be recognized on a case-by-case basis and may require additional documentation.

Instructions

You must submit the Tuition Appeal Application and attach/upload the completed Family Caregiver Tuition Appeal Form at the bottom of the application as documentation.

Contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff with questions. 

Blue Lighbulb IconFailure to submit the required paperwork will result in appeal denial.

The student became unexpectedly ill or injured during the semester. The Illness or Injury of Student Tuition Appeal Form must be completed in full by a licensed medical professional.

If you do not or did not have access to a medical doctor, please reach out to the Tuition Appeal Staff for further assistance.

Instructions

You must submit the Tuition Appeal Application and attach/upload the completed Illness or Injury of Student Tuition Appeal Form at the bottom of the application as documentation. 

Contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff with questions. 

 

Blue Lighbulb IconFailure to submit the required paperwork will result in appeal denial.

The student was laid off from their job, acquired a new job or extended their current job hours to provide emergency financial support for themselves or their family, or their employer required an alteration in work hours that interfered with class hours or reduced pay.

Important

Voluntary job changes and having been fired from a job due to choices you made do not apply. 

Instructions

You must submit the Tuition Appeal Application and attach/upload the completed Job Lay Off, Emergency Financial Support or Mandatory Work Hour Alteration Tuition Appeal Form at the bottom of the application as documentation. 

Contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff with questions. 

 

Blue Lighbulb IconFailure to submit the required paperwork will result in appeal denial.

The student lost a qualifying family member during the semester.

Qualifying Family Member

Grandparent, Parent, Sibling, Spouse, In-law, Partner, or Child. This includes step relatives, common law and legally adopted families. Other family losses may be recognized on a case-by-case basis and may require additional documentation.

Instructions

You must submit the Tuition Appeal Application and attach/upload BOTH of the documents below:

1. Completed Loss of Family Member Tuition Appeal Cover Form 

- AND - 

2.  Death Certificate for the deceased person to the bottom of the application as documentation.

Contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff with questions. 

 

Blue Lighbulb IconFailure to submit the required paperwork will result in appeal denial.

The student did not attend registered class(es) and did not drop the class(es) prior to the drop date.

Important

It is the student’s responsibility to contact the department in question and request that an administrator complete the Never Attended Class(es) Tuition Appeal form so the student may upload it as Tuition Appeal documentation.

Instructions

You must submit the Tuition Appeal Application and attach/upload the completed Never Attended Class(es) Tuition Appeal Form to the bottom of the application as documentation.

Contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff with questions. 

 

Blue Lighbulb IconFailure to submit the required paperwork will result in appeal denial.

This is applicable only when PPSC changes policy due to a regional/national disaster or large scale emergency.  Tuition Appeal applications will be required. However, acceptable documentation will vary depending on the situation and PPSC temporary Tuition Appeal policies.  

Contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff with questions. 

 

Blue Lighbulb IconFailure to submit the required paperwork will result in appeal denial.

The student was self-employed and their business closed which rendered them unemployed or reduced funding they expected to have to pay for classes. 

Instructions

You must submit the Tuition Appeal Application and attach/upload BOTH of the documents below:

1. Completed Self-Employed Student Business Closure Tuition Appeal Cover Form

- AND - 

2.  Certificate of Document Filed with the Office of the Secretary of State of The State of Colorado to show delinquency of business to the bottom of the application as documentation.

Contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff with questions. 

 

Blue Lighbulb IconFailure to submit the required paperwork will result in appeal denial.

The student suddenly experienced homelessness and/or was not expecting an eviction prior to the drop date of the semester.

If the student was evicted from their home and they do not have proof of eviction and/or are not living with someone or know someone who can attest to their situation under oath for a notarized letter, they will need to visit a community resource to ask an administrator to complete the Unexpected Homelessness Tuition Appeal Form to authenticate their status.

Please visit the 211 website or dial 211 for helpful resources.

Instructions

You must submit the Tuition Appeal Application and attach/upload ONE of the documents below:

•  Unexpected Homelessness Tuition Appeal Form

-OR-

• Notice of Eviction

-OR-

• Notarized letter from a person they lived with after experiencing homelessness and/or was a witness to the circumstances

Contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff with questions. 

 

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Failure to submit the required paperwork will result in appeal denial.

A student with a special set of skills was called to serve in an emergency or unexpected situation that removed them from courses or a qualifying family member's semester was interrupted due to this unexpected call to service.

Timeline Exception

The student has 2 years from completion of service to submit this Tuition Appeal.

Definitions

Military: Active, Retired or Reserved members of the Navy, Marines, Air Force, Coast Guard and Army

First Responders: Active, Retired or Reserved militry personnel; Active, Retired or On-Call medical personnel, law enforcement, firefighters, and public health professionals responding to a large-scale emergency. The definition of "First Responders" may vary depending on the emergency.

Qualifying Family Member

Grandparent, Parent, Sibling, Spouse, Partner, or Child. This includes step relatives, common law and legally adopted families. Other family deployment situations may be recognized on a case-by-case basis and may require additional documentation.

Instructions

You must submit the Tuition Appeal Application and attach/upload ONE of the following to the bottom of the application as documentation:

Deployment Orders

-OR-

Letter from employer/superior stating that the student's presence was required and/or deployment interfered with student's studies/attendance

Contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff with questions. 

Important

All documentation must include student’s full name, employer's name and contact information for verification, date of receipt of order to serve and dates of service.

 

Blue Lighbulb IconFailure to submit the required paperwork will result in appeal denial.

The student was the victim of a crime and/or violence, harassment, stalking, etc.

Law enforcement, a counselor or therapist, medical personnel, court administrator, victim advocate agency or social worker are examples of 3rd party entities that can complete documentation on behalf of the student.

The sworn statement on the notarized letter may be given by a witness of the crime and does not have to be from an organization. 

Please visit the 211 website or dial 211 for helpful resources.

Instructions

You must submit the Tuition Appeal Application and attach/upload ONE of the documents below:

•  Victim of a Crime Tuition Appeal Form

-OR-

• Police Report

-OR-

Notarized statement from a witness of the crime

Contact the Tuition Appeal Support Staff with questions. 

 

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Failure to submit the required paperwork will result in appeal denial.

 

 

Signpost

Still have Questions or Concerns?

Questions regarding Tuition Appeals should be emailed to tuitionappeal@pikespeak.edu.