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Suggested Documentation for SAP/MAX Appeals

Federal regulations require that Student Financial Services collect third-party documentation as part of an appeal.That documentation must support both what happened to impede your progress as well as the changes made to overcome those circumstances. 'Third-party documentation' can include statements from impartial persons outside of your friends and family, such as teachers, mentors, medical professionals, counselors, clergy, etc. Statements should be on letterhead, hand-signed, and dated. 

Below are examples of documentation that you can consider submitting with your Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) or Maximum Time Frame (MAX) Appeal. These are only suggestions, as the recommended documentation may vary based on the circumstances of your appeal.

Please Do Not Submit the Following:

  • Temple University Academic Transcript
  • Entire medical history from a doctor’s office or hospital
    • Or the medical history or medical file of someone else
  • Transcripts from universities or institutions outside ofTemple
  • Original copies of legal or medical documents, as any submitted appeal will not be returned to astudent
  • Petitions for Excused Withdrawals that have not been approved.
  • Screenshots of text messages or social media

 

Suggested Documentation

Reason for Appeal

Examples of Supporting Documentation

What to include in your personal statement

Personal illness or injury

Statement from a licensed healthcare provider; Return Authorization Statement from an approved Petition for Excused Withdrawal. The document should confirm diagnosis and treatment or recovery.

Specify the dates and impact from your illness and injury, as well as the treatment plan moving forward (if chronic).

Death of a family member or significant person in the student's life

Copy of the death certificate, or copy of obituary or funeral notice

Your personal statement should clearly outline name of the deceased, the date of death, and their relationship to you.

Illness, accident, or injury of a family member or significant person in the student's life

Statement from a Physician or licensed Healthcare Provider confirming the circumstances.

You personal statement should clearly outline who was injured or ill, when this occurred, treatment dates in that must align with the semester(s) you did not make academic progress. If your role as caretaker impeded your progress, you must outline and document the changes to the person's care.

Natural Disasters

Insurance claims or other official reports confirming the damage or event; Mortgage or lease with address corresponding to area afflicted by a natural disaster

Your statement and documentation must be clear about the plan to attend while handling the cleanup, renovations, or other recovery.

Other extenuating circumstances beyond your control.

The documentation will depend on the circumstances. Third-party documentation is official documentation from an impartial person, such as a counselor, case or social worker, clergy, medical provider, police, or other authority figure. Statements from professionals should be on letterhead and hand-signed. Police reports need to detail the persons involved, the date of the event, and other details to corroborate your statement.

You personal statement must clearly state the term in which the event occurred and how you were impacted. You must clearly identify what steps have already been taken to remove or overcome that circumstance.