8.1 Scholarship Determinations: Submission of a scholarship application does not guarantee a scholarship award. The Scholarship Staff shall review each individual scholarship application and determine eligibility. Awards are based on available funding, applicant pool, and the applicant's completion of scholarship criteria by the specified deadline.

8.2 Appeals: An applicant has the right to appeal the Scholarship Staff's adverse decision by filing an appeal with the Scholarship Appeals Committee subject to the following conditions:

8.2.1 Applicants may submit a written appeal through either the U.S. Mail or online by using the form provided by the Office of the Commissioner of Higher Education. Appeals must be postmarked, if mailed, or submitted online within 30 days of the date on which the scholarship notification was issued.

8.2.2 In the appeal, the applicant must provide their full name, mailing address, the high school they last attended, a statement of the reason for the appeal, and all information or evidence that supports the appeal. The failure of an applicant to provide the information in this subsection may not preclude the acceptance of an appeal.

8.2.3 An appeal filed before the applicant receives official notification from the Scholarship Staff of its decision may not be considered.

8.2.4 If an applicant failed to file their appeal on time, the Scholarship Appeals Committee shall notify the applicant of the late filing and give them an opportunity to explain the reasons for failing to file the appeal by the deadline. The Scholarship

Appeals Committee may not have jurisdiction to consider the merits of an appeal that is filed beyond the deadline unless it determines the applicant established excusable neglect.

8.2.5 The Scholarship Appeals Committee shall review the appeal to determine if the award decision was made in error, or if the applicant demonstrated substantial compliance with the scholarship application requirements but failed to meet one or more requirements for good cause.

8.2.6 If the Scholarship Appeals Committee determines the applicant has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that the initial decision was made in error, it shall either reverse the initial decision or remand it back to the Scholarship Staff for further review in accordance with the Appeals Committee's instructions.

8.2.7 If the Scholarship Appeals Committee determines the applicant has shown by a preponderance of the evidence that they demonstrated substantial compliance with the application process requirements and good cause for failing to meet one or more of the requirements, the Appeals Committee shall grant the applicant a reasonable period to complete the remaining requirements and to resubmit the completed application to the Scholarship Staff for a redetermination. In such a case, the applicant shall have the right to appeal an adverse decision according to this rule.

8.2.8 The Scholarship Appeals Committee's decision shall be in writing and contain its findings of facts, reasoning and conclusions of law and notice of the right to judicial review.

8.2.9 The Scholarship Appeals Committee's decision represents the final agency action. An applicant who disagrees with the Scholarship Appeals Committee's decision may seek judicial review in accordance with Section 63G-4-402.

KEY: higher education, scholarships, secondary education

Date of Last Change: July 21, 2025

Notice of Continuation: April 10, 2025

Authorizing, and Implemented or Interpreted Law: 53B-8-108