Appealing a Scholarship Status

Submit through: SOAR

This option is for currently enrolled students who are appealing a scholarship they:

• Currently receive, or
• Have received in the past and are requesting to be reinstated

Examples include:

• Loss of an academic scholarship due to GPA or enrollment hours
• Requests to reinstate a previously held scholarship
• One-term scholarship losses or enrollment-related exceptions

If you are eligible, the appeal application will appear in your SOAR To-Do List.

If you previously received a scholarship but do not see an appeal option, contact the Office of Scholarships & Financial Wellness for assistance.

Submit through: GO System

This option is for:

• Students requesting consideration for a scholarship they have never received
• Incoming freshmen or transfer students
• Students appealing eligibility or missed deadlines related to initial scholarship consideration

These appeals are submitted through the GO System and will not appear in SOAR.

SUBMIT AN APPEAL IN GO

When reviewing your scholarship appeal, the committee will consider the following:

• Eligibility Requirements: You must meet the original criteria and renewal requirements for the scholarship you are appealing.
• Available Funding: Some scholarships have limited funds and may not be available at the time of your appeal.
• Academic Record: Your complete academic history—including coursework at USM and any prior institutions—will be reviewed.
• Financial Background: Information from your FAFSA, including your Student Aid Index (SAI), will be considered. Submitting a FAFSA is highly recommended before appealing.
• Documentation of Extenuating Circumstances: This may include:
  • Medical issues or personal illness
  • Death of an immediate family member
  • Letters of support from a counselor or advisor
• Personal Statement: You must provide a written explanation detailing your situation and why you're requesting an exception.

Incomplete appeals will be denied. If you do not provide supporting documentation, your appeal will not be considered.

Incoming students must be fully admitted to The University of Southern Mississippi before their scholarship appeal will be reviewed.

Students must meet all initial GPA, test score, and credit hour requirements for the scholarship(s) they are appealing. Be sure all academic records are updated with the Office of Admissions before submitting an appeal.

Appeals must be submitted by the student—not by a parent, guardian, or advisor.

All decisions are based solely on the documentation submitted at the time of the appeal. Additional materials will not be accepted after submission.

Missing a scholarship or appeal deadline is not considered an extenuating circumstance. If both deadlines are missed, the student will not be eligible for consideration.

Please note: Appeals are not accepted for the Luckyday Citizenship Foundation Scholarship or the Honors College Achievement Scholarships. Recipients for these programs are selected through competitive review by external departments, and those decisions are final.

Current students must be enrolled in the amount of hours outlined by their scholarship stipulation agreement before an appeal will be reviewed.

The student seeking the appeal must be the individual submitting the appeal. Parents and/or advisors should not complete the appeal form on behalf of their student.

Decisions will be made based on documentation submitted at the time of an appeal.

Academic performance of students receiving undergraduate scholarships is monitored each fall and spring semester. Recipients must comply with various stipulations in order to continue receiving these funds. Stipulations include, but are not limited to:

• Enrollment in required credit hours
• USM Grade Point Average
• Number of semesters enrolled at USM
• Other stipulations outlined during the initial awarding process

• This appeal process applies only to undergraduate, admission-based scholarships. Graduate students are not eligible.
• New awards or upgrades are not available for currently enrolled students. These scholarships are awarded at the time of admission only
• Students cannot appeal a probation status. They must submit a grade replace request. 
• Scholarship funds are only available for fall and spring semesters. Appeals for summer funding will not be approved.
• Scholarships are financial awards subject to audit and reporting. If you’ve already received your full funding, extensions will not be granted.