The Department of Education selects students who have received a Federal Pell Grant at multiple institutions during the past four academic years. OSFA is then required to review selected students’ academic history prior to determining their federal financial aid eligibility. The purpose of this review is for OSFA to determine whether the student has enrolled in multiple institutions solely to obtain a credit balance/refund payment.

Students with an Unusual Enrollment History will be notified by OSFA via their CatMail account and a corresponding To Do List item will be posted on the student’s UAccess Student Center. Oftentimes, students don't need to take any action and OSFA can resolve many of these reviews without the student having to do anything.

If a student is selected for an Unusual Enrollment History Review, OSFA will complete the initial review. Oftentimes within this initial review, OSFA can proceed without the need for student action. If student action is required, OSFA will send an email to the student's CatMail for further instructions on what needs to be completed. A To Do item will also be added to the student’s UAccess Student Center as a reminder to complete the required tasks. 

If OSFA has determined that additional action is needed on the student’s side, the student will be required to complete and submit supporting documentation, along with the Unusual Enrollment History Verification Form. 

If a student must submit the Unusual Enrollment History Verification Form, the form will be assigned to the student via their UAccess Student Center, and must be submitted through the student's account. In addition to the Unusual Enrollment History Verification Form, the student should provide:

1. Signed and dated personal statement addressing why no academic credit was earned at the institution the student attended during the specified academic years. This statement may include third-party supporting documentation such as medical bills/doctors’ reports, military assignment, or court documentation of legal events.
2. One of the following: official transcripts, unofficial transcripts, or grade reports for each institution attended during the specified academic years.*

*additional documentation may be requested

For students who have demonstrated that they earned academic credit at each of their previously-attended institutions during the four prior academic years, no further action is required and the student’s eligibility for federal student aid can be reinstated. 

Federal student aid eligibility will not be reinstated when the Unusual Enrollment History Review does not provide an explanation and supporting documentation showing that the student did not enroll in multiple programs at multiple institutions solely to obtain a credit balance/refund payment, in addition to the student not earning academic credit at one or more of the prior institutions. 

When federal student aid eligibility is not reinstated, the student may appeal the result by submitting an Unusual Enrollment History Appeal Form to OSFA. You can contact our office to request this form.

This policy is not applicable to scholarships or employee tuition benefits. Your Unusual Enrollment History Review does not determine your eligibility to register for classes.