Professional Judgment Review (Financial Aid Eligibility)
Pacific Northwest University (PNWU) Financial Aid Office can conduct reviews of graduate student federal aid eligibility in a process called professional judgment to determine if they qualify for an increase in their Cost of Attendance and additional aid due to certain circumstances. Students must first complete a FAFSA, receive a financial aid offer, and review this professional judgment information before submitting a “Budget Revision Form” associated with your particular program of study.
What Is Professional Judgment?
Professional judgment refers to the discretion that federal regulations give to financial aid administrators to adjust, on a case-by-case basis, the cost of attendance (COA) budget, while following federal guidelines. Adjustments submitted for consideration must be documented and reasonable as they pertain to the cost of attendance. All requests are reviewed by a committee.
Guidelines for Professional Judgment Review
PNWU, in accordance with federal regulations, establishes a standard student budget for all aid recipients based on expected tuition and other campus fees, average housing costs, average book and supply expenses, and average transportation costs for commuting to campus and for rotations. For COM 3rd– and 4th-year students, a special budget is set for the Alaska rotation site upon the student’s request to finaid@pnwu.edu.
Adjustments may be made for the following documented circumstances:
- Childcare for dependent children
- Costs that may be considered include childcare or daycare expenses for children younger than school-aged or requiring special needs as documented by a medical provider.
- Increases are not permitted for the costs of food and shelter for dependents since PNWU has already added $7688 to budgets of students with dependent children.
- Required information and documentation to be submitted with the “Budget Revision Form”:
- Name and age of each dependent child receiving care.
- Provide a signed statement from the childcare provider, including the name, phone number, and address of the provider, as well the days/times of the care.
- An invoice, receipt, or other documentation of the monthly expense is required.
- Travel expenses
- Travel expenses may be considered as they relate to academic studies.
- Automobile tires/repairs not classified as routine maintenance*.
- *Routine maintenance is expenditures made for the regular upkeep of a vehicle, such as refill liquids most frequently used (wiper fluid, power steering fluid or transmission flush, radiator coolant, motor oil, and brake fluid, etc.); regular oil changes; swap out parts that are worn, such as brake pads, drive belts, timing belts, spark plugs, and air and fluid filters; tire rotation; check car’s belts and hoses for damage; check power brakes, power steering, and radiator hoses when vehicle is close to 10,000 miles.
- For required rotations, increases may be made based on documented expenses and/or mileage based on the Washington state rate per mile. Expenses may include air fare, lodging, and other transportation (upon arrival to destination). A budget increase can only be made for expenses exceeding the PNWU estimated amount for travel for clinical rotations:
- OMS3 rotation amount included in budget = $2,272
- OMS4 rotation amount included in budget = $4,380
- Budget revision requests for RESIDENCY INTERVIEWS will not be considered.
- Only the individual student’s travel expenses may be considered. Travel adjustments will not be considered for student’s family or dependents.
- Required information and documentation to be submitted with the “Budget Revision Form”:
- If related to rotation expenses, please submit the budget revision form associated with rotations along with the standard budget revision form.
- Documentation showing travel expenses (e.g., flight and lodging information). Documentation must clearly identify the student and dates. Phone screenshots are not acceptable.
- Documented expenses as a result of a disability that may be considered include special services, personal assistance, transportation, assistive technology, and supplies that are reasonably incurred and not provided by other agencies.
- Required information and documentation to be submitted with the “Budget Revision Form”:
- Proof of a disability from agency or provider, and documentation of expenses, such as receipts or statement of services. Documentation must clearly identify the student, provider’s information, and dates.
- If you are a person with a disability and do not wish to reveal personal information to the Financial Aid Office, please contact Ashley Bray, Director of Student Success and Disability Services (abray@pnwu.edu, 509-249-7912) to request a letter confirming that your documentation is on file with her office and what your associated costs are.
- Required information and documentation to be submitted with the “Budget Revision Form”:
- Computer purchase/Repair
- The maximum allowance for purchase of a new computer is $1,000.
- Purchase of software, printer supplies, online server fees, etc. will be assumed to be covered in the existing COA allowance for books and supplies.
- Required information and documentation to be submitted with the “Budget Revision Form”:
- An estimate for the computer/laptop is allowed, but a receipt is required after the purchase.
- If expense is to replace or repair a computer:
- Signed statement from the PNWU IT Department that the computer is not repairable or that it does require repair.
- If you are not in Yakima, a written statement from a computer-repair company is acceptable (i.e., Geek Squad).
- An estimate is allowed, but a receipt is required after payment.
- Medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance
- Documentation of out-of-pocket medical or dental expenses not covered by insurance during the current academic year and paid by the student may be submitted for consideration.
- Required information and documentation to be submitted with the “Budget Revision Form”:
- Short description of each medical expense, the amount requested, name and relation of the person receiving the care, and whether insurance has been filed.
- Letter from health-care provider that documents the procedure/treatment
- Documentation that the treatment is medically necessary
- Date of the procedure/treatment
- Original estimate with the patient’s name, date of service, and the medical/dental provider contact information
- Amount paid by insurance and any other amount to be subtracted from the balance due
- Estimated or actual cost to the student (the amount not covered by insurance). The documentation must clearly delineate the payments (amount and date) made by the student from payments made by insurance.
- Estimate from provider for services to be performed within the academic year (e.g., planned medical procedures)
- Short description of each medical expense, the amount requested, name and relation of the person receiving the care, and whether insurance has been filed.
- Special circumstances
- Our office may also consider other special circumstances that are not addressed in the other sections above
- Required information and documentation to be submitted with the “Budget Revision Form”.
- A summary of the circumstance(s)
- Documentation that pertains to the request
- Required information and documentation to be submitted with the “Budget Revision Form”.
- Our office may also consider other special circumstances that are not addressed in the other sections above
Conditions that do NOT merit COA adjustments include (but are not limited to):
- Consumer indebtedness (including, but not limited to, auto loans, credit card payments, in-store financing for purchases such as furniture, etc.).
- Financial support of a spouse or dependents.
- Dependents: private lessons (gymnastics, etc.), summer camp, and other optional expenses.
Important Notes
- Other institutional or external support must be reported to the Financial Aid Office in order to determine federal aid eligibility.
- Upon submission of the budget revision request and all documentation, students will receive an email from the PNWU Financial Aid Office no more than 10 days later, with our office’s decision on the professional judgment request.
- All requests for the 2024-25 financial aid year must be received by the PNWU Financial Aid Office by May 1, 2025, with the exception of the MSOT program; MSOT students may submit a request until the last day of summer 2025 term.
Submitting Your Request:
Once you have reviewed the above guidelines and collected the required documentation, complete the appropriate program’s “Budget Revision Form” and email the form with all supporting documents to finaid@pnwu.edu.