MIAT may use “professional judgment” to exercise discretion to accommodate special circumstances with respect to some aspects of eligibility for federal financial aid program funds. The use of professional judgment allows MIAT to treat a student individually when the student has special circumstances not sufficiently addressed by standard procedures. MIAT uses professional judgment strictly on a case-by-case basis and requires stringent documentation to support decisions made.
Special circumstances include conditions that differentiate an individual student from a whole class of students. MIAT will not accept professional judgments made for a student by another school, but will review the circumstances and, if appropriate, document the professional judgment decision. The decision made by MIAT regarding professional judgment is final and cannot be appealed to the U.S. Department of Education.
Where applicants have also been selected for verification, MIAT will complete verification before exercising professional judgment.