Tuition Appeal

A tuition appeal may be initiated through the Office of Records and Registration. Standard refunds for tuition and fees are processed by the Business Office, according to the College Refund Policy.

Please submit your Tuition Appeal online through the Registration Menu in MyMV or turn in a Tuition Appeal Form to the Office of Records and Registration.

Students who drop or withdraw from classes are charged tuition and fees in accordance the Academic Calendar.

MVCC recognizes that, in rare cases, significant and documented extenuating circumstances may prevent a student from completing a course, completing an official withdrawal, or meeting published deadlines.

The Tuition Appeals process allows students to request an exception to the standard refund schedule in narrowly defined situations.

Submission Requirements

To be eligible for review, students must meet all requirements below:

  • Deadline: Appeals must be submitted no later than the last day of the semester in which the course was offered (date that grades are due from faculty).
  • Format: Appeals must be submitted in writing, using the MVCC Tuition Appeal Form.
  • Documentation: Supporting documentation must accompany the appeal. Appeals submitted without documentation will not be reviewed.
  • Student submission: Appeals must be submitted by the student, unless the student is incapacitated.
  • Processing timeframe: Students will receive a written decision within 30 business days, sent to the email address provided on the appeal form. Students are advised to check this email in the event that there are questions or addition information needed.
  • Separate processes: Tuition appeals are separate from Residence Life Housing or Meal Plan appeals, which follow their own procedures.

Appeals cannot be submitted by phone.

Eligibility for Review

An appeal may be considered only when the student’s circumstances are beyond their control, documented, and significantly impact their ability to complete coursework or complete an official withdrawal.

Eligible Circumstances

  • Documented medical emergency of the student
  • Documented medical emergency of an immediate family member requiring the student’s care
  • Death of an immediate family member
  • Military deployment or reassignment (orders required)
  • Significant College error or mis-advisement
  • Serious and unanticipated personal, family, or financial crisis
    (e.g., job loss, eviction, domestic violence, separation/divorce, major mental health crisis)
  • Other extraordinary circumstances supported by compelling documentation

Immediate family includes spouse, domestic partner, child, sibling, parent, or other of whom you are the legal dependent or legal guardian. Documentation of legal dependent or guardian status is required

Circumstances Not Eligible for Appeals

Tuition appeals will not be approved for reasons including, but not limited to:

  • Dissatisfaction with course, instructor, teaching method, or modality
  • Change of major
  • Desire to avoid a poor grade
  • Failure to understand or follow published deadlines
  • Technology issues
  • Transportation challenges
  • Job conflicts, schedule changes, or new employment
  • Routine financial difficulties
  • Dismissal for academic or disciplinary reasons

These reasons are not considered extenuating circumstances.

Students are encouraged to speak with:

  • Student Support Advisors (before withdrawing or to initiate the withdraw process)
  • Financial Aid (to understand financial impacts of withdrawing)

Documentation Requirements

All appeals must include documentation that verifies the student’s circumstance and the timeline.

Required Documentation Examples

  • Medical provider letter on official letterhead, including diagnosis and dates of impact
  • Hospital discharge papers
  • Obituary or death certificate naming the student’s relationship
  • Military orders
  • Court, legal, or government records
  • Eviction notice or official documentation of major financial hardship
  • Documentation of College error (registration forms, emails, advising notes, etc.)

Prescription pad notes, screenshots of appointment times, unsigned letters, or unverifiable documents are not accepted.

Unofficial Withdrawals

Students who stopped attending without completing the official withdrawal process must provide documentation explaining why the official process was not completed.

Examples:

  • Emergency hospitalization
  • Family crisis requiring immediate absence
  • Mental health emergency
  • Documented advising or administrative errors

Unofficial withdrawal appeals submitted without documentation will be denied.

Academic Calendar as the Baseline

Refunds are capped at the percentage allowed by the Academic Calendar based on the student’s documented Last Date of Attendance (LDA).

  • If the LDA falls in the 75% refund period, the maximum refund allowed is 75%.
  • If it falls outside refund windows, the student may receive no refund unless extraordinary circumstances apply.

Extraordinary Circumstances

Refunds greater than the Academic Calendar percentage may be considered only when:

  • Circumstances meet the extraordinary category, and
  • Documentation is compelling and clearly supports the timeline

These cases undergo heightened review and must be justified in the decision record.

Review Process

  1. Appeal and documentation received
  2. Committee evaluates request
  3. Committee may request additional information
  4. Decision documented and emailed to the student
  5. All decisions are final