Appeals Process
Buchanan Promise Appeal Process
The appeals process is designed to allow students to request funds for a non-accredited/non-traditional school or program or to present additional information or circumstances not initially considered in their initial application for eligibility and more.
To complete an appeal, a student must complete the form below after reviewing the following instructions on submitting an appeal. The appeals committee carefully reviews each appeal on a case-by-case basis, with a responsibility to adhere to the requirements outlined in the Buchanan Promise Fund Agreement. The committee aims to make fair and informed decisions that align with the scholarship's criteria and the applicant's unique circumstances. Successful appeals result in a reconsideration of the scholarship decision, granting students a chance to receive the financial support they need to pursue their educational goals.
How do I begin the Buchanan Promise Appeal process?
The Buchanan Promise Appeals Committee must receive a complete appeal form from the student. An incomplete appeal application may require resubmission of the appeal form and/or cause a delay in the review process.
The process from the date of successful submission will take approximately 30 days. After the Buchanan Promise Appeals Committee has met to review your appeal, the Program Officer will communicate the result to you.
All steps below must be completed by the student. Student must:
1 - Complete the Buchanan Promise Appeal Form
2 - Sign and submit the appeal form AND the following applicable documents to info@buchananpromise.com
An appeal letter from the student describing the reason(s) for requesting an appeal. Include as much detail as possible regarding the non-traditional program or certification you wish to attend OR the extenuating circumstances for not meeting the eligibility criteria.
Send scanned documents of support for the reason(s) described in the appeal request to the email link above. Photos of documents are not accepted. Please review the Appeal Form for examples of valid documentation. Also, documents submitted for review must cover the timeframe in which the student is seeking an appeal request.
Non-traditional program or certification documentation should include details of the program/certification and institution/organization, cost, and program duration.
Students must scan all documents, save them in PDF format, and email them as an attachment to info@buchananpromise.com or place all documents in an envelope and drop them off at Michigan Gateway Community Foundation; 111 Days Avenue, Buchanan, MI
Reasons for an Appeal
A Buchanan Promise student may appeal for the following reasons:
1 - To attend a non-accredited or non-traditional educational institution.
Examples may include licenses/certifications including but not limited to beauty school, real estate license, CDL certification, EMT/Firefighter programs, Dentistry programs, etc.
2 - To appeal for eligibility due to a separation of residency, etc., due to divorce or other family circumstances. Please note that attending and having lived within Buchanan Community School District continuously since 9th grade is a requirement.
Examples for this appeal may include: address through school listed as out of district yet living part-time with one parent/guardian within the district due to divorce, a loss of a parent/guardian living within the district during their high school career, etc.
3 - To request to use additional funds on top of what a student has been allocated during a year. It is important to note that a student will not be granted the entirety of their Promise funds to use during either their first or last year of their Promise.
Examples may include enrolling in a two-year program that requires additional funds, not using Promise funds for a year, and requesting to use those additional funds during another year.