Your University Housing Contract is a legal contract. If you have submitted a University Housing Contract, you are obligated to the terms of the contract. If you believe you were assessed an inappropriate charge, you should immediately contact the University Housing Office to discuss the matter. If that discussion does not resolve your concerns, you may file an appeal with the Financial Appeal Committee using the form below.
The following appeal process is related to University Housing applied charges for financial or medical reasons. You have 120 days to file a Financial Appeal from the date the charge was posted to your UWM PAWS account or from the date of the University Housing invoice you are contesting.
Contract Cancellation Fees
If you are appealing contract cancellation penalty fees, a Contract Cancellation Request form must first be submitted through your Housing Portal and processed by University Housing before a financial appeal will be reviewed.
The Appeals Committee (consisting of a student, housing staff, a staff member from UWM’s Financial Aid Department, and a staff member from UWM’s Accessibility Resource Center) reviews appeals on a bi-weekly basis. Committee decision is emailed to the UWM email address listed on the appeal form if you are a current UWM student and is generally received within 2-3 weeks after submission. Please note that the Committee may not meet during the three weeks prior to the start of a semester nor at the end of a semester, causing a delay in a decision letter.
During the financial appeal process, you must pay any balance that is due on your PAWS account, even if it involves the charge being appealed. Until an appeal is granted, the charge in question is subject to all applicable late fees and registration holds. If you pay for charges that are later reversed and no other outstanding balance is due on your PAWS account, UWM’s Bursar’s office will issue a refund.
Housing financial appeals must be initiated by the contract holder. Family members or other involved parties are permitted to provide relevant supporting documentation, but they may not initiate the appeal. The contract holder must include a personal statement providing rationale supporting his/her appeal, as well as any supporting documentation.
Appeal for Financial Reasons
An appeal for financial reasons, including a claim that you are unable to meet room and board charges, must include documentation that your financial situation has changed significantly since the start date of your Housing Contract and is beyond your control. The Appeal Committee will review your personal statement, submitted documentation of a financial change, Financial Aid award and status in making a determination on an appeal for financial reasons. Declined aid and failure to investigate aid options will most likely result in a denied financial appeal. Appeals based on financial reasons that do not include supporting documentation may not be reviewed. Acceptable documentation may include but is not limited to: tax statements, notification of job loss, changes to FAFSA (professional judgment changes documented with the financial aid office), or unexpected medical bills.
If you are ONLY appealing dining plan charges for financial reasons and it is not related to a cancellation of contract, contact Dining and Retail Services instead of submitting the Housing Appeal form.
Behavior Appeal
As outlined in your Contract, cancellations for behavior are considered unapproved and are not eligible for appeal through this process but rather through the Behavior Process within 7 days of the behavioral decision letter.
Appeal for Medical Reasons
An appeal for medical reasons must relate to the contract holder’s personal health condition. Release from your University Housing Contract may be approved only if the medical condition you have had is an unforeseen or serious change in your health/medical condition since the start date of your Housing Contract. Appeals that do not include a completed Health Care Provider letter (on provider’s office letterhead), incorporating detailed responses to the questions listed below, may not be reviewed. If a vacancy exists in University Housing that adequately addresses your needs, a transfer will be arranged. Submitting a Health Care Provider letter does not mean your appeal will automatically be granted. This letter is one of the many items the Financial Appeal Committee will take into consideration when determining their decision to approve or deny your appeal.
The information your Health Care Provider submits will not become part of the student’s educational records and will be kept in the student’s confidential file in University Housing. The following questions should be addressed on the Health Care Provider’s office letterhead.
- What is the diagnosis/impairment?
- What is the date of the diagnosis/impairment?
- Has the condition become worse since the resident started the University Housing Contract? If so, how?
- What is the current treatment?
- Has the treatment or medication changed recently?
- In lieu of terminating the University Housing Contract, is there some other accommodation that UWM could provide to meet this resident’s needs? If so, please describe.
- Is it medically necessary for the student to reside outside of the University Residential setting?
- Please indicate how residing outside of University Housing will support the student in their treatment?
If you are appealing contract fees related to a medical condition, it is strongly encouraged that you complete an application for a housing and/or dining accommodation first. In many cases, University Housing and/or Dining Services may be able to accommodate your request. Housing’s accommodation begins with the Accessibility Resource Center where you are also able to apply for other accommodations relating to your medical condition(s).
Committee Meetings
Financial Appeals Committee meetings are at 9am on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month. You can be scheduled to attend the next available meeting when you submit your complete Financial/Medical Appeal Form. You will be provided 10 minutes to discuss the details of your appeal and then 5 minutes for the committee to ask any questions. If you choose not to be present, a decision will be made from the information you provide in your appeal.
Secondary Appeals
If the appeal is denied by the Financial Appeal Committee, the contract holder has the option of initiating a secondary appeal. Secondary appeals will be considered ONLY if there is additional documentation or information that has not been previously reviewed. The contract holder has 14 calendar days from the date of the Financial Appeal Committee’s decision letter to file a secondary appeal in writing with the Associate Director of Business Administration. More information regarding secondary appeals will be sent with appeal decision letters.