Petition to Xavier University of Louisiana Regarding Financial Aid Delays

To the Administration of Xavier University of Louisiana,

I'm creating this petition because this has become an issue that affects hundreds of students every single semester, and something needs to change.

A large number of Xavier students rely on financial aid to attend school. Whether it's Pell Grants, federal loans, scholarships, or academic/scholarship appeals, many of us simply cannot afford to pay tuition out of pocket. Financial aid isn't just helpful; it's what allows us to stay enrolled.

For the Fall 2026 semester, students were told that academic and scholarship appeals would begin being reviewed on June 1, 2026, and that decisions would be made within 15 business days. Many of us submitted our appeals expecting that timeline to be followed so we could receive a decision before the fiscal clearance deadline. Instead, it's now the end of June, and students are being told that appeals won't even begin to be reviewed until possibly after the Summer III session ends. The problem is that the fiscal clearance deadline is July 17. How are students supposed to become fiscally cleared if the decisions they need won't even be made until after the deadline?

This puts students in an impossible situation. We did everything we were supposed to do. We submitted our appeals on time. We followed the process. Now we're at risk of losing our classes, delaying graduation, or not being able to attend the fall semester, not because we missed a deadline, but because the review process has been delayed. We understand that the Financial Aid Office has a lot to handle, and we appreciate the work they do. This petition isn't about blaming individual staff members. It's about asking the University to recognize that students should not be penalized for delays that are completely out of our control.

We are asking Xavier University to:

*Extend the July 17 fiscal clearance deadline for students with pending academic or scholarship appeals.
*Review pending appeals before the fiscal clearance deadline whenever possible.
*Communicate realistic timelines so students know what to expect.
*Allow students with pending appeals to remain enrolled while waiting for a decision.

At the end of the day, we're just asking for fairness. Students shouldn't have to choose between dropping out for a semester or somehow finding thousands of dollars because the appeal process wasn't completed in time. If you've been affected by delayed financial aid, scholarship appeals, or fiscal clearance issues at Xavier University, please sign this petition and share it with other students. Together, we can encourage the University to make changes that better support the students it serves.