In accordance with NCAA requirements, a student athlete who is receiving athletic aid based in any degree on athletic ability has the right to request an appeal hearing when the athletic aid is reduced, revoked, or not renewed and the student has remaining athletic eligibility. The following process governs the student athlete's appeal of the athletic department's decision to reduce, revoke, or not renew athletic aid.

(1) The athletic department makes the initial decision to reduce, revoke, or not renew the student's athletic aid. Before making such decision, the athletic department should provide the student athlete with notice that such a decision may be made and give the student an opportunity to respond. If the decision is made to reduce, revoke, or not renew the aid, the athletic department should convey such information to the financial aid and scholarship office with a brief statement of the reason for the decision.

(2) EWU's financial aid and scholarship office will then formally notify the student athlete of the athletic department's decision to reduce, revoke, or not renew the student's athletic aid. This notification will be sent via email to the student's official university email account and will include information about how to appeal the decision.

(3) The student will have twenty-one calendar days from the date the email is sent to request an appeal. Any request for appeal must be directed to the director of financial aid and sent via email to finaid@ewu.edu. Requests for appeal must be received within twenty-one days or they will be dismissed as untimely.

(4) Upon timely receipt of an appeal, the director of financial aid will convene the athletic aid appeals committee. The committee shall consist of four people who represent various areas of the university. The director serves as the presiding officer and a voting member of the committee. The director will schedule a hearing with the student, head coach or other athletics department representative, and the committee.

(5) Prior to the hearing, the student and head coach, or designee, should provide the committee with a written statement outlining the reasons they agree or disagree with the decision to reduce, revoke, or not renew athletic aid, along with any supporting documentation. The documentation may include statements from witnesses. These statements and documentation are reviewed by the committee in advance of the hearing.

(6) At the hearing, the director will ask the head coach or other athletics representative to explain the basis for their decision regarding athletic aid. The committee and athlete may ask questions of this head coach/athletics representative. The athlete will then have the opportunity to explain why they disagree with the decision. The committee and head coach may ask questions of the athlete. The head coach/athletics representative will then have the opportunity to provide a rebuttal statement.

(7) Either party in the hearing may be represented by an advisor as set forth in WAC 172-108-035. The hearing will be recorded and retained in accordance with EWU's records retention schedule.

(8) The student has the burden of proving by a preponderance of the evidence that the athletic department's decision to reduce, revoke, or not renew athletic aid was not supported by substantial evidence or is arbitrary or capricious. The committee may affirm, reverse, or modify the athletic department's decision regarding athletic aid eligibility. The committee's decision must be supported by a majority of committee members.

(9) Within twenty days of the hearing, the presiding officer will issue a written order containing a brief statement of the reasons for the committee's decision. The decision should be communicated in writing to both parties and should indicate that it is the final decision of the university and judicial review may be available under chapter 34.05 RCW.