Extenuating Circumstance Appeals (ECA)

An Extenuating Circumstances Appeal (ECA) allows students to request a review when serious, unexpected, and unavoidable circumstances have significantly affected their ability to meet academic responsibilities during a semester.

What you need to know before you apply 

You may be eligible to submit an Extenuating Circumstance Appeal if all of the following are true: 

You qualify to appeal if an extenuating circumstance either : 

  • Scenario 1: Before the deadline: The student experienced an extenuating circumstance that prevented them from withdrawing by the deadline. 
  • Scenario 2: After the deadline: The circumstance happened after the withdrawal deadline had passed, and it prevented the student from finishing the course successfully.

You must also not have had an ECA approved previously; students are limited to one approval during their time at the Community College of Denver. 

You have official documentation explaining your extenuating circumstance, for example, a doctor's note, military orders, or a death certificate. Documents from a medical facility or provider must be on official letterhead. 

An ECA can assist with two separate types of requests. You may request one or both, depending on your situation. 

1. Administrative Withdrawal Grade- If an extenuating circumstance prevented you from withdrawing by the college deadline, or from successfully completing the course after that deadline, you may request a WX grade. A WX grade can only be approved for course(s) in which you received an ‘F ’grade. 

2. Forgiveness of a Past-Due Balance- If an extenuating circumstance affected your ability to pay your contracted student  payment agreement through the Cashier’s Office, you may request forgiveness of a past-due balance. Important limits on this: 

  • Reviewed on a case-by-case basis 
  • Assists with tuition costs only 
  • Does not cover collections or collection fees 
Reasons to Submit an Appeal Reason to NOT Submit an Appeal
Hospitalized or emergency medical treatment You’ve already had an ECA approved in the past 
Serious illness or injury, including accidents Work schedule changes or employment conflicts 
Death of a family member or dependent Financial hardship alone, including forseen expenses like tuition 
Serious illness of a dependent requiring care Not being aware of deadlines, policies, or procedures 
Motor vehicle accident or major injury Poor planning of coursework, attendance or deadlines 

Submission Deadline: Extenuating circumstances must have occurred during the semester being appealed. Appeals must be submitted no later than the end of the following semester after the impacted term.  

Apply Here

For general questions regarding the ECA process, contact: 
Extenuating Circumstance Appeal Committee, extenuating.circumstance@ccd.edu 

For questions regarding your Past Due Bill, contact: 
Cashier’s Office at 303-556-2075, BusinessOffice@ccd.edu 

For any questions regarding Financial Aid, contact: Financial Aid Office 303-556-5503,  FinancialAid@ccd.edu 

Submit an Appeal