Financial Aid Policies

Student Rights

A student has the right to:

• know what financial aid is available, including aid from federal, state and institutional programs. In addition, a student has the right to know the deadlines, selection criteria, terms, policies, procedures and regulations that apply to each of the programs;
• know how their financial need was determined and how much of it, as determined by the university, was met. This process includes how costs for tuition and fees, room and board, transportation, books and supplies, and miscellaneous personal expenses are included in their student budget;
• know, if they have a student loan, the terms of the loan, such as interest rate, the total amount that must be repaid, the length of time allowed for repayment, when repayment must start, cancellation provisions, deferment and forbearance possibilities and any special consolidation or refinancing options;
• appeal their financial aid offer if they feel there are special circumstances that were not originally taken into consideration;
• know how the university determines whether they are making satisfactory academic progress and what happens if they are not;
• know how and when their financial aid will be disbursed;
• know the university’s refund policies; the portion, if any, of tuition and fees that is refunded to the student if they withdraw before the end of the term; and the portion, if any, of the financial aid they received that must be paid back immediately if they withdraw before the end of the term;
• expect that all information reported by the student and/or their family will remain confidential and will not be released without the students written consent according to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA);
• examine (in the presence of a financial aid counselor) the students financial aid records which are maintained in the Financial Aid and Educational Funding Office;
• expect equitable treatment under the university’s policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran’s status.

Student Responsibilities

A student is responsible for:

• reading, retaining and understanding all information supplied to them from the Financial Aid and Educational Funding Office. Students are welcome to contact the Financial Aid and Educational Funding Office with any questions or concerns;
• promptly responding to inquiries or requests for information from the Financial Aid and Educational Funding Office;
• obtaining all forms required to apply (or re-apply) for the type of assistance they wish to receive;
• supplying accurate and thorough information on all forms submitted to the Financial Aid and Educational Funding Office. Funds obtained on the basis of false information will have to be repaid and might subject the student to penalties under the United States criminal code;
• informing the Financial Aid and Educational Funding Office if they receive any type of financial aid assistance from an outside agency. By law, when determining a student’s financial aid eligibility, the Financial Aid and Educational Funding Office is required to consider all sources of funding;
• using financial aid funds only for educational expenses (tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, and other living costs);
• understanding and complying with the terms and conditions of the aid they receive. This includes deadlines, continued eligibility, application procedures, etc;
• notifying the Financial Aid and Educational Funding Office if their enrollment or residency status changes. This will ensure that the student’s financial aid is based upon the correct enrollment and residency status;
• reporting a change of address or name to the Financial Aid and Educational Funding Office. This will ensure the Financial Aid and Educational Funding Office has the most recent and accurate information.
  Note: A name change requires supporting documentation;
• maintaining good academic standing consistent with the college’s Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and the Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy;
• completing master promissory note, entrance and exit counseling, if they have taken out an educational loan;
• repaying all educational loans. Failure to meet this obligation will adversely affect the student’s credit rating and make them ineligible for future educational loans or grants;
• notifying their loan servicer and the United States Department of Education of any changes in name or address while and after attending school.