Refunds of Charges

Tuition and Academic Fees

An undergraduate student in good standing who formally withdraws or reduces his or her course enrollment below twelve credit hours before 60% of the semester has been completed during the fall and spring semesters will be eligible for a tuition refund. An undergraduate student in good standing who formally withdraws or reduces his or her course enrollment before 60% of a session has been completed during the summer sessions will be eligible for a tuition refund.

A graduate student in good standing who formally withdraws or reduces his or her course enrollment before 60% of the semester has been completed during any semester will be eligible for a tuition refund.

The tuition refund for a student who withdraws or drops a course(s) is calculated on a daily basis. No refunds for tuition can be made for courses or workshops with five class sessions or less after the first day of class. Additional penalties may apply to withdraw from special programs or courses held at off-campus locations, such as Study Abroad or Geology Field Camp.

The date used to calculate refunds is based on when a properly authorized withdrawal or drop/add is received by the Office of the Registrar.

Academic fees (such as Technology Fee, Engineering and Science Fee, course associated fees, etc.) are non-refundable after the first day of classes.

In the event of a medical withdrawal or death of a student, certified by the Dean of Students, tuition will be refunded in proportion to the semester remaining.

Tuition Credit/Refund for a Disciplinary Suspension or Expulsion

I. Suspension During the Semester in Which the Conduct Violation Occurred

A student who is suspended from the university during the same semester in which the conduct violation occurred may be eligible for a tuition credit, subject to the conditions outlined below. No cash refund will be issued.

Calculation of Tuition Credit
- The amount of the tuition credit will be determined based upon the University’s tuition refund schedule equivalent to a voluntary withdrawal.
- The tuition rate used for the calculation will be the rate in effect during the semester in which the conduct violation occurred.
- The effective date used to determine the applicable refund percentage will be:
  - The date on which the disciplinary decision, including any appeal, is finalized and communicated in writing to the student; or
  - In cases involving an interim suspension that prohibits the student from attending classes or being present on campus, the interim suspension date.
Adjustments and Deductions
- The tuition credit will be reduced by any required federal, state, or institutional financial aid adjustments.
- Any outstanding balance on the student’s account will be deducted prior to the application of the tuition credit.
Application of Credit
- The tuition credit will be applied to the regular (fall/spring) semester immediately following the period of suspension.
- Tuition credit not utilized in the semester immediately following the period of suspension is forfeited.
- Tuition credit has no cash value and will not be refunded.

II. Expulsion During the Semester in Which the Conduct Violation Occurred

A student who is expelled from the University forfeits all payments for tuition and fees.

No tuition credit or refund will be issued for that semester.

III. Disciplinary Decision Issued in a Subsequent Semester

If the final decision to suspend or expel a student is rendered in a semester subsequent to the semester in which the conduct violation occurred, the student will be eligible to receive a 100% refund of tuition assessed for the most current semester of enrollment, subject to the following conditions:

Any required federal, state, or institutional financial aid adjustments will be applied in accordance with applicable law and regulation.
Any outstanding balance on the student’s account from prior semesters will be deducted before any refund is issued.
Refunds will not be processed or released until all disciplinary proceedings, including any applicable appeals process, have been fully concluded and the decision is final.

IV. Administrative Hold on Academic Records

The University reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to place an administrative hold on a student’s academic record at any time following the initiation of a disciplinary matter.

Scope of Hold
An administrative hold may restrict the student’s access to transcripts, diplomas, enrollment verifications, and other educational records maintained by the University
Duration of Hold
Such hold may remain in effect until the disciplinary process, including any applicable appeal, has been fully resolved and the decision has been finalized.
Institutional Authority
The placement, continuation, or removal of an administrative hold is within the sole discretion of the University and is not contingent upon the student’s continued enrollment status.

V. Financial Aid Eligibility Following Disciplinary Suspension

Students who incur a disciplinary suspension that results in extended enrollment beyond eight (8) semesters should be advised that institutional, federal, and state financial aid eligibility is not guaranteed beyond the standard maximum timeframe for degree completion.

Refund Specifics

Credit balances resulting from an overpayment with a bank card are eligible to be refunded as a credit transaction to the bank card by contacting the Bursar’s Office.

Credit balances resulting from an overpayment with a wire transfer, the refund will be processed back to the original bank account of the wire.

Credit balances resulting from an overpayment with a check drawn on a domestic bank require a minimum two week waiting period before a refund will be issued.

Credit balances resulting from loans, grants, scholarships, and other forms of financial aid are eligible for refund after the 10^th day of class.

All refunds will be payable to the student unless

the student has authorized in writing a parent or guardian listed in the Banner Student System to receive the refund.
the payment on the account was clearly from an unrelated organization or institution, such as a sponsoring corporation.
the student has a parent plus loan and the funds are due back to the parent.

Refunds will be processed as an ACH deposit to the bank account designated by the student. In order to process these via ACH, students will need to create a Refund Profile in the eBill Suite. In the unique circumstance that the student is unable to have a Refund Profile set up will receive a check mailed to the student’s university post office address or, if none, to the student’s “home address” listed in the Banner Student System. Any exception to this policy must be authorized in writing by the student.

Students receiving financial aid that drop below full time status must have their financial aid package re-evaluated by the Office of Financial Aid prior to the issuance of any refund.

Residence Hall/Housing Refunds

Residence hall rooms are rented on an annual basis only. A student who signs a housing contract is expected to reside in and be financially responsible for residence hall housing for both the fall and spring semesters of the specific academic year for which the contract was signed. A student who forfeits a housing reservation and who returns to the university at any time during the contracted academic year is still obligated for housing charges if vacancy in the residence hall facilities exists and without regard to location.

Prior to registration, housing rental refunds are made in full in the event a student does not register because of illness or injury; is dropped from the university due to academic reasons; attends a university-approved study abroad or co-op program; graduates; or voluntarily withdraws from the university. After registration, prorated housing rental refunds are granted for the same reasons. Prorated refunds are based upon the date the room has been vacated, belongings are removed, and the room key is returned to the Office of Housing Services. Any student suspended or expelled from housing or the university will not be granted any housing rental refund.

University Meal Plan Refunds

Meal plan refunds are made in full in the event a student does not register and has not purchased any meals from the plan.

After registration, a student who purchases meals on the plan but withdraws from the university will receive a pro-rata meal plan refund based on the date of the last use or number of meals remaining depending on the meal plan chosen. The Dining Dollar portion is non-refundable.

Any student suspended or expelled from housing or the university will not be granted a meal plan refund.

Meal plans may be changed within the requirements of the living area up to the tenth day of class each semester on line with charges assessed per an established proration schedule.

After the tenth day of class, a student who wishes to change a meal plan must petition and receive approval from Auxiliary Services for Housing, Dining and Conference Services. If the change is approved, an adjustment will be processed on a pro-rata basis to the meal portion of the plan charge as of the week following the last meal purchased.

Adjustments to Financial Aid

The Office of Financial Aid is responsible for determining the appropriate redistribution of charges and refunds when students receive any financial assistance. These decisions are made on the basis of federal, state and institutional policies. Any refunds due to the Title IV programs will be refunded in the following order:

Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
Federal Direct Subsidized Stafford Loan
Direct PLUS Loan
Federal Pell Grant
Federal SEOG
Any other Title IV program