OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL POLICIES FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS Effective for the school year

Transcription

1 OKLAHOMA CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY FINANCIAL POLICIES FOR GRADUATE STUDENTS Effective fr the schl year As is the case with mst private institutins, students pay fr nly part f the ttal cst f their educatin. Since Oklahma Christian University (OC) is a private university, receiving n state supprt, additinal funds are dnated by individuals and firms interested in the prgrams that the university ffers. I. Respnsible Party If a student is f legal age, he r she is deemed t be the primary party liable fr his r her financial bligatin. It is the student s respnsibility t be familiar with the university s financial plicies. It is the student s respnsibility t check their campus and student bx during the schl year. It is the student s respnsibility t ntify Oklahma Christian if there is a change in the student s ff-campus mailing address. II. Payment n Accunt Payment in full is due n the first day f classes. Charges may incur thrughut the semester. Payment fr these charges is due n the last day f the mnth fr which the charge(s) was psted. Students may be drpped frm classes fr nn-payment. Students will nt receive credit fr final examinatins r graduate until they make satisfactry settlement f their accunt. Transcripts will nt be released unless the student s accunt is paid in full and all institutinal lans are current. a. Hwever, while a semester is in prgress, students with an utstanding balance may receive an fficial transcript if their student accunt balance was paid in full prir t the beginning f the current semester. Students will nt be allwed t prgress t the next semester until the previus semester s charges are paid in full. Exceptins must have written apprval in advance frm the Student Financial Services Office. III. Service Charges There is a mnthly service charge f 1.75% f the unpaid balance n all accunts. The grace perid fr all charges is 30 days. IV. Payment Plans All students are required t cmplete a payment plan agreement frm befre classes begin. Payment f expenses may be arranged under ne (r a cmbinatin) f fur payment plans: Plan 1 Cash Oklahma Christian accepts cash, check r mney rder, electrnic checks (als knwn as ACH transfers), American Express, Discver Card, Visa, and MasterCard.. Plan 2 Installment Payment Plan (IPP) An interest-free mnthly payment plan available thrugh the Student Accunt Online. The enrllment fee is $50 per semester. Plan 3 Alternative Student Lans There are a variety f student lans available t students thrugh private lenders. Infrmatin can be btained in the student financial services ffice r at Exceptins must have written apprval in advance frm the student financial services ffice. V. Statements Mnthly e- statement ntificatins will be sent by n r arund the 20 th day f each mnth. It is the student s respnsibility t create a Parent PIN s that a parent r sme ther 3 rd party may have access t a student s nline billing statement. VI. VII. Meal Plans Students may change their meal plan during the first three weeks f the semester. After the 3 rd week has cncluded, students may n lnger change their meal plan. Students electing t change their meal plan during the first three weeks f the semester will have the number f Eagle Bucks used transferred and subtracted ff their new Eagle Bucks ttal. (Example: a student changing frm 75 meals/week with 200 Eagle Bucks t 14 meals/week with 100 Eagle Bucks wh had used $30 wrth f Eagle bucks wuld have $70 wrth f Eagle Bucks under the new plan.) Withdraw/Drp Refund Plicy Tuitin refunds are made t students wh fficially withdraw frm a regular 15-week curse r frm the University befre the furth week f a semester. If the withdrawal date is in the first week, a 100% refund will be made. If the withdrawal date is in the secnd week, a 75% refund will be made. If the withdrawal date is in the third week, a 50% refund will be made. After the third week, n refunds will be made. Tuitin refunds are made t students wh fficially withdraw frm a ne-week curse by the secnd day f class. If the withdrawal date is n the first day, a 100% refund will be made.

2 If the withdrawal date is n the secnd day, a 50% refund will be made. After the secnd day, n refunds will be made. Tuitin refunds are made t students wh fficially withdraw frm a tw-week curse by the secnd day f class. If the withdrawal date is n the first day, a 100% refund will be made. If the withdrawal date is n the secnd day, a 50% refund will be made. After the secnd day, n refunds will be made. Tuitin refunds are made t students wh fficially withdraw frm a three-week curse by the secnd day f class. If the withdrawal date is n the first day, a 100% refund will be made. If the withdrawal date is n the secnd day, a 50% refund will be made. After the secnd day, n refunds will be made. Tuitin refunds are made t students wh fficially withdraw frm a fur-week curse by the secnd day f class. If the withdrawal date is n the first day, a 100% refund will be made. If the withdrawal date is n the secnd day, a 50% refund will be made. After the secnd day, n refunds will be made. Tuitin refunds are made t students wh fficially withdraw frm a six-week curse by the secnd day f class. If the withdrawal date is n the first day, a 100% refund will be made. If the withdrawal date is n the secnd day, a 50% refund will be made. After the secnd day, n refunds will be made. Tuitin refunds are made t students wh fficially withdraw frm a seven-week curse by the secnd week f class. If the withdrawal date is within the first week, a 100% refund will be made. If the withdrawal date is within the secnd week, a 50% refund will be made. After the secnd week, n refunds will be made. Tuitin refunds are made t students wh fficially withdraw frm a eight-week curse by the secnd week f class. If the withdrawal date is within the first week, a 100% refund will be made. If the withdrawal date is within the secnd week, a 50% refund will be made. After the secnd week, n refunds will be made. If the student drps a curse and adds anther curse at a later time during the 100% refund perid, it may result in additinal charges. Students shuld always add and drp a curse during the same sessin t avid these charges. Students must btain a Withdrawal Frm frm the Office f the Registrar t fficially withdraw frm the University. The signed and cmpleted frm will indicate the fficial withdrawal date fr the student as determined by the Registrar based upn the last date f attendance fr the term. Rm and meal plan refunds fr students wh fficially withdraw frm the university are made n a pr rata basis, accrding t the mve ut date. Eagle Bucks are nnrefundable. Any student dismissed fr unsatisfactry cnduct r failure t pay charges as agreed is nt eligible fr refunds. If a student withdraws, his/her schlarships will be prrated by the same percentage as the tuitin. Fr example, if a student receives a $1000/semester schlarship and receives a 50% tuitin refund, then the student may keep 50% f the schlarship. In accrdance with federal regulatins, Oklahma Christian is required t calculate the return f Title IV funds frmula fr students wh are attending n federal (Title IV) financial aid. Fr this reasn, withdrawing frm classes may reduce yur financial aid fr the current semester. The law specifies hw OC must determine the amunt f Title IV (federal) prgram assistance yu earn if yu withdraw. The Title IV prgrams cvered by this law are Federal Direct Unsubsidized Lans and Grad PLUS Lans. If yu withdraw during the perid f enrllment, the amunt f Title IV prgram assistance yu have earned up t that pint is determined by a specific frmula. If yu received less assistance than the amunt yu earned, yu may be able t receive thse additinal funds. If yu received mre assistance than yu earned, the excess funds must be returned by the schl. The amunt f assistance earned is determined n a pr rata basis. Fr example, if yu cmplete 30% f yur perid f enrllment, yu earn 30% f the assistance yu were riginally scheduled t receive. Once yu have cmpleted mre than 60% f the enrllment perid, yu earn all the assistance yu were scheduled t receive fr that perid. If yu did nt receive all the funds yu earned, yu may be due a pst-withdrawal disbursement. If the pstwithdrawal disbursement includes lan funds, yu may chse t decline the lan funds s that yu d nt incur additinal debt. OC may autmatically use all r a prtin f the pst-withdrawal disbursement (including lan funds, if yu accept them) fr tuitin, fees, and rm and meal plan charges.

3 VIII. If yu receive excess Title IV prgram funds that must be returned, OC must return a prtin f the excess equal t the lesser f Yur institutinal charges multiplied by the unearned percentage f yur funds, r The entire amunt f excess funds. OC must return this amunt even if we d nt keep the amunt f yur Title IV prgram funds. The requirements fr Title IV prgram funds when yu withdraw are separate frm the institutinal refund plicy. Therefre, yu may still we funds t the schl t cver unpaid institutinal charges. OC may charge yu fr any Title IV prgram funds we are required t return. In rder t receive all the financial aid awarded, students must be in attendance f their classes; therwise, the financial aid is unearned. Federal aid recipients wh d nt attend classes and d nt cmplete any hurs fr the term will be treated as unfficial withdrawals frm the university. They will be subject t the Return f Title IV calculatin as described abve unless they can submit prf t the Assistant Directr f Financial Services that they attended their classes fr at least 60% f the term. Because nt all OC classes take attendance, the OC financial aid administratr will use the midpint f the semester t prcess the Return f Title IV funds fr unfficial withdrawals unless the Assistant Directr f Financial Services is able t learn the exact date f the student s last day f attendance. If the last date f attendance is knwn, the OC financial aid administratr will use that date instead f the midpint f the semester. Title IV funds are returned t the prgrams frm which the student received aid during the perid f enrllment in the fllwing rder up t the net amunt disbursed frm each surce. Grad PLUS Lans Unsubsidized Federal Direct lans Return f Title IV funds (R2T4) is prcessed within ten business days f the Financial Services Office being ntified f the withdrawal based upn the OC Withdrawal Frm and all federal funds are returned within ten business days f the R2T4 calculatin. Once a student s withdrawal has been prcessed they will receive a letter and statement shwing hw the withdrawal affected their financial aid. In accrdance with the Satisfactry Academic Prgress plicy, withdrawing may jepardize future Title IV funding. Refund Checks/ Credit Balances Refunds will nt be issued until a credit balance ccurs n the student s accunt. E-Refunds are made t students wh have input their banking accunt and ruting numbers int their Student Accunt Online. Refunds will be prcessed daily, but it may take up t tw t three business days fr the student t receive funds if student has nt set up an accunt fr e-refunds. Bkstre Charges IX. Students may charge bkstre purchases t their student accunt during the specified time perid. The specified time perid fr the fall semester is frm the first day f August until the last Friday f the furth week f the fall semester. The specified time perid fr the spring semester is frm the eighth day f December until the last Friday f the furth week f the spring semester. Students may be limited t the amunt f charges allwed n an individual basis, at the discretin f the student s persnal financial cunselr. Students may nly charge t their student accunt textbks r class required supplies. Students cannt exceed supply charges f $50.00 per semester withut apprval frm financial services. N clthing, cards, magazines, candy r related items may be charged t the student s accunt. X. United Dining Eagle Bucks Students may charge Eagle Bucks t their student accunt during the semester as lng as their accunt is in gd standing with the university and the student has shwn the ability t pay fr these charges. XI. XII. Students will nt be allwed t charge Eagle Bucks t their accunt tw weeks prir t the scheduled Spring cmmencement date. Summer Schl Students attending summer classes may be eligible fr financial aid as a trailer based n the current year calculatins. This requires all aid t be disbursed prir t June 30 th; therefre, students must have all financial aid paperwrk cmplete prir t June 30 th. Students may receive financial aid as a header n an exceptin basis. This means students will receive summer financial aid based n next year s calculatins. Students receiving financial aid as a header will nt have any financial aid disbursed until July 1 st. Title IV aid will be adjusted thrugh the furth summer term s that a student cannt be verpaid; thus the student will nt be placed n financial aid warning/suspensin based n a failure t cmplete credit hurs. Federal and State Financial Aid Oklahma Christian University awards financial aid t any student wh has eligibility based n an apprved methd f need analysis. We agree with the federal gvernment, the primary respnsibility f educating a student lies with the student and the family. We bserve the fllwing general guidelines in packaging financial aid: Schlarships If we are frtunate t knw f the schlarships at the time f packaging, they are included as part f the student s financial award. Federal Guaranteed Student Lans Federal Direct Unsubsidized student lans are packaged fr every eligible student accrding up t $20,500 per year, depending n the cst f the student s prgram. Perkins lans are

4 packaged fr students wh have a need with preference being given t freshmen and sphmre undergraduate students. Students wishing t be cnsidered fr lans frm the federal gvernment must cmplete a Federal Applicatin fr Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Once the university receives the FAFSA infrmatin, additinal paperwrk may be required as determined by the Financial Services Office. In such cases, the dcumentatin may change the student s financial aid eligibility. The deadline t apply fr financial aid (institutinal and federal) and t turn in the required dcumentatin is last day f class prir t the week f finals. Oklahma Christian University will make every effrt t file federal financial aid after that day; hwever, there is n guarantee funds will be received. All financial aid (institutinal and federal) is awarded based n the number f hurs fr which the student is enrlled. The Financial Services Office will make adjustments t any award letter due t incrrect data and/r additinal financial aid received. The Financial Services Office will ntify students f any change in their award via mail r . Students are respnsible fr checking bth their n-campus and ff-campus mailbxes, as well as their OC address, fr such infrmatin. In accrdance with federal regulatin, students are required t ntify the Financial Services Office f any change in utside resurces. This may require a revisin f the student s award, in which case the financial services ffice will ntify the student as previusly explained. Students may als make crrectins t their FAFSA infrmatin nline at In cases where the university becmes aware that a student has received an verpayment r financial aid in excess f the student s eligibility, the university will adjust the student s award rather than referring the verpayment t the Department f Educatin. If this creates a balance n the student accunt, the student is respnsible fr paying the university fr the resulting balance. Federal financial aid is nly t be used fr expenses related t the student s educatinal cst. This may include living expenses. Federal regulatins require students t maintain satisfactry academic prgress tward degree bjectives in rder t receive financial assistance n a cntinuing basis. The fllwing requirements reflect these guidelines in keeping with the plicies f Oklahma Christian.. 1. Measurable Satisfactry Academic Prgress A. Hurs Cmpleted 1. Fr a student receiving financial aid as a full time student, he/she must cmplete at least 9 hurs each semester f enrllment. 2. Fr a student receiving financial aid as a half-time student, he/she must cmplete at least 6 credit hurs each semester f enrllment. 3. The fllwing shall nt be cnsidered as credit hurs cmpleted: F failing grade Audit n credit W withdrawal WP withdrawal passing I incmplete 5. Because I (Incmplete) grades are nt cunted as hurs cmpleted, they may result in a student being placed n financial aid warning r suspensin. 6. At the cnclusin f each semester, the Directr f Financial Aid will review the satisfactry academic prgress f students wh received an I (Incmplete) grade. The Directr will then make any apprpriate adjustments t the financial aid standing fr thse students receiving a grade change. 7. Students placed n financial aid suspensin as a result f an I (Incmplete) grade shuld ntify the Directr f Financial Aid immediately after the I has been changed t a passing grade. Upn ntificatin, the Directr will recalculate the student s financial standing and will determine if the student s financial aid may be reinstated. 8. Adjustments will be made t Title IV aid fr drpping a curse thrugh the third Friday f each semester. After that date, drpped curses resulting in an enrllment status change (example: full-time t half-time), will place a student in financial aid warning/suspensin. B. Grade Pint Averages Every graduate student receiving financial aid must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade pint average. 2. Financial Aid Warning In the event that a student fails t cmplete the required number f hurs r the required GPA, he/she may cntinue t receive financial aid, but will be placed n financial aid warning fr the next semester. As a result, he/she must achieve the fllwing: A. Grade Pint Average The student must achieve the cumulative GPA standard as defined by the student s grade classificatin. Hwever, if the student des nt achieve this standard, we will be frced t place him/her n financial aid suspensin. B. Hurs Cmpleted

5 XIII. 1. Fr a student wh was receiving federal aid based n full-time enrllment, he/she must cmplete 9 hurs during the semester f financial aid warning. 2. Fr a student wh was receiving federal aid based n half-time enrllment, he/she must cmplete 6 hurs during the semester f financial aid warning. 3. Suspensin If a student has been placed n financial aid warning and fails t meet the terms f the warning (cmplete apprpriate number f hurs and/r cumulative GPA standard), he/she will nt be cnsidered making satisfactry academic prgress and will, therefre, be placed n financial aid suspensin. This means immediate terminatin f financial aid received frm all federal aid prgrams (Federal Perkins Lan, Federal Direct Lan Prgram and Grad PLUS). Students in their final semester f their prgram are exempt if they graduate. 4. Repeated Curses A grade received frm a repeated curse will replace the pre-existing grade previusly earned. Therefre, the previusly earned grade will be mitted frm the calculatin f a student s cumulative GPA (althugh the previusly earned grade will still be reflected n the student s transcript). All repeated curses fr curses previusly failed will cunt as hurs attempted, and if successfully cmpleted, will cunt as hurs cmpleted within a given semester. All repeated curses fr curses nt previusly failed will nt cunt as hurs attempted, and will therefre nt cunt as hurs cmpleted within a given semester. 5. Limitatin f Eligibility f Federal Assistance The maximum number f hurs a graduate student may attempt in rder t receive financial aid is 89 graduate credit hurs. Any curse fr which a student receives credit frm a reginally accredited institutin, including transferred, repeated and remedial cursewrk are included in this calculatin regardless f whether a student received Title IV funding. Grades listed as I (Incmplete) r W (Withdrawn) are nt cunted as hurs attempted. Students needing t receive Title IV aid fr mre than 89 graduate hurs (i.e. duble majrs) may appeal t the financial services directr. 6. Reinstatement T be reinstated a student must increase his/her cumulative GPA t a 3.0 and demnstrate that he/she has cmpleted the mst recent semester successfully (9 hurs r mre). Then a student may reapply in writing fr the reinstatement f his/her federal financial aid. 7. Appeals A. Any student wishing t appeal financial aid suspensin must indicate in writing t the Directr f Financial Aid reasns why he/she did nt achieve minimum academic requirements and als describe what circumstances have changed that will allw the student t successfully achieve minimum academic requirements in the future. B. The Directr f Financial Aid will then review the appeal and with advice frm the Financial Aid Cmmittee determine whether the student s appeal will be granted. Typically, a student s first appeal will be granted if the student adequately explains the reasns fr failure t achieve the minimum academic requirements and a plan t successfully achieve the academic requirements within ne semester. Appeals frm students wh cannt reasnably increase his/her cumulative 3.0 GPA will nt have their appeals apprved. The student will be advised in writing f the decisin. C. Prbatin After a student successfully appeals the suspensin f his/her federal aid, that student s federal aid eligibility is by definitin n prbatin. The prbatinary perid is fr ne semester, during which the student must cmplete the required number f hurs successfully while increasing r maintaining a 3.0 cumulative GPA in rder t be brught back int gd standing. D. Subsequent Appeals are nt granted. Students wh have been granted a federal aid appeal may nly have their federal aid eligibility reinstated by increasing his/her cumulative GPA t the minimum standard and demnstrating that he/she has cmpleted the mst recent semester successfully (9 hurs r mre). Then a student may reapply in writing fr the reinstatement f his/her federal financial aid. 8. Summer Financial Aid Students attending summer classes may be eligible fr financial aid as a "trailer" based n the current year calculatins. Students may receive financial aid as a header n an exceptin basis if the student is enrlled in OC s MBA prgram. 9. Withdrawal frm the university Students wh receive Title IV funding fr the semester in which they are withdrawing will be placed n financial aid warning (if yu are already n financial aid warning, yu will be placed n suspensin). 10. Miscellaneus Any student wh has previusly enrlled in this institutin and is nt a recipient f Title IV assistance may receive Title IV aid fr the first time (when therwise eligible) under a ne-semester warning during which he/she must bring his/her academic standing in cnfrmance with the existing satisfactry prgress plicy. Further, a student wh has nt been placed n financial aid warning, but fails all f his/her classes during the semester will autmatically be placed n financial aid suspensin bypassing the warning status. Institutinal Aid Students must apply fr admissin (accmpanied by the fee) thrugh the University befre being cnsidered fr schlarships r tuitin discunts. The deadline t apply fr financial aid (institutinal and federal) is the end f the furth week f the current semester. Students must maintain a 3.0 cumulative grade pint average t cntinue t receive schlarships. Oklahma Christian emplyees may nt award any institutinal dllars (including endwments) t students in their family. The Financial Services Office will make adjustments t any award letter due t incrrect data and/r additinal financial aid received. The financial services ffice will ntify students f any change in their award.

6 XV. XVI. Emplyer Reimbursement Students wishing t delay payment based n an emplyer reimbursement financial agreement must first submit the Emplyer Reimbursement Frm. (The Emplyer Reimbursement Frm and be fund at Failure t cmplete the Emplyer Reimbursement Frm by the first day f classes will result in the student's accunt being cnsidered delinquent and therefre subjected t finance charges and pssible withdrawal frm classes. Students wishing t apply fr emplyer reimbursement will be charged a 2.5% deferment fee each semester at the cnclusin f the first week f classes. The 2.5% deferment fee will be charged against the ttal utstanding balance. The Deferment fee will be due n the due date f the semester s first mnthly billing statement. If the deferment fee is paid as agreed, n finance charges will be assessed. Hwever, if the deferment fee is nt paid, the student will be subject t a 1.75% mnthly finance charge assessed against the ttal utstanding balance until the deferment fee and any accrued finance charges are paid in full. The applicatin fee is nnrefundable. Students are required t pay the nn-deferred prtin f the bill whether r nt the student has cmpleted the curse wrk r have been reimbursed by yur emplyer. Students must pay n later than the first day f classes. Oklahma Christian University reserves the right t cnduct randm audits, which invlve cntacting the student s emplyer abut the student s emplyment status. If the student drps a class r withdraw frm the University, all payments are due immediately. The University refund plicy wuld then apply. Summer Husing Students with utstanding balances at the end f the spring semester will nt be eligible fr summer student husing withut the cnsent f the student s Persnal Financial Cunselr (PFC). Students will nt be assigned a summer husing unit until advance payment is received. Students wrking 28 hurs a week emplyed thrugh Oklahma Christian are nt required t make prepayment. They will instead have mney fr husing csts deducted frm earnings. Students wh fail t pay summer husing charges in advance will be given fifteen (15) days t make payment. If necessary payments are nt received within fifteen (15) days, access t the student s apartment will be denied. Students with summer husing balances will nt be allwed t enrll and/r validate their enrllment fr a future semester until their summer husing accunt balance is paid in full. Summer financial aid must first pay fr summer tuitin expenses. Additinal financial aid may be transferred t the student s summer husing accunt upn the student s request.