Re: Financial Aid Refunds

From: Ginny Layton (laytonvh@muohio.edu)
Date: Thu Jan 23 2003 - 10:25:20 EST

  • Next message: Ehmann, Peg: "RE: Financial Aid Refunds"

    Cindy, we face the same issues you describe. I, too, am pushing forward a
    proposal to delay refunding until after the 100% refund period, which runs
    through the first week of the semester. Students are able to drop/add
    classes via the web throughout this time, and they frequently add services
    like off campus meal plans. Even though our Financial Aid Office disburses
    aid 10 days prior to the first day of class, the federal regs say that we
    do have up to 14 days after the first day of class to issue Title IV
    refunds to students. It has been our practice, however, to mail refunds
    before the start of the term. We sometimes get burned, just as you
    do. With the escalating state budget crisis and diminishing resources
    available for higher ed, I really think it is time to take a look at this
    practice.

    Ginny Layton, Bursar
    Miami University (4 year public)

    At 04:44 PM 1/22/2003 -0500, Cindy Shelton wrote:
    >Hello Fellow Bursars and Student Accounts Directors!
    >
    >I hope you all are surviving the beginning of the spring term rush. I'm
    >having a little problem at my institution and would like to know if any
    >of you have the same issue. Currently, our Financial Aid Office feeds
    >any and all types of aid to students' accounts 10 days before the term
    >begins. We then have refunds available to students on Registration day,
    >which is two days before classes start. Recently, this has caused big
    >problems because students are dropping/adding hours, aid is being taken
    >away, meal options are being added for off-campus students, etc. during
    >the first week and a half of classes. Even worse, we are having
    >students pick up refund checks and then withdraw.
    >
    >How many of you do what I described above and how many of you wait until
    >after the drop/add period to make refunds available? I would like to
    >change our refund policy but will need input from other institutions
    >before my administration will make a decision.
    >
    >Thanks, in advance, for your responses!
    >Cindy Shelton
    >Director of Student Accounts
    >Appalachian State University
    >(4 year public)
    >Boone, NC
    >828-262-6420

    Ginny Layton
    Bursar
    Miami University
    Office: 513-529-8702
    Fax: 513-529-8788



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