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To help you through the admissions and enrollment process, you will be assigned a recruiting coordinator who will be available by mail, e-mail, and phone. The recruiting coordinator will provide you with contact information, important dates, program information, and anything else you need to know as you move through admission and your initial enrollment. He or she will also serve as your liaison to University faculty and staff members and your guide in becoming an MSU student.
Once you have applied, you should begin to review information on cost of attendance and financial aid (available in this catalog and on the MSU website), explore your options with the financial aid staff, and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). See the financial aid section of this chapter for additional information.
Enrollment Agreement
Upon admission, you will be assigned a student e-mail address and given access to the online services and resources available through Cougar Web. From that point on, you are required to regularly review your student e-mail account and Cougar Web for updates and information.
Submission of an application and enrollment at MSU represent a decision on the part of the student to accept University requirements. Information is provided to students in the catalogs; on the website; and in handbooks, syllabi, and other University-approved materials. This information is not considered an irrevocable contract; the University reserves the right to amend it at any time as necessary to maintain changing accreditation standards and business operations. Although University officials are available to advise students, it is each student’s responsibility to comply with University policies. The MSU website contains more timely information than printed materials. Students are expected to continually review their student e-mail and the website.
PAYMENT
Tuition and fees are due on the first day of the semester and are payable by cash, check, or credit card (Discover, Visa, MasterCard, or American Express). An additional fee of $25 is charged for returned checks. To be exempt from payment in full, you must have established a payment plan and signed a promissory note or have applied for financial aid. If your financial aid is not expected to cover the entire balance, you are required to either establish a payment plan for the expected difference or pay it in full by the end of the semester.
If your employer or an outside agency is paying your tuition or fees, you can register with a letter of authorization guaranteeing that payment will be sent to the University upon receipt of an invoice. The University cannot accept authorization for a third-party payment that is contingent upon your completion of the semester or contingent upon grades; in that case you are required to pay tuition and fees at the beginning of the semester and receive the payment as a reimbursement.
Payment Plan
A payment plan is available through Student Accounts. Under the plan, a third of the term’s tuition and fee charges is due on the first day of the second month of the semester. The balance for fall and spring semester is paid in three monthly payments, and the balance for summer terms is paid in two monthly payments. For cohort program students, the first payment is due on the first day of the second month of the semester, and the next two payments are due over the next two months as established when you enroll. Students using the payment plan may be charged interest of one percent a month on the unpaid balance or a flat fee, not to exceed $30 a semester, for use of the plan.
Graduate Individualized Study Charges
Students enrolled in graduate individualized study (GIS) classes who are not receiving financial aid are required to make full payment at the time of registration. While you can add a GIS class at any time, there is no drop period and no refund of tuition or fees. Charges are calculated on a per-credit-hour basis for all students.
Housing Fees
Housing fees include both residence hall and meal plan fees. Contact Student Accounts for current fees and payment information. Housing fees can be paid according to the payment plan terms described under Payment Plan earlier in this section.
UNPAID BALANCES
Students who owe a balance to the University are not permitted to register or to receive transcripts, diplomas, or certificates. Failure to pay may result in withdrawal from classes and release of the student account to a collection agency. Any collection fees are added to the balance due.
COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL AND REFUNDS
A refund schedule for students who withdraw completely from the University is available in each semester’s schedule of classes, online at Cougar Web, or from the registration or student accounts office on any campus. All classes have a designated add-drop period, and the refund schedule goes into effect after that period. Refunds are calculated upon complete withdrawal (that is, withdrawal from all courses); no refund is calculated on partial withdrawal. No student may withdraw from a course once the course has ended. If you do not officially withdraw by the deadline, you are ineligible for a refund and are responsible for all charges and payment plan payments. You may also be required to return a portion of any financial aid you are receiving.
Cohort program students may submit a withdrawal form from the second class period through the end of the course. There is no refund for withdrawal. Graduate individualized study (GIS) courses are not eligible for a refund.
For other classes, no refund is made if you withdraw after the published withdrawal deadline (60 percent into the term). Starting and ending dates vary for independent and online study. Refund eligibility for these courses is determined on the basis of a calculation of the 60 percent point of the term designated for the course.
Withdrawal forms are available on the MSU website or from Student Services on any campus. Completed forms must be postmarked or transmitted by fax no later than the last date for the course. Cohort program students may need to complete a withdrawal form for classes that have passed the add-drop period and an add-drop form for your other classes.
Additional information and assistance are available on Cougar Web or from Student Services on any campus.
Financial Aid Refunds
When a financial aid payment or third-party payment placed on your student account creates a credit balance, the University will issue you a refund check. Refund checks are mailed by the 14th day; they are issued only by mail, direct deposit, or debit card, and cannot be picked up.
Housing Refunds
Housing refunds follow the same general policy as that for tuition and fees. Contact the Housing Office for additional information.
Withdrawal for Military Duty
If you are called to active duty in the armed services of the United States during the term, you are eligible for a full refund of tuition and fees but will not receive academic credit for the term. In place of a refund of tuition and fees, you can request that the courses in which you are enrolled be graded incomplete. Because any grade of I converts to an F if not completed by the end of the following semester, you should consider this option only if you are confident that you will be able to complete the course within that time. Either option requires that you submit a copy of your activation orders to the Registrar’s Office.
FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Mountain State University requires prompt payment of all student charges. Each student is responsible for paying all expenses incurred and ensuring that all account transactions are accurate. If you have a concern or discover a discrepancy, talk to a Student Accounts staff member. All unpaid balances may be charged interest of one percent per month on the unpaid balance.
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