Fees and Financial Aid

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Registration fees are payable at the Bursar’s Office prior to the opening of classes and in accordance with instructions issued with your bill. For students registering during late registration, fees are assessed as part of the registration process and are due at that time. If you make changes to your class schedule, please be sure to come to the Bursar’s Office to get a revised bill or go to http://www.shawnee.edu, click on “Current Students,” then click on “MySSU” and print a copy of your bill. No additional bills will be mailed to you as a result of dropping and adding classes.

The Bursar’s Office is located on the second floor of the University Center. This places it near the Offices of the Registrar and Financial Aid and should make it easier for you to—in one place—take care of the ‘‘business’’ of going to college.

Fees may be paid by cash, check, money order, Visa, or MasterCard. It is important that you retain all fee receipts. Payment of fees owed is a prerequisite for continuing enrollment, and you should have sufficient funds (cash and/or financial aid) to cover expenses. Shawnee State University is not required to furnish services (registration, transcripts, etc.) to a student with unpaid fees.

Student Load

Students scheduled for 12-18 credit hours are considered full-time students. Students scheduled for fewer than 12 credit hours are considered parttime students. The permission of the registrar is required for you to schedule over 18 hours of credit. A maximum of 21 hours may be attempted, if permission is granted. Please refer to the fee schedule for the rate per credit hour.

Certain students are restricted from carrying a course load greater than twelve hours. These students include first-time entering freshmen placed into two or more developmental education courses and any student placed on academic probation for a second consecutive semester. A student affected by this policy may appeal to the director of the Student Success Center. In special cases, when this policy would jeopardize a student’s participation in a degree program, a department chairperson may also request to waive the twelve-hour limit.

Special Note Regarding Fees

The fees listed below are current for the 2007- 2008 academic year for “new” students (first term of attendance — Summer 2002 or after). Current fees for “continuing” students (first term of attendance Spring 2002 or before) are available from the Bursar’s Office or by accessing the SSU website — www.shawnee.edu/offices/brsr/tuition.html. All fees are subject to change. Shawnee State University reserves the right to make, without prior notice, any fee adjustments that may become necessary.

Reciprocity

Pursuant to current reciprocal agreements between the University and Kentucky institutions, students residing in the following Kentucky counties — Boyd, Carter, Elliott, Fleming, Greenup, Lawrence, Lewis, Mason, Rowan — may attend Shawnee State at Ohio resident rates. This reduction in fees is the result of a reciprocity agreement made by several colleges and universities in the area. This fee structure is subject to possible modification or cancellation.

Graduation Petition Fee

See the above list for the graduation fee. You are not billed for this fee. It is your responsibility to pay the fee when you submit your petition to graduate. Your eligibility to graduate is determined by the registrar after you petition for graduation.

Health Science Application Fee

A nonrefundable health sciences program application fee must accompany all health science admission applications.

Lab Fees

A current schedule of special courses/lab fees is available in the Office of the Registrar. Formulas for the fees which exist at the time of this catalog’s printing are listed on the Course Decriptions  page.

Transcript Fee

The University will produce an official transcript upon written request from the student. See the above list for the transcript fee.

Responsibility for Fees

A student may register for classes by submitting a registration form in person or via the Web. With the act of registering, a student promises to pay all tuition and fees for the quarter. This financial obligation may only be discharged by paying in full, by choosing the Short Term Loan option, by having adequate financial aid to pay the fees, or by withdrawing from Shawnee State University by the published deadlines. Please review the SSU course schedule, published in advance of each semester, for details.

Short Term Loan

Shawnee State University provides a Short Term Loan (a payment plan option) that can help you with the payment of tuition, books, and certain fees. Information about the Short Term Loan is available in the Bursar’s Office.

Bad Check Policy

Payment of fees owed is a prerequisite to official enrollment, and you should have sufficient funds (cash and/or financial aid) to cover these expenses. A check returned for insufficient funds is a federal offense and constitutes nonpayment of your obligation to Shawnee State University. Therefore, any student who has a check returned for insufficient funds shall be subject to all related fees; and, until the same is cleared, the student shall be considered in noncompliance with institutional policy and may be administratively dismissed. Any student administratively dismissed due to a bad check has no recourse for readmission for the current semester.

Student Insurance

Student health insurance coverage is available to all full-time students. If you wish to participate in this plan, please complete and return the enrollment form along with your payment to the insurance company. Enrollment forms may be picked up in the Bursar’s Office.

Refund of Fees

Continuing students dropping hours through the fourteenth day of the semester, when such changes result in a reduction of fees, are entitled to receive the reduction. Changes made after the fourteenth day of the semester result in no refund. Students who officially withdraw/drop from Shawnee State receive a refund, if due, based upon the following schedule. If you do not officially withdraw or drop, you are not eligible for any refund and fees assessed are due and payable.

Withdrawal/Drop Dates
 

Please Note: Questions concerning the above information should be referred to the Bursar’s Office. Students wishing to see examples of these refund calculations may do so in the Bursar’s Office.

Late Payment Policy

A late payment fee is assessed when you fail to make payment in accordance with the due dates established by the Bursar’s Office. Such fees are assessed in accordance with the fee schedule approved by the University’s Board of Trustees.

Shawnee State University provides apartment-style residence halls within walking distance of all campus facilities. Students living on campus have access to a full service, buffet-style cafeteria in the University Center. Estimated 2007-2008 rates for each residence facility on campus are listed below.

An extensive financial aid program is available to supplement your and your family’s contributions toward the cost of education, as well as to recognize academic achievement and special talents. The Financial Aid Office is responsible for the processing and awarding of all types of federal, state, private, and institutional funds to students.

Types of Financial Aid

All types of financial assistance fall within two categories—gift and self-help aid. These aid programs may be awarded on the basis of merit, financial need, or a combination of both. Grants are aid, based on an analysis of your and your family’s ability to contribute to the cost of education. Scholarships are considered merit awards. Scholarships and grants do not have to be repaid. Loans, however, must be repaid by the borrower.

Gift Aid

Scholarships

The Financial Aid Office administers a number of special scholarships for students who demonstrate a high degree of academic ability or special talent. Scholarship information can be obtained on the web page, www.shawnee.edu/off/fa/index.html. Please apply online or contact the Financial Aid office at 740.351.4243 for assistance. The deadline for scholarship application is January 31. Your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be submitted by February 15 for need-based scholarship consideration.

Grants

■ Federal Pell Grant. Pell Grant funds are awarded based on expected family contribution, enrollment status, and the cost of education.

■ Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG). The ACG is available for full-time, first and second year students who receive Pell, have successfully completed a rigorous high school program, and meet a minimum cumulative grade point average.

■ National SMART Grant. The SMART grant is available to third and fourth year, full-time students who receive Pell, maintain a minimum grade point average, and are majoring in a select area of study.

■ Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG). SEOG is a federal grant awarded to undergraduate students on the basis of exceptional financial need beyond the Pell Grant. These funds are limited to the amount allocated to the University by the U.S. Department of Education. First priority is given to students who complete the FAFSA by March 1.

■ Ohio College Opportunity Grant (OCOG). OCOG is a state-funded grant available to Ohio residents. Award amounts are based on the expected family contribution as determined by the FAFSA. OCOG can be used for tuition only. Deadline for application is October 1 of each year.

■ Ohio Instructional Grant (OIG). The OIG is a state-funded grant made available to eligible Ohio residents for meeting the cost of education. All Ohio residents who complete the FAFSA will be considered. Ohio Instructional Grants can be used for tuition only.

Please Note: Under the OIG and OCOG programs, you must be enrolled in an eligible associate or bachelor degree program.

Self-Help Aid

Student Loans

■ Federal Stafford Loan. The Federal Family Education Loan Program (FFELP) includes subsidized and unsubsidized Federal Stafford loans. The interest on a subsidized loan does not start to accrue until you graduate, drop below half time, or withdraw from school. The federal government pays the interest for you while you are in school. Payment of principal and interest does not begin until six months after you leave school, and you have up to 10 years to repay the loan.

You may also be awarded an unsubsidized Stafford loan. Interest on this loan is not government subsidized; interest begins accruing at the time the loan is disbursed. You may choose to pay the interest while you are in school or have the interest added to the principal loan amount (capitalized).

As with the subsidized Stafford loan, payment of principal begins six months after you leave school and you have up to 10 years to repay the loan. Interest rates are a fixed rate of 6.8%.

■ Federal Parent PLUS Loan. Additional opportunities to borrow are available through the Federal Parent Loan for Undergraduate Students (PLUS) program. Students should apply for, and finalize, a Stafford loan before applying for a Parent PLUS loan because a Parent PLUS loan could reduce the Stafford loan amount for which a student is eligible. (For most families, the terms of a Stafford loan are more attractive than those of a Parent PLUS loan.)

Parent PLUS loans allow parents to borrow up to the full cost of education minus other financial aid (including the unsubsidized Stafford loan). Parent PLUS loans are not dependent upon your family’s income or assets; however, a credit check is required. No collateral or cosigners are required.

The Federal Parent PLUS loan must be used for educational expenses at the school the student is or will be attending. Repayment begins 60 days after disbursement, at a fixed interest rate of 8.5%, each academic year. The parent borrower is responsible for all interest from the day the loan is disbursed.

■ Federal Graduate PLUS Loan. Additional opportunities to borrow are available through the Federal Graduate PLUS loan. The GRAD PLUS loan is a credit-based loan available to graduate students to help meet the total cost of attendance.

GRAD PLUS loans allow the graduate student to borrow up to the full cost of education minus other financial aid. GRAD PLUS loans are not dependent upon income or assets; however, a credit check is required. No collateral or cosigners are required.

Repayment begins 60 days after disbursement, at a fixed rate of 8.5%, each academic year. The student is responsible for all interest from the day the loan is disbursed. The GRAD PLUS loan borrower may qualify for an in-school deferrment.

Please Note: Loan applications can be obtained from the Financial Aid Office. If you withdraw from the University, you are not eligible for your next semester’s loan check and you must reapply if you wish to continue receiving student loan funds.

■ Student Emergency Loan Fund. The Bursar’s Office makes available to students, on a limited basis, small, short-term loans for direct or related educational expenses. These loans are interest free, but if not paid back, your academic records will be placed on administrative hold.

Employment

■ Federal Work Study (FWS). The FWS program is available to students who demonstrate financial need through the completion of the FAFSA. All vacant positions are posted on SSU’s FederalWork-Study web page at www.shawnee.edu/off/fa/cws/employ.html. It is the student’s responsibility to secure an interview. You must stop by the Financial Aid Office to obtain an “Authorization to Hire” form before being interviewed. You are paid in accordance with current policy and, in most cases, work 10-20 hours per week. You are paid, based on the number of hours worked, every two weeks with the regular university payroll. Funding for FWS is limited, and first priority for open positions is given to students who complete the FAFSA by March 1. Indicate on the FAFSA that you are interested in a job. You may apply for workstudy throughout the year in the Office of Financial Aid and will be placed on a job availability basis.

■ Student Employment. Regular student employment is available to all full-time university students, regardless of financial need, on the basis of current openings. Please contact the Office of Career Services for further details.

Veterans, State Programs

Veterans receiving the GI bill and students receiving assistance through approved state agency programs (Vocational Rehabilitation, National Guard, etc.) should contact the Office of Financial Aid for assistance with course and attendance requirements and tuition payment.

Application Procedure

To apply for federal need based financial aid you must complete the U.S. Department of Education’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You can apply on the Web at http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/. The form may also be obtained from your high school counselor or the Financial Aid Office at Shawnee State. The FAFSA should be submitted as early as possible beginning in January preceding the academic year.

We recommend that you complete your FAFSA as soon as possible after January 1 in order for your FAFSA results to be received by the University before the March 1 priority deadline.

Eligibility Requirements

To receive Title IV federal aid (PELL Grant, Academic Competitiveness Grant, SMART Grant, Federal Student loan, Federal Work Study, Federal Supplemental Opportunity Grant) you must:

• Be a U.S. citizen, a national or permanent resident of the U.S., or be in the U.S. for other than a temporary purpose.
• Comply with U.S. Selective Service registration requirements.
• Be enrolled in a degree-granting program.
• Be making satisfactory academic progress as defined by Shawnee State (see SAP below).
• Not be in default on a Federal Perkins loan, a Federal Family Education loan, Federal Direct Student loan, or Federal Supplemental loan from any school, agency, or lender, or owe a repayment on any Title IV funds.
• Have a valid social security number.

Determining Need

The Federal Methodology (FM) is the calculation used by the federal government to measure your eligibility for assistance. Some federal aid programs require that you show need after the income and (in some cases) assets of your family, as indicated on the FAFSA, have been considered. The Financial Aid Office uses the need analysis information from the FAFSA to determine the amount you and your parents are expected to contribute toward your education. Consideration is given to your and your parents’ adjusted gross income, assets, taxes paid, number of dependents, number attending college, and other factors as appropriate.

The FM performs a separate analysis of income when 1) your parents adjusted gross income is less than $50,000 a year and your parents were eligible to file a 1040A or 1040EZ tax form, or 2) your parents do not file a tax form with the IRS.

If you are independent, you (and your spouse, if applicable) are expected to assist in your educational costs. Your expected contribution is calculated from previous years’ earnings, untaxed income, and a percentage of savings and assets.

The following formula is used for calculating financial need.

    Cost of Education
— Expected Family Contribution
    Calculated Financial Need

Notification and Disbursement

After your FAFSA needs analysis and other documents have been received and reviewed, you are notified either by mail or via your MySSU account of any awards for which you are eligible. If you are adjusting or declining any of the awards, you must return the award letter indicating the change to the Financial Aid Office.

All awards are subject to revision due to changes in federal funding, student eligibility, clerical errors, failure to provide requested documents, or other circumstances beyond our control.

Federal Aid recipients must be officially enrolled in a degree-granting program to receive any type of financial assistance. All requested documents used in verifying the data provided on the FAFSA must be received by the Financial Aid Office before financial aid can be disbursed.

Disbursement dates and procedures vary depending on the type of assistance. Generally, financial aid awards are credited toward your account each semester. When your grants and scholarships are greater than your university charges, you are issued a refund.

Refunds are mailed approximately three weeks after the semester begins. Aid awarded throughout the semester is refunded weekly following the original disbursement dates.

Withdrawal Policy for Financial Aid Recipients

Title IV Funds

If you receive Title IV financial aid and withdraw from Shawnee State, the amount of aid earned and unearned will be calculated using the Federal Return of Title IV Funds policy. This policy is a formula that measures the percentage of days enrolled during a semester. The percentage is determined by dividing the number of days enrolled by the number of calendar days in the semester, including weekends. Based on this percentage, Title IV financial aid will be prorated to reflect the amount of aid that was earned during the period of enrollment. The amount of aid that is earned will remain on your account and the amount of aid that is unearned will be returned to the appropriate program. Title IV funds will be returned in the following order:

Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loans
Subsidized Federal Stafford Loans
Federal PLUS Loans
Federal Pell Grant
Academic Competitiveness Grant
National SMART Grant
Federal SEOG

Unofficial Withdrawals

If you stop attending Shawnee State and do not officially withdraw, it is considered to be an unofficial withdrawal and subject to the above withdrawal policy. The date of withdrawal will be the latest date based on a student’s attendance at an academically related event. If the last date of attendance is not known, the midpoint of the semester will be used as the withdrawal date. If you never attend all of the classes for which you have registered, you are considered to be an unofficial withdrawal. It is determined that you have not earned any financial aid. Therefore, all aid will be returned to the appropriate program.

Standards of Satisfactory

Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal legislation requires Shawnee State University to define and enforce Standards of Academic Progress for students receiving federal financial aid. Failure to meet these requirements will result in the loss of federal aid until action is taken to regain eligibility. This policy is established for students who are receiving financial aid from one or more of the following programs: (1) Federal Pell Grant, (2) Academic Competitiveness Grant, (3) National SMART Grant, (4) Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), (5) Federal Work Study, (6) Federal Stafford Loan, and (7) Federal PLUS Loan.

Standards Requirements

Maintain Grade Point Average

Students must meet the grade point average requirements as defined in the ‘‘Academic Policies’’ section of the current Shawnee State University catalog. The student’s cumulative grade point average will be reviewed each semester to ensure the following:

Complete 66% of Attempted Credit Hours

Satisfactory progress will be evaluated each semester. Following the first semester for which the student fails to meet minimum credit hour requirements, the student will receive a financial aid probation letter. Following the second consecutive semester, financial aid will be terminated. Students who receive the following grades are considered to have attempted those credit hours: withdrawals (WD), incomplete (I), no credit (NC), failure (F), not reported (NR), and all passing grades (A, B, C, D, P). Course repetitions (R) count as hours attempted.

Complete Your Degree Within a Specified Time (150% of Graduation Requirements)

The financial aid regulations permit a student to use financial aid until the student has attempted 150 percent of graduation requirements. Bachelor degree students are eligible to receive federal aid through the semester in which they attempt to earn their 186th credit hour. Associate degree students are eligible to receive federal aid through the semester in which they attempt to earn their 90th credit hour. Master degree students are eligible to receive federal aid until they have attempted 150 percent of graduation requirements.

Additional Definitions and Explanations

Attempted: “Cumulative number of hours” are the total hours attempted at Shawnee State University during all enrollment periods, irrespective of receiving financial aid. Course repetitions (R) count as hours attempted. Total hours attempted may include no more than 30 semester hours of developmental education credits.

Hours Earned: Successful completion is measured by the number of “hours earned’’ recorded on the student’s academic transcript at the end of the evaluation period.

Academic Year: For purposes of measurement of progress, academic year is defined as enrollment during any or all of the following semesters: summer, fall, and spring.

Enrollment Status: Federal financial aid recipients must be enrolled in approved degree or certificate programs.

Stafford Student Loans: In addition to the progress requirements listed above, federal regulations require that students progress from one grade level to the next before they are eligible to receive additional loan amounts. Students in associate degree programs may be certified for loans only at the freshman and sophomore levels.

Enrollment in a Second Degree: Students seeking federal financial assistance and pursuing a second associate or second bachelor degree must submit a degree audit so that progress within the second program may be measured. This form is also used to determine grade level for federal loan certifications.

Failure to Maintain Satisfactory Progress

Students who fail the grade (qualitative) portion of the requirement are notified of their probation, or dismissal status by the Office of the Registrar.

The first time a student does not complete successfully the hours passed (quantitative measure), he or she is placed on financial aid probation. The deficiency must be satisfied in the next semester of attendance. The probationary status, for students who continue to have a marginal deficiency at the end of the initial probationary period, may be extended. If the student does not achieve the required number of credit hours at the end of the probationary, or extended probationary, period, he or she is suspended from financial aid.

Suspension Due to Non-Attendance

Federal regulations require adjustment of financial aid awards for students who do not begin attendance in all classes upon which the awards were based. Adjustments are based on registrar records, including add/drop and withdrawal forms. Students are required to repay adjustment amounts. Students who do not meet repayment terms are suspended from financial aid. (See appeal section.)

Reinstatement of Financial Aid

Unless eligibility is reinstated through appeal, students remain ineligible until that time when they are again in compliance with the standards. It is the responsibility of students seeking reinstatement to request the Financial Aid Office to review their records when they believe they are again in compliance with the requirement.

Appeals

Students may appeal to the director of financial aid. Students must submit a letter explaining the reason(s) for the failure and may be required to submit a degree audit from the student’s advisor or other supporting documentation. If the director denies the appeal, the student may request, in writing, that the appeal be reviewed by the Financial Aid Advisory Committee.

Extenuating Circumstances Regarding Appeals

The major acceptable circumstances for making an appeal are the documented personal illness of the student, serious illness or death of an immediate family member (mother, father, sister, brother, husband, wife, child, legal guardian), or enrollment in a bachelor’s program requiring more than 124 credit hours or an associate program requiring more than 60 credit hours.

The maximum number of credit hours attempted is considered to be adequate and fair under the progress policy. Change of major field of study, completion of developmental courses, or transfer of credits normally are not considered satisfactory grounds for appeal for additional time, but such appeals may be submitted using the process indicated above.

Unacceptable circumstances for appeals are: continued enrollment while seeking admission to an academic program (i.e., health science) or the prior nonreceipt of Title IV aid since this is irrelevant to maintaining satisfactory progress in the course of study.

Comments about the Progress Requirement

Students are encouraged to work with their academic advisors, the Student Success Center, the counseling center staff, and Student Support Services’ staff to receive study skills and tutoring assistance.

Students who withdraw from courses after the official add/drop period and students who receive grades of F,WD, NC, R, and I greatly increase their potential for failing to meet the progress requirement.