What happens if I withdraw from the University?
If you received financial aid and withdraw from all of your classes within the first 60% point of the term, we must recalculate your financial aid eligibility according to a federally prescribed formula. Since funds are awarded based on your attending the entire term, we must recalculate your award based on the actual number of days you attended. The calculation will determine if you received funds for which you are NOT eligible or if you are eligible for a post withdrawal disbursement.
The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office encourages students to consult with a Financial Aid Advisor before they actually withdraw. The advisor will explain the Return to Title IV Policy and how it will affect the student.
What is the withdrawal process?
The University's official withdrawal procedures can be found in the Schedule of Classes. Upon completion of the withdrawal process on GET, or submission of the Drop Request Form to the Registrars Office, students will receive a pro-rated refund of registration fees based on the date the Course/Program Withdrawal and Request for Refund Form is received.
What happens next?
The Financial Aid and Scholarships Office calculates the amount of federal funds earned based on the number of days the student attended. Students who drop after 60% point of the term are considered to have earned 100% of the funds that have been disbursed for the semester. Any unearned portion of financial aid that was disbursed to the student must be repaid to the university. The unearned amount may include institutional charges (tuition fees, housing, etc.) and monies disbursed to the student.
We must recalculate your eligibility according to federal regulations for the aid you have received if you withdraw from all your classes within the first 60% point of the term (on or before the following dates):
| 2022-2023 | |
|---|---|
| Fall 2022 | 10/27/2022 |
| Spring 2023 | 4/6/2023 |
| Summer, 1st 5 week Session | 6/19/2023 |
| Summer, 2nd 5 week Session | 7/29/2023 |
| Summer, 10 week Session | 7/13/2023 |
| 2023-2024 | |
|---|---|
| Fall 2023 | 10/26/2023 |
| Spring 2024 | 3/28/2024 |
| Summer, 1st 5 week Session | TBD |
| Summer, 2nd 5 week Session | TBD |
| Summer, 10 week Session | TBD |
The Return of Title IV Policy will affect you if you are receiving the following Federal financial aid programs:
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
- Federal Direct Loans (Subsidized, Unsubsidized, and PLUS)
State Grants – Cal Grants A and B and Cal Grant B Stipend – Students who withdraw or drop below half-time before the census date are not eligible for these awards. State University Grants will be adjusted based on actual tuition assessed.
Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) grants will not be adjusted.
What is the recalculation process?
The first step is to determine the date you began the withdrawal process. Based on available information, we use the earliest date, which is established as described above.
Based on the date you began the withdrawal process we then determine the percentage of the semester you attended. This percentage is then applied to the aid disbursed or that could have been disbursed to determine the amount you earned. If the amount disbursed to you is less than the amount you earned, we will notify you of your eligibility and give you the opportunity to receive that aid. If the amount disbursed to you is greater than the amount you earned, then unearned funds have to be returned.
The withdrawal date for all students who fail to earn a grade or receive all failing grades (i.e. F or WUs) prior to the 60% point of the term will be reviewed at the conclusion of each term. These students will be notified and asked to provide evidence of academic participation for that term within 7 days of the notification. If the student does not respond by the 7 day deadline or is unable to provide sufficient documentation, the student’s withdrawal date will default to the 50% point of the term or the date of last known academic activity on record by the University. The student’s earned Title IV financial aid will then be calculated and adjusted according to the 50% date of the term or the last known academic activity, whichever is earlier.
Aid will be returned in the following order (as required under regulation):
- Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loans
- Subsidized Direct Stafford Loans
- Federal PLUS Loans
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
What is the repayment process?
Students who owe a repayment are encouraged to immediately pay the amount in full to the Cashier's Office. The Cashier's Office will credit the funds to the appropriate account. However, if the student is unable to repay the amount in full, they may sign a repayment contract with the One-Stop Financial Services, Student Services Building, #2380. The contract will allow the student to repay in monthly installments.
Unofficial withdrawal
If the student does not complete the official withdrawal process, the Financial Aid and Scholarships Office will use the best available information to determine the date of withdrawal to process the Return to Title IV calculation.
Post-withdrawal payment
A post-withdrawal calculation is performed to determine the portion of earned aid that the student was entitled to prior to withdrawing. Any outstanding institutional charges will be deducted from the post-withdrawal disbursement.