Separation Policy

Any graduate, law, graduate business or undergraduate student who at any time within the school year wishes to separate from the University must contact the Office of the Registrar to complete the “Separation from the University eForm.” The student is responsible for initiating the form when they are seeking to separate from the University.

Separations require the approval of two University officials:

  • The Dean or Assistant Dean of the College (or First Year Advising) in which you are enrolled.
  • First, schedule an appointment with the dean or assistant dean of your college and obtain the dean’s approval.
  • The Office of Student Affairs.
  • Second, schedule an appointment with the Office of Student Affairs (316 Main Building, 1-7736), but only after the dean or assistant dean of your college has approved your separation eForm.
  • You must obtain these approvals to avoid receiving failing grades in your classes and to ensure appropriate adjustment to your student account. Accordingly, do not make plans to depart from campus until you have scheduled and attended these appointments.

For the purposes of financial aid determinations, a student’s separation date is the date the University determines either that the student began the University’s separation process or that the student otherwise provided the University official notification (in writing or orally) of his or her intention to separate from the University.

Tuition Calculation

If the separation date is prior to the first day of classes, a full tuition credit will be made to the student’s University account. If the separation date is on or after the first day of classes and before the last day for course discontinuance at the University, the tuition fee is subject to a prorated adjustment/credit, as explained below. In the special circumstance that a student is forced to separate for military service or separates because of protracted illness, the University will grant a financial credit to the student’s University account for that portion of tuition charged for the semester in which he or she separated and did not receive academic credit, even if the separation occurs after the last day for course discontinuance.

Students receiving University and/or Federal Title IV financial assistance who separate from the University within the first sixty percent (60%) of the semester are not entitled to the use or benefit of University and/or Federal Title IV funds beyond their separation date. Such funds shall be returned promptly to the entity that issued them, on a pro rata basis, and the return of such funds to the issuing entity will be reflected on the student's University account. When a student separates from the University after the first sixty percent (60%) of the semester, the student is entitled to the full benefit of the University and/or Federal Title IV funds awarded to him/her and no such funds are required to be returned to the issuing entity.

In order to determine the percentage of a semester that has been completed, count the number of days completed up to, and including, the separation date and then divide that number by the total days in the semester. (Any break of five days or more (e.g., Fall Break, Spring Break) is not counted as part of the days in the term.) The resultant percentage is the percentage of a semester that has been completed and also reflects the percentage of University and/or Federal Title IV aid earned by the student. The Academic Calendar posted on the Registrar’s website is the authoritative source for counting total and completed semester days for the purpose of this calculation.

When Federal Title IV funds must be returned because the student has not completed more than 60% of the semester, the amount that must be returned is based on the percentage of the student’s Federal Title IV aid that is unearned, as determined using the following formula:

  • Federal Title IV aid to be returned = (100% minus the percentage of Federal Title IV aid earned by the student), multiplied by the total amount of Federal Title IV aid that could have been disbursed to the student during the semester if the student did not separate.

If a student earned less Federal Title IV aid than was disbursed as of the separation date, the University would be required to return a portion of the funds. Once Federal Title IV aid funds are returned by the University to the relevant federal program, the student borrower may have a remaining balance due to the University. A letter of explanation which specifies the amount owed and an updated statement are sent to the parent or student.

If a student earned more Federal Title IV aid than was disbursed to him/her by the University as of the separation date, the University would owe the student a post-withdrawal disbursement, which must be paid within 180 days of the student’s separation date. A letter of explanation about the disbursement of funds due to the student and an updated statement is sent to the parent or student.

For more information regarding the return of Federal Title IV aid by the University to federal aid programs, see the section below titled “Return of Federal Title IV Funds”.

                                    Tuition Calculation - Schedule for Undergraduate & Graduate Degree Programs

Day Amount of Refund Day Amount of Refund Day Amount of Refund
0 100% 15 78% 30 57%
1 98% 16 77% 31 55%
2 97% 17 75% 32 54%
3 95% 18 74% 33 52%
4 94% 19 72% 34 51%
5 92% 20 71% 35 50%
6 91% 21 70% 36 48%
7 90% 22 68% 37 47%
8 88% 23 67% 38 45%
9 87% 24 65% 39 44%
10 85% 25 64% 40 42%
11 84% 26 62% 41 41%
12 82% 27 61% 42 (60%) 40%
13 81% 28 60% 43 or more 0%
14 80% 29 58%    

Disclaimer: This schedule is an illustration of a tuition calculation based on a semester consisting of 70 class days and should be used as a guideline.  The actual percentage adjustment may vary from one semester to the next and will be reflected on the student account once the separation process is complete.  This schedule should not be used to determine any adjustments to financial aid. 

Room and Meals Calculation

In the event of a student separation, room and meal plan charges will be adjusted/credited on a prorated basis throughout the entire semester.

Return of Federal Title IV Funds

According to federal regulations, the University must return any Federal Title IV funds due to the federal programs from which the student received aid during the semester within 45 days of the date of determining the separation date. Refunds are allocated in the following order:

  • Unsubsidized Federal Direct Student Loan
  • Subsidized Federal Direct Student Loan
  • Federal Direct PLUS Loan
  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
  • Other Title IV Assistance

This Separation Policy may change subject to federal regulations.