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Return of Title IV Funds Policy

The Higher Education Amendments of 1998 changed the formula for calculating the amount of aid a student and school can retain when the student totally withdraws from all classes. Students who withdraw from all classes prior to completing more than 60% of an enrollment term will have their eligibility for aid recalculated based on the percent of the term completed. For example, a student who withdraws completing only 30% of the term will have "earned" only 30% of any Title IV aid received. The remaining 70% must be returned by the school and/or the student. The Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid (OSFA) encourages you to read this policy carefully. If you are thinking about withdrawing from all classes PRIOR to completing 60% of the semester, you should contact the OSFA to see how your withdrawal will affect your financial aid.
  1. This policy shall apply to all students who withdraw, drop out or are expelled from the University of Houston-Downtown (UHD), and receive financial aid from Title IV funds:
    1. The term "Title IV Funds" refers to the Federal financial aid programs authorized under the Higher Education Act of 1965 (as amended) and includes the following programs:

      2. Unsubsidized FFEL loans, subsidized FFEL loans, FFEL PLUS loans, Federal Direct PLUS loans, Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOG, Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership Grants (LEAP).

    2. A student’s withdrawal date is:
      1. the date the student began the institution’s withdrawal process (as described in the UHD Class Schedule) or officially notified the institution of intent to withdraw; or
      2. the midpoint of the period for a student who leaves without notifying the institution; or
      3. the student’s last date of attendance at a documented academically-related activity.
  1. Refunds on all institutional charges, including tuition and fees, will be calculated using the state refund policy published in the UHD Class Schedule.
  2. Title IV aid is earned in a prorated manner on a per diem basis up to and including the 60% point in the semester. Title IV aid and all other aid is viewed as 100% earned after that point in time.
    1. The percentage of Title IV aid earned shall be calculated as follows:

      2. Number of days completed by student

      Total number of days in term*

      The percent of term completed shall be the percentage of Title IV aid earned by the student.

      *The total number of calendar days in a term of enrollment shall exclude any scheduled breaks of more than five days.

    2. The percentage of Title IV aid unearned (i.e., to be returned to the appropriate program) shall be 100% minus the percent earned.
    3. Unearned aid shall be returned first by UHD from the student’s account calculated as follows:

      4. Total institutional charges X percent of unearned aid = amount returned to program(s)

      Unearned Title IV aid shall be returned to the following programs in the following order:

      1. Unsubsidized Stafford Loan

      4. Federal Pell Grant

      2. Subsidized Stafford Loan

      5. Federal SEOG

      3. Parent Loans to Undergraduate Students (PLUS)

      6. Other Title IV grant programs

      Exception: no program can receive a refund if the student did not receive aid from that program.

    4. When the total amount of unearned aid is greater than the amount returned by UHD from the student’s account, the student is responsible for returning unearned aid to the appropriate program(s) as follows:

    1. Unsubsidized Stafford Loan*

    4. Federal Pell Grant**

    2. Subsidized Stafford Loan*

    5. Federal SEOG**

    3. Parent Loans to Undergraduate Students (PLUS)*

    6. Other Title IV grant programs**

    *Loans amounts are returned with the terms of the promissory note.

    **Amounts to be returned by the student to federal grant programs will receive a 50% discount.

  3. Refunds and adjusted bills will be sent to the student’s home address on file in the Office of Admissions and Records following withdrawal. Students are responsible for any portion of their institutional charges that are left outstanding after Title IV funds are returned.
  4. Institutional and student responsibilities in regard to the return of Title IV funds.
    1. UHD’s responsibilities in regard to the return of Title IV funds include:
      1. providing each student with the information given in this policy;
      2. identifying students who are affected by this policy and completing the Return of Title IV Funds calculation for those students;
      3. returning any Title IV funds that are due the Title IV programs.
    2. The student’s responsibilities in regard to the return of Title IV funds include:
      1. becoming familiar with the Return of Title IV policy and how complete withdrawal affects eligibility for Title IV aid;
      2. returning to the Title IV programs any funds that were disbursed directly to the student and which the student was determined to be ineligible for via the Return of Title IV Funds calculation.
  5. The fees, procedures, and policies listed above supersede those published previously and are subject to change at any time.
  6. Any notification of a withdrawal or cancellation of classes should be in writing and addressed to the Office of Admissions and Records. Such notification may be made by facsimile.

If you would like examples of the refund policy, contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid.

Back to Keeping Your Financial Aid

 
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