Student Account Information
Away/Multi-Campus Students
For questions pertaining to
multi-campus and away students, please call (207) 581-1526.
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Billing
Information for Financial Aid Recipients
As it becomes available each
semester, financial aid is disbursed (applied) to your student
account. At the time of disbursement, you must meet all
eligibility requirements for each type of aid or the aid will be
delayed and/or canceled. Due to federal financial aid
regulations, some types of aid take longer to process than
others. Any credit balance created by the disbursement of
financial aid is normally mailed to you by the start of each
semester, unless you have requested that funds be held on your
account.
Disbursed aid is listed on your
University of Maine bill. If all of your aid has not disbursed
by the time you receive your bill, use the
Account Information Card to let the Bursar’s Office know
the amount and type of assistance you still expect to receive.
Charges covered by “anticipated aid” will be deferred, but you
are expected to pay any remainder by the due date. If your
anticipated aid includes a Stafford Loan, reduce the amount by
3% (for lender fees) and list it on the card as “Stafford Loan
after fees”.
Failure to notify the Bursar’s
Office of any anticipated aid – and to provide the payment of
any amount due after accounting for anticipated aid – by the due
date will result in assessment of a late fee and could
eventually result in cancellation of your registration for the
semester.
Federal Perkins Loan
borrowers: a Promissory Note is mailed to you once each year
(and an Entrance interview form if you are a first time
borrower), which must be signed and returned to the Student Loan
Collection Office before the funds will be disbursed. Failure
to complete the necessary paperwork will result in cancellation
of your loan. Duplicate forms can be obtained from the Student
Loan Collection Office, Room 121 Alumni Hall, or call (207)
581-1520 or (800) 308-6148.
Federal Stafford Loan
borrowers: once your loan has been certified by the Office of
Student Financial Aid, the information will be forwarded to your
lender. If your lender does not have a Master Promissory Note (MPN)
on file, one will be mailed to your permanent address. Your
lender cannot disburse loan funds until they have a completed
MPN and until the disbursement date has been reached. First
time borrowers must complete an entrance interview before funds
can be placed on your account. For first time, first year
borrowers, the earliest funds can be disbursed is 30 days after
the start of the semester. Single semester loans must be
disbursed in two equal parts, the second half no earlier than
the midpoint of the semester. If you have a question regarding
disbursement contact Sallie Mae at 1-800-824-7044 or call the
Office of Student Financial Aid at 207-581-1324.
Federal Work-Study recipients:
your award represents potential earnings, which you receive in a
bi-weekly paycheck for hours worked under the Work-Study
program. This award is not reflected on your bill and the
Bursar’s Office cannot extend any credit against Work-Study. Do
not count Work-Study as anticipated aid.
Scholarships, Assistantships &
other 3rd-Party Assistance recipients: Please indicate on the
Account Information Card the amount and nature of the
assistance you anticipate. Any remaining amount due must be
paid by the due date on the bill to avoid being assessed a late
fee. Please refer to any instructions provided by the awarding
organization or agency in order to facilitate the receipt of
your outside assistance.
Changes to Your Financial Aid
Award: your award can be revised at any time during the year
and may result in changes to the amount due on your student
account. Adjustments to your financial aid award can result
from receipt of additional assistance not already included in
your financial aid award; or changes in your/your parents’
financial situation, your residency status (tuition rate),
enrollment status, and/or housing plans. To discuss the impact
of such changes, contact the Office of Student Financial Aid at
(207) 581-1324.
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General
Student Account Billing Information
The University expects the
student to be financially responsible. All accounts are carried
in the name of the student, regardless of the source of
payment. Bills and statements are mailed to the student, not
the parent. All charges are payable in full two weeks before
the first day of class for each semester. After that, a $100.00
late payment fee is assessed. After the fourth week of
classes, students with accounts that have not been paid or
deferred to financial aid will have their class registrations
reviewed for possible cancellation.
Reinstatement of registration
after cancellation will be allowed only upon prepayment of all
charges, including a $100.00 reinstatement fee. Failure to be
reinstated after cancellation will result in a one semester
prohibition of registration.
Financially delinquent students
will be subject to the following administrative sanctions:
a. They are prevented from
receiving an official certified copy of their transcript and
diploma.
b. They are prevented from
registration or pre-registration at any campus in the University
of Maine System.
c. The University of Maine
System or its campuses may disclose (directly or through
its collection agencies) to a credit bureau organization that
the student has failed to pay an assessed charge.
d. The University of Maine
System or its campuses may use in-house collection efforts,
commercial firms, legal services, and the State of Maine Bureau
of Taxation for collection on the accounts.
The financial requirements of
the University, changing costs, state and legislative action and
other matters may require an adjustment of these charges and
expenses. The University reserves the right to make such
adjustments to the estimated charges and expenses as may from
time to time be necessary in the opinion of the Board of
Trustees up to the date of final registration for a given
academic term. The applicant acknowledges this reservation and
agrees to the financial terms and conditions of the University
by the submission of an application or by registration.
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Hope
Scholarship Information
The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997
("Act") provides taxpayers with higher education tax incentives,
including two new nonrefundable tax credits for payments made
for qualified tuition and related expenses (not including
activities fees, books, or room and board) for post-secondary
education. The Act permits a taxpayer to claim the Hope
Scholarship Credit to a maximum credit of $1,500 of qualified
tuition and related expenses paid on behalf of a person claimed
as a taxpayer’s dependent for the first two years of
post-secondary education at an eligible institution, provided
the student and the taxpayer claiming the credit meet certain
eligibility requirements. Fees paid for tuition after the first
two years of post-secondary education are eligible for the new
"Lifetime Learning Credit." A full explanation of the new tax
benefits can be found in the IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits
for Higher Education, which is also available on the Internet at
www.irs.gov/publications/p970.
The Act imposes a reporting
obligation on all educational organizations that receive
qualified tuition and related expense payments. The University
of Maine System has contracted the services of National Computer
Services, Inc. ("NCS") to maintain and distribute information
consistent with the Act and the format required by the IRS. For
each tax year, the University of Maine System will mail the IRS
Form 1098-T by February 1st of the next calendar year,
reflecting the following information:
- Name, address, and Social
Security Number of the student
- Name, address, contact name
and telephone number, and employer ID of the College
- Indication whether the
student attended more or less than half time during the year
- Indication whether the
student was enrolled exclusively in graduate level courses
- The same information will
also be provided to the IRS by March 31st of the next calendar
year.
Additional information about
your tuition and fee payments may be obtained from the
University's
Web DSIS site (need ID # and PIN) in the student bill
section, or by calling the Bursar's Office at 207-581-1521.
Whether a taxpayer may take
advantage of these benefits depends on the taxpayer’s individual
facts and circumstances.
The preceding summary is for
informational use only and should not be relied upon for tax
planning purposes. Neither NCS or the University of Maine System
can provide legal or tax advice on this matter. Again, please
refer to
IRS Publication 970 or consult with your own personal
tax advisor.
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Invoices
and Due Dates
For the Spring 2008 semester, students
registering between November 5, 2007 and December 14, 2007 will
be billed with a payment due date of January 2, 2008. Students
registering between December 15, 2007 and January 4, 2008 will
be billed with a payment due date of January 22, 2008. Students
registering between January 5, 2008 and February 1, 2008 will
be billed with a payment due date of February 19, 2008.
Initial semester bills are
mailed to the student's home address approximately 30 days
before the start of a semester. Charges are calculated using
pre-registrations, room sign-up information, and data supplied
by the Admissions Office. Email notifications concerning
student accounts will be sent periodically until the bill is
paid in full. Students may view their accounts on
WebDSIS anytime 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
The student receives a billing
statement and packet of information from the University. With
the first bill for the fall, spring and summer semesters, the
student receives an
account information card which is used to notify the
University of any payments from other sources that are not shown
on the billing statement (i.e. scholarships, Perkins/Stafford
Loans).
The student completes the
account information card by noting 1) amount due from
bill (current balance due); 2) amount from other sources; 3)
payment enclosed (for any balance not covered by the other
sources).
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Native
American Student Information
For questions pertaining to
Native American Student Charges and account status, please call
(207) 581-1526
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Add/Drop
Refund Policy
Students will be given
financial credit for courses which are dropped during the
Add-Drop period only (the first two weeks of the semester). No
financial adjustment will be made to students' accounts for
courses dropped after this period.
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The
University of Maine Refund Policy
Tuition,
Fee, Room and Board Refunds
Student charges will be
refunded to students who are voluntarily withdrawing or dropping
courses from the University of Maine System institutions in
accordance with the schedule and provisions set forth below. For
purposes of these procedures, withdrawal is defined as students
who give official notification of their withdrawal to the
university after a semester/session begins. Dropping courses is
defined as a reduction in course load while remaining enrolled
in the university. Refunds for drops are issued during the first
two weeks only. Some fees are not refundable and they include
application, matriculation and new student program fees. If a
student leaves the university without official notification
(dropout), these procedures do not apply and thus dropouts are
not entitled to refunds.
Determination of Attendance:
For purposes of calculating refunds, the attendance period
begins on the opening day of scheduled university classes,
included weekends and holidays, and ends on the date the student
notifies the registrar/records office (or designated office) in
writing, that (s)he is withdrawing.
Board Refunds: Students who
withdraw from the university will be charged for board funds
expended and/or for meals at the daily established rate through
the date of clearance. Any remaining balance will be refunded in
accordance with the residence hall contract.
Room Refunds for Sessions Less
Than 11 Weeks, and Other Situations: All room refunds will be
governed by the terms and conditions of the residence hall
contract. The room and board contract is for the academic year
or the balance of the academic year if entering after the start
of the fall semester. If an occupant leaves the residence hall
and does not withdraw from the University, the charges for room
and board will be through the end of the academic year.
Exceptions will be made only in cases of illness, extreme
hardship or when an occupant leaves for the convenience of the
University. The charges in these cases will be determined by
Student Auxiliary Services according to the circumstances of
each case.
Students applying for an
exception to the above must complete an exception request form
available at the Office of Housing Services. Additional medical
or financial documentation may be requested and should be
submitted with the completed form. Upon completion, a meeting
may be scheduled with the Assistant Director for Residents'
Retention to review and discuss the request. If the decision of
the Assistant Director is unsatisfactory to the student, he/she
may make a final appeal to the Executive Director of Student
Auxiliary Services. If the request is denied the terms of the
contract remain in force. If an exception is granted, the
student must move out by the date indicated on the exception
form. Failure to move out by this date shall render the
exception null and void.
|
Semester/Session 11 Weeks or
Longer |
|
Action and Date |
Tuition & Fees
Refund |
Room
Refund |
|
Cancellation prior to the first day of semester/session |
100% |
100% |
|
Withdrawal/drop prior to the end of the first week |
100% |
100% |
|
Withdrawal/drop prior to the end of the second week |
100% |
75% |
|
Withdrawal prior to the end of the third week |
50% |
50% |
|
Withdrawal prior to the end of the fourth week |
50% |
25% |
|
Withdrawal prior to the end of the fifth week |
50% |
0% |
|
Withdrawal prior to the end of the eighth week |
25% |
0% |
|
Withdrawal after the eighth week |
0% |
0% |
|
Session less than 11 weeks |
|
Action and Date |
Tuition & Fees
Refund |
|
Cancellation through the first
day of classes |
100% |
|
Withdrawal after the first day
until 30% of the term has expired |
50% |
|
Withdrawal after 30% of the
term has expired and until 60% of has expired |
25% |
|
Withdrawal after 60% of the
term has expired |
0% |
Advance Deposits: No part of
an advance deposit is refundable after May 1 (January 1 for
Spring) for tuition and fees and after June 1 (January 1 for
Spring) for room charges for students withdrawing from a
University of Maine System institution. Although such deposits
are applicable to tuition and room charges for students who
remain enrolled, students who withdraw forfeit them.
Involuntary Withdrawals:
Consideration for retroactive refunds of tuition and fees for
involuntary withdrawals, e.g., extended illness or military
service, will be considered by the university on a case-by-case
basis. Administrative dismissals are not covered by these
procedures and thus are not entitled to refunds of institutional
charges.
Statute of Limitations:
Appeals for the exception to the established refund practice may
be made to the designated university official. Normally, appeals
will be considered up to 90 days after the close of the
semester/session for which the student is claiming a refund. For
a typical semester/session the dates are no later then March 31
(Fall ), August 31 (Spring) and November 30 (Summer). University
academic appeals committees hear appeals on academic matters and
have no authority to authorize refunds.
I. Definitions and Guidelines
for Involuntary and Voluntary Withdrawals:
Involuntary Withdrawal - In
order to be eligible for a refund under the conditions below,
the student must submit the required notification of withdrawal
and the appropriate substantiating data that supports the
withdrawal to the appropriate university office. The university
official makes a decision based on the documentation and/or
conditions presented. Involuntary withdrawals may include but
are not limited to the following:
- Involuntary active duty in
the armed forces - The request for withdrawal must be
substantiated with copies of military orders that show proof
of date of entry. The individual's commanding officer or
another appropriate official must sign the orders.
- Illness of the student or an
immediate family member - A physician's certification must be
provided stating the student's or family member's illness that
required the student's withdrawal.
- Death of the student or an
immediate member of the family - Appropriate documentation
must accompany the request for withdrawal.
- Involuntary transfer by the
student's employer that precluded continued enrollment (armed
services are considered employers under this section - The
request for withdrawal must be substantiated by appropriate
documentation from the employer.
Please contact the Associate
Dean of the college enrolled in, to obtain more information
concerning Retroactive Withdrawals.
Voluntary Withdrawal -
Voluntary withdrawal results from students who give
official notification of their withdrawal to the university
after a semester/session begins.
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Student
Financial Appeal Process
The following is an appeal
process for students who dispute financial claims by the
University of Maine System or one of its campuses; i.e.,
tuition, fees, room and board, and amounts due on outstanding
student loans.
-
Students should submit a written statement to
the campus business officer or other designated campus
official stating the amount and nature of the disagreement and
why he or she feels the charge is incorrect.
-
Students should submit their written
appeal within thirty (30) days of the initial billing of a
disputed charge. The campus business officer or other
designated official should respond in writing to the student's
complaint within thirty (30) days of the receipt of the
appeal.
-
If the campus business officer or other
designated official's decision is considered incorrect by the
student, the student may appeal that decision (within 30 days)
in the following order:
-
To the Chief Financial Officer or equivalent
official as designated by the campus.
- To the President of the campus, whose decision shall be
final.
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