Policies, Standards and Guidelines

Responsibilities and Rights of Students

While student financial aid often seems to be at the discretion of the institution, you have certain rights and responsibilities.

Rights

• You have the right to know what student financial aid programs are available at the university.
• You have the right to know the deadlines for submitting applications for each of the student financial aid programs available.
• You have the right to know how student financial aid will be distributed, how decisions on that distribution are made, and the basis for these decisions.
• You have the right to know how your financial aid was determined. This includes how the costs for tuition and fees, room and board, travel, books and supplies, and personal and miscellaneous expenses were considered in your budget.
• You have the right to know what resources (such as parental contribution, other student financial aid, and your assets) were considered in the calculation of your award.
• You have the right to know how much of your financial need, as determined by the university, has been met.
• You have the right to request an explanation of the various programs in your student financial aid package.
• You have the right to know the University's Return of Title IV Funds Policy.
• You have the right to higher education.
• You have the right to be free of discrimination.
• You have the right to free speech, expression and association.
• You have the right of privacy.
• You have the right of due process.
• You have the right to participate in policy development.
• You have the right in decision-making.
• You have the right to student organizations.
• You have the right to student publications.
• You have the right to know what portion of the student financial aid you receive must be repaid and what portion is from a grant. You have the right to decline your loan award. If you receive a loan, you have the right to know what the interest rate is, the total amount to be repaid, the payback procedures, the length of time you have to repay the loan, and when repayment is to begin.

Responsibilities

• You must complete all application forms and submit them on time to the right place.
• You must provide correct information. In most instances, misreporting information on student financial aid forms is a violation of federal law and may be considered a criminal offense that could result in indictment under the U.S. Criminal Code
• You must provide all additional documentation, verifications, corrections and other information either the Office requested by of Financial Aid or the agency to which you submitted your application.
• You are responsible for reading and understanding all forms that you sign and for retaining your copies.
• You must accept responsibility for all agreements that you sign.
• You must perform the work that is agreed upon in accepting a FCWS or TXCWS award.
• You must be aware of, and comply with, the deadlines for application or re-application for student financial aid.
• You should be aware of your institution's refund policies and procedures.
• The university must provide information upon request to prospective students about the institution's academic program, its student retention, its student placement rate, and its crime rate. You should consider this information carefully before deciding to attend a specific institution.
• You should be familiar with this section of the financial aid and general catalog dealing with student financial aid. Special attention should be paid to the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy and the Return of Title IV Funds Policy.
• You should be aware that if you transfer from one institution to another, your student financial aid does not automatically transfer with you.
• You are responsible for reporting name and address changes directly to the Office of Financial Aid and the lenders of any educational loans you receive.