College of Arts and Science Academic Catalog 2008-2009
Fees and Financial Aid
Tuition and fees
Tuition and Fees are approved by the Board of Visitors prior to each academic year. The yearly tuition and fee schedule can be found on the Student Accounts website (www.umw.edu/studentaccounts). Any changes to the schedule of fees will be announced immediately. Questions about fees and payment procedures should be directed to the Office of Student Accounts in George Washington Hall (540/654-1250). Questions about financial aid or assistance should be addressed to the Office of Financial Aid, Lee Hall (540/654-2468).
Residential Fee - The residential fee is the cost per semester for on campus housing. This fee includes health center services; however, students may incur additional charges for prescriptions, injections, medical supplies, etc.
Meal Plans - University of Mary Washington offers five different meal plan options to residential students: a Super Meal, 15-meal, 9-meal, Unlimited 9 meal plan or 90 Meal Block plan (For UMW Apartment students and Commuters only). Each meal plan comes with flex dollars, which may be used to purchase additional meals or to eat in the Eagle’s Nest. EagleOne Dollars may also be used for additional dining meals. All residential students are required to enroll in one of the five meal plans. All freshmen may choose from the Super Meal or the 15-meal plan. A 5-meal plan is available to commuting students only. Commuting students may sign up for any of the plans offered at UMW.
UMW EAGLEONE CARD
The University of Mary Washington EagleOne Identification Card is the only card a student needs at the University. The card acts as a form of identification allowing access to the library, gymnasium, and other University buildings and activities. It contains the students’ meal plan and flex dollar information for University food service. It is also a debit card. Money may be added in the form of EagleOne Dollars which can then be debited from the balance for use in the University Bookstore, the Eagle’s Nest, the Restaurants at Seacobeck, UMW Health Center, laundry, vending, University Tennis Center, theater productions, pay-to-print locations, Copy Center, Post Office, EagleExpress Cart and other locations on campus. Various Fredericksburg area merchants accept the EagleOne card as payment. A list of participating merchants is available online at eagleone.umw.edu.
EagleOne cardholders may check their account balances, deposit funds, and download statements at eagleone.umw.edu.
OTHER FEES
All other fees vary by academic year. For the most up to date fees please visit the Student Accounts website (www.umw.edu/studentaccounts).
Mandatory Processing Fee. A non-refundable mandatory processing fee is charged to any student that registers for classes. If the student cancels prior to the semester beginning or withdraws during the semester they are still responsible for paying the mandatory processing fee.
Audit Fee. Part-time students may audit a course for no credit on a space available basis.
Tuition Overload Fee. A full-time student registering for more than 18 semester credit hours is required to pay an additional overload fee based on their residency.
Credit-by-Examination. Degree-seeking students may take examinations for which credit may be awarded.
Special Course Fees. Some classes require the payment of a special instructional fee in addition to the tuition charge. The fee for classes in horsemanship is paid directly to the business offering the classes. Students enrolled in private lesson music classes are also subject to an additional fee per course.
Study Abroad Fee. Students studying abroad for a semester or year must pay the study abroad fee.
BLS Life/Work Portfolio. BLS candidates pay a fee for the review of a life/work portfolio.
Late Payment Fee. A fee equivalent to 10% of the unpaid account balance will be charged to students whose accounts are not paid in full by the published deadline. Interest may also be charged on all past due accounts.
Returned Check Fee. There is a service charge of $35 for each check returned for insufficient funds or similar reasons. A cashier’s check or cash is then required in place of the returned check. Checks returned for insufficient funds will be considered as nonpayment and therefore subject to the 10% late fee.
Parking Fee. There is a $200.00 parking fee for the academic year.
TERMS OF PAYMENT
All fees, including room and board, are billed to students’ UMW email accounts and are payable in advance of the beginning of the semester.
Room and Tuition Deposits. After receiving notice of acceptance for admission students must make a deposit ($500 for residential students, $250 for non-residential students) toward their tuition and fees. Please note that only $250 will be credited to the account for residential students and $250 will be held as a contingent fee to be refunded less any outstanding balance at the end of the academic year. Continuing residential students must make a housing deposit of $200 to be held as a contingent fee. These deposits are not refundable. For questions regarding these deposits, please contact the Office of Student Accounts at 540/654-1250.
Statements and Due Dates. The University emails each student a statement well in advance of the beginning of each semester, and payment is due by the date specified on the statement. Any variations from the terms of payment must be approved in writing by the Associate Vice President for Business and Finance or his/her designee.
If a full-time student has not received a statement of charges within 20 days before the beginning of the semester, the student should notify the Office of Student Accounts as soon as possible so that a statement can be prepared, emailed and paid by the due date.
Throughout the semester a student’s account may include any charges incurred for library fines, lost library books, parking tickets, prescriptions, lost keys, building and equipment damage, and other miscellaneous charges. Any student whose full account has not been settled will not be permitted to participate in graduation, receive grades or transcripts, pre-register or be eligible to return to the University until the account is settled.
Scholarship and Loan Awards. If a student is receiving financial aid through University of Mary Washington, one-half of the annual award will be shown on each semester statement. If an expected award has not been credited on the statement, the student should contact the Office of Financial Aid for clarification. Some scholarships may not be paid to the student until the successful completion of the semester. However, the student must pay his or her bill in full prior to the scholarship being received.
A student receiving financial aid from a source other than the University must make sure that the Office of Student Accounts receives notification by the statement due date of the award, its amount, and method of payment. Failure to provide notification could result in a student’s account being delinquent. Awards and loans from sources other than the University will not be credited to the account until they are actually received by the Office of Student Accounts.
Delinquent Accounts. Any charge incurred in collecting a delinquent account will be added to the account. This applies but is not limited to charges by an attorney or collection agency.
Refund of Fees. A student who withdraws from the University during the semester should promptly complete an official withdrawal form in the Office of the Registrar in George Washington Hall. A copy of the form must be sent or delivered to the Office of Student Accounts and will serve as the basis for withdrawal charges and credits.
Classification as a Virginia Student
The Code of Virginia, section 23-7.4, governs eligibility for in-state tuition rates at Virginia public institutions of higher education. In general, an independent student, or the parents or legal guardians of a dependent student, must have been legally domiciled in the Commonwealth of Virginia for one full and continuous year immediately before the first official day of class within the semester or term of the student’s program and must have paid Virginia state income tax on a full-time salary for that full year. Living in the state simply to attend school does not constitute legal domicile. Certain exceptions are made for military personnel and their dependents. Detailed questions about domiciliary status are part of each application for admission. Questions about residency status should be directed to the Office of Admissions (540/654-2486), or Office of Student Accounts (540/654-1289).
Senior Citizens
A legal resident of Virginia 60 years of age or older shall be permitted under regulations prescribed by the State Council of Higher Education to (1) register for and enroll free of charge in courses as a full-time or part-time student for academic credit if such citizen has a taxable income not exceeding $15,000 for federal income tax purposes for the year preceding the year in which the enrollment is sought, (2) register for and audit courses offered for academic credit, and (3) register for and enroll in non-credit courses in any state institution of higher education in this Commonwealth on a space-available basis.
Senior citizens pay no tuition or fees except fees established for the purpose of paying for course materials, such as laboratory fees, but shall be subject to the admission requirements of the institution and a determination by the institution of its ability to offer the course or courses for which the senior citizen registers.
A legal resident of Virginia 60 years of age or older with Federal taxable income not exceeding $15,000 may audit credit courses or enroll in non-credit courses without paying general University fees, but must pay general University fees to take courses for University credit. The application fee of $40 will be charged an applicant whose taxable income exceeds $15,000. Additional information is available through the office of the Registrar (654-1063).
Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program
The Virginia Military Survivors and Dependents Education Program (VMSDEP) provides education benefits to spouses and children of military members killed, missing in action, taken prisoner, or who became at least 90 percent disabled as a result of military service in an armed conflict.
VMSDEP provides educational benefits for children of certain Virginians who served in the Armed Forces of the United States. Eligible children attending public colleges and universities in Virginia are admitted free of tuition and all required fees. (See the Code of Virginia, Section 23-7.4:1.)
Additional information is available through the Office of Student Accounts (540-654-1250).
FINANCIAL AID
The University of Mary Washington offers financial aid to students without regard to physical ability, political affiliation, marital status, sex, color, race, religion, age, or national origin. Each year, UMW administers over $18 million in financial assistance, including educational loans totaling $14 million, for students at both the Fredericksburg and Stafford campuses. Through a comprehensive program of grants, scholarships, loans and student employment from federal, state, institutional and private resources, the Office of Financial Aid strives to assist applicants with various aid sources to pay for college expenses. Financial assistance, including scholarships, offered through the Office of Financial Aid is need-based and requires results from the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
Typically, non-Virginia students with an Expected Family Contribution or EFC of $2000 or more can expect to receive Federal Stafford student loans, possible student employment and, if eligible, Pell grants. Students with need who are residents of the Commonwealth of Virginia, may be eligible for Virginia state scholarship and grants. Priority for all scholarships and grants is given to students who maintain a minimum 2.000 UMW cumulative grade point average. Many programs require a higher grade point average.
Freshmen and transfer students must complete the FAFSA or file on-line before March 1. Returning students must file by March 15. The Title IV code for the College section is 003746. Current students selected for verification and all first-time students, as well as parents of those dependent students, must submit copies of their federal tax returns to the Office of Financial Aid in early May. Students not meeting filing and submission dates will be considered for assistance AFTER on-time filers. Since funds are limited, this may result in otherwise eligible students not receiving awards. Students must be enrolled at least half-time to receive aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progression Policy. To receive financial aid in subsequent years, students must complete a minimum of 75% (rounded up to the nearest whole number) of the credit hours attempted in an academic period. For example, full-time students enrolled for 30 credit hours during an academic year must successfully complete 23 credits. By the same standard, part-time students enrolled for a total of 12 credits must complete 9 credits. Enrollment is verified approximately three weeks after the start of classes.
The grade level and cumulative grade point average (CGPA) for courses at UMW is as follows:
Freshman Grade Level: below 30 credit hours, minimum 1.650 CGPA
Sophomore Grade Level: 30 – 59 credit hours, minimum 1.800 CGPA
Junior Grade Level: 60 – 89 credit hours, minimum 2.000 CGPA
Senior Grade Level: 90 credit hours or more, minimum 2.000 CGPA
Graduate Level: minimum 2.000 CGPA
Students who reduce their course loads or completely withdraw from UMW may owe refunds to federal, state, or institutional programs. The return of federal funds is calculated in accordance with federal guidelines and is prorated based on the actual days the student attended classes. For example, a student who withdraws after 30 days of attendance in a 105-day semester is entitled to 29% of aid disbursed. The return of State funds is based on the same percentage as the federal calculation. UMW refunds are determined by program agreements. Students who withdraw prior to enrollment verification may have all aid returned.
Coursework accepted from other institutions is included in the total number of credit hours, but is not factored into the CGPA. Satisfactory Academic Progress is checked at the end of the spring semester. Students who do not meet the above criteria may request reevaluation at the end of summer sessions or the fall semester if additional courses have been completed to meet these requirements. Students’ financial aid awards are determined at the appropriate grade level for the academic year when awards are made. For instance, first-time freshmen with fewer than 30 credits at the end of their first two semesters are considered third semester freshmen and are awarded at the freshman grade level. This is the case at every grade level.
Students may apply for Mary Washington Endowed Scholarships by completing the “Scholarship Information Form,” available at www.umw.edu/financialaid on or before May 31 for new students and May 15 for continuing students. Scholarship selection is based on academic and/or financial criteria and some qualifications can include participation in various volunteer and leadership positions. Students must complete the FAFSA to determine eligibility for need-based scholarships. Candidates are selected, through committee, during the month of June for the following academic year.
Detailed information for both campuses is available at www.umw.edu/financialaid and the Office of Financial Aid (540/654-2468).