Returns to Title IV Funds: Crookston

Withdrawals

A student may find it necessary to withdraw from all classes during a semester. If the student received financial aid, the University of Minnesota Crookston, the student, may be required to return all or a portion of the financial aid that they accepted to the University, the federal/state government, or both.

The student is encouraged to contact a student finance counselor and academic advisor so their decision will be based on a clear understanding of the consequences of withdrawing from all classes.

If the student does not formally withdraw, but stops attending classes and does not successfully complete any credits, the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships will calculate their financial aid earned based on their last date of class attendance as determined by their instructor and bill the student for the unearned portion of the financial aid they received. Instructors must indicate last date of attendance (participation) on the grade submission report when reporting an F or N grade.

Return of Financial Aid

Title IV funds are awarded to a student under the assumption that the student will attend school for the entire period for which the assistance is awarded. When a student withdraws, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV funds that the student was originally scheduled to receive.

The following rules apply when a school is completing a Return calculation for a student.

• A school must always return any unearned Title IV funds it is responsible for returning within 45 days of the date the school determined the student withdrew, and offer any Post-withdrawal disbursement of loan funds within 30 days of that date.
• A school must disburse any Title IV grant funds a student is due as part of a Post-withdrawal disbursement within 45 days of the date the school determined the student withdrew, and disburse any loan funds a student accepts within 180 days of that date.
• Unless a student subject to verification has provided all required verification documents in time for the school to meet the Return deadlines, the school includes as Aid Disbursed or Aid That Could Have Been Disbursed in the Return calculation only those Title IV funds not subject to verification.
• If a student who failed to provide all required verification documents in time for the school to meet the Return deadline later provides those documents prior to the applicable verification deadline, the school must perform a new Return calculation on all of the aid the student qualified for based on the completed verification documents and make the appropriate adjustments.

Repayment of Financial Aid

A student may be required to repay to the University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) all or a portion of the financial aid they received if the they:

• cancel some or all of their credit courses;
• receive scholarships, grants, or fellowships not awarded through the Office of Financial Aid & Scholarships;
• change their state of residency;
• receive funds for which they are ineligible;
• receive aid that exceeds their calculated need and/or cost of attendance; or
• do not complete college courses.

Federal Title IV Funds

The federal formula requires a return of Title IV financial aid if the student:

• received federal assistance in the form of a Federal Pell Grant; Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG); Federal Perkins Loan; Federal Direct Loan (subsidized or unsubsidized); PLUS (parent) loan; and
• withdrew on or before completing 60 percent of the semester, the federal government mandates that the student may only keep the financial aid that they have earned up to the time they withdraw from all classes.

To determine the amount of federal aid earned up to the time of withdrawal, the financial aid staff will divide the number of calendar days the student attended classes by the total number of calendar days in the semester (less any scheduled break of five days or more). The resulting percentage is then multiplied by the total federal funds that were accepted. This calculation determines the amount of aid that the student earned and is allowed to keep.

The unearned portion of the aid must be returned to the federal Title IV program from which the aid was received by the University and/or by the student. Notice will be sent to the student’s home address if their financial aid is reduced and a return is required. If the student is required to return any Title IV loan funds, they will be contacted by Direct Loans with repayment information. If the University is required to return any Title IV funds, the change will be reflected on the student account.

Financial aid returned by the student and/or their parent or the University must be allocated in the following order:

1. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan
2. Federal Direct Subsidized Loan
3. Federal Perkins Loan
4. Federal Direct PLUS Parent Loan
5. Federal Pell Grant
6. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
7. Any other federal loan or grant assistance

State of Minnesota Funds

A student who cancels a portion of their enrollment or completely withdraws from classes during the semester may be required to return all or a portion of the State of Minnesota financial aid to the state financial aid program from which the aid was received.

This may include:

• Minnesota State Grant
• Student Educational Loan Fund (SELF)
• Minnesota State Postsecondary Child Care Grant
• Minnesota Public Service Safety Officer Program
• Any other State of Minnesota assistance

If the student withdraws from all of their courses, state funds are subject to a worksheet calculation based on the federal Return of Title IV funds formula, in addition to other contingencies. If the student drops credits, but still maintain some enrollment, state financial aid funds may be reduced by the amount of any tuition and fee refund received by them. Notice will be sent to the student’s home address if their financial aid is reduced and a return is required.

University of Minnesota Crookston Institutional Funds

If a student completely withdraws on or before completing 60 percent of the semester, the student may be required to return all or a portion of their University of Minnesota Crookston (UMC) financial aid to the financial aid program from which the aid was received. For example, this may include:

• Athletic Scholarships
• University of MN Grant
• University Scholarships
• U Promise

To determine the amount of institutional aid earned up to the time of withdrawal, the number of calendar days the student attended classes will be divided by the total number of calendar days in the semester (less any scheduled break of five days or more). The resulting percentage is then multiplied by the total University funds that the student accepted. This calculation determines the amount of aid that the student earned and is allowed to keep. The unearned amount of aid must be returned to the institutional program(s) by the University. Notice will be sent to the student’s UMC email account if their financial aid is reduced and a return is required.

Holds

If the required calculation determines that the student’s refund is insufficient to repay the appropriate financial aid fund(s), the student may be billed by UMC. Grade transcript and registration records will have a hold placed if the bill is not paid by the due date. The student will be unable to receive any further aid until the bill is paid in full. Late fees will be assessed for overdue payments.

The student is responsible for contacting the UMC Business Office to arrange a repayment schedule for all University loans and/or unpaid balances if in the next term they:

• Do not register at the University of Minnesota Crookston.
• Graduate from the University of Minnesota Crookston.
• Transfer to another college or university.
• Drop below half-time status.