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    Withdrawal and Refund Policies

    What You Need to Know Before You Go

    We understand that many unexpected events may cause you to decide to withdraw from the University of Florida (UF), but withdrawing has many important consequences, both academic and financial. To be sure you are making an informed decision, we urge you to read this page BEFORE you decide to withdraw.

    Did You Know?

    Withdrawal Procedures

    Read this page thoroughly to make sure you understand the effect your withdrawal will have on your academic status and what your financial obligations may be.

    If you have questions about the information in this brochure, go to the appropriate office and ask to speak with an adviser.

    When you are ready to withdraw, go to the Dean of Students Office, 202 Peabody Hall, and make an appointment to see an assistant dean. You will complete a withdrawal form at that time.

    If you have received a student loan while enrolled at UF, go to University Financial Services, S113 Criser Hall, to complete a student loan exit interview. At that time, you will be advised about your student loan repayment options and obligations.

    If you are living in university housing, go to the housing office to discuss the process to move out.

    Academic Issues

    We encourage you to meet with your academic adviser to discuss your academic plan to stay on track toward graduation. If you do not plan to re-enroll at UF, the adviser will also assist you in discussing transfer options.

    University policies concerning grades for withdrawn courses can be found in the University of Florida Undergraduate Catalog.

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    Tuition and Fee Refunds

    If you withdraw before the end of the fourth week of classes (fall and spring), you may be eligible for a partial refund of tuition and fees. The University of Florida tuition refund policy is listed in the UF Undergraduate Catalog.

    If you are receiving financial aid, your refund will be returned first to the aid programs and any additional amount remaining will be mailed to you.

    Residence Hall and Village Housing Withdrawal/ Cancellation Policies

    Residence Halls

    If you are living in on-campus housing you must notify your Residence Hall Area Office in writing (a dated signature required) within two business days of your academic withdrawal. You are required to vacate your assigned housing space within three days of withdrawal.

    Housing rent charges will be calculated from the day housing officially opens until you vacate the room. You must complete a cancellation form at your Residence Hall Area Office. The following refund policy applies to students who withdraw while receiving federal Title IV financial aid (see the “Financial Aid Policies” section):

    Housing Cancellation Charges for Fall and Spring Terms

    Village Housing (Families and Single Graduate Students)

    A village resident who withdraws must notify the Department of Housing and Residence Education, Village Housing Assignments Office (next to Beaty Towers, at the corner of Museum Road and SW 13th Street) within two business days of the student’s academic withdrawal. Notification must be made in writing, and a dated signature is required.

    Address: Village Housing
    PO Box 112100
    Gainesville, FL 32611-2100
    FAX: (352) 392-6819

    Student village residents are strongly encouraged to present their written notifications in person so an on-site review of their payment sources and eligibility to continue living in Village Housing can be completed.

    Important: If the amount of federal financial aid required to be repaid on your behalf (see “Financial Aid Policies” below) is greater than the amount you would receive back under the housing refund policy for residence hall and village housing, you will be billed by the university for the difference.

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    Financial Aid Policies

    Withdrawals

    Students who wish to withdraw must follow UF's official withdrawal policy. Detailed UF procedures, coordinated by the Dean of Students Office, can be found at: www.dso.ufl.edu/supportservices/withdrawals.php .

    If you officially withdraw or stop attending all courses, you may be required to repay all or part of the financial aid disbursed to you in the term you withdraw.

    Students receiving federal funds may be required to repay aid determined to be "unearned." The earned/unearned calculation is based on the percentage of days you attended during the term in which you withdrew. The amount of aid you have earned is determined on a pro-rata basis. That is, if you completed thirty percent of the term in which you withdrew, you earn 30 percent of the federal aid you received. Once you have completed 60 percent of the term, you are considered to have earned all of your aid.
    The difference between your earned federal aid and 100 percent equals the percentage of unearned federal funds that are subject to repayment. Federal regulations require Title IV aid to be refunded in the following order:

    1. Federal Direct Grad PLUS Loans
    2. Federal Direct Unsubsidized Stafford Loans
    3. Federal Direct Stafford Loans
    4. Federal Perkins Loans
    5. Federal Direct PLUS Loans (Loans for Parents)
    6. Federal Pell Grants
    7. ACG
    8. National SMART Grant
    9. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants

    Any loan funds that you must return, you (or your parent for a PLUS Loan) may repay in accordance with the terms of your promissory note. That is, you make scheduled payments to the holder of the loan over a period of time. For grants, the law provides that you return 50% of any grant you receive that is your responsibility to repay. Any amount you do have to return is a grant overpayment, and you must make arrangements with UF or the U.S. Department of Education to return the funds.

    Please Note:

    1. You may also be required to repay other federal, state, institutional, or private student financial aid programs based on the terms and conditions associated with those programs.

    2. UF is required to return to the applicable federal program account the unearned percentage of institutional charges (tuition, fees, on-campus housing). You may be billed by UF for any funds returned on your behalf.

    3. UF's tuition refund policy is separate from the federal requirement to return unearned aid. Whether or not you receive a tuition/fee refund has no bearing on the amount you must repay under this formula.

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    Return of Federal Aid

    If you are a recipient of federal financial aid (Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), ACG, National SMART Grant, Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Stafford Loans or Federal PLUS loans), federal rules require that any unearned portion of your federal aid must be returned to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE). The amount you have earned is based on the number of days you attended classes as compared to the number of days in the entire term (first day of classes to the end of finals week). For example, if you attend 25% of the semester and then withdraw, you have "earned" 25% of the federal aid you received and 75% is "unearned." Once you have attended more than 60% of the semester, you are considered to have earned 100% of your federal aid.

    The University of Florida will return to DOE the lesser of the your unearned federal aid or the unearned percentage of your institutional charges (generally, tuition, fees and university housing.) This money will be returned to the aid programs you received in the following order:

    If the amount we must return on your behalf is greater than the amount you would receive back under the University of Florida's refund policies, you will be billed by the University of Florida for the difference.

    You may also be required to return additional federal aid that was provided to you to cover living expenses. If the funds you must repay are loans, you will be permitted to repay the loans under the terms of your promissory note, and repayment will not usually begin until six months after you leave school. If the funds you must repay are grants, federal regulations allow one-half of the grant repayment to be forgiven. Please refer to “Return of Federal Aid Withdrawal Example” in this brochure if you want more information about how the return of federal aid is calculated.

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    Return of Federal Aid Withdrawal Example

    A student withdraws on day 23 of a 115-day term. The student received $3,875 in federal aid from Pell Grant ($1,375), SEOG ($1,000), and Stafford Loan ($1,500). Institutional charges are $1,000 for tuition and $1,500 for university housing. Based on the date of withdrawal, the student was eligible for a 25% tuition refund.

    Step 1: Calculate the percentage of aid earned/unearned:

    Withdrawal date: Day 23 of 115-Day Term
    23/115 = 20% Earned
    92/115 = 80% Unearned

    Aid received: $1,500 Stafford Loan
    $1,375 Pell Grant
    +$1,000 SEOG
    $3,875 Total

    $3,875 x 20% = $ 775 Earned
    $3,875 x 80% = $3,100 Unearned

    Step 2: Determine the unearned amount that UF must return to DOE on student's behalf:

    Institutional charges:
    $1,000 Tuition/Fees
    +$1,500 Housing
    $2,500 Total

    $2,500 x 20% = $ 500 Earned
    $2,500 x 80% = $2,000 Unearned

    UF returns to DOE the lesser of the unearned aid or unearned institutional charges ($2,000 in this example.) Fifteen hundred dollars ($1,500) will be credited to Stafford Loan and $500 to Pell Grant.

    Step 3: Determine if any institutional refunds offset a portion of what UF returns to DOE:

    $ 250 Tuition refund (25% total tuition)
    +$1,122 Housing refund
    $1,372 Total UF refunds

    $1,000 ÷ $2,500 = 40% x $2,000 = $800 – Tuition

    $ 800 Tuition
    - $ 250 Tuition refund
    $ 550 owed by student to UF

    $1,500 ÷ $2,500 = 60% x $2,000 = $1,200 – Housing

    $1,200 Housing
    - $1,122 Housing refund
    $ 78 owed by student to UF

    Total owed to UF by the student: $550 + $78 = $628

    Step 4: Determine if the student owes additional unearned federal aid

    $3,100 Unearned aid
    - $2,000 Paid by UF to DOE
    $1,100 Student owes DOE (grants)

    $1,100 Student owes DOE
    - $ 550 50% grant waived by DOE
    $ 550 Student owes DOE (Pell Grant)

    The bottom line: STUDENT MUST PAY

    $ 628 To UF
    + $ 550 To DOE (Pell Grant)
    $1,178 Owed by student *

    *This is just an example. The amount you may owe will depend on the types and amount of aid you receive and on the day in the term that you withdraw.

    University Financial Services will calculate the amount of aid you have earned/unearned and will notify you by mail of the amount repaid on your behalf, any additional amounts you owe and the procedures for making your repayment.

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    Refunds

    If, as a result of withdrawal, cancellation, or termination of attendance, you are entitled to a refund of tuition/fees (determined by University Financial Services) or campus housing charges (determined by the Department of Housing and Residence Education) and you received aid for the same payment period, part of your refund will be returned to the appropriate federal Title IV or institutional account. After accounts from which you received aid have been reimbursed, any amount remaining will be returned to you.

    Other Financial Aid Policies

    To continue receiving financial aid at UF, you must maintain satisfactory academic progress. UF’s Academic Progress Policy for Financial Aid Recipients permits one withdrawal without penalty. Your financial aid eligibility will be terminated if you withdraw more than once while receiving student financial aid. If you have extenuating circumstances, you may appeal this decision by visiting your financial aid adviser in S-107 Criser Hall. The complete academic progress policy is available in the Office for Student Financial Affairs, S-107 Criser Hall or on the web under UF Policies that Affect You,

    Many financial aid programs, including the Florida Bright Futures Scholarships and Florida Student Assistance Grant, require you to successfully complete a certain number of credit hours each year. Withdrawing from school may make it more difficult to earn sufficient hours for renewal. Be sure you understand the terms and conditions for the aid you receive.

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    Withdrawal from the University of Florida for Active Military Service

    Please read the brochure "Factors in Withdrawal from the University of Florida for Active Military Service" (pdf document).

    We Are Here to Help!

    The Dean of Students Office, Department of Housing and Residence Education, Office for Student Financial Affairs, Office of the University Registrar, and University Financial Services have collaborated to put this brochure together to assist you. If you have questions or need any additional information, staff in any of these offices will be happy to help.

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