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  7. Official Withdrawal Policy and Procedure

Official Withdrawal Policy and Procedure

A student wishing to withdraw from the university must contact Student Support Services to initiate the withdrawal process. The Official Student Withdrawal Form will be completed by Student Support Services and distributed to the following offices: Office of the Bursar, Office of the Registrar, and Office of Financial Assistance.

Federal Financial Assistance

When a student notifies Student Support Services of their intent to withdraw from all courses during a semester, the date of that notification is the official date of withdrawal from the university.  Federal funding is initially awarded and disbursed based on enrollment for the entire period of enrolment. If a student withdrawals before completing the term, the student may no longer be eligible for the full amount of Title IV aid. The Office of Financial Assistance is federally mandated to perform a calculation called “Return of Title IV Aid” to determine the percentage of federal aid a student has “earned”. The percentage is calculated by dividing the total number of days completed by the total number of calendar days in the semester (less any breaks of five consecutive days or longer).

If a student withdrawals after 60% of the semester is complete there is no calculation required and the student is considered to have earned 100% of their Title IV aid.  No changes to federal funding will take place. 

If the student has withdrawn prior to completing 60% of the semester, the student has not earned the full semester amount of Title IV funding initially awarded.  When a student has received more Title IV aid than they have earned, the university will reduce the aid amount to the amount earned and return the remainder to the appropriate Title IV program. The Return of Title IV Aid regulations require us to return the unearned funds in the following order:

  1. Unsubsidized Federal Direct Loan
  2. Subsidized Federal Direct Loan
  3. Federal Direct PLUS Loan (Parent)
  4. Federal Pell Grant
  5. Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG)
  6. TEACH Grant

Earned Title IV funding will be applied to the charges incurred while enrolled.

Institutional Financial Assistance

In the event a student withdrawals prior to incurring 100% of their tuition charges for the semester, the institutional financial aid will follow the policy for institutional charges. If a student is being charged 40% of tuition they will retain 40% of their institutional financial assistance. The aid retained will be applied to the institutional charges incurred while enrolled. 

Refund of Illinois Monetary Award Program (MAP Grant)

If a student withdrawals after the end of the add/drop period the student shall retain their MAP Grant payment. If the withdrawal occurs prior to incurring 100% of tuition charges the institutional aid policy will apply. The amount of MAP Grant retained cannot exceed the tuition and fees charged as a result of the withdrawal.

Institutional Charges

For information about tuition charges upon withdrawal please visit the course drops and withdrawal information on the Office of the Bursar’s website.

Policies and Procedures