2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog 
    
    Mar 19, 2024  
2013-2014 Undergraduate Catalog [Archived]

Fees, Expenses, and Financial Aid


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All University fees and assessments are established by the Indiana State University Board of Trustees, which reserves the right to make necessary adjustments at any future time. The right to correct errors is also reserved.

Fees

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Undergraduate students who are residents of Indiana pay academic fees and a student recreation center fee. Out-of-state residents pay tuition, academic fees, and a student recreation center fee. Distance delivery fees are also assessed in conjunction with distance courses. Note that the student recreation center fee is only assessed when six hours of on-campus registration is accomplished. (See fee information on-line on the Sycamore Express Web site at www.indstate.edu/express.)

The academic fees are used to help meet the cost of construction and maintenance of buildings, campus, library, laboratories, and to support various student services and activities.

All currently enrolled students are eligible for various personal, social, and cultural activities including the use of services, facilities, and programs provided by Hulman Memorial Student Union and by the Student Government Association; are entitled to receive the Indiana Statesman, the student newspaper; and are eligible for services at the UAP Clinic – ISU Health Center. Students, if enrolled in the appropriate number of credit hours, can be admitted without further charge to all regularly scheduled home intercollegiate athletic contests sponsored by the Intercollegiate Athletic Department.

The payment of fees is made to the Office of the Controller. Information regarding payment options is available on-line on the Sycamore Express Web site for each enrollment period. Students may use cash, check, Visa, or MasterCard, to pay for fees and other charges. Visa, MasterCard, or electronic checks may be used when paying online.

Residence Classification

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The assessment of tuition and fees is based on a student’s residence classification prior to the first day of classes for that semester or term. This initial classification remains for subsequent academic semesters or terms unless and until such classification is changed. An individual could be considered a legal resident of Indiana (i.e., holds a driver’s license, pays taxes), but not qualify as a resident for tuition purposes at Indiana State University. The “University” residence classification must not be confused with a person’s “civil” residence status. Instate residence requires a bona fide permanent domicile in excess of 12 months, as explained in the ISU residency regulations. A person can have only one permanent domicile at a time. The Office of Admissions makes the initial determination of residence at the time of admission and notifies accepted students of their status in the letter of admission. Students classified as non-residents (those whose domiciles are outside Indiana) for tuition purposes may petition for in-state status, if they believe they have been incorrectly classified as non-residents. For more information on how to appeal residence classification, refer to the Sycamore Express Web site: www.indstate.edu/express

Non-Resident Tuition

In addition to the academic fees required of all students plus the student recreation center fee, if enrolled in six or more on-campus hours, those students classified as non-residents of the State of Indiana must pay additional non-resident tuition for study during the regular academic year and summer sessions.

Schedule of Fees

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Rates for tuition and academic fees are determined on a bi-annual basis by the Indiana State University Board of Trustees. They are announced prior to the start of each academic year. However, the University Board of Trustees reserves the right to change fees at any time.

Registrations

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Students scheduling classes by utilization of the Web system must obtain important financial messages regarding payment responsibilities at the conclusion of their course selection process. Payment information is also published on-line on the Sycamore Express Web site of the respective term and is provided to those students attending New Student Orientation. Bills may not be generated until after the variable payment plan fee has gone into effect.

Miscellaneous Fee Policies

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Returned Check Policy. Students providing paper or electronic checks which are subsequently returned as non-negotiable are assessed a $25 penalty per check. In addition, once a student has presented three non-negotiable checks, all check writing privileges will be suspended indefinitely.

Admission Application Fee. All initial applications must be accompanied by a $25 nonrefundable application fee.

International Student Application Fee. International students’ applications must be accompanied by a $25 nonrefundable fee.

Auditor’s Fee. An auditor’s fee of $5 per credit hour is charged to persons properly qualified who desire to attend one of the classes open for auditing without participating in the recitation and without formal credit.

Official Withdrawal from Fall/Spring Enrollment. Students who participate in registration must initiate an official withdrawal if they elect not to attend any classes during the semester for which registration was accomplished. Students who officially withdraw through the first week of regular day classes of the semester will receive a 100 percent reduction of academic fees.

Students withdrawing during the second week of regular day classes in a semester will receive a 75 percent reduction of academic fees; during the third week, a 50 percent reduction; during the fourth week, a 25 percent reduction; or after the fourth week, no reduction. (All days will be counted regardless of whether or not the course meets beginning with the first day of class. This means Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are counted.)

Official Withdrawal from Summer Enrollment. Students who participate in registration must initiate an official withdrawal if they elect not to attend any classes during the term for which registration was accomplished. Academic fee reductions associated with summer withdrawals are in accordance with the following refund schedule for summer terms.

Refund Schedule for Summer Terms–Withdrawals. Students withdrawing from school will receive calendar day academic fee refunds according to the schedule available on the Sycamore Express Web site at http://www.indstate.edu/express/registration.htm  (All days will be counted regardless of whether or not the course meets beginning with the first day of class. This means Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are counted.)

Refund Policy–For Fall/Spring Semesters-Dropping of Courses. Students who drop one or more courses during the first week of regular day classes during a semester will receive a 100 percent reduction of academic fees; during the second week, a 75 percent reduction; during the third week, a 50 percent reduction; during the fourth week, a 25 percent reduction. (All days will be counted regardless of whether or not the course meets beginning with the first day of class. This means Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are counted.) No reduction of academic fees will be made for courses dropped thereafter. The University refund policies will be prorated for those classes which meet less than normally prescribed for a regular enrollment period.

Refund Policy–For Summer Terms-Dropping of Courses. Students adding and dropping classes in the same transaction for the same number of credit hours within a session will not be charged or refunded a credit hour fee if the classes have the same start dates and end dates. Students adding or dropping classes with different start dates and/or end dates will be charged the credit hour fee for the classes added and provided an academic fee reduction according to the refund schedule available at the Sycamore Express Web site http://www.indstate.edu/express/registration.htm which is based on the start and end dates of the classes which are dropped.

Refund Schedule–For Summer Terms-Dropping of Courses.Students dropping courses will receive calendar day academic fee refunds according to the refund schedule that can be found on the Sycamore Express Web site at http://www.indstate.edu/express/registration.htm. (All days will be counted regardless of whether or not the course meets beginning with the first day of class. This means Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays are counted.)

Late Registration Fee. A late registration fee of $30 will be assessed during the first seven calendar days of the academic semester to a student who fails to complete registration on the dates and within the hours specified in the published procedure for registration for any particular fall/spring semester. The fee will increase to $100 starting with the eighth calendar day of the academic semester. For summer terms, the late registration fee will be $30.

Encumbrance. Students who have a financial obligation to the University will have their future registrations encumbered; their records, transcripts, and diploma will not be released.

Variable Payment Plan Fee. Variable Payment Plan fees are assessed each semester according to schedules published on-line on the Sycamore Express Web site for the respective term. There is a $60 maximum per semester in the fall and spring and a $30 charge per summer session.

Internal Collections Process. Students whose accounts are turned over to University Collections Specialists for failure to meet financial obligations:

  1. Will have grades withheld;
  2. Will have records (e.g., diplomas, transcripts, etc.) encumbered;
  3. Will not be able to register for future semesters/terms; and,
  4. Will have a $55 late fee added to their account.

Change of Schedule Fee. A student who initiates a change of schedule will be charged $10 per completed term transaction through the seventh calendar day of the academic semester. The fee will increase to $30 per completed term transaction starting with the eighth calendar day of the academic semester. For summer terms, the change of schedule fee will be $10.

Parking Permit. All faculty, staff, and students who own, possess, operate or have the use of a motor vehicle on any property owned, leased, or used by Indiana State University, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, must purchase and properly display a current parking permit from the rear view mirror. The University Board of Trustees has established a registration fee. The registration fee may be paid on-line at www.indstate.edu/parking/ or at Parking Services, a division of the Public Safety Department.

Parking Fine. The Public Safety Department may assess fines for parking and traffic violations in accordance with Indiana State University traffic regulations.

Replacement of Sycamore Card Fee. A fee will be charged students who make application to replace their Sycamore Card. The fee is payable at the time a replacement card is requested in the Public Safety Department.

Breakage Fee. A breakage fee is charged for laboratory equipment which is either non-returnable or which is not returned in good condition.

Laboratory, Course, and Program Fees. Laboratory, course, and program fees are charged students in certain classes for supplies and equipment usage, and/or special instruction/supervision.

Library Fines. Fines are assessed for overdue and lost books/materials.

Student Cap and Gown Fee. Candidates who attend commencement are required to purchase or rent the appropriate cap and gown for commencement. The Barnes and Noble Bookstore is the exclusive source for commencement regalia.

Applied Music Fee. An applied music fee will be charged per semester hour for each course in instruments or voice done on the basis of individual instruction with a regular faculty music instructor.

Transcript Fees. A transcript fee will be charged for each transcript of record issued. Transcripts cannot be released without a student’s written consent. The transcript request form can be found on-line at http://www.indstate.edu/express/transcripts.htm. 

Student Financial Aid

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Location

Office of Student Financial Aid
200 North 7th Street
Tirey Hall, room T150
Phone: 800-841-4744 or 812-237-2215
Fax: 812-237-4330 or 812-237-3925

  Walk-in Hours: Telephone Advisement Hours:
 Monday-Thursday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Friday
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
     

The Office of Student Financial Aid administers a variety of financial aid programs supported through federal, state, and University resources. The primary purpose of the office is to assist students in obtaining funding opportunities to enter and remain enrolled in the University.

General Office Information. The Office of Student Financial Aid provides a convenient location and several options of access for its customers. The office offers students and/or their families walk-in counseling, telephone counseling, and appointments, and can be contacted via electronic mail at isu-finaid@mail.indstate.edu, or by telephone at 812-237-2215.

Expanded office hours are available the first week of classes in the fall and spring semester and on “move in” Saturday before the fall semester begins.

Current and detailed information relating to the Office of Student Financial Aid and its programs, including deadlines and important links are available on the Web at http://www.indstate.edu/finaid. Web information supersedes that of printed material.

Application Process. The first step in receiving financial aid is completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The priority deadline for completing the FAFSA (for Indiana residents) is March 10 annually prior to the start of the academic year, but later applications are accepted. The FAFSA should be completed on-line at www.fafsa.gov Be sure to include Indiana State University’s Federal School Code 001807 when completing the FAFSA.

The U.S. Department of Education’s Central Processing System reviews and analyzes the information provided on the FAFSA and calculates an Expected Family Contribution. The Central Processing System transmits the results to colleges listed on the FAFSA and to the student. The Expected Family Contribution is used by ISU as an index for determining the amount of financial aid for which the student is eligible.

Once Indiana State University’s Office of Student Financial Aid receives the FAFSA data, the data is reviewed to determine whether additional documentation is needed. If additional documentation is needed, a missing item email is sent to the student, and the student’s myISU Portal is updated with a description of the missing item. If no additional documentation is needed, the Financial Aid Office begins processing aid for the student.

Financial Aid establishes a cost of attendance for students attending the University.  The cost of attendance is comprised of tuition and fees, housing  and meals, books, miscellaneous, and transportation costs.  Once the expected family contribution is subtracted from the cost of attendance, the student’s financial need is determined. Based on the student’s financial need, the appropriate federal, state and institutional aid is awarded from various sources, including but not limited to the following:

  • Federal Pell Grant
  • Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG)
  • Federal Work Study
  • Federal Perkins Loan
  • Federal Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized)
  • Twenty-first Century Scholar
  • Indiana Higher Education Award portion of the Frank O’Bannon Grant
  • Indiana National Guard Supplemental Grant
  • Sycamore Need-Based Grant

Additional types of aid are listed on the University’s Web site at www.indstate.edu/finaid/types.htm.

Satisfactory Academic Progress. The Education Amendment of 1980 (P.L.96-374), Section 484 states that a student must meet satisfactory academic progress standards to qualify for financial assistance. Federal regulations require students to make continuous progress toward a degree to remain eligible for financial aid. Schools are required to compare students’ academic progress to established standards and withhold aid from students who do not meet those standards.

A student attending Indiana State University must meet all Satisfactory Academic Progress measures described in the University’s published policy at www.indstate.edu/finaid/sap.htm.

Overawards. Federal regulations limit the amount of aid students may receive from many of the federal programs. An overaward can occur anytime a student receives assistance not initially considered when his/her aid was packaged, changes in enrollment are made, or the expected family contribution changes. The Office of Student Financial Aid is required to reduce or cancel the student’s aid until the overaward is resolved. This requirement may result in a student owing money to Indiana State University.

Students who receive financial assistance for school expenses from organizations, groups, or private individuals outside the University must immediately notify the Office of Student Financial Aid in writing of the award.

Refunds and Repayments of Assistance. Students who withdraw (officially or unofficially) from all of their classes before the semester is completed, may be required to repay some or all of their financial aid. Refund and repayment amounts are calculated based on the required Federal Return of Title IV formula. The Federal Return of Title IV formula determines the type and amount of financial aid the student earned and/or the type and amount of financial aid to refund to the various financial aid programs. For details on the Federal Return of Title IV policy, visit the Office of Student Financial Aid Web site: http://www.indstate.edu/finaid/enrollment-effects.htm.

Scholarships. Indiana State University recognizes academic excellence by awarding merit-based scholarships. These scholarships range from $500 to $17,000 per year to pay tuition, housing, and books. Entering freshmen should contact the Indiana State University Office of Scholarships to learn the eligibility criteria for these awards. Detailed procedures for this process are available at www.indstate.edu/express/scholarships or by calling 812-237-2121 or 800-742-0891.

Student Employment. Students may choose to work to help with their college expenses. Information for both on-campus and off-campus job opportunities is available from the Student Employment Programs, located at the Career Center on the seventh floor of the Student Union, 812-237-5000, or online at http://www.indstate.edu/carcen/student-employment/.

Special Awards and Veterans Benefits. The Child of Disabled Veteran and Public Safety Office Supplemental Grant Program provides tuition and fee assistance at public colleges for eligible children of disabled Indiana veterans and eligible children and spouses or certain Indiana public safety officers killed in the line of duty. As a supplement to other state financial aid, the grant pays 100 percent of tuition and mandatory fees; it does not cover other fees such as room and board.

Students who might be covered under the veteran’s portion of the program are certain graduates of the Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Children’s Home; children of a Purple Heart recipient or wounded veteran; children of a deceased or disabled veteran; and children of POW/MIA from the Vietnam War. Details as well as the application are available on-line at http://www.in.gov/ssaci

Some program restrictions apply and financial assistance is limited to a maximum of 120 attempted credit hours. The veteran must meet, or have met, certain Indiana residency requirements, and the child must be the biological child or legally adopted dependent child of the veteran. A birth certificate or adoption papers is required for verification for the student to receive a grant. In addition, the student must have a valid FAFSA on file for the current aid year. An application is required and can be obtained from the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs. Questions about eligibility for this program should be directed to: Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs, 302 West Washington Street, room E-120, Indianapolis, IN 46204; Phone: 317-232-3910 or 800-400-4520; Fax: 317-232-7721; Web site: http://www.in.gov/veteran/

Students who might be covered under the public safety officers’ portion of the program include: child of a police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician killed in the line of duty; child of an Indiana state police officer, firefighter, or emergency medical technician killed in the line of duty; or spouse of an Indiana state police trooper permanently and totally disabled in the line of duty.

Children, spouses, and widow/widowers of totally disabled or deceased veterans may be eligible to receive educational benefits under Chapter 35 of Title 38, U.S. Code. Students who desire detailed information should contact the veteran’s advisor located in the Office of Admissions, Moore Welcome Center, or by phone at 1-800-GO-TO-ISU. Further details about benefits programs are available at the Office of Veterans’ Services online, http://www.indstate.edu/veterans/benefits.html

Federal Direct Stafford Loans. When the Office of Student Financial Aid receives a completed FAFSA, from the student, his or her eligibility for the Federal Direct Stafford Loan is determined. The Federal Direct Stafford Loan Request Form (available in the Office of Student Financial Aid or on-line at www.indstate.edu/finaid) must then be completed and submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid for processing.

The Federal Direct Stafford Loan Program is regulated by the U.S. Department of Education. Federal regulations require all Stafford Loans be disbursed in two payments for an academic year loan (fall and spring terms.) This means one disbursement in the fall semester and one disbursement in the spring semester. For a single semester loan, the proceeds are disbursed in one disbursement. Stafford Loan disbursements arrive via Electronic Funds Transfer. Students are notified once the Electronic Funds Transfer has been credited to their student account. After application of the funds to current charges, any refunds due students (in check form) will be mailed by the Office of the Controller to the student’s permanent mailing address. Students may also choose to receive their refunds electronically through direct deposit. Students wishing to select direct-deposit may do so by following instructions found at http://www.indstate.edu/express/refunds.htm

Note: Federal regulations require all first-time borrowers at ISU complete a Master Promissory Note and entrance counseling before any loan proceeds can be disbursed. Students who graduate, enroll less than half-time, withdraw from school, or fail to return to school, must complete exit counseling. The student must be enrolled at least half-time per semester and meet Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards in order for the Federal Direct Stafford Loan proceeds to be paid. The Entrance Counseling session and the Master Promissory can be completed on-line at http://www.studentloans.gov

Federal Direct PLUS Loan. The Federal Direct PLUS Loan is designed to help parents assist their dependent children (dependent as defined under the Federal Title IV regulations) with their educational expenses. Parents may borrow an amount up to the cost of attendance minus the sum of any other financial aid their students receive. Detailed information regarding the application process is available on the Office of Student Financial Aid Web site: http://www.indstate.edu/finaid/pplus.htm