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Withdrawal Policy

The law specifies how Southeastern must determine the amount of Title IV program assistance a student earns if that student withdraws from school.  The Title IV programs that are included are: Federal Pell Grants, Direct Loans, Direct Plus Loans, and Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG).

Although aid is posted to students’ accounts at the start of each period (semester), they earn the funds as they complete the period (semester).  If a student withdraws during the payment period (semester), the amount of Title IV assistance that they have earned is determined by a specific formula.  If they received less assistance than the amount they earned, they may be able to receive those additional funds (post withdrawal disbursement).  If they received more assistance than they earned, the excess funds must be returned by the school and/or the student.  The earned Title IV assistance at the time of the withdrawal may not cover all unpaid institutional charges.  It is then the student’s responsibility to pay these charges.

Official Withdrawals
If a student wishes to withdraw from all classes, it is essential that the student properly process a Complete Withdrawal from the University. Otherwise, the student will receive a grade of “F” in all classes for the semester. Complete Withdrawals must take place by the last day to drop a class for the term.

To execute a Complete Withdrawal, the student should complete the following steps:

  1. Obtain the “Official Complete Withdrawal” form from the Registrar’s Office
    (A100) or print the following form: Complete Withdrawal Form
  2. Secure the appropriate signatures on the form.
  3. Return the completed form to the Registrar’s Office where the Complete Withdrawal will be finalized.
  4. Complete withdrawals cannot be processed by web registration.

In emergency cases, a student may fax or mail a request to be completely withdrawn for the semester. The request must include the following information: the semester, student’s printed name, student’s written signature, picture ID, and a daytime phone number for problem transmissions. The postmark date or fax transmission will be the withdrawal date.

Once enrolled, the student is responsible for tuition and fees unless a Complete Withdrawal is processed by 5 p.m. on the last day to drop a class with no grade record (see semester calendar). Intensive courses {shorter duration courses less than sixteen (16) weeks (fall/spring) or eight (8) weeks (summer)} will have proportional (shorter) withdrawal and refund time lines.

Any student that completes an official withdrawal from classes before 60% of the semester is completed, and receives a Pell Grant, SEOG Grant, Direct Subsidized Loan, Direct Unsubsidized Loan, or a Direct PLUS (Parent) Loan may be required to pay back a portion of the financial aid money received. This money is due to the federal government and unless paid immediately, will stop further enrollment with Southeastern and can stop additional financial aid funding from other schools. This is called RETURN OF TITLE IV FUNDS.  All Return of Title IV calculations will be done within 30 days of the time of withdrawal and all funds will be processed and returned to the federal government within 45 days of the withdrawal.  The funds will be returned in the following order: Direct unsubsidized loan, Direct subsidized loan, Direct plus loan, Federal Pell Grant, then Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG).

The amount of assistance that a student has earned is determined on a pro rata basis.  Example: A student who completely withdraws after 25% of the semester, earns 25% of the federal assistance they were scheduled to receive.

Students who drop after 60% of the semester do not owe paybacks at all.

Southeastern will NOT automatically cancel a student’s enrollment for nonpayment of tuition and fees. Complete withdrawal from the institution is the sole responsibility of each student.

Unofficial Withdrawal
Before any federal or state aid is disbursed to a student’s account, each professor must certify attendance in each of a student’s courses to determine attendance in each course.  Also each professor that submits a failing grade (F) at the end of the semester has to enter a last date attended, even if it’s the last day of class.  If all (a student’s) instructors certify the last day of attendance was before the end of semester, a Return of Title IV calculation will be done.

Students will be required to pay back a percentage of the financial aid money received for that semester if before the 60% date of the semester.  All calculations will be figured from the last known attendance date. Once payback calculations are determined, a letter will be sent to the student. If a student wishes to appeal the date the calculation was based upon, then the student has 10 calendar days from the date of letter to provide proof of last day of attendance.  All Return of Title IV calculations will be done within 30 days of the last day of class and all funds will be processed and returned to the federal government within 45 days of the withdrawal.

Combinations of Unofficial and Official Withdrawals
A student might officially withdraw from some classes and have unearned failed grades in the rest of their classes.  Professors will report the last date of academic activity for any class that has an unearned failed grade.  The date used for the Return of Title IV calculation will be the later of the date of academic activity reported by the professors and the withdraw date of the officially withdrawn classes.  All Return of Title IV calculations will be done within 30 days of the last day of class and all funds will be processed and returned to the federal government within 45 days of the withdrawal.

Post-Withdrawal Disbursements
If a student withdraws from the University and has Title IV funds to be disbursed, this could result in a post-withdrawal disbursement.  This disbursement is determined if the amount of earned Title IV aid is greater than the amount disbursed.

Each student will be notified of any post-withdrawal disbursements.  All title IV grant funds will be credited to the students account within 45 days of the date the University determined the student has withdrawn per the permission granted upon the accepting of the financial aid package.  If the student has a grant post-withdrawal disbursement, the student can request to use the disbursement to pay down a Title IV loan.

The student will receive notification within 30 days of the date of the University determined that the student has withdrawn of any outstanding loans the student has earned.  This notification will be sent to the student university email and personal email account and will included the type and amount of loans, information the loans can be reduced or declined, as well as exit counseling information.  The student must respond within 14 days of sending the email.  They must respond within the 14 days with the amount of each of Title IV loan funds the student wishes to disburse to the student’s account to cover institutional charges as well as permission to refunds monies to the student.  The University will disburse the requested loan funds to the students account within 180 days of the date determined of the student’s withdrawal.  If the student does not respond within 14 days the University is not required to make any post-withdrawal disbursement.  The student will be notified by University email the post-withdrawal disbursement request was not within the deadline and will not occur.  If the student does not respond, the loan will not be disbursed to the student’s account.

All correspondence will be filed in the student’s file.

Additional Information
All Official and Unofficial withdrawals will result in a denied status for the following semester.  All students will receive this notice as well as information on Exit Counseling by email or University mail after the semester has ended.

The National Student Loan Data System will be updated manually of your enrollments status as of the date you stopped attending the University.  This will result in your six month grace period beginning from the date of your withdrawal.