Federal Compliance & Student Consumer Information

The Higher Education Act of 1965 (HEA), as amended by the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA), requires colleges and universities that participate in federal student financial aid programs to disclose certain information to current and prospective students, and to university employees.

View a summary of the HEA institutional disclosure requirements.

To promote access to information that will allow consumers to make informed decisions about postsecondary education, Hardin-Simmons University has developed this webpage to provide these disclosures in one location. Click on the links below for information on each topic. For additional questions, please contact the appropriate office.

I. NON-LOAN RELATED DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS

A. *Availability of Institutional and Financial Aid Information – A link to financial information is sent to students from the HSU Business Office on payment reminders sent out before the first bill and on past due emails after the monthly bill has been sent.

B. *Individuals/Offices Responsible for Disseminating Consumer Information – Students & Employees may reach out to the following staff or offices for Consumer Information. Tera Gibson, Director of Human Resources at Tera.Gibson@hsutx.edu; Stacey Martin, VP for Student Life at smartin@hsutx.edu; or the Financial Aid Office at financialaid@hsutx.edu.

II. STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

A. *Student Financial Aid Information – See the HSU Financial Aid Home Page to learn about financial aid, billing, and payments.

B. Notice of Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations – Beginning with the 2021-2022 award year, having a drug conviction will no longer impact a student’s federal financial aid eligibility. However, students who are awarded State aid are still required to certify annually, prior to the disbursement of funds, that they have not been convicted of a felony or crime involving a controlled substance.

The information below references the policy prior to Fall 2021.

A student who is convicted of a drug offense while receiving Title IV funds will no longer be eligible for federal aid. This includes grants such as Pell and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, it also includes Federal Work-Study and loans such as Direct Loans, PLUS and Grad PLUS.

III. GENERAL INSTITUTIONAL INFORMATION

1. *Privacy of Student Records – Information about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). Additional information may be found by visiting the U.S. Department of Education website.
2. Consumer Information on College Navigator Website – Information provided by College Navigator includes financial, admissions, programs/majors, athletic, and accreditation information.
3. *Facilities and Services Available to Students with Disabilities – Information about resources available to students with disabilities and who to contact.
4. *Student Body Diversity – College Simply Demographics and Diversity Data – Learn more about HSU’s ethnic diversity and inclusivity.
5. *Cost of Attendance – Learn more about HSUs estimated direct and indirect costs for educationally related expenses.
6. Net Price Calculator – This calculator is intended to help students/families estimate costs and financial aid options.
7. *Refund Policy, Requirements for Withdrawal, and Return of Title IV, HEA Financial Aid – Learn more about refunds and how dropping classes or withdrawing from school affects your balances.
8. *Textbook Information – Information on where and how to purchase textbooks. Information regarding required and recommended textbooks and supplemental material for courses may be found in a couple of ways.
   1. Required materials may be found on specific course syllabi provided by a student’s instructor.
   2. Required textbooks and materials can be found online through the student’s self-service, detailing into student planning and their specific courses.
9. *Academic Programs (Educational Programs, Instructional Facilities, and Faculty). Visit HSU’s catalogs and curriculum informationUndergraduate Catalog; Graduate Catalog
10. *Transfer of Credit Policies and Articulation Agreements – Learn about HSU’s policies and processes on Transfer Credit. Learn more about articulation agreements at Community College Partnerships; Acadeum Course Share
11. *Institutional and Program Accreditation, Approval, or Licensure
12. *Copyright Infringement Policies and Sanctions (Including Computer Use and File Sharing)

IV. TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM

1. Teacher Preparation Program – This information is to assist individuals in learning how to obtain a teaching certificate.
2. Teaching Preparation Program Report (TEA Information about Educator Preparation Programs)

V. HEALTH AND SAFETY

1. *Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program and Student Handbook policies, Section 2
2. *Vaccinations Policies – Bacterial Meningitis Requirements and Information
3. *Security Report (Including Emergency Response and Evacuation Procedures) Timely Warnings, and Crime Log – For HSU’s Emergency Notifications, students will need to set up an account in HSU Central and make sure their phone number is correct. It is also helpful if students downloaded the HSU Central application. For more information on Emergency Notification students may reach out to University Marketing at (325) 670-1862 or via e-mail at marketing@hsutx.edu.
4. *Security Report − Learn more about Missing Persons Policy by viewing the Student Handbook.
5. *Fire Safety Report and Fire Log – All enrolled students, campus employees, prospective students, and prospective employees are entitled to request a copy of the Hardin-Simmons University Annual Fire Safety and Security Report. This year’s report is available on the HSU website under Campus Safety. Printed copies may also be requested via e-mail to hsupolice@hsutx.edu or in person from the HSU Police Department and by calling 325-670-1461
6. *Information for Crime Victims About Disciplinary Hearings – Learn more about Judicial Procedures by viewing the Student Handbook, Policies >Judicial procedures.

VI. STUDENT OUTCOMES

1. *Retention Rate – Data from College Navigator/IPEDS
2. *Completion/Graduation and Transfer-out Rates (Including Disaggregated Completion/Graduation Rates)
3. *Placement in Employment
4. Job Placement Rates
5. *Types of Graduate and Professional Education in Which Institution’s Graduates Enrolled

VII. INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETIC PROGRAM

1. *Intercollegiate Athletic Program Participation Rates and Financial Support Data – View HSU’s Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act (EADA Report) which make available equity information about athletic programs. This information is found on the Consumer Information Page.

VIII. VOTER REGISTRATION & CONSTITUTION DAY

A. *Voter Registration Forms – The Texas Secretary of State website answers many questions about voting and allows one to request an application for a voter registration form.

B. HSU honors Constitution Day on September 17, each year. Learn more at Constitution Day at HSU.

IX. DISCLOSURE REQUIREMENTS RELATING TO EDUCATION LOANS

(L-1) State Grant Assistance – Learn more about State Grant Assistance

(L-2) Student Loan Information Published by Dept of Education – Learn about the rights and responsibilities of students and institutions under Title IV, HEA Loan Programs.

(L-3) National Student Loan Data System – Learn more about loan data submitted to National Student Loan Data System that will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and institutions who are authorized users of the data system.

(L-4) Entrance Counseling for Student Borrowers – Get student loan entrance counseling information from the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid that includes terms and conditions of the loan and borrower’s responsibilities.

L-5) Exit Counseling for Student Borrowers – Get student loan exit counseling information from the U.S. Department of Education’s office of Federal Student Aid including repayment amounts, terms and conditions, and debt management strategies.

(L-6) Private Education Loan Disclosures (Including Self-Certification Form) – View private education loan disclosure forms and samples from HSU’s Financial Aid Office. Private Education Loan Applicant Self-Certification Form

(L-7) Code of Conduct for Education Loans

L-8) Preferred Lender Lists – Hardin-Simmons University does not use a preferred lender list, but has elected to provide students a loan resource page via ELM Resources, the software provider of ELMSelect.

L-9) Preferred Lender Arrangements – Hardin-Simmons University does not use a preferred lender list or have any arrangements with educational loan lenders. Students are directed to a loan resource page via ELMSelect. Elm Select is an independent platform that is not affiliated with the school or partner. No particular lenders or loans are endorsed.

X. TITLE IX

A. *Title IX Information – HSU does not discriminate on the basis of sex or gender in any of its education or employment programs and activities, and it does not tolerate discrimination or harassment on the basis of sex or gender.

A copy of the most recent HSU semester notification may be viewed by visiting this page.

*Indicates this data is included in HSU’s Federal Compliance and Student Consumer Information Notification, emailed to each enrolled student and current HSU Faculty/Staff each fall/spring semester.

Hardin-Simmons University is committed to complying with the applicable regulations and providing honest, and reliable disclosure and student consumer information. Students or other persons having questions about the disclosures or consumer information posted on this page may contact the Financial Aid Compliance Coordinator at financialaid@hsutx.edu.