Changes in Hours & Withdrawals

Students who wish to drop courses or withdraw from the University must secure the proper form(s) from the Registrar’s Office and contact the Financial Aid Office. Students should know in advance how changes in enrollment affect their financial aid eligibility. A reduction in hours may result in an adjustment to the award package and could affect satisfactory academic progress status.

The primary responsibility for paying for a college education rests with the student and family. Financial aid is considered supplemental, and enrollment status governs receipt of funds.

  • When a student withdraws, is expelled, or ceases to be a student before the end of an academic term, a refund may be due in accordance with University’s refund policy.
  • A refund may occur when federal aid is due in the term but has not been disbursed at the time of withdrawal.
  • Federal law and University policy dictate that calculated amounts be returned to the respective financial aid programs when a withdrawal occurs, so withdrawal may mean the loss of part or all federal, state, or institutional aid.
  • Withdrawing students are responsible for payment of any balance resulting from the return of financial aid. Payment plans may be arranged with the HSU Business Office.
  • Priority order for the return of federal funds is unsubsidized Direct loans, subsidized Direct loans, Perkins loans, Direct Plus loans, Pell grants, and FSEOG.
  • Student loan recipients must complete loan exit counseling upon withdrawing from the university at Exit Counseling on the internet. Due to this federal requirement, HSU will hold transcripts and other education records until exit counseling is confirmed.

IMPORTANT: Students must complete at least one semester hour in a term with a passing grade to prevent a return of federal financial aid funds. For financial aid purposes, the Department of Education monitors class attendance. Non- attendance and the receiving of all failing grades in a term requires a return of financial aid funds. Students receiving all failing grades in a term are immediately placed on academic suspension by the registrar and financial aid suspension by the financial aid director.

Dropping a course may affect a student’s enrollment status depending on the type of term and when the student drops.  In turn, enrollment status may impact certain funding sources as described in the below sections.

Enrollment Status – A student’s enrollment status continues to be adjusted throughout the semester when a student drops a course.  However, in most cases, the change in status has minimal impact, depending on timing or recent changes in laws. The impact is primarily on student loan repayment. Federal financial aid can only be paid for courses included in the student’s degree plan. Enrolling in courses not on the degree plan may result in reduced financial aid eligibility.

Dropped Courses – Timing matters on when a student drops a course.

Fall & Spring Semesters

Effective May 1, 2005, students dropping individual courses after the closing date of official registration (census date) will be allowed to keep 100% of their financial aid.  No refunds for courses dropped will be given and no course credit will be issued.  Students withdrawing in full are subject to the Federal mandated refund policy for Title IV aid.  It is highly advised that students receive counseling by the    financial aid office prior to dropping classes because:

Class hours dropped with a WF are added to the student’s attempted hours, thus affecting the completion rate for Satisfactory Academic Progress.

Financial aid is available for only two attempts of a class (one attempt for Institutional Family Grant or Tuition Exchange).

Summer Terms – Effective May 1, 2005, students dropping individual courses after the closing date of official registration (census date) will be allowed to keep 100% of their financial aid provided that the student remains in six                 (6) semester hours, which is a prerequisite for aid received.  Students not enrolled in six (6) semester       hours for the summer terms (May – Summer II) combined will not be eligible for financial aid and subject to the appropriate adjustments (excluding Pell).  Students who are eligible for aid at the time of disbursement will keep their disbursed aid, but no future aid disbursements will be made if they drop below the 6-hour requirement.  Students completely withdrawing are subject to the Federal mandated refund policy for Title IV aid.

The financial aid office must counsel students who drop classes because class hours dropped with a WF add to the student’s attempted hours, thus affecting the completion rate for satisfactory academic progress.  Also, financial aid is available for only two attempts of a class (one attempt for Institutional Family Grant or Tuition Exchange).

Student Loan Repayment – students must maintain at least half-time enrollment throughout the semester for student loans to remain in an in-school deferred status. Dropping below half-time enrollment at any time during the semester will trigger student loans to enter any applicable grace period, with repayment required after the grace period has elapsed. Changes in enrollment status from full-time to half-time have no consequence on student loans. Half-time enrollment for an undergraduate student is defined as 6 hours for the Fall and Spring semesters.

Withdrawing from the University (Dropping All Classes) – please see the Institutional Refund Policy or visit the financial aid office.