University of California, Irvine

Cancellation of Enrollment Students who cancel their registration or have their registration cancelled by the University prior to the first day of classes will be invoiced for all financial aid disbursed on their behalf.

UC FEE REFUND POLICY

FEDERAL RETURN OF TITLE IV FEDERAL FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

The Return of Title IV financial aid is based upon the amount of federal financial aid received, the University charges incurred AND the date of withdrawal. University charges include fees, out-of-state tuition, and on-campus housing charges. Students who withdraw prior to completing 60% of the quarter will "earn" financial aid paid to them (or used to pay their fees) each day of the quarter they are enrolled. Students who withdraw after completing 60% of the quarter will have earned all financial aid received.

Withdrawal Process
Students withdrawing from the University must contact the Registrar's Office. The Registrar's Office will provide the student with the University's official withdrawal form that must be completed by the student, the Registrar's Office, the Academic Dean and the University Ombudsman for processing. The official withdrawal date that the University will use for Title IV return of aid is the date the student initiates the withdrawal process (not the date the withdrawal paperwork was completed). This date generally will be the same date used to calculate the UC Fee Refund.

The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will be notified of a student's withdrawal from the University by the Registrar's Office. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships will calculate the amount of federal financial assistance the student "earned" (based on the percentage of the quarter the student was enrolled prior to initiating the withdrawal) and will return to the federal government the University's portion of the "unearned" amount. The student will be billed for the student's "unearned" portion of any federal Title IV financial aid received. The UC Fee Refund amount (as calculated above) will be applied first to the University's portion.

Return of Federal Title IV Funds
The federal formula requires a return of federal Title IV financial aid if the student received financial assistance in the form of a Federal Pell, ACG, SMART or Supplemental Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct Student Loan or PLUS loan and withdrew prior to completing 60% of the quarter. The percentage of aid to be returned is equal to the number of calendar days remaining in the quarter divided by the number of calendar days in the quarter. The University will return to the federal government any funds that were credited from the UC Fee Refund first. If the amount returned by the University is not enough to repay the entire amount "unearned" amount, the student will be required to return portions of amounts that they received to pay for non-institutional charges -- books, supplies, off-campus living expenses.

Amounts that are returned to the federal government, either from the UC Fee Refund or by the student, will first be applied to the student's federal loans. If the student owes any federal loan funds after the University has paid back its share, they will be permitted to repay the loans based on the original terms of the loans -- usually a ten-year repayment term after a grace period and deferment period if the student returns to school. In addition, the student may be required to return portions of grants such as Federal Pell, ACG, SMART and Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG) that they have received. In the case of "unearned" portions of federally funded grants, the student will be expected to pay 50% of the "unearned" portion immediately or to make satisfactory arrangements to repay that amount.

For students who fail to "officially" withdraw from the University, the University will calculate the Return of Title IV financial aid using the mid-point of the quarter as the "official" withdrawal date, and will bill the student for any funds due the federal government. Because the student did not complete an "official" withdrawal from the University, there will be no UC Fee Refund and the student will be billed for any amounts due back to the federal government.

Special note for students living in campus housing: Any student who withdraws prior to completing 60% of the quarter will be billed for a portion of the federal financial aid the student received to cover their UCI housing costs. The amount billed will depend on the point in the quarter the student withdraws. Students should contact the UCI Housing Office to determine if they will receive a refund from the Housing Office that may be used to pay the amount the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships bills them.

A Final Note
Any student contemplating withdrawing from the University should contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to speak with a financial aid counselor concerning the financial ramifications of withdrawing.

Students who are receiving a Cal Grant should also contact the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to discuss the ramifications of withdrawing on their Cal Grant status. Check with your financial aid counselor on how you may be able to re-establish a quarter of eligibility for your Cal Grant.

• A spouse who is enrolled at least half-time in an undergraduate program leading to a degree or certificate at another college.

• Your parent.

• If you reported that there would be more than one person in college our office may ask you to verify your family member's enrollment in college. We will send you notification to have completed by their college.
• If the family member is no longer enrolled in college this will impact your financial aid eligibility.  This may impact the amount and types of aid you receive.
• If your family member is not enrolling in college, at least half-time, you should notify our office as soon as possible so we may inform you of the changes.

Loan Entrance Counseling

An Important Note About Submitting Your Entrance Counseling: In order to ensure that UCI receives notification that you completed your entrance counseling follow these steps:

• In Step 3 "Select Schools" click on the button "Add Schools".
• Enter "Irvine" for the school name and click the Search button.
• Select "University of California - Irvine" and click the "Choose Selected School" button.
• Click on the "Proceed" button and the information will be sent to UCI.

Loan Exit Counseling

If you fail to complete exit counseling a hold will be placed on your records. You will not be able to re-enroll in classes, or obtain other university services and documents including, but not limited to your transcripts or diploma.

Perkins Loan University Loan California Medical Education and Residency Foundation Loan (CMERF) Edna Dessery Loan Carl H. Fee Loan Hawk Loan Loan for Disadvantaged Students Medical Access Loan Primary Care Loan Josephine Ohler Reed Loan Silver Light Loan If you had any of these loans you can complete exit counseling on line by visiting UCI Loan Services. If you have questions you should contact UCI Loan Services at (949) 824-7081 or loans@uci.edu.

Federal Direct Subsidized Loan Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan If you had any of these loans you can complete exit counseling on line by visiting Direct Loan Exit Counseling. If you have questions you should contact our office at (949) 824-8262. School of Business students should call (949) 824-5728. School of Medicine students should call (949) 824-6476.

If you are affected by this change you must complete the Domestic Partnership Status form and return it to our office in order to be considered for state/institutional aid including Cal Grant, UC Irvine Grant and University Loan. This does not impact your current eligibility for federal student aid (i.e., Pell Grant, Perkins Loan, Direct Loan).

Information for students in a Registered Domestic Partnership

• Federal Aid
• Your eligibility for federal financial aid is not based on your status as a Registered Domestic Partner.
• You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using only your information.
• If you are a dependent student you must complete Step Four (Parent's Information) and have a parent sign the form.
• If you are an independent student you must complete the FAFSA using only your information.
• State/Institutional Aid*
• If you are in a Registered Domestic Partnership you must provide information regarding your partner for state and institutional financial aid purposes. This is in addition to your FAFSA information already submitted for federal aid. You should submit that information using the Verification of Domestic Partnership Status Form. The student and partner must sign the form.
• A copy of the Declaration of Domestic Partnership or Certificate of Domestic Partnership issued by the Secretary of State must be submitted with this form.
• If the partnership is recognized outside of the state of California documentation from the issuing state must be submitted.
• If you are a dependent student, your application for state and institutional financial aid will be revised to reflect your and your partner's information only (your parent's information will not be used for state/institutional aid eligibility).

• Federal Aid
• Your eligibility for federal financial aid is not based on your custodial parent's status as a Registered Domestic Partner.
• You must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) using only your and your custodial parent's information.
• State/Institutional Aid
• If your custodial parent is in a Registered Domestic Partnership you must provide information regarding your parent's partner for state and institutional financial aid purposes. This is in addition to the FAFSA information already submitted for federal aid. You should submit that information using the Verification of Domestic Partnership Status Form. The student, custodial parent and partner must sign the form.
• A copy of the Declaration of Domestic Partnership or Certificate of Domestic Partnership issued by the Secretary of State must be submitted with this form.
• If the partnership is recognized outside of the state of California documentation from the issuing state must be submitted.

Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the California Domestic Partner Rights and Responsibilities Act of 2003

What does the Act do?
The Act extends new rights, benefits and obligation to individuals in California Registered Domestic Partnerships. Implementation of the law means changes to many state and university programs, including the information used to determine student eligibility for financial aid for those programs.

What financial aid programs are affected?
Eligibility for financial aid funds from the state or university will be based upon the Domestic Partnership status of the student and/or parent. These include:

• Cal Grant A*
• Cal Grant B*
• Cal Grant B Stipend*
• UCI Grant
• University Loan

• Federal Pell Grant
• Federal Academic Competitiveness Grant
• Federal National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (SMART) Grant
• Federal Perkins Loan
• Federal Work Study
• Federal Direct Loans (subsidized, unsubsidized, PLUS)
• Private/Alternative Loans
• Outside scholarships/fellowships

My parent is in a Domestic Partnership, what do I have to do?
Your custodial parent and their partner need to complete the Domestic Partnership Status Form for Parents. Once the form is complete and signed, return it to our office. We will then re-evaluate your financial aid eligibility for state/university funds based on this information. You will receive notification of your revised aid eligibility within two weeks.

How is financial aid eligibility affected?

• Dependent students in a Domestic Partnership:
• Dependent students will be considered independent for state and university aid.
• The partner's information will be considered as part of the resources available to the student when determining eligibility for state and university aid.
• For federal financial aid the student will remain a dependent student and their parent's information will be used to determine their eligibility.
• Independent students in a Domestic Partnership:
• Your dependency status for financial aid does not change.
• The partner's information will be considered as part of the resources available to the student when determining eligibility for state and university aid.
• Dependent Students with a custodial parent in a Domestic Partnership
• Your dependency status is not affected.
• The partner's information will be considered as part of the resources available to the student when determining eligibility for state and university aid.

Privacy Statement The campus Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is responsible for maintaining the information you provide on your financial aid application and accompanying documents. The information will be provided to the state and federal governments if required by law. You have the right, according to the law, to access your information.

The State of California Information Practices Act of 1977 requires the University to provide this information to applicants for financial aid who are asked to supply information about themselves. Maintenance of the information is authorized by University policy.

Nondiscrimination Policy Statement Regarding Student-Related Matters. The University of California, in accordance with applicable federal and state law and University policy, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, pregnancy*, disability, age, medical condition (cancer-related), ancestry, marital status, citizenship, sexual orientation, or status as a Vietnam-era veteran or special disabled veteran. The University also prohibits sexual harassment. This nondiscrimination policy covers admissions, access, and treatment in University programs and activities.

Inquiries regarding the University's student-related nondiscrimination policies may be directed to:

*Pregnancy includes pregnancy, childbirth, and medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.

Accreditation Statement UCI is a member of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). The campus is fully accredited by the Senior Commission of WASC. This accreditation requires periodic review in accord with WASC policies and standards. Further information is available from WASC, 985 Atlantic Avenue, Suite 100, Alameda, CA 94501; telephone (510) 748-9001. In addition, the undergraduate degree program of the Department of Chemistry is accredited by the American Chemical Society; the credential programs of the Department of Education are approved by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing (CCTC); the undergraduate majors in Aerospace, Chemical, Civil, Computer, Electrical, Environmental, and Mechanical Engineering offered by the Departments of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, Civil and Environmental , Electrical and Computer, and Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering are accredited by the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology; the M.S. program in Genetic Counseling is accredited by the American Board of Genetic Counseling; the Graduate School of Management is accredited by AACSB International The Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business; the M.D. program of the UCI College of Medicine is accredited by the Liaison Committee of the Association of American Medical Colleges and the American Medical Association; and the Master of Urban and Regional Planning program is accredited by the National Planning Accreditation Board.

The original Accreditation Statement is maintained in the Office of Academic Affairs. If you wish to review the complete Accreditation Statement, you should contact the Office of Academic Affairs, (949) 824-2377.

Rights and Responsibilities as a Financial Aid Recipient

• What financial assistance is available at UCI.
• The deadlines for submitting applications for each of the financial aid programs available.
• The cost of attending UCI and UCI's refund policy.
• The criteria used by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships to select financial aid recipients.
• How your financial aid eligibility was determined.
• What resources are considered in the calculation of your financial aid eligibility.
• How much of your financial need is unmet, as determined by the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.
• The terms and conditions of the various financial aid programs.
• What portion of the financial aid you receive must be repaid, and what portion is grant and therefore not repayable.  If the aid is a loan, you have the right to know what the interest rate is, the total amount to be repaid, the procedure for repayment and when the repayment is to begin.
• How UCI determines whether you are making satisfactory academic progress for financial aid and what happens it you are not.

• Report to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships any change in the following:
  • Housing changes
  • Enrollment status
  • California residency status
  • Additional earnings, funds or support, including any graduate assistance.
• Be enrolled at least half-time. Half-time is defined as six (6) units per quarter.
• Assume responsibility for any loans accepted.
  • Review the loan terms and process any documents regarding repayment prior to graduation.
  • Participate in the loan-counseling program prior to receiving your first loan and at the conclusion of your enrollment at UCI.
  • For Federal Direct Student Loans, notify the loan servicer as specified in the loan terms.
• Repay any funds you receive which cannot be reasonably attributed to meeting your educational expenses.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress in the course of study you are pursuing as prescribed by the UCI policy on Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid, published in the UCI General Catalogue.

• Necessary dental or medical expenses not covered by insurance and incurred during the period of enrollment.
• Additional books or supplies required for certain majors, thesis or dissertation expenses.
• Special expenses a person with disabilities may incur that are not reimbursed by another agency.
• Child-care expenses.

• Unemployment of a primary wage-earner
• Legal separation or divorce
• Death of a parent or spouse
• Long-term loss of employment
• Disability of primary wage-earner
• Loss of non-recurring income

• Requests dealing with real estate, business or investment loss as those are difficult to predict if these losses will be included in your IRS income tax returns.
• Requests dealing with discretionary spending such as excessive credit card debt or second homes.