Catalogue: Traditional Program:
FINANCIAL REGULATIONS
Students who officially withdraw from the University traditional semester program are entitled to refunds on the semester tuition and fee charges according to the following scale:
| Withdrawal within the first week | 100% |
| Withdrawal within the second week | 75% |
| Withdrawal within the third week | 50% |
| Withdrawal within the fourth week | 25% |
| Withdrawal within the fifth week | 0% |
Refund on individual courses dropped will be calculated on the same basis as the refund when one withdraws from the University. Refunds on room and food charges will be prorated based on the number of days used over the number of days in the semester or term.
For the PACE Program: Upon notification of withdrawal received from the Registrar, prior to the first class meeting, a 100% refund for tuition will be given. Upon notification of withdrawal received from the Registrar prior to the second class meeting, a 75% refund for tuition will be given. No refunds will be made for withdrawal after the second class meeting.
Graduate Education students, Aspire Program students, and Online Program students: See appropriate sections of the catalog.
A student who is dismissed for disciplinary reasons forfeits the right to a refund of any charges.
Students receiving federally funded Title IV financial assistance: If a student withdraws on or before the 60% point in time of the period of enrollment, calculated using calendar days, a portion of the total of Title IV funds awarded a student (Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Stafford Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, but not Federal Work Study) must be returned, according to the provisions of the Higher Education Amendments of 1998. The calculation of the return of these funds may result in the student owing a balance to the University and/or the federal government.
The refund to the Title IV programs must be returned in the following order:
(1) Federal unsubsidized Stafford Loan
(2) Federal subsidized Stafford Loan
(3) Federal Perkins Loan
(4) Federal PLUS Loan
(5) Federal Pell Grant
(6) Federal SEOG
The federal Title IV written refund policy and method of calculation is available in the office of student financial planning.
All balances owed for the entire semester or summer session or shorter period of enrollment are to be paid at the time that classes begin unless a payment plan has been established. Students who are admitted to the College accept as contractual all the terms and regulations set forth in this catalogue and are liable for the payment of all charges and fees incurred during their stay at the University. Belhaven University assumes that when a dependent student enters college, the student's parents or guardians accept as contractual all the terms and regulations set forth in this catalogue.
A student who has not made satisfactory arrangements with the office of student financial planning regarding his account may be administratively withdrawn from Belhaven University.
The registrar is not permitted to transfer credits or issue a transcript until all indebtedness to the University is paid.
A student will be allowed to graduate only after settling with the office of student financial planning all of his or her indebtedness to the University.
Expenses
Since economic conditions do fluctuate, Belhaven reserves the right to change its fee charges at the beginning of any semester if such a change is necessary in the judgment of the board of trustees. The support of Presbyterian churches, the earnings from endowment investments, and the gifts of alumni and other friends provide funds that enable the University to charge fees which are considerably less than the actual cost of instruction and other services provided.
Traditional Tuition - http://www.belhaven.edu/admission/tuition.htm
| General Fees | |
| Auditing (all courses, per semester hour) | $350 |
| (Note: full-time traditional students may audit a maximum of two courses each semester without charge, with the permission of the registrar.) | |
| Course overload (for course loads above 18 semester hours per semester hour) | $350 |
| Internship (per semester hour) | $350 |
| Tutorial work fee | $50 |
| Special Fees (In addition to tuition) | |
| Application fee (assessed each student when he/she applies for admission) | $25 |
| Academic Plan | $10 |
| Graduation audit fee | $100 |
| Health insurance (available for all students; rate subject to change) | |
| Incomplete charge/change grade | $25 |
| International student fee | $50 |
| Late graduation audit fee (additional fee) | $50 |
| Letter of good standing (enrollment verification) | $7 |
| Medical insurance for international students: | |
| (Rates may vary based on age) per semester - six months | $320 |
| Payment plan participation fee | $35 |
| Private studio music lesson fee | $175 |
| (Single semester fee covers multiple lesson enrollments and credit hours). | |
| Proficiency exam administration | $100 |
| Proficiency exam credit fee | $100 |
| Portfolio assessment fee | $150 |
| Portfolio credit fee | $75 |
| Returned check fee | $35 |
| Room reservation fee (paid prior to room sign up each year) | $100 |
| Transcript fee (per copy) | $10 |
| Tuition Deposit Fee | $250 |
| (Charged to all accepted applicants and refundable up to and including May 1st; this deposit will be applied to first semester tuition). |
Student Financial Planning
Belhaven University believes that no qualified student should be denied an education because of financial need. Therefore, through a program of scholarships, grants, loans, and campus employment, Belhaven University provides a comprehensive plan to assist students who establish a definite financial need.
Students each year should complete the following application procedures.
- Apply formally for admission through the office of admission if not currently enrolled.
- Complete any applications for the state of Mississippi financial assistance (if a legal resident of the state). Available at www.ihl.state.ms.us.
- Apply for federal student financial aid EACH YEAR by filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) on the Internet at www.fafsa.ed.gov. IMPORTANT: Be sure to list Belhaven University as one of the colleges to receive the results of your evaluation. Our code number is 002397.
Financial aid applications received by Belhaven University on or before March 1 will be given priority for those funds that may be limited.
The financial aid programs are administered in accordance with the policies and procedures defining good standing and satisfactory progress toward a degree.
Satisfactory Academic Progress
Students at Belhaven University receiving Title IV federal funds, state grants, and/or institutional grants are required by federal regulation to be making SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS at Belhaven.
- A student must complete requirements for a degree within a maximum of six years or 12 semesters as a full-time student. A student must earn a total of 18 semester hours as a full-time student in an academic year. This standard applies to and includes semesters for which the student received NO AID. A half-time student must pass nine hours in an academic year, and a three-quarter-time student, 14 hours.
- Institutional credit is given for remedial courses, and students may have four of these during their academic careers without having an effect on satisfactory progress. These courses will count toward the total needed in number one above.
- Students will have until the end of the first full week of classes of the next semester to finalize incomplete grades. Satisfactory progress determination will be made following this period. Any incomplete grades still on a student's record at that point will be converted to F's as far as satisfactory progress is concerned.
- An F cannot be removed from a student's record. However, if a student enrolls again in a course that he or she failed, the second grade is recorded on the permanent record for the semester in which the course was repeated, with an indication that it was a repeated course. Although both courses and the respective grades and quality points are shown on the permanent record, the semester hours credit is only earned once and the second course is shown as repeated.
- A student receiving financial aid who is placed on probation by the registrar at the end of fall or spring semesters will receive a letter from the financial aid office specifying the effect on financial assistance if satisfactory academic progress requirements (as measured against quality points and credit hours required in an academic year) are not met within the probational period. Students who are recipients of institutional scholarships or grants must maintain a 2.0 cumulative GPA in order to continue to receive these funds.
- Students who fail to meet any of the requirements stated above at the end of the probational period will be considered to be making unsatisfactory progress and aid will be denied. However, students have the following two options:
- Submit a written appeal to the director of financial aid to explain any extenuating circumstances (including change of major). The appeal and documentation will be presented to the financial assistance committee. If the appeal is honored, the student must meet any specific requirements as determined by the committee.
- Attend summer school at Belhaven to bring the quality point index or credit hour deficiency to scholastic standard requirements. Attend a previously approved institution to improve credit hour deficiency to scholastic standard requirements. (Exceptions are those students suspended for one semester following a spring semester and students who have been dismissed.) It is the student's responsibility to provide documentation of completed hours to the director of financial aid. At this time, the satisfactory progress will be reevaluated.
- If appeal for financial aid probation status is not honored, but the student is otherwise eligible academically to return to Belhaven, the student may NOT receive federal, state, or institutional grants or loans. After one semester, the student will be evaluated for satisfactory progress unless the maximum time frame has expired. If the QPI and number of attempted hours are satisfactory, aid will be restored.
Merit-Based Scholarships for Freshmen (Traditional Program)
The foundation of Belhaven's scholarship program is based on a review of several factors including:
- ACT scores (or SAT equivalent)
- Grade point average
These scholarships are "open ended" in that all full-time students who qualify and are seeking a first bachelor's degree in the traditional undergraduate program will be considered to receive an award.
We encourage students to apply as soon as possible so that an accurate and complete award can be made in a timely fashion. While every student's situation is different, our student financial planning office is committed to assuring that every accepted student is able to enroll at Belhaven.
The renewal of all scholarships each year is contingent upon satisfactory academic progress and full-time status.
Cultural Arts/Athletics
The following scholarships are offered for students in the cultural arts or athletics. They are not awarded in combination with other scholarships. Academics and other attributes are considered.
| Creative Arts: | Athletics: |
| Art | Baseball |
| Creative Writing | Basketball* |
| Dance | Football |
| Music | Golf |
| Theatre | Soccer* |
| Softball | |
| Tennis* | |
| Volleyball |
Cheerleading and Cross Country* are awarded separately from Merit Scholarships.
* Men's and Women's
Merit-Based Aid for Full-time Transfer Students (Traditional Program)
We gladly welcome transfer students and work with them to assist them in meeting the financial obligations of Belhaven University. Merit-based awards are offered to full-time traditional transfer students based on:
- Previous academic record
- Phi Theta Kappa membership
These academic scholarships are not awarded in combination with other scholarships.
Students on scholarship who leave Belhaven University and then return to the University must reapply to determine scholarship eligibility.
Need-based Financial Assistance
Federal Pell Grant: Eligibility and amount of award determined by U.S. Department of Education.
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant: Based on need with preference to Pell Grant recipients.
Federal Work Study Program: Average 10-12 hours work per week on campus or in community service at minimum wage.
Federal Perkins Student Loan: Five percent interest; payment begins nine months after leaving school.
Federal Stafford Loan: Varying interest rates; repayment begins six months after leaving school.
Federal Parent Loan: Varying interest rates; parent is the borrower.
LEAP: Mississippi residents enrolled full-time with high need.
HELP: Mississippi residents enrolled full-time with high need.
Payment Policy
A student's registration for a given semester at Belhaven University is not complete until all expenses are paid or acceptable payment arrangements are made.
Students whose accounts are past due are subject to "holds" on preregistration, semester grades, transcripts, and graduation and may be denied participation in the plan for future semesters.
Student Employment
Belhaven students have an opportunity for on-campus and off-campus employment. Within the Jackson metropolitan area there are many job opportunities for qualified students. The office of career and academic development maintains an online job board available to students through http://bcblazenet.belhaven.edu, the university intranet. Employers post positions throughout the year for both full and part-time work.
The Federal Work Study Program, which was established by the Higher Education Act of 1965, permits assignments to on-campus jobs or off-campus community service jobs based on financial need, satisfactory academic achievement, and special skills required for the position. Students must apply for this employment through the office of student financial planning.
Other Financial Aid Programs
State Student Financial Aid Programs
MESG: The Mississippi Eminent Scholars Grant Program is available to current legal residents of Mississippi applying as a "first-time-in-college" full-time student. The applicant must be: (1) recognized as a semifinalist or finalist by the National Merit Scholarship Program or the National Achievement Scholarship Program and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale; OR (2) have a minimum score of 29 ACT (1280 SAT) and have a minimum GPA of 3.5 on a 4.0 scale; OR (3) have completed a home-education program (9th-12th) and have a minimum score of 29 ACT (1280 SAT). The amount of the award is $2,500 per regular academic year and renewable for up to eight semesters with a minimum 3.5 GPA.
MTAG: For legal residents of Mississippi who are enrolled full time and meet all other requirements. Access information and application at www.ihl.state.ms.us. or call Mississippi Institutions of Higher Learning at 601-432-6663 or 1-800-327-2980.
Other state programs are available, such as the William Winter Scholarship and the Critical Needs Teacher Program (CNTP) for education majors. For more information, call the Mississippi Office of State Student Financial Aid at 601-432-6663 or 1-800-327-2980.
Veterans' Benefits
Certain armed service veterans and dependents who qualify under federal laws administered by the Veterans Administration are eligible to receive educational benefits. Information about these programs may be obtained by accessing the state Veterans Administration web site at www.gibill.va.gov or call 1-888-442-4551.
Vocational Rehabilitation Benefits
Individuals with physical disabilities classified as vocational handicaps may receive financial aid from state departments of vocational rehabilitation. Detailed information is available through the departments of vocational rehabilitation in the student's home state.
