Understanding Student Refunds

Student Refund Policy and Process

This policy outlines Gallaudet University’s process for issuing refunds to students with a credit balance on their account and specifies the types of financial aid eligible for refunds.

Eligibility for Refunds

Students with a credit balance on their account may be eligible to receive a refund. Eligibility and timing depend on the type of credit:

• Federal Financial Aid (Title IV Funding): Certain types of federal financial aid, including Pell Grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (SEOG), and Federal Direct Loans, qualify for refunds. Once disbursed and applied to student charges, these funds may create a refundable credit balance.
• Departmental Awards: Some departmental awards may be eligible for refunds; however, eligibility is reviewed and approved by the Financial Aid Office on a case-by-case basis.
• Student Payments: Electronic payments (ePayments) made via Transact prior to award disbursement may be eligible for a refund. Please note that credit card payments cannot be refunded back to the original card and will be issued by check only.

Refund Process

The refund process is determined by the type of credit on the student’s account. Once eligibility is confirmed:

• The Student Financial Services Office will initiate the refund process.
• Refund disbursement timelines may vary depending on the funding source and approval requirements. However, eligible federal aid refunds will be disbursed within 14 business days from the date of disbursement to the student account.
• Refunds are processed on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Notification of Funds

In accordance with the U.S. Department of Education, Gallaudet University will notify students of the Federal Student Aid (FSA) funds they are eligible to receive, including Federal Work-Study (FWS). This notification will include details on the amount, disbursement method, and disbursement schedule. Notifications are sent prior to the disbursement of funds to the student’s account.

For questions regarding refunds, students may contact Student Financial Services.

Image Description:
The image is a step-by-step instructional guide titled “Setting Up Payment Elections” for Gallaudet University students using Workday. It presents five sequential steps, each displayed in yellow boxes with blue text. Each step is accompanied by an icon of a bison head on the left side.

At the bottom of the image, a note states:
“You can view accounts and payment elections after successfully adding your payment elections to your account. You can update your banking information at any time.”