Student Rights & Responsibilities

Rights

You have the right to:

• Know what financial aid is available to you, including all federal, state, and institutional assistance.
  • Know the deadlines, selection criteria, terms, policies, procedures, and regulations that apply to each of the programs.
• Know how your financial need was determined and how much of it, as determined by the university, was met.
  • This includes how costs for tuition and fees, room and board, transportation, books and supplies, and miscellaneous personal expenses are included in your student budget.
• Know what portion of the financial aid you receive is gift assistance (grants and scholarships) and what portion is self-help (loans and employment).
• Know the terms of any student loan you take out, including:
  • The interest rate
  • The total amount that must be repaid
  • The length of time you have to repay when you must start repayment
  • Cancellation provisions
  • Deferment and forbearance possibilities
  • Any special consolidation or refinancing options.
• Know how the university determines whether you are making Satisfactory Academic Progress and what happens if you are not.
• Appeal your financial aid award if there are special circumstances that you believe were not taken into consideration.
• Know how and when your financial aid will be disbursed.
• Know the university’s Refund and Repayment policy.
• Know how a change in enrollment will affect your financial aid and your student account.
• Examine, with a financial aid counselor, records in our office that relate to your financial aid file.
• Expect equitable treatment under the university’s financial aid policy prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran’s status.

Responsibilities

You are responsible for:

• Reapplying for financial aid each and every year.
• Completing applications correctly and on time.
• Requesting personal assistance if you have questions or do not understand the information provided to you.
• Submitting documentation and information requested by the Financial Aid Office in a timely manner and keeping copies for your own records.
• Checking your Bison web portal regularly
• Notifying the University of any name or address changes.
• Knowing and complying with the rules governing your financial aid awards.
• Attending classes and completing the requirements for each course in which you enroll.
• Compliance with Gallaudet University’s refund policy and Federal Return to Title IV Aid policy, should you withdraw from the University (either officially or unofficially).
• Notifying the Financial Aid Office of any financial awards you receive from outside resources (including scholarships, grants, Veteran’s Benefits, tuition waivers, or other educational/tuition assistance) not already listed on your Financial Aid Award Letter or Bison web portal
• Completing loan entrance and exit counseling (if you borrow a student loan).
• The repayment of all loans in accordance with the terms of your promissory note.
• Notifying your lender if any of the following occurs before your loan is repaid:
  • Change of address
  • Graduation
  • Withdrawal from Gallaudet University or less than half-time attendance
  • Name change
  • Transfer to another institution.
  • Maintaining Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
  • Using financial aid for educational expenses incurred while attending Gallaudet University
  • You are responsible for the repayment of any over-award of financial aid.