Policies and Notifications

Registration and Enrollment Categories Register for the exact number of credits upon which your aid was based. Your registration must match your enrollment on your financial aid application or your aid may be delayed. Credits from audit, CLEP, and testing out of class are not eligible credits for federal and state financial aid or for determining your enrollment level.

Extended Learning Program students: Enrollment for six BSU classroom credits (on campus, ITV, Web CT, Desire2Learn, or extension) and six Guided/Self Directed credits each semester will allow for full federal aid eligibility. Aid eligibility will be severely reduced or eliminated if you register for less than six classroom credits.

If you are in the process of adding or dropping courses, please do not accept any financial aid as your enrollment changes may result in changes to your awards. In order to receive a Federal Pell Grant your registration must be finalized within the first 30 days of the semester. If you withdraw from one or more courses within the first 30 day of the semester your Pell Grant will be reduced to the adjusted level of enrollment. In order to receive a MN Grant, the Federal Processor must receive your FAFSA within the first 30 days of the semester. Please contact the Financial Aid Office immediately if you change enrollment categories from what you originally indicated when you applied for aid. Your exact credits determine your eligibility for certain programs.  

MnSCU System-wide Payment Policy Tuition and fees should be paid in full no later than the first day of the term or your classes will be canceled. However, you will not be dropped for nonpayment if any of the following criteria is met:  

1. You have applied for Federal Financial Aid and the university has received the FAFSA results from the U.S. Department of Education.  
2. You have made a minimum down payment to tuition and fees of 15% or $300, whichever is less.  
3. You have a scholarship or other third party award that meets the minimum down payment amount.  
4. You have an active payment plan contract with FACTS Management Company.  
5. Your tuition and fees are deferred due to a special hardship situation such as sudden illness, a death in the family or natural disaster.  

Payment procedure: “E-Services” is the web portal to be used to access all your important student information, including registration, account management, bills and payment, financial aid, and grades. From the Bemidji State University Website select myBSU, then e-services. Enter your Student ID number and PIN number. It is your responsibility to access your invoice for tuition, fees, room/board, and other direct school costs through E-Services. All online credit card payments should also be made through E-Services. Compare your fall semester financial aid awards with your fall semester school costs to determine the amount of your own funds that you will need to cover your charges or to determine the amount of excess funds you may be receiving. If you are anticipating having financial aid funds in excess of your direct school costs, you should sign up for direct deposit. If you will be paying for school costs over and above your financial aid funds, you should consider enrolling in the FACTS e-Cashier Automatic Payment Program.All financial aid funds, including grants, loans, scholarships, and other third party awards, are first applied against direct school costs immediately following the fifth class day of each semester. The Direct Deposit of excess funds should be reflected in your bank account by the ninth or tenth class day of a semester. Again, it is your responsibility to check the status of your account and ensure proper payments are made accordingly. It is important that you have funds of your own to purchase books and other essentials to start each semester. Please visit the MnSCU website for the complete policy.  

SATISFACTORY ACADEMIC PROGRESS

To be eligible for continued financial assistance, all students are expected to meet the satisfactory academic progress standards of the institution, which are measured at the end of each term. Your progress will be measured by (1) grade point average, (2) completion percentage and (3) length of time it takes you to complete your program. Students are notified in writing after grades are recorded if they have failed to meet the criteria, thus resulting in a probation status or termination of their financial aid. The BSU Financial Aid Office recognizes that there are extenuating circumstances that may have led to the termination; therefore an appeal process is available. The Satisfactory Academic Progress Petition is available on our forms website. The entire Financial Aid Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy is available on our website.  

RETURN OF TITLE IV FUNDS POLICY

Repayment requirements for students who cease attending all of their classes: Financial aid recipients, who withdraw or cease attending all oftheir classes prior to 60% of the term being completed (including courseswith a grade of “F” for non-attendance), are subject to the federal rules forthe Return of Title IV Funds for any federal aid not earned. The percentage ofunearned aid is equal to the number of calendar days remaining in the termdivided by the total number of calendar days in the term. The calculation ofTitle IV funds unearned has no relationship to the student’s incurred institutionalcharges as determined by the university’s refund schedule for studentsthat officially withdraw from a term. The Records Office is the university’sdesignated office to accept notification of official withdrawals. In the event that the last date of attendance cannot be determined, the mid-date (50%) of the semester will be used. The Business Office will determine the repayment based upon federal and state procedures, the last date of attendance, type of aid awarded, and charges for tuition, fees and residence hall. The repayment amount is considered unearned aid that a student was not eligible to receive because of not completing the term, necessitating the repayment of funds.The university may have an obligation to return funds to an aid program that was previously applied to the student’s account. The student may have an obligation to repay funds that were paid directly to him/her. If the university returns funds that were applied to the student’s account, a balance due the university by the student will result. Federal student aid may not cover all unpaid institutional charges due to the university upon withdrawal. Failure to repay will prevent future registration at the university and initiate delinquent collection procedures, which will adversely affect the student’s credit rating. A student may contact the Accounting Office in Deputy Hall 202 to receive an estimation of the required financial aid repayment, if any. Actual Sample Withdrawal Case: (1) Student received $1970 Federal Direct Loan and $2025 Federal Pell Grant. (2) Student completed only 27% of the semester. (3) Student was required to repay $2535 of the $3995 total aid received.   Non Federal Funds: Repayments to state aid programs and non-state aid programs will be calculated on a proportional basis using the institutional refund policy. To calculate the minimum refund due to the Minnesota State Grant, SELF Loan program, and other aid programs, the OHE Refund Calculation Worksheet will be utilized.   The entire Return of Title IV Funds Policy is available on our website.