University Policies

File code: ADM.REFCRED.POL
Approval Date: 2/14/06
Last Revised: 6/1/24
Approved By: President

Refund and Credit Policy

POLICY STATEMENT

The following has been established as policy to provide for students due a refund or credit from the University.

SCOPE (WHO SHOULD READ THIS POLICY)

Students, staff, instructors, administrators, academic advisors, and anyone else affected by a refund as a result of dropping or withdrawing from courses.

DEFINITIONS

  • Regularly Scheduled Classes: Regularly scheduled classes are classes that meet at least once a week during the regularly scheduled Fall/Spring Semester or Summer Session.
  • Irregularly Scheduled Classes: Irregularly scheduled classes are classes that do not meet the regularly scheduled class definition.

POLICY

For Dropped Classes

Students enrolled in any combination of sessions, either on-campus and/or off-campus, must drop from the desired class within that session's 100-percent refund/credit period to avoid assessment of tuition and mandatory fee charges. Students will be assessed full tuition and fees in accordance with the University's tuition and fee schedule for classes dropped after the 100-percent refund/credit period.

For Total University Withdrawal
Regularly Scheduled Classes

Regularly scheduled classes are classes that meet at least once a week during the regularly scheduled Fall/Spring Semester or Summer Session.

Fall and Spring Semesters 

A student who has registered and then officially and totally withdraws from Western Illinois University in accordance with established University procedures on or before the tenth class day of the semester shall receive refund/credit for all tuition and mandatory fees as well as pro-rated credit for room and board charges.

A student who officially and totally withdraws after the tenth class day of the semester shall be entitled to a refund/credit of tuition, mandatory fees, and room and board charges as follows:

If date of withdrawal is:
Remainder of week 3 -- 80% refund Week 4 -- 70% refund
Week 5 and Week 6 -- 60% refund
Week 7 and Week 8 -- 50% refund
Week 9 -- 40% refund
Week 10 -- 30% refund
After Week 10 -- 0% refund

Summer Session

A student who has registered and then officially and totally withdraws from Western Illinois University in accordance with established University procedures on or before the sixth class day of the session shall be entitled to a 100-percent refund/credit of tuition and mandatory fees as well as pro-rated room and board charges.

A student who officially and totally withdraws after the sixth class day of the session and before 60% of the length of the course shall be entitled to a refund/credit of tuition, mandatory fees, room and board charges as follows:

Three-Week Classes

If date of withdrawal is:
During Week 2, up to 60% of the course length -- 30% refund After 60% of the course length -- 0% refund

Four-Week Classes

If date of withdrawal is:
Remainder of Week 2 -- 50% refund
During Week 3, up to 60% of the course length -- 20% refund After 60% of the course length -- 0% refund

Six-Week Classes

If date of withdrawal is:
Remainder of Week 2 -- 60% refund Week 3 -- 50% refund
During Week 4, up to 60% of the course length -- 30% refund After 60% of the course length -- 0% refund

Eight-Week Classes

If date of withdrawal is:
Remainder of Week 2 -- 70% refund Week 3 -- 60% refund
Week 4 -- 50% refund
During Week 5, up to 60% of the course length -- 30% refund After 60% of the course length -- 0% refund

Irregularly Scheduled Classes

Irregularly scheduled classes are classes that do not meet the regularly scheduled class definition.

A student who has registered and officially and totally withdraws from Western Illinois University before 60% of the length of the course in accordance with established procedures shall be entitled to a refund/credit of tuition and mandatory fees as follows:

Three-Consecutive Week Classes (minimum 6 sessions) If date of withdrawal is:

Week I -- 100% refund
During Week 2, up to 60% of the course length -- 30% refund After 60% of the course length -- 0% refund

Four-Consecutive Week Classes (minimum 8 sessions) If date of withdrawal is:
Week 1 -- 100% refund
Week 2 -- 50% refund
During Week 3, up to 60% of the course length -- 20% refund After 60% of the course length -- 0% refund

Six-Consecutive Week Classes (minimum 12 sessions)

If date of withdrawal is:
Week 1 -- 100% refund
Week 2 -- 60% refund
Week 3 -- 50% refund
During Week 4, up to 60% of the course length -- 30% refund After 60% of the course length -- 0% refund

Eight- or More-Consecutive Week Classes (minimum 16 sessions)

If date of withdrawal is:
Remainder of Week 2 -- 70% refund Week 3 -- 60% refund
Week 4 -- 50% refund
During Week 5, up to 60% of the course length -- 30% refund After 60% of the course length -- 0% refund

A student who has registered for an irregularly scheduled class that is not covered by the refund/credit percentages listed above shall be entitled to a 100-percent refund/credit of tuition and mandatory fees as follows:

Classes meeting 1 session: Withdraw before first class meeting.
Classes meeting 2 or 3 sessions: Withdraw before second class meeting.
Classes meeting 4 or more sessions: Withdraw before third class meeting.

For a Tuition Appeal

Western Illinois University may refund/credit tuition and fees should a student provide evidence of hardship that is caused by someone other than the student. The student must be fully withdrawn from all courses in the semester before appealing to Billing & Receivables. Notification must be before the end of the next regular semester (Fall or Spring). Verification will be done based upon criteria listed below:

Medical Appeals include, but are not limited to:

  • serious injury or illness
  • chronic illness
  • a medical issue of a family member in which the student has to become a part-time or full-time caretaker of that family member
  • a mental health condition

Non-attendance appeals are a one-time exception for students who failed to drop/withdraw from their classes by the add/drop date and did not do coursework.

Extreme hardship appeals include, but are not limited to:

  • Death of immediate family member
  • Change in employment
  • A sudden or consistent lack of transportation issue
  • A significant cost of living increase

Institutional error appeals include, but are not limited to:

  • Erroneous information
  • Improper advising 

To appeal, send an email to billings@wiu.edu requesting a medical, non-attendance, extreme hardship, or institutional error appeal. Please provide specific information and attach any necessary documentation when submitting your appeal.

For a Student Death

Upon notification of the death of a student, ALL charges for the current term will be reversed for that student. Any payments made from personal, private, federal, or state funds will be returned to the originating source. Refunds of federal funds will be in accordance with federal fund regulations. In the case of personal funds, the refund will be made to the parents, spouse, or estate of the deceased student.

For students who left the University owing money and subsequently died, only the unpaid charges will be reversed. No partial payments will be refunded.

It will be the responsibility of the Registrar's Office to take the appropriate action to initiate the adjustment of the student's account, once notification of the death has been received by that office. Any University official receiving valid information on the death of a student (former or present) should notify the Director of the Student Development and Success Center, who shall be responsible for notifying other offices and initiating various other contacts as appropriate under the circumstances, e.g., faculty, family, etc.

For an Institutional Error

Western Illinois University will refund/credit tuition and fees if evidence indicates that an error has been made in the registration/timely withdrawal of a student. Verification will be done by Business Office staff based on information such as failure to process withdrawal, publication of erroneous information, improper advising, etc.

When it is in the Best Interest of the University

Western Illinois University will refund/credit tuition and fees provided the president of the University has determined that such a refund/credit is in the best interest of the university.

PROCEDURES

Students who wish to withdraw from all of their courses for a semester, before the last day to withdraw, must do so in writing. They may submit a form through the Student Development and Success Center, or may submit their written request to the Office of the Registrar. Students who wish to withdraw from fewer than all of their courses, before the last withdrawal date, may do so on STARS.

RESPONSIBILITIES (Implementation and Enforcement)

Office of the Registrar, Billing & Receivables, Student Development and Success Center 

RESOURCES

Standards