Financial Aid Disclosures

To remain eligible for Federal student aid during the semester, the student must be attending classes, taking exams and completing required course work.

The United States Department of Education requires the University to determine the amount of Title IV (Federal aid) earned by a student who withdraws (officially or unofficially) or fails to complete the payment period (semester/module). The University must determine the earned and unearned portions of Title IV aid as of the date the student ceased attendance based on the period of time in which the student was enrolled during the semester. We are required to perform a Return of Title IV Funds calculation for students who withdraw (officially or unofficially) from all classes, or receive failing grades in all courses in a semester.

The calculation required determines a student's earned and unearned Title IV aid based on the percentage of the payment period completed by the student. The percentage of the period that the student remained enrolled is derived by dividing the number of days the student attended by the number of days in the payment period. Calendar days (including weekends) are used, but breaks of at least 5 days are excluded from both the numerator and denominator.

Until a student has passed the 60% point of a payment period, only a portion of the student's aid has been earned. A student who remains enrolled beyond the 60% point is considered to have earned all awarded aid for the payment period. Please note students who are enrolled in modules, or courses which do not span the entire length of a semester, would also be included in this calculation.

The following earned Federal aid is included in a Return of Title IV Funds Calculation if disbursed or could have been disbursed:

• Federal Pell Grant
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant
• TEACH Grant
• Federal SEOG
• Direct Loans
• Federal Perkins Loans

The unearned portion of Federal student aid funds will be returned to the appropriate aid program(s). The funds are returned in the following order:

• Unsubsidized Direct Loans
• Subsidized Direct Loans
• Federal Perkins Loan
• Direct PLUS Loans
• Federal Pell Grants for which a return is required
• Federal SEOG Grant for which a return is required
• TEACH Grants for which a return is required
• Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, for which a return is required

Students withdrawing from classes are responsible for payment of any balance due after the required return of Federal student aid funds.

Earned aid is not related in any way to institutional charges. In addition, the University's institutional refund policy and Return of Title IV Funds procedures are independent of one another. A student who withdraws from a course or courses may be required to return unearned aid and still owe the university for the course or courses. For more information on Chatham University's withdrawal and institutional charges' policies, please consult the catalog.

Students who stop attending all classes without officially withdrawing will be subject to a return of Federal student aid funds at the end of the semester based on the withdrawal date/last documented date of attendance as determined by Chatham University.

Financial Aid staff members are responsible for adhering to principles of good practice as mandated by state, federal, and institutional regulations, including the Policy for Ethical Practice. Financial Aid staff, as well as officers, trustees, and employees of Chatham University who make financial aid decisions for the University must adhere to the following professional standards.

• Refrain from taking any action for his or her personal benefit.
• Refrain from taking any action he or she believes is contrary to law, regulation, or the best interest of the students and parents he or she serves.
• Ensure that the information he or she provides is accurate, unbiased, and does not reflect any preference arising from actual or potential personal gain.
• Be objective in making decisions and advising Chatham University regarding relationships with any entity involved in any aspect of financial aid.
• Refrain from soliciting or accepting anything of other than nominal value from any entity involved in the making, holding, consolidating, or processing of student loans, including anything of value (including reimbursement of expenses) for serving on an advisory body. This includes, but not limited to, gifts such as travel, hotel or motel lodging, entertainment, restaurant meals, office supplies, and event tickets.
• Disclose in such a manner as Chatham University may prescribe, any involvement with or interest in any entity involved in any aspect of student financial aid.
• Institutional award notifications and/or other institutionally provided materials shall include the following:
  1. A breakdown of the individual components of the institution's Cost of Attendance, designating all potential billable charges.
  2. Clear identification of each award, indicating type of aid, i.e. gift aid (grant, scholarship), work or loan.
  3. Standard terminology and definitions.
  4. Renewal requirements for each award.
• All required consumer information is displayed in a prominent location on the Chatham University website and in any printed materials, easily identified and found, and labeled as "Consumer Information."

Per Federal Regulations, a federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student for federal financial aid. A student who has been convicted of possession or sale of illegal drugs loses Title IV eligibility for a period of time specified by law. The period of ineligibility depends on whether the conviction was for possession or sale of (including conspiring to sell) illegal drugs. Title IV aid includes federal grants, loans and work study. The steps to regain eligibility are listed below.

For convictions involving possession, the periods of ineligibility are as follows:

• One conviction: one year after the date of conviction
• Two convictions: two years after the date of the second conviction
• Three or more convictions: indefinite from the date of the third conviction

For convictions involving sale, the periods of ineligibility are as follows:

• One conviction: two years after the date of conviction
• Two or more convictions: indefinite from the date of the second conviction

Convictions only count if they were for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving Title IV aid - they do not count if the offense was not during such a period. Also, a conviction that was reversed, set aside, or removed from the student's record does not count, nor does one received when the student was a juvenile, unless the student was tried as an adult.

Regaining Eligibility

A student regains eligibility the day after the period of ineligibility ends or when the student successfully completes a qualified drug rehabilitation program. Further drug convictions will make the student ineligible again.

A student whose Title IV eligibility has been suspended indefinitely may regain eligibility only by successfully completing a drug rehabilitation program. A student who is under a one- or two-year penalty may regain eligibility before the expiration of the period of ineligibility by successfully completing a drug rehabilitation program. If the student successfully completes an approved drug rehabilitation program, eligibility is regained on the date the student successfully completes the program. It is the student's responsibility to certify to the school that he/ she has successfully completed the rehabilitation program.

To qualify the student for eligibility, the drug rehabilitation program must include at least two unannounced drug tests, and:

• Have received or be qualified to receive funds directly or indirectly under a Federal, State, or local government program; or
• Be administered or recognized by a Federal, State, or local government agency or court; or
• Have received or be qualified to receive payment directly or indirectly from a Federally- or State-licensed insurance company; or
• Be administered or recognized by a Federally- or State-licensed hospital, health clinic or medical doctor.