Overview Financial Support Requirements Full-time Enrollment Requirements Tuition Support Fellowships Assistantships Tax Obligations Tuition and Fees Student Financial Assistance

Overview

Graduate education is an important investment for the student, the university, and the community. Graduate education enables students to enter new career fields with more choices as to their work assignments and more opportunities for advancement to higher paying jobs. It provides enrichment and a deeper understanding of a chosen field. Educated employees improve the quality of life in the state of Florida and the world. At UCF, the cost of this investment is very reasonable.

A student's basic expenses at the university include tuition, course-related fees, textbooks, other instructional supplies, room and board, and miscellaneous items.

UCF assists highly qualified students with the cost of graduate education by providing funds for fellowships and tuition support. In addition, many departments provide financial support in the form of graduate assistantships and tuition funds. However, many qualified students do not receive financial assistance from the university because such funds are limited and targeted to the most highly qualified students. In order to qualify for fellowships, tuition, or assistanships, students must meet the requirements specified below.

Financial Support Requirements

Graduate students must meet all of the following requirements each term that they receive graduate financial support:

• Students must be accepted as a graduate student (on regular, conditional, or restricted status) in a degree program and enrolled full-time. See "Full-time Enrollment Requirements." Nondegree-seeking students, degree-seeking students whose admissions status is provisional, and students who are only admitted to a graduate certificate program are ineligible for UCF financial support.
• Students must maintain good academic standing with a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher each term. If a student's term or program GPA falls below 3.0, students on financial support may be allowed to continue their support for one term upon petition by the student's graduate program. The extension of support beyond one term in these cases will not be considered.
• In order to receive tuition support, students must be employed as a Graduate Assistant (GA: Job Code 9185), Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA: Job Code 9184), Graduate Teaching Associate (GTA: Job Code 9183), Graduate Research Assistant (GRA: Job Code 9182), or Graduate Research Associate (GRA: Job Code 9181) for at least 10 hours per week (0.25 FTE), or must be receiving a qualifying fellowship in the amount of $5000 or higher for the academic year. Not all fellowships provide tuition support.
• Tuition support will be provided only for courses that are part of the student's program of study and necessary for progress toward the student's graduate degree.
• Tuition support is limited to 6 terms for master's students, 9 terms for doctoral students beyond the master's degree, or 15 terms for doctoral students without a master's degree.

Full-time Enrollment Requirements

University financial resources are to be used to support full-time, degree-seeking graduate students who maintain good academic progress. Graduate students receiving assistantships, tuition support, and fellowships must be enrolled full-time. For more information, see Full-time Enrollment Requirements in the General Policies section of this catalog.

Tuition Support

Graduate students who are enrolled full-time and employed as graduate assistants or receiving fellowships may also receive tuition support as part of their financial package. Usually, tuition support pays matriculation and nonresident fees (charges for course hours) and does not pay local fees (health fee, athletic fee, etc.). Tuition support is generally described in the student's letter of admission acceptance and statement of financial awards. Students should contact their program of study (department) if they have questions about the tuition support that will be provided.

Certain fellowships also provide tuition support. Students should review the letter offering the fellowship and the terms of the award to see if tuition support is included. Students should review the fellowship descriptions in order to determine which fellowships include tuition support. Specific questions concerning the amount of tuition that might be included with a given fellowship may be directed to UCF Graduate Studies at gradfaid@mail.ucf.edu.

Note: Students receiving tuition assistance from another source (UCF Employee Tuition Voucher, State Employee Tuition Voucher, etc.) may not also receive a UCF graduate tuition waiver.

Tuition Support Requirements

Graduate students must meet all of the following requirements each term that they receive tuition support.

• Students must be accepted as a graduate student (regular, conditional, or restricted status) in a degree program and enrolled full-time. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.



• Tuition support will be provided only for courses that are part of the student's program of study and necessary for progress toward the student's graduate degree.



• Students must maintain good academic standing with a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher each term.



• Students must be employed as a Graduate Assistant (GA), Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA), or Graduate Research Assistant (GRA) for at least 10 hours per week (0.25 FTE), or students must be receiving a fellowship in the amount of $3250 or higher for the academic year.



• Tuition support is limited to 9 terms for master's students, 12 terms for doctoral students beyond the master's degree, or 21 terms for doctoral students without a master's degree.



• Nondegree-seeking students, degree-seeking students whose admission status is provisional, and students who are only admitted to a graduate certificate program are ineligible for UCF gradaute tuition support.

Student Obligations

Student drops a course but remains full-time. If a student drops a course for which tuition support has been received but remains full-time, the tuition support received for the class must be returned to the university. Holds on student records will prevent students from registering for classes, receiving transcripts, or receiving grade reports until the money is returned. However, if the student remains full-time by enrolling in a course to replace the one being dropped, the student is not required to return the tuition support to the university (assuming the new course is acceptable in the Program of Study).

Student drops a course and becomes part-time. If a student drops a course for which tuition support has been received and becomes part-time as a result, all tuition support must be returned to the university. Holds on student records will prevent students from registering for classes, receiving transcripts, or receiving grade reports until the money is returned. (In extreme cases, a student may petition for an exception to this policy.)

Student is dismissed or resigns from assistantship. If a student with tuition support is dismissed from the university or resigns from employment on a graduate assistantship (GA, GTA, or GRA) at any point during the term, tuition support funds received by the student must be returned to the university.

Requesting Tuition Support

Colleges and departments award tuition support to selected master's and specialist students on assistantships each term. Check with your department regarding procedures for receiving tuition support.

Upon the recomendation of program and college offices, UCF Graduate Studies assigns tuition support to qualifying doctoral assistants. Tuition may also be paid from departmental or grant and contract accounts. Doctoral students should discuss their tuition support needs with the Graduate Program Director.

Students Working in Nonacademic Units

Each term, employers of students employed as graduate assistants (GA, GTA, or GRA) in a nonacademic unit must notify UCF Graduate Studies of their graduate assistant employees. Once this notification is received, Graduate Studies will review the student's record and award tuition support, if the student meets the requirements.

Examples of nonacademic units: Academic Affairs, Office of Sponsored Research, Computer Services, Student Development and Enrollment Services, Information Technologies, Course Development & Web Services, among others. Contact UCF Graduate Studies if you are unsure if the unit is considered nonacademic.

Tuition Support Disbursement

All tuition support will be posted to your student account through the Office of Student Accounts, based on instructions provided by the program, college, or UCF Graduate Studies. Upon enrollment in full-time hours, students receiving tuition support will have their tuition deferred for the amount of the award. Students are responsible for paying the remaining balance of tuition and fees by the Payment Deadline published in the UCF Academic Calendar. Failure to pay the remaining balance by the Payment Deadline may result in cancellation of students' enrollment.

Fellowships

UCF Graduate Studies awards more than $2.5 million in university fellowships to provide financial support for the graduate education of over 500 graduate students each year. These fellowships are funded by university appropriations, endowments, and other outside sources.

Fellowships are awarded on the basis of academic merit to the most highly qualified applicants. Some fellowships are available only to applicants who are minority students. For eligibility, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and enrolled full-time. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements. Students who are interested in being considered for a fellowship are strongly encouraged to apply for admission early and to communicate their interest in receiving a fellowship. Most fellowship procedures require Graduate Program Directors to nominate students to the Division of Graduate Studies through the college and program offices. All admitted graduate students are automatically considered in this nomination process. Other fellowships, however, require students to fill out a fellowship application. For more details about graduate fellowships, visit www.graduate.ucf.edu.

International students receiving fellowships are subject to up to 14 percent withholding on their fellowship checks. International students must obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) prior to receipt of a fellowship. More information on this issue can be obtained from the International Services Center (www.intl.ucf.edu).

General Fellowship Requirements

• Students usually receive only one UCF fellowship per term, and students are eligible to receive a given fellowship only once (with the exception of the Delores Auzenne Fellowship).



• Fellowships are only awarded to highly qualified individuals who are regularly admitted degree-seeking graduate students by the time the fellowship is awarded. Students on provisional and restricted admission status, nondegree-seeking (post-baccalaureate) students, and graduate certificate students are not eligible for fellowships.



• All fellowships require full-time graduate enrollment. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.



• Fellowship students must make acceptable academic progress during each term of the award or the fellowship will be cancelled.



• Each fellowship has different specific requirements, which are described at www.graduate.ucf.edu.

Students Working Full Time

Students working full time in on-campus or off-campus jobs may not receive university fellowships, as UCF fellowship recipients are expected to be primarily focused on graduate study and related activities on campus (e.g., graduate assistantships, research activities, participation in professional organizations).

In addition, students receiving tuition assistance from another source (UCF Employee Tuition Voucher, State Employee Tuition Voucher, etc.) may not also receive a UCF graduate tuition waiver.

Academic Progress for Fellowship Recipients

Fellowship recipients are required to be in good standing and make satisfactory academic progress to continue to receive a fellowship award. To be considered in good standing, fellowship recipients are required to maintain the standards listed below.

• Students must be fully accepted into a graduate degree program at UCF.



• Students must be enrolled as full-time graduate students. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.



• Students must maintain a minimum grade point average of 3.0 each term of the award.



• Students must receive a satisfactory progress report from their academic adviser each term of the award.



• Students cannot receive a grade of incomplete ("I") and continue to receive the award.

Failure to meet any one of these standards will cause cancellation of the fellowship. The Division of Graduate Studies may grant rare exceptions to this policy after review of evidence of mitigating circumstances presented by the student.

Graduate Fellowships

The following list identifies the fellowships offered by the university and the funding programs in which the university participates. For the most current information regarding fellowships, students are encouraged to consult www.graduate.ucf.edu.

• UCF Trustees Doctoral Fellowship
• UCF Presidential Doctoral Fellowship
• McKnight Doctoral Fellowship
• UCF Provost's Graduate Fellowship
• Summer Mentoring Fellowship
• GEM Fellowship
• Delores A. Auzenne Fellowship
• Florida A&M University Feeder Program
• FGAMP Graduate Fellowship
• Siemens-Westinghouse Graduate Fellowship

Fellowship Disbursement

Most graduate fellowships are disbursed through the Office of Student Financial Assistance, based on instructions provided by UCF Graduate Studies. Student Financial Assistance does not disburse fellowship funds or any other aid until after the registration and add/drop period has ended (usually about 2 weeks into the term). Upon enrollment in full-time hours, students receiving fellowships will have their tuition deferred (up to the amount of the fellowship) until they receive their fellowship payment. If students are not enrolled in full-time hours by the end of the add/drop period, their fellowship will be cancelled. Students are responsible for paying the balance of tuition and fees by the Payment Deadline published in the UCF Academic Calendar to avoid being dropped from classes. Fellowship payment will first be applied to the student's account balance. Remaining funds will be disbursed to the student either as a check mailed to the current mailing address of record or as a direct deposit into the student's SunTrust account, if already set up on campus.

Students can check to see if fellowship payment has been applied to their account through POLARIS at MyUCF. In POLARIS, select "Student Accounts" to see awards that have been set up to pay against your account.

Assistantships

Graduate students often receive assistantships in their departments or other university offices while pursuing graduate studies. Graduate assistants may teach, conduct research, or perform other tasks that contribute to the student's professional development.

Graduate students may become Graduate Teaching Assistants (GTAs), Graduate Research Assistants (GRAs), or Graduate Assistants (GAs). For eligibility, students must be accepted as a graduate student in a degree program and enrolled full-time. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.

Both half- and full-stipend assistantships are available. Half-stipend assistantships require students to perform assistantship assignments for a minimum of 10 hours per week during the period of the assignment. Full-stipend assistantships require students to perform assistantship assignments for a minimum of 20 hours per week during the period of the assignment.

Specific eligibility and application guidelines for graduate assistants are established by the colleges and departments. To apply for an assistantship, students should contact their Graduate Program Director in the department of study. (See the "Contact Info" for your Graduate Program Director's e-mail address and telephone number in the Academic Programs section of this graduate catalog.)

Part-time students (those registered for less than 9 hours in fall and spring terms, less than 6 hours in summer term) and nondegree students are not eligible to be hired on assistantships.

Assistantship Payment

Graduate students who have assistantships receive biweekly payments following the schedule set by Human Resources. If a student receives an assistantship from more than one office, the student receives one payment combining the amounts paid by each office. Assistantship payments do not show as credit on the student's term bill; they do not defer tuition and fees. Students are responsible for paying the balance on their term bill by the payment deadline published in the academic calendar.

Graduate students on assistantships should be aware of the Internal Revenue Service guidelines for exemption from FICA and FUTA withholding taxes. For more information, please see the UCF Human Resources website (www.hr.ucf.edu).

Graduate Research Assistants

Graduate research assistants may assist professors with research activities, participate in research efforts in university institutes and centers or in off-campus projects affiliated with the university, or perform other research-related duties. They may also be assigned to nonacademic university offices such as Academic Affairs, University Analysis and Planning Support, Operational Excellence and Assessment Support, Computer Services, and Course Development & Web Services.

Graduate research assistants are typically supported by grants and contracts but may also be supported by departmental funds. University policy requires that GRAs receive a minimum stipend of $3,200 per academic year (fall and spring semesters) for half-stipend assistantships or $6,400 per academic year (fall and spring semesters) for full-stipend assistantships, plus partial tuition waiver. Departments vary widely in their normal stipend rates.

Requirements

• Students must be classified as graduate students by the end of the add/drop period for the term of the assistantship.



• Students must maintain good academic standing with a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher each term. Students whose overall GPA falls below 3.0 in a given semester should be placed on academic probation for a semester. They may keep their assistantship during this probationary period, but must raise their GPA above 3.0 at the completion of the next semester in order to remain in good standing and maintain the assistantship.



• Students must be enrolled as full-time graduate students. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.



• Students may receive half-stipend or full-stipend assistantships. In rare circumstances, students may be granted more than a full-stipend assistantship. Requests for this exception must be submitted using the Excess Hours Form (available at www.graduatestudies.ucf.edu).

Graduate research assistants are not faculty and are not able to receive faculty parking privileges or faculty ID cards.

Graduate Assistants

Graduate assistants may be employed in college or department offices to assist in general office tasks and services not involved in teaching or research assignments. They may also be aasigned in nonacademic university offices such as the Registrar's Office, Computer Services, and Course Development & Web Services. University policy requires that GAs receive a minimum stipend of $3,200 per academic year (fall and spring semesters) for half-stipend assistantships or $6,400 per academic year (fall and spring semesters) for full-stipend assistantships, plus a partial tuition waiver. Departments will vary widely in their normal stipend rates. It is expected that GAs who receive hourly payments will receive a minimum of $10 per hour.

Requirements

• Students must be classified as graduate students by the end of the add/drop period for the term of employment.



• Students must maintain good academic standing with a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher each term. Students whose overall GPA falls below 3.0 in a given semester should be placed on academic probation for a semester. They may keep their assistantship during this probationary period, but must raise their GPA above 3.0 at the completion of the next semester in order to remain in good standing and maintain the assistantship.



• Students must be enrolled as full-time graduate students. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.



• Students assigned as graduate assistants may not be simultaneously employed as a student assistant or adjunct faculty.



• Students may receive half-stipend or full-stipend assistantships. In rare circumstances, students may be granted more than a full-stipend assistantship. Requests for this exception must be submitted using the Excess Hours Form (available at www.graduatestudies.ucf.edu).



• Nondegree students may be employed but must be classified as student assistants (not graduate assistants). Nondegree students may not be assigned to any of the graduate student position codes.

Graduate assistants are not faculty and are not able to receive faculty parking privileges or faculty ID cards.

Graduate Teaching Assistants

Graduate teaching assistants may be assigned as classroom teachers, co-teachers or classroom assistants, graders, lab assistants, or other roles directly related to classroom instruction. University policy requires that GTAs receive a minimum stipend of $3,200 per academic year (fall and spring semesters) for half-stipend assistantships or $6,400 per academic year (fall and spring semesters) for full-stipend assistantships, plus a partial tuition waiver. Departments will vary widely in their normal stipend rates.

Requirements

• Students must be classified as graduate students by the end of the add/drop period for the term of employment.



• Students must maintain good academic standing with a graduate GPA of 3.0 or higher each term. Students whose overall GPA falls below 3.0 in a given semester should be placed on academic probation for a semester. They may keep their assistantship during this probationary period, but must raise their GPA above 3.0 at the completion of the next semester in order to remain in good standing and maintain the assistantship.



• Students must be enrolled as full-time graduate students. See Full-time Enrollment Requirements.



• Students must have completed at least 18 hours of graduate courses in the major prior to being assigned as an instructor of record or teaching independently at the university.



• New graduate teaching associates, assistants, and graders are required to satisfy the UCF GTA Training requirements before beginning their assistantship assignment. Graduate teaching associates and assistants must attend the two-day face-to-face GTA Training sessions presented by the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning and complete the Legal Module online. Graduate teaching graders must complete the Legal Module online.



• Students with access to student records must maintain the confidentiality of all student records and information. Failure to do so will result in immediate dismissal.



• All graduate students involved in classroom instruction who received their undergraduate degrees from a foreign institution must prove their ability to speak the English language. See "English-speaking Ability for Graduate Teaching Assistants" in this section of the graduate catalog for more information.



• Students may receive half-stipend or full-stipend assistantships. In rare circumstances, students may be granted more than a full-stipend assistantship. Requests for this exception must be submitted using the Excess Hours Form (available at www.graduatestudies.ucf.edu).

Graduate teaching assistants are not faculty and are not able to receive faculty parking privileges or faculty ID cards.

English-speaking Ability for Graduate Teaching Assistants

The English-speaking skills of graduate students with English as a second language who plan to serve as graduate teaching assistants (GTAs) will be evaluated as part of the GTA Orientation that is offered in August each year by the Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning. This requirement applies to all students from countries where English is not the native language; however, such students will be exempt if they have completed a previous degree from an accredited U.S. college or university. Only exempted students and those who have attended the GTA Orientation and satisfactorily passed the evaluation of their English-speaking skills may be assigned as GTAs.

English-speaking ability will be evaluated using the SPEAK test provided by the Educational Testing Service. If students do not pass this evaluation administered as part of the GTA Orientation, they are required to complete course work to improve their English-speaking skills through the Center for Multicultural and Multilingual Studies. As needed, the university will provide each student one or two month-long sessions with post-evaluations. If students achieve a satisfactory post-evaluation following the first session, they may be assigned as GTAs. Otherwise, students must complete the second session and a second post-evaluation. Students who require more than two sessions to speak English effectively will have to rely upon personal or department resources to pay for additional course work and post-evaluations.

Assessment of Graduate Teaching Assistants

All Graduate Teaching Assistants will be evaluated on their teaching each semester using the GTA Performance Assessment Form provided by the Division of Graduate Studies. The assessment must be completed by the faculty member who is supervising the GTA in teaching and sent to the Division of Graduate Studies by the end of the semester. Completion of the form constitutes a summary assessment, based upon prior classroom visits, informal observations, input from students, and discussion with the GTA, and/or other evidences of performance. It is required that the faculty member meet with the assistant to discuss the assessment each semester.

Graduate Teaching Associates, Graduate Teaching Assistants, and Graduate Teaching Assistant-Graders will not be allowed to continue in their positions in the next semester unless this form has been received by the Division of Graduate Studies before the end of the semester. GTAs may respond to the assessment, if they wish.

Use of the assessment is at the discretion of the department in reassigning or continuing the student in their GTA position.

Employment of International Students

For information regarding the employment of international students, see International Students in the Admission and Registration section of this catalog.

Tax Obligations

All students must obtain a Social Security Number (SSN) in order to receive payments from the University, including fellowships, assistantships, and tuition support. Students are responsible for determining their tax obligations. For forms and information, students should contact the Internal Revenue Service (1-800-829-1040) or consult their personal tax adviser.

For more information on international students and tax obligations, see International Students in the Admission and Registration section of this catalog.

FICA Exemption Guidelines

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) excludes certain types of student wages from the IRS definition of "employment" for purposes of FICA tax withholding. The Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 3121[b][10][B] provides in part that wages paid by a university to one of its student employees who is enrolled at least half-time and regularly attending classes are exempt from the FICA tax withholding. The university has the sole discretion as to whether a student's employment at UCF is exempt from FICA withholding taxes.

The university provides assistantships for graduate students to gain research and/or teaching experience as part of their education toward a graduate degree. Graduate students are defined as those with pay classifications of 9181-9187.

To be eligible for this IRS exemption, a graduate assistant must:

• Be enrolled at least half time at UCF
• Attend classes regularly

Under this classification, services that are performed by graduate students as a general rule qualify as incidental to their primary purpose of pursuing a course of study at the university.

Criteria for FICA Exemption Eligibility

• Graduate students are eligible for the FICA exemptions only if they are enrolled at least half time. Graduate students are considered half-time when they are registered for at least 4.5 hours in fall or spring terms, at least three hours in summer term, or enrolled in at least one hour of thesis or three hours of dissertation during any term.



• Generally, students who are only on fellowship support are not subject to FICA taxes, since they do not have to account for hours of employment per week.



• Graduate students will be exempt from FICA/Medicare taxes during pay periods that overlap with the academic term and during breaks of less than five weeks. Graduate students who are not enrolled for longer than five weeks and employed by the university are subject to FICA.

Tuition and Fees

STUDENT ACCOUNTS OFFICE

Associate Controller: Dan Mayo
Millican Hall, Room 107; Phone 407-823-2433

General Information

The Office of Student Accounts serves the students who attend the University of Central Florida by maintaining accurate financial records and communicating with students concerning their accounts. The Student Accounts Office is responsible for:

• Tuition and Fee Assessment/Refunds (Student Accounts, Millican Hall, Room 107)
• Processing Payments (Cashiers Office)
• Overdue payment collection (Loans and Collections)

Schedule of Fees—The current schedule of fees is published at www.iroffice.ucf.edu/character/current_tuition.html.

NOTE: 2005-2006 tuition and fees were not published at the time of this publication. Rates for the 2005-2006 academic year will be available in early July 2005. Fees are subject to change without notice.

Required fees are established by the University Board of Trustees and are subject to change without notice. Fees are affected by residency status.

A printed Fee Invoice confirms fees and course registration. Fee Invoices are available on the POLARIS web system and kiosks, and from the student's college advising offices. Students must obtain a current Fee Invoice prior to making payment at one of the payment locations. Fee Invoices are not mailed.

All university fees must be paid according to published dates. Fees not paid by the payment deadline date for each term will result in late fees and could result in the cancellation of all classes.

Tuition and Fees are charged per semester or term for main campus, regional campus, and continuing education courses. Tuition is assessed on a per credit hour basis. Students classified as zero-hour registration students are assessed one credit hour at the Florida Resident Tuition rate at the course level for which the student is registered.

Limited Non-Degree Enrollment Classes payment guidelines for Limited Non-Degree enrollment classes can be found on the "Registration Form for Non-Admitted Students." It is the student's responsibility to officially drop or withdraw from courses so as to avoid additional financial obligations.

Student Financial Responsibility Statement

Registration at UCF requires students to acknowledge the following financial responsibility statement: "I accept responsibility for payment of my term tuition and fees by the published deadline. I understand that if I do not pay my tuition and fees or do not pay these fees by the due date, I will be charged a $100 Late Payment Fee, my records will be put on hold, my account will be referred to a collection agency, and I may incur other financial consequences."

Payment Procedures

Payment must be received or postmarked no later than the fee payment deadlines specified to be considered on time. Payments (no cash) placed in the 24-Hour Depository by the official fee payment deadline will be considered on time.

Acceptable Forms of Payment:

• Cash (Cashier's Office)
• Checks (Cashier's Office, E-Pay, or Mail)
• Credit cards (Cashier's Office, or E-Pay)
• Polaris E-Pay at https://my.ucf.edu—E-Check or credit card; nonrefundable $10 convenience fee per transaction
• Mail—Do not send cash. Please include the student's PID on checks or money orders. Address payments to:

  University of Central Florida
  P.O. Box 918449
  Orlando, FL 32891-8449

Payment Locations and Hours:

• Cashier's Office, Main Campus, Millican Hall 110—Monday and Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Cashier's Office, Main Campus, John T. Washington Center—Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Cashier's Office, Brevard Campus—Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Cashier's Office, Daytona Beach—Monday through Thursday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. and Friday 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon (no cash)
• Cashier's Office, Palm Bay—Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (no cash)
• 24-Hour Depository, Millican Hall at Reflection Pond Entrance (no cash)

Credit card payments may be made online, through POLARIS E-Pay, or at any of the Cashier's offices. A mandatory, nonrefundable $10 convenience fee will be charged each time a student chooses to pay tuition or other state mandated fees with a credit card through E-Pay.

Other Forms of Payment

Tuition and Fees may be partially or completely paid by Financial Aid, Florida Prepaid, or Tuition Waivers. The student is responsible to pay any amount that is not covered by these types of payments by the fee payment deadline as described under Payment Procedures.

Financial Aid—See Student Financial Assistance for rules and procedures. All fees not covered by aid are due by the tuition and fee payment deadline.

Florida Prepaid College Plan

For any enrolled student who has a Florida Prepaid College Plan, the university automatically will defer only the portion of the tuition covered under the plan. All fees not covered by the plan are due by the tuition and fee payment deadline. If the student does not wish to use the Prepaid Tuition Plan, the student must notify the Student Accounts Office (Millican Hall, Room 107) by the last day of Add/Drop.

The plan will pay $76.32 per credit hour (graduate or undergraduate level) for the 2004-2005 academic year. The plan does not cover the local fees of $23.08 per credit hour, health fee, material/supply fees or the UCF ID Service and Access fee. The local fee plan, which is indicated on the Florida Prepaid Tuition Plan card, will cover $95.50 per credit hour and the health fee. For further details on the Florida Prepaid Tuition Plan, please visit the Student Accounts website (www.fa.ucf.edu; select "Forms," select "Student Services" and scroll down to Florida Prepaid Tuition Plan Procedures).

NOTE: The 2005-2006 Florida Prepaid tuition rates had not been established at the time of publication.

Tuition Waivers

State of Florida Employees Tuition Waiver

Full-time state employees may be allowed to enroll for up to six (6) credit hours of eligible instruction per term on a space-available basis without payment of registration fees. State Employee registration occurs on the last day of Registration for each term, at the time specified on the Academic Calendar (www.ucf.edu/info/acad_calendar.php) for each term. If employees register for the courses to which the waiver will apply prior to the prescribed date and time, the fee waiver will become invalid and the employee will be liable for all applicable fees. It is the responsibility of the employee to register on a space-available basis only. The tuition waiver cannot be used for courses that have increased costs. These courses include, but are not limited to, continuing education courses, independent study, supervised research, supervised teaching labs, thesis hours, dissertation, internships, practicum's, third attempt repeat course surcharges, co-ops, or applied individualized instruction in Music, Art, or Dance, etc. Any State Employee who uses an Employee Tuition Waiver for approved courses must submit a completed and signed tuition waiver form to the UCF Student Accounts Office (Millican Hall, Room 107) by each term's Fee Payment Deadline. See the Academic Calendar for each term for the Fee Payment deadlines. Employees may obtain the "State Employee Waiver Form and Instructions" from the Registrar's Office website (www.registrar.ucf.edu).

UCF Employees Tuition Waiver

All full-time general Faculty, Administrative and Professional (A&P), and University Support Personnel System (USPS) employees of the University of Central Florida who are employed in an established position on the date fees are due and who meet academic requirements, including those employees on sabbatical, professional development, grants-in-aid, and educational leave, may be allowed to enroll for up to six (6) credit hours of eligible instruction per term on a space-available basis without payment of the registration fee. UCF Employee registration occurs on the last day of Registration for each term, at the time specified on the Academic Calendar (www.ucf.edu/info/acad_calendar.php) for each term. If UCF employees register for the courses to which the waiver will apply prior to the prescribed date and time, the fee waiver will become invalid and the UCF employee will be liable for all applicable fees. Any UCF employee who uses an Employee Tuition Waiver for approved courses must submit a completed and signed Tuition Waiver Form to the UCF Student Accounts Office (Millican Hall, Room 107) by each term's Fee Payment Deadline. See the Academic Calendar for each term for the Fee Payment deadlines. Prior to enrolling into courses each term, employees must go to the Human Resources website (www.hr.ucf.edu/web/forms/benefits/tuitionwaiver.pdf) to review eligibility requirements and course restrictions and for the waiver application form.

Tuition Fees for Senior Citizens

Persons 60 years of age or older who meet Florida residency requirements may register to audit classes on a space-available basis without payment of tuition and application fees. Registration is on a space-available basis; see the appropriate term's Academic Calendar (www.ucf.edu/info/acad_calendar.php) for each term for dates and times. The tuition fee waiver cannot be used for courses that require increased costs (such as thesis, dissertation, directed individual study). A "Florida Residency" Affidavit is required to establish Florida residency. A completed "Student Health History" must be filed prior to registration. Inquiries should be directed to the Registrar's Office (Millican Hall, Room 161).

Refund of Fees

A refund of fees will be processed under the conditions noted below. The student must submit a written appeal for a refund or other appeal action to the university within six months of the close of the semester/term to which the refund or other appeal action is applicable. Any debts to the University will be deducted from the refund, up to the full amount.

Full Refund Eligibility—The following conditions allow a full refund: 1) A class is dropped before the end of the Add/Drop period; 2) Cancellation of a course by the university; or 3) The student is denied admission for any reason to a course offered by the university.

Partial Refund (25%)—A 25% refund is allowed when the student withdraws completely from the university prior to the end of the fourth week of classes during a 16- or 17-week semester, or at the end of the first quarter of classes during a summer session.

Exceptional Circumstances—Refunds for exceptional circumstances are available upon a withdrawal from one or more courses. Up to 100% of tuition and registration fees are refundable if due to circumstances determined by the university to be exceptional, including, but not limited to, sickness, death, involuntary call to military service, or university administrative error.

Repayment of Title IV Financial Aid—Any student receiving Title IV Federal Financial Aid who completely withdraws from the university before 60% of the term has elapsed may be required to repay a pro-rated portion of the aid received.

Direct Deposit

All refunds from your student account can be direct deposited into your bank account. This will eliminate worrying and waiting for refunds by mail. Funds are usually available within 24-48 hours after disbursement and enrollment only takes about two minutes. To enroll go to www.my.ucf.edu and sign on to your Polaris account. Click on "Polaris Student SelfService." Click on the "Student Accounts" icon, and then click on "Direct Deposit" and enter your financial institution information.

Past Due Accounts

All financial obligations to the university must be met. Failure to meet obligations can result in the withholding and denial of registration, diploma, transcripts and readmission to the university. The services of a professional collection agency and recourse to the courts may also be invoked if deemed necessary. All costs of collection, including attorney's fees, are borne by the debtor. Do not assume your registration will be canceled if you fail to pay fees or attend classes. Tuition deferrals, for example, will prevent class cancellation for nonpayment. Payment guidelines for off-campus registration are contained on the off-campus registration form.

Late Fees

Late Payment Fees apply to students who do not pay their fees or who do not pay their fees (or obtain a full fee deferment) by the payment deadline. The Late Payment Fee is $100 per semester. Late Registration Fees are charged to students who enroll following the close of Add/Drop for the term or who enroll for the first time that term during Late Registration and Add/Drop. The Late Registration Fee is $100.00 per semester.

Fee Appeals

Students who desire to appeal a Late Registration Fee, and/or a Late Payment Fee, may make their appeal to the Fee Appeals Committee by initiating a student petition (Form 41-561). This form can be obtained online at www.fa.ucf.edu (go to "Forms," and then select "Student Services" and scroll down to Fee Appeals). Students must submit their petitions to Student Accounts (Millican Hall, Room 107) and may appear before the Committee (not mandatory).

Florida Residency for Tuition Purposes

At University of Central Florida, three offices are responsible for the review of residency for tuition purposes under Florida Statute 1009.21 (formerly 240.1201) and Board of Regents chapter 6C-7.005. The offices of Undergraduate Admissions and Graduate Studies determine residency for all first-time-on-campus students; the Registrar's Office reviews student requests for changes in residency once the student is enrolled. A first-time-on-campus student will be classified according to the information he or she includes on the application for admission, providing that no other information is available that calls into question the information contained on the application.

To qualify as a Florida resident for tuition purposes in accordance with State regulations, the student must be a United States citizen, resident alien, parolee, Cuban national, Vietnamese refugee, or other refugee or asylee so designated by the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service,

AND

Have established a legal residence in this state and maintained that legal residence for 12 months immediately prior to the term in which they are seeking Florida resident classification. The student's residence in Florida must be as a bona fide domiciliary rather than for the purpose of maintaining a mere temporary residence or abode incidental to enrollment in an institution of higher education, and should be demonstrated as indicated below (for dependent students, as defined by Internal Revenue Service regulations, a parent or guardian must qualify),

AND

Submit the following documentation (or in the case of a dependent student, the parent must submit documentation) prior to the last day of registration for the term for which resident status is sought:

1. Documentation establishing legal residence in Florida (this document must be dated at least one year prior to the first day of classes of the term for which resident status is sought). The following documents will be considered in determining legal residence:
1. Declaration of Domicile (Note: the Declaration of Domicile will support a claim of residency for tuition purposes only after a period of 12 months from the date that the Clerk of the Court notes that the declaration was sworn and subscribed to them.)
2. Proof of purchase of a home in Florida in which the student resides.
3. Proof that the student has maintained residence in the state for the preceding year (e.g., rent receipts, employment records).
2. Documentation establishing bona fide domicile in Florida which is not temporary or merely incidental to enrollment in a Florida institution of higher education. The following documents will be considered evidence of domicile even though no one of these criteria, if taken alone, will be considered as conclusive evidence of domicile:
1. Declaration of Domicile;
2. Florida voter registration;
3. Florida vehicle registration;
4. Florida driver license;
5. Proof of real property ownership in Florida (e.g., deed, tax receipts).
6. Verification of permanent employment in Florida by the employer, employment records, or other employment-related documentation (e.g., W-2 paycheck receipts), other than for employment normally provided on a temporary basis to students or other temporary employment. The document must show 12 consecutive months of Florida employment prior to the first day of classes of the term for which the student requests Florida residency;
7. Proof of membership in or affiliation with community or state organizations or significant connections to the State;
8. Proof of continuous presence in Florida during periods when not enrolled as a student;
9. Proof of former domicile in Florida and maintenance of significant connections while absent;
10. Proof of reliance upon Florida sources of support;
11. Proof of domicile in Florida of family;
12. Proof of admission to a licensed practicing profession in Florida;
13. Any other factors peculiar to the individual that tend to establish the necessary intent to make Florida a permanent home and that the individual is a bonafide Florida resident, including the age and general circumstances of the individual;
14. Proof of graduation from a high school located in Florida.
3. No contrary evidence establishing residence elsewhere;
4. Documentation of dependent/independent status (notarized copy of most recent IRS tax return).

OR

Be married to a person who has been a legal resident of the State of Florida for the required 12-month period and relinquish legal ties to any other state,

OR

Be a member of the Armed Forces on active duty stationed in Florida, or a spouse or dependent,

OR

Be a member of the full-time instructional or administrative staff of a state public school, community college or university in Florida, a spouse or dependent,

OR

Be a dependent and have lived five years with an adult relative who has established legal residence in Florida,

OR

Be a person who was enrolled as a Florida resident for tuition purposes at a Florida institution of higher education, but who abandoned Florida residency and then re-enrolled in Florida with 12 months of the abandonment,

OR

Be a full-time Latin American or Caribbean student who receives scholarships from the federal or state government,

OR

Be a United States citizen living on the Isthmus of Panama who has completed 12 consecutive months of college work at the Florida State University Panama Canal Branch, or a spouse or dependent,

OR

Be a graduate student of the Southern Regional Education Board's Academic Common Market attending Florida's state universities,

OR

Be a full-time employee of a state agency or political subdivision of the state when the student fees are paid by the state agency or political subdivision for the purpose of job-related law enforcement or corrections training,

OR

Be a U.S. Citizen who is a McKnight Doctoral Fellowship recipient,

OR

Be a qualified beneficiary under the Florida Pre-paid Post-secondary Expense Program per s.240.551(7)(a),

OR

Be an active duty member of the Canadian military residing or stationed in this state under the North American Air Defense (NORAD) agreement, or a spouse or dependent,

AND

Submit a statement as to the length of residence in Florida and their residency qualifications under the above criteria. Students requesting Florida residency for tuition purposes shall apply to the appropriate admissions office if they have not yet enrolled, or to the Registrar's Office if they already are enrolled.

UCF Graduate Studies reserves the right to require additional documentation as seen necessary to accurately determine the residency status of a student.

Residency Reclassification

Undergraduate Admissions and the Division of Graduate Studies determine first term at UCF residency for tuition purposes for all newly admitted students. Thereafter, the Registrar's Office will review requests for changes in residency.

To request a residency review, the student must submit a completed "Residency Reclassification Request Form" and supporting documents to the Registrar's Office (Millican Hall 161). This form is available either at the Registrar's Office or online at http://registrar.ucf.edu. The reclassification form must be accompanied by all documents that support the student's Florida residency claim. Residency reclassification requests are subject to Florida Statute 1009.21 (formerly 240.1201), Florida State Board of Education Administrative Code 6A-10.44, and State Board of Education rule 6C-7.005. In addition, university policy requires students requesting residency reclassification to provide documentation establishing that they have income or personal sources to meet financial obligations of attendance and living expenses. Contact the Registrar's Office at 407-823-3100 for additional information regarding all residency reclassification requirements.

When building a case for Florida residency for tuition purposes, the student may choose to submit documents from a variety of categories. Students may consult the Registrar's Office before submitting the reclassification request and supporting documents. The submission of documents in itself does not qualify the student for Florida residency for tuition purposes. The Registrar's Office will evaluate the submitted documents and available information and will render an eligibility determination. UCF is authorized to make discretionary judgments as to residency within the bounds of the law and in reaching this professional judgment will evaluate all documents submitted and information available. No single document shall be conclusive.

Students seeking residency reclassification should understand that living in or attending college in Florida is not tantamount to establishing residency in Florida for tuition purposes. The student who comes to Florida to enroll in a Florida post-secondary educational institution as an out-of-state resident and continuously enrolls in a Florida institution normally will not meet the Florida residency requirement for in-state tuition regardless of the length of time enrolled. Living or attending school in Florida merely evidences physical presence. The student must provide documentation verifying that he or she has formed significant legal ties to the State of Florida. This documentation must establish that the Florida residence constitutes a bona fide domicile rather than serving the purpose of maintaining a mere temporary residence or abode incident to enrollment in an institution of higher education. Evidence establishing legal ties to states other than Florida may disqualify the student from Florida residency for tuition purposes. All determinative documents must be dated at least 12 months before the first day of class for the term in which residency is sought.

New and continuing students who believe that they qualify for Florida residency must submit the request and all documents prior to end of "Late Registration and Add/Drop" for the term in which Florida residency is requested. Documentation received after the last day of "Late Registration and Add/Drop" will not be used to determine residency for the current term. Approved residency reclassification will not be applied retroactively to previous terms.

The Registrar's Office may require additional documentation beyond that initially submitted by the student or the claimant before it can render a reclassification eligibility determination and it will not complete its review of the residency reclassification application until both the student and the claimant have submitted all requested documents.

Student Financial Assistance

OFFICE OF STUDENT FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE

Executive Director: Mary H. McKinney
Millican Hall, Room 120
Switchboard: (407) 823-2827
Appointment: (407) 823-5285
Fax: (407) 823-5241
e-mail: finaid@mail.ucf.edu
Website:http://finaid.ucf.edu

Office Hours:
Monday:	9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday/Wednesday/Friday:	9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Thursday:	1:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

(Hours subject to change during holidays and semester breaks.)

The Office of Student Financial Assistance manages resources for all students. Once eligibility is determined, the office provides options for financial aid. Comprehensive counseling is available by appointment. Due to confidentiality, counseling by phone and e-mail is limited.

Student Eligibility

To receive aid from most federal and state financial aid programs, students must meet certain requirements. All students are encouraged to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually, before March 1, to determine eligibility for aid. The FAFSA results are required for many programs. The federal processor, using a standardized formula, calculates financial need. Those results are then forwarded to the schools that were identified on the form as considered for attendance. UCF must be listed on the FAFSA in order to receive the data. UCF's Title IV Code is 003954. Regulations are subject to change at any time.

Application Priority Deadline Date

All students must apply or reapply yearly for financial aid.

To be considered for the full range of financial aid available, students should complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA)/Renewal FAFSA by mid-February. The processed results of the FAFSA must be received by UCF by March 1st to meet our application priority deadline date.

• If the priority date is missed, students should apply as soon as possible after that date.
• Students should not wait to be admitted to UCF before applying for financial aid.
• Students who apply for aid after July 15th should not expect their aid to be paid until well after the beginning of the fall semester.

Application Procedures

• The FAFSA can be filed electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. A link is provided on the Web site and on POLARIS.
• Messages from the federal processor should be reviewed thoroughly.
• Review all correspondence, follow instructions on the Student Aid Report, and follow through promptly. Delays can be costly as well as frustrating.
• Federal Regulations require that some students be selected for verification. If selected, students will be asked to provide documents supporting the information submitted on the FAFSA. Sometimes subsequent requests for data may be necessary after initial submissions are reviewed. Prompt response to requests for additional documentation will expedite completion of this process.
• Offered federal funds and other need based financial aid are not considered firm until verification is complete and all necessary corrections have been made.

Specific Eligibility Requirements and Conditions for Receiving Financial Aid

• Students must be accepted and classified as degree seeking at UCF in an eligible program.
• For purposes of financial aid, enrollment is based on classes that count toward degree completion. To ensure enrollment in sufficient hours for the various financial aid programs, please refer to the Program Eligibility Charts on the Web site.
• Students must maintain UCF's Standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress.
• Students are required to inform financial aid of any additional sources of aid they expect to receive beyond those listed on the award notification. Any subsequent awards or income may necessitate a revision of the financial aid award/s. This includes, but is not limited to, any private scholarships or third party tuition payments, departmental payments or waivers.
• Students may not receive aid in excess of their cost of attendance.
• Students must not be in default on any federal educational loan or owe repayment on a federal grant at this or any other institution.
• Students must provide all information requested for the completion of their file. If selected, verification must be completed within specified deadlines and prior to the receipt of all federal and most state and institutional funds.
• Students must notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance of any changes in their housing status, household size, or family members in college from that listed on their FAFSA.
• Students must reapply annually for financial aid.
• Students must complete an entrance interview for a Federal Stafford Loan if they are a first time borrower at UCF.
• Students must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen, (e.g. resident alien). Eligible non-citizens include I-151, I- 551, and I-688 cardholders as well as some I-94 classifications.
• Students must have a high school diploma or GED certificate.
• For need-based programs, students must show a financial need as computed on the FAFSA.
• A male applicant must be registered with Selective Service, if applicable.

Helpful Hints

• Apply early to be considered for the full range of financial aid available each year by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid(FAFSA)/Renewal FAFSA. The processed results of the FAFSA must be received by UCF from the federal processor by March 1st to meet our application priority deadline date.
• Make a copy of tax return forms before submission to IRS.
• Start a folder to save financial aid information and photocopies of all documents filed and received. Include student's name and PID on all documents submitted. (Do not submit originals; documents will be shredded after scanning.).
• Maintain a current e-mail and mailing address on POLARIS at all times in POLARIS.
• Complete all items, even if it doesn't seem advantageous at the time. Choosing a lender now does not obligate the student to accept a loan, but will make it easier if additional funds are needed.
Respond promptly to all information requests.
• If there are extenuating circumstances or problems at anytime, call the appointment line (407-823-5285) to meet with a counselor.
• Comprehensive information can be found on the Office of Student Financial Assistance website.

School Costs

Estimated student budgets have been developed as a guide to help students anticipate their costs at UCF.

Estimated Cost of Attendance for 2005-2006

	Housing Status
(Full-time Fall/Spring)	Living with Parent	Other
Tuition/Fees	$4,966	$4,966
Books/Supplies	$860	$860
Room/Board	$4,306	$8,246
Personal Expenses	$2,136	$2,136
Transportation	$1,540	$1,540
Total (In State)	$13,808	$17,748
Nonresident Tuition/Fees	$13,448	$13,448
Total (Out of State)	$27,256	$31,196

Financial Aid Programs Available at UCF

The Program Eligibility Charts on the Web site under "Receiving Aid" list the various programs and their specific enrollment requirements. Detailed information for each program can also be found on the Web site under its particular title.

Loans are borrowed funds that must be repaid. They provide students with an opportunity to invest in their future. Graduate students must be enrolled at least halftime in UCF classes that count toward degree completion to receive federal loans. Graduate students must have a minimum of 4.5 hours per term for fall or spring, or 3 hours in the summer. Doctoral dissertation students must have a minimum of 1.5 hours in all terms.

Federal Work Study is designed to provide students who demonstrate financial need, a chance to earn money while pursuing a degree. Individual departments hire students while the Office of Student Financial Assistance determines the eligibility, award amount, and pay rate.

Scholarships and Fellowships are awarded based on various criteria, including financial need, campus/community activities, leadership positions, academic success, and work experience. Scholarships are designed to reward, encourage, and assist students in pursuing academic excellence and leadership roles.

Award Notification

Award notifications are mailed to first time UCF students after March 15th, while e-mail award notifications are sent to continuing students. Initial awards may be amended due to factors such as contingent admission status, less than minimum hours enrolled, lack of academic progress, changes needed due to verification, incomplete files, additional resources, etc.

Student awards will be based upon the student's financial need. The amounts listed on the award notifications are estimates based on full-time enrollment. For purposes of financial aid, enrollment is based solely on classes that count toward degree completion. If a class is not required to earn a degree, then the hours of that class are not used to calculate a student's enrollment.

Admission to UCF must be finalized with no contingencies. Students must be classified as degree seeking.

Verification must be completed. Students must meet the Standards for Satisfactory Academic Progress. If all eligibility is met, financial aid funds may be disbursed.

It is the student's responsibility to be aware of minimal hourly requirements for each program, which can be found on the Program Eligibility Charts on the Web site. When requirements are no longer met, awards will be adjusted as necessary and will appear on POLARIS. All awards are subject to change.

Deferrals of Tuition and Fees

Financial aid awards will normally result in a deferment of tuition and fee payments. Deferments allow for the time lag that normally occurs between the date that tuition and fees are due and the date on which financial aid disbursements are made, which is normally two to three weeks after the semester begins. Students are responsible to pay any amount owed to the university that is not covered by estimated aid and/or other resources by the payment deadline. The deferment process occurs automatically if the student is meeting all general eligibility requirements and has enrolled in sufficient hours for the financial aid program/s. Please refer to the Program Eligibility Charts on the Office of Student Financial Assistance website for more information. Students should use POLARIS to obtain up-to-date information. Since awards are subject to change, deferments are also subject to change. Deferments based on estimated Stafford loans will be canceled prior to the beginning of the semester if the student has not completed the loan application process. Students must drop classes prior to the end of add/drop in order to not be fee liable for those classes. If students do not drop their classes, a financial aid deferment may keep the classes active even if they are never attended.

Disbursements

Financial aid disbursements begin the second week of each term. Students should be aware of this, so they are prepared to use their personal savings for anticipated expenses such as books and supplies at the beginning of the term. The Short Term Advance is available for students to help with these expenses. The application is available for download prior to each term, so that funds may be available as early as the first day of classes. Students who apply late for financial aid should be prepared to cover their own living expenses, out-of-pocket, well into the semester. When financial aid disburses, the funds first apply towards university debts. The remaining balance is refunded to the student one of two ways. If a student has provided his/her bank information to set up direct deposit, which can be done on POLARIS under Student Accounts, then the refund is deposited into the student's account. Otherwise, a check is mailed to the student's current mailing address on POLARIS.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP)

Federal regulations require the University to establish Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress as a general eligibility requirement for financial aid. A student must maintain satisfactory academic progress in a course of study regardless of whether the student previously received financial aid.

To meet the standards adopted by the University of Central Florida, a student must:

• Complete a minimum of 70% of the attempted hours taken during the course of the year. Compliance with this requirement is checked at the end of each spring term. (Students on probation must meet standards each term.)
• Regulations require that students complete their degree within 150% of the hours required for their specific programs of study as established by the university.
• For detailed SAP policy information, please refer to the Office of Student Financial Assitance website.

Procedures to Appeal:
Any student with extenuating circumstances, (i.e., death of a relative, an illness or injury of the student, etc.), who is placed on cancellation status may appeal to the Financial Aid Review Committee. To appeal, the student must:

• Complete the Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form.
• Attach documentation supporting specific circumstance(s) to the appeal form; and
• Submit the appeal and the supporting documentation to the Office of Student Financial Assistance.

After a thorough evaluation of the written request and all supporting documentation, the Financial Aid Review Committee will notify the student of the decision by e-mail communication or the student may view the updated status on POLARIS, under View Financial Aid Status.

Over Awards

An over award occurs when a student's award package has exceeded either the unmet need or cost of attendance, depending on the type of aid that has been awarded. To prevent over awards, it is extremely important to notify the Office of Student Financial Assistance of any potential awards not already listed on the student's financial aid award summary on POLARIS. In the event of an over award, a student's award package is reduced to eliminate the over award, which may result in a repayment of the over award.

Refunds and Return of TITLE IV Funds

Students should be aware that if they withdraw from the university after having received financial assistance, they might have to repay a portion of that assistance. Students who received Federal Stafford Loans should also know that the Office of Student Financial Assistance is required to notify lenders of student withdrawals.

Professional Judgment

The formula used to determine eligibility for federal student aid is basically the same for all applicants. However, in some cases, special circumstances may be taken into consideration. Students with extenuating circumstances should schedule an appointment to review the situation with a counselor. There must be a very good reason to make any adjustments and proof must be provided to support any adjustments. The situation will be reviewed and a decision will be made through the Professional Judgment process.

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Students have the right to full information about the financial aid programs available at UCF, our application procedures and aid deadlines, and the criteria used to determine a financial aid package. Students have the right to appeal decisions made by the Office of Student Financial Assistance. Students have the right to equitable treatment of their financial assistance applications. Although each student's case is analyzed individually, eligibility standards are applied uniformly without regard to race, gender, religion, creed, national origin, or physical handicap. All students' records are confidential. It is the student's responsibility to review and understand all information and instructions, meet all deadlines, and provide all information and documentation accurately. Errors and omissions can cause delays and prevent students from receiving assistance. Misrepresentation is a violation of the law.