Financial Information

This policy provides the rates for tuition, fees, room, board and deposits, effective with the beginning of the fall semester 2013 through summer 2014.

We urge you to familiarize yourself with the information in this policy so that you are aware of all charges before registration. Within these pages you will find billing dates, payment and refund policies, and other important information.

The University makes every effort to hold increases to the lowest figure possible while providing quality programs of good value. Tuition and fees cover approximately 70 percent of Samford’s educational and general expenditures. For the remainder of its operating needs, the University relies primarily on the generous support of the Alabama Baptist State Convention, with which the University is affiliated, investment earnings, and gifts and grants from alumni, individuals, businesses, foundations, and other supporters.

Samford reserves the right to change tuition, other charges, refund procedures, and other policies.

Samford University is an Equal Opportunity Institution and does not discriminate in its educational and employment policies on the basis of race, color, sex, age, disability, or national or ethnic origin.

Tuition and Fees Payment Policy-All Students

Tuition and Fees Payment Guidelines

E-bill: E-bill notification that a new e-bill has been generated is sent to students via the Samford University e-mail system which remains the official means of communication with students; paper statements are not provided. Students are advised to check their e-mail regularly. Students and authorized users can access the e-bill system at any time.

Students registering during the early registration period will receive an e-bill approximately 15 days prior to the payment due date. The e-bill reflects activity up to the date the e-bill was generated. Any activity transpiring after the e-bill generation date can be viewed on the Current Activity section of the online e-bill system. The Current Activity page provides the current account balance that is due, including any unbilled charges and payments. To review the detail by term, select the appropriate term from the drop down box. Payment for term e-bills will be due in accordance with the schedule as seen below. Students who register/make schedule changes/add room and board, etc., after the e-bill generation date must consult the online system to view their account summary and arrange payment for all charges by the due date for the term regardless of whether or not the charge(s) have been billed.

Late Fee: A late fee of 5% (capped at $100) on the past due tuition, room, board and mandatory fees balance will be assessed on the day after the payment due date. The payment for the entire e-bill, including charges incurred after the e-bill generation date, must be received in the Bursar’s Office on or before the due date to complete financial settlement for the current term.

Late Fee Appeals: To appeal the late fee, students may file an on-line appeal via the portal at https://portal.samford.edu/cp/home/displaylogin (go to the BANNER tab, the Student Financial Aid Tab and select Bursar: File a Late Fee Appeal) or pick up a late fee appeal form from the Bursar’s Office and submit the completed form within 14 days of the late fee posting. Any documentation supporting the appeal MUST be submitted at the time the appeal is made. Students must file appeals timely with the Bursar’s Office. Decision of the Appeal Review Committee is final.

Registration Cancellation: Students not paying their bill by the due date are subject to having their registration cancelled until payment is received. A student may be reinstated by paying the balance in full, plus a $100 reinstatement fee. Following this payment, the student will receive a clearance slip from the Bursar’s Office to provide to Student Records as required to re-establish the student’s class schedule. Late fees are not reversed upon reinstatement.

Students making changes to their schedule after the e-bill has been sent (usually at the beginning of a term or during drop/add) are required to make payment in full by the e-bill due date for the term, including additional charges resulting from the changes even though they may not have received an e-bill for these additional charges. Failure to make full payment will result in registration cancellation the next business day after the end of the drop/add period as noted in the academic calendar for your classification.

E-bill generation, payment, late fee assessment and registration cancellation dates for each semester/monthly e-bill are noted on the payment schedule at:

Payment Schedule: http://www.samford.edu/bursar/default.aspx?id=45097161603
Parent link: https://www.samford.edu/bursar/content.aspx?id=45097161158
Student link: http://www.samford.edu/subpage.aspx?id=2147484200
Make payment - e-bill system link: https://secure.touchnet.com/C20180_tsa/web/login.jsp
International students wire payment option: http://www.samford.edu/international-students/wire-payments.aspx

Holds: Students may not register for the next semester, receive transcripts, participate in commencement or receive a diploma until past due amounts are cleared. Other departments, such as University Health Services, may also have holds in place to restrict next semester registration, transcript requests, and commencement participation or to receive a diploma. Students must contact that department to resolve the hold placement. The Bursar’s Office does not have permission to release the holds placed by another department.

Collections: Past due accounts assigned to a collection agency may be reported to the credit bureaus and students are responsible for attorney fees, collection fees, and interest. The University may charge interest on all amounts past due.

Payment Method Options for Students and Parents

Students may authorize parents or other designated individuals to access the e-bill system and make payments on their behalf. To enable this feature, a student MUST access the e-bill system and set up those individuals responsible for payment of their student account as an “Authorized User.” Students may set up an Authorized User by clicking on the link in their e-bill message, selecting the Authorized User tab, and following the instructions.

Authorized Users will receive e-mail notification when a new e-bill statement is issued. Click on the link in the e-mail or enter the link in your browser to access the e-bill system and make a payment.

Current link: https://secure.touchnet.com/C20180_tsa/web/login.jsp

Online Payments with Check

Payment by electronic check using the e-bill system is the most efficient and cost-effective payment option. Payment by electronic check can be made by using the following link: https://secure.touchnet.com/C20180_tsa/web/login.jsp

Online Payments with Credit Card

MasterCard, Discover, and American Express can be used to make online payments. A 2.75% (minimum of $3.00) convenience fee will be assessed by the third-party web processor for payments made with a credit/debit card. Ebill payment link: https://secure.touchnet.com/C20180_tsa/web/login.jsp

International Wire Payments

International Students can make wire payments at http://www.samford.edu/international-students/wire-payments.aspx

Other Payment Options

The Bursar’s Office continues to accept payment by check through the mail, but the University is not responsible for delays of the postal service and late fees will apply if payments are received after the due date. Payment by check or cash can be made in person.

Payment Plan

To be eligible:

• All prior term charges must be paid in full.
• Current term balance for tuition, room, board and mandatory fees must be over $1,000.
• Payment plans are available for Fall/Spring only.
• Samford reserves the right to drop students for non-payment in accordance with the plan.

Payment Requirements:

• Normal enrollment opens seven (7) days prior to the due date for the semester and ends on the due date.
• Late enrollment begins the day after the semester payment due date.
• Late enrollment ends seven (7) days after registration cancellation.
• Payment of 50% of current term tuition, room, board and mandatory fees plus a $95 per term set up fee is required to enroll.
• Late enrollment requires payment of 50% of current term tuition, room, board and mandatory fees plus $150 Late Enrollment Fee.
• Payments of 25% of the balance are to be made over the next two (2) months so full payment for the term is received before open registration for the following term.
• If an installment payment in the payment plan is late, the full balance remaining in the payment plan becomes due immediately and a late fee of 1.5% will be assessed on the remaining balance in the payment plan.
• The plan is not subject to any interest charges.
• A plan may be paid off early if desired.

Questions? Please contact the Bursar’s Office at broffice@samford.edu, 1-800-888-7214 (toll-free) or (205) 726-2816.

The Samford University Portal and associated online Student Services are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, except for scheduled maintenance and unforeseen circumstances. Maintenance is scheduled in advance with notice to all students.

Should you encounter log-in problems, please contact the Personal Technology Group at (205) 726-2662.

Payment/Refund Schedules for All Students

A 5% late fee (capped at $100) will be assessed according to the schedule below. Any student with a past due balance will not be eligible to register for the next semester, participate in commencement, or obtain his/her transcript or diploma. Registration cancellation will be processed for all students with unpaid tuition, mandatory fees, room and board (billed and unbilled) on the date in the schedule below.

Refunds

Refunds are first available within seven (7) to ten (10) business days after financial aid has been credited (disbursed) to the student’s account. Refunds will not be available before that time. Disbursement of aid on a student account is regulated based on the first day of class as indicated on the academic calendar for the student’s classification. The refund availability dates as seen in the table below are the earliest dates that the refunds will be available. These dates are subject to satisfactory completion/submission of all needed information by the student. The dates are subject to change and may be adjusted to comply with federal regulations governing refunds to students.
 

DIRECT DEPOSIT OF REFUNDS IS NOW AVAILABLE. LOG INTO THE E-BILL SYSTEM AND SIGN UP. NOTE: DIRECT DEPOSIT REFUNDS FOR JAN TERM AND SPRING ARE NOT GUARANTEED TO BE RELEASED TO THE BANK UNTIL JANUARY 10, 2014.

Other Services, Requirements, and Costs

Activity Fees

Tennis, swimming, racquetball, and many other recreational activities are available without charge. The field house has an indoor jogging track. Outdoor activities such as white-water rafting, rappelling, etc., are sponsored by the Student Government Association. Fees are charged to cover the actual cost of these activities.

Books and Supplies

The estimated cost of books and supplies for an academic year is listed in the tuition and fees tables. Students enrolled in the professional schools may expect to pay more for books and supplies.

Check Cashing

The Bookstore is authorized to cash checks up to $50 per day for a student whose account is in good standing. The face of the check must have the student’s name, local address, telephone number, and student identification number. Students must present a valid photo ID. A student who presents a check to Samford University that is not honored by the bank will be charged $30. If that check is not redeemed within 10 days of notification, the student may be subject to disciplinary or legal action. All check cashing privileges are revoked after the third returned check.

Medical Insurance for Students

Samford students are required to carry health insurance while enrolled at Samford.

Students in the Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy are required to provide proof of current personal health insurance coverage. Each semester, students in the Schools of Nursing and Pharmacy are automatically enrolled in the University sponsored student health insurance plan. There is a charge for this coverage. To have the charge removed from his/her Samford account, a pharmacy/nursing student must provide proof of insurance by completing the insurance waiver at http://www.studentinsurance.com/Schools/AL/SU/?CollegeID=217

International Students: Based upon federal regulations and University policy, all F and J visa holders are required to carry insurance that meets certain coverage requirements. Information about specific policy carriers, minimum coverage, and premium costs is available from the International Studies Office at (205) 726-4334.

Membership Fees

Some student organizations have an annual membership fee. In addition, Greek organizations have monthly dues along with an initiation fee. These fees are charged directly by such organizations and will not be posted on student accounts.

Personal Property Insurance

Students at college have a large investment in desktop computers, laptop computers, television sets, CD and DVD players, radios, cell phones, cameras, PDAs, calculators, mini-refrigerators, clothing, text books, CDs, DVDs, albums, and other personal property. A college or university is not liable for these losses simply because the loss occurs on campus.

All students, especially those who live in residence halls, should insure their personal property either through their parent’s homeowner’s insurance or through a private insurance policy. The University has established an insurance program through National Student Services, Inc. This insurer provides personal property insurance for students at over 1,000 colleges and universities. For more information on student personal property insurance, see www.nssi.com or pick up a brochure at the Residence Life Office, 106 Beeson University Center.

Residence Hall Special Fees and Fines

Students are expected to show good stewardship of their rooms and furnishings and to abide by all University policies. There are fines for key and lock replacement, damage to facilities, and failure to follow proper procedures for room change and checkout. If imposed, these charges will be placed on a student’s account, along with other fees established for special services or other purposes.

Students canceling their housing contract prior to the end of the term of the agreement are subject to a substantial cancellation fee. Students occupying rooms during scheduled break periods will be charged substantially for extra housing stay.

Residence hall rooms are furnished with beds, desks, chairs, chests, and blinds. Students may wish to add approved appliances and decorations. It is recommended that this be done in communication with their roommate prior to or after arrival on campus. Washing machines and dryers are available in each residence hall. All washers and dryers are free to use.

The Samford Card and Bulldog Bucks

All students are required to have an official Samford University photo ID (Samford Card) made and recorded by the Department of Public Safety and Emergency Management. The ID offers students a convenient, safe, and easy way to make purchases and utilize campus services. It is used as an identification card, meal card, library card, and for access to certain facilities. With activation of Bulldog Bucks, the Samford Card can be used to make purchases on campus. Bulldog Bucks work similarly to a checking account in that deposited funds are debited each time a student makes a purchase.

ManageMyID will allow students, parents, and employees to deposit money online, without any credit card fees, into Bulldog Bucks. By using the link https://samford.managemyid.com/reference.dca?cdx=login, cardholders can budget their account by tracking spending and report a lost or stolen card at any time.

Student Telephone Services

Local telephone service is included in housing charges. Telephones are not included and must be provided by the student. Resident students can dial any local or intra-campus call with no additional charge.

Samford no longer provides long-distance services to students. Most students use the long-distance services provided by their own cellular telephone service plan. Students who need long distance services should make arrangements with a long distance carrier and use that carrier’s access (usually dialing an 800 number) to make long-distance calls. For more information regarding telephone service, contact Telephone Services at (205) 726-2996.

Financial Aid Information

Students seeking financial aid should file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Our priority date is March 1 for the upcoming academic year. Students who filed the FAFSA on or before that date will comprise the first group for which we package and award financial aid for the upcoming academic year. FAFSAs filed after March 1 will be processed in the order they are received.

Students may obtain information regarding financial aid online at www.samford.edu/financialaid or by telephone at (205) 726-2905 or toll free at 1-800-888-7245. Students are encouraged to use these resources for information or questions regarding financial aid at Samford University.

Drop and Add Policy for All Students

Class Drops and Adds

Drops, adds, and other changes in a student class schedule that do not involve complete withdrawal from school are subject to the following rules:

1. During drop/add, if a schedule change results in a reduction of the student’s total credits (less than full-time), tuition may be adjusted within 30 days. Any reduction in a student’s course load may result in an adjustment in the student’s financial aid.
2. After the last day to drop a course(s) without financial penalty, dropping a course(s) will not result in a reduction of charges for tuition or fees.
3. There are no refunds of fees unless the course related to the fee is dropped within the drop/add period, or one withdraws as outlined below.

Charges will be adjusted according to these financial policies and the credits taken by the student. Complete withdrawal from the University is covered under the refund and withdrawal policy. (See also Elective Withdrawal  in the Academic Policies and Regulations  section of this catalog.)

Withdrawal Refund Policy for All Students

Student Withdrawal

The University is required to contract for a substantial amount of goods and services in advance. Most of these expenses are fixed and are not subject to change on short notice. Under certain circumstances, refunds are available to students who officially withdraw from the University. A student desiring to withdraw from the University must obtain an official withdrawal form from the Office of Student Records. The form must be submitted to the Office of Student Records when it is completed. This policy applies to all terms including semesters, summer terms and Jan Term. If a withdrawal results in a tuition reduction and the student has received financial aid, some of the aid could be required to be returned by the University. In such cases, the student will be required to reimburse the University. (See also Elective Withdrawal  in the Academic Policies and Regulations  section of this catalog.)

Withdrawal Refund Policy for Fall and Spring Semesters

1. In case of withdrawal or suspension within the first week of the semester, the student may receive a refund of 100 percent of tuition and room rent for that semester. The first week of a semester ends on the last day to drop a course(s) without financial penalty.
2. In case of withdrawal or suspension after the first week of the semester, but before the end of the second week of the semester, the student may receive a refund of 90 percent of tuition and room rent for that semester. The second week of a semester ends on the first Wednesday following the last day to drop a course(s) without financial penalty.
3. In case of withdrawal or suspension after the second week of the semester, but before the end of the third week of the semester, the student may receive a refund of 75 percent of tuition and room rent for that semester. The third week of a semester ends on the second Wednesday following the last day to drop a course(s) without financial penalty.
4. In case of withdrawal or suspension after the third week of the semester, but before the end of the fifth week of the semester, the student may receive a refund of 50 percent of tuition and room rent for that semester. The fifth week of a semester ends on the fourth Wednesday following the last day to drop a course(s) without financial penalty.
5. In case of withdrawal or suspension after the fifth week of the semester, but before the end of the ninth week of the semester, the student may receive a refund of 25 percent of tuition and room rent for that semester. The ninth week of a semester ends on the eighth Wednesday following the last day to drop a course(s) without financial penalty.
6. In case of withdrawal or suspension after the ninth week of the semester, no refund of tuition and room rent is available.
7. In case of withdrawal or suspension, a board plan (meal charge) refund shall be calculated on a pro rata basis.

Withdrawal Refund Policy for Jan Term

Jan Term refunds are based on days instead of weeks and the following applies. In case of withdrawal or suspension:

1. On first and second day of classes, the tuition and room rent refund will be 100 percent.
2. On the third day of classes, the tuition and room rent refund will be 90 percent.
3. On the fourth day of classes, the tuition and room rent refund will be 75 percent.
4. On the fifth day of classes, the tuition and room rent refund will be 50 percent.
5. On the sixth day of classes, the tuition and room rent refund will be 25 percent.
6. After the sixth day of classes, no tuition and room rent refund is available.
7. Board plan (meal charge) refund shall be calculated on a pro rata basis.

Withdrawal Refund Policy for Summer Term

Summer Term refunds are based on the number of weeks as follows:

1. In case of withdrawal or suspension before the end of the last day to drop a course(s) without financial penalty, the student may receive a refund of 100 percent of tuition and room rent for that term.
2. In case of withdrawal or suspension after the last day to drop a course(s) without financial penalty, but before the end of the first week of the term, the student may receive a refund of 90 percent of tuition and room rent for that term. The first week of the term ends on the first Friday following the last day to drop a course(s) without financial penalty.
3. In case of withdrawal or suspension after the first week of the term, but before the end of the second week of the term, the student may receive a refund of 75 percent of tuition and room rent for that term. The second week of the term ends on the second Friday following the last day to drop a course(s) without financial penalty.
4. In case of withdrawal or suspension after the second week of the term, but before the end of the third week of the term, the student may receive a refund of 50 percent of tuition and room rent for that term. The third week of the term ends on the third Friday following the last day to drop a course(s) without financial penalty.
5. In case of withdrawal or suspension after the third week of the term, but before the end of the fourth week of the term, the student may receive a refund of 25 percent of tuition and room rent for that term. The fourth week of the term ends on the fourth Friday following the last day to drop a course(s) without financial penalty.
6. In case of withdrawal or suspension after the fourth week, no refund of tuition and room rent is available.
7. In case of withdrawal or suspension, a board plan (meal charge) refund shall be calculated on a pro rata basis.

Refund and Cancellation Policy for Abroad Programs

Different refund and cancellation policies apply to the various abroad programs. A copy of these refund and cancellation policies may be obtained from the sponsoring department or school.

Military Call to Active Duty

Students will be allowed to withdraw without penalty from the University and receive a 100 percent tuition remission (less any financial aid which the student may have received for the semester) upon presenting an original copy of their orders to the dean of academic services.

Alternatively, incomplete (INC) grades with no tuition reimbursement may be more appropriate when the withdrawal is near the end of the semester and INCs are agreed to by the instructor(s) and the student and approved by the dean of the school or college. In the latter case, the student will be allowed to complete the coursework according to a written agreement submitted to the Office of Student Records.

Return of Title IV Funds

Federal financial aid funds are awarded with the expectation that students will complete the entire period of enrollment. Students “earn” a percentage of the funds that are disbursed to them with each day of class attendance. When a student, who has received federal financial aid (Title IV funds), leaves school before the end of the semester or period of enrollment, federal law requires the University to calculate the percentage and amount of “unearned financial aid funds that must be returned to the federal government.” This calculation may have the effect of requiring the student to repay funds that have already been disbursed to the student.

Once a student has completed more than 60 percent of the enrollment period, students are considered to have earned all funding received. The University will not reduce the amount owed simply because of the loss of eligibility of financial aid. Thus, withdrawal prior to completion of 60 percent of the semester may result in the student having to pay from personal funds amounts of financial aid required to be returned to federal sources, in addition to any institutional costs owed to the University. Students are urged to consider these financial implications prior to making the decision to withdraw from school.

Refund Appeal

Students or parents who believe that they have individual circumstances warranting an exception to published refund policies may appeal. To appeal, the student or parent should contact:

University Registrar
Office of Student Records
Samford University
800 Lakeshore Drive
Birmingham, Alabama 35229

Important Note: Payment schedule dates for all terms are subject to change.
Late Fee Note: A 5% late fee (capped at $100) will be assessed according to the schedule above. Any student with a past due balance will not be eligible to register for the next semester, participate in commencement, or obtain his/her transcript or diploma. Registration cancellation will be processed for all students with unpaid tuition, mandatory fees, room and board (billed and unbilled) on the date in the schedule above.
Direct Deposit Note: Direct deposit of refunds is now available. Log into the e-bill system and sign up. Direct deposit refunds for Jan Term and Spring 2014 are not guaranteed to be released to the bank until January 10, 2014.

Refunds: Refunds are available within seven (7) to ten (10) business days after financial aid has been credited (disbursed) to the student’s account. Refunds will not be available before that time. Disbursement of aid on a student account is regulated based on the first day of class as indicated on the academic calendar for the student’s classification. The refund availability dates above are the earliest dates the refunds will be available. These dates are subject to satisfactory completion/submission of all needed information by the student. The dates are subject to change and may be adjusted to comply with federal regulations governing refunds to students.

* Undergraduate nursing students pay this fee and the general Technology Fee that applies to all students.

NOTE 1: See above for a list of General Fees that apply to ALL students (Vehicle Registration/Decal, ID Replacement, etc.).
NOTE 2: Fees are subject to change without notice. See the Bursar’s Office Web site for the latest tuition and fee info: http://www.samford.edu/bursar/

NOTE ON PAYMENT/REINSTATEMENT: Charges incurred after the e-bill has been generated for the semester/term are due on or before the payment due date. Charges incurred during the drop/add period are due when incurred. Late fee of 5% (capped at $100) will be applied to the past due balance if payment not received in the Bursar’s Office by the due date. To avoid registration cancellation and reinstatement fee, students should pay all tuition and fees by the payment due date. See Billing and Refund Schedules above for dates for e-bill, payment due, refund availability, late fee assessment, and registration cancellation. 

NOTE ON PAYMENT/REINSTATEMENT: Charges incurred after the e-bill has been generated for the semester/term are due on or before the payment due date. Charges incurred during the drop/add period are due when incurred. Late fee of 5% (capped at $100) will be applied to the past due balance if payment not received in the Bursar’s Office by the due date. To avoid registration cancellation and reinstatement fee, students should pay all tuition and fees by the payment due date. See Billing and Refund Schedules above for dates for e-bill, payment due, refund availability, late fee assessment, and registration cancellation.  

NOTE ON PAYMENT/REINSTATEMENT: Charges incurred after the e-bill has been generated for the semester/term are due on or before the payment due date. Charges incurred during the drop/add period are due when incurred. Late fee of 5% (capped at $100) will be applied to the past due balance if payment not received in the Bursar’s Office by the due date. To avoid registration cancellation and reinstatement fee, students should pay all tuition and fees by the payment due date. See Billing and Refund Schedules above for dates for e-bill, payment due, refund availability, late fee assessment, and registration cancellation.    

NOTE ON PAYMENT/REINSTATEMENT: Charges incurred after the e-bill has been generated for the semester/term are due on or before the payment due date. Charges incurred during the drop/add period are due when incurred. Late fee of 5% (capped at $100) will be applied to the past due balance if payment not received in the Bursar’s Office by the due date. To avoid registration cancellation and reinstatement fee, students should pay all tuition and fees by the payment due date. See Billing and Refund Schedules above for dates for e-bill, payment due, refund availability, late fee assessment, and registration cancellation. 

NOTE ON PAYMENT/REINSTATEMENT: Charges incurred after the e-bill has been generated for the semester/term are due on or before the payment due date. Charges incurred during the drop/add period are due when incurred. Late fee of 5% (capped at $100) will be applied to the past due balance if payment not received in the Bursar’s Office by the due date. To avoid registration cancellation and reinstatement fee, students should pay all tuition and fees by the payment due date. See Billing and Refund Schedules above for dates for e-bill, payment due, refund availability, late fee assessment, and registration cancellation.