Graduate Catalog - Shippensburg University

Student MattersParking FeeAll vehicles operated by faculty, staff, and students (graduate orundergraduate) are required to be registered with the UniversityPolice and to display a current parking decal on the right rear bumper.Student parking decals (through 2012-2013 academic year):$65 for the academic year$15 for summer only (May through August)$10 for additional vehiclesBad Check FeeA fee of $35 may be charged for each paper check or electroniccheck that is not honored by the payee’s bank for any reason.Room and BoardCampus housing is available for graduate students during theregular semester on a “Space Availability” basis. A meal plan is availablefor commuting students. Housing is available during the summerterms.Meal PlansDuring the regular semester, meal plans are available whichprovide a certain number of meals per week in the dining halls. The2012-2013 cost for these plans are: Admiral Plan (unlimited dining),$2,010/semester; 19 meals/week, $1865; 15 meals/week, $1,655; 10meals/week, $1,340; 5 meals/week, $1,105; 225 Block Plan, $1690;175 Block Plan, $1,450/semester; 125 Block Plan, $1,250/semester;and 75 Block Plan, $980/semester. All of the above meal plansinclude $250 initial flex. Meal plans may also be purchased with $375initial flex. Additional flex may be purchased in $25 increments.The flex-only meal plan is perfect for the student looking to eatthe occasional meal on campus and begins at $100 per semester. Withthis plan you receive flex dollars that you can spend at any dining locationon campus. You can add additional flex dollars to your accountat any time.Meal plans are also available during the summer sessions. Mealplan rates are subject to change.Summer Sessions Room and BoardInformation about graduate student housing for the summer sessionscan be obtained by contacting the Dean of Students Office at477-1164. The following rates were in effect for the 2012 summersessions:Double occupancy with 10 meal plan—$570 for 3 weeks, $950 for5 weeks. Double occupancy with 15 meal plan—$627 for 3 weeks,$1,045 for 5 weeks. Double occupancy with 19 meal plan—$666 for3 weeks, $1,110 for 5 weeks.RefundsA graduate student is considered to be in class attendance up tothe date on which a written notice of intent to withdraw is receivedin the Registrar’s Office. This date becomes the official date ofwithdrawal when calculating adjustments of tuition and fees and thereturn of federal financial aid.During the academic year the following schedule determines theamount of refund or reduction in tuition and fees to be granted in theevent of withdrawal:Through the drop period100 percentEnd of drop period through 2nd week 80 percent3rd week60 percent4th week50 percent5th week40 percentOver 5 weeks0 percentThere is no refund or reduction of charges for individual courseswithdrawn after the end of the drop period. Refunds are only issuedfor full semester withdrawals. Students enrolled in late startingcourses may be subject to an alternate refund schedule. Details maybe obtained at ship.edu/Student_Accounts/ under Refund Schedule.The most current summer session refund dates may be found atship.edu/Student_Accounts/ under Summer Tuition.The refund schedules assume the student account is paid in fulland the percentages are not being applied to a partial payment oftuition. The application fee, technology fee and advance deposits arenon-refundable.If a student is a recipient of federal Title IV financial aid, theamount of federal aid that the student earned up to the date of withdrawalis calculated using a specific formula. If the student receivedless aid than the amount earned, the student may receive those fundsas a post-withdrawal disbursement. If the student received more aidthan the amount earned, the excess funds must be returned by theschool and/or the student. Refunds to those programs are required byfederal law to be the first priority and must be returned in the followingorder:1. Federal Unsubsidized Stafford loan2. Federal Subsidized Stafford loan3. Federal Perkins loan4. Federal Parent PLUS loan5. Federal Pell Grant6. ACG Grant7. SMART Grant8. Federal SEOG9. TEACH GrantIn some cases a student may owe a balance to the university afterTitle IV aid is returned.More information concerning the detailed application of therefund policy can be obtained by visiting the Student Accounts linkin the Student Life section of the Shippensburg University website,www.ship.edu.Refund policies are subject to change by the Pennsylvania State Systemof Higher Education.Financial AssistanceShippensburg University provides financial assistance to graduatestudents through graduate assistantships, student payroll positions,student life graduate assistantships, graduate residence director appointments,and student loans.Graduate AssistantshipsGraduate assistant appointments provide opportunities to participatein professionally-related activities with faculty and administrators.These assignments can extend learning experiences beyond theclassroom and enhance professional development.Graduate assistant appointments are awarded on a competitivebasis. They provide a tuition waiver as well as compensation for workperformed.Eligibility and Academic LoadTo be eligible to receive a graduate assistant appointment, a studentmust be admitted into a graduate degree program. Non-degreestudents, or those working towards certification without a degree,are not eligible. Provisionally-admitted students are not permittedto work as graduate assistants during the provisional semester(s).Conditionally-admitted students may work as graduate assistantswith the permission of their academic department.Graduate assistants must maintain at least a 3.0 cumulative QPAand must not have earned more than two grades of C or less in anycourse taken while a graduate student.In most cases, students may not hold graduate assistant positionsfor more than two years, defined for this purpose as four regularsemesters and one summer session. Students in degree programs thatrequire more than 33 credits may hold positions for more than twoyears.27