Hours: 8:15 am – 4:45 pm, Monday – Friday (CST)
Staff
Teresa Paullin, Program Specialist, 474-3037
Audrey Liss, Accountant, 474-3038
Suzanne Claggett, Coordinator, 474-3441
Changes made to the Bright Futures Scholarship Program
In 2009, the Florida Legislature made significant changes to the Bright Futures Scholarship Program.
Senate Bill 2600:
Senate Bill 1696 - Conforming Bill:
More information regarding the Florida Bright Futures Scholarship Program can be found at the following link: http://uwf.edu/finaid/
Student Privacy & Parental Access
Student Records and Privacy
Pursuant to Public Law 93-380, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974, students and their parents are advised of certain practices and procedures at the University of West Florida which relate to student records. Under FERPA, once a student reaches the age of 18 or is enrolled in a postsecondary program, parents no longer have any rights to student information, regardless of the level of financial support provided to the student. Students may, however, give their parents access to their information by completing the Student Authorization to Release Student Information form http://uwf.edu/registrar/release.pdf and checking the “Financial” category. The completed form authorizes the Student Financial Services Office (including Cashiers, Student Account and Collections) at the University of West Florida to disclose the financial records as defined by FERPA.
More information regarding FERPA can be found at the following link: http://www.ed.gov/policy/gen/guid/fpco/ferpa/students.html
May Parents Use the Student’s password-protected ARGUS account?
From a legal perspective, the student, and not the parent(s), is the university’s client. The university therefore, is legally obligated to provide each student with the means to create his or her own personalized user name and password and to deny access to confidential information by anyone without a valid user name and password. Each student must decide individually whether to provide his or her personal user name and password to parents or guardians.
UWF Student Communication Policy
The University of West Florida (UWF) uses electronic mail (“email”) for official University communication with students. To facilitate communication via email the University provides all enrolled students with ArgoNet user accounts that include email and calendaring services under the University’s ArgoMail system. The ArgoMail email address is each student’s official email address for UWF communications.
UWF students are responsible for information communicated through this medium, including monitoring their email for communication from UWF. UWF students are also responsible for complying with the UWF Policy on Electronic Mail:
https://nautical.uwf.edu/unitapp/publication/Pub.cfm?PubFormatID=939
UWF students may access ArgoMail from any computer having access to the Internet or from various locations on campus, including student computer labs. The University provides information on how to use ArgoMail, and technical support via the Information Technology Services (ITS) Help Desk.
UWF recognizes that many students have personal email accounts with other email providers; therefore, the ArgoMail system allows students to establish email forwarding to a non-University email account. However, UWF cannot ensure that forwarded email is ultimately delivered by another organization’s email system; it is therefore the student’s responsibility to ensure the successful forwarding of emails from the University.
This policy is effective for all University of West Florida students.
Financial Disbursements
Financial Aid, including loans and scholarships, is disbursed by Student Accounts. Tuition, fees, housing, meal plans and any other educationally-related expenses are deducted from the financial aid award, and any excess is then sent to the student. Balances due by the student over and above the amount covered by available financial aid must be received in the university Cashier’s Office by the fee payment deadline to avoid assessment of the late payment fee. The netting of financial aid awards continues throughout the fee payment and drop/add period. Late awards of financial aid are processed in the same manner throughout each academic term. All excess financial aid will be sent to HigherOne and disbursed according to the student’s selected refund preference.
Financial Aid Disbursements & the Financial Aid Office
At the University of West Florida, two offices are involved in the processing of financial aid, the Financial Aid Office and Student Financial Services. The Financial Aid Office determines a student’s eligibility and awards the student accordingly. Student Financial Services is responsible for the disbursement of these funds to the student once they have been released by the Financial Aid Office and all eligibility requirements have been fulfilled.
If you are awarded a Perkins Loan, we are pleased to now offer E-Sign, an electronic promissory note. Please follow the link below to sign your Perkins Promissory Note.
http://www.acs-education.com/bac/perkinsesign/home.html
Student Financial Services strives to have all eligible financial aid ready for disbursement by the end of the second week of classes. All debts owed to the University are paid first, and any financial aid over and above these expenses is sent to Higher One, the University’s Refund Management Partner, for disbursement via the student’s chosen method.
Tuition Deadlines and Financial Aid Deferments
Students who have submitted all required documentation by the tuition due date will receive a deferment of tuition and fees up to the amount of their financial aid. Students whose financial aid does not cover all tuition and fees must pay the remaining balance by the tuition payment deadline or late fees will be assessed.
Students who drop below the number of credit hours their original award is based upon must contact the Financial Aid office to have their award package adjusted and must pay any resultant balance due prior to the fee payment deadline or they will incur a late payment fee.
Students whose awards have not been processed by the tuition payment deadline due to a delay in submitting all required documentation must pay their fees by an alternate means to avoid a late payment fee.
University Bookstore Deferment
Students who qualify for the Bookstore Deferment Program have the option of using excess financial aid to purchase textbooks at the UWF Bookstore prior to their aid being disbursed.
This deferment is not an additional award but an estimated amount based upon the student’s financial aid award less unpaid charges on his/her ARGUS account. The maximum deferment amount is $600.00. In order to qualify for the deferment, students must be enrolled in the minimum number of hours required for their financial aid award.
By signing the bookstore receipt, students are authorizing the University of West Florida to deduct the University Bookstore charges from their financial aid and/or scholarship award. In the event their financial aid status changes, students are responsible for any purchases made under this program.
Higher One/UWF Debit Card
To receive financial aid disbursements or any other university refunds, students must visit the Higher One website and use their UWF Debit Card number to choose a refund option. Your UWF Debit Card does not become active unless you choose the debit card option for your refund preference. Be sure to keep your card, as your card number will also be needed to make any future changes to your selection. There is a $20 replacement card fee. For additional information call UWF Student Accounts at 850-474-3038 during standard business hours or Higher One Customer Service: 1-800-815-1670, Mon. - Fri., 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Activate your UWF Debit Card
How do I activate my card?
Withdrawals and Federal Financial Aid
Students who have received federal financial aid (Title Four programs), attended class and subsequently withdrew will be required to repay the amount of unearned federal financial aid funds calculated as of their withdrawal date. Title Four programs include Pell Grants, Perkins Loans, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants (FSEOG), Stafford Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized), Parent Plus Loans and Graduate Plus Loans. The unearned amount of federal program funds is calculated using the Federal Formula for Return of Title IV funds and is based on the percentage of the semester completed before the date of withdrawal. This information can be found in Section 484B of the Higher Education Act. The full text is available at the following address: http://www.ed.gov/policy/highered/leg/hea98/sec485.html. Please contact Student Financial Services with any questions.
Students who have outstanding balances are not allowed to register for classes until they have satisfied their debt.
Tuition Loan Program
Eligible students may pay tuition fees in two equal installments. One-half of the total tuition and fees is payable by the close of the drop/add period with the remainder payable by midterm. Students must have a favorable credit rating with the university to be eligible for the Tuition Loan Program (TLP). A $15 service charge will be assessed. Applications must be made in person in the Student Accounts Office and a promissory note signed. This program is available online through the student's MYUWF account.
If payment is not received by the due date, a $100 late fee will apply.
Short Term Loans
Emergency Short Term Loans of up to $500.00 are available for students in good financial standing. Applications must be made online through the student's MYUWF account and a promissory note signed online. Short Term Loans are due before the end of the semester in which they were issued.
Holds
Delinquent Balance
A student owing a delinquent balance of less than $100 which is not more than 120 days past due or is not a prior term tuition balance will be allowed to register for classes prior to paying the balance. The balance due must be paid by the close of the fee payment period. Failure to do so will result in holds on future registrations as well as diplomas, grades, and transcripts until the account is paid in full.
Accounts Receivable
Students who have outstanding charges in excess of $100.00 or charges more than 120 days old of any amount will not be allowed to register for classes, conduct any registration transactions and/or receive financial aid until such amount is paid in full. Students who are allowed to register with outstanding charges of $100.00 or less shall be responsible for the payment of all such charges, along with payment or authorized deferral of their current term fee assessment, by the close of the late registration/drop-add/fee payment deadline.
Students with Accounts Receivable HOLDS will be unable to receive transcripts or grades until the debt is paid in full.
Financial Aid Exit Interview
Exit counseling is required at the time you graduate, withdraw, or drop below half-time enrollment. Exit counseling will review the same rights and responsibilities as entrance counseling and will also give you important information regarding the repayment of your Direct Loan. Understanding the repayment provisions of your loan will help you avoid default. Failure to complete exit counseling prior to leaving school will result in a hold on your academic record. This hold prevents the release of grades, transcripts and diploma, registration for future terms, and receipt of additional financial aid.
Complete Direct Loan Exit Counseling
To complete Perkins Exit Counseling log in to your MYUWF account, go to My Info Tab and click on Perkins Loan Exit Interview found under Personal Student Records Access.
1098-T Tuition Statement
The university is required by the IRS to furnish the 1098-T to students. The tuition statement includes the amount of tuition paid by the student during the tax year, excluding health and transportation fees. It also includes the amount of scholarships received by the student. Scholarship amounts do not include loans.
1098-T’s are mailed the last week of January for the previous tax year and are available online through the student's MYUWF account.
THE UNIVERSITY OF WEST FLORIDA IS NOT IN A POSITION TO ADVISE YOU AS TO YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR ANY INCOME TAX CREDIT, OR TO ASSIST YOU WITH PREPARING YOUR INCOME TAX RETURN. For official IRS information you may refer to IRS Publication 970, Tax Benefits for Higher Education, or the IRS web site.
Every effort has been made to ensure that the information on this web site is accurate. However, due to frequent changes in Federal and State regulations, and revisions to the University of West Florida operating policies, the information is subject to change without notice.