Washington College

Catalog

Fees and Expenses

Orientation Fee

All first-year and transfer students must pay an orientation fee of $228 for the fall semester or $166 for the spring semester.

Off Campus Study Fee

For each semester, or portion thereof, that a student participates in an off-campus program while enrolled at Washington College, the student must pay tuition and fees associated with the off-campus program and an additional $890 Off-Campus Study Fee.

Certain off-campus programs also require the payment of a special program fee that is generally non-refundable. The program fee is paid in two installments. A deposit is generally required at the time the student applies to the program, and the balance of the program fee is due upon billing.

Graduation Fee

There is a $166 mandatory graduation fee for all students expected to receive a Washington College degree. Generally the fee will be billed and due during the senior or final year. The graduation fee is a one-time non-refundable fee.

Part-time Student Fees

Part-time students are defined as those taking fewer than 12 credit-hours in a semester. Tuition is charged at the rate of $6,314 per semester undergraduate course and $1,125 per semester graduate course. Part-time undergraduate students are also assessed a pro rata student fee ($110 for a full credit course). Graduate students are also assessed a $100 non-refundable per course registration fee. For students enrolled only as auditors, the fee for each audited course is $328.

Special Course Fees

Certain courses, such as applied music, education internship, and some specialized instruction classes in physical education, have additional fees.

Senior Obligation/Senior Capstone Fee

Students whose graduation requirements include completion of an SCE:

If a student has completed all graduation requirements except the senior capstone experience (SCE) and has not previously taken an SCE, the fee for the SCE will be the same as the fee for one four-credit course.

If a student has completed all graduation requirements except the SCE and has taken but not successfully completed (failed or withdrawn from) an SCE, he or she will have to register for and successfully complete a second SCE in order to graduate. For students who register for the second SCE within one or two semesters of not successfully completing the first, the fee for the second SCE will be $1500.00.

If a student has completed all graduation requirements except the SCE and has not been enrolled at the College for more than two semesters, that student must register for and successfully complete an SCE in order to graduate. The fee for that SCE will be the same as the fee for one four-credit course, regardless of whether the student has previously taken an SCE.

Incomplete grades in SCE:

Faculty may assign a grade of incomplete to a student taking an SCE, subject to the policy on the incomplete in the College Catalog (2011-2012 catalog, page 44). Students whose SCE incomplete becomes a grade of F (on Friday of the third week of classes) may register for a second SCE by Friday of the following week (the fourth week of classes) in that semester. The fee for that SCE will be $1500.00. Only under extreme extenuating circumstances will students be allowed an extension of their incomplete for an SCE.

Students whose graduation requirements include completion of the Senior Obligation:

If a student has completed all graduation requirements except the Senior Obligation, that student must register as an auditor for and successfully complete an SCE (which replaced the Senior Obligation in Fall 2006) in order to graduate. The fee for that SCE will be $300.00.

Deposits

Once admitted to Washington College, full-time matriculating undergraduate students are required to make a $500 non-refundable enrollment deposit. The College reserves places in the entering class in the order in which these deposits are recorded.

All students who will be living on campus are required to make a non-refundable housing deposit of $300 for returning students and $200 for first-time students. This deposit will be applied to the room billing for the semester.

In addition to semester fees, all undergraduate students are required to maintain a security deposit of $285 throughout their College careers.

Billing and Payment Policies

Tuition, Fees, Room, and Board

The College bills for tuition, fees, room, and board twice a year: in early July for the fall semester, and in early December for the spring semester. At the beginning of each semester, pending financial aid is allowed as a credit to the student's account, and is counted as payment until September 30 and January 31 for the Fall and Spring semesters, respectively. Students who have not completed all necessary paperwork to finalize pending aid by that time are required to pay in full. If financial aid is later reinstated, the student will be given a full refund of any credit balance. This refund is available by contacting the Business Office. The due dates for each semester are indicated on the student statements. Generally, the due date will be two to three weeks prior to the first day of classes.

Students who have not paid in full, or who have not made satisfactory arrangements to pay in full using financial aid or the "Tuition Pay" payment plan, by the due date for the semester, will not be considered as having met their financial obligation. A late payment fee will apply and the student may be removed from class and housing assignments if payment arrangements are not made by the due date. The amount of the late payment fee is $150 on any balance of $1,500 or more for undergraduate students and $80 on any balance of $800 or more for graduate students.

Late Fee

The amount of the late payment fee is $150.00 on any balance of $1,500 or more for undergraduate students and $80.00 on ay balance of $800 or more for graduate students. A late fee is charged when a student:

• has not paid their account in full or made payment arrangements by the officially posted due date for the current semester; or
• has defaulted on a payment plan; or
• has financial aid cancelled, in any manner.

Until this obligation has been met, students may not return to campus, attend classes, or obtain keys or a college ID card. Students may also be removed from class and housing arrangements. All students are required to complete and submit to the Business Office an Information Release/Responsibility Form. This form serves as consent for Business Office personnel to discuss questions regarding the student's account with the indicated parties. Only those persons listed may be given information regarding the student's account. This form must be signed by both the student and by any other individual who has assumed responsibility for payment.

Other Students Charges

The Business Office bills each month for fines incurred by the student. These include parking violations, Library fines, Honor Board fines, dorm damages and other assessed charges. Parents/guardians should first discuss questionable charges with the student and/or appropriate department head, before calling the Business Office. Students are notified in writing when any fines are levied. Dorm damages are assessed after move out and are billed by June 15. All charges are due upon receipt of the monthly Student Statement of Account. Any charge that is outstanding for more than 30 days may result in grades not being sent, transcripts of academic credit not being issued, a diploma not being issued, and pre-registration for subsequent semesters may be delayed.

Students may view their student account through the Washington College Web site using WebAdvisor.

Prepaid Debit Card System

The College uses ManageMYID.com where students (and parents) can view and/or manage a student's campus card account. It provides valuable information about account balances and spending history, while enabling deposits to the campus card account using a credit card. ManageMyID.com is always on, and funds can be added anytime day or night. The card can be used at retail venues throughout campus. Balances on the debit cards transfer from semester to semester and year to year. Balances for graduating seniors will revert to their College account the last week of May typically. Refunds for medical withdrawals must be approved by the Business Office, otherwise there are no refunds. Lost or stolen cards are reported by logging on to ManageMyID.com to submit a lost/stolen card report immediately removing all access and spending privileges from the card. The student will be instructed on what their next steps should be in order to obtain a new card.

Payments

Washington College Business Office accepts cash, cashier's checks, traveler's checks, wire transfers, and money orders in payment of student accounts. Wire transfer information can be obtained by calling the Accounts Receivable Specialist in the Business Office (410-778-7736). Personal checks are also accepted, unless there has been a previous incident of payment by check that was returned for non-sufficient funds. Once a non-sufficient funds check has been returned on a student's account, future payments must be made using another acceptable form of payment. Post-dated checks are not acceptable. Credit card payment for student account balances may only be made via the Washington College Web site, there is a convenience fee for this service. E-Check payment can be made via the Washington College Web site, there is no fee for this service.

Personal checks submitted for payments on student accounts will have the student's college ID number written on the face of the check.

Parents wishing to insure against the financial losses associated with medical withdrawals after the beginning of classes may purchase insurance through the College. (Contact the Business Office for more information.)

Sallie Mae Tuitionpay, in partnership with Washington College, offers tuition installment payment plans. Tuition and fees may be paid in 10, 11, or 12 monthly installments under these plans. Information about the Tuitionpay Monthly Installment Plan is mailed to all current and accepted students and can be obtained through the Business Office. All payment obligations not included in the Plan must be paid in full by the due date for the semester. If Tuitionpay terminates the student's plan for nonpayment, the student will be subject to a default penalty charge equal to the late check-in penalty.

Washington College offers a prepaid tuition plan which guarantees savings by protecting the student from future increases in the price of tuition. Tuition may be prepaid at the prevailing semester rate by multiplying the current semester rate by the number of semesters to be prepaid.

The Prepaid Tuition Option covers tuition only; room, board, and other fees cannot be prepaid and will be invoiced according to the normal fall/spring billing cycle(s).

For additional information or questions, please contact Jeani Narcum, Director- Office of Student Aid at 410 778 7214

Withdrawals and Refunds

If a student withdraws from the College during a semester, the student will be responsible for all nonrefundable amounts. When the student withdrawal results from a disciplinary action, the College makes no refund of any kind.

Tuition refunds or credits will be allowed according to the following schedule:

• Before classes begin -100%;
• During the first two weeks of classes-75%;
• During the third week of classes-50%; during the fourth week of classes-25%;
• After the fourth week of classes there will be no tuition refund.

Fees are generally not refundable after the start date of the semester. Residence hall spaces are assigned for the academic year; therefore no refunds or credits for rooms are given for a student withdrawing after classes begin. Board refunds or credits will be determined on a pro-rated basis.