Before the beginning of the school year, the student is expected to arrange for financial resources to cover all expenses. Accounts with other schools or with this University must have been settled. The student is urged, when possible, to make financial plans in advance and to complete financial arrangements with the Office of Student Financial Services before the quarter begins.

• To avoid inconvenience, parents, sponsors, and others who plan to come from a distance to the campus for business purposes should telephone for an appointment, especially if they are unable to arrive during official business hours.

• The office is CLOSED Saturday, Sunday, major holidays and the day after Thanksgiving.

Several payment options are available to meet the financial needs of students:

1. Payment of the year's account in full during Fall registration (for which a 5 percent tuition discount is granted and apportioned each quarter);
2. Payment in full each quarter during registration;
3. Monthly payments on the yearly balance, beginning in July, coordinated through the Office of Student Financial Services. This option is available at $60 per year.

Cash needs
The student should arrange to have cash available for all special charges and miscellaneous expenses. It is advisable for students to budget at least $350 per quarter for books, misc supplies. If parents or sponsors wish to write only one check to include money for both tuition and other expenses, they should indicate that the surplus may be deposited in the Student Bank, which the University operates for the convenience of dormitory students. Credit cards can not be used for cash advances.

Checks
Checks should be made payable to La Sierra University, and clearly indicate the student's name and I.D. number to ensure that the correct account is credited. A charge of $20 will be made by the University when a check is not honored by a bank. A check presented in payment for registration fees that is dishonored by the bank and returned unpaid to La Sierra University is required to be redeemed within 5 working days after written notification from the University. If it is not redeemed, the student may be suspended from classes or the University has the option to revoke administratively the term registration. In certain situations payment may be required in the form of certified/cashier's check, money order, or cash.

Health insurance
The La Sierra University Health Service Plan is intended to cover the basic health needs of students enrolled in a course of study leading to a degree. Students registered for 8 units or more per quarter (excluding courses In Progress, for Audit, or covered by employee tuition benefits) must buy coverage per quarter. Students registered for 5 to 7 units (and Ed.D. candidates registered for dissertation units only) may purchase coverage during registration. Students enrolled for fewer than 5 units do not qualify for the plan. The health plan provides certain medical care through the campus health service, and also covers the hospital and medical expenses outlined in the student health service folder (available from the Office of Student Life). Items not covered by the health plan are payable by the student in all cases, and payment is expected at the time these services are given. More information is in the Student Handbook. (See below for international students' health insurance requirements.)

International students
An international applicant (other than Canadian) on a student visa is required to make an advance deposit of $1,000. The deposit will remain on account until the student terminates academic work at La Sierra University. The deposit can be used as partial payment for the last term. All international students must furnish evidence of additional resources to finance the expenses of the planned education. Because international students do not qualify for loans and grants listed under Financial Aid, parents or sponsors are responsible for paying each quarter's charges in full at registration. A Financial Guarantee Form is available from the Office of Admissions. The student must obtain the proper signatures on the form and file it with the Office of Admissions before clearance can be given for the issuance of an I-20 form.

La Sierra University requires all its international students to maintain adequate health insurance throughout the duration of their visa status. The Office of International Student Services must approve the health insurance policy before a student will be eligible to register. For more information please refer to the Student Handbook.

Veterans
A student who has been accepted and is eligible to receive veteran's benefits under the 1966 enactment should contact the Office of the Registrar, La Sierra University for information regarding these benefits.

Residence hall study load
A residence hall student is expected to be formally registered for an academic load of at least 8 units per quarter.

Audit regulations
A student may audit a lecture course only. The per unit rate for audit differs from the rate for credit. Courses requiring special instruction or laboratory sessions cannot be taken on an audit basis. If a student who audits a course wishes later to take an equivalency examination for credit in the course, the balance of the regular tuition, as well as the fee for the examination, must be paid. Audited classes do not qualify for the SDA tuition discount.

Financial clearance
Students are required to obtain financial clearance at the beginning of each quarter. Arrangements are made with the Office of Student Financial Services according to the options detailed at the beginning of this section. In all cases, any previous balance must be resolved before clearance. Financial clearance must also be obtained before the release of a certificate or diploma, or before the issuance of a transcript, statement of completion, or other certification to any person, organization, or professional board.

Transcripts
The University reserves the right to withhold information concerning the record of a student who has an unpaid account. No transcripts are issued until the student's financial obligations to the University have been met as set forth in this Bulletin. This includes being current in repayment of any student loan. A student who wishes immediate release of a transcript must clear outstanding financial obligations (including all installment payments of the current quarter, even if they have not yet come due) by cash, money order, or cashier's check before the transcript will be issued.

Statements
A financial statement is mailed to the address provided by the student. The amount due, indicated on the statement, is payable upon receipt. Under the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, postsecondary students have full rights of privacy with regard to their accounts. Financial statements may be sent to persons other than the student only after receipt of a request signed by the student. However, a person who signs the original application as guarantor may receive statements if the account is not kept current.

Past due accounts
Failure to pay scheduled charges or to make proper financial arrangements with the Office of Student Financial Services will cause the account to be considered past due. The student may be considered absent, discontinued, or ineligible to take final examinations. Also, anyone who signs as guarantor for the account may be notified, and provided a monthly statement.

Interest
A quarterly service charge of 2.5 percent is applied on the unpaid balance at the end of December, March, June and September. This is an annual interest rate of 10 percent, compounded quarterly.

Debt collection
Past due accounts may be assigned to a collection agency or attorney, and may be reported to commercial credit agencies. Appropriate charges for these services, including court costs, if incurred, will be added to the account balance.

Refunds
A signed request form or letter from the student is necessary to initiate the procedure for any refund. Requests must be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Services. The student should allow 30 days for processing of a normal refund (to allow time for all records such as cashier receipts, registration records, etc., to clear through the normal accounting procedure).

Total withdrawal
If a student withdraws from all courses and leaves school, these practices are followed:

1. Date of withdrawal: The official date of withdrawal is the date on which the completed drop form is accepted by the Office of the Registrar. The effective date of the calculation of a refund is the date the student begins the official withdrawal process, as determined by the institution.
2. Tuition: There is a minimum charge for 5 percent of the billed tuition for withdrawal during the first five days of school after the published first day of classes; thereafter, an additional 15 percent of the billed tuition is charged per week, up to the full amount. This applies to part- time as well as first-time students.
3. Fees: Student Association, student health insurance, and technology fees are not refunded after the second week of classes. Course material and lab fees are only refunded after the second week of class if written authorization from the academic department is received by the Office of Student Financial Services.
4. Board: The charge for meals will be prorated on a daily basis, calculated on the daily minimum to date or actual use, whichever is higher.
5. Room: The charge for room is governed by the Residential License Agreement, and is pro-rated on a daily basis (see Section IV of the agreement).
6. Damage deposit: Refund will be made to the student's account, when the residence hall dean returns the signed residence hall release to the Bursar's Office. The amount refunded will reflect any deductions made for damages or cleaning.
7. Illness: Special consideration may be given for tuition refunds in the case of prolonged illness, if certified by an appropriate health professional.
8. Financial Aid: When a student who receives federal financial aid totally withdraws from the institution during a term a calculation is done to determine the amount of financial aid the student earned while enrolled. The amount earned is calculated by multiplying the total financial aid for the term by the percentage of the term completed. The percentage of the term completed is calculated as the number of calendar days in the term divided into the number of calendar days completed as of the day the student withdraws. The unearned federal aid (total financial aid less earned financial aid is the unearned aid) must be returned to the student financial aid programs in the order prescribed by law and regulation:
   1. Unsubsidized Federal Stafford Loan
   2. Subsidized Federal Stafford Loan
   3. Unsubsidized Direct Stafford Loan
   4. Subsidized Direct Stafford Loan
   5. Perkins Loan
   6. Federal PLUS Loan
   7. Direct PLUS Loan
   8. Federal Pell Grant
   9. Federal SEOG

If any portion of the unearned financial aid was paid directly to the student (rather than applied to institutional charges), the student is responsible for returning these funds in the order listed above. The student (or parent, if a Federal PLUS Loan) must return the unearned funds for which they are responsible to loan programs in accordance with the terms of the loan, and to grant programs as an overpayment. A student is not, however, required to return 50 percent of the grant assistance that is the responsibility of the student to repay.

Billing and collection of repayments are done by the University, but a student who fails to repay will be referred to the U.S. Department of Education for collection (unless overpayment is a result of school error) and is no longer eligible for further federal financial aid funds.

Non-federal financial aid will be pro-rated in the same manner as tuition as stated in number 2 of this policy.

Study load change
A student who adds a course during the first five class days of the quarter or who drops a course during the first week of the quarter will be charged tuition for the added or dropped course from the beginning of the quarter unless the resulting class load is not above or below that which is covered by the flat rate charged for tuition. No financial adjustment is made for the student who adds and drops the same number of units on the same day. A student who drops a class during the first 60% of the quarter may be eligible for a partial refund (see "Total withdrawal," this section). No refund can be given until the drop form is turned in to and accepted by the Office of the Registrar. Financial aid may be prorated when a student changes study load by adding or dropping classes.

Residence change
Charges will be prorated on a daily basis for a student who chooses to move out of the residence hall during the quarter. Meal plan refunds for a student who moves will be prorated on a daily basis, calculated on the daily minimum to date or actual use, whichever is higher.

Meal plan change
Change of minimum meal plan may only be considered by submitting a petition, supported with a medical certificate, to the Financial Administration office during the first week of every quarter.

Campus Employment
Campus employment opportunities are offered by such services as cafeteria, grounds, housekeeping, maintenance, residence halls, the library, general administrative offices, and academic department offices.

Payment Checks
in payment for part-time employment by the University are issued on a biweekly basis. A schedule may be obtained from the Payroll Office.

Payroll deduction
Payroll deduction is available to facilitate payment of student accounts. Arrangements are made by the Office of Student Financial Services at the student's request.