Tuition & Fees

Student Accounts: Financial Information & 2012-2013 Fee Schedule

Palm Beach Atlantic University reserves the right to change fees and other charges that the Board of Trustees considers to be in accord with sound management.

Evening and Online Program Tuition

Wellington Campus Students: Use same fees as main campus.

Evening and Online Program Fees

Auditing a Course

The rate of tuition for auditing course work depends upon the total number of credit hours (including audit hours) for which a student registers in a given semester. If the student is part time, or if the total number of credit hours exceeds 18, then tuition for audit is one half the applicable per-hour charge.

Meal Plans

Information regarding meal plans may be found in the Fees section of the Undergraduate Day catalog.

Professional Education Credit (PEC)*

Students who are approved for Professional Education Credit will be charged $100.00 per credit. The charge is applied to the student account upon approval. Prompt payment of these charges is expected and failure to comply may result in a financial hold placed on the account. PECs are non-refundable once charged.

*Please see the Professional Education Credit  section for further details.

Student Accounts: Financial Policies and Services

Billing Information – Tuition and Fees

Initial billing statements will include charges and anticipated financial assistance as of invoice date. Any charges not covered by anticipated financial assistance are due by the tuition due date for each specific term.

Thereafter, e-bills are generated on the 15th of each month, and any new charges are due on the 5th of the following month. Subsequent statements will reflect all account activity since the prior month billing statement and the balance forward from the previous statement.

Please contact the Financial Aid Office if you are expecting financial assistance that is not shown as anticipated aid on your billing statement. Do not submit communications about your bill with your payments. For questions or comments regarding items other than financial aid please contact the Student Accounts Office by e-mail at Student_Accounts@pba.edu or by telephone.

Charges

By registering for classes, the student acknowledges that he/she is responsible for paying all tuition and other fees associated with these classes. Additionally, by choosing to reside in Palm Beach Atlantic University residence halls, selecting a meal plan or parking permit, opting to use other campus facilities that may incur fines or additional fees or any other expenses, the student acknowledges that he/she is responsible for paying such excess fees. He/she also understands that in the event a student’s account is past due, Palm Beach Atlantic University may turn the balance over to a collection agency. The student is then responsible for all fees and costs incurred by PBA for the collection of the past due amount, including collection fees and/or attorneys’ fees.

Note: Students who decide not to attend some or all of their courses after registration are required to officially withdraw by contacting Sailfish Services. Otherwise, students will be held responsible for all charges on their accounts. There are no exceptions to this cancellation and withdrawal procedure.

Payment Policies

Bills for full tuition, housing and fees will be generated July 6, a few weeks prior to the Fall term and December 7 a few weeks prior to the Spring term. Student Accounts will send an email to students when an e-bill is available for immediate viewing. Students are responsible for checking their PBA e-mail address frequently during the semesters. Payments not received by the due date for the prospective term may be subject to course cancellations and loss of housing if applicable. Due dates are as follows:

Account Payment Options

• Payment in full each semester (on/before the due date)
• Monthly Payment Plan: The student may enroll in an approved PBA payment plan that allows him/her to make monthly payments. Contact the Students Accounts Office for further information. (Orlando students should contact the Orlando campus for payment plan information.) The student is responsible to review monthly statements to ensure the payment plan is amended to reflect any additional charges or changes in financial aid.

Credits and Refunds

Disbursement of financial aid occurs according to federally mandated regulations. If a credit balance results once financial aid is applied to a student’s account, the surplus will be refunded to the student within 14 days of the aid posting date reflected on the student account. Refunds are processed in the manner in which the payment is received.

Credit balances resulting from a credit card payment in total or partial will be refunded back to the credit card, in the amount of the initial credit card payment, used to process that payment. The remaining credit and all other credit balances will be refunded back to the student directly in the form of a paper check.

Delinquent Account Penalties

A student whose account is not paid in full by the tuition due date will not receive transcripts, diplomas, or other services offered to students with accounts in good standing, and are not permitted to register for a new semester until the balance owed is paid in full. The deactivation of your campus identification card could also be the result of a delinquent account, thus suspending access to campus facilities, meal plans and other services on campus. In addition, other actions may be taken up to and including suspension from the current term.

Delinquent Payment Plan Accounts

Payment plan participants are required to make consecutive monthly payments as scheduled. Accounts with two missed payments or two returned checks will be cancelled from the payment plan. Once cancelled, the due date will revert back to the original due date of the prospective term. Terminated contracts will block participation in future installment plans. Therefore, the student must make immediate payment in full of the account balance owed.

Payment Methods

• Credit Card: MasterCard, VISA, Discover, and American Express are accepted on-line through myPBA as well as in person or by calling Sailfish Services at 561.803.2000 or 888.468.6722. 
• Personal check or money order: Make payable to Palm Beach Atlantic University and mail to Sailfish Services at P.O. Box 24708, West Palm Beach, FL 33416-4708. 
• Wire Transfers: Contact Sailfish Services for instruction via phone (561.803.2000 or 888.468.6722) or email (Sailfish_services@pba.edu).

Campus Purchases with PBACard

Funds—by cash, check, credit card and/or approved financial aid—can be placed on your PBACard for purchases or services in the Campus Store, Einstein Bros Bagels, Chick-Fil-A, P.O.D. Express, Greene Complex for Sports and Recreation, The Fresh Food Company, vending machines, laundry facilities, etc. by contacting Sailfish Services or at the ADM machines located on campus. (This service is not available in Orlando).

Campus Store Return Policy

The PBA Campus Store return policy for textbooks purchased by individuals whose National Guard and Reserve Units have been activated is as follows:

• All textbooks that are in new condition and in their current edition and are being used for a course at Palm Beach Atlantic may be returned for full credit.
• All textbooks that are in used condition (having underlining, highlighting, inscribed name or other markings, or whose binding is cracked), and are in their current edition, and are being used for a course at Palm Beach Atlantic can be returned for one-half of their retail price.
• All textbooks, in resalable condition and in their current edition, that were used for a course at Palm Beach Atlantic when the student was activated for service but are no longer being used can be returned, but the amount of the refund will depend on the wholesale prices set by the used-book company contracted by the bookstore.
• All textbooks not in their current edition are non-refundable regardless of their condition. Receipts in these cases are not required for refunds, but the individual must present Identification and proof of military service.

Check Cashing

The Campus Store will cash two-party checks—up to $25 per day—as long as the student account is in good standing and the student presents his or her validated PBA student ID. The student will lose check-cashing privileges for a minimum of one semester if two checks are returned for insufficient funds.

Check Return Fee

Any check returned for insufficient funds will be charged back to the student’s account along with a $30 fee.

Check-In

Main Campus

At the beginning of each semester, ALL students are required to check-in to have their PBACards (student identification cards) validated/scanned. This validation must occur before a student is eligible for campus services (class attendance, entrance to campus facilities, chapel attendance, purchases, etc.). Students are required to produce ID upon request for security purposes.

Wellington Campus

All Wellington Campus students are required to have a validated PBA student identification card. The student’s card must be validated each semester after the student account balance has been cleared. The card is required for access to Wellington and Main Campus facilities and services in the library, sports complex, computer lab, dining hall, etc. Students are required to produce their PBA ID card upon request. Identification cards, new or duplicate, are issued by Safety and Security, and there is a charge for replacement cards. The Wellington Campus secretary should be notified if you need assistance concerning your card. Note: If your card is lost or stolen, notify Sailfish Services or Safety and Security immediately to have the card deactivated.

Dropping a Course

When either a part-time student or a full-time student enrolled in more than 18 credit hours drops an individual course before the last date of the drop/add period, (but does not withdraw from the University), the student receives a full refund of tuition for the course dropped. If the student withdraws from the course after the last date of the drop/add period, he/she is not entitled to a refund of tuition for that course.

Financial Aid Awards

First-time students who have applied for financial aid may expect to receive a financial aid award within two to three weeks of being accepted for admission beginning March 1 of each year. Returning students who have completed the registration process for fall and who have completed/submitted required financial aid applications/forms may expect to receive notification of financial aid eligibility by June 15.

Each semester financial aid funds are applied to the student’s account upon verification of enrollment, receipt of required documentation, completion of the FAFSA and required certifications, and PBA’s receipt of funds from the funding source(s). Aid is not applied to student accounts until attendance in the required minimum number of course hours has been verified.

Note: All awards are estimated and subject to change in response to information received (e.g., Student Aid Report verification documentation, changes in fund allocations, and/or receipt of additional aid by the Student Financial Planning Office.)

Florida State Programs Refund Policy

Requirements of the Florida Office of Student Financial Assistance state that PBA must return funds to the State in accordance with PBA’s institutional financial aid refund policy.

Health Insurance

Palm Beach Atlantic University offers a low cost student health insurance plan called Student Assist. This plan is OPTIONAL for evening, online and part-time students, but REQUIRED for international students. The deadline to enroll in the plan is September 1, 2012. The plan is an annual policy effective 08/16/12 to 08/16/13 for the fall and 01/04/13 to 08/16/13 for new spring enrollees. To enroll in the insurance plan go to the Student Assist web-site at www.studentassist.com

For more information regarding health services or the school endorsed insurance plan, please contact the Health and Wellness Center at 561.803.2576. Note: Health insurance coverage is not mandatory for Evening or part-time students but is strongly encouraged for those who do not have coverage through their employer.

Online Students

All Online students are required to have a validated PBA student identification number. The student’s ID number must be validated each semester after the student account balance has been cleared.

Parking Permits

Vehicles parked in PBA designated parking areas must be registered with Campus Safety and Security each academic year. If the student parks outside authorized areas, the student will be ticketed, and the student account will be charged. Parking decals may be obtained during Check-in or from Campus Security year round. Overnight parking permits for the parking garage are obtained at Safety and Security. (Parking permits are not required for Orlando or Wellington campus students unless they are utilizing Main Campus facilities.)

PBACards (Student Identification Cards)

All students are required to have a validated PBA student identification card. The student card must be validated each semester after the student account balance has been cleared. The card is required for check cashing, access to campus facilities, and services in the library, sports complex, computer lab, dining hall, etc. Students are required to produce their PBA ID card upon request. Identification cards, new or duplicate, are issued by the PBACard Office, and there is a charge for replacement cards.

Note: If your card is lost or stolen, notify The PBACard Office or Safety and Security immediately to have the card deactivated.

Personal Property Insurance

Palm Beach Atlantic University does not carry insurance on students’ personal belongings (e.g., automobiles, computers, etc.) and is not responsible for loss or damage from any cause. Students are advised to review their family’s homeowner’s insurance policy to determine if personal belongings are insured while on PBA property. If not, students may wish to obtain personal coverage.

Refund and Repayment Calculation

The Financial Aid office will calculate the amount of the repayment or refund to the financial assistance programs based on the Federal Return to Title IV guidelines. Based on Federal regulations, the repayment or refund will be distributed to programs in the following order: Federal Stafford Loans, Federal PLUS, Pell Grant, FSEOG, ACG and other Title IV programs, and then any independently administered scholarship or loan program.

Resource Fee

In keeping with our ongoing commitment to outstanding student support, and to maintain the highest level of service to our students, Palm Beach Atlantic charges a Student Resource Fee. The purpose of the semester fee is to enable the infrastructure required to provide services that are vital to the success of our student population. Services include, but are not limited to:

• Remote system access
• Library utilization (including on-line library usage)
• Computer labs
• Student information access (grades, schedules, student account information)
• Facilities and activities access
• Student identification cards
• Yearbooks
• Help Desk support

Special Circumstances

If the student thinks he or she has special circumstances that should be considered in determining the student’s financial aid eligibility (e.g., loss of family income or request for change in dependency status), contact the Financial Aid Office at 561.803.2000. The student will be given information about the process and documentation needed to have the student’s appeal reviewed by PBA’s Professional Judgment Committee.

Title IV Authorizations

The student must provide signed authorization, as required by federal regulations, if the student requests that PBA apply the student’s federal financial aid to the student account balance for charges other than tuition and fees, room (residence hall or other PBA housing) and board. Acceptance of the financial aid award letter is verification of this authorization. This authorization form, as well as other required authorizations, is available in Sailfish Services or the Financial Aid Office.

Tuition Deposit

A mandatory $100 tuition deposit is required for all first-time students. This deposit holds the student’s registration and is applied toward the student’s tuition balance at the beginning of the student’s first semester.

Tuition Reimbursement from Employers

Palm Beach Atlantic University will accept direct reimbursement from students’ employers who pay 50% or more of the tuition and fees due. A statement signed by the employer verifying that the employer will be liable for the tuition must be submitted to the Student Accounts Office. The student whose employer pays less than 100%, will need to pay for the balance not paid directly to PBA by his or her employer or arrange for a loan or a payment plan for this portion prior to check-in. PBA automatically bills the employer after the add/drop period. It is the student’s responsibility to monitor both the status of this employer-paid tuition benefit and the status of the student account balance. Any balance overdue by more than one semester is the student’s responsibility and becomes immediately due.

Those students who are reimbursed directly by their employers will need to apply for loans or pay the net cost of their tuition and fees. These students may set up an approved installment plan to spread the payments out over the semester. The loan, payment, or payment arrangements must be in place before classes begin.

Note: Student account charges and/or financial aid awards may be revised throughout the semester if there is a change to enrollment and/or financial aid eligibility. If revision to charges or aid takes place, the student is required to adjust payment arrangements made at the beginning of the semester. Please call the Student Accounts Office to inquire about these changes. (Orlando students should contact the Orlando campus.)

Withdrawal from the University

When a student withdraws from the University, the student forfeits his or her rights and privileges as a student, including the use of all PBA facilities. He or she will be required to move out of campus housing immediately and turn in his or her PBACard and key to PBA Security, Sailfish Services or Residential Life. When a student withdraws from the University he/she must properly complete the withdrawal process. The Withdrawal from the University form is located online with Student Forms on myPBA. The last date of attendance is used to calculate any applicable refund of allowable institutional charges, including tuition and fees and/or room and board. Any refund will be determined by the University’s institutional refund policy in compliance with the Federal Return to Title IV financial assistance regulations. Funds may be required to be repaid to Federal programs. Calculations for repayment will be in accordance with Federal regulations. Example calculations may be obtained from Sailfish Services or Financial Aid.

Withdrawal: Information for Active Duty Students

PBA students called to active duty in the military reserves or the National Guard of the United States after the beginning of a semester or summer session have two options they may consider depending upon their personal situation, the time remaining in the semester, and agreements which can be made with the dean’s office of the school in determining their enrollment status with the University. Students must provide a copy of their orders to the Veteran’s Affairs representative located in the Office of the Registrar at the time of withdrawal.

• Students may withdraw from all courses in which they are enrolled as of the effective date of the orders to report to active duty. When this option is selected, a full credit of all tuition, fees, and admission deposits will be made to the students’ accounts. Students will receive a pro-rated credit of dining service and housing contract charges. Financial aid awards, which were credited to students’ accounts, will be used to cover dining or housing charges. Students receiving Title IV Federal Funds and state aid will follow the refund policies as provided by the agencies sponsoring the aid. These policies may result in the student being responsible for repayment of funds to the agencies. Students should consult with the Financial Aid Office prior to selecting an option. (Orlando students should contact the Orlando offices.)
• Students may take a grade of incomplete in all courses. There will be no refund of tuition. The conditions for completing course work and receiving a regular grade should be agreed to between the student, the appropriate dean of the school in which the student is enrolled and the Provost. Withdrawn-Active Duty will appear on the student’s records and transcript. Upon separation from active duty, students may complete the course work without paying any additional tuition and fees. Students will receive a pro-rated credit of dining service and housing contract charges. The student’s financial aid will be applied to the account and the student will be fee liable for the semester’s charges. Payment arrangements will be made accordingly. Students receiving Title IV Federal Funds will follow the refund policies as provided by the agencies sponsoring the aid. These policies may result in the student being responsible for repayment of funds to the agencies. Students should consult with the Student Accounts Office and the Financial Aid Office prior to selecting an option. If administrative drops or withdrawal are processed, records and transcript will clearly state “Called to Active Duty.”

Procedure

Students recalled to active duty should notify Sailfish Services. Fax 561.803.2186, phone 561.803.2000, or e-mail Sailfish_services@pba.edu. Sailfish Services and the Office of the Registrar will coordinate with the student and deans’ offices to effect the desired option.

Applicants to PBA who have accepted an offer of admission but who have not yet registered in a degree program will be permitted to enroll for the next appropriate semester following their discharge from active duty provided the school to which the student has been admitted receives adequate notice of the applicant’s intention to enroll. Application for readmission does not require an application fee. Any pre-paid admission deposits, tuition, room, or board charges will be refunded. This policy is applicable to all students registered at PBA. For further information, contact Sailfish Services at 561.803.2000.

-Adopted October 2001

Withdrawal: Information For All Students

If a student withdraws from the University due to documented medical requirements, and this documentation is provided to the University within ten days of the date of last class attendance, tuition and fees and/or room and board will be refunded as per the following schedule. (See Refund Schedule below)

Withdrawal: Refund Schedule

Withdrawal requests must be submitted to the Office of the Registrar. In the case of a request for a medical withdrawal, please be sure all proper paperwork* is filed with Health and Wellness and the Registrar’s Office. Notification deadline and percentage of refund for withdrawals from enrollment initiated during the semester:

Fall Term: 2012-2013

Spring Term: 2012-2013

Medical withdrawal information available in the Health & Wellness Department
**No tuition or fees refunded after this date.

Withdrawal: University’s Request

Palm Beach Atlantic University may request withdrawal of a student. When a student is required to withdraw from the University, the student forfeits his or her rights and privileges as a student, including the use of all PBA facilities. The student will not be entitled to any refund of tuition or fees, and any unpaid accounts are due and payable at once. Furthermore, if the student is required to withdraw at the University’s request while living on campus, he or she will be required to move out of campus housing immediately and turn in their PBACard and key to PBA Security or to Residential Life. See also Emergency removal and return policy in The Navigator: Student Handbook.