PAYMENT OF STUDENT ACCOUNT

PAYMENT/OFFICIAL REGISTRATION: The Boston University Student Accounting Services Office publishes deadlines by which students must “officially register” each semester. Official registration occurs when your account is paid in full. Payment may be by cash or check, but it may also include documentation of your institutional financial assistance, approval for educational loans, or sponsorship from an outside agency. Boston University does not accept payment by credit card for full-time tuition charges.

You can obtain information about payment deadlines by calling Student Accounting Services at (617) 353-2264 or the School of Public Health Registrar at (617) 638-4640. If you do not officially register by established deadlines, or if you have not obtained an extension, you will be assessed a late fee that will increase each month your account is not paid. Furthermore, you will be subject to administrative withdrawal.

Further information about officially registering can be found in The Guide. It is produced by Boston University’s Student Accounting Services Office and is included with your first billing statement. Please keep The Guide for future reference.

LATE PAYMENT OF STUDENT ACCOUNTS: The following actions may be taken for failing to officially register by the published deadlines:

You will be charged a late fee.
You will not be allowed to attend succeeding courses.
You will not be approved or certified for educational loans.
You will not be issued transcripts or verification of enrollment.
You will forfeit all other financial services.
You may be denied access to University facilities.
You may not receive your diploma, if graduating.
Your lenders will be notified that you are not officially registered, causing your loans to go into repayment.

Boston University policy requires the withholding of all credit, educational services, issuance of transcripts, and certification of academic records from any person whose financial obligations to the University are unpaid. Any overdue obligation may be referred to the University Collection Department, an outside collection agency, or an attorney for collection efforts and/or legal suit. Also, the debt will be increased to cover all reasonable costs of collection, including collection agency costs, attorney fees, and court costs.

LEGAL CONSEQUENCES OF UNPAID STUDENT ACCOUNTS Boston University policy requires the withholding of all credit, educational services, issuance of transcripts, and certification of academic records from any person whose financial obligations to the University are due and unpaid. If any overdue obligation is referred either to the University Collection Department, an outside agency, or attorney for collection efforts and/or legal suit, the debt is increased to cover all reasonable costs of collection, including collection agency and attorney fees and court costs. Further, all delinquent balances may be subject to a late payment penalty equal to 1.5% of the outstanding balance per month. By registering for any class at the University, each student accepts and agrees to be bound by the foregoing University policy as applied to any preexisting or future obligation to the University.

BUSPH STUDENT SERVICES In addition to awarding institutional funds, certifying loan applications, and providing debt management counseling, the OSFS documents a student’s financial need to outside loan and scholarship programs, conducts Entrance and Exit Counseling Sessions, and makes provisions for eligible students to receive funds for living expenses.

A student may request a Check Advance Voucher at OSFS of as much as $700, which must be taken to the Cashier’s Office at 881 Commonwealth Avenue to be redeemed. The Check Advance is charged back to the student’s account to be repaid when loan disbursements credit to the student’s account. Students are limited to two check advances per semester.

A student who needs more money to cover an emergency must document the emergency and submit a Loan Advance Request to OSFS. This interest-free, short-term loan is charged back to the student’s account. It takes about a week for a Loan Advance check to be cut.

Check and loan advances are approved only against certified federal Direct Loans or other lender-approved loans. The student must have sufficient funds being disbursed to repay the check advance or loan advance.

A student who has a credit remaining on their account after all loan disbursements have posted should submit a Credit Release Voucher at OSFS. After approval by OSFS, the voucher will be processed by Student Accounting Service and the student will receive a check 11 to 15 business days later. Vouchers submitted at 881 Commonwealth Avenue will be rerouted to OSFS, thereby delaying the process several days.

The BUSPH Registrar signs all deferment forms. Often a deferment form must be submitted each year and for each outstanding loan. The Registrar waives required University health insurance charges, makes most adjustments for changes in registration status and tuition charges, or makes changes to official graduation dates and student addresses.

Loan checks are signed with the BUSM Bursar. A Bursar representative is available at OSFS on Tuesdays-Thursdays from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. during peak business periods. Otherwise, if those times are not convenient, students may call Mr. Dan Low at 617-638-4598 to arrange for an appointment. If a student is unable to endorse checks within a month of disbursement, arrangements should be made with the Bursar to have checks mailed to the student.