GW 101: FINANCIAL MATTERS

2. GW 101: FINANCIAL MATTERS CI Day 2 Summer 2013

3. AGENDA • Student Services • What is Colonial Central? • FERPA • Student Life Cycle • Student Account eBill • Financial Assistance • Payment Options and Monthly Payment Plan • Tuition Insurance • Resources • Q&A

4. QUICK FIRE QUIZ PREVIEW • When is the bill due every semester? • In order to directly receive notifications regarding tuition bills, what does your son or daughter have to set you up as in Student Account eBill? • What does FERPA stand for? What is the name of the form that the student completes to grant you access to their financial and/or educational records? • What should you consider purchasing before the start of the semester that will protect your financial tuition investment if your son or daughter needs to withdraw from school for medical or mental health reasons?

5. GW STUDENT SERVICES Responsibilities Department

6. WHAT IS COLONIAL CENTRAL? • Created for our students with the intent to ease the stresses of accomplishing business at GW. • Co-location of student service offices including Student Financial Assistance, Student Accounts, Registrar, Student Parking Services, Cashier, Military & Veteran Services, and GWorld. • Financial Services counselors are cross-trained to assist with both financial aid and billing/account questions. • Located on the Ground Floor of Marvin Center. • Web address: colonialcentral.gwu.edu • Email: ccentral@gwu.edu • Phone: 202-994-9000

7. FERPAFAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT OF 1974 • FERPA is a federal law that protects the privacy of students’ educational records. • Student education records are confidential and cannot be released without written consent of the student. • The Registrar’s Office maintains two FERPA release forms: • Student Consent • Financial Dependency • The student consent forms are located in Colonial Central. We encourage students to submit this form while they are on campus for Colonial Inauguration.

8. STUDENT LIFE CYCLE July – Sept Register for fall classes Fall balance emailed to student First time borrowers finalize Loan Applications / Promissory Notes Sign up for monthly payment plan Move In Classes start, account balance due April - June Oct - Dec Complete application for financial assistance for next year Register for fall classes Sign up for monthly payment plan Holds for past due accounts Register for spring classes Spring balance emailed to student Finals, semester ends Winter break Jan - March Classes start and account balance due Holds for past due accounts Submit FAFSA for upcoming academic year

9. STUDENT ACCOUNT eBILL • GW utilizes an electronic billing system, called Student Account eBill, for disseminating, accessing, and paying tuition bills. • Student Account eBill is accessible via GWeb and Colonial Central Website.

10. STUDENT ACCOUNT eBILL • Students receive emails indicating the amount of their tuition bill a few weeks before each semester begins (as long as they have registered for courses). • This email directs them to log into Student Account eBill to view their current activity and point-in-time statement of account. • Students can set up multiple authorized users in the eBill system. • Authorized users have access to all eBill features and also receive emails regarding tuition bills.

11. First day of each semester Fall 2013 – August 26 Spring 2014 – January 13 WHEN ARE BILLS DUE?

12. Highlights: Fixed rate tuition & fees Room & board Voluntary library gift Pending credits Example of Student Account Bill

13. FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE • Office of Student Financial Assistance awards need-based assistance in the form of federal and institutional aid. • Pending Credits on Statement of Account • Grants, Scholarships and Loans • Federal Work Study does not appear on bill • Next steps • Provide any outstanding financial documents required to confirm your awards • Accept award via GWeb Financial Aid menu • Finalize Loans (Federal and/or Alternative) • Reapply each academic year for assistance

14. PAYMENT OPTIONS • Online payments in eBill system via electronic check • Wire Transfers • 529 Plans or 3rd Party Payments • External Scholarships • Parent and Student Loans • Monthly Payment Plan NOTE: GW does not accept cash or credit cards.

15. MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN • Enroll online via Colonial Central website • Annual or semester plans are available • Credit card may be used

16. TUITION INSURANCE • The Tuition Refund Plan (T.R.P.), an elective insurance program, provides coverage for tuition, room and board charges throughout the course of the semester if your student must withdraw from GW for medical or mental health reasons. • Contact Dewar at 617-774-1555 with questions. • Visit this link to connect to the Dewar website to complete application for tuition insurance: http://colonialcentral.gwu.edu/billing/insurance/

17. STUDENT / PARENT RESPONSIBILITIES • Students • Check email, if you don’t use GW email, setup forwarding • Check GWeb regularly • Be aware of due dates • Authorize and share access with parent/guardian via FERPA release form • Forward important email notifications home • Set up parent(s) as authorized user(s) in Student Account eBill • Parent/Guardians • Maintain an ongoing dialogue with student about deadlines and university communications • Watch for correspondence sent home • Complete payment arrangements • Sign up for parent email list through the Office of Parent Services

18. RESOURCES • GWeb - Student Self Service http://banweb.gwu.edu • Register for classes • Access Student Account eBill to view tuition bill and pay online • View schedule and grades • View and accept financial assistance award • Check on processing status of financial assistance requirements • Update contact information • View earnings from student employment • View “holds” • Colonial Central - www.colonialcentral.gwu.edu • Information on student accounts and financial assistance • Access Student Account eBill • Access ECSI to sign up for monthly payment plans • Helpful links to key information and sites to assist with financial aid process • Download forms and loan applications • Links to student service office websites • Financial Literacy - www.gwired.gwu.edu/finaid-n/FinancialLiteracy • Collection of financial literacy resources compiled by the Office of Student Financial Assistance

19. FLASH DRIVE CONTENT • GWeb Information Sheet • Financial/Administrative Tips Sheet • FERPA Forms • Student Consent • Financial Dependency • Monthly Payment Plan Brochure • Student Account eBill palm cards for student and parent • 2013-2014 Dining Plan Brochure

20. QUIZ • When is the bill due every semester? • In order to directly receive notifications regarding tuition bills, what does your son or daughter have to set you up as in Student Account eBill? • What does FERPA stand for? What is the name of the form that the student completes to grant you access to their financial and/or educational records? • What should you consider purchasing before the start of the semester that will protect your financial tuition investment if your son or daughter needs to withdraw from school for medical or mental health reasons?

21. QUESTIONS?