Policies
The Office of Student Financial Aid makes every effort to communicate effectively to our students the policies and practices used by our office in the process of administering financial assistance. Most of the policies regarding federal and state assistance are statutory in nature. Other policies and practices have been developed by our office to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and understanding of the financial aid process. Students and parents will want to familiarize themselves with the policies and practices outlined in this section.
Policy Divisions
General Policies
Edits made to reflect 2021-22 and 2022-23 Academic Year applicable information.
Scholarships and Financial Aid
The cost of a college education inevitably rests upon the student and his/her family. The Office of Student Financial Aid of Union University exists to help make a Union education more affordable by offering institutional scholarships and grants and disbursing federal and state funds for which students qualify. Students interested in financial assistance can contact Student Financial Aid for assistance with the financial aid process. Students can complete their FAFSA annually at studentaid.gov.
The Office of Student Financial Aid makes every effort to communicate effectively to our students the policies and practices used by our office in the process of administering financial assistance. Most of the policies regarding federal and state assistance are statutory in nature. Other policies and practices have been developed by our office to ensure efficiency, accuracy, and understanding of the financial aid processes. Students and parents will want to familiarize themselves with the policies and practices outlined in this section.
Application
New applicants for financial assistance must submit the Union University Application for Undergraduate Admission and Scholarship Assistance and must be accepted into their program of study for the appropriate year to be considered for any aid. Applicants for federal/state assistance must also file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the appropriate year. Applicants for certain other institutional scholarships may be required to submit separate applications. See www.uu.edu/financialaid for a complete listing. Applicants for on-campus employment must complete a separate online application for employment.
Returning students wishing to re-apply for federal and/or state funds must file the FAFSA each year. It is the student's responsibility to complete all applications by the deadline.
All students are required to notify Student Financial Aid of any other scholarships or loans extended to them from sources outside the University.
Returning students' financial need will be evaluated each year and appropriate increase or decrease in the amount of assistance offered will be made.
Applicants for Federal Direct Stafford, PLUS and/or GradPLUS Loans are required to maintain half-time enrollment status in their program of study. Half-time for Undergraduate students is defined as 6 or more credit hours. Half-time for Graduate/Professional students is defined as 3 or more credit hours. Students must be enrolled full-time (12 credits for undergraduates) in a traditional undergraduate degree-seeking program to receive institutional assistance.
Verification Policy
Verification is the process of confirming the accuracy of data reported on a student's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This is accomplished by comparing FAFSA data with documents such as federal tax return transcripts, W-2 forms, verification forms, and other documentation which the student and/or parent may be required to submit to the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Applications may be selected for verification by the Central Processing System (CPS) of the Department of Education. The school is required to verify specific data items on every application which is selected by CPS. Verifiable data may differ from one student to another. Also, the school may choose to verify data items in addition to the ones required by regulation.
Union University may institutionally select applications for verification if it appears that data is incorrect, omitted, or conflicting. The school may decide which data to verify on applications it selects. If there is any conflicting information, the school is required by regulation to resolve such conflicts.
A student is notified on the Electronic Student Aid Report (SAR) when his or her application is selected for verification by CPS. Schools are notified on the Electronic Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR).
Most financial information on the FAFSA submitted through use of the IRS Data Retrieval Tool is considered to be verified as long as no changes are made to that information. The Office of Student Financial Aid may request documentation of other data items.
Documents needed for verification which are not already on file will be requested from the student via emails from the Office of Student Financial Aid. Required items are also viewable on the Self-Service student portal.
A series of at least five reminders will be sent on a schedule of every 2-3 weeks until all documents needed are received or until the student notifies Union University they are not attending. If a student notifies Union they are not attending, their file is coded as such that reminders will no longer be set.
All documentation submitted must bear the appropriate signatures.
Documentation of number in household and number in college must be correct as of the day of verification, even if it has changed since the FAFSA was filed. Asset information, if requested, should be as of the date the FAFSA was filed.
The verification deadline is the last day to submit all documentation/information required for verification. Union's verification deadline for Federal Direct Loans or Campus Based Aid is 25 days after enrollment changes, etc. that cause a student to become ineligible for Title IV Aid.
Verification deadline specifically for Federal Pell Grant and TEACH Grant is 120 days after the student's last day of enrollment or the Federal Verification Deadline (estimated to be September 17, 2022 for the 2021-2022 academic year), whichever comes first.
Corrections
Any corrections to a student's FAFSA information will be reported electronically by the University to CPS for processing. When electronic corrections are made, the school will receive a corrected Institutional Student Information Report (ISIR) within one week. CPS will notify the student of such corrections electronically.
A student whose application was selected for verification who finds errors, omissions, or discrepancies in data may enter corrections online at studentaid.gov. However, it is not necessary to do so since data must still be verified by the Office of Student Financial Aid.
A student or parent who has any question or disagreement regarding data which was changed should contact the Office of Student Financial Aid for a review of the changes.
Awarding of Funds
When a student requests financial aid information, he or she is given a list of steps to follow in applying for financial aid including a web link to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Each student's final financial aid need is determined based on the student's information from their FAFSA (their Expected Family Contribution, or EFC) and the Cost of Attendance (COA). COA is calculated by adding together tuition, books, room and meal costs, miscellaneous fees, transportation costs and personal costs. Student eligibility for need-based financial aid is determined from the FAFSA by subtracting the Expected Family Contribution (EFC) from the Cost of Attendance. A student's total financial aid offer including any institutional, federal, state, or other outside resources cannot exceed the Cost of Attendance.
Loan amounts are limited to specific dollar amounts based on student's level of education. The amounts are outlined on the financial aid website and the financial aid handbook provided by the Department of Education.
New, first-time students who are selected for verification and have not yet provided the required documentation will receive a tentative financial aid offer. Federal and state financial aid will not disburse, however, until all required documentation is received and reviewed for accuracy. All other students selected for verification by the Department of Education must provide the institution with documentation of information that was used to file the FAFSA in order to process and receive their financial aid offer. When submitted, this documentation is maintained in the student's file. For students who transfer to Union from another institution and request financial aid, Union uses NSLDS data to be sure the student is eligible for federal aid.
Award Notification
Applicants will be notified of their financial aid offer via email. New students will additionally receive a financial aid offer by mail. All students can view their financial aid real time through their Union Self-Service portal.
Students or parents who choose to utilize federal student loan options, in addition to accepting the loan through Self-Service, must also complete a Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling if they have not borrowed from the Federal Direct loan program before. Parent borrowers of the Parent PLUS loan and student borrowers of the Graduate PLUS loan must additionally complete an online application for these loans, as they are credit based. All these items can be completed at studentaid.gov.
Beginning with the 2021-2022 academic year it is recommended that students also complete the Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement online. This may at some point based on updated guidance from the Department of Education become required starting with the 2022-2023 academic year. The Annual Student Loan Acknowledgement is an online session that allows students and parents to see how much they have borrowed, preview what their monthly payments might be, and explain concepts such as capitalization and the difference between federal and private loans. This can be completed at studentaid.gov.
Federal Direct Loan, including Subsidized/Unsubsidized, Parent PLUS, or GradPLUS, along with Alternative Loan amounts shown on the award listing reflect the gross amount of the loan. The net amount of disbursements may be up to 5% less depending on the type of loan, due to fees deducted by the lender.
Most awards are divided evenly between fall and spring semesters. The financial aid offer indicates how each award will be divided.
Most scholarships from outside sources will show on the financial aid offer simply as "Outside Scholarship" and will be divided equally between fall and spring semesters unless otherwise indicated by the donor.
Awards for Workship/Work Study is the amount a student may expect to earn during the academic year contingent upon actual placement in a job assignment and actual hours worked. Recipients must report to Vocatio Center upon arrival on campus for job assignment and clearance.
Disbursement
Disbursement of financial aid for a term (excluding Federal Work Study and Institutional Workship) is processed by the Business Office at Union and is made by crediting the student's account.
Students on Federal Work Study or Institutional Workship receive a paycheck (or direct deposit) for hours worked through the University payroll process.
Federal student loan funds will not be disbursed until the recipient has signed a Promissory Note and completed Entrance Counseling (see above). TEACH Grant funds require students to complete the Agreement to Serve and TEACH Entrance Counseling prior to receiving the grant. All these items can be completed at studentaid.gov. Certain institutional awards will not be disbursed until the recipient's approved required documents are on file in the Office of Student Financial Aid as required by the financial aid program.
Disbursement dates will be listed on the Office of Student Financial Aid webpage each semester. Alternative loan disbursements will be sent by the lender once they have met all requirements to release the funds. Union will notify the student by email when disbursements have been made. Funds received electronically by Union will be posted to the student's account within 3 business days.
If a federal aid recipient has charges that are exceeded by the sum of federal aid, creating a credit balance, a direct deposit will be issued by the Office of Business Services within 14 days of the credit balance occurring.
Students who are taking module-based courses and do not begin any courses until later in the semester will receive disbursement on a later schedule, based on the start date of their courses. See the Office of Student Financial Aid disbursement webpage for more information.
The application of scholarships and aid to tuition, fees, and housing and food are subject to the specific terms and conditions set forth by the scholarship or aid provider. If the scholarship or aid specifies how the funds should be allocated among different cost categories, those instructions will be followed. If the scholarship or aid does not specify how the funds should be allocated, the University considers those funds as being applied first to qualified tuition and related expenses, with any scholarships received in excess of these charges then applied to housing and food, if applicable.
Financial Aid Census Date
A Financial Aid Census Date is established to determine a student's enrollment status (for Undergraduate students, full time: 12 hours or more; ¾ time: 9–11 hours; half time: 6–8 hours; less than half time: 1–5 hours) upon which their financial aid offer will be made. Union University's Financial Aid Census Date shall be the last date to drop without a course showing on the transcript, generally the 10th day of class for the full semester. Students who are taking modules within a term and who do not start any courses until later in the term will have a census date aligned with the last date to drop the later starting courses.
A student is required to be enrolled full time as of the Census Date in order to receive Union University funds. Students whose required hours to graduate are less than full time in their final semester may request their Union University aid be prorated based on the number of actual hours enrolled. A student is required to be enrolled at least half time as of the Census Date to be awarded the Federal Direct Loan, Federal PLUS Loan (Parent or Graduate), or TN Student Assistance Award (TSAA).
Adjustment of Awards
Original award amounts for non-tuition based institutional funds, federal and state grants assume the federal/state standard for undergraduate full-time enrollment (12 credit hours per semester). Students enrolled in fewer than 12 hours per semester may have these award amounts adjusted as required by federal and state regulations and university policy. Students enrolled in less than 12 credit hours in their final semester prior to graduation will receive a pro-rated award amount — contact Student Financial Aid for more information if needed.
Students whose Financial Aid enrollment status is less than full time on the Census Date (see above) will have their federal and state awards adjusted according to their enrollment status. Any institutional aid that may have been awarded prior to the Census Date will be removed due to the full-time enrollment requirement.
Students dropping or adding a class after the Census Date will not have federal and state awards adjusted. An exception is a Pell Grant or TEACH Grant recipient who drops a class never attended, may have Pell Grant or TEACH Grant adjusted according to the resultant enrollment status, per federal regulations. Students awarded Federal Direct Loans who are enrolled less than half time at the time of disbursement will have disbursements returned to the Department of Education.
Students dropping or adding a class after the Census Date, but during the period of tuition refunds established by the Office of Business and Financial Services, will have their institutional aid adjusted according to actual enrollment status.
Financial assistance will be adjusted should a student withdraw from all classes, according to the Refund Policy of Union University published in the current catalog and federal regulations which may apply.
A student's aid may be adjusted per federal regulations should the aid exceed the student's need as determined by the FAFSA. Institutional aid may be adjusted if the sum of all scholarships (institutional or from outside sources) exceeds the direct institutional costs (tuition/mandatory fees, and room/meals charged by the University).
If the verification process for federal/state aid causes a change in the student's eligibility, awards will be adjusted accordingly.
Adjustments for Special Circumstances
Students who feel their FAFSA information does not accurately reflect their financial situation due to certain special or unusual circumstances, may request to have their FAFSA information reviewed for possible adjustment (known as a Professional Judgement).
Students/parents must complete a Special Circumstances Form available on the Student Financial Aid website (or by contacting the Office of Student Financial Aid), providing any other requested support documentation, and be available to discuss your situation if needed with a staff member from Student Financial Aid.
If selected for verification, a student's FAFSA information must be verified and corrected before consideration for special circumstances adjustment can be given.
Decision regarding Special Circumstance appeals are final.
Withdrawal from All Classes
Students who withdraw from Union University after the start of a semester may be required to repay a percentage of their financial aid. Students will be informed of any balance due by the Business Office. The amount that must be repaid is based on the amount of time completed in the semester and is determined by the federal Return of Title IV Funds formula. Please refer to the following information regarding the return of federal student aid (contact our office if you have additional questions to your specific situation):
To remain eligible for federal student aid during the semester, the student must be attending classes, taking exams and/or completing required course work.
The 1998 Reauthorization of the Higher Education Act requires the institution to calculate a Return of Federal Student Aid Funds for students who withdraw (officially or unofficially) from all classes on or before the 60 percent attendance point in the semester.
The required calculation determines a student's earned and unearned Title IV aid based on the percentage of the semester. The percentage of the student semester completed is derived by dividing the number of days the student attended by the number of days in the period. Calendar days (including weekends) are used but breaks of at least 5 days are excluded.
Until a student has passed the 60% point of the semester, they have only a portion of the aid earned. A student who remains enrolled beyond the 60% point is considered to have earned all awarded aid.
Beginning in July of 2021, students taking courses considered to be in modules will have additional requirements reviewed to determine the necessity of returning funds. Students who successfully complete a module that makes up more that 49% of the countable days of a term, who successfully complete at least half-time credits (6 credits as an Undergraduate, or 3 credits as a Graduate/Professional student) in their module, or students who complete graduation requirements prior to the completion of a semester may be exempt from return of funds calculations for federal student aid. For more information or questions on your specific situation, please contact Student Financial Aid.
The federal "Return of Title IV Funds" formula dictates the amount of Federal Title IV aid that must be returned to the federal government by the school and/or the student.
The unearned portion of federal student aid funds will be returned to the appropriate aid program(s). Funds are returned in the following order:
- Federal Unsubsidized Stafford Loan
- Federal Subsidized Stafford Loan
- Federal Perkins Loan
- Federal Graduate PLUS Loan
- Federal PLUS Loan
- Federal Pell Grant
- Federal SEOG Grant
- TEACH Grant
If, due to the withdrawal calculation, the student owes the federal government a portion of the loans or grants received at the beginning of the semester, the University, where possible, will pay this to the government on the student's behalf. If this creates an account balance, these charges will appear on a bill the student will receive from the Business Office as well as reflected on the student's Self Service. Students will also be notified of financial aid updates to awards via emails from Student Financial Aid.
The University's refund policy and Return of Title IV Funds (Withdrawal) procedures are independent of one another. A student who withdraws from a course may be required to return unearned aid and still owe the college for the course. Please contact the Business Office related to changes to tuition charges from your withdrawal.
A student who withdraws from all classes before the last day to receive a refund of tuition charges will have their institutional aid prorated according to the same schedule used to refund tuition.
State awards will remain the same according to enrollment status established on the census date.
Scholarships received from outside sources will remain the same according to enrollment status established on the census date, unless specified by the donor to be returned in full or in part.
Students who stop attending all classes without officially withdrawing are processed as an "unofficial withdrawal" from the University for that semester. The return of federal student aid calculation will be performed based on withdrawal date/last date of attendance as determined Union University.
Pell Recalculation, Unearned F's, and "Unofficial Withdrawals"
At the conclusion of each term, once final grades are posted by the Registrar's Office, Student Financial Aid will review for students who did not receive credit in their course(s) (i.e. F's, I, IP, DR, etc.). Based on Canvas academic records, mid-term grades, and responses from faculty, if a student who received Pell did not attend or academically participate in a course(s), the Pell grant will be adjusted to the proper amount based on the actual number of credits for the semester in which the student participated. This means Pell grant will be returned on the student's behalf to the Department of Education, and the adjustment could create a balance with the institution that is required to be repaid.
In addition to adjustments for Pell, students with federal financial aid who began the semester but failed to earn any academic credit for the term and did not complete the semester based on record review and faculty responses, (i.e. a student who stopped attending or academically participating before the end of the term but did not notify the institution of their intent to withdrawal) will have their financial aid eligibility reviewed and potentially returned based on the above guidelines related to the "Withdrawal From All Classes" in the preceding section of these policies.
Students who never attended or academically participated in any of their courses for the term are subject to having all financial aid returned and required to repay any balances to the institution.
Requirements/Provisions
Some scholarships require the student to maintain a minimum GPA to retain the scholarship. Failure to meet GPA requirements will cause the student to lose that assistance. Fund specific requirements will be published in the student's online financial aid listing through Self-Service. Federal and state aid requires that the student maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress according to the policies established by the Office of Student Financial Aid.
"Scholars of Excellence" Scholarships (awarded prior to Fall 2015) may be applied towards regular hours for Fall, Winter, Spring, or Summer terms for the first 128 hours taken at Union University. Academic Scholarships and CCMS are awarded for a maximum of eight regular semesters. Transfer/ Academic Leadership Scholarship is awarded for a maximum of 4 regular semesters. Recipients may appeal these limits through the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Students must meet the requirements of Union's Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility in order to receive Federal/State Grants and Loans. Read the full Full Satisfactory Academic Progress policy. If a student loses eligibility for federal funds due to failure to meet these standards, appeal may be made through the Office of Student Financial Aid.
Upon graduation or withdrawal from the university, recipients of a Federal Direct student loan or Federal TEACH Grant are notified to complete Exit Counseling at studentaid.gov.
Overpayment
No student may receive more federal aid than his/her verified FAFSA indicates.
If during the verification process, it is discovered that a student has been awarded and the student's account credited with more than the amount for which he or she is eligible under the Federal Pell Grant or FSEOG the student is considered to have received an overpayment. In such a case, the Office of Student Financial Aid will attempt to reduce or eliminate the overpayment by adjusting current or subsequent disbursements.
If it is not possible to adjust disbursements, the student will be notified of the overpayment situation, and will be requested to make arrangements to repay the overpayment amount. If the student refuses to make satisfactory repayment arrangements, the debt may be referred to the Department of Education. If this should happen, the student will not be eligible to receive any Title IV Aid at any school until the overpayment is resolved.
Disclaimers
Any commitment of Federal funds (Federal Pell Grant, TEACH Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan, Federal PLUS Loan, or Federal Work Study) or state funds (TSAA and TELS) is tentative and contingent upon subsequent congressional and/or state appropriation and actual receipt of the funds by Union University.
The Office of Student Financial Aid reserves the right on behalf of the University to review, modify, and/or cancel an award at any time because of changes in financial, enrollment, or academic status; changes of academic program; or because of the recipient's failure to observe reasonable standards of citizenship.
Academic Standards/Satisfactory Academic Progress
Effective Date: 11/26/2024
See Also: EDGE Standards of Satisfactory Academic Progress for Financial Aid Eligibility
Background
In compliance with Title IV of the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, all institutions that participate in federal financial aid programs (including federal loans, grants, and work-study) must establish and enforce a Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) policy for financial aid eligibility. This policy applies to all students receiving Title IV financial aid, and it is evaluated on an annual basis.
Purpose
The purpose of this policy is to ensure that students receiving federal financial aid maintain satisfactory academic progress toward their degree or certificate. Students who fail to meet these standards may lose their eligibility for financial aid.
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) Evaluation Criteria
The university evaluates the following three components of academic progress for financial aid eligibility:
- Course Completion Rate (Pace)
- Students must earn (pass) at least 67% of all credit hours they attempt.
- Attempted Hours: All enrolled courses, including grades of A, B, C, D, S, F, I, IP, NC, NR, W, and WF, count as attempted hours.
- Earned Hours: Only grades of A, B, C, D, and S count as earned hours.
- Example: A student who attempts 30 credit hours in a year must successfully complete at least 20 of those hours.
- Minimum Cumulative GPA
Students must maintain the following minimum cumulative GPA to remain eligible for financial aid:- Undergraduate Students: Must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 (not including remedial or developmental coursework).
- Graduate Students: Must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0.
- Graduate Pharmacy Students: Must maintain a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 after their first year, 2.2 after their second year, and 2.33 after their third year.
- Maximum Time Frame
The maximum time frame for receiving financial aid is 150% of the program's published length, measured in credit hours.- Undergraduate Programs: For programs requiring 120 credit hours, students must complete their degree within 180 attempted credit hours.
- Graduate Programs: For programs with varying credit hour requirements, students must complete their degree within 150% of the required credit hours.
- Once students reach the maximum attempted hours, they will lose eligibility for financial aid, even if they have not completed their degree.
Evaluation of SAP
- The university will evaluate SAP for financial aid eligibility once a year after the completion of the spring semester and the posting of final grades.
- All students receiving Title IV financial aid will be reviewed at this time, regardless of whether they are currently enrolled in the upcoming term.
Failure to Meet SAP
If a student does not meet any of the SAP standards (Pace, GPA, or Maximum Time Frame), they will lose eligibility for financial aid for the following academic year.
Financial Aid Suspension and Reinstatement
- Financial Aid Suspension
Students who do not meet the SAP standards at the time of the annual evaluation will be placed on Financial Aid Suspension and will not be eligible for federal financial aid in the next academic year. - Reinstatement of Eligibility
- After at least one year of Financial Aid Suspension, students may be considered for reinstatement if they meet the SAP standards. They will be required to improve their GPA and/or course completion rate and reduce their attempted credit hours to within the maximum time frame.
- Students must submit a written request to the Office of Student Financial Aid for reinstatement. The request will be reviewed to confirm that the student has met the SAP criteria.
SAP for Transfer Students
- Transfer students' course completion rates, GPA, and maximum time frame will be evaluated based on the transfer credits accepted by the university.
- Transfer credits will be counted as both attempted and earned hours in the pace calculation but will not affect the student's GPA.
Withdrawals
- Students who officially withdraw from the University are required to continue to meet the course completion rate, minimum GPA, and maximum time frame.
- Please be aware the University has a policy regarding the repayment of financial aid due to withdrawal.
Incomplete Grades and Repeated Courses
- Incomplete Grades (I): Any course with an incomplete grade will count as attempted but not earned credit hours until the final grade is posted. The final grade will be used to update the GPA and course completion rate.
- Repeated Coursework: All repeated courses will count toward the total attempted hours, and only the most recent grade will be used to calculate the GPA for financial aid purposes.
Developmental Coursework
Financial aid will cover up to 30 credit hours of developmental coursework. These credits are included in the maximum time frame and pace of completion calculations but are not factored into the cumulative GPA.
Double Majors and Second Degrees
Students pursuing double majors or second degrees must complete their programs within the 150% maximum time frame. The SAP standards apply equally to all students, regardless of whether they are pursuing multiple degrees.
Notification
Notification of Status: Students who fail to meet the SAP standards at the annual evaluation will be notified by the Office of Student Financial Aid via email to their university email account.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal
- While students are expected to meet the minimum academic progress requirements to maintain eligibility for financial aid, the university recognizes that extenuating circumstances may occasionally prevent students from making satisfactory progress toward their degree.
- If the student becomes ineligible for financial aid due to not meeting Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements before the beginning of the academic year, and if extenuating circumstances have impacted their academic performance, he/she may submit a SAP Appeal for reconsideration of financial aid eligibility.
- The SAP Appeal provides an opportunity for students to explain the circumstances that affected their academic progress and request an evaluation of their financial aid status.
- Please note that submission of an appeal does not guarantee reinstatement of financial aid eligibility.
Completed Program, No Degree
A student who has completed the academic requirements for a program but has not yet received their degree is no longer eligible for further federal student aid for that program.
Policy Revision Date: 11/25/2024
This policy may be updated periodically to comply with federal regulations and university procedures. All students are encouraged to check the Student Financial Aid Office's website for updates regularly.
Institutional Scholarship Policy
Reduction of Institutional Scholarships Policy
Union University desires to be a good steward of limited institutional resources. Therefore, if a student receives total scholarships, grants, etc. from all sources (institutional, state, federal, or outside sources) that exceed his/her Union billed charges, Union will reduce a student's institutionally funded financial aid so that the total gift aid does not exceed the student's University charges. An exception is made for employee or employee dependent discounts as these are employment benefits.
Billed charges, specific to this policy, are defined as charges billed directly through the University — i.e. tuition, fees, and in some cases books, room, and/or meals.
Loans that create a credit balance after Union charges are paid will always be refunded to a student.
In all cases, institutionally defined Cost of Attendance cannot be exceeded, and students receiving total aid from all sources (grants, loans, work-study, scholarships both institutional and outside entities) that exceed the established Cost of Attendance for their program will have their aid reduced to fit into the appropriate budget. Financial aid will be returned in the following order as applicable in these overage situations institutional aid, PLUS loans, unsubsidized loans, subsidized loans, SEOG, work-study.
| Cost of Attendance: | $20,000 |
|---|---|
| Institutional Aid: | $10,000 |
| Parent PLUS Loan: | $10,000 |
| Student Receives an Additional $5,000 Scholarship | |
| Cost of Attendance: | $20,000 |
| Scholarship: | $5,000 |
| Institutional Aid: | $5,000 |
| Parent PLUS Loan: | $10,000 |
Veteran's Benefits and Institutional Aid
Students who receive VA educational benefits, including Yellow Ribbon funds, will have their applicable VA benefits applied to the University's charges first. Institutional funds are considered "last dollar" payment. Students who receive more institutional aid and VA educational benefits than their direct costs (see above) will not have their institutional funds refunded.
Once VA funds, including Yellow Ribbon, are calculated, if this results in a refund of institutional aid, institutional aid will be reduced so that no refund of institutional aid is released to a student.
There may be other instances where Union institutional aid is adjusted as well pursuant to other institutional aid policies.
| Billed UU Charges: | $14,000 |
|---|---|
| Institutional Aid: | $13,000 |
| Student Receives VA Funds | |
| Direct Charges: | $14,000 |
| VA Assistance: | $10,000 |
| Institutional Aid: | $4,000 |
| Student Balance to be Paid: | $0 |
| Billed UU Charges: | $14,000 |
|---|---|
| Institutional Aid: | $13,000 |
| Student Receives VA Funds | |
| Billed UU Charges: | $14,000 |
| VA Assistance: | $14,000 |
| Institutional Aid: | $0 |
| Student Balance to be Paid: | $0 |
Athletics
Student athletes can receive refunds of financial aid from gift resources in the amount of any Pell eligibility for the semester plus $1,000 in other gift aid from any source (institutional, state, outside scholarships, etc.). If a student with Athletic aid receives additional gift aid beyond this "Pell + $1,000 (per semester)" policy, institutional aid will be reduced accordingly.
GIA contracts may specify different eligibility, which will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
As an additional note, pursuant to the Tuition Reduction Benefit (TRB) offered to dependents of Union employees (as defined in Tuition Reduction Benefit for Undergraduate Programs policy), athletic aid is considered institutional aid and per 1.i. of TRB policy, eligible dependents must select whether to use the TRB or using institutional funds for their financial aid package/offer — only one of which may be elected. For students wishing to compare the offers, please contact Student Financial Aid.
| Direct Cost of Attendance (COA): | $20,000 |
|---|---|
| Pell Grant: | $3,000 |
| Athletic Aid: | $15,000 |
| Receives an additional $10,000 Scholarship | |
| Direct Cost of Attendance: | $20,000 |
| Pell Grant: | $3,000 |
| Scholarship: | $10,000 |
| Athletic Aid: | $11,000 |
(Athletic aid is reduced so that total aid is Pell amount of $3,000 plus $1,000 additional above COA — total aid adjusted to $24,000)
8 Semester Policy
Union University institutional aid is limited to 8 semesters. Students who have not completed their degree requirements and are still enrolled in course work towards their applicable degree program beyond 8 semesters are not eligible for continued institutional assistance. However, students may submit an appeal if they feel they have had extenuating circumstances such as medical issues, academic major change, etc.
Appeals may be submitted to the Office of Student Financial Aid and include:
- Name
- ID number
- Explanation of what happened that extended the enrollment and request
- An official copy of the graduation plan (how much longer/how many more semesters and credits until finished).
Appeals to approve institutional aid beyond 8 semesters are considered on a case-by-case basis and submitting an appeal does not guarantee approval. Students will be notified of the results of their appeal through their Union email address.
Students Taking UG and GR Courses
In certain instances, students are allowed to take Graduate level courses while completing their Undergraduate degree program. Consistent with application of federal financial aid eligibility, students who are taking courses in this manner will have their institutional aid pro-rated based on the number of applicable Undergraduate courses enrolled.
Pro-ration of institutional aid will be as follows:
- 1-5 UG credits: 25% of institutional aid
- 6-8 UG credits: 50% of institutional aid
- 9-11 UG credits: 75% of institutional aid
- 12 or more UG credits: 100% of institutional aid
This policy is separate from the requirement for full time enrollment required for most institutional aid (see below). This instance describes students who are taking full time credits, but are enrolled in a combination of UG courses and GR courses. Union desires to acknowledge that these students are taking courses as approved by their program, however, the intent of institutional aid is to fund UG work.
| Student Enrollment: | Institutional Funds: |
|---|---|
| 13 credits UG | $10,000 |
| 6 credits UG, 6 credits GR | $5,000 ($10,000 x 50%)\ |
| 9 credits UG; 3 credits GR | $7,500 ($10,000 x 75%) |
| 6 credits UG, 3 credits GR | $0 (not full time enrolled 12 credits) |
Students in Their Final Semester for Graduation and Less Than Full Time
Union University institutional aid policy requires a student be full time enrolled (12 or more credits) to receive institutional aid. However, students otherwise eligible for their institutional aid who are in their final semester for graduation, can receive a prorated amount of institutional aid based on their enrolled credits in this final semester.
Pro-ration of institutional aid will be as follows:
- 1-5 UG credits: 25% of institutional aid
- 6-8 UG credits: 50% of institutional aid
- 9-11 UG credits: 75% of institutional aid
- 12 or more UG credits: 100% of institutional aid
| Student Enrollment: | Institutional Funds: |
|---|---|
| 3 credits UG | $2,500 ($10,000 x 25%) |
| 6 credits UG | $5,000 ($10,000 x 50%) |
| 9 credits UG | $7,500 ($10,000 x 75%) |
Students who fall below 2.0 GPA for Institutional Aid Purposes
Union University institutional aid policy states that a student must maintain a 2.0 cumulative, institutional GPA to continue to receive institutional aid assistance. Students who fall below the required 2.0 GPA at the conclusion of a semester are given a grace period to raise their GPA to the required level. If a student does not have the required cumulative 2.0 GPA at the conclusion of the following semester of enrollment, that student will lose their institutional aid. Students who lose institutional aid for this reason will be notified via UU email. Students have the option to appeal by outlining 1) why they fell below the required GPA, 2) what has changed to now be successful, and 3) include any supporting documentation they would like considered in their appeal. Appeals can be submitted to Student Financial Aid including student's name and ID and should be submitted prior to the start of the next semester if possible. Appeals submitted after the first week of the semester for which they are applicable may not be reviewed/approved until the following semester.
| First semester Fall 2021 - End of Fall 21 cumulative GPA — 1.90 |
|---|
| Student still eligible for Institutional aid for Spring 22 |
| End of Spring 22 cumulative GPA — 2.10 |
| Student is now above 2.0 requirement, no Institutional aid issues |
| End of Fall 22 cumulative GPA — 1.95 |
| Student is still eligible for Institutional aid for Spring 23 as previous semester was above 2.0 cumulative requirement |
| End of Spring 23 cumulative GPA — 1.80 |
| Student is now ineligible for Institutional aid based on back-to-back semesters below 2.0 requirement; can appeal |
Loan Credit Refund Dates
Loan documents (promissory note, credit approval, counseling, etc.) and Direct Deposit setup must be completed at least 3 weeks prior to credit refund date published below in order for any refund to be generated. Priority Deadline for all financial aid applications and supporting documentation is July 15 for Fall, November 15 for Spring and April 15 for Summer. Information on how to apply for financial aid is available on this website.
| Term | Disbursement Date | Latest Refund Date (14 day max) |
|---|---|---|
| Summer 2025 | Friday, May 9, 2025 | Friday, May 23, 2025 |
| Friday, May 23, 2025 | Friday, June 6, 2025 | |
| Friday, June 6, 2025 | Friday, June 20, 2025 | |
| Friday, June 20, 2025 | Friday, July 4, 2025 | |
| Thursday, July 3, 2025 | Thursday, July 17, 2025 | |
| Friday, July 18, 2025 | Friday, August 1, 2025 | |
| Friday, July 25, 2025 | Friday, August 8, 2025 | |
| Fall 2025 | Friday, August 22, 2025 Grad/Adult Only |
Friday, September 5, 2025 |
| Friday, August 29, 2025 Traditional UG |
Friday, September 12, 2025 | |
| Friday, September 5, 2025 | Friday, September 19, 2025 | |
| Friday, September 12, 2025 | Friday, September 26, 2025 | |
| Friday, September 19, 2025 | Friday, October 3, 2025 | |
| Friday, September 26, 2025 | Friday, October 10, 2025 | |
| Friday, October 3, 2025 | Friday, October 17, 2025 | |
No disbursement - Fall Break |
||
| Friday, October 17, 2025 | Friday, October 31, 2025 | |
| Friday, October 24, 2025 | Friday, November 7, 2025 | |
| Friday, October 31, 2025 | Friday, November 14, 2025 | |
| Friday, November 7, 2025 | Friday, November 21, 2025 | |
| Friday, November 14, 2025 | Friday, November 28, 2025 | |
| Friday, November 21, 2025 | Friday, December 5, 2025 | |
No disbursement - Thanksgiving Break |
||
| Friday, December 5, 2025 | Friday, December 19, 2025 | |
| Friday, December 12, 2025 | Friday, December 19, 2025 |
Consumer Information
Financial Assistance
Financial assistance information including a description of all types of aid available, student eligibility requirements, procedures and forms by which students apply, criteria for continued eligibility, and other relevant information is available to current and prospective students in the Office of Student Financial Aid. Call 1.731.661.5015 or email finaid@uu.edu.
Institutional Information
Institutional information including the academic programs, faculty, facilities, accrediting agencies, and other relevant institutional information is published in the Union University Undergraduate Academic Catalogue copies of which are available in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Call 1.800.33.UNION.
Cost of Education
Information regarding costs associated with attendance at the University can be obtained in the Office of Business Services or viewed online. Call 1.731.661.5025 for more details.
Graduation Rate
Statistical information regarding the institution's graduation rate is available to enrolled and prospective students in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. Call 1.800.33.UNION.
Security Act Information
Annual Security Report containing statistics of the types and number of crimes committed on campus is compiled prior to October 1 of each year. A paper copy of this report is also available to any person by request in the Office of Safety and Security. Call 1.731.661.5018.
Confidentiality of Student Records
A summary of students' and parents' rights under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA) is published in the Union University Undergraduate Academic Catalogue. Copies of the summary are also available in the Office of the Registrar and Office of Student Services. The objective of FERPA is to provide students and parents greater access to and control over information contained in educational records. Call 1.731.661.5353 or 1.731.661.5090.
Athletic Program Consumer Information
A report of statistics relevant to equity in athletics is compiled annually and is available to enrolled students, prospective students and the public from the Office of the Director of Athletics for Compliance. A copy of this report is available to any person by request. Call 1.731.661.5709.
Obtaining Consumer Information
Current or prospective students needing assistance in obtaining any of this information may contact the Assistant Vice President for Student Financial Aid in the Office of Student Financial Aid of Union University at 1.731.661.5015, or by email at finaid@uu.edu.
Student Right-to-Know
Check the Student Life Right-To-Know page for more relevant Consumer Information as well.
Voter Registration
All states require that you be a United States citizen by birth or naturalization to register to vote in federal and state elections. You cannot be registered to vote in more than one place at a time. Each state has its own laws regarding registering and voting as well as deadlines for registering to vote and absentee voting. For the latest information, go to canivote.org. (This nonpartisan website is maintained by the National Association of Secretaries of State.)
Educator Preparation
Information on Union University's Educator Preparation Program is compiled below.
HEERF Reporting
The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 HEERF III (ARP)(Pub. L. 117-2), directs institutions receiving funds to submit (in a time and manner required by the Secretary) a report to the Secretary describing the use of funds distributed from the Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund ("HEERF"). The HEERF III Act requires that 50% of the funds received be spent on student grants, which can be used for any component of the student's cost of attendance or for emergency costs that arise due to coronavirus, such as tuition, food, housing, health care (including mental health care), or childcare. The ARP requires that institutions prioritize students with exceptional need, such as students who receive Pell Grants, and authorizes grants to students exclusively enrolled in distance education.