Please refer to the college Web site at www.bridgew.edu/studentaccounts/ for the current fee schedule.

Billing and Fee Payment

Students are billed through the Office of Student Accounts twice a year prior to the start of each semester. Bills are sent to students at their permanent addresses as maintained in the Office of the Registrar. It is critical to notify us immediately if your permanent address changes. Please call 508.531.1231 or access your student record through InfoBear at www.bridgew.edu with your PIN as assigned by the registrar to update your address.

Bills must be paid by due date indicated on the bill to avoid cancellation of your course schedule. See the Web page at www.bridgew.edu/studentaccounts/ for the latest information on billing and payment procedures. Our system generates bills after any change in registration. Because of this, you may receive more than one bill.

Payment may be made by:

1. Check or money order (payable to Bridgewater State College) or

a. in person at Boyden Hall, Room 107

b. by mail to our lockbox at:

TMS Billing Services
P.O. Box 842748
Boston, MA 02284-2748

There is a 24 hour drop box at student accounts at Boyden Hall for your payments and signed bills, but we highly encourage utilization of mail to our lockbox.

2. MasterCard, Visa or Discover by providing your credit card number and expiration date:

a. access Infobear on the internet,

b. e-mail it to your student representative at first initial, last name @bridgew.edu (i.e., jsmith@bridgew.edu for Jane Smith; if you are unsure of your student representative's name, please call the Office of Student Accounts at 508.531.1225 or visit the Web site listed above)

c. fax it to 508.531.6163, or

d. call the cashier at 508.531.1225.

3. Financial aid may be used to pay your tuition, fees, room, board, and books, as well as flex points on your Connect Card.

a. Students who have received an award letter from the Financial Aid Office may claim the award specifically designated for the semester. The amount to be claimed must be indicated on the bill and returned by the due date to avoid cancellation of your course schedule.

b. Students wishing to claim credit for financial assistance from sources other than the Bridgewater State College Financial Aid Office (outside scholarships, waivers, loans, etc.) must do so by indicating the amount of assistance on the bill. Official documentation verifying the assistance must be enclosed with the bill, which must be returned by the due date or your course schedule will be cancelled.

c. Flex points may be used for laundry, vending, bookstore items, and food services at any location on campus which accepts the Connect Card. For more information on the Connect Card please see www.bridgew.edu/pscc/ or call 508.531.2897.

4. In order to assist students in financing their education, the college has contracted exclusively with Tuition Management Systems. This company's plan offers a low cost, flexible system for financing educational expenses out of current income through regularly scheduled payments over a 10-month period. For information call: Tuition Management Systems, 1.800.722.4867, or www.afford.com.

For your convenience there is a 24-hour drop box located in Boyden Hall on the first floor outside the student accounts office for your payments. In addition, the cashiers are open evening hours for the first two weeks of each semester, Monday through Thursday, 9 AM until 7 PM.

Students who take credits in excess of 118 percent of required credit hours for degree completion will be assessed a surcharge of $235 per credit hour for these credits. For example, students enrolled in baccalaureate programs may take up to 142 credits (118 percent of 120 credits) at no additional charge. Any credits taken in excess of 142 will be subject to the $235 per credit hour surcharge. In determining accumulated credit hours, students should exclude from their total any credits transferred in from other institutions.

Students will incur all costs of collection if it is necessary to place their accounts with a collection agency. Bridgewater State College is not responsible for any interest charge incurred on Visa/MasterCard/Discover accounts should a student withdraw from a course or if the college cancels a class. The college will assess a $25 fee for any check that is returned not honored by a bank. Such a fee when assessed must be paid, along with any unpaid tuition. It is the responsibility of the student to settle any fee or obligation arising from a returned or unhonored check. Once a check is returned to us for nonsufficient funds, future payments must be made by certified check or money order.

Outstanding bills and payment collection: Students who are presently enrolled at the college and are in arrears in their payment will be prohibited from registering for courses or graduating and will not be issued an academic transcript until debts to the college are paid.

Students no longer enrolled at the college who have bills past due to the college will not be issued a transcript and if after a reasonable time the student's account had not been cleared, it will be submitted to a collection agency. If the college refers the account to a collection agency, the student will be held responsible for all costs and expenses incurred by the collection agency. Accounts will also be sent to the intercept program which matches delinquent debts to payments being made by the Commonwealth and the Department of Revenue's MassTax system. All unpaid debts will be reported to the credit bureau.

All questions pertaining to tuition and fees should be directed to the Office of Student Accounts at 508.531.1225, or see our Web page at www.bridgew.edu/studentaccounts/.

Bridgewater State College Official Refund Policy Applicability:
The refund policy applies to all full-time and part-time students enrolled at Bridgewater State College (BSC). This policy applies to all tuition, room, board, fees and other assessed charges (except housing deposit, application fees, orientation and health insurance when applicable). Charges are subject to change by the action of the Board of Higher Education.

Notification Requirements:
All UNDERGRADUATE MATRICULATED (degree seeking) students who withdraw from BSC must communicate their withdrawal in writing through the Academic Achievement Center as well as the Financial Aid Office. All GRADUATE MATRICULATED (degree seeking) students who withdraw from BSC must communicate their withdrawal in writing through the Office of Graduate and Continuing Education and the Financial Aid Office.

All withdrawals from courses must be communicated by the student in writing through the Registrar's Office.

Nonattendance at class does NOT constitute official withdrawal and will result in a failing grade. Students are responsible for all course charges except when an official withdrawal form is on file.

1. Standard and "Non-Standard Date" Semester Courses
Policy 1.1. Full-Semester Courses. Refunds for full-semester courses will be awarded as follows: 100 percent refund during the drop/add period; 85 percent refund in the second week, during the four weekdays after the drop/add period has ended; and a 70 percent refund during the third week of the semester. No refund will be available thereafter.

Policy 1.2. Seven-Week Quarter Courses. Refunds for seven-week quarter courses will be awarded as follows: 100 percent refund during the drop/add period; 70 percent refund during weekdays four and five of the quarter. No refund will be available thereafter.

Policy 1.3. Odd-Day, Non-standard Courses. The refund for odd-day, nonstandard courses will be a 100 percent refund during the drop/add period. No refund will be available thereafter.

2. Non-Credit Courses Offered Through Continuing Education
Policy 2.1. Non-Technology Courses. The refund for non-technology courses will be 100 percent prior to the start of the course. No refund will be available thereafter.

Policy 2.2. A. Technology Courses (deposits). The refund policy for deposits for technology courses will be 100 percent five or more days (including weekend days) prior to the start of class; no refund for four or fewer days (including weekend days) prior to the start of class.

Policy 2.2.B. Technology Courses (course fee). The refund policy for course fees for technology courses will be 90 percent up to the end of the first class; no refund thereafter.

3. Summer Courses
Policy 3.1. Five-Week Summer Courses. Refunds for five-week summer courses will be awarded as follows: 100 percent refund during the drop/add period; 70 percent refund during weekdays four and five of the summer session; and no refund thereafter.

Policy 3.2. Ten-week Summer Courses. Refunds for 10-week summer courses will be awarded as follows: 100 percent refund during the drop/add period; 70 percent refund during the three weekdays after the drop/add period has ended; and no refund thereafter.

Policy 3.3. Odd-Day, Non-Standard Courses. The refund for these courses will be 100 percent during the drop/add period; no refund thereafter.

4. Housing, Meal Plan, and Dining and Flex Dollars
Policy 4.1. Housing. Refunds for housing will be awarded as follows: 100 percent refund during the drop/add period; 85 percent refund in the second week, during the four weekdays after the drop/add period has ended; and a 70 percent refund during the third week of the semester. No refund thereafter.

Policy 4.2. Meal Plan - Dining. Refunds for Meal Plan - Dining options will be awarded as follows: 100 percent refund during the drop/add period; 85 percent refund in the second week, during the four weekdays after the drop/ add period has ended; and a 70 percent refund during the third week of the semester. No refund thereafter.

Policy 4.3.A. Flex Dollars (Students). Flex dollars carry from year to year and balances greater than $20* are refundable once the account has been inactive for 365 days.

• If the student's college account is paid in full, we will issue a refund to the cardholder.
• If the student has an outstanding balance with the college, we will apply the flex dollars balance to that account.

Policy 4.3.B. Flex Dollars (Employees). Flex dollars carry from year to year and balances greater than $20* are refundable at the end of employment with the college. A refund will be issued within 60 days of the end of employment.
*There will be a $20 processing fee deducted from the balance prior to refund.

Return of Title IV Funds Policy (Financial Aid Refund Policy)

The Refund Policy pertains to the amount of tuition and fees that a student will be charged. The Return of Title IV Funds Policy pertains to the amount of financial aid that the student may keep, based on the student's date of withdrawal.

Students who are receiving financial aid (federal, state, and institutional) are subject to the Return of Title IV Funds Policy. BSC must return financial aid funds (including loans) to the appropriate aid programs that were not 'earned' by the student. The amount of aid 'earned' by the student is determined based on the amount of time the student was enrolled. For example, if a student only completes 5 percent of the semester, the student only 'earned' 5 percent of their financial aid. Two separate calculations are performed: one with all federal aid and a second with all other aid. The student in this example would be allowed to keep 5 percent of all federal aid and 5 percent of all other aid. The Return of Title IV Funds Policy requirement remains in effect until the 60 percent point of the semester, November 5, 2009 for the fall semester, March 31, 2010 for the spring semester. After those dates the student may retain all financial aid.

The Return of Title IV Funds Policy applies to all types of financial aid, including merit aid.
It is very possible that a student who receives financial aid and withdraws during the Return of Title IV Funds period will owe a balance or a repayment to the BSC Student Accounts Office and may be required to repay funds to the U.S. Department of Education.

Before calculating the amount of financial aid that must be canceled, the following is taken into consideration:

• If a Promissory Note for a PERKINS LOAN, MASS NO INTEREST LOAN, DIRECT SUBSIDIZED LOAN or DIRECT UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN has not been signed and submitted by the student prior to the withdrawal date, the loan(s) is automatically canceled.
• If Entrance Counseling has not been completed by the student prior to the withdrawal date, the DIRECT SUBSIDIZED LOAN and DIRECT UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN are automatically canceled.
• If the student is a first time attendee of BSC and withdraws during the first 30 days of the semester, the DIRECT SUBSIDIZED LOAN and DIRECT UNSUBSIDIZED LOAN are automatically canceled.
• If a MASSGRANT is expected and not actual on the date of withdrawal, the MASSGRANT is automatically canceled.

The calculation applies the percentage to the amount of aid after the above adjustments have been made. To see some refund examples, please visit our Web site at www.bridgew.edu/ financialaid/refund.cfm.

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