Financial Responsibility Terms and Conditions
All students must acknowledge their agreement to the financial responsibility terms and conditions twice a year prior to registration.
Payment of Fees/Promise to Pay
I understand and agree that when I register for any class at Western Michigan University or receive any service from Western Michigan University, I accept full responsibility for all charges incurred at Western Michigan University, including but not limited to tuition, fees, housing, meals, books, health charges and other associated costs assessed as a result of my registration and/or receipt of services. I further understand and agree that my registration and acceptance of these terms constitutes a promissory note agreement and I promise to pay for all assessed tuition, fees, and other associated costs by the published or assigned due date. I understand and agree that my assigned due date is based on the published date and not the starting date of the class.
I understand and agree that if I drop or withdraw from some or all of the classes for which I register, I will be responsible for paying all or a portion of tuition and fees in accordance with the published Academic Calendar. I have read the terms and conditions of the published Academic Calendar schedule and understand those terms are incorporated herein by reference. I further understand and agree that my failure to attend class or receive a bill does not absolve me of my financial responsibility as described above.
I understand and agree that I will not be charged for classes for which I am on a waitlist. By agreeing to be placed on the waitlist, I acknowledge that I might be enrolled in the waitlisted class, without further notification, and I am responsible for any resulting tuition and fees.
Delinquent Account/Collection
Financial Hold: I understand and agree that if I fail to pay my student account bill or any monies due and owing Western Michigan University by the scheduled due date, Western Michigan University will place a financial hold on my student account, preventing me from registering for future classes or receiving my diploma.
Late Payment Charge: I understand and agree that if I fail to pay my student account bill or any monies due and owing Western Michigan University by the scheduled due date, Western Michigan University will assess service charges at the rate of 1.5% per month on the past due portion of my student account until my past due account is paid in full.
Collection Agency Fees: I understand and agree that if I fail to pay my student account bill or any monies due and owing Western Michigan University by the scheduled due date, and fail to make acceptable payment arrangements to bring my account current, Western Michigan University may refer my delinquent account to a third party collection agency. I further understand and agree that I am responsible for paying the collection agency fee, which may be based on a percentage at a maximum of thirty-nine percent of my delinquent account, together with all costs, and expenses, including reasonable attorney’s fees and court costs, necessary for the collection of my delinquent account. Finally, I understand and agree that my delinquent account may be reported to one or more of the national credit bureaus.
Communication
Method of Communication: I understand and agree that Western Michigan University uses WMU e-mail accounts as an official method of communication with me, and that therefore I am responsible for reading the e-mails I receive from Western Michigan University on a timely basis.
Contact: I authorize Western Michigan University and its agents and contractors to contact me at my current and any future cellular phone number(s), email address(es) or wireless device(s) regarding my delinquent student account(s)/loan(s), any other debt I owe to Western Michigan University, or to receive general information from Western Michigan University. I authorize Western Michigan University and its agents and contractors to use automated telephone dialing equipment, artificial or pre-recorded voice or text messages, personal calls, and emails, in their efforts to contact me. Furthermore, I understand that I may withdraw my consent to call my cellular phone by submitting my request in writing to the Accounts Receivable Department or in writing to the applicable contractor or agent contacting me on behalf of Western Michigan University.
Updating Contact Information: I understand and agree that I am responsible for keeping Western Michigan University records up to date with my current physical addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers by updating this information in my GoWMU account or by contacting the Office of the Registrar. Upon leaving Western Michigan University for any reason, it is my responsibility to provide Western Michigan University with updated contact information for purposes of continued communication regarding any amounts that remain due to Western Michigan University.
Financial Aid
I understand and agree that aid described as “estimated” on my Financial Aid Award does not represent actual or guaranteed payment, but is an estimate of the aid I may receive if I meet all requirements stipulated by that aid program.
I understand and agree that my Financial Aid Award is contingent upon my continued enrollment and attendance in each class upon which my financial aid eligibility was calculated. If I drop any class before completion, I understand that my financial aid eligibility may decrease and some or all of the financial aid awarded to me may be revoked.
If some or all of my financial aid is revoked because I dropped or failed to attend class, I agree to repay all revoked aid that was disbursed to my account and resulted in a credit balance that was refunded to me.
I understand and agree to allow financial aid I receive to pay any and all charges assessed to my account at Western Michigan University such as tuition, fees, campus housing and meal plans, student health insurance, parking permits, service fees, fines, or any other amount, in accordance with the terms of the aid.
Federal Aid: I understand and agree that any federal Title IV financial aid that I receive, except for Federal Work Study wages, will first be applied to any outstanding balance on my account for tuition, fees, room, and board. Title IV financial aid includes aid from the Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Direct Loan, PLUS Loan, Perkins Loan, and TEACH Grant programs. I authorize Western Michigan University to apply my Title IV financial aid to other charges assessed to my student account such as student health insurance, parking permits, service fees and fines, and any other education-related charges. I further understand that this authorization will remain in effect until I rescind it or the end of the current semester and that I may withdraw it at any time by contacting the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships.
Prizes, Awards, Scholarships, and Grants: I understand and agree that all prizes, awards, scholarships, and grants awarded to me by Western Michigan University will be credited to my student account and applied toward any outstanding balance. I further understand that my receipt of a prize, award, scholarship or grant is considered a financial resource according to federal Title IV financial aid regulations, and may therefore reduce my eligibility for other federal and/or state financial aid (i.e., loans, grants, Federal Work Study) which, if already disbursed to my student account, must be reversed and returned to the aid source.
Third-Party Agreements
I understand and agree that if I am being sponsored by a third party (e.g. government agency or employer), I am responsible for any unpaid balance on my account. Delinquent account sanctions as stated above will apply. I understand an employer reimbursement paid directly to me is not considered a third-party agreement, and I must remit payment by the stated due date to prevent any delinquent account sanctions.
Method of Billing
I understand and agree that Western Michigan University uses electronic billing as its official billing method, and therefore I am responsible for viewing and paying my student account balance by the scheduled due date. I further understand that failure to review my account does not constitute a valid reason for not paying my bill on time. Online account information is available in the Payment and Account Information channel in GoWMU.
Billing Errors
I understand and agree that administrative, clerical or technical billing errors do not absolve me of my financial responsibility to pay the correct amount of tuition, fees and other associated financial obligations assessed as a result of my registration at Western Michigan University.
Returned Payments/Failed Payment Agreements
If a payment made to my student account is returned by the bank for any reason, I understand and agree to repay the original amount of the payment plus a returned payment fee of $25.00. I understand and agree that multiple returned payments and/or failure to comply with the terms of any payment plan or agreement I sign with Western Michigan University may result in cancellation of my classes and/or suspension of my eligibility to register for future classes at Western Michigan University. If I have instances of multiple returned payments, I understand that I may no longer be permitted to pay with that particular payment method.
Withdrawal
If I decide to completely withdraw from Western Michigan University, I will follow the withdrawal instructions for which I understand and agree are incorporated herein by reference. I understand that if I withdraw from a class after the 100% drop/add period, WMU refund policy will be followed.
Privacy Rights & Responsibilities
I understand and agree that Western Michigan University is bound by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which prohibits Western Michigan University from releasing any information from my education record without my written permission. Therefore, I understand that if I want Western Michigan University to share information from my education record with someone else, I can add individuals as an Authorized Proxy User to view financial aid and academic information. This access will allow individuals to speak with our Financial Aid and Bronco Express team concerning financial aid information. Access can be granted by logging in to GoWMU with my Bronco NetID and password and selecting “Authorized User-Academic and Financial Aid” link under Academic Services.
In order for individuals to gain access to billing and payment information, I must grant access to authorized users by logging in to GoWMU with my Bronco NetID and password and selecting “Payment and Account Information”. I further understand that I may revoke my permission at any time as instructed in the same procedure.
Instructions for adding proxy access and authorized users can be found below:
- Authorized User: Accounts Receivable (Billing)
- Authorized User: Proxy Access (Financial Aid/Academic Information)
IRS Form 1098-T
I understand and agree to provide my Social Security number (SSN) or taxpayer identification number (TIN) to Western Michigan University upon request as required by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations for Form 1098-T reporting purposes. If I fail to provide my SSN or TIN to Western Michigan University, I agree to pay any and all IRS fines assessed as a result of my missing SSN/TIN.
Student Age
I understand and agree that if I am younger than the applicable age of majority when I execute this agreement that the educational services provided by Western Michigan University are a necessity, and I am contractually obligated pursuant to the “doctrine of necessaries.”
Entire Agreement
This agreement supersedes all prior understandings, representations, negotiations, and correspondence between the student and Western Michigan University, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the matters described, and shall not be modified or affected by any course of dealing or course of performance. This agreement may be modified by Western Michigan University if the modification is signed by me. Any modification is specifically limited to those policies and/or terms addressed in the modification.