Expenses

Business Policy

The University year is divided into two semesters of approximately 15 weeks each and a summer semester of approximately eight weeks. Expenses are charged and payable by the semester since each semester constitutes a separate unit of operation. A student may enroll at the beginning of any semester.

Students are responsible for meeting all financial obligations to the University when they are due. West Georgia reserves and exercises the right to deny admission, to withhold transcripts and other educational records, to cancel the enrollments of students, and to delay the graduation of students who fail to meet promptly their financial obligations to the institution. Each student is responsible for keeping informed of all registration and fee payment dates, deadlines, and other requirements by referring to the official calendar and announcements published in the course bulletin, students UWG email account, and other printed and posted announcements.

Students who fail to satisfy financial obligations in a timely manner will be referred to an outside collection agency and will be held responsible for any additional charges not to exceed 33.3% associated with the collection of an unpaid debt.

To ensure that financial operation is in conformity with the policies of the Board of Regents, certain regulations must be observed. Fees and charges must be paid by the published deadlines. Fees and charges may be paid in cash, by MasterCard, Discover, American Express, VISA, or by check in the exact amount of the student’s bill. If any check is not paid on presentation to the bank on which it is drawn, a service charge of $25 or 5%, whichever is greater, will be made. When one fee check or two non-fee checks have been returned by any student’s bank without payment, his check cashing privileges will be suspended for a year. Registration at the beginning of each semester is not complete until all fees and charges have been paid. If a student’s fee check is returned for non-payment by their bank, the registration is subject to cancellation and a late fee of $75 will be due in addition to a service charge of $25 or 5%, whichever is greater. In the event, a student’s registration is cancelled and the student seeks the reinstatement of classes, a $200 fee will be assessed to the student and is due upon reinstatement along with all other charges on the student’s account.

Tuition and Other Student Fees

All students pay the established tuition and mandatory fees for their program of study (e.g., health, athletic, technology, activity, Campus Center, transportation fees, and etc.), which are listed on the Office of Student Accounts and Billing Services website at: https://www.westga.edu/student-services/studentaccounts/index.php.

A few courses require special fees, such as private music lessons, and aquatic and science courses.  These fees are subject to change per the Board of Regents.

Table of Charges

Registration at the beginning of each semester is not complete until all fees and charges have been paid, including for previous semesters. Fees and charges are due by the published deadlines. A late fee is charged beginning the day after new student registration. See the Office of Student Accounts and Billing Services site at: https://www.westga.edu/student-services/studentaccounts/index.php for a current listing of graduate tuition and fees.

Additional Fee Requirements

Health Insurance Rates

All University System of Georgia institutions are required to participate in the Student Health Insurance Program (SHIP). Graduate Assistants and international students are required to have insurance that meets the minimum standards. Students who are not covered by a policy held by a parent, spouse, company or organization on the approved waiver list (Organizations and Agencies Approved Waivers) or if the policy does not meet the minimum standards must purchase the USG SHIP policy. For more information and current rates, see the Student Health Insurance Program at: https://www.westga.edu/academics/gradstudies/graduate-student-assistantships/index.php.

For more information regarding the insurance policy, please visit United Healthcare online at: https://www.uhcsr.com/westga.

Housing and Residence Life

Housing and Residence Life offers housing for all student types.  We welcome Graduate Students to explore our communities at https://www.westga.edu/housing.

Meal Plans

There are three convenient ways to sign up for a meal plan.  You may sign up in person at the Wolves Card Office, located on the top floor of the University Community Center, via phone by calling 678-839-6525, or online through BanWeb.

Meal Plan Membership Terms and Conditions

• Meal plan memberships may only be removed before the END of the drop/add period.
• Meal plan membership changes or cancellations made before the end of the drop/add period will be charged at a prorated amount.
• Meal plan memberships purchased prior to or during drop/add period must be paid by the final drop date. Failure to pay balance in full will result in student’s entire schedule being DROPPED. Payment may be made online through the BanWeb portal or in person with cash or check at the cashier’s window on the first floor of Aycock Hall.
• Meal plan memberships and/or upgrades added after the drop/add period must be paid in full immediately. Failure to pay may result in a HOLD being placed on the student’s account. Holds prevent the student from registering for classes, receiving/sending official transcripts or graduating from the University. Payment may be made online through the BanWeb portal or in person with cash or check at the cashier’s window on the first floor of Aycock Hall.
• Requests to be exempt from a mandatory meal plan must be submitted through the Meal Plan Appeals Request Form. 
• All meal plan membership pricing is subject to final approval by the Board of Regents and is subject to change.
• Meal plan memberships cannot be used by anyone other than the purchaser of the plan; violators will be subject to campus judicial review.
• Meal plan memberships are loaded onto the student’s ID card.
• Lost or stolen ID cards are subject to a $20 replacement charge. Replace your ID at the Wolves Card Office.
• Meal plan memberships must be used within the semester purchased.
• Balances remaining in Dining Dollars will be returned if the student is not enrolled in the next consecutive semester.

Graduate students may purchase from the meal plan below:

Meal Plan Options:

All Access Meal Membership  $2,400.00 per semester

• Unlimited meals per week at West Commons (the Z-6) or East Commons
• $125 dining dollars
• Includes up to two Retail Combo swipes per day (Mon-Fri)
• BONUS - two Guest Passes to Z-6 or East Commons for family or friends

Wolves Meal Membership $2,157.00 per semester

• 15 meals per week at the West Commons (the Z-6) or East Commons
• $150 Dining Dollars
• BONUS - two Guest Passes to West Commons (the Z-6) or East Commons for family or friends

Flex Deluxe Membership   $1,677.00 per semester

• 10 meals per week at West Commons (the Z-6) or East Commons
• $250 Dining Dollars
• Can use up to five of allotted meal swipes for Retail Combos at lunch and/or dinner*
• BONUS - two Guest Passes to the Z-6 or East Commons for family or friends

Flex 7 Membership  $1,190 per semester

• Seven meals per week at West Commons (the Z-6) or East Commons
• $150 Dining Dollars
• Can use up to two of allotted meal swipes for Retail Combos at lunch and/or dinner*
• BONUS - two Guest Passes to the Z-6 or East Commons for family or friends

Budget Membership  $655.00 per semester

• Five meals per week at West Commons (the Z-6) or East Commons
• BONUS - two Guest Passes to the Z-6 or East Commons for family or friends

Block 50 Membership  $480.00 per semester

• 50 meal swipes per semester at West Commons (the Z-6) or East Commons

Debit Dollar Membership  $200.00 per semester

• $200 Dining Dollars to be used at any participating location

Debit Reload Membership  $50.00 per upgrade

• Add Dining Dollars in increments of $50 to any meal plan, ANY time!

*Retail combos are available starting at 7:30am Monday through Friday, in Chick-Fil-A, La Lunas, and Market Fresh Deli, and West Wings.  Up to two combo swipes may be used per weekday.

Parking and Transportation

Students enrolled in on-campus courses will pay a mandatory transportation fee each semester that is used to provide students with various parking and transportation services both on and off campus. After paying the transportation fee, students must register their vehicles and will receive a parking permit. Students have unlimited access to the shuttles that operate Sunday through Friday. Students also have access to an apartment shuttle that services several neighboring apartment complexes. Parking and Transportation also operates a shopping shuttle that runs once per week to bring students to and from local retail outlets.

Refunds

The refund amount for students who formally withdraw from the Institution shall be based on a pro-rata percentage determined by the number of calendar days in the semester that the student completed along with the total number of calendar days in the semester. The unearned portion shall be refunded up to the 60% point in time. Students who withdraw after the 60% point in time are not entitled to a refund of charges. All refunds will be issued through the BankMobile Account.

USG Policy 7.3.5.3 Military Service Refunds govern the issuing of tuition and mandatory fees and pro rata refunds of elective fees due to a military withdrawal. Students who would like to withdraw for military reasons must submit a copy of their official orders to the Office of the Registrar. Students who receive a military withdrawal are entitled to a full refund of matriculation fees paid for that semester, in accordance with the USG guidelines.

For Financial Aid recipients, in order to meet Federal regulations, all refunds are credited back to the Federal Title IV programs, state programs, private, and institutional programs in the following order: Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Perkins Loans, Direct PLUS Loans, Federal Pell Grants, Federal SEOG, and other Title IV assistance, state, private, or institutional aid. Any refund remaining after these programs have been reimbursed goes to the student. All refunds will be issued via the student’s UWG BankMobile Account.

Tuition Classification of Students as In-State and Out-of-State

All applicants who are accepted for admission or readmission to the University of West Georgia for Fall 2011, or any academic semester thereafter, and who seek to be classified as in-state for tuition purposes, will be required to provide validation of residency and lawful presence in both the State of Georgia and the United States.

The University System of Georgia allows students who have been admitted to the University of West Georgia as out-of-state for tuition purposes, to apply for in-state status through various tuition differential waivers. For more information, see the Registrar’s site at https://www.westga.edu/student-services/registrar/tuition-classification.php.

A limited number of out-of-state tuition waivers are available through the Graduate School each academic year.  Application for these waivers begins with the academic department.