Undergraduate Student Fee Rebate
FAQ
Q1: Why is a rebate being issued?
As a result of a reduced state appropriation that anticipated a $102 million revenue shortfall for Fiscal Year 2010, the University of Massachusetts instituted a $1,500 increase to mandatory in-state undergraduate student fees for the two-semester academic year.
At the time that the increase was voted, President Wilson, the Trustees, and the Chancellors said they hoped that fiscal circumstances would allow them to rebate a significant portion of the fee increase. On Friday, August 7th, President Wilson announced that the University would move forward with a fee rebate and that in-state, undergraduate students will receive a $1,100 rebate for academic year 2009-2010.
The rebate was made possible by the allocation of additional federal stimulus funds to the University by the Governor's Office and the work of the Legislature to direct as much support to the University as possible within the State's constrained budget. UMass received a state appropriation of $411 million and two installments of federal stimulus funds totaling $118.6 million-restoring its level of State support to FY09 levels.
Read the official press release: http://www.massachusetts.edu/news/news.cfm?mode=detail&news_id=1190
Q2: If the fee is being partially rebated, what is the net increase in mandatory fees for 2009-2010?
The expected effect of the rebate is to reduce the fee increase for in-state undergraduate students for the 2009-2010 academic year. The approved annual fee increase of $1,500 will be reduced to only $400 for full-time students. This means that for the sixth consecutive year, the student fee increase at the University of Massachusetts will be at or below the rate of inflation.
Q3: How will I receive the rebate?
Rebates will be posted to all in-state undergraduate student accounts for the fall and the spring semesters. Full-time undergraduate in-state students should expect to see a $550 credit listed as ‘Fee Rebate’ on their fall 2009 and spring 2010 student accounts. Part-time undergraduate in-state students will have a prorated ‘Fee Rebate’ applied based on the number of credits enrolled in each semester.
Q4: When will I see the rebate on my student account?
In-state undergraduate students will see the rebate in the form of a credit of $550 applied to the fall semester bills no later than October 7th.
Q5: If I receive financial aid, how will the rebate impact my financial aid award?
In-state undergraduate students who receive financial aid will have their financial aid packages reviewed to determine if their financial aid need and/or eligibility has changed. Any adjustments to financial aid as a result of the fee rebate will be applied to student accounts no later than October 7th.
Q6: Will I receive a cash refund after the rebate is applied?
Many students have already had all or a portion of the original $1,500 fee increase funded by increased financial aid awards. The financial aid office will be reviewing each student’s financial aid package and making adjustments as necessary. Therefore, many students will not receive a cash refund due to the rebate process.
Students who have already paid the $550 increase for the fall semester and have no financial aid can expect a cash refund based on their account balances by October 7th.
Q7: If I am entitled to a cash refund, how will I receive it?
All student refunds are issued to the student, not the parent, due to federal privacy laws and University policy. Students are encouraged to provide a bank account # in the University’s secure Excess Express system through their SPIRE account by September 24, 2009 to allow for electronic deposit of all student refunds. Please see the Bursar website for easy to follow instructions to receive refunds electronically through Excess Express.
Students not providing electronic bank information will need to pick up their refund checks at the Bursar’s Office. All refund checks will be issued in the name of the student. Please note that due to the large number of expected refunds, students may encounter delays and long lines for picking up checks. Students are encouraged to sign up for the electronic Excess Express option to avoid these delays.
Q8: How will I be notified if I am receiving a refund?
Students receiving refunds will receive an email through their official UMass email account that a refund has been processed either electronically through Excess Express or by paper check. Students receiving paper checks will be provided instructions on how and when to pick up the checks from the Bursar’s Office. Students and their designated authorized payers may also monitor their current account activity in the University’s QuikPAY system for information about the rebate.
Q9: What if I am on a TMS payment schedule?
Students who have signed up for a payment plan with TMS will have the option to decrease their budget and remaining payments to account for the $1,100 annual fee rebate. Students can contact TMS directly to make contract changes or contact the Bursar’s Office. Note that contract changes made through TMS will not appear on the student accounts until the end of September.
Students who do not decrease their TMS contract amount will receive a refund from the fee rebate in late November after the final payment for the term is received.
Q10: I am an out-of-state student. Why am I not eligible for the rebate?
The rebate is made possible with funds allocated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts through the Federal stimulus ARRA program. The Act “authorizes public institutions of higher education to use education stabilization funds for education and general expenditures, in such a way as to mitigate the need to raise tuition and fees for in-State residents.” Because the rebate is made possible with funds allocated to the University of Massachusetts by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the rebate is limited to undergraduate students who are residents of the Commonwealth.
