Important Information About COVID-19 Credits/Refunds

Dear Baylor Students,

Over the past several weeks, you have experienced unique challenges, such as relocating to permanent residences and being separated from family and friends while adapting to new methods of learning. We thank you for your patience during this time as we have made critical and difficult decisions to keep you, faculty, and staff safe.

One of the recent decisions we made was developing a plan to address the financial implications due to COVID-19. We understand that COVID-19 has impacted students and their families in profound ways, including financially.

We are happy to share that the University will provide prorated credits for housing, meal plans, and parking permits and will pay students receiving federal work-study. In certain circumstances, the credits provided may result in a reimbursement, based on certain criteria. Below are the specifics of the plan.

Housing

Students who were not able to remain in the residence halls for the remainder of the semester will receive a credit for their housing room rates, which will be prorated for the dates between March 16 through May 12. Financial Services will process credits for housing by Wednesday, April 8, 2020.

Meal Plans

All meal plans will be prorated March 16 through May 16 by the daily rate associated with the plan. If applicable, any unused Dining Dollars will be rolled over to the next semester. Financial Services will process credits for meal plans by Wednesday, April 8, 2020.

Parking

Students who paid for on-campus parking will receive a $100 credit for their parking passes, which is the standard amount offered for refunds made in March. Financial Services will process parking credits by Wednesday, April 8, 2020.

Payment Due Dates

The University is eliminating late financial settlement fees and registration holds for non-payment for the summer and fall semesters. For students unable to pay the remaining bills for the spring semester, the University will roll these balances to the summer or fall term. Rolled over balances can be included in summer or fall payment plans.

Work-study

For students with federal work-study jobs, Baylor will provide a lump sum payment based on the average number of hours the student worked during the three pay periods before spring break. The amount of a payment will not exceed the student's total federal work-study awarded amount. These payments will be processed through Baylor's Payroll Office by Friday, April 10, 2020.

If a student is not eligible to be paid federal work-study for hours not worked or receives University work-study, we encourage students to seek support by completing the application for the President's Excellence Fund. If you have specific questions about your federal work-study eligibility, please contact the Student Financial Aid office online.

We recognize the challenges and hardships that many of you are facing. We appreciate your understanding as Baylor transitioned to online course instruction during this unprecedented time. While the course delivery has changed for the last half of the semester due to circumstances beyond Baylor's control, classes are still taking place with the same faculty, and you will receive credit for the classes completed. We have heard positive reports from professors of how well you are adapting to online courses, and we are grateful for your approach to learning and your resiliency, especially during this time.

We look forward to when we can welcome you all back to campus and Waco.

Sincerely,

Baylor University Financial Services

For questions, please email coronavirus@baylor.edu.

FAQs: Spring 2020 Finances/Refunds

1. Will the University be refunding or crediting some costs for housing, meals or parking?

Yes, Baylor announced on March 30, 2020, that it will provide prorated credits for housing, meal plans, and parking permits and will pay students receiving federal work-study. In certain circumstances, the credits provided may result in a reimbursement, based on certain criteria. We understand that COVID-19 has impacted students and their families in profound ways, including financially.

2. Is the General Student Fee for Spring 2020 included as a credit?

While class instruction for Spring 2020 has been moved to an online environment, the University's support operations remain open. Also, students can still utilize the University Libraries, Health Services, Baylor Counseling Services, Paul L. Foster Success Center and Chaplain's Office remotely. As it relates to athletic events, the NCAA cancelled all college athletic competition.

3. Since class instruction has moved online, will spring tuition be credited?

While COVID-19 has forced Baylor to change the course delivery for the last half of the semester, students are still enrolled in the same courses with their respective professors and will receive full academic credit on their spring 2020 transcripts for classes completed during this time of online instruction. As such, the University will not be providing a tuition refund.

4. How are the prorated amounts being calculated for housing?

Housing room rates are prorated based on the daily rate between March 16 (extension of spring break) through May 12 (end of the spring semester).

5. What if I plan to live off-campus next year? Will I lose the housing credit?

No. The credit will be applied to any Baylor University cost of attendance, which means Baylor housing, dining, tuition and fees, etc.

6. How are the prorated amounts being calculated for meal plans?

All meals plans are prorated by the daily rate associated with the plan. For more information on your specific meal plan and the rate, please contact the Cashier's Office at cashiers_office@baylor.edu.

7. What happens to my unused Dining Dollars?

All unused dining dollars will roll forward to your next semester. If the Spring 2020 semester is your last semester at Baylor, all unused dining dollars will be credited to your account after any outstanding balances have been cleared.

8. I paid for a Block Meal Plan. Why is the amount prorated using a daily rate and not the number of meals consumed?

All Meal Plans are prorated by the daily rate associated with the plan.

9. Are lab fees included as a credit?

Baylor faculty have transitioned and adapted their courses for online delivery and have created - to the best of their abilities - an equivalent method of delivery for lab work. Students will receive full academic credit on their spring 2020 transcripts for classes completed during this time of online instruction. As such, lab fees will not be refunded.

10. How will my Financial Aid be affected? Will the Cost of Attendance/budget be adjusted for Spring 2020?

The Department of Education is not requiring that we adjust any federal financial aid awards due to credits being applied from the COVID-19.

11. When will I receive a refund?

If your account is eligible for a refund, the refund will be processed no later than Wednesday, April 8, 2020.

12. How do I receive a refund?

If you are eligible for a refund, please sign up for Direct Deposit by logging into BearWeb -- Student Financial Services -- Student Account -- Direct Deposit and add your banking information.

13. Why are the optional fees not being credited?

These will be handled case-by-case.

14. If my account was paid in full, will I get a refund? Do I need to send the refund back to my lender?

If your account was paid in full by cash, check, credit card or financial aid, your account may be eligible for a refund. If your account was paid in full by wire transfer, please contact the Cashier's Office at cashiers_office@baylor.edu for information.

15. How was the $100 parking credit determined?

The parking pass credit is the standard amount offered for refunds made in March.

16. What if I am not able to pay my remaining balance that is due for Spring?

For students unable to pay the remaining bills for the spring semester, the University will allow you to roll these balances to the summer or fall term. Students and these families will continue to have the option to pay their accounts in full or enroll in the standard or deferred payments plans. The deferred payment plan set-up fee will be reduced. In addition, the University is not placing registration holds for the Summer and Fall semesters on accounts to prevent the students from furthering their education at Baylor University.

17. How are Baylor University and the Baylor Family helping students who are experiencing financial hardships due to COVID-19 related changes?

If you wish to help Baylor students: Many in the Baylor Family have asked how they can help our students. Gifts made to the President's Excellence Fund will be directed to help those who are facing great hurdles during this semester due to COVID-19. Should you or someone you know is interested in making a gift to support our students, gifts can be made online at http://baylor.scalefunder.com/cfund/project/20554.

18. If I need additional information, who can I contact?

Please email coronavirus@baylor.edu, and the appropriate staff member will respond.

19. Will seniors (and those not returning to Baylor) get a refund since they are not returning next year?

Credits for meal plans, room and parking will be applied in the next week. If your account is eligible for a refund, the refund will be processed by April 8, 2020.

We will be reviewing unused Dining Dollars for graduating seniors, and we will process those credits soon, as opposed to waiting until the term is officially over.

If you are not a graduating senior, and you are not returning to Baylor, please complete the Students Not Returning (SNR) Form and contact the Cashier's Office at cashiers_office@baylor.edu.

20. How do I defer payment? Is there an application I need to complete?

For students unable to pay the remaining bills for the spring semester, the University will allow you to roll these balances to the summer or fall term. Students and these families will continue to have the option to pay their accounts in full or enroll in the standard or deferred payments plans. In addition, the University is not placing registration holds for the Summer and Fall semesters on accounts to prevent the students from furthering their education at Baylor University.

If you plan to enroll in the summer, the bill will due on May 13, 2020. If you plan to enroll in the Fall, the bill will due on July 31, 2020. Three payment options will be available at www.baylor.edu/ebill:

1. Pay in Full
2. Enroll in the Standard Payment Plan
3. Enroll in the Deferred Payment Plan

21. What is the University doing for students who were recalled from Baylor-sponsored spring study abroad programs?

The University will provide these students with a $1,000 credit to assist with transition expenses and a $1,500 scholarship to be applied in the next enrolled semester.