Financial Information
It is the policy of Berry College to keep charges to students to a
minimum,
and the college carefully selects those to whom it will offer admission.
To balance the difference between actual educational costs and the
amount a student pays, Berry College provides approximately half of the
cost annually for each full-time student.
Many students are offered work opportunity through which they can earn a
portion of their college expenses. They are paid regularly by check.
Scholarships, grants, loans and other awards also are available under a
comprehensive financial-assistance program. Further information is
provided later in this section.
Regular Charges for 2007-2008
| |
Per Semester
|
Academic Year
Per Semester (2 Semesters)
|
| Tuition (12-18 semester hours) |
$10,185
|
$20,370
|
| Technology Fee |
25
|
50
|
| Student Activity Fee |
75
|
150
|
| Room |
2,113
|
4,226
|
| Board (any unlimited-plan per semester) |
1,700
|
3,400
|
| Charges to Residence Hall Students |
$14,098
|
$28,196
|
*These regular charges become effective at the beginning of the 2007 fall semester.
Some or all charges may necessarily be increased in 2008-2009.
The Board of Trustees reserves the right to change any charge (regular or other) at any time.
Tuition
For each semester hour in excess of 18, an additional charge of
$679 per hour will be made. Students enrolled for fewer than 12 semester hours are charged $679 per hour.
Auditors (students enrolled in one or more classes on a noncredit basis)
are charged tuition at the rate of $340 per semester hour.
A portion of tuition is applied toward the costs of student publications
(Cabin Log, Campus Carrier and Ramifications), athletic activities,
campus motion pictures and cultural-affairs performances,
student-government activities and student-center operations. A
fall-semester student not registering for the spring semester may
obtain a Cabin Log, if one is available, by paying a prorated amount of
the per-copy price for the semester in which tuition is not paid.
Room
Room charges for students returning early and for students
remaining at Berry during vacations are additional and are computed at
the rate of $20.12 per day in the residence halls, $20.12 per day in
Dorothy Cottage, $23.76 per day in the townhouses and Thomas Berry
suites, and $28.83 per day in the new residence-hall suites. Residence
halls are completely closed at Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks. When
space is
available, students may request private rooms through the office of
residence life. The charge for a private room is 125 percent of the
double-occupancy rate per semester.
Private room assignments are made only on a semester basis.
Board
Meal plan options and semester charges are as follows:
Unlimited Plan (unlimited meals plus $150 Flex Bucks)..............................$1,700
Any 15 Plan (15 meals per week plus $250 Flex Bucks)..............................1,650
Any 10 Plan (10 meals per week plus $350 Flex Bucks)..............................1,450
Any 7 Plan (7 meals per week plus $350 Flex Bucks)..................................1,165
Commuter Plan (80 meals per semester plus $150 Flex Bucks).....................665
Student Worker Plan* (70 meals per semester plus $175 Flex Bucks)..........630
Flex Bucks Plan ($290 Flex Bucks)................................................................. 290
*Dining Services student workers only. Must work a minimum of 10 hours per week.
First-year students living on campus must purchase the Unlimited Plan.
Second-year students living on campus must purchase at least the Any 10
Plan. All other traditional residence hall occupants must purchase at
least the Any 7 Plan. All other suite residents and all full-time
commuter students must purchase at least the Flex Bucks Plan. Meals not
included in a plan may be purchased on a casual basis. In addition, a
la carte service is available in Valhalla (our food court).
Meal plan charges cover only those meals and Flex Bucks that are made
available within an academic semester. Unused meals and Flex Bucks do
not roll over from semester to semester.
We provide a variety of foods to satisfy students with special diets.
We can provide most special diets if recommended by the student’s
physician. If, after receiving documentation and having conversations
with the student’s physician, it is deemed by our dietician and the
director of dining services that we are unable to meet the dietary need,
then the director of dining services can exempt an individual from the
meal plan rules above. Also, once meal plans are set (approximately two
weeks into a semester), no changes will be allowed.
Other Charges
Application for admission fee .....................................................................$50
Technology fee.............................................................................................50
Student Activity fee ...................................................................................150
Joint enrollment per credit hour ................................................................340
Enrollment deposit (see below) ................................................................150
Residence-hall room deposit (see next page) ...........................................100
Orientation fee (SOAR and Viking Venture)
Freshman residents ..................................................................................135
Transfer students and commuters.............................................................. 75
Late clearance............................................................................................ 50
Student vehicle registration (per year)....................................................... 25
Graduation fee (including keeper cap and gown)........................................40
Transcript of record .......................................................................................5
Emergency request for transcript ................................................................20
Certain courses, including music lessons, require special fees
for materials or facilities use or other particular costs. See
the Berry Intranet or the Berry Web site for details.
Returned-check fee (each transaction) .......................................................15
Credit-by-examination fee, per credit hour .................................................30
Replacement of student-identification card ................................................ 15
Continuing-education program fees set by the department
SPECIAL FEES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE.
Enrollment deposits and room deposits are refundable only if written
notice of cancellation is received by May 1 from applicants for the fall
semester and two months before the date of registration from applicants
for spring semester. The enrollment deposit is not a prepayment of
tuition and fees; rather, it serves as a reservation deposit to be
retained until the student graduates or withdraws. For continuing
students, refund of the deposit will be made when formal withdrawal is
accomplished by their class-selection date of the current semester and
all financial obligations have been met.
Room deposits are not prepayments to be applied to residence-hall
charges but will remain on deposit with the college to be refunded,
provided the student’s accounts with the college are cleared, upon
change of status from residence-hall student to commuting student,
formal withdrawal or graduation. However, the room-deposit refund will
be permanently forfeited in the event of a change to commuting status
or formal withdrawal occurring after the class-selection date of the
current semester.
Textbooks and supplies each semester cost approximately $400 to $450.
Personal expenses, of course, vary with the individual.
Graduate Studies Charges
Charges for graduate studies are listed in the Graduate Catalog.
Financial Obligations to the College
A student who is delinquent in payment of any financial obligation to
Berry College may be removed from classes; may not be allowed to
register at the college for another semester until such delinquency is
satisfied; may not be issued official transcripts or a diploma; and may
be subject to further disciplinary action.
Payment of Charges Each Semester
Each student who has preregistered is billed in advance with an
itemized statement of charges for the semester; financial-aid credits
applied, if any; and the net amount due to complete registration.
Net charges are due and payable on or before the fee payment date or the student will not be “cleared” to attend classes.
The student Deferred-Payment Plan is available for those who wish to
pay charges for each semester in monthly installments. A service charge
will be assessed students who choose the Deferred-Payment Plan.
Clearance to Attend Classes
A student will not be “cleared” to attend classes, and professors
will not
admit students to class, until the business services office has received
the net amount billed or the first installment under the
Deferred-Payment Plan for the semester and all scholarship, loan and
other financial-aid forms and/or checks have been signed.
Refund of Charges
All students who withdraw during a semester will be charged tuition and
room and board, if applicable, at the rate of 10 percent of the semester
charge for each week of enrollment after the add/drop period ends. If a
recipient of financial aid withdraws and is scheduled to receive a
refund, all or part of this refund will be used to reimburse the
financial-aid program from which the student received funds. Other fees
are nonrefundable.
Students receiving Title IV Federal Financial Aid are subject to a
percentage of these funds being refunded back to the Fund, depending on
the number of days enrolled in the semester.
Work Opportunity
The college provides many opportunities for students to work on campus
in more than 120 departments and locations. All students are eligible to
participate in the student-work-opportunity program; however,
participation is voluntary, and on-campus employment cannot be provided
to all students all of the time. More than 70 percent of all students
enrolled work on campus at any given time.
Regularly enrolled undergraduate students are encouraged to work at least 10 hours a week during regular academic semesters.
New students are given work assignments with consideration for the needs
of individuals and of the institution. Sophomores, juniors and seniors
are encouraged to seek the jobs of their choice. Students desiring to
work on campus and those having difficulty finding jobs should contact
the dean of student-work opportunity as soon as possible.
Students working on campus should normally work a minimum of 10 hours
per week and a maximum of 20 hours per week, earning from $775 to $1,800
per semester. If students prefer to seek off-campus employment, the
dean of student work will assist as much as possible in securing
off-campus jobs.
A limited number of students may work full time each semester or during
breaks between semesters. Students desiring full-time employment during a
summer or other academic semester may apply to the dean of student
work.
Berry College participates in the Federal College Work Study (FCWS)
program, which means that federal funds, matched with Berry funds, are
used as part of the on-campus student-work program. FCWS awards are made
as part of the financial-aid package to students who are enrolled at
least half time and have established a financial need.
While work opportunity assists the student financially, it also
contributes vitally to a well-rounded education and is designed to
foster good work habits, develop skills in human relations, build
self-reliance, provide experience in useful vocations and avocations,
and nurture respect for the dignity of worthwhile work.
Student earnings for on-campus jobs are paid by check issued by the
college every two weeks. Such earnings are subject to state and federal
income taxes and in some cases FICA taxes. Student earnings for
on-campus jobs are paid by check issued by the college every two weeks.
Such earnings are subject to state and federal income taxes and in some
cases FICA taxes. Student earnings that are not part of the FCWS
program are subject to withholding to pay all fines, fees, and
outstanding charges if not promptly paid or if no prior arrangements
have been made. New students are required to complete payroll
withholding and I-9 (verification of citizenship) forms prior to
receiving work assignments and therefore should have their
social-security cards and one other formal picture identification in
their possession when they arrive on the campus.
Financial Aid
Berry College is committed to assisting students and their families in
securing resources to attend the college through the use of
institutional, federal and state funding. Every student is encouraged to
apply for financial aid by filing the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA). The priority date for receipt of the financial-aid
forms is April 1 each year. Late applications will be considered on a
funds-available basis.
To meet general eligibility requirements to be considered for financial aid, a student:
- Must be admitted to Berry College as a regular-admitted, degree-seeking student;
- Must be a U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen, U.S. national or have an acceptable immigrant visa;
- Must not be in default on prior education loans, nor owe repayment of federal grant programs;
- Must be making academic progress toward graduation as defined in this Catalog.
In addition to these general requirements, individual programs may have
additional requirements specific to that particular program. Examples
of these additional requirements are specific grade-point averages
needed to maintain the program, or a minimum level of enrollment
required to be eligible to receive funding. Students should be familiar
with the actual requirements for specific programs which apply to them.
Applying for Financial Aid
Information about applying for financial aid can be found by going to
the Berry College Office of Financial Aid's Web site. Both new and
returning students will be required to activate their financial-aid
account by going to
http://www.berry.edu/aid/
using their assigned ID Number and PIN. At this site, students must
provide names of the individuals with whom their financial aid may be
discussed, indicate whether they intend to apply for need-based programs
(including student loans), and notify the institution of any outside
scholarships or other resources that will be used to meet the incoming
year’s cost of attendance. The Web site also provides links to the state
programs for Georgia residence and the federal Web site for filing the
FAFSA online.
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).Submission
of this form (or the renewal FAFSA for continuing students) is required
for consideration of eligibility for any need-based assistance as well
as for participation in the federal family loan program (student and/or
parent loans). All students are encouraged to submit the FAFSA to the
federal processing center through the Internet using FAFSA on the Web (www.fafsa.ed.gov).
Once the student’s FAFSA is processed, the results are released
electronically to the college, provided the student includes the
college’s code (00155400) on the FAFSA. The electronic information must
be received by the financial-aid office, along with supporting
documentation as requested by that office, before federal loans or other
need-based aid can be awarded.
Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant Application.This form is required for the state residency (tuition-equalization) grant and may be completed by going to www.GAcollege411org.
HOPE Scholarship Application.Eligible HOPE scholars must complete this application by going to www.GAcollege411org.
Common Financial-Aid Sources
The most common sources of financial assistance are federal, state and institutional aid.
Federal Programs. These programs provide the foundation
for financial aid for students who demonstrate financial need. Initial
application for federal aid is made by submission of the Free
Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The federal programs
available through Berry to qualified students include Federal Pell
Grants, Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grants, Federal Work
Study and Federal Family Education Loans. (Note: The Federal
Unsubsidized Stafford Student Loan and the Federal Parent Loan for
Undergraduate Students are loans created to assist families who do not
qualify for need-based aid or who need additional funds to replace their
expected family contribution.)
State Programs. The state of Georgia provides the
Georgia Tuition Equalization Grant to eligible state residents who
attend Berry as full-time undergraduate students. In addition to the
tuition equalization grant, the lottery-funded HOPE Scholarship Program
is available to help eligible students with their educational needs.
Continuation of the HOPE scholarship is based on maintaining the
required 3.0 grade-point average on all attempted hours of course work
after high-school graduation. The grade point average is reviewed after
attempting 30, 60 and 90 hours and at the end of each spring term.
Upper-classmen may be eligible to enter the scholarship program with the
required grade-point average after having attempted 30, 60, or 90
credit hours.
The PROMISE Teacher Scholarship Loan is a part of the HOPE Program made
available in the junior and senior years for education majors who plan
to teach in a Georgia public school and who have maintained a 3.0
grade-point average. If unable to complete the program or meet the
teaching obligation, the student must repay a loan. The HOPE Teacher
Scholarship Loan is another component of the HOPE Program that provides
forgivable loans to students seeking advanced education degrees in
critical shortage fields. The Promise II Teacher Scholarship Loan is
designed to encourage teacher paraprofessionals or instructional aids to
seek a baccalaureate degree in education and to become teachers in
Georgia's public schools. Applications for the PROMISE and HOPE Teacher
Scholarship Loans can be obtained online at www.GAcollege411.org. For
more information on HOPE programs and current regulations governing
these programs, contact Berry's financial-aid office or contact HOPE
directly at 1-800-546-HOPE or on the Web (www.gsfc.org).
Institutional.Students are expected to be enrolled
full time to receive institutional funding. Changes to the enrollment
level placing a student below full-time status will require an
adjustment to the aid package. In addition, institutional funds are
limited to four years (eight semesters) of enrollment or until degree
requirements are met, whichever comes first.
The admissions office awards all academic scholarship and opportunity
grants. Academic scholarships and opportunity grants are awarded only to
entering first-year or transfer students. For eligibility information,
prospective students should contact the admissions office.
The required grade-point average to renew academic merit scholarships
and opportunity grants is 3.00. However, students receiving a
Presidential Scholarship will be required to have achieved a 3.00
grade-point average at the end of their first two semesters of
enrollment and must maintain a cumulative 3.20 after those first two
terms. Academic scholarships and opportunity grants are reviewed at the
end of each spring or summer term to determine eligibility for the next
academic year. Only course work completed at Berry is used to compute
continued academic scholarship and/or opportunity grant eligibility.
Scholarships and/or grants lost may be renewed at the end of each
academic year if the required cumulative grade-point average is met at
that time.
A number of disciplines (ex., music and theatre) on campus, as well
as athletics, offer scholarships. Prospective students should contact
the appropriate department chair or coach for further information.
Grants and scholarships are also awarded to students to assist in
meeting financial need. The financial-aid office must receive the
electronic results of the FAFSA, the Institutional Student Information
Record (ISIR), to determine eligibility for need-based aid. Grants and
scholarships are awarded on an annual basis subject to the
information provided on the FAFSA. Need-based grants/scholarships
may be adjusted if students receive additional aid after a Berry
grant/scholarship has been awarded.
An alternative loan opportunity program (other than federal) may be
offered to qualifying students to assist in meeting their educational
expenses.
Satisfactory Academic Progress Standards
In order to receive financial aid from the federal Title IV assistance
programs, state grants or institutional aid other than work opportunity,
the student must exhibit satisfactory academic progress. For purposes
of this financial-aid requirement, a full-time undergraduate student
must earn 24 semester hours of credit each academic year. A full-time
graduate student must earn 18 semester hours of credit each academic
year. Part-time undergraduate or graduate students must satisfactorily
complete at least
70 percent of any attempted course work.
Students receiving financial aid must complete their degree requirements
within a reasonable time. Normally 124 semester hours are required to
earn a bachelor’s degree at Berry College. Therefore, an undergraduate
student shall be deemed in good standing and eligible to receive federal
financial aid until he/she has attempted 165 semester hours or
completes degree requirements, whichever comes first. This number
includes hours attempted at all schools attended. Master’s-level
students will be allowed to receive federal financial aid until they
have attempted 40 graduate semester hours at all schools attended.
At the end of each semester, the academic record of each aid recipient
will be reviewed and recorded. The review will include all academic-year
semesters of attendance and all degree-credit courses completed at
Berry, whether or not aid was received for those courses. Students with
deficiencies at the end of fall semester will be notified so that
additional courses may be scheduled to remove the deficiencies before
the end of spring semester. The review at the end of the academic year
(spring semester) will determine satisfactory progress for that year.
Students with an average of fewer than 12 credit hours per semester will
not be considered as making satisfactory progress, and financial
assistance will not be offered until the deficiency is removed.
Deficiencies may be removed by completing the necessary hours without
financial aid. Once the hours are successfully completed, the student
will again be eligible for financial aid.
Successful completion of courses means the student has received a grade
of A through D, H, or P. Receipt of grades of F, I, W, WF, WS, X, or NR
does not constitute successful completion.
For purposes of receiving financial assistance, a student must maintain
satisfactory progress with regard to grades and work completed.
Undergraduate students completing 60 or more hours must have a minimum
cumulative 2.0 GPA on academic work at ALL schools attended to receive
financial aid. Students academically dismissed who are allowed to return
to Berry after one semester or one year are not considered in good
standing for financial aid until the academic deficiency is removed.
Students who experience mitigating circumstances such as personal
illness or injury; or illness, injury or death of an immediate family
member that requires the student either to withdraw temporarily from
college, reduce the semester class load, stop out, or receive grades of
incomplete or W may have a one-semester extension of time in meeting the
foregoing requirements. To request the extension, the student must
provide a personal statement and/or other documentation as required by
the director of student financial aid. The director, in consultation
with the Enrollment Management Committee and/or other college officials,
as appropriate, will decide whether an extension is warranted.
These standards are issued in compliance with The Higher Education Act
of 1965 as amended by federal regulations effective January 1, 1992.