Withdrawal Policy

What happens if I withdraw from the university?

If you received financial aid and withdraw from all of your classes within the first 60% of the term, we must recalculate your financial aid eligibility according to a federally prescribed formula. Since funds are awarded based on your attending the entire term, we must recalculate your award based on the actual number of days you attended. The calculation will determine if you received funds for which you are NOT eligible or if you are eligible for a post withdrawal disbursement.

For example, a student who withdraws after completing only 20% of the term will have “earned” only 20% of any Title IV financial aid received. The remaining 80% of Title IV funds received is considered “unearned” aid and must be returned by Palm Beach Atlantic University and/or the student to the federal government. This process is called a Return to Title IV calculation.

The Financial Aid Office strongly encourages students to contact the office to discuss withdrawing from the university to explain the Return to Title IV Policy and how it will affect the student.

What is a withdrawal?

There are two types of withdrawal: a course withdrawal and a withdrawal from the university. For a course withdrawal, you will need to contact the professor of the course. To begin the process of withdrawing from the university, please contact the Office of the Vice President for Student Development at 561.803.2663 or visit the office on the second floor of the Lassiter Student Center in suite #240.

A student's official and unofficial withdrawal will be determined by documentation provided to the Registrar’s Office. The official date will be determined by the earlier of one of the following:

Date the student begins the withdrawal process;
Date the student provides official notification of intent to withdraw;
Students who fail to officially withdraw are assumed to have completed at least 50% of the term unless an earlier or later date is determined by the school.

What is the withdrawal process?

To complete the official withdrawal process, visit the Registrar’s Office. They are located in Hood Hall on the main campus. Off-campus or on-line students can contact the Registrar’s Office at (561) 803-2072.

A student’s official and unofficial withdrawal will be determined by documentation provided by the Registrar’s Office. The official date will be determined by the earlier of one of the following:

Date the student begins the withdrawal process
Date the student provides official notification of intent to withdraw
Students who fail to officially withdraw are assumed to have completed at least 50% of the term unless an earlier or later date is determined by the school

What is the recalculation process?

Based on the date you began the withdrawal process we then determine the percentage of the semester you attended. This percentage is then applied to the aid disbursed or that could have been disbursed to determine the amount of earned aid.

If the amount disbursed to you is less than the amount you earned, we will notify you of your eligibility and give you the opportunity to receive that aid.
If the amount disbursed to you is greater than the amount you earned, then unearned funds have to be returned. Federal funds must be returned within 45 days from the recalculation process in the following order:

Direct Unsubsidized Loans
Direct Loans (subsidized)
Direct PLUS Loans (Graduate student)
Direct PLUS Loans (Parent)
Federal Pell Grants
Federal SEOG
TEACH Grant
Iraq Afghanistan Service Grant
Other Federal Sources of aid
Other State, Private and Institutional Aid

What is the repayment process?

Students who owe a repayment are encouraged to immediately pay the amount in full to the Student Accounts Office. The Student Accounts Office will credit the funds to the appropriate account. Students will not be able to access transcripts or use University facilities until full repayment has been made.

Post Withdrawal Disbursements

If the financial aid earned by the student exceeds the aid disbursed, additional funds may be disbursed to the student in the form of a late disbursement. Additional disbursements are not permitted if the amount of earned aid is less than the total Federal Title IV aid that was disbursed prior to the University’s determination that the student withdrew.

Withdrawals and Return to Title IV

The Financial Aid Office encourages all students to consult with a Financial Aid Counselor before they actually withdraw. The counselor will explain the Return to Title IV Policy and how it will affect the student.

If you received financial aid and withdraw from all of your classes within the first 60% of the term, we must recalculate your financial aid eligibility according to a federally-prescribed formula. Since funds are awarded based on your attending the entire term, we must recalculate your award based on the actual number of days you attended. The calculation will determine if you received funds for which you are NOT eligible or if you are eligible for a post withdrawal disbursement.