TO: Gustavus Students
FROM: President Bergman
SUBJECT: Important Information Regarding Student Accounts
DATE: March 27, 2020
Dear Gusties,
Thank you for your continued engagement, patience, and goodwill as all of us in the Gustavus community navigate these uncertain times. As you prepare to begin online classes on Monday, I know that questions about student accounts and refunds have been a concern for many of you. Below, you will find detailed information from Student Accounts and Financial Aid about how the College is handling credits and refunds due to COVID-19. Please carefully read the entirety of this message.
After thoughtfully considering operating expenses, government and institutional financial aid, and the time of semester when this disruption occurred, the College will be providing $4 million in credits and refunds to current students whose campus living situation has been impacted by this global health crisis. In the same spirit of community, the College will be paying employees their full salary through the remainder of the academic year.
When we first made the difficult decision to transition to online learning, Scott Anderson ‘89, Chair of the Gustavus Board of Trustees, made a remark that has guided the College’s work throughout this process: “We are going to take care of our people.” While this is a complicated financial situation for the College, our students, faculty, and staff have always been at the heart of our decision-making process.
I am proud of the way that you have individually and collectively responded to the COVID-19 pandemic. As we move forward together through the coming days and weeks, know that I am thinking about you and cheering for your success.
Take care of yourselves. Support one another. Be safe. Be well.
Yours in community,
President Bergman
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TO: Gustavus Students
FROM: Doug Minter, Associate Vice President for Enrollment, Dean of Financial Aid
SUBJECT: Important Information Regarding Student Accounts
DATE: March 27, 2020
Gustavus Students,
Thank you for your patience and understanding as we have been working through the challenges created by COVID-19. Now that it is clear which students are remaining on campus and which students have left for the semester, the Financial Aid office has individually reviewed student accounts for those who had room and/or meal plan charges. Please carefully read the information below for an overview of the College’s plan for addressing student account balances as well as student employment, deposits, parking fees, guidance for parents who have lost jobs, and refunds for seniors whose student accounts show a positive balance.
More detailed information about your specific account will be mailed to your home address. If you have questions after reviewing this information, please email studentaccts@gustavus.edu and we will respond promptly.
Room Credits: Gusties who were living in campus housing this semester and left campus will receive a 40 percent credit to their student account for their housing charges. For example, a first-year student who paid $3,230 for the semester will have a $1,292 credit added to their account. Students whose room charges are completely covered by grant or scholarship aid will not receive a credit to their account.
Meal Credits: Gusties who had a meal plan this semester and left campus will receive a credit to their student account in the amount of their remaining meal plan balance. Students whose meal plan charges are completely covered by grant or scholarship aid will not receive a credit to their account.
Parking Permits: All Gusties who possess a currently valid parking permit will receive a $70 credit to their student account.
Student Employment: Students working through student employment programs will receive a credit to their student account equal to their average weekly earnings multiplied by the nine (9) remaining weeks of class time. This credit cannot exceed your maximum student employment award. Email finaid@gustavus.edu with any questions.
Academic tutors may receive a separate communication from their department chair or work supervisor with specific information about options for remote tutoring.
Student Accounts: All refunds and credits will first be applied to any outstanding balance on your account, and then automatically applied to your $500 fall registration deposit. For example, first-year student Gus Davis has an outstanding balance of $1,000 on their student account and will receive credits and refunds totaling $1,600. The first $1,000 will clear the outstanding balance on the student account, the next $500 will be applied to the fall registration fee, and the remaining $100 will go on the student account as a credit for Fall 2020.
As a result of the uncertainty surrounding refunds and credits, the College is waiving all interest on student account balances for the month of March.
If you have a positive balance after clearing outstanding student account charges and making the fall registration deposit, you may keep it as a credit for Fall 2020 or request a refund. Information on how to request a refund will follow by mail in your individual account summary.
Registration Deposit: All students may wait to see the results of these refunds/credits prior to making further payment for the $500 fall deposit. As referenced above, you may or may not have a remaining payment to apply toward this deposit.
Seniors: Students who will complete their degree and will not be returning to campus may complete the refund form enclosed in their letter if the refund/credits results in a positive balance on their student account. Instructions to request the refund will follow by mail in your individual account summary.
Job Loss: We understand this is a time of financial stress for many families. Students who have a supporting parent who has lost a job and been approved for unemployment in their home state may complete the Appeal Form linked here. We will use this information to determine if a family has additional eligibility for the current academic year.
Thank you again for your patience as the College responds to the COVID-19 pandemic. From all of us in Financial Aid, we wish you success as you begin online classes. Please contact our office if you have any questions.
We miss you on the hill!
Doug Minter
Associate Vice President for Enrollment
Dean of Financial Aid