Policies

U.S. Department of Education regulations require the disclosure of general information to help students and families make better-informed decisions about higher education. Below are links to WMed consumer information, policies, and disclosures as required under the Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended. 

For information or to receive a printed copy of our consumer information, policies, manual, or statements, contact the Office of Student Affairs at studentaffairs@wmed.edu or 269.337.6111.

For information or to receive a printed copy of the Financial Aid Policy Manual, contact the Office of Financial Aid at financialaid@wmed.edu or 269.337.4408.

Frequently Referenced Financial Aid Policies

  • Cost of Attendance (COA)
    The COA consists of both direct (fixed) costs such as tuition and fees, as well as indirect (variable) costs including books, transportation, loan fees, personal expenses, and living expenses. The COA will vary depending on academic program and enrollment status.
  • Disbursement and Refund Information
    Disbursement dates are published on the website and student portal. These are the earliest possible dates based on the start date each term. Students can use these dates to plan for their refunds and budget their monthly expenses. Disbursements that exceed the amount of charges owed create a credit balance on the student account. The medical school refunds credit balances within 14 days of funds being posted to the student account.
  • Federal Aid Recipient Rights and Responsibilities

    Students have the right to:

    • Know the financial assistance programs available, and the procedures and deadlines for applying for financial aid; 
    • Know the criteria for determining the cost of attendance, financial aid eligibility, and calculating financial need;
    • Know how and when financial aid funds are disbursed;
    • Know the criteria for maintaining financial aid eligibility including standards of satisfactory academic progress, and what happens if not met; 
    • Know what portion of financial assistance is a scholarship/grant and what portion is a loan that must be repaid. If the aid is a loan, know the total amount to be repaid, the interest rate, payback procedures, length of time to repay, and when repayment begins; 
    • Request an explanation of the types of aid offered, and request in writing a review of their financial aid application and eligibility;
    • Privacy. All records submitted for financial aid are confidential, and subject to legal requirements concerning disclosure of such information.   

    Students have the responsibility to:

    • Complete all financial assistance application forms accurately, submit them by the appropriate deadlines, and notify the Office of Financial Aid of any changes to reported information;  
    • Respond in a timely manner to requests for additional documentation related to verification or corrections;
    • Notify the Office of Financial Aid of any sources of external or third party assistance including awards, grants, scholarships, and service commitment scholarships;
    • Read and understand all forms, both paper and electronic, that are submitted or signed, and retain copies of these forms. 
    • If borrowing a loan(s), participate in any required entrance/exit counseling, and notify servicers of any changes in name, address, or school status;
    • Maintain standards of satisfactory academic progress for financial aid eligibility; 
    • Know and comply with all institutional policies including the tuition refund and Return of Title IV fund policies.  
  • Financial Aid Code of Conduct
    The medical school administers financial aid services and programs free from conflicts of interest or perceptions, and in compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
  • Loan and Repayment Information
    Students who submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and meet federal eligibility criteria will be offered federal Direct Unsubsidized and Direct Graduate PLUS loans up to applicable limits and will be provided with repayment information.
  • Overview of Aid Programs and Eligibility Requirements
    The Office of Financial Aid coordinates all sources of aid, including internal and external merit- and need-based scholarships, awards, and federal and private student loans. The combined total of financial aid generally cannot exceed the annual Cost of Attendance. The FAFSA must be submitted in order to determine eligibility for need-based scholarships and student loans. There is no separate application for institutional merit-based awards.
  • Return of Title IV Aid
    Students who receive federal financial aid, and who do not complete a term/semester for which the aid was intended, are subject to this policy which is separate from the tuition refund policy. Using the last date of attendance, the Office of Financial Aid calculates “earned” versus “unearned” federal aid according to a federally mandated formula that is based on the percentage of the term/semester completed. The Office of Financial Aid notifies students by email of the results of a Return of Title IV Aid calculation.
  • Satisfactory Academic Progress
    Students must maintain standards of financial satisfactory academic progress to continue eligibility for financial aid. The Office of Financial Aid makes determinations at the end of each academic year or end of each payment period (term/semester) depending on the degree program, and notifies students of changes to eligibility status.
  • Tuition Refund
    The medical school has a tuition refund policy that stipulates the amount of tuition charges that are refunded to a student who withdraws from all or a portion of classes during a term/semester.
  • Withdrawal
    Students who withdraw from academic programs must follow specific withdrawal procedures outlined in the Medical Student Policy Manual and Graduate Student Policy Manual.

WMed does not approve study abroad programs for credit or FSA program eligibility.