Student Financial Services
Payment and Collection of Tuition, Fees and Other Obligations
It is the stated policy of the University that tuition and fees must be paid in full by the published due dates for each academic semester. It is the student's responsibility to make sure payment is complete by the published due date. Payment must be remitted in cash, by check, credit card or e-check via credit of financial aid to a student's account or a combination thereof for the total amount due. Financial aid includes scholarships, grants, loans and third-party payment arrangements. Students receiving financial aid are responsible for any additional amounts which may subsequently be billed resulting from changes in financial aid awards. Course registrations for students who have not made payment in full by the payment due date will be canceled and prohibited from enrolling in subsequent semesters. Advance registration will be canceled for those students who incur an obligation subsequent to the advance registration period. Additionally, students with unpaid accounts are prohibited from receiving their University transcript and may be denied other University services. To view this policy in its entirety, please click here.
How to Make a Payment Online Through Cardinal Direct Using a Credit Card or Electronic Check (Video)
Contact Information
| Student Financial Services sfs@svsu.edu 989.964.4210 173 Wickes Hall 7400 Bay Road University Center, MI 48710 |
| Jennifer Burk Manager 989.964.4217 jmurlick@svsu.edu |
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| Cheryl David Senior Accounting Clerk 989.964.4949 cdavid@svsu.edu | Maria Lynch Senior Accounting Clerk 989.964.4210 mlynch@svsu.edu | |
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| Holly Furlo Accountant 989.964.4211 hfurlo@svsu.edu | Kelly Terwillegar Accountant 989.964.2740 ksterwil@svsu.edu | |
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Payment Instructions
The Cashier’s Office, 166 Wickes Hall, is open for business from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. For your convenience, a 24-Hour Payment Center is located on the first floor of Wickes Hall in the east corridor that leads to Brown Hall.
Credit card payments for tuition, fees and housing are processed by a third party vendor (CashNet®) on behalf of the University. Credit card payments may only be made online. Students can access CashNet® through Cardinal Direct at cardinaldirect.svsu.edu. CashNet® accepts American Express, Discover and MasterCard; however, VISA is not accepted. CashNet® assesses a 2.9% service charge on the total amount of the credit card transaction.
The University does not accept credit card payments in person, via the phone or through the mail at the Cashier’s Office. There are several alternatives to making payment by credit card. They are as follows:
- In person at the Cashier’s Office, 166 Wickes Hall – cash, check or money order.
- Via mail to the Cashier's Office - check or money order.
- Via Cardinal Direct - electronic checks are accepted by SVSU at no charge.
Payment Deadline for Summer 2012: The payment due date for Summer 2012 tuition, fees and housing is Wednesday, May 9, 2012 by 6 p.m. Check your Summer 2012 total balance due on the Account Summary Term screen on Cardinal Direct. Continue to monitor your account on Cardinal Direct throughout the semester as changes in Financial Aid or schedule adjustments may result in a balance due. Students that have not paid in full for their tuition, fees and housing by the Summer 2012 payment due date will be removed from classes. Payment must be made in full upon registration for any Summer 2012 registration subsequent to the payment due date of May 9. The Spring 2012 payment due date was March 20, 2012. Payment must be made in full upon registration for any Spring 2012 registration subsequent to the payment due date of March 20.
Students receiving financial aid through the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for Summer 2012 must pay any balance due in full by the Summer 2012 payment due dates to avoid having courses dropped.
Students who have all of their tuition and fees paid by the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid, and do not desire to attend SVSU Spring/Summer, Fall or Winter semesters, must inform the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid prior to the first day of the semester and drop their courses. Only the Registrar’s Office is authorized to drop courses for students; no other office or staff member can drop courses for a student. To be dropped from a course, students must file a course withdrawal in the Registrar’s Office, or inform the Registrar’s Office in writing by mail or fax. Written notification must include the student’s name, Social Security Number, course information (line number and course name), and the student’s signature. You are financially obligated to pay for any courses from which you do not officially withdraw.
Students who register during Registration/Schedule Adjustment or Late Registration Add/Drop are required to make payment in full at the Cashier’s Office, through the 24 Hour Payment Center or by using Cardinal Direct. Courses not paid for will be dropped immediately by the Registrar’s Office.
The Cardinal Payment Plan is not available for the Spring or Summer semester. The Cardinal Payment Plan is available for the Fall and Winter semester. SVSU offers payment choices to help you manage your education expenses. The SVSU Cardinal Payment Plan allows you to spread your semester education and/or housing expenses over 4 monthly payments instead of larger, single-semester payments. For more information visit our website www.svsu.edu/cpp at or call (989) 964.4210.
The Graduate Payment Plan is not available for the Spring or Summer semester. The Graduate Payment Plan is available for the Fall and Winter semester. The Graduate Payment Plan is only available to those students enrolled in a Graduate program. The SVSU Graduate Payment Plan allows you to spread your semester education and/or housing expenses over 2 payments instead of larger, single-semester payments. Regardless of when you register for the Fall 2012 semester, you must enroll in the Graduate Payment Plan and pay the $75 enrollment fee by August 8, 2012 to be eligible for the plan. For enrollment details, please return to this website on or after June 1, 2012. For questions, please call (989) 964.4210.
Bookstore Advance Program for Financial Aid Students
You may elect to have up to a maximum of $600 (subject to your aid availability) of your excess financial aid funds deposited into a Bookstore Account accessible to you at the SVSU Bookstore. You may opt-in to the Bookstore Advance program by going to "SVSU Bookstore Advance Opt-in" in the "Financial Profile" section of Cardinal Direct. You may purchase books at the SVSU Bookstore beginning at noon (12 p.m.) Monday, May 7 - Friday, May 18, 2012 using your Spring 2012 excess financial aid funds.
Effective July 1, 2011, there are changes in SVSU's policy regarding book and merchandise purchases using excess financial aid. You will no longer be able to cash out at the Cashier's Office if you have remaining funds after your book purchases. Any unused excess funds will be refunded/mailed to you at the end of the third week of classes.
If you opted-in to the Bookstore Advance program in a previous semester, you will remain opted-in for the current and future semesters. You may opt-out of the Bookstore advance program if your funds haven't been made available at the SVSU Bookstore by going to "SVSU Bookstore Advance Opt-in" in the "Financial Profile" section of Cardinal Direct.
Beginning with the Spring 2009 semester, there will be a change in SVSU's policy regarding book and merchandise returns that was originally purchased using your Bookstore Loan Advance from your Access SVSU ID card. Any book or merchandise returned to the SVSU Bookstore (Barnes and Noble) will no longer be given cash as a refund, but rather returned as a credit to your Bookstore Advance Account. Any unused funds will be credited to your student receivable account and refunded to you via SVSU's normal refund process approximately 3 weeks from the beginning of the semester. If you have further questions regarding this policy change, please contact Student Financial Services at (989) 964-4210.
Past Due Accounts
A service charge of 1.5 percent per month will be assessed on all past due accounts. This includes, but is not limited to, past due housing payments, tuition payments, non sufficient funds checks and e-checks, return credit card charges, tuition adjustments and adjustments that reduce financial aid awards.
Non-Sufficient Funds (NSF) Checks and Returned Credit Card Charges
A fee up to $68.00 will be assessed to students whose check, e-check or credit card charge for registration does not clear the bank when presented. This fee is made up of a $30.00 hand registration fee, a $10 processing fee and a $28.00 fee for returned check/credit card charges. An invoice will be issued to students for the check/charge amount and fees assessed. Students failing to redeem checks or credit card charges by the date stated on the invoice may have their registration canceled.
A fee up to $28.00 will be assessed to students for each non-registration check or credit card charge that does not clear the bank when presented. All fees are subject to change without advance notice by the SVSU Board of Control.
In addition to the fees stated above, the University reserves the right to take one or more of the following actions:
- Transfer the debt to a collection agency.
- File a complaint with the SVSU University Police or appropriate law enforcement agency for possible prosecution.
- Place the individual on the University NSF check list, which prohibits the individual from cashing future checks at the University.
- Bring action against the individual for the amount of the check not redeemed within 30 days of the time he or she receives the invoice and, if the check is less than $500, damages for double the amount of the check or $50, whichever is greater, and not more than $500. This action may be taken pursuant to Act No. 276 of the Public Acts of 1984.
Refund Policy
Students who make schedule adjustments resulting in a credit hour load reduction or complete withdrawal from the University may be eligible to receive a refund of tuition and fees. Refunds for the Spring 2011, Summer 2011, Fall 2011 and Winter 2012 semesters will be computed as follows:
| Class Week Percentage | Spring 2011 | Summer 2011 |
| End of first week 100% | May 13 | July 1 |
| End of second week 50% | May 20 | July 8 |
| Class Week Percentage | Fall 2011 | Winter 2012 |
| End of first week 100% | September 2 | January 13 |
| End of second week 75% | September 13 | January 20 |
| End of third week 50% | September 20 | January 27 |
| End of fourth week 25% | September 27 | February 3 |
Students who receive federal financial aid (Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant-SEOG, Direct Loans, Plus Loans, Federal Work Study, America Reads and Community Service) and totally withdraw from all classes within 60 percent of the semester start date are subject to Federal regulations. These regulations require SVSU to calculate the amount of federal financial aid the student did not earn and return those funds to the Federal student financial aid programs. In some cases, the student may owe a balance for financial aid not earned. Withdrawing students should contact the Office of Scholarships and Financial Aid for further information.
Withdrawal and drop procedures are published on the SVSU web site. Official dates pertaining to this process and office hours for the Registrar’s Office also are listed in the Course Schedule. Students must file a withdrawal or drop form in the Registrar’s Office to be eligible for refunds. The date used to determine refunds is the date on which the form is returned with all necessary signatures to the Registrar’s Office.
Separate refund policies exist that apply to the death or serious illness of a student.
The University will provide, upon request, examples of the application of this policy. Such requests should be made in person or in writing to Student Financial Services, Office of the Controller.
Refunds for eligible students registered prior to the start of the semester will be processed within 10 days after the first day of the enrollment period.
Refunds for eligible students who make schedule adjustments between Late Registration Add/Drop and the last day to withdraw with refund and "W" grade will be processed within 10 days following the last day to withdraw with refund and "W" grade.
Refunds for all financial aid recipients will be processed within four weeks of the last date to withdraw with refund and "W" grade.
NOTE: Amounts due students will be applied against outstanding obligations owed the University.
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Important Tax Information for Students:
General Information - Tax Reform Act of 1997
The IRS Publication 970 "Tax Benefits for Education" provides explanations for taxpayers related to the Tax Reform Act of 1997. Publication 970 for 2011 has not been published as of 1-24-2011. The IRS web site link at http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf will take you to the 2010 publication and IRS website. Once the 2011 publication is available the link will be updated. You may also call 1-800-TAX-FORM for more information. Highlights of the Tax Reform Act of 1997 are noted below.
American Opportunity Credit (Effective 1/01/10)
- Maximum credit of $2,500 per year, per eligible student. Calculated as follows:
100% of the first $2,000 of qualified tuition and fees.
25% of the next $2,000 of qualified tuition and fees.- 40% of credit may be refundable; the rest is nonrefundable.
- Available only for the first 4 years of postsecondary education. Available only for 4 tax years per eligible student, including any year(s) the Hope credit was claimed.
- The student must be enrolled in an undergraduate degree or other officially recognized program and must be enrolled at least half time for at least one academic period during the tax year.
- The student cannot have a drug felony conviction.
- Payment for tuition & fees must have been made between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011.
Lifetime Learning Credit (Effective 7/01/98)
- Maximum credit of $2,000 per year, per taxpayer.
Calculated as follows: 20% of up to $10,000 of qualified educational expenses for the taxpayer, spouse or dependent children.- Qualified tuition and fee expenses for undergraduate, graduate, continuing education course work and courses that improve job skills are eligible for the credit. There is no minimum enrollment level requirement.
- Payment for tuition & fees must have been made between January 1, 2011 and December 31, 2011.
Common Provisions of American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning Credits
- Qualified Tuition & Fees - Tuition and fees required for enrollment or attendance. This does not include student activity fees, athletic fees, room and board, books, equipment, transportation or other personal living and family expenses.
- Calculating the credit - Tuition is reduced by scholarships, grants, and other tax-free tuition benefits. In general, only out of pocket expenditures for tuition and fees are eligible for the credit. Loans are considered to be an "out of pocket expenditure".
- Who claims the credit? - The student or the taxpayer claiming the student as a dependent during the tax year.
- Income Limitations - The full credit is available to individuals with modified adjusted gross income of $85,100 per year or less. The limit is $135,100 for married individuals filing joint returns. The credit is proportionally phased out for individuals with incomes between $70,100 and $85,100 and between $105,100 and $135,100 for married taxpayers, filing joint.
- Credit Limitations - The credit is non-refundable, which means the amount of the credit cannot exceed the taxpayer's total tax liability. The Hope and Lifetime Learning credits cannot both be claimed for the same student in the same tax year.
- Special Rule - Payments made during a tax year for an academic period that begins in the first three months of the following year, may be included in the tax year the payment is made.
For general informational use only. Please contact your attorney, accountant or other tax professional for advice.
Important Tax Information Letter
January 25, 2012
Dear SVSU Student/Parent:The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 enacted into law two new tax credits – the Hope Credit and the Lifetime Learning Credit. It is possible that you or the individual who claims you as a dependent for federal income tax purposes may be eligible for these tax credits for qualified tuition and fees paid to an institution of higher education.
For the 2011 tax year, SVSU is required to provide the following information on Internal Revenue Service Form 1098-T to the Internal Revenue Service for all students who were enrolled during the 2011 calendar year regardless of eligibility for either of the tax credit programs. A copy of this form for 2011 will be mailed to students by January 31, 2012. It will include:
1. Name, address and taxpayer identification number of the University.
2. Name, address and taxpayer identification number of the student who paid qualified tuition and fees to SVSU during 2011.
3. Amount billed for qualified tuition and related expenses during 2011.
4. Adjustments made for a prior year to amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses.
5. Scholarships and grants applied during the calendar year 2011.
6. Adjustments to scholarships or grants for a prior year.
7. Confirmation as to whether the student was enrolled at least half-time during any academic period commencing in 2011.
8. Confirmation as to whether the student was enrolled exclusively in a graduate-level degree program.As noted on the 1098-T tax form which SVSU is providing to the IRS, the University reports the amount of qualified tuition and fees billed, NOT payments received. The payment information, which will be needed to complete federal tax form 8863, may be obtained by going to this page (Will be available starting around the week of Jan 31st). You may also obtain this information by using your Account Summary screens in Cardinal Direct.
If you have questions or problems logging in, please contact the Support Center at (989)964-4225. If you have questions related to the information provided, please call the Controller's Office - Student Financial Services Department at (989) 964-4210.
This information can only be provided directly to SVSU students due to confidentiality requirements of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. If an individual requiring this information is someone other than the SVSU student, such as a parent or guardian, then the student still must request the information and forward the information when received to the parent or guardian.
Sincerely,
Susan L. Crane
Controller