Wsu student funding services policy overview 2012

Page 1

STUDENT FINANCIAL AID SERVICES POLICY INTRODUCTION Broadly speaking, students studying at universities across the country have a wide range of financial assistance options available – from individual student loans from banks, to student loans offered through the government and bursary and/or scholarship programmes offered by both potential employers (the state and private companies) and by philanthropic donor agencies. However, not all these options are offered or equally accessible to the many students requiring financial support. Student financial aid at Walter Sisulu University (WSU) is constructed from two key elements: i) loans awarded through the National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS), and ii) bursaries – both state-granted and those offered by private firms and individuals. This policy will speak to the broad parameters for awarding loans and bursaries within WSU, recognizing that the most significant portion of funding is derived from loans and bursaries allocated through NSFAS. However, it is also acknowledged that overall improvements to the structure, function and oversight for external bursaries could potentially deepen the revenue stream from external funders, and this policy therefore addresses both types of funding.

PREAMBLE NSFAS has appointed WSU to administer loan and bursary funding on its behalf. According to the terms and conditions of the Grant Administration Agreement between these two parties, WSU is obliged to ensure compliance to all the minimum criteria and requirements as determined by NSFAS, from time to time. To ensure that these funds are administered correctly, clear guidelines and a policy approved for use by WSU Student Financial Aid Services offices is necessary. In addition, WSU enters into agreements with a wide range of external funding agencies, and these agreements bind the university to the delivery of certain key services, systems and processes. As a key principle, it is understood that student awards are made subject to the availability of funding, and that who meet the criteria for awards as outlined below are not automatically guaranteed financial assistance. Having received NSFAS funding in previous years does not DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 1


oblige the university or NSFAS to grant any further funding in future years. As a rule, bursaries should be the first choice of financial assistance offered to deserving, eligible students, with loans used to top-up shortfalls in bursary awards. This policy acknowledges that the University operates in a context in which the demand for funding far exceeds that awarded to the University by NSFAS or external funders. It is for this reason that a fair, transparent and equitable policy and procedure for all students must be applied across all four campuses of the University.

PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to provide clear administrative policies and guidelines for the awarding of student financial aid for students at WSU. Critical to the successful implementation of this policy is the understanding that the policies as determined and approved by the University apply to all campuses equally. This policy replaces any and all previous agreements between the University Campus management and campus Student Representative Councils. Any campus instituting campusspecific deviations from this policy will be subject to disciplinary processes, and any/all awards issued will be reviewed in line with the policy.

DEFINITION OF TERMS Book Allowance The allowance paid to partially compensate students for purchase of essential prescribed books.

Bursary Bursaries are awards given to students in need of financial support who are performing well academically. A Bursary does not have to be repaid.

Bursary/Loan A loan award where up to 40% of the amount awarded is converted to a bursary if the student passes all his/her modules in a given year. The bursary component is reduced proportionately, if not all the modules are passed and in the case of a student not passing any modules, the full amount is repayable as a loan.

Bursaries and Loans Package A combination of awards from one or more sources offered to a student by the Student Financial Aid Offices to supplement his/her Expected family contribution, and external funding, to the level necessary to meet the approved costs of study. Bursaries are complementary to loans, and while it is accepted that students may receive a mix of awards (where permitted by

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 2


the external funding agency), the total award should not be in excess to his/her requirements for study.

Continuing Student For the purposes of the Bursaries and Loans budget, a continuing student is a student who has been registered at WSU within the past year, or a student who has been accepted to study at a level other than the first year of an undergraduate degree or diploma (includes postgraduates registering for the first time at the University).

New Intake/Entrant For the purpose of the Bursaries and Loans budget, an new intake/entrant is a student who is registering at WSU for the first time, for the first year of an undergraduate degree or diploma.

Loan Money lent to a student to meet study related costs, which must be repaid.

Meal and Accommodation Allowances An agreed contribution to the meal and accommodation costs incurred by students staying in residence, or in accommodation off-campus, made in accordance with the guidelines provided annually by NSFAS.

NSFAS The National Student Financial Aid Scheme administers funds in terms of the National Student Financial Aid Scheme Act of 1999.

Expected family contribution A contribution to the annual cost of study at WSU, to be made from the student’s own resources. The extent of the Expected family contribution is determined annually by applying the NSFAS National Means Test (NMT) – this is referred to as the Expected Family Contribution (EFC).

Restricted Award An award on which the donor has placed restrictions, limiting it to students with certain attributes.

Satisfactory Academic Progress Meeting academic progress requirements as determined by the either the funder, the relevant Faculty Office and by the University annually for funding purposes.

Sundry Academic Charges This refers to the provision within a student’s Bursaries and Loans package of a contribution towards the costs of essential materials (including field trips, lecture notes, photocopying and so on) that are not included within the advertised tuition costs.

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 3


Refugee Refers to registered students who have been issued with an official refugee identity document by the South African department of Home Affairs.

University-administered Bursaries These are bursaries where the donor has left the administration of the bursary largely to the University.

POLICY STATEMENT The Student Financial Aid Services Office acknowledges that bursaries awards are the first choice for financial assistance for students who have applied for financial assistance. However, not all students are eligible for bursaries and as such, NSFAS loans will be granted to students who are considered to be both financially needy and academically deserving. The means test, as required by NSFAS, will be used to establish financial need. The NSFAS funds can only be allocated according to availability and WSU will apply the set academic and financial criteria in every allocation period. NSFAS sets the minimum and maximum loan amounts yearly, and the WSU is legally obliged to adhere to these limits. This policy applies to all types of funding administered by the Student Financial Aid Services Office, including scholarships and external bursaries (unless otherwise specified by the external funding agency or the specified rules of the programme). Where funds have specific award rules, those rules will take precedence.

TERMS OF REFERENCE FOR THE STUDENT FINANCIAL AID SERVICES COMMITTEE Two key broad objectives of the Student Financial Aid Services Committee are noted. Please see the full terms of reference for further details: i) To recommend to Senior Management and Council in respect of: a) The funding of financially deserving entrants and returning undergraduate students. b) The conditions, policies and rules governing the granting and management of bursaries and loan awards administered by the University. c) The granting of all external awards. d) The development of policy for fund raising for bursaries and loans. ii) To recommend to Senior Management and Council in respect of the funding and management of the system of bursary and loan awards and to monitor the implementation of the system.

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 4


APPLYING FOR AND ACCEPTING OFFERS FOR FINANCIAL AID The Student Financial Aid Services Office is required to set up procedures for applications, advertise the closing date and produce informational materials. All continuing and new intake/entrant students must apply for financial aid on the prescribed form (form must be completed in full), and provide all supporting documentation required on/before the closing date as given in the university prospectus. Only students who are registered at WSU, who are South African students and who are able to demonstrate their financial need and the academic ability will be eligible to apply for financial aid. No late applications will be accepted. (for full details, see the Standard Operating Procedures at the end of this policy).

ELIGIBILITY FOR FUNDING Overarching Principles All applicants for financial assistance are required to submit a fully completed application form including all supporting documents - prior to the closing date (to be determined annually by the Student Financial Aid Services Committee). Applications for funding are only accepted from students who: a) are registering (new intake/entrants)/have registered (continuing) for a degree or a diploma at Walter Sisulu University; AND b) are South African citizens or permanent residents and refugees (permanent residents who are not South African citizens do not qualify); AND c) apply before the closing date as agreed to by the Student Financial Aid Services Committee (late applications will be processed only in special circumstances and subject to the availability of funds). The selection of students for funding must support the university’s strategic objectives as well as recruitment and enrolment targets, as determined by the approved PQM for the university.

Funding Categories For the purposes of the Bursaries and Loans Budget, students fall into two funding categories: a) New intake/Entrants: for the purpose of the Bursaries and Loans budget, an entrant is a student who is registering at a university/university of technology for the first time, for the first year of an undergraduate degree or diploma. b) Continuing Students: for the purposes of the Bursaries and Loans budget, a continuing student is a student who has been registered at WSU in the previous year, or a student DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 5


who has been accepted to study at a level other than the first year of an undergraduate degree or diploma (includes postgraduates registering for the first time at the University).

Financial Eligibility The NSFAS National Means Test (NMT), which identifies both the neediest students as well as defining the monetary value of an expected family contribution (EFC) or “Expected family contribution”, is the approved measure. All applicants for financial assistance are required to submit all the documentation required for the NMT. The NSFAS national means test determines the EFC on the following basis: • Gross family income is totaled • Tax on earnings is deducted from the gross income (on the basis of the SARSdetermined tax thresholds) = nett income • A family subsistence allowance based on the family size (to a maximum of 8 people) and the home address of the family is deducted from the nett income • The disposable income for the family then factors in the number of students studying at any tertiary institution. WSU reserves the right to verify employment details of the family using credit check facilities from TransUnion. Where the financial aid application has been willfully completed incorrectly, such applications will be rejected from consideration for financial aid. Any student found to have unduly benefited from financial aid by the submission of false information will have the necessary legal steps taken against themselves and their families. To be eligible for funding, a student’s gross annual family income must be below a threshold to be determined annually by the Student Financial Aid Services Committee, or as prescribed by NSFAS or the external funding agency. AND Where applicable the student fee account for the previous semester must have been cleared to the satisfaction of the Finance Division. AND/OR A pre-determined EFC threshold approved by the Student Financial Aid Services Committee may be applied (this will be annually reviewed, on a needs-be basis). Students must be not be under an administration order.

Academic Eligibility To be academically eligible for funding, a student: DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 6


a) Must not already hold a degree or diploma at the same level as the degree or diploma for which the student is registering, with the following exceptions: a. Where a student has studied for a BSc degree before gaining admission to degrees in either Medicine or Engineering. b. Where a student is embarking on an LLB degree having already completed an undergraduate degree. b) Must not already hold a post graduate vocational qualification; c) Must have achieved satisfactory academic progress as determined by a measure approved by Senior Management or Council OR as determined by the Faculty. Continuing students must have passed at least 60% of all registered courses in the academic year prior to the award being made. First-year students must comply with the minimum entrance requirements for the particular qualification as set out in the respective WSU Faculty regulations brochures. Only first semester fees will be paid for these students. Second semester fees will only be paid if students pass 60% of the number of registered subjects for the first semester. Loans are only available for a first tertiary educational qualification (full time National Diploma programme, or undergraduate Baccalareus degree such as BCom, BA, BSc). A BTech programme is regarded as a second qualification, and the NSFAS will not assist students unless the BTech concerned is essential for practising in a chosen profession (e.g. Chiropractic or Homoeopathy). Loans are not granted for Access, Career orientated foundation, Pre-Tech, Certificate or any other “short” vocational courses. Loans are not granted for any non-subsidised programmes.

DETERMINING THE ALLOWABLE AWARD SIZE The extent of the funding made available to each student is dependent on both the availability of funding, the expected family contribution to be made by the student and the costs to be included when calculating the award.

Availability of funding How the maximum award size allowable for each eligible student is calculated is set out in the applicable section in the attached Standard Operating Procedures (this is the recommended award as per the NSFAS means test). The degree to which the University can match the maximum level of funding (to be known as the student budget) will be determined by the availability of funds received from NSFAS, and/or other bursary funders and/or the University.

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 7


It may be necessary to reduce the calculated maximum package size (student budget) by a factor to be determined annually once the full costs of the eligible students are known, and the fixed amount available for funding financial aid packages has been determined. In allocating bursary and loan packages, the Student Financial Aid Services Offices may not exceed the total budget provided to and by the University for that purpose.

Expected family contribution Policy It is a requirement that all students in receipt of Bursaries and Loans make a contribution towards the cost of their studies, to the extent determined by the NSFAS Means Test. Recipients of Bursaries and Loans are required to pay their assessed Expected family contribution before the end of the first semester. Scholarships and external bursaries are first used to cover the Expected family contribution payable, and thereafter to reduce the size of the loan required (provided that: bursaries provided from their own funds by schools or faculties as incentives to attract or retain students; NRF research grants and any income derived from employment on campus and paid through the system, will not be used to reduce the size of loans). Incentive bursaries from Academic Departments must be motivated for research purposes or as work carried out in the Department (salary) otherwise they will have to reduce the NSFAS award as a form of study grant. Any pre-registration deposit that entrants pay to secure their academic places will be offset against any Expected family contribution payable or offset the loan debt.

Determining the Size of the Bursaries and Loans Award Package The Bursaries and Loans award (student budget) for an individual student is calculated by adding all the approved costs, and subtracting from the total (a) the student's assessed expected family contribution (b) the balance of any scholarships and external bursaries after the expected family contribution has been covered and (c) any credit balance carried forward from the previous year (in the event of this having been paid by the student or external funder; NSFAS credit balances will be returned to NSFAS). Students must notify the Student Financial Aid Services Office if they receive other bursaries or loans. Second contracts may be considered if funds are available at the end of the allocation period.

Composition of the Bursaries & Loans award package Within the overall parameters, and depending on a student’s eligibility and income level, the Bursaries and Loans packages will contain one or more types of funding, applied in the following order: Restricted Bursary Awarded according to the donor's criteria.

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 8


University Administered Bursary Awarded to entrants on the basis of need, academic admission requirements and where applicable June examination results and to returning students on the basis of need and academic performance. National Student Financial Aid Scheme (NSFAS) Bursary/Loan Awarded to students at designated levels of study who qualify in terms of need, and who are making satisfactory academic progress. Awards to entrants are made on the basis of need, academic admission requirements and where applicable June examination results. The designated levels are Undergraduate, Postgraduate Diploma (PGCE/HDE), LLB and Masters (as per the specified category of funding as advised by NSFAS from time to time).

Limitations on funding Students must be enrolled for not less than 50% of a full programme load in any year or semester. Since this can only be determined after registration, a NSFAS loan and/or bursary may be withdrawn if it is found that students do not comply with this requirement. This requirement also comes into effect if the cancellation of a subject causes the full programme load to drop below 50%. An exception to this rule will only be made once for final-year students who have one or two subjects outstanding to complete their qualification, on condition that they qualify for a NSFAS loan, including the minimum amount requirement.

Duration of funding First degrees Loans are only available for a first tertiary educational qualification (full time National Diploma programme, or undergraduate Baccalareus degree such as BCom, BA, BSc). A BTech programme is regarded as a second qualification, and the NSFAS will not assist students unless the BTech concerned is essential for practising in a chosen profession (e.g. Chiropractic or Homoeopathy). Loans are not granted for Access, Career orientated foundation, Pre-Tech, Certificate or any other “short” vocational courses. Loans are not granted for any nonsubsidised programmes. The overall limit for first degrees is equivalent to the minimum period of study plus two years (N+2)1 for NSFAS Bursary/Loan awards. Therefore, for three year degree/diploma programmes, students will only be assisted with a NSFAS loan/bursary for up to five years for the first qualification. For four year degree or diploma programmes, a student will only be assisted with a NSFAS loan/bursary for up to six years for this first qualification.

1

Where N is the minimum duration of the course (as approved by the DHET)

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 9


Students that have changed study direction mid-stream will have the initial degree included for the purposes of determining the N+2 funding limitation. The exception to this is for the MBCHB students.

Higher degrees and diplomas The overall limit for postgraduate vocational qualifications and higher degrees will be the minimum period of study.

Maximum Awards Limits on award sizes NSFAS sets an annual limit for NSFAS Bursary/Loans. Tuition fees and residences will be covered as charged. WSU will set the annual limits for all allowances: On-campus self-catering accommodation meal allowance Private accommodation meal allowance Sundry Academic Charges Book Allowance Living allowance (where appropriate) The amount of the package may not exceed the maximum annual award limit determined annually by the Student Financial Aid Services Committee, or determined by NSFAS or the external funding agency on an annual basis. Any deviations to exceed the maximum award size for NSFAS funding must be approved by NSFAS in writing prior to the award being made to the student.

Cancellation of Awards Should a student not return the completed Bursary/Loan or Loan Agreements by the prescribed date (set annually), the offer of award will be withdrawn and the student will be fully liable for the student fee account. Outstanding fee balances resulting from the cancellation of subjects may affect the student’s admission to the university in the following year and/or graduation from the university (in the case of final year students).

OFF-CAMPUS PRIVATE ACCOMMODATION Students may only be eligible for off-campus private accommodation once official notification from the university Student Accommodation division confirms that there is no on-campus accommodation available. Local students (within 20km radius of the appropriate campus) may not automatically qualify for off-campus private accommodation.

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 10


The WSU will not be held responsible for any additional costs, damage to personal property and personal harm that may arise from students’ taking up outside accommodation.

APPEALS PROCESSES Students wishing to appeal the financial aid decision are required to submit their appeal in writing on an appeals form to the campus Student Financial Aid Service Office. Official appeal forms must be handed in before/on the closing dates and should include the required documents and motivations. Decisions on these appeals will be made by an Appeals Subcommittee of the Student Financial Aid Services Committee. The decision of the Appeal Sub-Committee is based on merit without creating a precedent. Decisions made by the Appeal Sub-Committee are final. During registration period, campus-based appeals committees will be established to fast-track appeals submitted as per this policy.

CREDIT BALANCES AND REFUNDS TO STUDENTS Any credit balances on accounts will be sent to NSFAS as a first loan repayment. NO credit balances will be paid out to any NSFAS student. Refunds to students are only made on instruction from the funder, and must be duly authorised by the funder (written consent required). There will be no refunds to students receiving funding through NSFAS, with the exception of the Funza Lushaka bursary (see the bursary rules for details). Refunds will only be made on application, and students will need to provide updated, correct banking details.

AMENDMENTS AND REVISIONS TO THE POLICY This policy will be reviewed annually by the Student Financial Aid Services Committee, prior to the start of the new academic year. A Sub-Committee of the Student Financial Aid Services Committee, nominated by the Committee, will hold the responsibility for drafting amendments, additions and omissions for approval.

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 11


Standard Operating Procedures for loans and bursary administration APPLYING FOR AND ACCEPTING OFFERS FOR FINANCIAL AID The Student Financial Aid Services Office is required to set up procedures for applications, advertise the closing date and produce informational materials. Although the Student Financial Aid Services Office will communicate with students via notices or flyers on Campus, students are personally responsible for making sure that they are informed about closing dates and other requirements.

Conditional on the non-extension of the closing date for applications, the results of the applications for financial aid will be published on WSU notice boards 30 days after the official publication of examination marks. The results will also be published on the WSU website. Any other methods can only be regarded as additional efforts to bring the outcome to the attention of students. Students are therefore personally responsible for consulting the notice boards to determine the outcome of the NSFAS applications. Should the student be successful, he/she will be cleared for registration. However, no Intellicards will be activated before signing of student loan agreements or bursary agreements.

Principles and procedures for financial aid applications Students must apply for a NSFAS loan on the prescribed form and comply with the following requirements: i. The application form must be completed in full and the information provided must be accurate and the most recent. The application will be turned down if it does not comply with these stipulations. ii. Students must submit death certificates if one or both of their parents are deceased. iii. Students must submit proof of unemployment in the form of an affidavit if one or both of their parents are unemployed. iv. If parents are unemployed, students must submit proof of what the family is living on, which can be included on the affidavit of unemployment of the parents. v. If the parents of the student were never married, students must submit an affidavit from the parent with whom they are living. vi. If the parents of the student are self-employed in the informal sector as hawkers, for example, or if they work from home, the parents must submit an affidavit on the amount that they earn. vii. Students must provide the most recent pay slips of all those living in the household, and applicable documentation where necessary. DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 12


Students who claim to receive no financial support from their families must produce proof of this statement before their NSFAS applications will be considered. Where applicable, the relevant parent or guardian must complete a statement giving his/her reason for withholding financial support from the applicant. Only students who are over 25 years old and living away from home permanently will be regarded as self-supporting. In these cases, students must provide their most recent pay slip and/or other documentation as necessary. No late applications will be accepted.

Completing a loan agreement or bursary agreement form (accepting the offer) Students must correctly complete a NSFAS contract (loan agreement form) within six weeks after every registration period. Scheduled appointment periods for handing in of the loan agreement form will be announced during registration by the campus Student Financial Aid Services Office. It is the students’ responsibility to check for when he/she must come to sign the agreement forms. Loan and/or bursary agreement forms must be handed in at the Student Financial Aid Services Offices with: (i) a certified copy of the student’s identity document; and (ii) an account statement signed by the student to confirm the correctness of the account; According to the National Credit Act, a pre-agreement quotation and statement must be signed by the student and must accompany the loan agreement. To ensure that students fully understand the contract being signed, a consumer information questionnaire, supplied by the WSU must be signed by the student, and handed in with the loan agreement documents. This will be kept on record by the university. Students will forfeit the loan if they do not hand in a contract within the stipulated period. WSU reserves the right to withdraw a loan if students receive a full bursary elsewhere.

DETERMINING THE ALLOWABLE AWARD SIZE Costs which may be taken into consideration when making an award The following costs can be taken into account in awarding bursaries and loans administered by WSU: (these costs have been ranked according to priority; * these are regarded as essential costs. The other costs can be covered subject to the availability of funds annually):

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 13


Tuition Costs* Tuition costs refer to the costs of the approved courses for which a student is permitted by his/her faculty to register in order to meet the requirements of their degree or diploma. In the case of semesterised courses, the provision for tuition costs should be accounted for at the beginning of the year as part of the student budget. If the grant awarded for both semesters is claimed prior to the second semester registration, any balance in the student fee account at the close of the academic year that resulted from the over-estimation of second semester costs will be reported as a credit balance. Specific funder rules must be applied in respect of tuition costs (e.g. Funza Lushaka). Registration Fees* Where applicable, and where the registration fee is more than the expected family contribution. Residence Fees* These are fees charged to the student fee account for university-administered residence facilities (on-campus, off-campus and private accommodation paid directly by the University to the landlord). Funding for residence is approved for the year based on 1st semester entry and only in exceptional circumstances, subject to availability of funding, can it be approved from 2nd semester. Students whose home addresses are in the greater East London, Butterworth, Queenstown or Mthatha areas are required to submit a motivation to the Student Financial Aid Services Office for living in a WSU on-campus residence or for off-campus accommodation. If no valid reason is supplied, residence or lodgings costs will not be covered. Students granted permission to reside in residence or private accommodation need not re-apply in subsequent years. Transport costs Students at the Buffalo City and Butterworth campuses may be provided with costs for transport to/from campus, where applicable. These are set costs as determined by the university and charged to the student fee account. No cash payments, transfers or allowances for travel are payable however. Meal Allowance An appropriate meal allowance may be included in the case of all eligible students, residing in on-campus residences or off-campus private residences. The type of meal allowance will be determined annually by the Student Financial Aid Services Committee. The meal allowance will be paid monthly over ten months (February to November). Any unutilized meal allowance credits will be transferred back to the student fee account as a credit balance. In the event of this being a NSFAS loan or bursary, this credit balance will be transferred back to NSFAS as a payment/return against the loan/bursary advanced. See section later in this policy for approved meal allowances.

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 14


Book Allowance This is the value of the allowance provided for the purchase of books. The size of the book allowance is determined annually by the Student Financial Aid Services Committee. Amounts allocated to students for book allowances will be transferred to the students’ account (or managed facility) for the purchase of Faculty-prescribed/recommended books (either new or second-hand). Students may not buy computers, printers or digital equipment with money allocated to books. In addition, students may not buy books for other students in exchange for cash. Any unutilized book allowance credits will be transferred back to the student fee account as a credit balance. In the event of this being a NSFAS-loan or bursary, this credit balance will be transferred back to NSFAS as a payment/return against the loan/bursary advanced. Sundry Academic Charges A provision is made for sundry academic charges not included in the tuition costs (e.g. lecture notes, photocopying, and other essential educational materials). The extent of the provision for sundry charges is set annually by the Student Financial Aid Services Committee. Living Allowances A living allowance over and above the meal and accommodation allowance may be included at the request of a donor/sponsor, but is not permitted in NSFAS loan awards. Exclusions NSFAS loans and bursaries do not cover the following costs: i. Cancelled subjects (students that cancel registration before writing the mid-year exam will have their full funding withdrawn) ii. SRC registration costs or levies; iii. Excursions or tours iv. Sports clubs or other associations; v. Interest on overdue accounts; vi. Late-registration fees; vii. Residence deposits; viii. Subjects added to students’ registration at a later stage (these can only be considered should additional funding be made available); and ix. Uniforms.

PAYMENTS TO STUDENT FEE ACCOUNTS Completion of Documentation Disbursement of Bursaries and Loans awards is conditional upon the satisfactory completion of all the required documentation, and submission (receipt to be acknowledged) to the campus Student Financial Aid Services Office. DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 15


Cash payments to students All payments to students for the allowances indicated below will be made through the authorized distribution of Intellicard/Intellicell. In the absence of such facilities, payments will be made to the student fee account, and from the student fee account to the student bank account. All students are required to hold and show documentary proof of current bank account details.

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 16


ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Student Funding Office at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, the NSFAS Office at the University of Johannesburg and the Student Financial Aid Office at the University of Cape Town are thanked and acknowledged for their contributions to this policy. All three universities demonstrated their commitment to the financial aid services by easily sharing their policies, written and shaped over time.

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 17


ANNEXURE A: TO-BE STUDENT APPLICATIONS MANAGEMENT CYCLE

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 18


ANNEXURE B: TO-BE STUDENT AWARDS MANAGEMENT CYCLE

DRAFT Student Financial Aid Services Policy – Overview Document

Page 19


Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.