Tuition and Fee Payment Policies

Governors State University has three options for a student to complete registration:

• Pay all tuition and fees by the payment due date;
• Make an initial payment and have an electronic payment plan agreement on file in the Cashier’s Office by the payment due date; or
• Accept your Financial Aid award.

The payment due date is based upon the date of registration. These dates are term specific. Information regarding these due dates is available on the GSU website or on the myGSU portal.

Electronic payment plan forms are available on the GSU website or the myGSU portal. There is a $20 non-refundable fee for the payment plan option.

Students who do not comply with the registration process by the initial due date will be dropped from the class (es) for which they are registered. If you do not plan to attend GSU and your classes have not been dropped for non-payment, it is your responsibility to drop your classes by the 100% refund deadline.

Students who fail to pay by the published due dates are subject to a $100 late fee. This includes those students who receive financial aid, tuition waivers, and work/organization sponsored tuition assistance.

GSU student e-mail will be used to communicate payment due dates.

A $25 service fee will be assessed for any check returned by the bank.

Payment Options

Payments may be made via the myGSU portal, at the Cashier’s Office, or by mail. GSU accepts cash, check, MasterCard, Visa, or Discover.

Payments made at the Cashier’s Office after-hours depository will be credited the following business day.

To make a credit card payment by phone: 708.534.4055

To pay by mail, send payments to:

GOVERNORS STATE UNIVERSITY
Cashier’s Office
1 University Parkway
University Park, IL 60484-0975

On-Campus Tuition Schedule Per Term

Illinois Resident

Undergraduate Guaranteed Tuition Plan

Under the Guaranteed Tuition Plan, the tuition for undergraduate students who are Illinois residents is assessed at a per-credit-hour tuition rate during the term they first register and the same tuition rate will apply for each of the following consecutive eleven terms (fall, spring, or summer). If the undergraduate student has not yet completed their undergraduate degree at Governors State University after the initial 12 consecutive terms then tuition will be assessed at the guaranteed rate of the year following the student’s initial enrollment. This new rate will then be assessed for a maximum of 6 consecutive terms (fall, spring, or summer).

For the 2016-2017 academic year, per-credit-hour tuition rates for undergraduate students who are Illinois residents are as follows:

Undergraduate Tuition (per credit hour)

Master’s Degree Tuition (per credit hour)

Specialist Degree Tuition (per credit hour)

Doctoral Degree Tuition (per credit-hour)

Distance Learning Fee

The distance learning tuition and fees apply to courses taught at locations other than the main campus and to media courses, i.e. telecourses, online courses, and correspondence courses. A minimum service fee of $17 per credit-hour is assessed.

Undergraduate Indiana Resident

Undergraduate students who are residents of Indiana pay the same per-credit-hour tuition rate as the one established for that same academic year for students who are new to GSU and who are Illinois residents. Indiana students do not qualify for the Illinois Guaranteed Tuition Program.

Fees

The fees listed in this section of the catalog are subject to change for any subsequent term. Please check the website for any changes. All students who have applied and been admitted to an on campus academic program or enrolled as an on campus non-degree seeking student at Governors State University must pay these fees. All practicum and internship classes are classified as on campus classes. Therefore, mandatory on campus fees will be assessed to students taking practicum and internship classes.

Mandatory Fees

Explanation of fees

Amounts are for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Audit Fee. A non-refundable fee of $75 is assessed per audited course in lieu of tuition.

Career and Counseling Fee. The Career and Counseling fee is $4 per credit hour. The fee supports programs that will increase the academic success and retention of all students. This fee assists in the transition process by helping students prepare to find employment after graduation. Some of the programs receiving funding support are job development, on campus job recruitment, resume writing services, career, personal, and academic counseling programs and services.

Doctoral Application Fee. There is a non-refundable doctoral student application fee of $75 per application submitted except for the DPT.

Graduation Fee. A non-refundable Graduation Processing Fee is assessed at the time students file their applications to graduate. The fee is $125 for an undergraduate or graduate degree.

Health Services Fee: A fee of $5 per credit-hour is assessed of all enrolled students to support the operations of an on-campus Student Health Services Center. At this Center, professional staff members are available to students seeking assistance with a variety of primary, non-emergency health care problems and concerns.

Master’s Application Fee. There is a non-refundable master’s student application fee of $50 per application submitted.

Parkways Fee. A fee of $38 per term is assessed to all currently enrolled on-campus students. The university maintains five parking lots adjacent to its main building. Operation and maintenance of the lots and walkways, snow removal, repair/replacement, etc. along with quick-start/escort service, are funded from parking fees paid by staff and students. Staff pays for parking through payroll deduction. Students are assessed parking fees with their enrollment fees.

Strategic Initiative Fee. A fee of $14 per credit-hour is assessed to all currently enrolled students. The fee will support targeted initiatives that enhance the student learning experience.

Student Activity Fee. The Student Activity fee is $5 per credit hour. The fee supports programs and activities to enrich the extracurricular life of students. Some of the programs and activities receiving funding support are the student newspaper, entertainment and educational events, student clubs and organizations, the Student Senate, student leadership development, diversity observance events, and the GSU Express shuttle.

Student Center Fee. The Student Center fee is $9 per credit hour. The fee supports the Recreation and Fitness Center and the operation of the Student Center, which provides facilities for meetings, student offices, lounges, recreation areas, study areas, and a number of other related programs and services.

Technology Fee. A fee of $17 per credit hour is assessed to all currently enrolled students. The fee is used for expanding computer access to students and upgrading computer hardware and software.

Transcript Fee. GSU charges a fee of $10 per official transcript.

University Facilities Fee. A fee of $22 per credit hour is assessed to all currently enrolled students. The fee assists in the maintenance of all GSU physical facilities, infrastructure, and operations.

Undergraduate Application Fee. There is a nonrefundable undergraduate student application fee of $25 per application submitted.

Program and Service Fees

Amounts are for the 2016-2017 academic year.

Assessment Fee. Fees are based on the current academic year undergraduate extended learning tuition rate. Students at GSU who submit a CEEL portfolio, or Interdisciplinary Studies (IDSS) students who elect to do a portfolio, are charged an assessment fee equivalent to tuition for one credit-hour for submission of a portfolio, and 40 percent of tuition for one credit-hour for assessment of each course or section. International portfolio fees are equivalent to tuition for two credit-hours.

Assessment of each course or section is 40 percent of this amount. To learn how to write and submit a portfolio that can be assessed for possible academic credit, students may attend a Portfolio Seminar with a fee approximately equivalent to tuition for one-half of a credit hour. Qualified students may enroll in an online or on-campus course with advisor approval. For those unable to attend a seminar, a Portfolio Seminar notebook and self-paced video are available at the GSU Bookstore. Military transcripts, which need to be sent to outside evaluators, are charged fees approximately equivalent to tuition for one-half of a credit-hour for this assessment.

For further information, call the Interdisciplinary Studies Office (IDSS) at 708.534.4092.

Distance Learning Fee. The distance learning fee applies to courses taught at locations other than the main campus and to media courses, i.e. television courses, online courses, and correspondence courses. A minimum service fee of $17 per credit-hour is assessed.

Library Fees. Most University Library services are free. However, copying, printing, and lost or damaged materials have a fee.

Student Health Insurance. Participation in a student health insurance program is optional. Information on basic annual plans for a single student is available from private companies. Information on these health insurance plans and fee rates for spouse and/or dependent coverage is also available in the Student Life Center (A2100).

Payment of Tuition and Fees

Tuition and applicable fees must be paid no later than the date specified for each term. Registration and official enrollment in courses is not complete until all tuition and fees have been paid. The university accepts cash, check, money order, MasterCard, Visa, or Discover card payment. A $100 late fee will be assessed to all accounts not paid in full by the due date.

Payment Plan

The payment plan option is available to students during the early, regular and late registration periods. A percentage of the students’ account balance and a signed payment plan agreement are due by the initial due date. Payment plan forms are available on the GSU website and at the Cashier’s Office. The payment plan fee is $20.

Determination of Undergraduate/Graduate Tuition Rates

Undergraduate tuition rates apply to all students who have not earned a baccalaureate degree, including degree-seeking, undeclared, and non-degree seeking students.

Graduate tuition rates apply to all students holding a baccalaureate degree, regardless of the level of course work in which they intend to enroll. This policy includes degree-seeking and non-degree-seeking students.

Students will be billed for tuition based on their status at the time of fee assessment. However, if delayed posting or retroactive changes to a student’s record affect this status, tuition will be reassessed and the student billed or refunded any difference in tuition. Tuition adjustments will only be made for the current term.

Residency

To be considered residents, students must have lived in Illinois for a period of at least six consecutive months immediately preceding the beginning of any term for which they register at the university and must continue to maintain bona fide residence in the state while enrolled at GSU. An individual may be eligible for residency if his/her parents or spouse qualifies as an Illinois resident using the above criteria.

See the Appendix  of this catalog for additional information on resident status.

Refunds

Students who drop from courses on or before the published 100 percent refund deadline are entitled to a full refund of tuition and fees.

Refunds of fees may be made because of the student’s death, disability, extreme hardship, or institutional error. Additional information is available from the Registrar’s Office.

Refunds may be made via check, direct deposit or via the web if payment was made via the web.

Unsatisfied Financial Obligations

Unsatisfied financial obligations to the university are pursued through placement with a collection agency, litigation, and/or placement in the Illinois Comptroller’s Offset System. Collection costs incurred by the university in collecting monies due will be assessed to the debtor.

University Holds

University holds are a means of identifying students with unsatisfied immunization, financial or academic obligations to the university. Students with holds may not register until holds are released.

Waivers - Policy on Tuition and Fees Waivers

Purpose: This policy establishes the University processes for authorizing tuition and fee waiver programs and the purposes of such programs, establishing waiver budget and expenditure levels, and allocating waivers to waiver programs. Tuition and fee waivers are an agreement between the student and the University to reduce or eliminate assessed tuition and/or fees. All Illinois public universities are authorized to award two general types of tuition and fee waivers: Mandatory Waivers and Discretionary Waivers.

Mandatory Waiver means a waiver that an institution is required by State statute to grant to students who meet the specific parameters and criteria included in the statute.

Discretionary Waiver means a waiver that is granted at the discretion of the institution. Discretionary waivers include the following categories:

• Faculty and Staff Waiver means a discretionary waiver awarded to public university faculty, staff, or other employees, or their dependents.
• Student Talent or Merit Waiver means a discretionary waiver awarded to students based on talent in a particular field, academic merit, or special status.
• Student Need Waiver means a discretionary waiver granted to students demonstrating financial need.
• Student Service Waiver means a discretionary waiver granted to students to support the University mission, goals, and objectives through participation in outside contracts; graduate or undergraduate research, teaching, or other assignments; training or grant programs; external internship programs; clinical portions of degree programs conducted at other institutions; or other student experiences.

Descriptions of Tuition Waiver Programs

Mandatory Waivers

1. Teachers Scholarships - Special Education Grants: Provides tuition and necessary fee awards to encourage current teachers and academically talented students to pursue careers in any area of special education as a public or private elementary or secondary school teacher in Illinois. Recipients are exempt from paying tuition and fees at an eligible institution for up to four years. Purpose: To provide financial incentives to pursue special education teacher training. Eligibility and Criteria: As determined by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission (ISAC), participants must be a United States citizen or an eligible non-citizen; an Illinois resident; agree to take courses to prepare for the teaching of handicapped children or children with learning disabilities; be an Illinois high school graduate and rank in the upper half of the graduating class, or hold a valid teaching certificate that is not in the discipline of special education; and not have received a waiver under this program in the past. Participants are required to contract with the Illinois State Scholarship Commission and teach special education for two years within the five-year period following graduation.
    
2. General Assembly Scholarships: Each member of the General Assembly may grant, annually, two four-year scholarships, one for the University of Illinois, and the other for any state-supported university, to persons from his/her district. The scholarships exempt the holder from paying tuition or fees, with the exception of fees for book rental, service, laboratory, supply, union building, hospital and medical insurance, and any fees pledged for the payment of interest and principal on bonds for the operation and maintenance of buildings. Purpose: To extend opportunities to attend the University of Illinois or other state-supported universities. Eligibility and Criteria: Students must live in the nominating legislator’s district and are required to sign a waiver of confidentiality concerning scholarship information. This program was abolished in 2012. Only persons nominated to receive or awarded such a scholarship before September 1, 2012 are entitled to the scholarship.
    
3. Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) Scholarships: Scholarships are offered to residents of Illinois whose scholastic standing enables them to enroll in ROTC programs. The scholarships exempt the holder from paying tuition or fees, with the exception of fees for book rental, service, laboratory, supply, union building, hospital and medical insurance, and any fees pledged for the payment of interest and principal on bonds for the operation and maintenance of buildings. Purpose: To encourage their participation in the ROTC programs. Eligibility and Criteria: Residents of the State of Illinois whose scholastic standing will enable them to enroll in the ROTC programs available at universities supported by the State of Illinois are eligible. Applicants are required to take an examination each year according to rules prescribed by the presidents, or designees, of participating institutions. Scholarships are awarded on a merit basis to those eligible recipients receiving the highest grades with evidence of leadership ability. Applicants also must submit to the institution Selective Service registration compliance documentation. Waivers shall be awarded at each university on the basis of the equivalent of 10 scholarships per class, per branch of service, each academic year.
    
4. Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) Scholarships and Fee Waiver: DCFS annually selects 48 children, at least four of whom are children of veterans, for scholarship and fee waivers for four consecutive years at any university or college maintained by the State of Illinois. Selection is based on scholastic record, aptitude, and general interest in higher education. Purpose: To give financial assistance for college expenses to selected children under the care of the Department. Eligibility and Criteria: DCFS may select 48 students under their care, at least four of whom must be children of veterans, on the basis of scholastic record, aptitude, and interest in higher education, and who have completed four years of high school.
    
5. Partial Tuition Waivers for Children of University Employees: Public University governing boards must offer fifty percent tuition waivers for undergraduate education to the children of employees who have been employed by the granting university and/or any public university in Illinois for an aggregate of at least seven years. Participants must be under the age of 25 and qualify for admission to the University. Purpose: To grant partial tuition waivers to the children of employees to attend the University. Eligibility and Criteria: The parent or guardian of the waiver recipient must have been employed by any public university for at least seven years. Children receiving the waivers must be undergraduates, under age 25 at the commencement of the academic year in which the waiver takes effect, must qualify for admission, and can only receive a maximum of four years of partial tuition waiver benefits.
    
6. Senior Citizen Courses Act: Permits senior citizens, over the age of 65, to enroll in regularly scheduled credit courses at public institutions of higher education without payment of tuition. This does not include payment of fees. Limited to persons whose annual income is less than the threshold amount in the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act.  Purpose: To provide tuition-free credit courses for senior citizens that attend public institutions of higher education in Illinois. Eligibility and Criteria: Must be age 65 or older with an annual household income below the threshold amount of the Senior Citizens and Disabled Persons Property Tax Relief and Pharmaceutical Assistance Act.
    
7. Illinois Veterans Grants: Veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States are entitled to grants to pay for eligible tuition and mandatory fees for undergraduate or graduate education. Benefits are limited to use at Illinois public two- and four-year institutions, and can be used for a maximum of four academic years of full-time enrollment. This program is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Purpose: To provide tuition and fee grants to veterans of the Armed Forces of the United States. Goals: Eligibility and Criteria: Veterans must have served at least one year of federal active duty in the Armed Forces of the United States, or have served in a foreign country during a time of hostilities in that country regardless of length of service. Individuals who were medically discharged for service related reasons or were discharged prior to August 11, 1967 are also eligible. Recipients must have been honorably discharged or be honorably serving. Members of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) are not eligible for these grants. Eligible applicants must have been a resident of Illinois or a student at an Illinois public two- or four-year institution at the time of entering federal active duty service. If not currently serving federal active duty service, eligible applicants must also have returned to Illinois within six months after leaving federal active duty service, or if married to a person in continuing military service stationed outside Illinois, returned to Illinois within six months after the spouse left service or was stationed in Illinois. Recipients must satisfy the institution’s minimum grade level requirements and maintain a satisfactory student loan repayment record.
    
8. Illinois National Guard Grants: Members of the Illinois National Guard are entitled to grants to pay for eligible tuition and certain fees for undergraduate and graduate education. Benefits are limited to use at Illinois public two- and four-year institutions, and can be used for a maximum of four academic years of full-time enrollment. This program is administered by the Illinois Student Assistance Commission. Purpose: To provide tuition and fee grants to members of the Illinois National Guard. Eligibility and Criteria: Active members of the Illinois National Guard who have completed one full year of service are eligible. Former members of the Illinois National Guard may also be eligible if they were active for at least five consecutive years and had their studies interrupted by federal active duty for at least six months. These individuals must be within 12 months of their discharge date from the Illinois National Guard to be eligible. Eligibility is also contingent on enrollment in an Illinois public two- or four-year institution. Recipients must satisfy the institution’s minimum grade level requirements and maintain a satisfactory student loan repayment record.
    
9. MIA/POW Scholarships: Dependents of an “eligible veteran or serviceperson” may be awarded a MIA/POW Scholarship consisting of the equivalent of four calendar years of full-time enrollment at an Illinois public two- or four-year institution. The scholarship covers eligible tuition and certain fees. This scholarship program is administered by the Illinois Department of Veterans’ Affairs. Purpose: To provide tuition and fee scholarships to dependents of MIA/POW veterans. Eligibility and Criteria: Any spouse, natural child, legally adopted child, or any step-child of an “eligible veteran or serviceperson” shall be awarded a MIA/POW scholarship consisting of the equivalent of four calendar years of full-time enrollment at an Illinois public two- or four-year institution. “Eligible veteran or serviceperson” is a person who was an Illinois resident at the time that he/she entered active duty and has been declared to be a prisoner of war, missing in action, dead as the result of a service-connected disability, or disabled with a 100 percent disability as the result of a service-connected cause as recognized by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs or the U.S. Department of Defense.

Discretionary Waivers

1. Faculty/Staff Waivers: Tuition and fee waivers awarded to University faculty, staff, or other employees or their dependents. Purpose: To provide educational benefits to the employees of the University, their dependents, and employees of other institutions. Eligibility and Criteria: Must be a member of the University faculty or administrative staff or an employee covered by the State Universities Civil Service System
   - Civil Service Staff: University Employees
   - Civil Service Staff: Interinstitutional and Related Agencies
   - Faculty and Staff
   - Retired University Employees
   - Children of Deceased Employees
    
2. Student Talent/Merit Waivers: Tuition and fee waivers awarded to students based on talent in a particular field, academic merit, or special status. Purpose: To provide financial assistance to students with academic talent or special status. Eligibility and Criteria: Based on academic record, other academic talent, or special status.
   - Athletic
   - Gender Equity in Intercollegiate Athletics
   - Freshman
   - Dual Degree Program (DDP) - Honors
    
3. Student Need Waivers: Tuition and fee waivers granted to students demonstrating financial need. Purpose: To provide financial assistance to students who demonstrate financial need or hardship. Eligibility and Criteria: Recipients must demonstrate financial need and/or be enrolled in special academic programs or other University activities.
   - Dual Degree Program (DDP) - Promise
   - Special Program Waivers
    
4. Student Service Waivers/Assistantships: Tuition and fee waivers granted to students to support the University mission, goals, and objectives through participation in outside contracts; graduate or undergraduate research, teaching, or other assignments; training or grant programs; external internship programs; clinical portions of degree programs conducted at other institutions; or other student experiences. Purpose: To provide educational benefits and financial incentives to students. Goals: To provide students with valuable educational experiences. Eligibility and Criteria: Recipients must be enrolled in the University or under contract and, for the educational experiences and benefits, agree to perform related services.
   - Teaching Assistantship
   - Research Assistantship
   - Laboratory Assistantship
   - Tutoring Assistantship
   - Graduate Assistantship

Waiver Procedures:

The application procedures, eligibility criteria, and selection processes for mandatory waivers are managed by waiver agency. The administering office maintains the list of waiver recipients:

• Teacher Scholarships - Office of Financial Aid
• ROTC Scholarships - Veterans Resource Center
• DCFS Scholarships - Office of Financial Aid
• Partial Tuition Waivers for Children of University Employees - Human Resources
• Illinois Veterans Grant - Veterans Resource Center
• Illinois National Guard Grants - Veterans Resource Center
• MIA/POW Scholarships - Veterans Resource Center
• Faculty/Staff Waivers - Human Resources
• Student Talent/Merit Waivers - Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
• Student Need Waivers - Student Affairs & Enrollment Management
• Student Service Waivers/Assistantships - Academic Colleges

For discretionary waivers the administering unit must provide and maintain all documents involved in eligibility criteria and selection processes. During the annual budget development process, the discretionary tuition and fee waiver budget is established for the next fiscal year. The Governors State University’s Board of Trustees (BOT) annually reviews data on tuition and fee waiver classifications, approvals, and allocations. The University has established a cut-off date of August 31 to facilitate fiscal year reporting. Adjustments made after the cut-off date will be allocated to the following fiscal year. The amount of undergraduate tuition revenue that a public university may waive is limited to three percent of total available undergraduate tuition revenue with the exception of Gender Equity in Intercollegiate Athletics waivers, Civil Service Staff, University Employee waivers, Civil Service Staff: Interinstitutional and Related Agencies waivers, and Financial Aid waivers for Illinois resident students demonstrating financial need. Tuition and fee waiver records are maintained for five years.