Legal Responsibilities of Financial Aid Recipients

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Students receiving federal student aid have certain legal responsibilities. Student responsibilities include the following:

  • The student must complete all application forms accurately and submit them on time to the appropriate location.
  • The student must provide correct information. The intentional misreporting of information on financial aid application forms is a violation of the law and is considered a criminal offense that could result in indictment under the U.S. Criminal Code.
  • The student must return all additional documentation, verification, corrections, and/or new information requested by either the Financial Aid Office or the agency to which an application was submitted.
  • The student must report to the Financial Aid Office any additional financial resources received by him/her during the period of his/her financial aid award.
  • The student is responsible for reading and understanding all forms that he/ she is asked to sign and for keeping copies of the forms.
  • The student must accept responsibility for all agreements that he/she signs.
  • The student must perform the work that he/she has agreed upon in accepting College Work-Study or regular student employment.
  • The student must be aware of and comply with the deadlines for application or reapplication for aid.
  • The student should be aware of the school’s refund policy.
  • All schools must provide information to prospective students about the school’s programs and performance. The student should consider this information carefully before deciding to attend school.
  • If the student receives a loan, he/she must notify the lender if any of the following occurs before the loan is repaid:
    • Graduation
    • Withdrawal from school or less than half-time enrollment
    • Change of address
    • Name change
    • Transfer to other school(s)
    • If the student has received a Federal Direct Loan prior to receiving the first disbursement of loan funds at WC.
  • The student must attend an exit interview if enrollment drops below 6 credit hours; or if he/she graduates, transfers to another school, or fails to enroll for any long semester.
  • The student must repay any loan received at WC, plus accrued interest, in accordance with the repayment schedule.
  • In borrowing money, the student assumes the responsibility for repaying the loan. If circumstances arise that make it difficult to meet this responsibility, he/she should contact the lender.
    • The student must notify the lender of any occurrence that may affect eligibility for a deferment of repayment.