Spring semester comes with many expenses, and this semester, a new policy has been put in place for some students’ first source of funds: refunds.
Effective this semester, the new policy, listed at length at Plymouth.edu/bursar/refunds.html, requires that all students request their refunds online. The date for refund receipt has been set at Feb. 12, 2010, two weeks after the semester begins. The Feb. 12 refund date was chosen because it is the Friday after the Add/Drop period ended.
Generally, the first two weeks of a new semester are full of payments to be made, including books, rent, and food. Students who rely on refunds for these expenses may have been left in the lurch relating to these purchases in some cases. However, the Bursar’s office has provided for some of these issues for students.
Students who are signed up for campus meal plans and living on-campus have fewer problems than those who live off-campus. Cash for meal plans goes on the cards of those who have purchased them and on-campus students have no issues with rent. All students, off- or on-campus may request the Bursar’s office put some Campus Flex Cash on their cards to buy books at the campus bookstore, though this does not help those who generally purchase their books from other sources.
Not only must refunds be requested online, but according to the new policy, “Direct deposit is required for all refunds.” This policy seems to be an extension of the effort to encourage students to go paperless, since they will not be receiving as a check through PSU mail. This process is also further simplified from earlier years in that students may request their refund through their online bill instead of going to the Bursar’s office. A quick couple clicks and some relatively simple account numbers entered, and a request is filed.
The policy states that a full refund will be issued if students meet all of the following circumstances:
“1. your account is overpaid by actual payments received…2. you are a full-time student registered for at least 12 credits, or you are a part-time student without financial aid or a part-time student with financial aid and you are registered for at least the same number of credits as stated in your financial aid award message 3. you do not incur any additional charges during the Add/Drop period.” This change has been met with mixed reviews, though if the Feb. 12 deadline is met with no issues, it will be another positive factor for the new system.
Steps to Request a Refund:
Log into myPlymouth.Click the Services tab.Click on Student & Financial Aid.Click Student & Bursar Records.Click on Online Bill: Current Year.Review your bill.Click the Request a Refund button, if you are eligible.Fill out the form. Be sure to have your routing and account numbers handy, and don’t forget to check off the fields that let PSU take money off of your refund for any outstanding charges. You won’t be able to move on without it!Push submit.