2006-2007 Undergraduate Catalog

Table of Contents

Overview

Academic Information

Directories

More Information

Costs: Billing System

The student receivables system brings University charges and credits into one account. The Billing and Receivables Office will compile the latest information from University offices (i.e., Financial Aid, Registrar, and University Housing and Dining) and prepare the monthly billing statement. A finance charge of 1% per month on the unpaid balance from the prior month’s billing will be assessed. A student with a past due (encumbered) account balance will be denied registration.

The University bills by semester, not by academic year. Actively enrolled students will receive their billing statement via STARS. Notification will be sent to the student at their WIU e-mail address when each bill is ready to view on STARS. Students may establish one additional e-mail address to which the notification may also be sent by notifying the Billings and Receivables Office at billings@wiu.edu. The e-mail will include the account balance and the due date. Detail must be viewed on STARS. In January, June, and August, paper billing statements will be mailed to the home address on file in the Registrar’s Office. Failure to receive or view a bill will not excuse finance charge assessment or payment of the account. It is the student’s responsibility to notify the appropriate office of address or e-mail corrections.

Students are strongly encouraged to file for financial aid early. Any financial aid awards that are not credited to the student's account prior to the due date of the bill will result in the assessment of finance charges.

Payment Plans

Open Payment Plan: Western Illinois University does not require advance payment of new semester charges from new students or students in good financial standing with the University. This means students have an almost unlimited choice of payment options. However, the University recommends that fall charges be paid by November 1 and spring charges be paid by April 1 to take advantage of pre-registration for the next term. Four basic restrictions exist: 1) All appropriate financial aid including loans may first be applied to the student’s account to cover current semester allowable charges. This will occur whether or not those costs have appeared on the bill. 2) Students will not be permitted to register for the next term if they have financial or administrative obligations. 3) A finance charge will be assessed after each bill’s due date on any billed but unpaid balance (1% per month). 4) University transcripts will not be issued to students who have financial or administrative obligations.

Automated Payment Plan: The automated payment plan provides students and parents an option for budgeting educational expenses. This is an interest-free way to spread payments over several months. There is a $2 per month transaction fee to cover processing. The monthly payments will be deducted from your bank account on the 5th of each enrollment month. To participate in the plan, complete and return an agreement form located at www.wiu.edu/billing.

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