May 16, 2024  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog 
  
2023-2024 Academic Catalog

Financial Aid



The Financial Aid Office at Upper Iowa University is charged with assisting students in obtaining funds to meet educational costs. Additionally, the Financial Aid Office is charged with assisting students in applying for student aid and fostering financial literacy and debt management. To meet these standards, the Financial Aid Office participates in many Federal, State, and Institutional aid programs designed to assist students in their educational endeavors.

Upper Iowa University participates in the following Federal aid programs: Pell Grant, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), TEACH Grant, Iraq & Afghanistan Service Grant, Federal Work Study, and Direct Loans. Further, many State funded aid programs are utilized, including the Iowa Tuition Grant program. Due to the numerous opportunities for State, institutional, and privately funded programs, it is impossible to develop a comprehensive list of all possible sources of financial aid. Financial Aid staff members are available to assist students in determining eligibility for unique aid programs.

The Financial Aid Office of Upper Iowa University may be contacted via the following methods:

Physical Address:
605 Washington St
Student Enrollment Center
Fayette, IA 52142

Telephone: 800-553-4150
Fax: 563-425-5277
Email: financialaid@uiu.edu

Standard office hours between 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday-Thursday, and 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday are established for individuals requiring face to face assistance. Personalized meetings may also be requested by contacting our offices.

Financial Aid & Net Partner

The Financial Aid Office utilizes the Net Partner system to communicate with students regarding their financial aid files and to provide students with updates. Net Partner is separate from myUIU system and is specifically used for Financial Aid purposes. Net Partner can be accessed using the student’s student ID by navigating uiu.edu/netpartner.

Financial Aid offer notifications, general information, and requested documents needed by the Financial Aid Office are posted on Net Partner. E-mail notifications are sent to a student’s UIU e-mail address when information is needed. Students are responsible for managing their Net Partner document requirements and completing their financial aid files to receive aid.

Students requiring assistance with gaining access to Net Partner, or completing document requirements through Net Partner, should contact the Financial Aid Office for personalized service.

Requirements for Receiving Financial Aid

Students must complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to determine eligibility for all Federal aid programs.

The following criteria must be met for a student to receive financial aid:

  1. The student must be admitted to Upper Iowa University (UIU) and be enrolled in a degree program. Undergraduate students who have already received a bachelor’s degree are eligible for financial aid if they are enrolled in a second bachelor’s degree program or in a teacher licensure program. Second majors within an already completed bachelor’s degree will not be eligible for federal financial aid. Non-degree seeking students are not eligible for financial aid. If a student is enrolled as a non-degree seeking student, and want to receive financial aid, they are to contact their respective academic department or the Registrar’s Office to determine their individual degree status.
  2. The student must be making satisfactory academic progress (SAP) according to the standards set forth by the UIU Financial Aid Office.
  3. The student must report the receipt of any grants, scholarships or loans from all sources outside of federal, state and institutional aid.
  4. The student must not have been convicted under federal or state law of the sale or possession of drugs, if the offense occurred during a period of enrollment for which federal student aid (grants, loans, and/or work-study) was received.
  5. The student must not be in default on a federal student loan nor owe money on a federal student grant.
  6. The student may only receive federal financial aid at one institution at a time.

Declination of Financial Aid Funds

To decline a financial aid offer, students may log in to their Net Partner portal, navigate to Accept Offers, and decline partial or full offers. Further, students may contact the Financial Aid Office in writing to decline partial or full offers. Upon declination of funds any upcoming disbursements for the declined offer will be cancelled.

Students may contact the Financial Aid Office to receive a reinstatement of previously offered financial aid funds which had been declined by the student. In some instances, Federal and/or State guidelines on the administration of financial aid funds may prevent a re-awarding of a previously declined offer. Such guidelines can be found in the published handbook for financial student aid located at www.ifap.ed.gov. Additionally, Financial Aid staff members are available for consultation regarding all financial aid programs available for students.

VA Educational Benefits

VA students should check with the School Certifying Official (SCO) to determine what programs are approved for VA education benefits. Students utilizing VA education benefits must submit all previous transcripts and training records to be evaluated for prior credit, whether or not prior credit is granted. Upper Iowa University adheres to Section 103 of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018.

Students may be in debt to the VA for early withdrawal or dismissal from classes.

Title 38 USC 3679(e) Compliance
In accordance with Title 38 US Code 3679 subsection (e) of the Veterans Benefits and Transition Act of 2018, Upper Iowa University will not impose a penalty on any student using veterans education benefits under Chapter 31 (Vocational Rehabilitation & Employment) or Chapter 33 (Post 9/11 GI Bill®) because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to the institution due to the delayed disbursement of funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

UIU will not impose any penalty, including the assessment of late fees, the denial of access to classes, libraries, or other institutional facilities, or the requirement that a covered individual borrow additional funds, on any covered individual because of the individual’s inability to meet his or her financial obligations to UIU due to the delayed disbursement funding from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

GI Bill® is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).

Deployment and Readmission Policy

Upper Iowa University’s Deployment/Readmission Policy for students called to active duty and/or alerted for Deployment is as follows:

When a student is called to active military duty or deployed as a result of military orders, as verified by the appropriate documentation, Upper Iowa University will take one or more of the actions listed below vis-à-vis the student’s academic standing and financial circumstances. The University’s course of action for individuals will be determined on a case-by-case basis as decided by the student, the student’s respective faculty members/academic advisor and other university administrators as necessary, for example, the vice president or the director of financial aid. This policy also applies to students who are spouses of military members who are called to active duty and/or deployed.

If the academic session is two-thirds complete, the student will be afforded the following options:

  • Be permitted to take final exams earlier than scheduled or have the final exams proctored at the student’s place of deployment. The student would be awarded the letter grade earned for all completed work. There would be no tuition refund under this option.
  • Elect to take a “W” (Withdrawal) for the course with the student’s transcript annotated by the Registrar that the student was called to active duty or deployed under military orders. There would be a full refund of tuition and mandatory fees under this option. Title IV funds would be handled as outlined below.
  • Be permitted to take an “I” (Incomplete) for the course. Follow the University Incomplete Process with course instructor to complete assignments and requirements within the agreed upon timeframe. There would be no tuition refund under this option. Title IV funds would be handled as outlined in the University Catalog.

If the deployment is during the normal withdrawal period during the session, the student will be afforded the following options:

  • Elect to take a “W” (Withdrawal) for the course with the student’s transcript annotated by the Registrar that the student was called to active duty or deployed under military orders. There would be a full refund of tuition and mandatory fees under this option. Title IV funds would be handled as outlined below.
  • Be permitted to take an “I” (Incomplete) for the course. Follow the University Incomplete Process with course instructor to complete assignments and requirements within the agreed upon timeframe. There would be no tuition refund under this option. Title IV funds would be handled as outlined in the University Catalog.

If a student is called to active duty or deployed prior to the start of the session, the registration will be voided.

Information regarding tuition refunds:

  • When a “W” (Withdrawal) is requested, Title IV Federal Funds will be refunded according to the federal refund policy as outlined in the Financial Aid Handbook and tuition assistance will be returned to the tuition assistance provider. Cash payments will be refunded to the student.
  • When a student’s situation warrants the awarding of a letter grade, no adjustments will be made to the student’s tuition funds.

Readmission following Call to Active Duty and/or Deployment

  • Upon receipt of notice from students of their intent to return to Upper Iowa University, they will be promptly readmitted with the same academic status they had when last attending or when accepted for admission.
  • Additionally, students will retain the catalog rights that were in place at the time of their deployment as long as readmission is within seven years of the initial admission. If after the seven-year window, current catalog requirements will be followed.