Student Financial Agreement

Enrollment at the School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) establishes a binding agreement between the student and the College. By enrolling, SLU commits to providing educational services, and the student agrees to pay all tuition, fees, and associated costs by the published or assigned due date. These costs may include tuition, mandatory student fees, fines, late fees, and other special charges assessed to a student’s account.

A bill is generated by the CUNYfirst system within 24 hours of registration. Tuition is due by the assigned due date, with a grace period extending no later than the first official day of the new semester. Accounts with unpaid balances by this deadline will be marked as “not in good standing.

The tuition statement, or e-bill, details all semester charges, payments, and financial aid. Statements are generated for each semester of enrollment and include the following:

• Tuition, fees, and other charges
• Student payments
• Financial aid payments
• Anticipated aid (authorized financial aid pending disbursement)
• Class schedule

The School of Labor and Urban Studies uses electronic billing (e-bill) as its official billing method.

• e-bill is available on CUNYfirst within 24 hours of registration; statements are not mailed.
• Students are responsible for paying their e-bill by the scheduled due date.
• Failure to review the account summary or e-bill does not constitute a valid reason for late payment.
• Administrative, clerical, or technical billing errors do not absolve students of their financial responsibility to pay the correct amount of tuition, fees, and other associated costs.
• e-bill is NOT proof of payment for education tax credits or tax filings. The appropriate form for this purpose is the 1098-T. Additionally, e-bill is not a substitute for a transcript or enrollment verification, which may be required for scholarships, medical coverage, loan deferments, jury duty, car insurance, etc. Course grades and GPA are not included on the e-bill.

Accounts are considered in “good financial standing” when 100% of billed costs are paid by the assigned due date or the first official day of the semester. For students on a payment plan, all terms and conditions must be met throughout the term to maintain this status.

In accordance with University policy, SLU may apply late fees, place “past-due” holds, or deregister students if accounts are not settled by the assigned due date or the first official day of the semester.

Students are responsible for any dishonored payments made on their behalf.

• If a payment is returned by the bank for any reason, a $20 returned check fee will be charged to the account for each occurrence.
• Following a returned payment, personal checks and e-check payments will be blocked. Students will then be required to pay using a certified check, money order, or credit/debit card (online).
• To request reinstatement of check and e-check privileges, students can contact the Bursar’s Office at Bursar@slu.cuny.edu.

The School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) accepts payments from companies, agencies, and other organizations that wish to cover a student’s bill. SLU can notate or credit your account in anticipation of a third-party payment if the following conditions are met:

Payment Conditions:

• The paying entity must provide formal written communication on company letterhead (a “letter of credit” or “tuition voucher”) specifying exactly what they will cover.
• If the organization is not covering the full bill, the student is responsible for paying the remaining balance by the due date.

Approval Documents:

• A “letter of credit” or “tuition voucher” is required for each semester that tuition and fees are to be transferred to a third party. These documents must be submitted by the tuition due date.
• The student remains responsible for paying any portion of the bill not covered by the third party.

Third-Party Credit:

• The Bursar’s Office will review the submitted documents. If approved, your account will be credited up to the approved amount, labeled as “due from third party.” If a credit cannot be applied, your account will be notated in anticipation of the third-party payment.
• If the third-party payment is not received on time or is canceled, the liability for tuition will revert to the student. At that point, a hold will be placed on the account, and full payment will be due immediately.
• Cancellations can occur if the student no longer meets the sponsor’s minimum criteria for payment or if the third party fails to remit payment within the agreed-upon period.

“Estimated” financial aid does not represent actual or guaranteed payments, but is an estimate of the aid a student may receive if all of the requirements for that aid program are met.

• Financial aid is not disbursed to the bill until all necessary requirements are met
• Financial aid must be approved to qualify as a tuition payment
• Any financial aid received will first be applied to tuition and fees, including all prizes, awards, scholarships, grants and loans awarded
• Financial aid is contingent upon continued enrollment; dropping a class may decrease a student’s financial aid eligibility, and some or all of the financial aid awarded may be cancelled. The student is responsible to repay all cancelled aid that resulted in a credit balance that was refunded

According to federal Title IV financial aid regulations, a student’s financial aid, including prizes, awards, scholarships, grants and loans, cannot exceed their cost of attendance. If a student receives additional financial aid, their existing financial aid offer may need to be reduced, even if it had already been disbursed.

Tuition bills are considered “past due” on or after the first official day of the new semester and may incur late payment fees, “past-due” holds, or even enrollment cancellation.

For the 2024-2025 Academic Year, SLU students will not be dropped for non-payment and will be allowed to attend their courses, complete coursework, and receive grades. However, students will not be permitted to enroll in future semesters at SLU until any outstanding balances are paid in full.

Accounts are considered in “good financial standing” when 100% of the billed costs are paid by the assigned due date, with a grace period extending to the first official day of the semester, provided all terms and conditions are met throughout the term. In accordance with University policy, SLU may apply late fees, place holds, or cancel a student’s registration if the account is not settled by the stated due date or the first official day of the semester.

Tuition bills are considered “past due” on or after the first official day of the semester and may be subject to late payment fees, “past-due” holds, or deregistration.

Overdue Balance Hold (BUR/BCH/BIH):

• This hold is placed when an account is not settled by the first official day of classes or when a financial liability is incurred during the term.
• Students with this hold will not be permitted to register for an upcoming semester at any CUNY campus.
• A late payment fee of $15.00 may be applied.

To clear this hold, the student must pay the balance in full using any accepted payment method.

• Financial aid must be fully authorized for disbursement; aid in a queued or pending status does not justify a billing adjustment or hold release.
• Initiating a semester payment plan after an account is no longer in good standing does not qualify for a billing adjustment or hold release.

To avoid financial liability, students must drop their courses before the first official day of the semester.

Please note that non-payment, not attending class, or informing someone at SLU that you wish to drop a course does not constitute an official withdrawal. You must log into CUNYfirst and officially drop your classes. To avoid financial liability, be sure to complete this process before the first official day of the semester.

Students are financially responsible for any course or courses dropped on or after the first official day of the semester. In such cases, tuition and fees will be assessed according to the University adjustment calendar. Please note that non-instructional fees (e.g., Student Activity Fee, Technology Fee) are never prorated or waived.

For the 2024-2025 Academic Year, SLU students will not be dropped for non-payment and will be allowed to attend their courses, complete coursework, and receive grades. However, students will not be permitted to enroll in future semesters at SLU until any outstanding balances are paid in full.

Refund Processing:

• Overpayments are processed in a weekly payment cycle by the University, with funds typically reaching the student within 1-2 weeks.
• However, overpayments from checks, eChecks, and 529 Plans are subject to a 21-day waiting period before a refund can be issued.

Refund Check Details:

• Refund checks are sent to the mailing address listed in our records and should arrive within 1-2 weeks. Ensure that your mailing address is always up-to-date in CUNYfirst to avoid issues.
• If a refund check is lost or stolen, please contact the Bursar’s Office immediately.
• Refund checks expire five months (150 days) from the check date. Students should deposit or cash their checks promptly. Citibank branches offer free cashing of SLU refund checks.

Direct Deposit Option:

• Students who prefer not to receive a paper check can add a direct deposit account in CUNYfirst. For assistance, please refer to our Quick Reference Guide or contact the Bursar’s Office at Bursar@slu.cuny.edu.

Refund Eligibility:

• All refunds, except for those from a Parent-Plus Loan, are made payable to the student, even if the original payment was made from an account owned by a parent, guardian, or other relation.
• Overpayments will appear as a credit balance (e.g., –$200) on your billing statement. While this usually indicates a refund is due, it’s not always the case. Overpayments from certain types of financial aid, scholarships, or third-party payments may need to be returned to the original source, rather than refunded to the student.
• To determine if your overpayment is eligible for a refund, please contact the Bursar’s Office at Bursar@slu.cuny.edu.

University Policy on Financial Liability:

According to University policy, the Bursar’s Office is not authorized to discount, waive, or absolve students of any financial liability resulting from active enrollment as of the first official day of the semester. Active Enrollment refers to any registration on or after the term start date. Students who drop or withdraw from active enrollment will be charged in accordance with the University adjustment calendar as reflected in CUNYfirst.

Tuition Liability Appeals:

Students may appeal tuition liability if their cancellation or non-attendance was due to extenuating circumstances, as defined in the Registration Appeal Policy.

• Appeals are considered only in extreme cases and must be supported by documented and compelling reasons for an exception to college deadlines.
• Registration appeals must be submitted within one year of the first official day of the semester in question.
• A committee chaired by the Registrar’s Office will review the appeal and any supporting documents, rendering a final decision within 3-5 weeks.

Note: Financial holds will remain on the student’s record until all liabilities are waived or full payment is received.

• Once an account is transferred to an external collector, the student may not pay the College directly or enroll in the University Payment Plan. Rather, all payments must be made directly to the assigned collection agency.
• Students are responsible for the balance owed to the college as well as any additional fees or surcharges from the debt holding agency.
• Balances are not negotiated. Payment arrangements with the collector do not permit clearance of account holds.
• University “collector” holds restrict student records at ALL CUNY campuses and are only removed when full payment is received by the collector, including agency fees and surcharges.

Final Notice

• Students will receive a final notice once the account is at risk of transfer to collections. The account must be settled within 30-days of the final notice. Unpaid tuition and fees exceeding $100 will be transferred to collections.

Assignment of Debt

• Accounts owing $100 or more are referred to Collection Bureau Hudson Valley “CBHV” (formerly Immediate Credit Recovery, “ICR”). To make a payment or start a payment arrangement, click here or call 1-800-964-5689. CBHV charges a collector fee that may be up to 15% of the balance SLU refers. For example, if $100.00 is referred, CBHV will charge $15.00 in collection costs. The total balance due to clear all holds is $115.00.
• Debt is reassigned to Transworld Systems Inc. (formerly Account Control Technology “ACT”) if payment could not be collected by CBHV for more than one year since the date of placement. The student will receive notice of this action and have 30-days to settle the account before it is transferred to TSI. To make a payment or start a payment arrangement with Transworld Systems Inc. (TSI), click here or call 1-877-282-1250. TSI charges a collector fee that may be up to 22% of the balance SLU refers. For example, if $100 is referred, TSI will charge $22.00 in collection costs. The total balance due to clear all holds is $122.00.

** Please be advised, collector fees are subject to change per the collector’s policy, university compliance and/or state law **

The Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement, is issued to help determine if students or their parents are eligible to claim tax credits under the Tax Relief Act of 1997. Learn more about the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit by accessing IRS Publication 970.