Withdrawals and Refunds

The College operates on an annual budget with commitments for faculty salaries and educational and plant expenses made a full year in advance. Therefore, Roanoke College has established a refund policy which is equitable to the College and students. The date of withdrawal used to compute refunds is the date the student last attended class, as recorded by the Registrar’s Office. Please note, however, local students not withdrawing from the college but electing to move off campus once the term has started will not receive a refund regardless of the date they move off campus.

For students who withdraw or separate from the College for any reason prior to the beginning of a term, a refund of all tuition, room, board, and fees paid will be made, less the advance payment required of all students, provided a written notice is presented to the Office of the Registrar by the matriculation date.

If an enrolled student withdraws before the 60% point of the period of enrollment, a refund of tuition, room, board, and activity, technology, and telecommunication fees will be calculated using calendar days and pro-rated based on the student’s date of withdrawal. Any financial aid that is not earned must be returned to its source. The calculation of the return of these funds may result in the student owing a balance to the College or Federal Government. Federal funds will be returned in accordance with federal regulations. In addition, balances owed to Roanoke College – such as parking fines, student health fees, disciplinary fines, library fines, etc. – will be deducted from any refund due before any disbursement is made to the family.

In accordance with federal regulations, the College believes that it is the responsibility of the family to pay affordable educational costs before any financial aid is paid. In view of this basic approach to the family support, any charges to a student account that are assessed for the period of enrollment prior to a withdrawal or suspension are viewed as first having been paid by the student and his or her family. Therefore, all financial aid will be returned to its source before any funds will be refunded to the student or his or her family.

Upon withdrawal from the College for any reason, the Housing Agreement is terminated and resident students forfeit any current or future room assignments. Residents must vacate their living areas within 48 hours. Upon readmission to the College, it is the student’s responsibility to contact the Residence Life staff to arrange for housing.

For medical withdrawal for physical reasons, where the student is physically disabled for the remainder of the term (as determined by a certified, licensed physician or the Director of the College Health Services), the refund is calculated based on the unused portion of total fees (prorated for the entire length of the term).

For medical withdrawal for psychological reasons, where the student is disabled for the remainder of the term (as determined by a certified, licensed professional counselor or College Counseling Center staff), the refund is calculated based on the unused portion of total fees (pro rated for the entire length of the term).

Students granted a medical withdrawal for mental health reasons must receive permission from the College to re-enroll. Such permission is contingent upon the Dean of Students or his designee determining that the individual is capable of meeting the demands of the College environment without their behavior being detrimental to their personal well-being, the well-being and/or educational progress of other students, or the educational process of the institution.

Students who have medically withdrawn for psychological reasons must be out of school for a period of not less than ninety days from the effective date of the withdrawal. Application for readmission will be considered only for subsequent terms that begin after the 90 day period has passed. Students wishing to return following a medical withdrawal for psychological reasons must reapply at least one month prior to the beginning of the term in which reinstatement is desired.

In order to assist the Dean of Students or his designee in making a determination, the individual must give consent to their physician/mental health care provider to discuss the individual’s situation with appropriate college officials. The final determination shall be at the sole discretion of the College and for reasons deemed satisfactory to the College. Depending on the circumstances, the Dean of Students or his designee may determine that a student is capable of returning to the classroom but not to college housing.