Fee Establishment
The annual State Appropriations Act imposes the general requirement that student fees be fixed by the University Board of Trustees. The act imposes two specific requirements on the Board:
- In fixing fees applicable to academic and general maintenance and operation costs, the Board must maintain a minimum student fee not less than the fee charged the previous year
- In fixing fees applicable to residence hall/apartment area charge, dining halls, laundry, infirmary and all other personal subsistence expenses, the Board must charge students an amount sufficient to fully cover the cost of providing such facilities and services.
Fee Payment
The entire semester's expenses are due and payable at the beginning of each semester and no student is officially enrolled until all semester expenses have been satisfied. In special cases at the beginning of a semester, the University will accept a non-interest-bearing promissory note for a portion of the semester University housing charge and board fee. Approximately one-half of the semester charge of the least expensive residence hall room (excluding temporary rooms) and one-half of the fee of average board plan may be included in the note. In such cases, a note for the first semester charges will be due October 1, and a note for the second semester charges will be due March 1. The University reserves the right to deny issuance of promissory notes to students with prior records of indebtedness and those who failed to pay promissory notes when due.
Currently enrolled students who expect to continue enrollment are given an opportunity to make housing reservations for the Fall semester by using the on-line computer system at a time designated by the Housing Office. All freshmen are required to live on campus and are guaranteed University housing, unless they are living with an immediate family member. New students who are offered on-campus housing accommodations are required to pay a $35 nonrefundable application fee and a $100 admission deposit fee. The admission deposit fee is deducted from the amount otherwise due for the semester expenses.
All checks and money orders should be made payable to Clemson University.
Past Due Accounts
All students are reminded of their obligations as financially responsible individuals. Any indebtedness to the University that becomes past due immediately jeopardizes the student's enrollment. A $25 late fee will be assessed for all past due payments. Until the indebtedness has been cleared, the student will not be permitted to reenroll for an ensuing semester or summer school term. Further, any student who fails to pay all indebtedness may not receive proper clearance upon withdrawal or be issued a transcript. Unresolved debts will have billings and collection costs added, may be placed with a third party collection agency, may be reported to a credit bureau and may be deducted from state income tax refunds.
A candidate for graduation who has an indebtedness of more than $50 will not receive a diploma. Names of students who are candidates for graduation with any indebtedness will be placed on a clearance list. The Registrar's Office will remove a student's name from the clearance list upon receipt of evidence that the account has been settled with the appropriate office of the University.
The University Revenue and Receivables Office will begin disenrollment procedures prior to the end of a semester or summer session where appropriate. A student may be disenrolled for having delinquent accounts with any University agency but specifically with Revenue and Receivables, Communications Services, Financial Aid Office, Housing Office, Department of Services, Library, Health Service, Office of Parking and Vehicle Registration, intramurals, Bookstore or canteens.
Returned Checks
A check or charge card given in payment of University expenses that is returned unpaid by the bank immediately creates an indebtedness to the University. The University Revenue and Receivables Office, G-12 Sikes Hall, administers matters related to the collection of all returned checks for students and nonstudents.
The Bursar's Office will redeposit returned checks in payment of academic fees for the fall and spring semester. A $25 returned check charge will be assessed for each returned item in accordance with state laws. Students with returned items for payment of academic fees are also subject to a late payment fee of $5 per calendar day, not to exceed $350, beginning the day after the last day of late registration. If the item was returned to the University in a timely manner with no response by the student or drawer, a written request to disenroll the student is made to the Registrar. If the request is approved, the percentage of refund will be applied to the debt. If the check is returned after the midpoint of the semester with no response, a decision will be made by Coordinator of University Revenue and Receivables Office and the Registrar as to the effects of disenrollment. At that point, the student will owe 100 percent of tuition and fees, even if he/she has been disenrolled. The University may restrict subsequent payment for academic and other fees by accepting only cash, certified checks, cashier's checks or money orders.
Any individual who uses a two-party check for payment of University expenses will be held responsible for that check if it is returned unpaid by the bank. Checks used as payment for various University services, such as meal plans, housing, etc., that are later returned unpaid by the bank, give the University the right to cancel such services and cause forfeiture of any refund.
Any returned check not collected by the above procedures may be turned over to a collection agency and the indebtedness reported to a credit bureau. Costs of collection will be added to the debt. Transcripts and diplomas will be withheld pending payment, and the debt may be deducted from state income tax refunds.
Abuse of check-payment privileges may result in the restriction of such privileges for an indefinite period of time based on the frequency and/or dollar amount, as determined by the University Revenue and Receivables Office.
