You Will Be Dropped From Your Spring Classes If You Have Not Paid Your Fees By Jan. 7.
San Mateo County Community College
District
Fee Payment
Questions and Answers
Q: Why must I pay my fees at the time of
registration?
San Mateo County
Community College District policy requires students to pay all fees at the time
of enrollment. The policy states that students will be dropped from classes for
non-payment of fees. If students are unable to pay their fees, they should
apply for federal financial aid, apply for the Board of Governors Fee Waiver,
or enroll in an inexpensive payment plan offered by Sallie Mae in order to
prevent being dropped from classes.
When must I pay my fees?
All fees are due
at the time of registration. You may either pay by credit card, check or cash. Students
are assessed enrollment, health, student body, student representation, student
union (Skyline) and in some cases, instructional materials fees. You are
responsible for paying all your fees in order to prevent being dropped
from classes for non-payment.
Q: What should I do if I can’t afford to pay
my fees at the time of registration?
You should apply
for financial aid, by filling out the FAFSA (www.FAFSA.gov), apply for a Board of Governor’s Fee
Waiver, or sign up for a payment plan (the district payment plan is administered
by Sallie Mae) to spread your payments out during the semester.
Q: What happens if all my fees aren’t paid by the
established dates that the drops for non-payment occur and I didn’t apply for a
payment plan , apply for financial aid, or indicate that my fees are paid for
by a third party?
You will be
dropped from your classes for non-payment of fees at midnight on January 7, 2013.
One week before
the start of the spring term, students will be dropped for non-payment at
midnight on the day following their registration. These daily drops will begin
on January 8 for the spring, 2013 term.
Q: What happens if I only owe $1.00 at the
time of the deadline for paying fees? Will I still be dropped from my classes?
Yes. Students
must have paid all their fees in full, applied for financial aid, enrolled
in a payment plan, or indicated that their fees are paid for by a third party in
order not to be dropped by the established deadlines.
Q: What happens if I initially paid my fees in
full, but make changes in my schedule resulting in additional fees owed?
Students will be
dropped for non-payment at midnight on the day following their registration. You
will only be dropped from those courses for which payment has not been
made.
Q: What happens if I’ve been dropped from my
classes for non-payment?
If you are
dropped from your classes for non-payment, you will need to try to re-enroll in
the classes you were originally enrolled in or select other classes. If you
believe you were dropped in error because you 1) paid all your fees, 2) filed a
FAFSA or a Board of Governors Grant, 3) enrolled
in a payment plan or 4) have your fees paid for by a third party, contact the
Admissions Office, Building 9, First Floor. They will assist you in completing a petition to appeal the
dropping from classes.
Q: How do I enroll in a payment plan?
After you
register for your classes in WebSMART, follow the link to “Payment Plan.” You’ll
then be provided additional information about how to complete your enrollment.
If you only use cash, you will not be able to participate in the payment plan.
Q: What are the costs associated with the
payment plan?
A summary of all the
fees associated with the payment plan is listed below.
Fees payable by students who sign
up for the payment plan
|
Description
of Fee
|
Amount
|
Remarks
|
Sign-up
fee
|
$
20
|
$20
per semester.
|
Late
Fee
|
$
10
|
$10
for each late payment, maximum is $20 and plan is canceled when payment is
late for the second time.
|
NSF
Fee
|
$
15
|
$15
for each check returned due to non-sufficient fund in the bank account.
|
Interest
|
$
-
|
No
interest will be assessed for any balance on the payment plan.
|
Q: How do I make payments?
You can make payment
plan payments via paper check, electronic debit from your checking or savings
account, and credit cards. You will make all payments directly to Sallie Mae,
not to the Cashiers offices. If you only use cash, you will not be able to
participate in the payment plan.
Q: Is there any minimum amount I need to owe
in order to sign up for a payment plan?
Yes, you must owe
at least $50 in order to sign up for a payment plan.
Q: What if I add or reduce my total unit load
such that my payment plan balances changes?
You must contact
Sallie Mae to inform them that your fee balance has changed. They can assist you
in adjusting your payment plan up or down.
You can contact Sallie Mae at https://tuitionpay.salliemae.com
Q: What if I decide that I want to pay off my
plan balance early?
You must provide
payment to Sallie Mae in order pay off your plan.
Q: What if I default on my payment plan?
If you default on
your payment plan, you will have a hold placed on your record in April and you
will not be able to register for any subsequent terms until the balance is paid
in full. You will not be able to request official transcripts until your fees
have been paid in full. In addition, you will be sent to collections for the
outstanding fees owed to the college. If you pay your outstanding balance and
enroll in a subsequent term, you will be able to sign up for another payment
plan.
Q: Who should I contact if I have a question
about my payment plan?
You can log in to
the Sallie Mae website www.tuitionpay.salliemae.com which will take you directly to
“Manage Your Account”. You will need your Sallie Mae Account Number, provided
to you when you initially enrolled in the payment plan in order to manage your
account. If you have forgotten this number, contact Sallie Mae Customer Service
directly at 1-800-635-0120. Agents are
available Monday through Friday from 7 am to 8 pm Central Time.
Mailing Address for Check Payments
Sallie Mae
PO Box 11953
Newark, NJ 07101-4953
Q: Can I sign up for a payment plan at any
time during the semester?
There will be a
deadline date established each semester. After that date you will not be able
to sign up for a payment plan. (See website for date.) The later that you sign
up for the plan, the fewer payments you’ll make but the amounts will be larger.
Q: When will my last payment on my payment
plan be due for the spring, 2013 semester?
The last payment
date is April 5, 2013. You must have a $0
balance at that time in order to register for the next semester.
Q: Do I have to be determined eligible for financial
aid in order not to be dropped from my classes by the deadline?
No. If you file a
FAFSA within five business days of the drop date you will not be dropped. You should plan to file no later than
January 2, 2013. Subsequent to these dates, you should contact Financial
Aid to determine if your financial aid application can be processed prior to
the rolling drops for non-payment that will occur each Wednesday.
Q: I have applied for and received a Board of
Governor’s Grant (BOGG) waiver. Will
this fee waiver cover all my fees?
No, the BOGG only
covers enrollment fees. It does not cover additional fees you are assessed
(e.g. health fee, student body fee, student representation fee, instructional
materials fees, student union fee, etc.) If you cannot pay these additional
fees, you are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by filling out the
FAFSA (www.FAFSA.gov). While you will not be dropped if you file a BOGG, you
are responsible for the additional fees. Failure to pay any remaining balance
will prevent you from registering in subsequent semesters.
Q: I’m an international student? When will I
have to pay my fees?
International
students must meet the same fee deadlines as all other students. You should
sign up for a payment plan if you cannot pay your fees by the drop date.
Q: My fees are paid by a third party. What do
I need to do not to be dropped?
When signing up
for classes, you will also be able to update information on WebSMART to indicate
that your fees are paid for by a third party. Documentation will be required.
The colleges will
also assist in identifying those students whose fees are paid for by third
parties and not drop those students for non-payment. You should check with the Cashiers
Office, Building 9, First Floor, to make sure that we know your fees are paid for by a third party (e.g.
Veteran’s Administration, Department of Rehabilitation, etc.) Please be
reminded that some third party payers only pay enrollment fees. You will be
responsible for the other fees that are assessed students (e.g. health fee,
student body fee, student representation fee, student union fee, instructional
materials fees, etc.)
Q: Will I still be able to pay by check?
Yes, you will be
able to pay your fees by check as long as your check arrives before the January 7, 2013 deadline. After that
date, you will need to bring your check in person to the Cashier’s Office at
any of our three colleges in order to prevent being dropped from your classes. If
you are on a payment plan and using a check to make your payments, you should
send your check directly to Sallie Mae.