Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

Ohio University students are defined as having certain rights and responsibilities. The following list indicates the main rights and responsibilities of students in relation to financial aid policies and procedures. (https://www.ohio.edu/sites/default/files/sites/financial-aid/files/Student%20Rights%20and%20Responsibilities-2022.pdf).

Student’s Rights

  • Right to privacy/FERPA - All records and information submitted with your application for financial aid are confidential and subject to legal requirements concerning disclosure of such information. For more information regarding FERPA and the privacy and release of student information, visit:
  • Costs – This includes total cost of attendance used in calculating financial aid eligibility. Cost of attending includes costs for tuition and fees, room and board, as well as the estimates for books and supplies, travel, and personal/miscellaneous expenses. For more information, visit
  • Financial Aid Programs – A description of all federal, state, and institutional financial aid programs is available to you in various online venues. Both the Office of Student Financial Aid and Scholarships website and the Undergraduate Catalog provide details of all financial aid programs, application information, student eligibility requirements, and selection criteria and for determining the amount of an award for these programs. For these details, visit:
  • Priority Consideration – If you have returned your application materials by the priority deadline, you will be considered for every requested financial aid program for which you may be eligible and for which there are available funds. Students who do not meet the priority deadline dates will not be considered for certain financial aid programs including some scholarships, some institutional grants, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (FSEOG), Federal Work-Study (FWS), and Perkins loans, unless there are funds remaining after projected annual disbursements are available. To review priority deadline information, visit:
  • Consumer information – Certain consumer information is made available to you as a student. Federal regulations require that institutions provide specific consumer information about the school and about financial aid to enrolled and prospective students. For a listing of websites providing these disclosures, visit:
  • Application for Financial Aid – For information on how to apply for financial aid, visit:
  • Loan Disbursement Cancelation – Reductions and/or cancellations to a loan disbursement (subsidized, unsubsidized, parent PLUS loan, graduate PLUS loan, or private loan) will be made at the request of the borrower (student or parent, as applicable) if two calendar weeks have not passed from the date of the disbursement. If the disbursement occurred at least two weeks prior to the request, the adjustment (reduction or cancellation) will only be completed if the request is accompanied by payment to Ohio University (check or money order) for the amount of the reduction that will be on the student account as a reversal. Requests for adjustments (reductions and/or cancellations) will not be processed after the semester end date and borrowers will be directed to work with their loan servicer.
  • National Student Loan Database System (NSLDS) - Any Federal Pell grants and Federal Direct Loans awarded to you are reported to NSLDS. This is the U.S. Department of aid repository. Please note that university employees who have been granted clearance to this site have access to this data for purposes of financial aid-related activities.
  • Financial Aid Questions – Upon review of your financial aid offer, you may consult the Office of Student Financial AId and Scholarships via office visit, phone call, email, or scheduled appointment. Reasons to contact our office may include questions regarding the financial aid offered to you, procedures for accepting/reducing/rejecting any financial aid awards, guidance regarding additional payment options, or requests for FAFSA and/or financial aid award adjustments. For office contact information, visit:

Student’s Responsibilities

  • It is your responsibility to complete the FAFSA as well as any financial aid and/or tax related forms requested and to submit them in a timely manner annually. You must read and understand all forms you are asked to sign.
  • It is your responsibility to provide complete and correct information. You (and your parent or spouse, where appropriate) must confirm the accuracy of the information you provide, if requested. Information found to be incorrect may result in aid adjustments. Information found to be knowingly falsified may result in disciplinary action or referral to the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Inspector General.
  • It is your responsibility to report any additional financial aid including scholarships, grants, and loans, including graduate or undergraduate assistantships or fellowships, and other educational or tuition assistance.
  • It is your responsibility to pay any past due balances. Students must pay tuition, all fees, and prior term balances by the due date listed on your account.
  • It is your responsibility to meet Satisfactory Academic Progress policies and standards in order to maintain financial aid eligibility. For more information, visit:
  • It is your responsibility to repay all loans according to your repayment schedule and terms of your promissory notes. You are not eligible for financial aid if you are in default on any federal loans for attendance at any institution. Federal loans include National Direct or National Defense Student Loan, Federal Perkins Loan, Health Professions Student Loan, Nursing Student Loan, Federal Stafford Loan, Federal Direct Stafford Loans, Federal Graduate PLUS Loan, and Federal Parent PLUS Loan. Estimate your loan repayment before accepting any Federal Direct Loans. For this calculator, visit:
  • It is your responsibility to activate your Ohio University email account and access it regularly. To do so, visit:
  • It is your responsibility to review all award information, details, and requirements on the OHIO Student Center. Additionally, you are responsible for completing all items listed in your Student Center To Do List. To access your Student Center, visit:
  • It is your responsibility to attend classes and complete requirements for all courses in which you enroll.