Special Student Refund Plan Information

In response to guidance provided by the University System of Georgia (USG) with respect to refunding of housing, dining, and other fees for Spring 2020, the University of Georgia has requested and received approval from the USG to implement a Student Refund Plan for students who have paid or been assessed these fees for the Spring 2020 semester, with the below considerations.

We expect to begin issuing refunds the week of March 30 and the process will most likely continue through April 10. This rolling timeline will allow us to calculate refund amounts, ensure all refunds are compliant with financial aid rules based on Department of Education guidance, and give students time to verify their refund profile in Athena. The most efficient way to receive your refund is via direct deposit.

If you have not updated your Athena student account refund profile, please do so by March 30, 2020. Visit http://busfin.uga.edu/bursar/athena_refund_profile_setup.pdf for instructions to set up or verify your banking information. If your refund profile is not established, the University will mail your refund to you. Please ensure this mailing address in your Athena account is updated by March 30, 2020, if a mailed check is preferred.

Consistent with the USG guidance, UGA will not provide refunds for tuition, the Special Institutional Fee, the Technology Fee, or the ConnectUGA Fee, as these are critical in supporting continuity of instruction and associated support. Separately, students who choose to withdraw entirely will be refunded in accordance with UGA’s normal refund schedule prior to any instructional schedule changes due to COVID-19, which can be found at https://busfin.uga.edu/bursar/refunds_spring_undergrad_2020.pdf.

Refunds associated with Study Abroad/Study Away programs that have been suspended or cancelled are in process and will be issued on an on-going basis. You will receive a separate communication once refunds for these programs are finalized.

Using March 16th as the last service date and applying UGA’s normal refund schedule prior to any instructional schedule changes due to COVID-19, which can be found at https://busfin.uga.edu/bursar/refunds_spring_undergrad_2020.pdf,

• Athletic Fee of $53 * 46% = $24.38 refund
• Green Fee of $3 * 46% = $1.38 refund
• Recreation Fee of $15 * 46% = $6.90 refund
• Transportation Fee of $121 * 46% = $55.66 refund

In terms of the Student Center Facility Fee, 70% of the fee is committed to debt service for the Tate Center Expansion and Renovation project with the remaining 30% providing on-going operating support for student service and recreational areas that students will not be able to access during the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. Thus, UGA will refund 46% of the portion of the Student Center Facility Fee not committed to debt service.

• Student Center Facility Fee of $75 * 30% * 46% = $10.35 refund

In terms of the Health Fee, the University Health Center will remain fully staffed and operational throughout the Spring semester. In addition to being staffed to serve all UGA students through remote and telemedicine platforms, students who remain on campus and in the local community have in-person access to the UHC. In addition, the UHC is a major resource in the UGA and local community’s ever-evolving response to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, in recognition of reduced in-person access to the UHC, UGA will refund 10% of the Health Fee.

• Health Fee of $206 * 10% = $20.60 refund

In terms of the Student Activity Fee, approximately 75% of the fee funds Student Affairs staff who support student organizations, student programming and a variety of other student support functions. These functions will remain operational throughout the Spring 2020 semester with much of the work and activities being redirected to supporting students remotely. The remaining 25% of the fee supports a wide variety of student programming and events. In recognition of reduced programming and fewer events, 46% of the portion of the Student Activity Fee that supports programming and events will be refunded.

• Student Activity Fee of $78 * 25% * 46% = $8.97 refund

Consistent with the USG guidance, no refunds will be provided for tuition, the Special Institutional Fee, the Technology Fee, and the ConnectUGA Fee. In addition, students who choose to withdraw entirely will be refunded in accordance with UGA’s normal refund schedule.

Housing Fees: Using March 16th as the last service date, UGA will refund the respective Spring semester rate by individual resident based on their number of unutilized bed nights.

Meal Plan Fees: Using March 16th as the last service date, 46% of the respective Spring semester rate will be refunded.

Parking Permit Fees: Using March 16, 2020 as the last service date, refunds will be issued in accordance with UGA’s normal refund process, which follows a daily proration. (Students primarily purchase a Spring Expiration date permit, which would run from August 1, 2019 through April 30, 2020.) The refund would be based on days remaining on the individual’s permit based on March 16th as the last service date.

Refunds specific to Tifton, Griffin and Gwinnett Campuses will be treated the same for the specific fees.

COVID-19 Special Refund Questions and Answers

Special Refund Plan Communication

Mandatory Fee Refund Schedules