Financial Responsibility Agreement

By registering for classes at the University of Illinois, I affirm and agree to the following university policies:

I. Communication

Method of Communication

I understand and agree that University of Illinois uses e-mail sent to my University of Illinois email address as its official method of communicating with me and that I am responsible for reading on a timely basis the e-mails I receive at my University of Illinois email address.

Contact

I authorize the University of Illinois and its employees, agents and contractors to contact me at my current and any future cellular phone numbers, email addresses or wireless devices regarding my student account, loans, and other general information. I authorize University of Illinois and its employees, agents and contractors to use automated telephone dialing equipment, artificial and pre-recorded voice or text messages, and personal calls and emails, in their efforts to contact me. Furthermore, I understand that I may withdraw my consent to call my cellular telephone using automated telephone dialing equipment by submitting my request in writing to bursarhelp@uillinois.edu.

If I provide the university with an email address, I authorize the University of Illinois and its employees, agents and contractors to contact me at that email address and at any other email address I provide in the future, regarding my obligation to repay any debt I owe to the university resulting from my registration.

I understand that others may be able to access my messages and my emails and their content, which may include information regarding my debt and its status.

I agree that I am giving these authorizations voluntarily and that my doing so is not a condition to my obtaining a student loan or any other service.

Updating Contact Information

I understand and agree that to ensure I receive timely communication about my student account, I am responsible for keeping University of Illinois records up to date with my current physical addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. I agree to update my address and phone number during and upon terminating my enrollment at University of Illinois by taking the following steps:

Access Student Account
Select "Personal Information"
Select "Addresses and Phones"
Select "Mailing Address" from "Type of Address to Insert"
Click "Submit"
Enter updated address and phone information
Click "Submit"

II. Privacy Rights and Responsibilities

I understand that the University of Illinois is bound by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), which generally prohibits the University of Illinois from releasing any information from my education record without my written permission. Therefore, if I want the University of Illinois to share my university student account information with others, I understand that I must authorize those individuals to view my university student account, make online payments to my account, and receive FERPA protected account information. These individuals are called Authorized Payers.

I understand that to set up an Authorized Payer I must:

Access Student Account
Select "Account Billing Information"
Select "Student Account"
Select "Authorized Payer"
Click "Add New"

Following set up, the Authorized Payer will receive an email with login name and a link to create their password. I understand that Authorized Payers will receive monthly e-mail notifications reminding them to view my student account for recent activity and to pay any amount due by the due date. I further understand that I may revoke my permission at any time by deleting the Authorized Payer from my Student Account.

III. Student Account Billing

I understand that the University of Illinois uses electronic billing (e-bill) as its official billing method. I understand that the University of Illinois will email me billing notifications whenever there is prior month activity (charges, payments, adjustments) on my university student account. These billing notifications will direct me to login to my university student account to view my student account activity.

I agree that I am responsible for paying the amount billed by the due date stipulated on my student account. I understand that failure to review my student account does not constitute a valid reason for not paying my bill on time.

I understand that administrative, clerical or technical billing errors do not absolve me of my financial responsibility to pay the correct amount of tuition, fees, room, board and other charges assessed as a result of my registration at University of Illinois

IV. Sponsor Billing

If my Sponsor and I choose to participate in University of Illinois Sponsor Billing (Sponsor Billing), whereby my Sponsor authorizes the University of Illinois to bill my Sponsor for tuition, fees and/or housing charges assessed to my student account, I understand and agree to each of the following statements:

The relationship between Sponsor Billing and my Sponsor involves billing and payment matters only; I am responsible for providing any other information my Sponsor requires such as financial aid information and grades.
A Sponsor Billing Fee will be assessed to my student account each semester I participate in Sponsor Billing.
Sponsor payments may reduce my eligibility for other need-based financial aid.
If I receive a student account credit balance refund due to my Sponsor's authorization, and my Sponsor fails to remit full payment of the Sponsor Billed amount, I am responsible for returning to the University of Illinois the credit balance refund I received.
I am responsible for paying in full by the due date stipulated on my monthly e-bill all charges not authorized by my Sponsor for Sponsor Billing.
If my Sponsor fails to pay by the dates posted on the University of Illinois Sponsor Billing website, I am responsible for remitting payment in full by the 28th day of the following month.
My or my Sponsor's failure to remit payment in full by the due date will result in a financial hold and late payment charges assessed to my student account as outlined in section VIII. Past Due Student Accounts.

V. Financial Aid

I understand that aid described as "estimated" on my Financial Aid Award Letter does not represent actual or guaranteed payment but is an estimate of the aid I may receive if I meet all requirements stipulated by that aid program.

I understand that my Financial Aid Award is contingent upon my continued enrollment and attendance in each class upon which my financial aid eligibility was calculated. If I drop any class before completion, I understand that my financial aid eligibility may decrease and some of or all the financial aid awarded to me may be revoked. If some of or all my financial aid is revoked because I dropped or failed to attend class, I agree to repay all revoked aid that was disbursed to my account and resulted in a credit balance that was refunded to me.

I agree to allow the financial aid I receive to pay any and all charges assessed to my University of Illinois student account, charges such as tuition, fees, university housing and meal plans, student health insurance, parking permits, service fees, fines, bookstore charges, and any other amount, in accordance with the terms of the aid.

Federal Aid

I authorize the University of Illinois to apply any federal Title IV financial aid I receive, except Federal Work Study wages, to all charges assessed to my university student account, including tuition, fees, room and board, student health insurance, services fees, fines, parking permits, any other education related charges, and up to $200 in charges from any prior academic year. Title IV financial aid includes aid from the Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), Direct Loan, PLUS Loan, Perkins Loan, and TEACH Grant programs.

I further understand that this authorization will remain in effect until I rescind it in writing to bursarhelp@uillinois.edu.

Scholarships, Grants, Prizes, Awards

I understand that any scholarship, grant, prize or award I receive will be credited to my university student account and applied toward any outstanding balance. I further understand that my receipt of a scholarship, grant, prize or award is considered a financial resource according to federal Title IV financial aid regulations and may therefore reduce my eligibility for other federal and state financial aid, which, if already disbursed to my student account, must be reversed and returned to the aid source.

I understand that it is my responsibility to review my Financial Aid Award Letter and university student account, or consult my Financial Aid Advisor, after the scholarship, grant, prize or award has been processed in order to fully understand its impact on my financial aid and student account.

I further understand that if there is no outstanding balance on my university student account, or if the scholarship, grant, prize or award is greater than my outstanding balance, the credit balance will be direct deposited into my bank account on file with the University of Illinois.

Student Loan Recipients

I understand that I have the right to cancel all or part of any student loan funds credited to my account. The Office of Student Financial Aid must be informed of my wish to reduce or cancel these loans within 14 days of receipt of your tuition statement. I understand that these funds have been used to pay my current financial obligation to the University of Illinois. I understand and agree that if I request a reduction or cancellation of these loans, I will be required to submit payment for any institutional charges previously paid by the loans. For more information, call: UIC: 312-996-3126, UIS: 217-206-6724, UIUC: 217-333-0100.

VI. Credit Balance Refunds

I understand and agree that, if after receiving a student account credit balance refund from the University of Illinois I still owe an outstanding balance on my university student account for any reason, I am responsible for returning to the university some or all my credit balance refund to pay my outstanding student account balance.

VII. Returned Payments and Failed Payment Agreements

If a payment made to my student account is returned by the financial institution for any reason, I agree to repay the original amount of the payment plus a returned payment fee assessed by the University of Illinois. I understand that multiple returned payments or failure to comply with the terms of any payment agreement I sign with the University of Illinois may result in cancellation of my classes and/or suspension of my eligibility to register for future classes at the University of Illinois. The university will refuse to accept e-checks or any paper personal checks as payment on a student account after two checks, paper or electronic and regardless of issuer, were posted to that account and then returned for any reason by the bank. The university will refuse to accept credit card payments when there are more than three failed credit card attempts within 24 hours or if the university receives a credit card chargeback. In such event, I acknowledge and agree that future payments to my account must be made by money order or cashier's check. Please note that enrolling into the university's payment plan will no longer be an option.

VIII. Past Due Student Accounts

Financial Hold

I understand that the University of Illinois will place a Financial Hold on my student record if I fail to pay in full by the due date stipulated on my monthly e-bill all charges assessed to my university student account.

I understand that this Financial Hold will prevent me from registration activity such as adding and dropping classes.

Late Payment Charges

I understand that the University of Illinois will assess the following charges and penalties to my university student account if I fail to pay in full by the due date stipulated on my monthly e-bill all charges assessed to my student account:

A Past Due charge of $2.00 per month on transactions more than 60 days delinquent; and
A one-time Collection Administration Fee of $42 if my account is referred for collection.
A Late Payment Charge of 1.5% or $1.00, whichever is greater, per month on the past due balance.

Collection Activity

I understand and accept if I fail to pay my student account bill or any monies due and owing the University of Illinois by the scheduled due date and fail to make acceptable payment arrangements to bring my account current, the University of Illinois may refer my account to a collection agency. I further understand if the University of Illinois refers my student account balance to a third party for collection, whether an attorney or collection agency, I will be responsible for any costs (including but not limited to collection fees) associated with attempting to collect the monies due and owing. I understand a collection fee will be assessed and will be due and owing in full at the time of the referral to the third party. For purposes of this provision, the third party may be a debt collection company or an attorney. If a lawsuit is filed to recover an outstanding balance, I shall also be responsible for any costs associated with the lawsuit such as court costs or other applicable costs. I further understand that my delinquent account may be reported to one or more of the national credit bureaus.

I understand and agree that if I overpay the amount due on my delinquent student account, the university will apply my overpayment to any other amount I owe the university, including Campus Based Student Loans such as University of Illinois Institutional Loans, Federal Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) loans, and Federal Perkins Loans.

IX. IRS Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement

I agree to provide my Social Security number (SSN) or taxpayer identification number (TIN) to the University of Illinois upon request as required by Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations for Form 1098-T reporting purposes. If I fail to provide my SSN or TIN to the University of Illinois, I agree to pay any and all IRS fines assessed as a result of my missing SSN/TIN.

I consent to receive my annual IRS Form 1098-T, Tuition Statement electronically from the University of Illinois. I understand that the University of Illinois will deliver my IRS Form 1098-T electronically every year I have reportable transactions and that I may view and print my IRS Form 1098-T by taking the following steps:

Access Student Account
Select "Account Billing Information"
Select "1098-T Tax Information"
Enter the desired calendar year
Click "Submit"

I understand that I can withdraw this consent in writing to bursarhelp@uillinois.edu.

X. STUDENT AGE

I understand and agree that if I am younger than the age of majority when I sign this agreement, the educational services provided by the University of Illinois are a necessity, and I am contractually obligated pursuant to the “doctrine of necessaries.”

XI. ENTIRE AGREEMENT

This agreement supersedes all prior understanding, representations, negotiations, and correspondence between me and the University of Illinois, constitutes the entire agreement between the parties with respect to the matters described, and shall not be modified or affected by any course of dealing or course of performance. This agreement may be modified by the University of Illinois only by a written amendment signed by me. Any modification is specifically limited to those terms addressed in the modification.

If any term of this Agreement is declared illegal, unenforceable, or ineffective by a court of competent jurisdiction, this Agreement shall be deemed severable, and all other terms of the Agreement will remain valid and binding on the parties.

Effective June 2022