UMB Policy on Student Withdrawal and Reimbursement of Tuition and Fees

Financial Affairs, Office of the Controller   |   Approved February 6, 2025

Purpose

1. To comply with Maryland law.
2. To establish the procedure and criteria to authorize a student to withdraw under extenuating circumstances and refund the student for tuition and fees paid by the student for that semester.

Applicability

Students who registered for classes at UMB, were billed by UMB, paid the tuition and withdrew for extenuating circumstances.

Instructions

Any UMB student who seeks authorization and reimbursement under this policy shall fill out an Appeal for Special Exception form, and submit your completed and signed form, along with supporting documentation, to the Student Affairs Dean for the student’s respective school.  Absent extraordinary circumstances, submissions for authorization and refunds will be accepted no later than 30 days after the semester ends, and in no case later than 60 days after the semester ends. 

Criteria for Reimbursement of Tuition and Fees

In exceptional cases, a retroactive withdrawal may be granted if the student shows in their written submission and supporting documentation that extenuating circumstances significantly inhibited that student's ability to acquire an education at UMB for that semester.  Such circumstances include, at a minimum, significant incidents of the following:

(1) illness;

(2) injury;

(3) hospitalization; and

(4) mental health and wellness.

No refund will be granted if the above extenuating circumstances did not, in fact, significantly inhibit the student's ability to acquire an education at UMB for that semester.

This policy and the above criteria shall be interpreted consistent with federal law.  Where this policy or a student’s submission would if granted conflict with federal law, the latter shall prevail.

No submission shall be authorized if it could violate Title IV of the Higher Education Act and related regulations.  No financial aid, including federal financial aid, will be refunded, as the policy only requires tuition and fees paid by the student to be refunded.

In evaluating the criteria above, UMB may also consult definitions of disabilities utilized by the Americans with Disabilities Act, 42 U.S.C. § 12101 et. seq. 

If a student establishes the above criteria to the satisfaction of the Student Withdrawal/Acceptance Committee (which is comprised of the Bursar, Registrar, Vice President for Student Affairs, and the School’s Student Affairs Dean), UMB shall refund a student for tuition and fees paid by the student for the semester in which the student withdrew.  UMB shall issue the refunds within fifteen (15) working days after UMB’s decision to refund has been communicated in writing to the student.