Rights and Responsibilities

Each year, more than 1000 Paul Smith's College students request student financial assistance to help defray the cost of education. Federal, state, and institutional resources form a partnership with your (and your family's) own commitment to meet your educational costs.

As a student financial aid recipient and partner in this partnership you have a number of responsibilities and rights:

• Complete and submit application materials to the appropriate agencies within required or recommended timeframes.
• Read all materials sent to you from the Financial Aid Office and other agencies awarding you aid. Read, understand, and keep copies of all forms you sign.
• Know and comply with the rules governing the aid you receive. These rules include but are not limited to:
  • You must not be in default on any prior educational loan.
  • You must not owe a refund on a Federal Pell Grant or a Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant due to repayment.
• Provide additional documentation, federal tax returns, W-2's, and any additional information if requested by the Office of Student Financial Services.
• Comply with the provisions of any promissory note and all other agreements you sign including repaying your student loans.
• Complete the registration process each term by the end of the drop/add period in order to ensure availability of all student aid funds you have been awarded. Note: Most aid programs are limited and may be subject to cancellation if your registration process is not completed.
• Use student financial aid proceeds solely for direct educational costs and related living expenses.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress.
• Report private sources of student financial aid to the Paul Smith's College Financial Aid Office.
• Report any changes in your status: marital, academic, enrollment, residential, or name status.
• Keep your local and permanent addresses current with the College’s Financial Aid Office, Registrar’s and Student Accounts.

• Have all records and data submitted with your application for financial aid treated as confidential information, as prescribed by the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).
• Have an explanation of the award process.
• Be notified of changes in your financial aid status and the reasons for those changes.
• Know the conditions of any loan you accept.
• Know the terms, conditions, and pay rate for any federal or college work-study job you accept.