Student Accounts Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What is a 1098-T?
A. The 1098-T is an IRS form used to report educational-related
expenses. While this form has been used in prior years, 2003 is the first year
that educational institutions are required to report actual dollar amounts.
Institutions are required to report on either payments received (Box 1), OR
amounts billed (Box 2); not both. Benedictine University reports on Box 2 ~
Amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses.
The dollar values recorded on the 2007 1098-T are calculated based upon qualified
transactions occurring between January 1 and December 31 2007.
Questions regarding individual eligibility for education tax credits such as the
Hope Tax Credit and Lifetime Learning Tax Credit should be referred to your income
tax advisor or the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at (800) 829-1040 or http://www.irs.gov.
Benedictine University is unable to provide students and families with any tax
opinions or advice.
Q. When is tuition due?
A. Tuition is due 7 days after the 1st day of the term, or
7 days after registration (whichever comes later). For the Fall 2008 semester,
tuition is due September 1, 2008.
Q. What is the best way to make a payment?
A. The most efficient and timely way to make a payment to your account
is to pay online at http://www.ben.edu/MyBenU.
For help on how to make an online payment, visit: http://www.ben.edu/mybenu/docs/Student_Financials_Self_Service_Navigation.pdf.
This information is also available in the Course Schedule Book. Payment can
also be mailed to Benedictine University, 2971 Reliable Parkway, Chicago, IL
60686-2971 or Benedictine University, Ben Central, 5700 College Road, Lisle,
IL 60532. Be sure to include your student ID on any payment. Credit card payments
can also be made by phone by contacting Ben Central at (630) 829-6500.
Q. May I pay with a credit card?
A. Benedictine University accepts MasterCard, Visa and Discover cards.
Q. What if I can't pay all of my tuition by the due date?
A.Benedictine University has teamed with Sallie Mae in providing the TuitionPay
Plan. You can enroll online at http://www.tuitionpayenroll.com/ben
or by phone at (800) 635-0120. Please note that tuition for the Fall term must
be paid in full with the December 1st payment and tuition for the Spring term
must be paid in full with the May 1st payment.
Q. I made a payment to Sallie Mae through the TuitionPay, but
I don't see it on my BU statement?
A. Sallie Mae transmits payments to Benedictine University once a week.
(ex. A payment made to Sallie Mae on 5/25/08 will be received by BU by 6/6/08).
Sallie Mae waits one week for clearance of check or until next payment due date
if payment is submitted early. Please note that you will receive a monthly statement
from both Benedictine University and Sallie Mae when using the TuitionPay Payment
Plan.
Q. What is Anticipated Financial Aid that appears on my statement
and on my online account?
A. Anticipated aid shows the expected credit that will be posted to the
student's account. These amounts are typically based on full time enrollment
and are reviewed by the Financial Aid Office staff after the term has begun
and before being posted to the student's account. All programs (Pell, MAP, institutional
aid, Stafford and PLUS loans) have separate criteria that must be reviewed each
term before aid is posted.
Q. Where's my financial aid?
A. Financial aid is not credited to student accounts until
the 2nd week of the term (after the 100% add/drop period).
Students should have received, or will be receiving an award letter from the
Financial Aid office. To determine their out-of-pocket expenses, students/parents
should take the total invoiced amount for the term, and subtract that term's
portion of their financial aid.
Note: Federal Work Study should NOT be included (this is not an award, it is
received as a paycheck only if the student works on campus). Loans may be disbursed
minus up to 4% bank service fee(s).
Q. Why are parents not allowed access to their son/daughter's account without
his/her permission?
A. The student is financially responsible for his/her Benedictine account,
and is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). However,
students may grant permission for others to receive information regarding their
account. The office of Student Accounts offers a "Student
Accounts Information Release Form", which may be completed and submitted
by the student to provide consent.
Q. Why is my registration and/or transcript request blocked by Student Accounts?
A. Future registration and transcript release are not allowed on accounts
with past due balances. In order to have the hold or block removed, you must
pay your account balance.
Q. There is a credit balance on my account, how do I request a refund?
A. Refunds for student loans are processed and mailed out to students
10 days after funds are posted to the student's account. If you wish to pick
up your refund check, you must complete a request form in Ben Central or online
at: http://www.ben.edu/resources/studentaccounts/refund_request_form.pdf.
Q. What is a bookstore voucher and how do I get one?
A. Book vouchers may be used at the Benedictine University bookstore
to purchase required books and supplies. Book vouchers may not be used to purchase
non-related course work items such as food or clothing. Book vouchers may be
requested by completing the Book Voucher Request Form found on the Student Accounts
website: http://www.ben.edu/resources/financialaid/documents/Book_Voucher_Request.pdf.
Students may fax this form to (630) 829-6501 for next day approval. Book vouchers
are available beginning one week prior to the start of the term through the
second week of the term. Distance Learning Students may request a voucher beginning
two weeks prior to the start of the term. A book voucher will be issued only
when a credit balance is anticipated due to financial aid credits that will
exceed account charges. The voucher amount will be the lesser of: the amount
requested or the anticipated credit balance, whichever is less. The maximum
voucher amount is $800. The student's account will be charged for the amount
of the book voucher issued.
Q. I'm getting Tuition Reimbursement from my employer… how does
TuitionPay Plan work?
A. This is a 4-step process the student must follow EACH TERM:
1. Student must provide documentation/proof of eligibility for their employer's
reimbursement policy (once per academic year Fall-Summer).
2. Benedictine University authorizes a single-pay plan for the student's term
balance with the TuitionPay Plan through Sallie Mae...payment is due at 5 weeks
after the end of the term, on the nearest 1st of the month (ex. Fall 2008 single-pay
plan is due February 1, 2009).
3. Student pays $30.00 enrollment fee directly to Sallie Mae.
4. Student pays term balance to Sallie Mae by due date.
Q. If my company is late reimbursing me, may I wait for their payment
and be allowed an extension on the tuition due date?
A. No, tuition is due on the published due date, even if a
student's company is late with reimbursement. Regardless of when the employer
reimburses the student, it is the student's responsibility to pay the balance
in full on or before the tuition due date. Students who experience this delay
from their employers typically pay tuition using a credit card.
Q. What if I haven't completed my coursework by the end of a term and
my employer won't reimburse me until I have my grade… can I have an extension
on the single-pay tuition due date?
A. No. Students are responsible for paying their tuition accounts
in full by the extended single-pay due date whether or not they have received
their grades. There is no additional extension for this plan.
Q. What happens if I don't receive my grades… can I wait and pay
after I get them?
A. No. Students are responsible for paying their tuition accounts
in full by the extended single-pay due date whether or not they have received
their grades. There is no additional extension for this plan.
Q. Why did I get a $100.00 late fee?
A. Tuition must be paid in full, or a payment plan be activated
with TuitionPay through Sallie Mae before the payment deadline.
Q. What if I didn't receive a bill?
A. Tuition is due by the tuition due date whether or not a
bill has been received. If a student has not received a bill, they may contact
Student Accounts or Ben Central to determine the required amount due or they
may view their account online at http://www.ben.edu/MyBenU.
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