Add/Drop, Withdrawal, and Tuition Refund

Add/Drop Policy

Students who wish to change a course registration after the start of a term may do so within the first seven days of the course by requesting a course add/drop through their online account. Students are permitted to drop a course within the first seven days one time per course. 

Students who drop a course before midnight Central time (UTC-5) on the seventh day of the course are eligible for 100% tuition refund. Dropped courses will not be displayed on the student’s transcript.

Course Withdrawal Policy

Students requesting a withdrawal may do so by midnight Central time (UTC-5) at 60% of the completion length of the course and maintain eligibility for 100% tuition refund. See the academic calendar for specific dates. The course will be documented as a formal withdrawal (W) on the student’s record. Refunds will be processed for the original transaction amount. Discount codes cannot be reused. 

The only exception to the official withdrawal deadline is for documented cases of medical/health problems precluding the student from completing the term. To request an exception, complete the Special Request Form and attach the related documentation from a medical provider. Under no circumstances can a withdrawal be processed in the last week of a term.

Course Administrative Withdrawal Policy

Students who are inactive for 50% or more of the course consecutively are administratively withdrawn from the course and issued a refund according to the Tuition Refund Policy unless an instructor has granted prior non-participation approval. Evidence of academic attendance includes timely assignment submissions, quiz or exam submissions, discussion board posts, and/or academic inquiries to the instructor. A withdrawal (W) will show on the official transcript. Refunds will be processed for the original transaction amount. Discount codes cannot be reused. 

Degree Program Withdrawal Policy

Degree-seeking students who no longer intend to complete the program can officially withdraw. The student will be refunded according to the Tuition Refund Policy for any current or future course registrations at the time of their withdrawal. Degree-seeking students who withdraw from the program within five days of signing the enrollment agreement will receive a refund for the application fee. Additional program fees will not be refunded for withdrawals that take place more than five days after signing the enrollment agreement. Refunds will be processed for the original transaction amount. Discount codes cannot be reused. 

To withdraw from the master’s degree program, students should contact their academic advisor or visit the Manage My Degree page within their profile. 

Degree Program Administrative Withdrawal Policy

Students who do not attempt a course for one (1) year are subject to administrative withdrawal. The university will notify students one month before administrative withdrawal. 

Students may request a leave of absence per the Leave of Absence Policy (LOA) to extend their degree-seeking status. Students seeking to maintain university enrollment through a Leave of Absence may be subject to a Leave of Absence planning meeting with their academic advisor. 

Students who are administratively withdrawn from the program will be refunded future course tuition according to the Tuition Refund Policy. Students will need to reapply to the program if they wish to continue. All fees, rules, and regulations at the time of reapplication will apply. 

Maximum Time to Complete

Students must complete their graduate degree within five (5) years of program enrollment. Once the five- year period from initial enrollment has expired, a student must reapply to the program. All policies and fees apply. 

Tuition Refund Policy

8-Week Course Academic Calendar

Term Code	Term Start Date	Drop Period Ends	Last Date to Withdraw	Term End Date
202201	1/3/2022	1/9/2022	2/6/2022	2/27/2022
202202	2/7/2022	2/13/2022	3/13/2022	4/3/2022
202203	3/7/2022	3/13/2022	4/10/2022	5/1/2022
202204	4/4/2022	4/10/2022	5/8/2022	5/29/2022
202205	5/2/2022	5/8/2022	6/5/2022	6/26/2022
202206	6/6/2022	6/12/2022	7/10/2022	7/31/2022
202207	7/4/2022	7/10/2022	8/7/2022	8/28/2022
202208	8/1/2022	8/7/2022	9/4/2022	9/25/2022
202209	9/5/2022	9/11/2022	10/9/2022	10/30/2022
202210	10/3/2022	10/9/2022	11/6/2022	11/27/2022
202211	11/7/2022	11/13/2022	12/11/2022	1/8/2023
202212	12/5/2022	12/11/2022	1/8/2023	2/5/2023

12-Week Course Academic Calendar

Term Code	Term Start Date	Drop Period Ends	Last Date to Withdraw	Term End Date
202201	1/3/2022	1/9/2022	2/23/2022	3/27/2022
202202	2/7/2022	2/13/2022	3/30/2022	5/1/2022
202203	3/7/2022	3/13/2022	4/27/2022	5/29/2022
202204	4/4/2022	4/10/2022	5/25/2022	6/26/2022
202205	5/2/2022	5/8/2022	6/22/2022	7/24/2022
202206	6/6/2022	6/12/2022	7/27/2022	8/28/2022
202207	7/4/2022	7/10/2022	8/24/2022	9/25/2022
202208	8/1/2022	8/7/2022	8/21/2022	10/23/2022
202209	9/5/2022	9/11/2022	10/26/2022	11/27/2022
202210	10/3/2022	10/9/2022	11/6232022	1/23/2022
202212	12/5/2022	12/11/2022	1/25/2023	3/5/2023

Tuition Refund Policy

Students are eligible for a refund for any future course term or any current courses until the withdrawal deadline. Refund is determined according to the schedule below. Additional program fees will not be refunded. 

2-Credit Course 

Date of Withdrawal	Percentage of Tuition Returned to the Student	Refund Amount
On or before the halfway date of the course	100%	$798

Sample Refund Calculation: A graduate student who withdraws from a 2-Credit course on the tenth day of class will be issued a refund of $798.00.

3-Credit Course (500-Level)

Date of Withdrawal	Percentage of Tuition Returned to the Student	Refund Amount
On or before the 7th day of class	100%	$1197

Sample Refund Calculation: A graduate student who withdraws from a 3-Credit (500-level) course on or before the seventeenth day of class will be issued a refund of $1197.00.

3-Credit Course (600-Level)

Date of Withdrawal	Percentage of Tuition Returned to the Student	Refund Amount
After 60% total course days	0%	$0

Sample Refund Calculation: A graduate student may not withdraw from a course after 60% of the total course days. Students will retain the grade earned and are not eligible for a refund according to the Course Withdrawal Policy.

6-Credit Course (600-Level)

Date of Withdrawal	Percentage of Tuition Returned to the Student Minus the Application Fee	Refund Amount
On or before the halfway date	100%	$2694

Sample Refund Calculation: A graduate student who withdraws from a 6-Credit (600-level) course on the tenth day of class will be issued a refund of $2694.00.

Discounts

AOEU occasionally offers discount codes to defined groups or during special promotions. The discounted amount will not be refunded per AOEU’s Tuition Refund Policy.

California Student Disclosure

Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF)

The State of California established the Student Tuition Recovery Fund (STRF) to relieve or mitigate economic loss suffered by a student in an educational program at a qualifying institution, who is or was a California resident while enrolled, or was enrolled in a residency program, if the student enrolled in the institution, prepaid tuition, and suffered an economic loss. Unless relieved of the obligation to do so, you must pay the state-imposed assessment for the STRF, or it must be paid on your behalf, if you are a student in an educational program, who is a California resident, or are enrolled in a residency program, and prepay all or part of your tuition.

You are not eligible for protection from the STRF and you are not required to pay the STRF assessment, if you are not a California resident, or are not enrolled in a residency program.

It is important that you keep copies of your enrollment agreement, financial aid documents, receipts, or any other information that documents the amount paid to the school. Questions regarding the STRF may be directed to the Bureau for Private Postsecondary Education, 2535 Capitol Oaks Drive, Suite 400, Sacramento, CA 95833, (916) 431-6959 or (888) 370-7589.

To be eligible for STRF, you must be a California resident or are enrolled in a residency program, prepaid tuition, paid or deemed to have paid the STRF assessment, and suffered an economic loss as a result of any of the following:

1. The institution, a location of the institution, or an educational program offered by the institution was closed or discontinued, and you did not choose to participate in a teach-out plan approved by the Bureau or did not complete a chosen teach-out plan approved by the Bureau.
2. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution within the 120 day period before the closure of the institution or location of the institution or were enrolled in an educational program within the 120 day period before the program was discontinued.
3. You were enrolled at an institution or a location of the institution more than 120 days before the closure of the institution or location of the institution, in an educational program offered by the institution as to which the Bureau determined there was a significant decline in the quality or value of the program more than 120 days before closure.
4. The institution has been ordered to pay a refund by the Bureau but has failed to do so.
5. The institution has failed to pay or reimburse loan proceeds under a federal student loan program as required by law, or has failed to pay or reimburse proceeds received by the institution in excess of tuition and other costs.
6. You have been awarded restitution, a refund, or other monetary award by an arbitrator or court, based on a violation of this chapter by an institution or representative of an institution, but have been unable to collect the award from the institution.
7. You sought legal counsel that resulted in the cancellation of one or more of your student loans and have an invoice for services rendered and evidence of the cancellation of the student loan or loans.

To qualify for STRF refund, the application must be received within four (4) years from the date of the action or event that made the student eligible for recovery from STRF.

A student whose loan is revived by a loan holder or debt collector after a period of non-collection may, at any time, file a written application for recovery from STRF for the debt that would have otherwise been eligible for recovery. If it has been more than four (4) years since the action or event that made the student eligible, the student must have filed a written application for recovery within the original four (4) year period, unless the period has been extended by another act of law.

However, no claim can be paid to any student without a social security number or a taxpayer identification number.

Note: Authority cited: Sections 94803, 94877, and 94923, Education Code. Reference: Section 94923, 94924, and 94925, Education Code.

Military Refund Policy

In cases in which a student is a member of the National Guard or reserve forces of the United States, and is ordered to National Guard duty or federal active duty, the student qualifies for the following additional options. This policy also applies to those who are the spouse or dependent child of a military member who is deployed.

Option 1: The student may choose to have The Art of Education University withdraw all or a portion of the student’s registration and provide a full refund of the tuition and program fees.

Option 2: The student may choose to have The Art of Education University make arrangements for incomplete courses to be kept and completed at a later date, in which case, the tuition and fees would remain intact.

Option 3: The student may choose to process grades as earned and/or work ahead to complete coursework before deployment, in which case, the tuition and fees would remain intact and grades would be processed within 10 days of the course end date.

Additional policy information may be found in the current edition of the Graduate Catalog.

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If you have specific questions or concerns not addressed here,  contact help@theartofeducation.edu for clarification.