COMPLETE WITHDRAWAL POLICY for FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS
Official Complete Withdrawal
Circumstances may necessitate complete withdrawal from the University of Hawai'i - West O'ahu (UHWO) for a semester in which you are already registered. The outcome of complete withdrawal on your financial aid depends on when the withdrawal is initiated and the type of financial aid you received. However, in all cases, your financial aid must be recalculated. Students considering withdrawal from classes should consult the Financial Aid Office prior to initiating the withdrawal process. Withdrawal can have a significant impact on institutional charges, a current financial aid award, as well as future financial aid eligibility (see the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy).
If the semester has not yet begun, and you cancel your registration, your financial aid for the semester will also be cancelled.
If you officially process a complete withdrawal from the University of Hawai'i - West O'ahu after classes begin, the Financial Aid Office is required to perform a Return of Title IV Funds calculation on any Federal aid you may have received to determine what aid was earned and unearned. Any unearned aid will be returned to its’ respective Federal Aid program and the student will be held responsible for the entire amount of unearned aid, including the amount the institution was required to return.
The official complete withdrawal date will be calculated based on the last date of attendance in classes as indicated on the University’s Complete Withdrawal Form or the date the form was completed (if no date is given).
Unofficial Complete Withdrawal (Dropping Out)
Any student who does not complete the academic term for which Federal financial aid has been awarded (receives all “F” grades for the semester) will be determined to have unofficially withdrawn from the institution which will require the Financial Aid Office to perform a Return of Title IV Funds calculation. Any unearned aid will be returned to its’ respective Federal Aid program and the student will be held responsible for the entire amount of unearned aid, including the amount the institution was required to return. Withdrawal can have a significant impact on institutional charges, a current financial aid award, as well as future financial aid eligibility (see the Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy).
At the conclusion of each semester, the Financial Aid Office will ascertain if you have passed any courses for the semester. If you have not, the Financial Aid Office will use the last date of attendance the instructor gave to determine the Return of Title IV Funds calculation. If no date is given, the Financial Aid Office will use the mid-point of the semester to determine the Return of Title IV Funds calculation.
Return of Title IV Funds Calculation
Federal Title IV financial aid is recalculated based on the number of days attended. The percentage of unearned aid to be returned is equal to the number of days remaining in the semester divided by the number of calendar days in the semester. If you initiate an official complete withdrawal after the 60% point in the semester, you will have earned 100% of the aid you received for that semester. The date of withdrawal is counted as a completed day. Scheduled breaks of more than 4 consecutive days within a semester are excluded.
If a return of Title IV aid is required, the University of Hawai`i - West O`ahu will return the unearned portion of Title IV financial aid funds to the federal programs. The student will be held responsible for the entire amount of unearned aid, including the amount the institution was required to return.
If you are one of the few students who are eligible for a post-withdrawal disbursement, you will be sent a letter of notification of your eligibility, which must be returned within 14 days from the date of the notice, or the offer will be rescinded.