Rights and Responsibilities

You have the right to:

• Know what financial aid programs are available at Chico State.
• Receive accurate information about application procedures, deadlines and eligibility for each of the available programs.
• Accept or decline any portion of your financial aid offer. 
• Know the cost to attend Chico State (including tuition and fees, books, food and housing, personal expenses, and transportation).
• Know that your application will be evaluated using the same system of need analysis applied to all students.
• Know how your financial aid was determined, including what resources (such as assets, earnings, parental contribution, etc.) were considered in the calculation of your Student Aid Index (SAI).
• Know what portion of your calculated financial need will be met.
• Receive information regarding loan terms and conditions (interest rates, amounts, repayment terms, grace periods).
• Know the consequences of loan defaults and options for forgiveness/discharge. 
• Know how and when your accepted financial aid will be disbursed.
• Know the financial aid repayment and refund policies.
• Understand how the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office determines whether you are making satisfactory academic progress, and what happens if you are not.
• Know your financial aid has lifetime limits.
• Know the information pertaining to your financial aid is kept confidential.
• Receive a full and clear explanation of financial aid decisions. You may appeal some decisions if you disagree with them by making an appointment with a supervisor.

You have the responsibility to:

• Complete all applications and forms accurately.
• Provide honest and correct information. Giving false or misleading information on your financial aid application and forms is against the law and could be considered a crime. Check your application to make sure everything is correct. 
• Comply with all financial aid application deadlines.
• Promptly submit any additional documentation or new information requested by the Financial Aid & Scholarship Office.
• Maintain Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).
• Read and understand all documents and agreements you sign and keep copies for your records. Accept responsibility for all agreements you sign.
• Seek advice from a tax professional to determine if any portion of grants, fellowships, or scholarships are considered taxable income.
• Complete Loan Entrance Counseling(opens in new window) and an electronic Master Promissory Note(opens in new window) if you are a first-time borrower.
• Complete online Federal Direct Loan Exit Counseling(opens in new window) before you graduate, transfer, or withdraw from Chico State, if you have borrowed a Federal Direct Loan.
• Repay all student loans borrowed. 
• Report changes in enrollment status, contact information or financial situation. 

In order to earn Federal Work-Study, you must:

• Find a Work-Study job through the Handshake link on the Career Center & Student Employment website. 
• Apply for and be hired in a Federal Work-Study job.
• Adhere to the arranged work schedule.
• Correctly report the hours you work.
• Remain enrolled to maintain eligibility.
• Carefully monitor your earnings so you don’t exceed your award for the semester or academic year.
• Maintain satisfactory academic progress standards.