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Students Rights and Responsibilities
Student’s Rights
According to federal legislation, the student has the right to know:
- What financial aid programs are available;
- The deadlines for submitting applications for each of the financial aid programs available;
- How financial aid is distributed;
- How the student's financial need was determined;
- How much of the financial need so determined has been met;
- An explanation of the various programs in the student's aid package;
- The School's tuition refund policy in case the student withdraws;
- What portion of the financial aid is loan and must be repaid and what portion is non-repayable grant/scholarship aid;
- For loans awarded, what the interest rate is, the total amount that must be repaid, the repayment procedures,
the length of time to repay the loan, and when the repayment is to begin;
- How the School determines satisfactory progress and the consequences if such progress is not met; and
- That all documents submitted to the Financial Aid Office are confidential
Student’s Responsibilities
Similarly, the student's responsibilities are to:
- Read the information that the School is required to provide about policies.
- Complete all required documents accurately and submit them before the deadlines to the proper places.
- Provide correct information. In most instances, misrepresentation of information on financial aid application forms is
a violation of law and may be considered a criminal offense that could result in indictment under the U.S. Criminal Code.
Misrepresentation may also result in disciplinary action by Harvard Medical School.
- Supply all additional documentation, verification, corrections, and/or new information requested by the Financial Aid
Office or the agency to which the application is submitted.
- Read and keep copies of all forms requiring signature.
- Be aware of the terms of the assistance programs awarded.
- Accept responsibility for all signed agreements including the repayment of loans according to the stated terms.
- Notify the Financial Aid Office promptly and in writing of any changes in financial circumstances that occur after
submission of the aid application.
- Notify the Financial Aid Office promptly and in writing of any change in academic status from that of being a full-time
medical student in good academic standing.
- Be aware of the School's refund procedures.
Fraud
If the School has reason to suspect that a financial aid applicant may have deliberately
misrepresented information in connection with their aid application, the School may
initiate disciplinary action. In the case of fraud or other criminal misconduct, referral
may be made to the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Inspector General, or, if more
appropriate, to a state or local authority. If evidence of misconduct is documented, the
School will review the matter to determine if the student should be sanctioned or dismissed.
U.S. Income Tax Liability
Students who receive scholarships, grants, fellowships, or other forms of gift assistance
in excess of the cost of tuition, mandatory fees, books, and equipment should be aware
that the excess amounts are subject to taxation under current federal tax law. The fact
that such income is not reported to the student on a W-2 form does not mean that these
funds are not taxable. Further information is available from the Internal Revenue Service’s
Publication 520 <www.irs.ustreas.gov>, as well as from most tax preparers.
Any source of funding that is contingent upon performing some kind of work or service
is considered taxable income regardless of whether it is used to pay tuition.
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