Medical Tuition Credits

1. Medical Tuition Credits Presented by: Becky Freer Assistant Dean of Students Dean of Students Office

2. What we do… • Emergency/Crisis response • Behavior Review Team and Students of Concern Team • Non-academic misconduct • Academic Misconduct • Student advocacy and guidance regarding institution policies, procedures, and resources • Tuition related appeals • including medical tuition credits

3. MTC Background • Designed to help students who have faced a sudden and/or severe medical situation or the death of an immediate family member continue to attend UWM. • Retain/graduate more students who otherwise may leave due to financial hardship. • MTC’s are meant to be a last resort. If a student can complete a course, use the Student Accessibility Center, or take an incomplete, we encourage them to do so.

4. What is a MTC On a one-time basis, the student may request a partial (drop) or a full semester (withdrawal) benefit. The tuition credit may be applied only at UWM for the semester when the student returns. *MTCs do not cover financial aid “living expenses,” library fines, etc.

5. Possible eligibility: • Student illness or serious injury, with physician or health care provider statement recommending reduction of credit load or withdrawal due to unanticipated medical condition. • Student as primary caregiver, with physician statement indicating relationship as parent or spouse and need for student to reduce credit load or withdraw for purposes of providing unanticipated essential care. • Death in immediate family (must provide copy of death certificate for immediate family member).

6. Possible ineligibility Death of extended family member. Assist in care of very ill family member. Stress/depression due to a variety of personal or family crises as above, abuse, relationship, etc. Medical situations one could be reasonably have anticipated and have taken more timely action. Medical situations that were known before the start of the semester. Medical situations for which the University could have provided accommodations

7. What happens when a student asks for a MTC? • We first ask them if they withdrew from their courses (usually, they already have) • If yes, they may start the MTC appeal process • If no, we help ensure that they are making an informed decision. We ask them to: • Talk to their advisor • Speak to a financial aid advisor, if they have taken out financial aid. • Talk to the Student Accessibility Center if appropriate

8. The MTC Appeal Process • Students must submit all necessary paperwork: • Appeal form • Memo of understanding • Letter describing their situation, important dates, and contacts with medical professionals, faculty, advisors, etc. • Letter from a medical professional and/or death notice. • All other documents that the student wishes to submit that helps us understand the timeline, severity, etc.

9. The MTC Appeal Process • Meanwhile, our office gathers: • Financial, academic and enrollment information from PAWS • Information from professors regarding dates of last attendance and performance in class • Prior appeal cases, if any exist

10. The MTC Appeal Process • Once all paperwork is in, a decision is made or a meeting is scheduled. • Further investigation is often necessary. I may call health providers, advisors, and/or professors to gather more details if necessary. • On average, it takes a month to get thorough documentation • I never deny an appeal without talking to the student first. • Once a decision is made, Enrollment Services, Bursar’s Office, and Financial Aid must review the case. Processing can take up to a week.

11. How decisions are made • Case by case basis • Criteria: • Appeal is within 5 years of incident and student has not already received an MTC • Student intends on returning to UWM • Event causing withdrawal/drop occurred during the semester (not prior) • Event was serious/unanticipated/an emergency • Student could not finish semester with reasonable accommodations. • Isn’t avoiding poor grades or scamming the system

12. MTCs can make a difference for students who may otherwise drop out. They can also be harmful to students….

13. MTCs may cause harm to students • Recalculated aid • Beginning of semester: student gets refund check. • Student withdraws, aid is recalculated, student owes $ • Student cannot use MTC until outstanding balance is paid (often thousands of dollars). • Sometimes students must choose between owing university for living expenses or earning poor grades for the semester. • MTCs may impact future aid • Students may be no longer eligible for grants • Students might not make necessary “academic progress” • Veteran benefits may be affected

14. Withdrawals may cause harm too • May impact assistantships, student teaching, on-campus housing, ability to access Norris Health Center, health insurance, scholarships, on-campus employment, and so on. • May delay, a semester or longer, a student’s ability to graduate. • Student may not come back.

15. How we can support students • Encourage them to speak to someone from financial aid before withdrawing. • If appropriate, talk to students about taking incompletes, working with faculty on deadlines, applying for SAC accommodations, finding support groups, and impact on health benefits, etc. • Talk to students about their plans while they are away from campus and when they plan to return. • Inform them of resources that might be helpful when they return. • Share information with Norris, Housing, Financial Aid, SAC, as appropriate. • Call the Dean of Students Office to give us a heads up/or consult about a student. • Don’t guarantee an MTC. Students should make decision to drop classes as if they do not receive an MTC (easier said then done!)

16. Questions? Becky Freer bfreer@uwm.edu 970-229-4575 (direct) 970-229-4632 (main office)