Financial Aid & Third Party Charges

How is financial aid applied in the bookstore?  When a student receives financial aid funds, this money can be used for anything in the store.  There are no restrictions since it is the responsibility of the student to use the funds as necessary.  Financial aid funds include Hope scholarship, various loans, grants and other scholarships.   Each student decides how that refund is processed (credit card, check or direct deposit) through the Higher One system.  For questions about Higher One or about financial aid, check with the Business Office in the BB & T building, 2nd floor.

How long does the student have to charge against the financial aid funds in the bookstore? The bookstore makes these funds available at the first of the term (last day is Drop/Add).  After Drop/Add, these funds are refunded to the student through the Higher One system.

How does the refund work for the financial aid?  After Drop/Add, these funds are refunded to the student  through the Higher One system. Each student decides how that refund is processed (credit card, check or direct deposit).  For questions about Higher One, refunds or about financial aid, check with the Business Office in the BB & T building, 2nd floor.

What does it mean to have third party charges? Third party charges are for those students who receive assistance through various agencies.  These agencies include Vocational Rehabilitation, Veterans Administration, Indian Affairs, Department of Family Services, Atlanta Workforce, Georgia Department of Labor, and St. Francis.  These accounts are only available when the agency has arranged funding and billing for the student for each term.  This is done between the agency and the business office, who bills all charges from the university (not just the bookstore charges).  The Business office will notify the bookstore when these accounts are set up.  Only books and supplies are approved purchases for these accounts. 

How long does the student have to charge on the third party account each term? Third party agency funds are available for the first three weeks of fall semester and spring semester, and through the first week of the second short session in the summer.

What can the student do to make third party charges easier? In order to expedite the process, students need to make sure their third party agency has arranged for assistance before coming to the bookstore.  The bookstore does not work directly with the third party agency.  We will not activate a student's account until the business office approves the account. 

NOTE:  When you come to the bookstore, be sure to tell the clerk which funding you will be using for your purchase.  Financial aid and third party charges are handled differently.