Important Policies and Information

Your education at the Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies is governed by a variety of policies and procedures related to financial assistance, academic progress and other matters. Be sure to familiarize yourself with this important information.

Drug Law Violation
Conviction of any drug offense during a period of enrollment during which the student received federal financial aid will result in the loss of aid eligibility.

Loan Entrance Counseling
Entrance counseling is required for all new students to Hazelden Betty Ford Graduate School of Addiction Studies. Loan funds will not be disbursed until you have completed loan entrance counseling.

Loan Exit Counseling
Exit counseling is required of all borrowers of federal Direct Unsubsidized and Direct Plus loans. Federal regulations require that you participate in loan exit counseling when you complete your degree, withdraw, or drop below half-time (5 credits) enrollment status. Exit counseling helps you understand your rights and responsibilities as a borrower and provides tips and information on how to manage your student loans.

Loan Servicers
When you borrow a federal loan, the Department of Education, your lender, assigns a federal "servicer" of your loan. Your servicer is not determined on the basis of where you live or go to school. To identify your loan servicer, go to the National Student Loan Data Service (NSLDS).

Loan Terminology
To fully understand your rights and responsibilities related to federal financial aid, it is important to know the federal loan terminology you will encounter. Knowing and understanding these terms ensures that you are an informed borrower. For a complete list of loan terms, visit Loan Glossary. 

Withdrawal from Semester-Return of Title IV Funds
Students who receive federal financial aid and then withdraw from all classes prior to completing 60% of the semester are considered to have received unearned financial aid. Our financial aid office is required by federal law to calculate a Return of Title IV Funds to determine the portion of financial aid that was earned and the portion to be repaid. If you are considering withdrawing from all of your classes and would like to know how this will impact your financial aid, please contact the graduate school's financial aid office. Withdrawing during the semester, even taking a leave of absence, is reported as a withdrawal to the Department of Education, triggering your six-month grace period before loan repayment begins.