You will receive a refund or no debt will be incurred if:
- You drop a class by the deadline for the last day to drop with a tuition refund (also known as the census date). View the Academic Calendar or the Schedule of Classes for the census date.
- The class is canceled by the College.
If you are not going to take a class, you need to drop it online through NOVAConnect or visit a Student Services Center in order to avoid being accountable to pay for the class. It is your direct responsibility to make sure your class is dropped by checking your schedule through NOVAConnect.
You will automatically receive a refund in the same form of payment that you used to pay for the class (ex. check, credit card, etc.).
If you replace the dropped or canceled class with another class for a different number of credits, you may be entitled to a refund if the new class carries fewer credits, or you may owe NOVA money if the new class carries more credits.
Refunds
NOVA has a contract with Nelnet Campus Commerce to process electronic financial aid disbursements and tuition refunds to students. You may receive refunds within six business days or more.
When can you expect your money to be available?
Direct Deposit (ACH) - Funds are usually available within 6 to 7 business days AFTER the refund is posted to your Student account.
Please Note: If you paid your tuition with a credit card using Nelnet Campus Commerce and you are due a refund, your tuition refund will be issued back to the card that you originally used for payment.
Log in to the NOVA Student Information System (SIS) via myNOVA and verify that your mailing address, name and date of birth are correct. You can access Nelnet Campus Commerce through the Student Center in SIS via myNOVA. If needed, contact NOVA Admissions and Records to update your name and date of birth.
Please Note: NOVA's default delivery method is check. Checks may take as many as 10 to 14 days AFTER the refund is posted to your Student account for the check to arrive at your mailing address.
Contact:
Email Address: information@nvcc.edu
Phone Number: 877-408-2028
Nelnet Campus Commerce
For general assistance or to change your phone number, please call us at 888-470-6014
Customer service representatives are available:
Monday - Thursday, 7:30 am to 7:00 pm (CST).
Friday, 7:30 am to 5:00 pm.
You may request an exception to college policy regarding tuition debt after the last date to drop with refund for one of these special circumstances:
- Medical Emergency defined as an extended illness or major medical event affecting you or a member of your immediate family (mother, father, sister, brother, wife, child or grandparent) occurring after the census date.
- Death of the student or the death of a member of your immediate family (mother, father, sister, brother, husband, wife, child or grandparent).
- Permanent re-assignment/transfer, national emergency, or mobilization declared by the president of the US and in accordance with Section 23.1-207 of the Code of Virginia.
- Administrative error by the College.
- Extreme financial hardship on the part of the student.
Procedures
The student must withdraw from all pertinent classes for the semester before submitting a request. However, prior to withdrawing, we strongly recommend that you meet with an advisor to discuss possible options. Additionally, all issues regarding financial aid should first be discussed with a NOVA Financial Aid office prior to you dropping or withdrawing from any classes.
Write a letter or email (all correspondence by email requires the use of your college email address) including appropriate documentation to the Director of Business Services at tuition-exceptions@nvcc.edu to justify one of the following:
- Medical Emergency defined as an extended illness, major medical event, or a severe psychiatric/psychological emergency affecting you or a member of your immediate family (mother, father, sister, brother, wife, child or grandparent) occurring after the census date. Include a letter signed by the physician (on letterhead, not a prescription pad) attesting to date of injury or illness, the requirement that you cannot continue classes, and the duration of required absence. In the event you are acting as a primary caregiver for an immediate family member, we will require a letter from the patient’s physician stating that they are unable to care for themselves, and you are acting as their primary caregiver beginning on a specific date, and continuing through a projected date, which precludes you from attending classes. Requests must be submitted within 90 days of date of problem as per physician’s letter. Pro-ration applies to requests based on medical emergency.
- Death of a student or a member of your immediate family (mother, father, sister, brother, husband, wife, child or grandparent). Attach to the request a copy of the death certificate, obituary, or applicable court documents. The request must be submitted within 90 days of the date of death. If the student is the deceased and, it is necessary to process a refund via check, the check will be made payable to the "Estate of (__________)". (A tax ID number will need to be provided for this as well. Please contact tuition-exceptions@nvcc.edu separately for further clarification) Pro-ration applies to requests based on the death of immediate family members only.
- Permanent re-assignment/transfer, national emergency, or mobilization declared by the president of the US and in accordance with Section 23.1-207 of the Code of Virginia. Attach a copy of military activation orders. This does not include annual training. Requests must be submitted within 90 days of the date of your orders.
- Administrative error by the College. The request should explain the circumstances of the error, including dates, names of employees, emails/correspondence, and publications, if applicable. Requests must be submitted within 90 days of the date the error was first discovered or made known.
- Extreme financial hardship on the part of the student. The request should explain the circumstances, outlining the financial issues and provide documentation as appropriate. You should be advised that information such as eviction/foreclosure documents, and/or employment termination documentation may be required. There will be no refund of paid tuition will be granted. This exception if for the removal only of outstanding tuition charges.
Pro-ration of refund/exception requests are as follows:
During first 25% of class completion = 100%
During 26% to 50% of class completion – 50%
After 51% of the class has been completed – 0%
- Failure to drop a class by assuming it would be dropped for you by the College due to non-payment or non-attendance.
- Misunderstanding or lack of knowledge about NOVA policies and procedures.
- Dissatisfaction with the course content or instructor and/or your academic progress in a class.
- Inadequate investigation of course requirements, including prerequisites.
- Requests based on pre-existing medical conditions prior to the start of the semester.
- Change in personal work schedule/hours, geographic location, or available transportation.
- Other reasons not included in the criteria set by the State Board of the VCCS.
- Disagreements with faculty, teaching methods or style, treatment or grading procedures are not considered administrative errors and must be resolved by contacting the division dean or through NOVA's student complaint/grievance procedures.
Dropping or withdrawing from a class may impact your Financial Aid. Before you drop or withdraw from a class:
- Contact the Financial Aid Office if you are a Financial Aid recipients. Final decisions for approval of requests involving Financial Aid funds require the additional consent of the Financial Aid Office with regard to return of unearned refunds.
- Third-party contract recipients must contact the Third-Party Organization that is assisting with their education payment.
Book Refunds
Any request for book refunds must be handled directly through the Campus Bookstore and are subject to Barnes & Noble's refund policy. The bookstores are owned and operated by Barnes & Noble, who have their own independent refund and return policies.
Outstanding Bookstore charges using Financial Aid funds are not removable from the student’s account and must be paid directly by the student.