Financial Information/Student Services

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* Rates are based on the 2009-2010 school year. Tuition and fees are subject to change each semester. For any question regarding fees and/or tuition, contact the Cashier’s Office at www3.sdstate.edu/Administration/FinanceandBusiness/Cashiers/ or refer to the Course Schedule book for each semester’s fee schedule.

*Other tuition fees may apply for off-campus delivery.

Activity Fee - A fee charged per semester to cover health, Student Union and other University services, such as: admission to plays, athletic events, athletic facilities, and partially funded judging, music and forensic programs.

University Support Fee - A fee assessed per credit to replace expendable supplies, to defray the cost of equipment (maintenance, repair and replacement), and to allow for testing and other instruction-related costs. This fee also assists in providing services that benefit students which are not funded from other sources.

Late Charge - A fee charged if tuition and fees are not paid during the regular established payment periods. Failure to satisfy financial obligations when due may result in a student’s administrative withdrawal from the University.

By the third day of classes, each student must make a full payment of charges based on the number of credits registered, residency status, and campus housing. Late fees will be assessed starting on the fourth day of classes. Students are encouraged to mail payment before registration day.

Payment of tuition and fees can be made directly to the University by cash, check or electronic bank transfer.

Payment of tuition and fees using a debit or credit card can only be made through SDePay, electronic billing and payment system. Discover, American Express or MasterCard credit/debit card are accepted by SDePay. Visa Card is not accepted. A 2.75% convenience fee is assessed by and payable to infiNET, host provider of SDePay. For more information or to make a payment, go to http://www3.sdstate.edu/Administration/FinanceandBusiness/Cashiers/.

All tuition, fees, housing, food service and miscellaneous charges to student accounts will be on an electronic billing (eBilling) system and can be viewed on a secured Web site via the Internet. Payment of the student account can also be made electronically (ePayment) through the secure website. Students can authorize parents, spouse and other individuals to view the eBill and make ePayment on their student account. For additional information on eBilling and ePayment, go to http://www3.sdstate.edu/Administration/FinanceandBusiness/Cashiers/.

E-mail messages sent by SDSU to students through university-assigned, jacks e-mail addresses will constitute an official means of communication. It is the student’s responsibility and obligation to access official university e-mail messages in a timely manner. As other email accounts may be blocked by the SDSU firewall, SDSU is only able to monitor student e-mails coming from university-assigned e-mail accounts.

The student identification card is used as a debit card to access prepaid accounts. In addition to its extensive use in the food service system, the ID card accesses prepaid accounts, called HOBO DOUGH, for bookstore, campus vending, laundry, photocopying and printing, and selected off-campus businesses. Upon graduation or leaving the University, these funds will be returned in full upon request. No service charges are assessed for active accounts. However, accounts inactive for six months or more are assessed a monthly service charge. If the service charge exceeds the account balance, the account is automatically closed.

Regular tuition and fees, per credit, will be charged for auditing a course. Registration as an auditor is by petition. Auditing courses will be a matter of record (recorded on the academic transcript). Grades will be designated by the instructor as Audit Pass (AUP) or Audit Fail (AUF). Audit courses are not counted in calculating undergraduate or graduate full-time student status.

Students are responsible for paying all binding and electronic submission fees associated with their thesis or dissertation. Contact the Graduate School for acceptable payment forms and deadlines.

Application - Students receiving assistantship appointments must meet the academic requirements established by the Graduate School for admission (minimum 2.75 GPA, either cumulative or Junior/Senior, or complete a minimum of nine (9) graduate credits with grades of B or above and must maintain a 3.0 Plan of Study GPA).  Graduate assistants must be enrolled in at least one credit of graduate work except for students who are on summer assistantships immediately following assistantships held in previous academic year.  Graduate assistants who have graduated in May are not eligible for assistantships the following summer unless they officially begin a doctoral program.  International graduate students receiving graduate assistantships must have sufficient English proficiency to perform the duties assigned.  Ordinarily, his will be interpreted to mean successful scores on the TOEFL examination or completion of remediation for any deficiencies; however, it may also involve further assessment and observation by a department head relative to a classroom teaching role.

Obligation - The Graduate School of South Dakota State University, as a member of the Council of Graduate Schools in the United States, subscribes and adheres to the following resolution regarding scholars, fellows, trainees, and graduate assistants. In every case in which a graduate scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or graduate assistantship for the next academic year is offered to an actual prospective graduate student, the student, having indicated acceptance before April 15, will have complete freedom through April 15 to submit in writing a resignation of the appointment in order to accept another scholarship, fellowship, traineeship, or graduate assistantship. However, an acceptance given or left in force after April 15 commits the student not to accept another appointment without first obtaining formal release for the purpose. Students working on degree programs, including those on assistantships, are considered to have assumed an obligation to complete their graduate program before transferring to any other post-baccalaureate or professional degree program.

Student financial assistance programs are administered through the student Financial Aid Office in SAD 106. They may be contacted at 605/688-4695 or go to http://www3.sdstate.edu/Admissions/FinancialAid/ for more information. Graduate assistantships, fellowships, and traineeships are administered by the department or program involved.

Detailed information on Student Life and Services is found in the General Catalog (Undergraduate Catalog) and on-line at  http://www3.sdstate.edu/StudentLife.

Academic Evaluation and Assessment Office- Students needing testing information (GRE, TOEFL, etc.) should contact this office located in the Foundation Building, (920 9th Street, north entrance), telephone 605/688-4217.

Bookstore - The University Bookstore sells textbooks, merchandise and other supplies. Located in the University Student Union and can be contacted by calling 605/688-6392 or go to www.sdstatebookstore.com/.

Disability Services - Assistance is available for students with disabilities. Information is available by calling 605/688-4504, TTD 688-4394.

Health and Counseling Services - Student Health and Counseling Services provides outpatient services and is located in the Wellness Center. Call 605/688-4157 or go to www3.sdstate.edu/StudentLife/StudentHealthandCounselingServices/ for more information or to schedule an appointment.

Housing and Food Service - Prospective graduate students should inquire about rooms or apartments from the Director of Residential Life, well in advance of registration. The Residential Life Office is located in Caldwell Hall 167, telephone 605/688-5148. Information concerning off-campus housing is available from the Off-Campus Housing Assistance Office, University Student Union 062, telephone 605/688-5916.

International Student Affairs - International students should consult with the International Student Affairs Office concerning special requirements and additional expenses, University Student Union 065, telephone 605/688-4122.

Library, Hilton M. Briggs - In addition to its vast and varied collections, library services include computer workstations, study/conference rooms for student use, individual study rooms for faculty and graduate students, a resource room for the visually impaired, and computer labs. A founding member of the South Dakota Library Network, Briggs Library can search approximately 4.3 million titles for interlibrary loan from other member institutions. In addition, interlibrary loan services are available from thousands of other libraries worldwide.

Native American Student Advising - The Native American Student Advisor is available to aid Native American students and is located in the University Student Union 065, telephone 605/688-6653.