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The ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ (¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ) is committed to promoting student success by helping our students learn, graduate, obtain employment and demonstrate financial responsibility through the repayment of the funds they borrow to finance their education. This default plan is structured for student success and will be implemented as a campus-wide initiative. 

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ is making significant efforts in the area of default prevention and debt management. Our low Cohort Default Rate of 3.4% reflects the University's commitment to Default Management. The plan and its initiatives will be the key to the success of our default prevention and management goals.

• Overview
• Pre-Enrollment Efforts
• Enrollment Efforts
• Financial Aid Packaging Policy
• Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Notes
• Academic Affairs and Early Intervention with At-Risk Students
• Enrollment Reporting
• Exit Counseling
• Post-Enrollment Efforts
• Student Resources
• Conclusion

Overview

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ has determined that a campus-wide policy and effort is the underlying support for a successful default prevention program. Our institution focuses not just on those students who are enrolled during a specific term and year, but rather on all students – applicants and incoming freshmen, transfer students, alumni and those students who withdraw without completing their transfer pathways.

Pre-Enrollment Efforts

Presentations at New Student Orientations and Transfer Orientations revolve around responsible borrowing habits and cover common repayment/default topics. Admissions, New Student Orientation and Financial Aid staff members all participate in these presentations. Financial Aid Outreach also presents to high school students within the community and covers responsible borrowing habits during this initial introduction to Financial Aid.

This information serves to educate students and enables them to consider their overall financial plan while in college. At this time, there is not a measurement for success at the Pre-Enrollment stage. As additional resources are put towards Default Management, metrics will be established to track success.

Enrollment Efforts

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ's Default Prevention and Management Plan focuses on constant communication with our students while enrolled at ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ. It is during this crucial time that student involvement should be encouraged. ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s goal is to ensure that students are active in their communication with Financial Aid staff members, know who and how to contact their loan servicer and are aware of their debt and prepared to take on future financial responsibility.

Financial Aid Packaging Policy

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ annually evaluates its financial aid packaging policy, taking into account institutional needs as well as student needs. Our Financial Aid department focuses on encouraging conservative borrowing by students and promoting scholarships and Federal Work Study in lieu of loans.

Entrance Counseling and Master Promissory Notes

Before a student can take out a Federal Direct Loan, he or she must . The Master Promissory Note is defined and students are provided direction on how to complete this process.  

Academic Affairs and Early Intervention with At-Risk Students

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ evaluates students’ progress each semester. When mid-term grades are released, we identify those students with a GPA below 2.0. Students with W’s, F’s and/or D’s are also identified and contacted. These students are the focus of additional support to monitor their success and progress.

Enrollment Reporting

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ recognizes that timely and accurate enrollment reporting to National Students Loan Data Systems (NSLDS) is required by regulation and promotes school and student success. ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ also believes there is a correlation between late or inaccurate enrollment reporting and loan defaults. Accurate reporting activity ensures that borrowers receive their full grace period and that contacts from the loan servicer, such as correspondence and telephone calls, occur in the appropriate timing and sequence.

Exit Counseling

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s Default Prevention and Management Plan emphasizes Loan Exit Counseling to students who are leaving their program of study. Exit counseling is completed online at . Email reminders are sent to students who do not complete and clear this requirement in a timely manner.

Post-Enrollment Efforts

Although our primary source of student loan data comes from our partnership with the various loan servicers, ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ consults with and utilizes the following, in compliance with federal regulations, in order to minimize defaults:

1. One-Stop Student Services
2. Financial Aid/Scholarship and Strategic Initiatives staff members 

Financial Aid staff reach out to students in default to offer knowledge and resources. Emails and letters are sent in an effort to make contact and provide information so that students may clear their default status.

Student Resources for Responsible Borrowing

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Contacts and Information

• Email ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Financial Aid: faoutreach@unf.edu
• Contact ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ One-Stop Student Services
• ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ FAFSA Code: 009841
• ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ Financial Aid FAQ

Additional Resources

• • The U.S. Department of Education's office of Federal Student Aid is the gateway to apply for and research information on Federal Direct Student Loans.
• • The Loan Simulator helps students make decisions about their student loans. It can be used to find a repayment plan that meets student needs and goals and may also help students decide whether to consolidate loans.
• • In certain situations, students can have their federal student loans forgiven, canceled or discharged. Students may learn more about the types of forgiveness and whether they qualify due to employment or other circumstances.
• • Federal, state, local, or tribal government employees, as well as those employed with not-for-profit organizations, may qualify to have some or all student loans forgiven under the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
• • If you are struggling financially, there are many repayment options. The provides detailed information on these options and loan repayment flexibility due to COVID-19. Additional steps taken by the federal government to offer relief to student borrowers due to COVID-19 are also outlined.
• • Federal Aid Information Center: 1-800-433-3243
• • An educational program for all ages, C Money Smart helps with personal financial management, including financial literacy and responsibility.
• • A comprehensive guide for students to develop knowledge of student loans, banking, debt, and repayment options.

Conclusion

Default Management Plan Evaluation

¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s Default Task Force reviews the current Default Management Plan on an annual basis to determine what worked well and what did not provide anticipated results. ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ evaluates plans used by similar institutions to compare the effectiveness of its own plan. The committee members also contribute proposals for addendums during regularly held Default Task Force meetings during the academic year. These proposals are reviewed by the Leadership Team and either implemented or tabled for future review.

Default prevention and debt management is a college-wide initiative. Consequently, efforts are being administered not only from ¾ÅÉ«ÊÓƵ’s staff members, but also from our partners at the Federal Loan Servicers in order to provide our students with a comprehensive and effective Default Management Program. Default Management is part of our formula for student success and we continue to work diligently to assist students in making sound investments in their education.