College expenses consist of (1) basic charges (tuition, room, meals); (2) special charges (required insti­tutional and course fees and deposits); (3) funds for books and supplies; and (4) funds for personal needs. The cost to students for basic and special charges is set out in this section. The College reserves the right to change all charges and fees listed in this catalog without further notice.

The Office of Fiscal Affairs will bill each semester’s charges to the student and/or the person responsible for the account at least twice each semester. Students are expected to meet their financial obligations to the College promptly. Proper management of financial resources, including personal finances, is considered a part of each student’s educational experience.

*Charges will vary according to residence hall assignment. Totals presented include the highest residence hall rate.

**Menu variety is provided for diet-conscious students. Special menus are available for physician-ordered, restricted diets. A meal plan is required of all resident students and is billed for the full semester.

Special Charges Per Semester

Students taking courses totaling less than 12 credit hours and students who are not enrolled in certified degree programs will be charged tuition at the rate of $438.00 per credit hour and a basic fee of $78.00. A student taking more than 18 credits in a semester will be charged a tuition fee of $180.00 per hour over 18 credits. Transportation and other costs associated with Student Teaching are the responsibility of each student.

Application Fee

Residence Hall Reservation Deposit (Non-Refundable)

A deposit of $200 ($300 for Roulhac Hall and East End) per semester, must be made by all students, who plan to live in a residence hall before a room is assigned. This deposit may be paid to the Residence Hall Director upon arrival or to the Office of Fiscal Affairs prior to arrival on campus. For returning student, this deposit should be paid to the Office of Fiscal Affairs by May 1 for the fall semester and by October 1 for the spring semester. Failure to meet these deadlines may result in forfeiture of the opportunity to live in the residence halls. This deposit is non-refundable.

Matriculation Fee

A compilation of all fees associated with attending College (i.e., technology, cable, etc.).

ROTC Uniform Deposit

A deposit of $25.00 is required for students enrolled in ROTC courses. This deposit must be paid at registra­tion. The deposit may be refunded provided the uniform is returned and no charges for damages are assessed.

Payment Plan(s)

Payment of all charges each semester is due and payable in advance or at registration. Upon approval by the Vice President for Fiscal Affairs or Business Manager before or during registration, payment may be made according to an installment plan. The installment plan calls for payment of 85% of all charges at or prior to registration and payment of the balance in three equal amounts as follows:

A student who uses the installment plan will be assess a deferred payment fee of $25.00 and must execute a promissory note. Students who fail to meet the deadlines for payment of all charges may be assessed a late payment fee based on the outstanding balance. In addition, all charges must be paid in full before the student can receive examination permits and course grades, be allowed to graduate, or have transcripts issued. Any costs incurred by the College in collecting delinquent accounts will be charged to the student.

All payments may be made at the Business Office or mailed to:

Vice President for Fiscal Affairs
Stillman College
P.O. Box 1430
Tuscaloosa, AL 35403-9990

For safety, payment should be sent in the form of a money order or a cashier’s, certified, or personal check. The College reserves the right to refuse acceptance of personal checks in cases it deems appropriate. All forms of payment by mail must be accompanied by the complete name and address of the student for whom the payment is intended.

Refund Policy

All basic charges and selected special charges to students who withdraw from the College or leave housing will be refunded on a pro-rata basis through the fourth week of the semester. Refunds will be issued for 80 percent of the amount paid at the end of the first week of classes; 60 percent at the end of the second week; 40 percent at the end of the third week; and 20 percent at the end of the fourth week. Refunds will be made to the Financial Aid Program for all charges paid from that source.

FINANCIAL AID

The College serves as a conduit through which students can access federal, private, and state aid to assist in paying the costs associated with attending college. Completing the necessary forms and providing documen­tation that might be required are the responsibilities of the student.

General Information

All students and prospective students seeking financial assistance through the College, including scholar­ships of all types, will be required to submit a complete financial aid application. The complete aid application will include the College Financial Aid Application, or other approved need analysis system such as the U. S. Education Department’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

All students and prospective students will be required to apply for the Federal Pell Grant and submit to the College a Student Aid Report for Federal Student Aid Programs prior to being considered for any other aid through the College. Students who are residents of the State of Alabama will be required to submit Alabama Student Grant Program Applications. Failure to do so will result in the College estimating an amount for such grants and deducting that amount from the student’s need.

In awarding financial aid to students, all sources of financial aid available to students will be considered in determining the financial aid award package through the College. Students will not be awarded financial aid in excess of the amount needed to cover tuition, room and board, books and supplies; personal expenses; and other direct educational expenses as determined by the College.

Academic Scholarships

Various Stillman College endowment incomes and individuals, organizations, churches, etc., provide funds for the awarding of scholarships. Academic scholarships are awarded based upon the applicant’s academic record and standardized test scores. The scholarships awarded cannot exceed full tuition and fees. Students receiving tuition remission benefits or other awards from the College or any other source must adhere to this policy.

The following endowed scholarships are currently being used to develop financial aid packages for Stillman students:

The Alabama Power Foundation Endowed Scholarship Fund was established at Stillman in 1989. It promotes the education of deserving, full-time students concentrating their studies in a business-related area.

The Ronald Allen Atkinson Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 1992 by Dr. Atkinson’s parents. The scholarship recipient must be majoring in mathematics or computer science and must demon­strate a commitment to academic excellence and good citizenship.

The Sarah S. Davis Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 1996 by the Stillman Board of Trustees in honor and appreciation of Mrs. Sarah Striggles Davis’ contributions to the good of the College. Awards are made to women students who show excellence in scholarship and commitment to service.

The George W. Dockery, Jr. Endowed Scholarship was established in 1996 by George W. Dockery, Jr., president of OK Tire Stores in Tuscaloosa. The award is presented to a student whose parent is an employee of OK Tire Co.

The Edwards Science Endowed Scholarship was establised in October 2000 by former trustee Dr. Horace B. Edwards and Mrs. Fran M. Edwards of Topeka, Kansas.

The Freeland Scholarship Fund was begun in 1983 through the generosity of Mr. Barton W. Freeland, Sr. of Crowley, Louisiana. Awards are made to students majoring in Religion and Philosophy or a cognate field who plan to study for the ministry or pursue further study in one of the professional church vocations.

The Bessie German Endowed Scholarship was established in December 2001 by Elizabeth Baptist Church, Tuscaloosa, AL. It is given in honor of the late Mrs. Bessie J. German, former church musician and former employee of Stillman College.

The Greenetrack Endowed Scholarship in Honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. was begun in 1988. The scholarship recipient must be a graduate of a Greene County high school.

The Terrell and Unareed Harris Endowed Scholarship was established in 1992 by Trudier Harris-Lopez, Class of 1969, and her brother, Peter Harris, in memory of their parents. The award is made to a student majoring in History who demonstrates leadership on and off the campus.

The Helene W. Hibbard Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 1983 by Gulf States Paper Corporation in honor of Mrs. Helene Warner Hibbard, a longtime Stillman Trustee and former chairperson of the Board of Trustees. The purpose of the scholarship is to promote the education of deserving students who are enrolled full time at the College.

The Claudia D. Williamson Hill Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 1995 in memory of Mrs. Hill. Income from the endowment is used to support an African-American student from Georgia.

The George and Mattie Lavender Leadership Award was established in 1988 by Herman B. Smith and his wife, Mrs. Annie Lavender Smith of Atlanta, GA in memory of her parents, George and Mattie Lavender. The scholarship is given annually as a leadership award in their names.

The George A. LeMaistre Endowed Scholarship was established in 1983 and is jointly awarded by The First Presbyterian Church of Tuscaloosa and the College. Criteria for the LeMaistre Scholarship include: evidence of good citizenship, high cumulative grade-point average, study in business or pre-law curriculum, Christian background, evidence of leadership and commitment to service, and rising junior or senior status.

The James Lowe Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 1998 by his family. The late Mr. Lowe was strongly committed to education, community service, and civic responsibility. In addition to junior classification, Lowe scholarship recipients must have above average grade-point averages, be natives of Ala­bama, preferably West Alabama, and must demonstrate good citizenship and strong commitment to service.

The Louise McCoy Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 1996. The late Mrs. McCoy, a Stillman alumna, left funds in her will to benefit the College. Awards are made to rising juniors or seniors who have shown great improvement during their matriculation at Stillman.

The Tommie and Carrie Madison Endowed Scholarship is awarded to a declared elementary edu­cation major or secondary certificate program student who is an exemplary junior or senior. Dr. Thomas Madison, a Stillman alumnus, in memory of his parents, established the scholarship in 1996.

The Perry D. Peoples Jr. Business Endowed Scholarship was established to assist those students with a minimum cumulative grade point average of 3.00, evidence of good citizenship, leadership and commit­ment to service, interested in majoring in business administration and/or pursuing a pre-law curriculum, and a rising junior or senior. Mr. Peoples was an alumnus of Stillman.

The Reese Phifer Jr. Memorial Scholarship Fund was endowed by the Phifer Wire Company in 1988. It is awarded to an outstanding student from Tuscaloosa County.

The Russell Corporation Endowed Scholarships were established in 1988 by the Russell Corpora­tion of Alexander City, Alabama. Preference is given to students who are, themselves, employees or who are related in some way to an employee of the Russell Corporation.

The Herman and Annie Lavender Smith Endowment Fund was established in 1988 by Dr. Herman B. Smith and his wife, Mrs. Annie Lavender Smith, of Atlanta, Georgia, in memory of her parents, George andMattie Lavender. The scholarship is given as a leadership award in their names.

The Armond Thomas, Sr. Endowed Scholarship was established by the Thomas family in memory of Mr. Armond Thomas, Sr., a strong supporter of Stillman College. It is the desire of Dr. and Mrs. Eddie B. Thomas and his family that the scholarship be awarded to students who are majoring in elementary education and have completed the freshman year with an overall 2.5 or above grade point average. The students must exemplify good character and be enrolled full-time at Stillman.

The George and Mattie Washington Memorial Scholarship was established by their friends and family in 1996. The recipient must reside in Tuscaloosa and be willing to become familiar with the work and contributions of the Washingtons.

The Wayne Presbyterian Church Endowed Scholarship was established in November 2001 by the Wayne Presbyterian Church located in Wayne, Pennsylvania.

The Eugene and Amanda Webb Scholarship was established by a former Stillman trustee and his wife, and is presented to the top two students majoring in business.

The Cordell and Marie Wynn Endowed Scholarship Fund was established in 1986 in honor of the fourth President and First Lady. Wynn scholars must possess good character and leadership traits and evi­dence scholarship and servanthood. Awards will be part of a total financial-aid package based on need.

Harte Honors College Scholarships

Stillman offers full tuition scholarships for outstanding students who are selected for membership in the Harte Honors College. In order to participate, the applicant must have an ACT score of at least 23 or an SAT score of at least 1075. For more details, please contact the director of the Honors College.

Performing/Visual Arts Scholarships

A limited number of scholarships are available for students who possess musical and artistic talent and who also show academic promise. Please contact the chair of the Fine Arts Department for details.

Athletic Scholarships

A prescribed number of scholarships are available for men and women who demonstrate exceptional performance in an NCAA-sanctioned sport offered by the College. Such scholarships are recommended by the coach of the individual sports to students who have met Stillman and NCAA requirements.

Grants

A grant is a gift aid that does not have to be repaid. Only undergraduates pursuing their first bachelor’s degree are eligible for grants.

The Federal Pell Grant is an entitlement program that is based on financial need. Pell Grants are awarded for varying amounts depending on eligibility.

The Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG) is a grant program based on exceptional financial need and availability of funds.

The Alabama Student Assistance Program is a grant program based on financial need and availability of funds. This grant is awarded to Alabama residents only. Alabama Student Assistance Program Grants are awarded for varying amounts.

The Alabama Student Grant Program is designed to provide financial assistance to residents of the State of Alabama who enroll into undergraduate programs at non-sectarian, secular education, non-profit, independent institutions. The amount of the grant varies depending on availability of funds.

Work

The Federal Work-Study Program provides part-time on and off campus employment to students. Eligibility for this program is dependent on financial need and availability of funds. Students earn minimum wage and are paid for actual hours worked.

Loans

The Federal Perkins Loan is based on exceptional financial need and availability of funds. The loan has an interest rate of 5%. Loan repayment begins nine months after graduation or at such time a student is no longer enrolled at least half-time.

The Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan is based on financial need. If you are receiving this loan you will receive a set of promissory notes to sign and return to this office. The interest rate is variable. Repayment begins within six months after the student is no longer enrolled.

The Unsubsidized Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan is a loan program that is not based on need. It is designed to make loans available to students who don’t qualify for a traditional Federal Direct Stafford/Ford Loan. Students may defer principal amount borrowed but interest accrues while they are enrolled.

The Federal Direct Parent Loan for undergraduate students (PLUS) allows the parent or legal guard­ian of a dependent student to borrow up to the estimated cost of attendance minus other types of aid to pay for educational expenses. This loan has a variable interest rate set annually by the Federal government with a cap of 9%. The repayment period begins within 60 days after the second disbursement of the loan. The typical repayment is 10 years with an extended period available in some circumstances.

Conditions of Financial Aid

In order for a student to continue to receive financial aid under the Federal Pell Grant, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant, Federal College Work-Study, Alabama Student Assistance Grant, or Federal Stafford/PLUS Loans, the student must meet the College’s satisfactory academic progress standards. New first time freshmen admitted to the College will be eligible for consideration for financial aid. A student whose financial aid has been suspended may re-apply for financial assistance upon returning to the College. Financial aid will not be awarded retroactive to cover periods when the student was ineligible to receive financial aid.