An Alternative Method for Paying Tuition

See if HCC tuition payment plan works for you.

By Danita J. Hall
Special Correspondent

Struggling to find another way to pay for your college tuition? Housatonic has payment plan that fits most budgets.

The Installment Payment Plan Options (IPPO) offers students an alterative to the more traditional methods such as financial aid, student loans, or maybe all at once. The IPPO is available for all students provided they have not defaulted on a previous plan.

Students waiting for their financial aid to kick in are eligible. If your financial aid becomes available before the final payment you can use the aid as the payment. Just make sure you check in with the Financial Aid Office in Room A108 first.

Hoa Nguyen, Cash Accounting Clerk, said, “In order to be eligible for this plan you must register for at least six or more credits.”

There are three installments that make up this plan. The first payment is due when you register for your classes.

Before you register for your first classes and you feel this plan might be what you’re looking for, go to the library to view the IPPO film. The film gives you, in detail, the information on the payment plan. The IPPO film is about ten minutes long and will provide you an outline of the contract between you and the Housatonic. The librarian will give you a copy of the contract when you go in to view the film.

The contract is a simple document where only the basic information is required; name, address, and the amount of each of three scheduled payments.

The schedule of payments will be the second page of your contract. This payment chart breaks down the three installments and the due date in which payment is required. The chart is easy to follow it goes by the number of credits starting at six followed by each additional credit.

The first payment includes general fees, lab fees and student fees, plus 35% of your tuition for that semester. If you do choose this plan, be advised that there is a $25.00 processing fee, which is non refundable if you withdraw from any of your classes. Also be advised that if you fail to make a payment you could be automatically withdrawn from your classes. This is what they call an Administrative Withdrawal.

The Administrative Withdrawal will cause you not to become ineligible to participate in this option in the future. Students will receive a “W” for the classes and teachers will be notified of the withdrawal.

According to Acting President Anita Gliniecki, “Faculty members receive updated class rosters that show a student is withdrawn from the class.”

“Faculty are asked to send any student to the registrar whose name is not on the class roster or who is in class but has a 'W' by his/her name,” added Gliniecki.

The IPPO is a different method but has serious retribution if you fail to follow the policies and procedures. These policies and procedures are on the cover page of your contract. This is a legal contract and is taken very seriously by the school. You will get two reminders by mail before your second and final payment is due.

However, this plan is not for everyone. Since the payments are so close together, it may be hard to come up with all the funds needed in such short notice. The IPPO is a good method if you feel you can make the payments. If you register early this plan may just work for you.