Student Consumer Information
Student Consumer Information
The Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008 (HEOA) requires that postsecondary institutions participating in federal student aid programs provide the following information to current as well as prospective students.
Click on the following numbered item to find information on it below:
1. Academic Programs
Detailed information about academic programs can be found on the University website and in the online bulletin. Individuals responsible for disseminating of academic information are:
Dr. Donna Berkner, Vice President for Academic Administration, Accreditation Liaison, Graduate Dean
Dr. Jason Kowarsch, Registrar - Records Office, Findley Building
2. Accreditations
Southwestern's accrediting information can be found on the university website at Accreditation and Non-Discrimination Policy.
The individual responsible for the dissemination of accreditation information is:
Dr. Donna Berkner, Vice President for Academic Administration, Accreditation Liaison, Graduate Dean- Moore Building
3. Alcohol and Other Drug Policy
The Employee Drug Policy is distributed to employees by email each year. A copy can be obtained from the Human Resources Department.
The Student Drug Prevention Policy is available on the University website, and in the Student Handbook (pg. 20-22).
Individuals responsible for the dissemination of the Alcohol and Drug Policy are:
Genelle Martin, Human Resources Director - Administrative Office - Moore Building
James The, Vice President for Student Services - Administrative Office - Findley Building
4. Campus Security Policies, and Crime Statistics and Crime Log
The University Security statistics may be viewed at: Safety & Security Reports
The individual responsible for the dissemination of these policies and statistics is:
Matthew Agee, Associate Director of Security - Findley Building
5. Copyright Infringement and Peer-to-Peer File Sharing Policies and Sanctions
More information can be found at: Academic Integrity Policies.
The individual responsible for dissemination of these policies is:
Dr. Donna Berkner, Vice President for Academic Administration - Moore Building
6. Federal Student Financial Aid Penalties for Drug Law Violations
Federal law provides that a student, who has been convicted of an offense under any federal or state law involving the possession or sale of a controlled substance during a period of enrollment, for which the student was receiving financial aid, shall not be eligible to receive any federal Student Aid or institutional grant, loan, or work assistance. See Student Handbook (ps. 20-22).
Additional information, in regard to this restriction, can be obtained by contacting:
Student Financial Services - Findley Building
7. Financial Aid
The Finances section of the University website and the online Bulletin (pg. 11-26), as well as the Student Financial Services publications, include information about the following:
Need-based and non-need-based federal, state, local, private and institutional financial assistance programs available to students;
Eligibility requirements and procedures for applying for aid;
Criteria for selecting recipients and determining the amount of award;
Methods and frequency of disbursements of aid;
Financial aid terms and conditions, including terms applicable to employment provided as part of a financial aid package;
Rights and responsibilities of students receiving Title IV, HEA loans;
The availability of financial aid for study abroad programs;
How financial aid is handled when students withdraw;
Whom to contact for questions regarding financial aid.
Federal notices concerning the terms and conditions of federal student loans, entrance and exit counseling information, drug violation penalties, and the code of conduct for financial aid professionals and advisory disclosure are available.
State Grant Assistance Information
Texas students - Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board > Applying and paying for college
Students from states other than Texas - StudentAid.gov > Understand Aid > Types of Aid > Aid from Your State Government > Click “State Grant Agency” > Home State.
Student Loan Information- Federal & State Aid
Code of Conduct for Education Loans- Federal & State Aid
Entrance Counseling- StudentLoans.gov
Exit Counseling- StudentLoans.gov
Private Education Loans- Federal & State Aid and ElmSelect.com
Individuals responsible for the dissemination of financial information are:
Duane Valencia, Asst. Financial Vice President, Student Finance- Findley Building
Student Financial Services Staff - Findley Building
8. Fire Safety Report and Fire Log
The fire safety report and fire log can be found at: Safety & Security Reports 2019
The individual responsible for the dissemination of safety information is:
Matthew Agee, Associate Director of Security - Campus Services Building
9. Graduation and Retention Rates (Student Right-to-Know Act)
Graduation and Retention Rates can be found in the Student Consumer Information section of the website at: Student Outcomes.
The individual responsible for the dissemination of these statistics is:
Marcel Sargeant, Assistant Vice President for Academic Administration - Findley Building
10. Intercollegiate Athletic Program Participation Rates and Financial Support Data (Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act)
The individual responsible for the dissemination of this information is:
James The, Vice President of Student Services - Findley Building
11. Missing Student Notification Procedure
The individual responsible for the dissemination of safety information is:
Matthew Agee, Associate Director of Security - Campus Services Building
12. Net Price Calculator
A federally mandated estimator of college costs can be found at: Net Price Calculator
Individuals responsible for the dissemination of this information are:
Rahneeks Hazelton, Asst. Vice President for Enrollment - Findley Building
Duane Valencia, Asst. Financial Vice President, Student Finance - Findley Building
13. Placement in Employment
Job placement rates can be found under Student Outcomes in the Consumer Information on the University website at: Student Outcomes.
The individual responsible for the dissemination of these statistics is:
Dr. Marcel Sargeant, Assistant Vice President for Academic Administration - Administrative Office - Findley Building
14. Price of Attendance
The price of attendance including estimated costs for personal, transportation, and living expenses while attending Southwestern is located at: Estimated Costs.
Individuals responsible for the dissemination of cost information are:
Duane Valencia, Asst. Financial Vice President, Student Finance - Findley Building
Student Financial Services staff - Findley Building
15. Privacy of Student Records
Southwestern FERPA policies may be viewed in the online Bulletin on the University website at: Student Records - Student Rights (FERPA).
The individual responsible for the dissemination of FERPA information is:
Jason Kowarsch, Registrar - Records Office - Findley Building
16. Refund Policy, Requirements for Withdrawal, and Return of Title IV, HEA Financial Aid
The institutional and the federal and state aid refund policies and procedures are described in the Finance section of the online Bulletin (pg. 11-24), on Refund of Federal/State Funds and Tuition, Room and Board Institutional Refunds.
Individuals responsible for the dissemination of refund information are:
Duane Valencia, Asst. Financial Vice President - Student Finance - Findley Building
Student Financial Services staff - Findley Building
17. Services for Students with Disabilities
The services available to students with disabilities are described in the online University Bulletin at: Counseling and Testing Center an Disability Services.
The individual responsible for the dissemination of this information is:
Dr. Marcel Sargeant, Assistant Vice President for Academic Administration - Administrative Office - Findley Building
18. Stalking, Intimate Partner Violence & Sexual Assault Response Protocol
For more information see Campus Security on the University website. To meet the requirements for the newly enacted Campus SaVE Act, mandated training for all faculty, staff, and new students began during the 2014-2015 academic year. From that academic year forward, all new faculty, staff, and students are required to undergo the same training.
The individual responsible for directing this process is:
Matthew Agee, Associate Director of Security- Campus Services Building
19. Student Body Diversity
Information about student diversity at Southwestern can be found in the Consumer Information section of the University website under General Institutional Information.
The individual responsible for the dissemination of this information is:
Dr. Marcel Sargeant, Director of Institutional Research - Administrative Office - Findley Building
20. Education Preparation Program Report
Education Preparation Program statistics can be viewed at: Education Preparation Program.
The individual responsible for the dissemination of Teacher Preparation Program information is:
Dr. Cheryl The, Chair of Education and Psychology Department - Pechero Hall
21. Textbook Information/Required Course Materials
Textbook information for Southwestern courses can be found at the online University Bookstore at: SWAU Bookstore
The individual responsible for the dissemination of textbook information is:
Marcela Wall, Director, Bookstore - Mabee Center
22. Title IX and Sex Discrimination Policy
No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity. For more information see our Full Title IX Policy.
The Title IX Coordinator is:
Greg Wicklund, Assistant Vice President for Financial Administration - Findley Administration Building
23. Vaccination Policies
The University vaccination policy can be viewed in the online Student Handbook at:
Medical Records. See page 35.
The individual responsible for dissemination of vaccination policies is:
James The, Vice President for Student Services - Findley Building
24. Voter Registration
Information on how to register to be able to vote in public elections can be found on the University website at: Voter Registration.
The individual responsible for dissemination of voter registration information is:
James The, Vice President for Student Services - Findley Building
25. State of Texas - Student Complaint Process
The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board (THECB) adopted rules codified under Title 19 of the Texas Administrative Code, Sections 1.110 - 1.120, on October 25, 2012. The rules create a student complaint procedure to comply with the U.S. Department of Education’s “Program Integrity” regulations, which require each state to have a student complaint procedure in order for public and private higher education institutions to be eligible for federal Title IV funds. In December 2011, the Office of Attorney General of Texas issued an opinion stating that THECB has authority under Texas Education Code Section 61.031 to promulgate procedures for handling student complaints concerning higher education institutions. Instructions for filing a complaint can be found at:
26. Commission on Colleges Southern Association of Colleges and Schools - Complaint Process
The complaint process for the institution’s accreditation organization can be found at: SACSCOC Frequently Asked Questions.
27. Federal Student Loan Disputes
Please use the following information to contact the FSA Student Loan Ombudsman Group:
Via online assistance: Federal Student Aid
Via telephone: (877) 557-2575
Via fax: (202) 275-0549
Via mail:
U.S. Department of Education
FSA Ombudsman Group
830 First Street, NE, Mail Stop 5144
Washington, DC 20202-5144