Your Rights and Responsibilities

Dedicated Support

At RIT, you are never navigating your financial journey alone. Every student is assigned a financial aid counselor based on their academic major. Your counselor is committed to working with you to ensure an RIT education remains affordable and accessible.

Your Rights as a Financial Aid Recipient

As a recipient of financial assistance, you are entitled to a transparent and fair process. Your rights include:

• You have a right to privacy. All records and data submitted with your application for financial aid will be treated as confidential information.
• You have a right to a complete explanation of the award process. If you do not understand your financial aid offer or feel your application has not been evaluated fairly, please contact us.
• You have the right to be notified of cancellation or withdrawal of aid. As part of this notification you have the right to be told why this action is being taken.
• You have the right to appeal. An administrative appeal process has been established to review student requests for reconsideration. If you wish to appeal your financial aid offer, use the secure document uploader to submit your request in writing with any supporting documentation to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships.

Your Responsibilities as a Financial Aid Recipient

To maintain your eligibility and ensure the integrity of the financial aid program, you are responsible for the following:

• You have the responsibility to immediately report any change in your student status. If you move, change your name, drop below full-time status, withdraw from school, or do anything else that affects your status, you must report it to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, and to any student loan/parent loan lender.
• You have the responsibility to report any additional funds or benefits, using the Outside Assistance/Scholarship Report, to the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships. These funds may include private scholarships, tuition waivers, Vocational Rehabilitation, and Veterans Benefits. The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships is required by law to make adjustments to a student’s award if additional funds or benefits create an overaward after the original offer of aid has been made.
• You have the responsibility to use financial aid for education expenses. These expenses may include tuition, fees, room, board, books, supplies, and living expenses.
• You have the responsibility to respond to any inquiries from federal, state, or college auditors.
• You have the responsibility to repay student loans on time. Acceptance of any loan carries a serious obligation to repay. Students who do not meet this repayment obligation may affect the availability of loans for future students. Before you accept student loans, you should consider the repayment obligation.
• You have the responsibility to keep copies of all correspondence regarding your financial aid, whether it is with the Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships, governmental agencies or outside lenders.