Duke FinAid: August Highlights

This monthly newsletter features relevant information, helpful tips, and upcoming deadlines to help you make the most of the financial aid available to you.  For each headline, you can click the available link, or you can scroll down for additional info. 

•   Bursar Refunds/Direct Deposit

•   Student Health Fee

•   Health Insurance

•   New Counselor Assignments

•   Books & Computer Purchase

•   Work-Study

•   Mandatory Session for International Students with Aid/Scholarships

•   Upcoming Deadlines/Reminders

Bursar Refund/Direct Deposit

If you are eligible for a refund, you must sign up for direct deposit to receive the funds as quickly as possible after the start of the term.  If your financial aid (excluding work-study) exceeds your Bursar account balance, you will receive a refund of the difference.  This refund can be used to purchase books or to cover other school-related costs.

Student Health Fee   

Duke Student Health is the primary source for healthcare and health education services including general medical care, basic nutrition counseling, laboratory services, travel / immunization clinics, and allergy / immunotherapy clinic. Most services at the Student Health Center (SHC) are covered by the mandatory Student Health Fee.

Health Insurance  

• New Students: All new students will need to complete the online health insurance form by clicking here.  If you have health insurance through a parent or other provider, this form will exempt you from needing to purchase insurance through Duke.  If you do not currently have health insurance, you will also need to contact Anna Kenyon by clicking here or calling 919-684-1481.  After contacting the appropriate office and completing the online form, need-based aid recipients will automatically be credited additional funds to cover the cost of insurance.

 

• Returning Students: If you received financial assistance to cover the cost of your health insurance last year, your insurance plan and financial aid will be automatically renewed for the 12-13 academic year.  You will not need to complete any additional paperwork.  If you have health insurance through a provider outside of the Duke student plan, you will need to complete the online health insurance form by clicking here.  Since you have health insurance through a parent or other provider, this form will exempt you from needing to purchase insurance through Duke.

New Counselor Assignments 

There are a few new faces in the Office of Financial Assistance, and it is possible that your counselor may have changed.  Check the chart below to find out who your counselor may be, or you can also view your assigned counselor on ACES.

Student Last Name	Counselor
A-Chub	Colin Clark
Chuc-For	Fred Holding
Fos-Hub	Miranda McCall
Huc-Lee	Justin Clapp
Lef-Nez	Erin Davis
Nf-Schm	Hayley Broadhead
Scho-Var	TBA
Vas-Z	Janice Coleman

Books & Computers

The financial aid budget includes an allowance for required textbooks and supplies.  For the purpose of buying textbooks, it is expected that students arrive on campus with at least half of their Summer Earnings Expectation. These funds should be used to buy textbooks and supplies for your fall semester.  If these funds are not available, however, students can charge the cost of their textbooks to their Bursar account by using their FLEX spending account . Textbooks can be purchased from the Duke University Book Store and online.

The Duke University Computer Store allows students to buy a computer that can be paid off in monthly installments over the course of the next four years.  Grant aid is not provided to help with the purchase of a computer.  Loan funds may be available to domestic students if requested, depending on eligibility.

Work Study   

Students who participate in the Work Study program work part-time on- or off-campus.  Students can begin to apply for positions over the summer as soon as they have been posted on DukeList, the online listing of available positions. FAQ and forms are available online.

Mandatory Session for International Students with Aid/Scholarships

International students coming from out of the country to attend classes in the fall must attend one of two sessions hosted by Undergraduate Financial Aid, Visa Services, International House and Corporate Payroll Services.   Sessions will be held:

August 20th 3 p.m. -5 p.m.  (in conjunction with Orientation for new international students at White Lecture Hall on East Campus)

August 31st 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. (for all returning internationals and any new international student who did not make the August 20th session, at the Career Center in Smith Warehouse, Bay 5, 2^nd floor)

Upcoming deadlines/reminders   

Check your “To Do” list on ACES

Make sure there are no outstanding financial aid items to hold up your aid or student loans.

Renew your aid for next year

If you are a returning student and haven’t completed your application for financial aid, be sure to complete the renewal process as soon as possible so funds can be available by the fall term.

ACES Reminder: you can view your up-to-date financial aid information, including your financial aid application To-Do List, your financial aid budget, and your financial aid award, via your ACES account