Tuition, Expenses, and Financial Aid

The standard student budget for M.P.H. students for the academic year 2007–2008 is as follows:

	Tuition	$28,850
	Student Activity Fee	125
	Books and Supplies	1,725
	Yale Hospitalization/Specialty Coverage	1,615
	Room and Board	11,125
	Personal and Transportation	3,195
	Total Budget	_____ $46,635

Tuition Rates

Full-time

Matriculated students who are enrolled in the M.P.H. program and are taking 4 or more course units in a term are considered full-time and must pay two full years of tuition (four terms).

Part-time

Matriculated students taking fewer than 4 course units in a term are considered part-time students. Part-time students pay tuition on a per course basis ($2,850 per course).

Students in the One-Year M.P.H. Program

Full-time students enrolled in the one-year M.P.H. program pay full tuition for one year (tw0 terms).

Joint-Degree Students

Joint-degree students with the schools of Forestry & Environmental Studies, Law, Divinity, Management, and Nursing, the Center for International and Area Studies, and International Development Economics in the Graduate School, pay three terms of tuition to EPH. Joint-degree students with the School of Medicine pay half the annual School of Medicine tuition for the two terms they attend EPH.

Yale Faculty and Staff

Yale faculty and staff members that are taking individual courses for credit will be charged tuition on a per course basis ($2,850 per course unit). Yale faculty and staff that have matriculated in the M.P.H. program pay the appropriate tuition rate (full-time or part-time).

Auditors

Auditors not affiliated with Yale University pay tuition on a per course basis ($2,850 per course unit), and are required to receive the permission of the instructor as well as the permission of the registrar.

Individuals affiliated with Yale (but not currently paying tuition at Yale) will be charged 50% of the per course unit rate to audit a course. Permission of the registrar and the course instructor is required.

M.S. in Biostatistics Students

M.S. students are required to pay two full years of tuition to the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences and should refer to the bulletin of the Graduate School.

Ph.D. Students

Ph.D. students should refer to the bulletin of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences for information about tuition and fees.

Tuition Rebate and Refund Policy

On the basis of the federal regulations governing the return of federal student aid (Title IV) funds for withdrawn students, the rebate and refund of tuition is subject to the following policy.

1. For purposes of determining the refund of federal student aid funds, any student who withdraws from EPH during the first 60 percent of the term will be subject to a pro rata schedule that will be used to determine the amount of Title IV funds a student has earned at the time of withdrawal. A student who withdraws after the 60 percent point has earned 100 percent of the Title IV funds. In 2007–2008, the last days for refunding federal student aid funds will be November 2, 2007 in the fall term and March 30, 2008 in the spring term.
   
2. For purposes of determining the refund of institutional aid funds and for students who have not received financial aid:
   1. 100 percent of tuition will be rebated for withdrawals that occur on or before the end of the first 10 percent of the term (September 14, 2007 in the fall term and January 23, 2008 in the spring term).
   2. A rebate of one-half (50 percent) of tuition will be granted for withdrawals that occur after the first 10 percent but on or before the last day of the first quarter of the term (September 29, 2007 in the fall term and February 7, 2008 in the spring term).
   3. A rebate of one-quarter (25 percent) of tuition will be granted for withdrawals that occur after the first quarter of a term but on or before the day of midterm (October 24, 2007 in the fall term and March 4, 2008 in the spring term).
   4. Students who withdraw for any reason after midterm will not receive a rebate of any portion of tuition.
      
      
3. In the event of a student’s death on or before the tenth day of a term, the tuition will be canceled in full. Should death occur after the tenth day of a term, the bursar will adjust the tuition on a pro rata basis.
   
   
4. If the student has received student loans or other forms of financial aid, rebates will be refunded in the order prescribed by federal regulations; namely, first to the Unsubsidized Federal Stafford and/or Subsidized Federal Stafford loans, if any; then to Federal Perkins loan; Federal Graduate Plus Loan; next to any other federal, state, private, or institutional scholarships and loans; and, finally, any remaining balance to the student.
   
   
5. Loan recipients (Stafford, Perkins, or Yale Student Loans) who withdraw are required to have an exit interview before leaving Yale. Students will be notified by mail of the process.

Student Accounts and Bills

Student accounts, billing, and related services are administered through the Office of Student Financial Services, which is located at 246 Church Street. The telephone number is 203.432.2700.

Bills

Yale University’s official means of communicating monthly financial account statements is electronically through the University’s Internet-based system for electronic billing and payment, Yale University eBill-ePay.

Student account statements are prepared and made available twelve times a year at the beginning of each month. Payment is due in full by 4 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on the first business day of the following month. E-mail notifications that the account statement is available on the University eBill-ePay Web site (www.yale.edu/sis/ebep) are sent to all students who have activated their official Yale e-mail accounts and to all student-designated authorized payers. It is imperative that all students activate and monitor their Yale e-mail accounts on an ongoing basis.

Bills for tuition, room, and board are available to the student during the first week of July, due and payable by August 1 for the fall term; and during the first week of November, due and payable by December 1 for the spring term. The Office of Student Financial Services will impose a late charge if any part of the term bill, less Yale-administered loans and scholarships that have been applied for on a timely basis, is not paid when due. The late charge will be imposed as follows:

Nonpayment of bills and failure to complete and submit financial aid application packages on a timely basis may result in the student’s involuntary withdrawal from the University.

No degrees will be conferred and no transcripts will be furnished until all bills due the University are paid in full. In addition, transcripts will not be furnished to any student or former student who is in default on the payment of a student loan.

The University may withhold registration and certain University privileges from students who have not paid their term bills or made satisfactory payment arrangements by the day of registration. To avoid delay at registration, students must ensure that payments reach Student Financial Services by the due dates.

Charge for Rejected Payments

A processing charge of $25 will be assessed for payments rejected for any reason by the bank on which they were drawn. In addition, the following penalties may apply if a payment is rejected:

1. If the payment was for a term bill, a $110 late fee will be charged for the period the bill was unpaid.
   
   
2. If the payment was for a term bill to permit registration, the student’s registration may be revoked.
   
   
3. If the payment was given to settle an unpaid balance in order to receive a diploma, the University may refer the account to an attorney for collection.

Yale University eBill-ePay

There are a variety of options offered for making payments. Yale University eBill-ePay is the preferred means for payment of bills. It can be found at www.yale.edu/sis/ebep/. Electronic payments are easy and convenient—no checks to write, no stamps, no envelopes, no hassle. Payments are immediately posted to the student’s account. There is no charge to use this service. Bank information is password protected and secure, and there is a printable confirmation receipt. Payments can be made twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, up to 4 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on the due date to avoid late fees. (The eBill-ePay system will not be available when the system is undergoing upgrade, maintenance, or repair.) Students can authorize up to three authorized payers to make payments electronically from their own computers to the student’s account using Yale’s system.

Use of the student’s own bank payment service is not authorized by the University because it has no direct link to the student’s Yale account. Payments made through such services arrive without proper account identification and always require manual processing that results in delayed crediting of the student’s account, late fees, and anxiety. Students should use Yale eBill-ePay to pay online. For those who choose to pay by check, a remittance advice with mailing instructions is available on the Web site.

Yale Payment Plan

The Yale Payment Plan is a payment service that allows students and their families to pay tuition, room, and board in ten equal monthly installments throughout the year based on individual family budget requirements. It is administered by the University’s Office of Student Financial Services. The fee to cover administration of the plan is $100. The deadline for enrollment is June 20. For additional information, please contact Student Financial Services at 203.432.2700 and select “Press 3” from the Main Menu. The enrollment form can be found online in the Yale Payment Plan section of the Student Accounts Web site: www.yale.edu/sfas/financial/accounts.html#payment.

Yale Charge Account Plan

Students who enroll in the Yale Charge Account Plan will be able to charge designated optional items and services to their student accounts, including toll calls made through the University’s telephone system. To enroll online, go to www.yale.edu/sis. Select the Login option; after logging in, select “Billing and Student Accounts,” then “Charge Account Authorization.”

The University may withdraw this privilege from students who do not pay their monthly bills on a timely basis. For information, contact the Office of Student Financial Services at sfs@yale.edu, tel. 203.432.2700, fax 203.432.7557.

Financial Aid

Financial Aid Policies for M.P.H. Students

The EPH Student Financial Aid Office is located in the Office of Student Affairs, 47 College Street. Karen Wellman, Director of Financial Aid, can be reached at 203.785.5417 or karen.wellman@yale.edu. The financial aid policies at EPH are designed to assist all students as equitably as possible. Financial aid awards are determined annually based on the estimated cost of attendance for the year in which aid is awarded. Continuing students are required to reapply for aid for their second year. The estimated student budget includes all projected costs related to academic and living expenses. The budget does not include expenses related to maintaining an automobile.

Though EPH awards a limited number of merit scholarships, the majority of Yale financial aid is awarded on the basis of demonstrated financial need. Loans are first awarded, and, depending upon the remaining need, students may receive a need-based grant from EPH.

Federal Veterans Education Benefits

The M.P.H. program is approved for Federal Veterans Education benefits under the GI Bill. To check your eligibility for benefits, visit the Web site www.gibill.va.gov. To be enrolled, see the registrar.

Loans

For 2007–2008, all U.S. citizens or permanent residents of the United States may be eligible to borrow up to $33,000 from the Stafford loan program. This amount may vary depending on what other financial aid a student may be receiving. Stafford loans generally have a ten-year repayment period beginning six months after a student graduates or drops below half-time enrollment.

Need-Based Grants

The total grant support for all students is limited by the availability of funds. Should need exceed the supply of funds, additional loans will be made available.

Students who wish to be considered for EPH need-based grants must provide parental information. Parents need to complete the Parent Questionnaire which is part of the EPH financial aid application and submit a copy of their federal tax return.

Eligibility

Students who are matriculated in the M.P.H. program and are registered for 3 or more course units per term are eligible to apply for financial aid.

International Students

International students are not eligible to receive financial aid from the School or the federal loan programs. International students are eligible to apply for the GATE Y-Loan. This loan is sponsored by the University and does not require a cosigner. Contact the Financial Aid Office at 203.785.5417 or by e-mail to karen.wellman@yale.edu for information on these loans.

Reporting Outside Resources

Additional financial support in the form of loans, scholarships, fellowships, additional family support, or employment of any type must be reported to the Financial Aid Office. Any such changes may result in a proportional reduction in the financial aid awarded.

Academic Policies

Faculty Advisers

Each student is assigned a faculty adviser upon entering the M.P.H. program. It is the responsibility of the student and the faculty adviser to work together to select courses, monitor academic progress, and develop career plans.

Course Registration

The first two weeks of each term are considered a “shopping period” in which students attend classes they are interested in taking. All students must complete the online registration by September 19 in the fall term and January 29 in the spring term to avoid a $50 late fee. At the end of the two-week shopping period, all registrations are considered final. Note: Courses cannot be added after the close of the two-week shopping period. See below for information on withdrawing from courses.

Students are encouraged to enroll in courses in other Yale schools if there is space available and if the instructor agrees. Students must also receive written permission from the Registrar of the Law School and the School of Management for any courses taken at those schools.

One course unit is awarded for any full-term course (not seminars or colloquia) taken in the Graduate School or another professional school. Credit is not granted for courses that are taken on a pass/fail or credit/no credit basis. All courses taken outside of EPH must be graded (H, HP, P) in order to receive a course unit. Courses taken at Yale College (undergraduate) must be 300 series or above in order to receive a course unit toward the M.P.H. degree.

Note: M.P.H. students are not eligible to “audit” classes at EPH.

Course Withdrawal

Students may withdraw from a course with the approval of their academic adviser. Students may withdraw from a course until midterm (October 26 in the fall term; March 7 in the spring term) without the course appearing on the transcript. From midterm until the last day of classes (December 7, fall term; April 25, spring term) a student may withdraw from a course; however, the course will appear on the transcript with a letter grade of “W.”

First-year students are not allowed to withdraw from Introduction to Statistical Thinking I and II (BIS 505a or b) or Principles of Epidemiology I (CDE/EMD 508a).

Exemption from Required Courses

Students who feel they have previously covered the material being presented in a required course (not an elective) can request a “course exemption” directly from the course instructor. The instructor must sign the Course Exemption Form (available online or in the Office of Student Affairs) and the student must submit it at the time of registration. Exempted courses will be listed on the transcript with a grade of “Q.” Exempted courses cannot be used to satisfy the course unit requirement for the M.P.H. degree.

Grading System

The EPH grading system is designed to foster an atmosphere of cooperative learning. Consequently, EPH does not compute the grade point average (GPA) or class rank of its students. Students are graded only to provide them with a formal evaluation of their understanding of the concepts presented in their courses.

All EPH courses are graded Honors (H), High Pass (HP), Pass (P), or Fail (F). The Internship and seminars receive a grade of Satisfactory (S) upon successful completion. The grade of “Q” indicates courses for which a student has received an exemption.

1. A grade of Honors should be assigned for performance that is distinguished. This reflects contributions that go beyond the requirements for the course, either in terms of the creativity of their application, the complexity of the settings in which the ideas are applied, or their ability to build on the methods and ideas taught in the class.
   
   
2. A grade of High Pass should be assigned for students who have demonstrated a proficiency in the use of class material. Students earning this grade not only understand the material that was taught but can also deploy it in constructive ways for new problems.
   
   
3. A grade of Pass should be assigned for students who have demonstrated an understanding of the class material. They must be able to accurately describe ideas and methods and identify contexts in which they are appropriately used. Passing grades indicate that students are capable of performing competently in this domain as public health professionals.
   
   
4. A grade of Fail should be assigned to students who cannot demonstrate an acceptable understanding of the core ideas, methods, or other class material and thus lack competence in this domain of public health.

The instructor for each course will determine the specific performance criteria that correspond to each of these tiers of academic achievement. Consequently, quantitative thresholds for particular grades may vary from one course to the next and in some courses may depend on factors (e.g., class participation) that are not readily quantified.

A failure in any course remains on the student’s transcript. If the course is retaken, it is listed again on the transcript with the new grade.

In very rare cases, students may receive a grade of Incomplete (I). This designation is not a permanent grade and must be finalized at a later date. If the instructor agrees to give a grade of Incomplete, the instructor notifies the student and the registrar of the date by which all course requirements must be completed. The time limit for completion may not exceed one term. In cases where the student does not complete the course requirements by the agreed-upon date, the grade of “I” is changed to a grade of “F.”

The transcript is a permanent record. Grade changes may only be made if the instructor reports to the registrar that a clerical or computational error has resulted in an inaccurate grade. The University considers an instructor’s evaluation of the quality of a student’s work to be final. Disputes about a course grade that are alleged to result from discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national or ethnic origin, or handicap are resolved through the University’s student grievance procedures.

Tutorial Support

Students experiencing academic difficulty should seek prompt assistance. Students should first discuss the problem with the course instructor. Course instructors can suggest that a student’s academic difficulties be addressed by a course’s teaching assistant (TA). If after working with the TA the student continues to experience difficulty, the course instructor can recommend that specific tutorial assistance be provided to the student. The instructor should contact the associate dean for student affairs to arrange tutorial assistance.

All M.P.H. student transcripts are reviewed by the associate dean for student affairs at the end of each term. Advisers receive a copy of each advisee’s transcript both as an early warning of academic difficulty and as an aid to planning course load and selection.

Academic Standards

Students in the M.P.H. program must pass all core course and divisional requirements. Any student who fails a required course must retake it and pass it. The Committee on Academic Progress will review the academic performance of a student whose record in any term shows significant decline, or if there is a reason for concern about the overall quality of a student’s work.

Academic Probation

The Committee on Academic Progress will place students whose academic work is unsatisfactory on Academic Probation. The committee will take into account the personal situation of the student, but a failing grade in any course will normally result in Academic Probation. Students who receive failing grades in two or more courses during a term, or who receive a second failing grade after being placed on Academic Probation, may be dismissed from the M.P.H. program.

Change of Division

Divisional changes may be requested during the first academic year. Students who wish to change divisions must complete the “Change of Division” form, which requires the signature of both division heads and both academic advisers. Students must be sure to fulfill all course requirements for the new division. Change of Division forms are available either online (http:/publichealth.yale.edu/student/registrar.html) or in the Office of Student Affairs.

Note: Because of the number of requirements and the sequencing of courses, students may not switch into the Health Management Program after the second week of the first term. Also, students may not switch into the Health Policy Division after the second week of their second term.

Other Changes and Appeals in Educational Program

Other significant changes in a student’s educational program should be discussed with the student’s academic adviser, and requested in writing to the Committee on Academic Progress. Appeals resulting from decisions made by the Committee on Academic Progress must be addressed to the dean of Public Health, with the description of the basis for appeal. Appeals are heard by the Committee of Permanent Officers, whose decision is final.

Administrative Policies

Student Records

A permanent file is created for each student upon enrollment at EPH. This file contains the student’s application, acceptance letter, registration forms, and academic transcripts, as well as copies of all correspondence to the student. Access to this file is governed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, also known as the Buckley Amendment, and by the Yale University Policy Statement on Student Records. When a student graduates, his/her file is stored for five years. After that, files are transferred to the Yale University Archives for permanent storage.

Official student records for currently enrolled students are housed in the registrar’s office. Under the Buckley Amendment, student records are accessible to faculty members, deans, and staff members who have a legitimate educational interest in review of the records. Students may review all parts of their records except parental financial information (unless the student’s parents have explicitly permitted such access) and confidential letters of recommendation.

Unless a student has requested in writing that the University not release “directory information” about him or her, the University may release the following directory information: name, address, telephone number, program, dates of attendance, and degrees received.

Leave of Absence

Students who wish or need to interrupt their study temporarily may request a leave of absence. There are two types of leave, personal and medical, as described below.

The general policies that apply to both types of leave are as follows:

1. All leaves of absence must be approved by the associate dean for student affairs (Anne Pistell). Medical leaves also require the recommendation of a Yale Health Plan (YHP) physician, or treating physician, as described below.
   
   
2. 2. Students in the two-year M.P.H. program may be on leave for a maximum of one year. Students in the one-year M.P.H. program may be on leave for a maximum of one term. Leaves of absence for students in one-year programs are not renewable.
   
   
3. Students who fail to register for the term following the end of the approved leave will be considered to have withdrawn from the program.
   
   
4. Students on leave may complete, by the appropriate deadline for the term in which the course was taken, outstanding work in courses for which they have been granted approved incompletes. They may not, however, fulfill any other degree requirements during the time on leave.
   
   
5. Students on leave do not have to file a formal application for readmission. However, they must notify the registrar in writing of their intention to return.
   
   
6. Students on a leave of absence are not eligible for financial aid, including loans, or for the use of University facilities normally available to registered students. Students granted a leave may continue to be enrolled in the Yale Health Plan by purchasing coverage through the Student Affiliate Coverage Plan. In order to secure continuous YHP coverage, enrollment in this plan must be requested prior to the beginning of the term in which the student will be on leave or, if the leave commences during the term, within thirty days of the date when the leave is granted. Coverage is not automatic; enrollment forms are available from the Member Services department of the Yale Health Service, 17 Hillhouse Avenue, 203.432.0246.

Personal Leave of Absence

A student who is current with his or her degree requirements and who wishes to interrupt study temporarily because of personal exigencies may request a personal leave of absence. Personal leaves cannot be granted retroactively.

Medical Leave of Absence

A student who must interrupt study temporarily because of illness or injury may be granted a medical leave of absence with the approval of the associate dean of student affairs, on the written recommendation of a physician. Final decisions concerning requests for medical leaves will be communicated to students from their associated dean in writing.

EPH reserves the right to place a student on a medical leave of absence when, on the recommendation of the director of the University Health Services or the chief of the Division of Mental Hygiene, or treating physician, the associate dean determines that the student is a danger to self or others because of a serious medical problem.

The general policies governing all leaves of absence are described above. A student who is making satisfactory progress toward his or her degree requirements is eligible for a medical leave any time after matriculation. Students who are placed on a medical leave during any term will have their tuition adjusted according to the same schedule used for withdrawals. Before re-registering, a student on medical leave must secure written permission to return from the treating physician.

Withdrawal from the M.P.H. Program

A student who wishes to withdraw from the M.P.H. program must inform the associate dean for student affairs in writing and contact the Financial Aid Office. The student must also return his/her identification card and building keys to the registrar. Students wishing to reenter the program after withdrawing must reapply through the regular admissions process.

Human Investigation Safeguards

All work by faculty or students undertaken anywhere that involves human subjects in ways subject to federal or Yale guidelines must be approved by the Human Investigation Committee (HIC) at Yale. Failure to obtain HIC clearance may result in dismissal from the University. Both faculty and students should be aware that these are not pro forma requirements but serious in intent, as well as consequences, if there is failure to comply.

Consultation is available during the academic year and during the summer months. Unless their work is done entirely in a laboratory with no human subject involvement, students should assume that their work does require HIC approval. It is safer to submit the forms and be informed that HIC approval is not needed, than not to submit them and later be told that they were required. Most student research receives expedited review, but some projects are reviewed by the entire HIC, a procedure taking several weeks. Thus, students are advised to submit their HIC protocols at the earliest possible time.

The student’s faculty adviser and the faculty or student EPH representatives on the HIC can assist the student in preparing an HIC protocol. Many student research projects involving human subjects also require written informed consent. Students should make sure that all informed consent procedures and forms have been approved by the HIC. Arrangements may be made for review by mail for those students outside the New Haven area.

Additional Policies

Additional University policies are kept on file in the Office of Student Affairs and are available for student reference. These policies include the Policy on Freedom of Expression, the Equal Opportunity Statement, the Sexual Harassment Policy, and the Yale University AIDS Policy.

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