Student Debt Collection

Tuition and fees for all College students are due and payable prior to the beginning of each term. A student’s registration will be subject to cancellation when prior term, past due charges have not been resolved before the current term. Students not paying or deferring current term charges by the due date may be subject to cancellation. Any unpaid balance on a student's account may prevent registration. In addition, transcripts and diplomas may be withheld until outstanding balances are paid.

Students who leave the College with unpaid balances are subject to collection actions. These actions will begin with a letter reminding the student of the unpaid debt and encouraging immediate payment, payment arrangements or other action to resolve the debt and avoid additional action. If the student fails to respond satisfactorily, a final letter will be sent. Next steps include referral to collection agencies, litigation where appropriate and actions pursuant to the NC State Offset Debt Collection Act (“SODCA”) and the NC State Employee Debt Collection Act (“SEDCA”), when applicable.

Uncollected student debts will be written off and expensed as bad debt once collection efforts have been exhausted. Writing off the account balance does not relieve the student’s legal obligation to pay the debt. A record of the debt and the related student account holds are maintained along with SODCA and SEDCA reporting until the debts are paid or collected. If the write-off debt is later collected, then the resulting funds will be recognized as a recovery of the write-off.

The following Procedures shall be used for student debt collection:

Enrolled Students

As charges become past due, the student will be informed regarding holds impacting future registration, transcripts and diplomas. Such holds remain in place until the past due amount is resolved.

Students with past due charges will receive a letter regarding holds at least once during Fall and Spring semester prior to registration opening for the next Spring or Fall term. Failure of the student receiving the letter shall not, however, excuse the debt or vacate the hold.

Previously Enrolled Students

The College shall send the previously enrolled student a letter informing the student of the terms of the debt and how to pay the debt.

If, after thirty (30) days, there is no satisfactory response to the letter, the College shall send a second and final letter; and

If, after thirty days, there is no satisfactory response to the second letter:

Refer the matter to one of the State approved collection agencies; and

Refer the matter to the North Carolina Department of Revenue pursuant to the Set-off Collection Act and the State Employees Debt Collection Act.

If the Student is paying a debt in periodic payments satisfactory to the College, the account may be retained until the account is satisfied.

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