Frequently Asked Questions
If you have additional questions, please contact the Student Accounts Office.
How does the Student Accounts Office communicate with me?
The Student Accounts Office notifies you about financial approval of your registration, financial holds and other student account information through your u.pacific.edu email account.
With electronic billing (Ebill), email notification is provided to your u.pacific.edu email address each time a new bill is securely posted online. It is the student's responsibility to check his/her Pacific email regularly.
You may set up an alternate personal address so that you will receive a duplicate email, informing you when your monthly billing statement becomes available online. To add an alternate personal email address, log in to insidePacific and go to the "Manage Your Account" section and click on the link to access Epay. Once inside the Epay system simply click on the "My Profile" tab in the upper right-hand corner.
Who is financially responsible for the student account?
Although a majority of student account balances are paid by parents or other third parties, the student is financially responsible for their account.
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What is the distinction between the Student Accounts Office and the Office of Financial Aid?
The Student Accounts Office works closely with the Financial Aid Office, but they are different offices with distinct and separate duties.
The Students Accounts Office:
- Collects payment for tuition, fees and housing charges.
- Produces refunds from excess financial aid (Once Financial Aid has disbursed aid).
- Prepares eBilling statements.
- Assists you with all inquiries related to student billing and payments.
- Provides 1098-T for tax purposes
The Office of Financial Aid:
- Assists with inquiries about the student FAFSA.
- Prepares and sends the financial aid award (your scholarships, grants and loans).
- Receives and reviews copies of tax returns.
- Determines financial aid eligibility.
The Financial Aid Office is located in Knoles Hall and can be reached at (209) 946-2421 or via Financial Aid.
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How do I calculate the amount due for the semester/term?
To determine the amount due for the semester/term, use the appropriate Tuition and Fee Calculation Worksheet. Enter the number of units you are registering for, applicable room/board charges and any credits from pending financial aid/deposits. The worksheet calculates the amount due, if any, for the semester/term. These worksheets are available online well in advance of each semester/ term to permit you to meet each payment deadline.
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How do I determine my refund if I drop courses or withdraw from Pacific?
Students may be eligible for a refund if they drop below full-time enrollment or officially withdraw from the University. Informing an academic department, advisor, or instructor does not constitute an official withdrawal. Students who intend to withdraw must notify the Registrar. This "date of notification" is used to determine the tuition penalty and what, if any amount will be credited back to the student's account. See the University's Refund Schedule for the term you are dropping courses or withdrawing from. Student's may request a refund by contacting Student Accounts.
Cowell Wellness, ASUOP, Activity and Recreation fees, and class and lab fees are non-refundable after the last day to add. The student health insurance plan is not refundable after 30 days from the start of the term and is not refundable if a claim has been filed.
What is Pacific's Policy for charging/ reversing student health insurance to the student account?Student Health Insurance Policy: Students registered for 9 units or more will have the health insurance premium charged to their student account when fees associated with registration in the upcoming semester are assessed. To reverse the health insurance charge, students must:
2. Submit a copy of the front and back of their health insurance card to the Insurance Office at the Cowell Wellness Center.
The waiver deadline is September 7, 2012 for the fall. If the student will be new to the University, the spring waiver deadline is January 18, 2013 . Waivers only need to be filed once per academic year. Late waivers will not be accepted. Instructions to complete the waiver can be found at the Insurance Office.
If the student withdraws from Pacific, the student health insurance plan is not refundable after 30 days from the start of the term and is not refundable if a claim has been filed.
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Why is there a Wellness Center Fee?
Students registered in nine units or more pay this mandatory fee regardless of where the student resides. This fee is used to maintain and support the Cowell Wellness Center, which all students can use to obtain health services. There may be additional fees for services rendered. The Wellness Center Fee is not for medical insurance. For more information about the health insurance charge on your student account you may vist our FAQ on Pacific's student health insurance charge policy.
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How do I charge bookstore purchases to my student account?
You must be registered and financially approved for the current semester/term, in order to charge University bookstore purchases to your student account. Students are allowed to charge up to:
Credit limits cannot be increased. Bookstore charges are posted to your student account and appear on your online billing statement. If you are enrolled in a monthly payment plan, bookstore purchases will increase your overall balance and be divided among remaining installments. If you are not enrolled in a monthly payment plan then bookstore charges are due upon receipt.
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If you are purchasing books and supplies at the University Bookstore and are intending to use PacificCash instead of charging your purchase to your student account, you need to inform the clerk. Failing to notify the clerk may result in your purchase being charged to your student account. |
For more information about your PacificCard see our FAQ Understanding your Pacific Student ID Card.
How do I make changes to my housing or meal plan?
The Office of Housing and Greek Life makes all changes regarding on-campus housing and meal plans. Students will be charged for room and board based upon their contractual agreement. Changes should be made well in advance of the semester to avoid cancellation fees.
Contact the Office of Housing and Greek Life to make changes to or inquire about your housing arrangements or meal plan.
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What's the difference between Authorized and Pending financial aid?
Authorized aid is aid that is scheduled for disbursement, with all the disbursement requirements completed. It will be disbursed to your student account when the disbursement date is reached (usually the first day of the semester/term).
Pending items are aid items that are included in the award letter but have not yet been accepted or have requirements still outstanding. These requirements may include returning your signed award letter, providing copies of tax returns, or completing a promissory note and/or entrance counseling.
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Information about the Family Education Right to Privacy Act (FERPA)
The Family Education Right to Privacy Act 
(FERPA), also known as the Buckley Amendment, is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student records.
To allow Student Accounts staff to discuss your account with your parent or guardian (i.e. a person other than yourself), you must manually add them as an Authorized User online by logging into 
insidePacific, going to the "Academic" tab and clicking on the "Manage Your Account" link. Once the Bill+Payment software has loaded select the "Add New" link in the Authorized User section and follow the instructions.
Authorized Users may only view financially related content. This will also allow them to make online payments.
What is the "Authorization to Apply Federal Financial Aid to Prior-Year Charges" form?
Federal student financial aid can only cover the "current" academic year institutional charges as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, in order to pay "prior year" charges with your current academic year's financial aid up to a maximum of $250.00, you must provide written authorization for the University to do so.
If you have enough financial aid to cover your current year charges and have excess financial aid that you would like to apply to pay off a prior year balance due on your student account, you may do so by completing the Authorization to Apply Federal Financial Aid to Prior-Year Charges Form (bottom portion) and returning it to Student Accounts.
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What is the "Title IV Authorization to Release Non-Institutional Charges" form?
Federal student financial aid can only cover "institutional charges" as defined by the U.S. Department of Education. This definition includes current year charges for tuition and fees, and on-campus room and board. It also includes other fees such as: lab fees, workshops, University registration fees, facilities usage fees, and other University fees associated directly with taking a class. Unless authorization is received, federal financial aid cannot be used to cover non-institutional charges such as: health insurance, library fines, breakage fees, returned check fees, deferred fees for payment plans or any charges not directly tied to taking a class.
The only way federal student aid funds can be used to pay for "non-institutional charges" is to obtain your written authorization to pay those charges. The Title IV Authorization to Release Non-Institutional Charges Form will allow Student Accounts to apply your federal financial aid to your non-institutional charges.
Who is Affected:
Professional Students (i.e. Pharmacy), Graduate (including Physical Therapy) and Doctoral Students whose account credit is caused by an excess of Title IV funds. Title IV funds include Grad Plus, Parent Plus, Stafford Loan (Sub and UnSub) and the Federal Perkins Loan.
Failure to complete this form will delay and may impact your refund.
Most Undergraduate students do not need to complete this form. A Student Accounts' staff member will contact Undergraduates who need to complete a form.
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Understanding your Pacific Student ID Card
Each student, staff and faculty member is required to have a PacificCARDTM.
For students, the PacificCARDTM (also called a OneCard) is your versatile Pacific Student ID card that can be used for multiple purposes: charging books at the University Bookstore, entering campus facilities and athletic events, accessing services at the library and Meal Plan "Dining Dollars", as well as to pay for doing laundry in most of the residence halls.
Here is some basic information to help you understand your card better:
For more information about the PacificCARDTM PacificCash visit: PacificCard FAQ's
For more information about Meal Plans and Dining Dollars visit: Dining Services.
How can I access my funds for personal expenses?
Students with a photo ID may cash personal checks, up to a maximum of $50.00/day, with the Cashiers in the Finance Center. If the student is cashing a University of the Pacific issued paycheck or refund check, the maximum is $250/ day.
You may open an account at a local bank and use your debit card at the bank's ATM or cash checks at the branch. ATM machines located in the Don and Karen DeRosa University Center are linked to the Bank of Stockton and the Central State Credit Union.
PacificCard works like a debit card for campus as well as a various off-campus retail locations. Deposits can be made directly to a student's PacificCASHTM debit account by visiting the OneCard Office, using the Value Transfer Machines located at the Library or by selecting "Manage Your Account" and logging on or quickly by using the "Add Cash Now" link. Funds can also be added at the PacificCard web site with MasterCard, Visa, Discover, Diners Club, American Express or ATM Debit Card. Funds will be immediately available for use.
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Why do I get a blank white page when I launch the Bill+Payment software?
The most common reason a student (who launches the Bill+Payment software from insidePacific) or a Parent (after attempting a log-in from ePay) will receive a "blank page" (i.e. a white page) or a page with jumbled information (i.e. things in the wrong place) is that they are using Microsoft Internet Explorer Version I.E. 8 or later. I.E. 8 and later Microsoft products contain functionality that is not compatible with the Bill+Payment Software.
To remedy the issue using Internet Explorer you will need to "click" on the "compatibility button" or select "compatibility view". For more information please review this Microsoft Support page.
It is also suggested to use alternative browsers such as Mozilla FireFox or Google Chrome.