Get Help

Consumer Information

pennwest CLARION CONSUMER INFORMATION

The Federal Higher Education Act of 1965, as amended, requires that institutions of higher education disclose certain information to the public; to all enrolled and prospective students; and to current and prospective employees. These disclosures must be provided annually. The information in this notice provides the required disclosures and the exact location where the information can be found.

If you need assistance with obtaining any of the information referenced, or if you would like a paper copy of this notice or any of the referenced materials, please contact the Enrollment Management or Student Financial Services Office at stfinservice@pennwest.edu or 814-393-2306.

Institutional Information for Students

Academic Programs  - Information about Clarion’s academic programs; their faculty and other instructional personnel; and facilities & resources (physical plant facilities that relate to the program).  Click on an individual program or degree in the search box for more information about that school's programs.   

Instructional Facilities and Labs information is available on the individual school websites by clicking on  Facilities  link in the left-hand navigation.

Instructional Personnel information is available by clicking on the Faculty & Staff  link in the left-hand navigation.

Accreditation, Approval, and Licensure of Institution and Programs – The Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools ("Middle States" or MSA) is PennWest Clarion's regional accreditor. Many of Clarion's programs have additional program-specific accreditations. For information on all the entities providing accreditation, approval, or licensure of Clarion and its programs click on the above link or contact the Office of the Provost & Academic Affairs by mail at 222 Founders Hall, 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214; by phone at (814) 393-2413.

COURSE SCHEDULE INFORMATION

For complete course schedule listings, go to the website at https://clarion.edu/academics/catalog-and-class-schedules/index.html and click on "Course Search" You can also view a full listing of Courses by term on the site.

TEXTBOOK COST SAVINGS PROGRAMS AND TEXTBOOK PRICING INFORMATION

All textbook pricing information is available via the student's MyClarion Student Center.  Click on "My Class Schedule".  Select the appropriate term and click "continue".  Click the Textbook Icon           on the left side of each course. 

Disbursement for Books/Supplies Policy - Clarion's Disbursement for Books and Supplies policy may be viewed at https://www.clarion.edu/about-clarion/offices-and-administration/university-support-and-business/office-of-institutional-research/disbursement-of-books-supplies.pdf.

TRANSFER CREDIT POLICIES and Articulation Agreements

Information about Transfer Credit policies is available by clicking here.

A guide to view the transfer equivalencies that Clarion has established with numerous colleges, community colleges and universities may be found by clicking here.

Information about Pennsylvania’s statewide P2P agreements is available by clicking here

TEACHER PREPARATION PROGRAM REPORT

Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation (CAEP)'s mission is to "advance equity and excellence in educator preparation through evidence-based accreditation that assures quality and supports continuous improvement to strengthen P-12 student learning." The education programs at PennWest Clarion are accredited through CAEP. 1. Check out the Teacher Preparation Program Report.

WRITTEN ARRANGEMENT Disclosures

The federal government, as part of the Title IV student financial aid program, requires disclosure of written arrangements whereby third parties provide portions of PennWest Clarion academic programs. This information may be found online.

College Navigator

The U.S. Department of Education is required to post 26 items on the College Navigator website for each school. A link to Clarion's College Navigator website may be found online. 

Constitution Day - September 17th is Constitution and Citizenship Day. Each year, PennWest Clarion celebrates Constitution and Citizenship Day by featuring a special Constitution Day promotion and by notifying the entire campus community by email.

copyright policies

Information about the university's policies, standards, and procedures regarding copyright and intellectual property may be found online. You may also contact the PennWest Clarion's Information Security office by mail at Still Hall, 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214; by phone at (814) 393-2640; or by email.

ACCOMMODATIONS & SERVICES FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES

Disability Support Services supports CU students by helping to ensure them access to the full University experience. Its primary role is to determine eligibility and to provide necessary academic, housing, dining, transportation, and other accommodations for qualified students with disabilities in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, as amended. For information about accommodations and services for students with disabilities, please contact Disability Support Services by mail at Becht Hall, 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214; by phone at (814) 393-1981; or, by email.

For more information visit CU's Disability Support website or view A University Handbook on Disabilities.

NET PRICE CALCULATOR

The university, to comply with federal requirements, makes available to prospective students and their families, a net price calculator. The net price calculator does not work with older versions of Internet Explorer. We recommend that you utilize Chrome, Firefox or Safari to access the Net Price Calculator.

PennWest Clarion Cost of Attendance

For approved undergraduate tuition and fees charges, go to the Undergraduate Tuition and Fees page and click on the appropriate term. The estimated cost of attendance, includes housing costs, books, supplies, and other miscellaneous costs.

WITHDRAWAL FROM THE UNIVERSITY

Your federal student aid award is based on the percentage of time you are enrolled for the semester. Depending on when you withdraw, student aid will be adjusted according to the Federal Return of Title IV formula, state grant refund calculation and institutional policy. Tuition may be adjusted and you will most likely owe money to the University if you withdraw.

Official Withdrawal:
Students may withdraw from the university (all courses) through the last day of classes by notifying the Office of the Registrar in writing of his or her intention to withdraw and the reason for withdrawal. If a withdrawal is not made by the deadline, a failing grade may be recorded for the affected course(s). Ceasing to attend classes does not constitute an official university withdrawal. Students must officially withdraw from the university.

The University Withdrawal (PDF fill-in) form is available here.

Appeals to this procedure must be submitted by the student in writing to the Registrar no later than 30 days following the end of the semester for which the student is submitting the withdrawal. Appeals require review and approval by the Office of Academic Affairs.

More detailed information about withdrawing from the University can be found on the policies database

Unofficial Withdrawal:
Students who stop attending all of their classes without officially withdrawing are considered an unofficial withdrawal. Federal aid you received during the semester will be subject to the federal return calculation (R2T4) based on the effective date of withdrawal. The withdrawal date is your last documented date of attendance, as determined by instructors.

Return to Title IV Withdrawals:
Student Financial Services is required by federal statute to recalculate federal financial aid eligibility for students who withdraw, drop out, are dismissed, or take a leave of absence prior to completing 60% of a semester. The federal Title IV financial aid programs must be recalculated in these situations. Title IV funds are Pell, SEOG, TEACH grant, Iraq and Afghanistan Service Grant, Federal Direct Subsidized Loan, Federal Direct Unsubsidized Loan, and Federal Direct PLUS loans. Student Financial Services will determine if students who completely withdraw during a term have earned the money disbursed or owe a repayment. For additional information, contact Student Financial Services by mail at Becht Hall, 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214; by phone at (814) 393-2315; or by email.

Post-Withdrawal Disbursements:
Some aid programs may be available to you after you withdraw. In some cases, a portion of your Federal Pell Grant, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant (SEOG), and/or Federal Direct Loan may be available.

You will be notified upon withdrawal if you are eligible for a "post-withdrawal disbursement" of any aid funds. You may be required to confirm that you want to accept the disbursement.

Tuition Refund Policy - The university has a tuition adjustment policy that stipulates the amount of tuition and fees that are returned to a student who withdraws during a term. Students who officially withdraw from the university may be entitled to a refund of charges. For information about tuition and fees adjustments on student accounts, go to the webpage.

DIVERSITY OF STUDENT BODY

For information about the diversity of the student body, visit Full-Time University Enrollment by Race, Gender & Pell Recipients, or contact the Office of Institutional Research by mail at Still Hall, 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214; by phone at (814) 393- 2772.

Vaccination Policies

The university's policies on immunizations for new students can be found at the Health Services' web page.

Veterans

Veterans – PennWest Clarion would like to affirm that we are committed to assisting our veteran student population.  PennWest Clarion is a signatory and abides by the Presidential Executive Order 13607

Voter Registration

Voter registration information and forms may be found online. https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/Pages/VoterRegistrationApplication.aspx

Financial Assistance Information for Student & Student Loan Disclosures

Review the list of the available Federal and State Aid Programs or by contacting Student Financial Services by mail at Becht Hall, 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214; by phone at (814) 393-2315; or by email. Most information is available at Student Financial Services. Office hours are from8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday – Friday.
You may click on the following links for more information on:

Pennsylvania State Grants are awarded by the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency to eligible Pennsylvania residents pursuing their first undergraduate degree. Eligible students must submit the FAFSA by May 1 of each year in order to meet the PA state grant deadline. Awards are based upon demonstrated financial need and enrollment (full-time, half-time) status. Continued eligibility (up to eight semesters) is based upon academic progress, housing status, and cost of attendance. If more than half of your credits for the semester are being taken online, the Financial Aid Office must notify PHEAA and your grant may be reduced for the term. The 50% in-person, in-classroom requirement only applies to the PA state grant program. No other financial aid is affected. PHEAA measures academic progress based upon attempted/completed credits during an academic year (fall, spring, summer).

State Grant Programs from outside Pennsylvania - Some states have reciprocal agreements with Pennsylvania that allow you to receive a state grant while attending a Pennsylvania university. You must follow your individual state guidelines for eligibility. For the 2017-2018 academic year reciprocal states include: Delaware, District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Ohio, Vermont, and West Virginia.

You may also find Information on Clarion's scholarships.

How to Apply for Aid, Selection Criteria & Eligibility Requirements:
Review information for students about how to apply for need-based financial aid and eligibility requirements.
In addition to financial aid, there also is information on awarding Institutional and Foundation Scholarships.

Study Abroad:
There is Information available on financial aid for study abroad.

Terms & Conditions of Receiving Financial aid:
Information for students about their terms and conditions of receiving financial aid also is available.

Verification Requirements:
A student may be selected to participate in a verification process; this requires verification of the information submitted on the FAFSA by the U.S. Department of Education. A student may be selected by the U.S. Department of Education's Central Processor or by the school, following procedures established by federal regulation.

If, during the application process, the file is selected for "verification", the student will be notified through his/her MyClarion Student Center. An item in the students To Do List titled "FAFSA Action Required" will be available for him/her to click on which will direct them to the verification site. At this site, the student will create an account and be able to upload all documents required to validate the information listed on the FAFSA application. Students who fail to provide all required documentation will not be eligible to receive federal student aid.

Students should refer to the federal student aid website, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Education, for more detailed information.

Code of Conduct for Financial Aid Professionals: The university adheres to NASFAA's "Statement of Ethical Principles and Code of Conduct for Financial Aid Professionals" and students adhere to Clarion's Student Lending Code of Conduct.

RIGHTS AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF FINANCIAL AID RECIPIENTS
Rights and Responsibilities for Receiving Financial Aid: Information for students about their rights and responsibilities for receiving financial aid is available.

Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP):
PennWest Clarion financial aid applicants are required to make progress toward their degree in order to be considered for federal, state and CU financial aid programs. Clarion's SAP policy requires a student make certain quantitative and qualitative requirements at the end of each academic year, and over their entire period of enrollment.

Quantitative Requirements: All students must successfully complete at least 67 percent of the credits they attempt, cumulatively. Students must also complete their degree program within 150 percent of the published length (credits) of the program.

Qualitative Requirements: Undergraduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least a 2.00. Graduate students must maintain a cumulative grade point average of 3.00.

A student not meeting progress at the end of each academic year is not eligible to receive financial aid. Students may appeal this decision by submitting a Satisfactory Academic Progress Appeal Form to Student Financial Services. This appeal must provide a detailed explanation of the extenuating circumstances that prevented the student from meeting the minimum SAP requirements. The appeal must include an Academic Plan to resolve the deficiencies, list the steps to be taken to achieve a minimum 2.0 GPA, and progress toward degree completion within the required time frame. If the appeal is approved, as long as the student continues to meet the terms of his/her academic plan, he/she will be eligible to continue to receive financial aid. Students who fail to meet the terms of their academic plan will not be eligible for additional financial aid. Students denied financial aid after completing the appeal process or failing to meet their academic plan can regain eligibility for financial aid by successfully completing coursework that will raise their cumulative GPA to meet or exceed the minimum required for their total attempted hours and/or raise their overall cumulative completion rate for all coursework attempted to the 67 percent level.

Clarion checks progress annually at the end of the spring semester. Clarion's complete SAP policy is available for your review.

You may also access Clarion's Appeal Form and Academic Plan.

Method and Frequency of Financial Aid Disbursements: Information on financial aid disbursements and methods.

Holding Credit Balances: The university may hold excess federal student aid funds (credit balances) if it obtains a voluntary authorization from the student or parent. Because FSA funds are awarded to students to pay current year charges, notwithstanding any authorization obtain by the University from a student or parent. The university must pay any remaining balance on loan funds within 14 days of the end of the loan period, and any other remaining FSA funds within 14 days of the end of the last payment period in the award year for which they were awarded.

Students can authorize Title IV funds to pay other charges such as parking, library and health center charges by logging into their MyClarion Student Center. This form will be signed electronically via secure login to your MyClarion Student Center. If you are not able to submit the form electronically via your MyClarion Student Center, you can request a paper authorization form by visiting Student Financial Services, 114 Becht Hall, 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214.

Students can rescind authorization any time during their period of enrollment, To rescind this authorization submit a written request to Student Financial Services, 840 Wood Street, 114 Becht Hall, Clarion, PA 16214 or via my MyPennWest Clarion eagle mail account to stfinservice@pennwest.edu.

More information may be found on our Tuition and Financial Aid webpage. http://www.clarion.edu/tuition-and-financial-aid/financial-aid/title-iv-authorization-holding-credit-balances.pdf.

Terms and Conditions of Financial Aid Employment:
Almost any student, regardless if he or she is an undergraduate or graduate student, is eligible for some type of student employment. Students receiving federal work-study can view their award in the Financial Aid Summary of their MyClarion Student Center. More information on Clarion's student employment is available.

Penalties for Drug Violations: A federal or state drug conviction can disqualify a student for federal student aid. if they were convicted for an offense that occurred during a period of enrollment for which the student was receiving federal student aid. Students can regain eligibility early by successfully completing an approved drug rehabilitation program or by passing two unannounced drug tests administered by an approved drug rehabilitation program. For more information about this topic, go to the Federal Student Aid.

Direct Loan and Private Education Loan Disclosures:
The Department of Education has made a Direct Loan model disclosure form available.

NATIONAL STUDENT LOAN DATA SYSTEM

The National Student Loan Data System is the U.S. Department of Education's central database for student aid. NSLDS receives data from schools, guaranty agencies, the Direct Loan program, and other Department of ED programs. NSLDS Student Access provides a centralized, integrated view of Title IV loans and grants so that recipients of Title IV Aid can access and inquire about their Title IV loans and/or grant data. You can access NSLDS  for yourself.

Please note - Any loans borrowed by the student or parent will be submitted to the National Student Loan Database System and will be accessible by guaranty agencies, lenders, and institutions determined to be authorized users of the data system.

Entrance Counseling: The Federal Government requires that all first-time Federal Direct Loan borrowers complete an Entrance Counseling session prior to receiving any loan proceeds. Entrance Counseling informs the student about Direct Loans and their terms, as well as the student's right and responsibilities of borrowing them. For more information and to complete Entrance Counseling visit the Federal Student Aid website. 

Exit Counseling: Exit counseling provides important information to prepare the student to repay their federal student loan(s). If you have received a loan during your college career, you are required to complete loan exit counseling before you withdraw, graduate, or drop below half-time attendance (regardless if you plan to transfer to another school). The counseling session helps guide you in managing your student loans after college.

Federal Direct Loan Exit Counseling: For Clarion students who received federal student loans, Exit Counseling is completed on the Federal Student Aid StudentLoans.gov website.

Perkins Loan Exit Counseling: Students who received a Perkins loan will receive an email from Heartland/ECSI with instructions and a key code to complete the required Exit Counseling. Students can call ECSI at 888 549 3274 or visit their website.

Terms/Conditions of Deferment or Cancellation of Perkins Loan, Direct, or FFEL Loan because of Volunteer Service:
Information about loan repayment options is also available at the Federal Student Aid website's.
A loan repayment estimator is also available at the Federal Student Aid website's page.

PRIVATE EDUCATION LOANS
Private alternative loans are non-federal educational loans through a private lender, such as a bank. They offer a variety of loan products to undergraduate, graduate, professional school, part-time, continuing education, and international students. In some cases, these loans can be used to pay past due balances of educational costs.
Before you apply for a private loan, you should first consider all types of financial aid, including scholarships, grants, and Federal Direct Loans. Generally, they offer better terms and lower interest rates.

For students considering a private education loan, the university suggests ELMSelect as a place for consumers to start their search for and comparison of available private education loans. The university does not endorse any individual lender offering loans through ELMSelect and encourages consumers to review private loan terms and conditions carefully, as they can vary from lender to lender and from year to year. Disclosures about private education loans completed through ELMSelect are made by them to the consumer in the process of completing the loan application.

More information on Private Student Loans may be found on our website.
The Private Education Loan Self-Certification form also is available.

Drug & Alcohol Prevention

Drug and Alcohol Abuse Prevention Program - The Office of Alcohol and Drug Programming in the Department of Student Affairs at the University provides education and support for students, faculty, and parents.

Drug Free Schools and Communities Act - Under the Drug Free Workplace Act of 1988 and the Drug Free Schools and Communities Act Amendments of 1991, the University is required to have an alcohol and other drug policy outlining prevention, education, and intervention efforts and consequences for policy violations.

The university is committed to providing a safe, healthy learning community for all its members. The university has Use of Alcoholic Beverages and Prohibition of Other Drugs policies for your review.

Biennial Review

Student outcomes and Right-to-Know Act

Clarion’s Institutional Research office provides information on graduation rate, retention rate, and transfer-out rate of students at the university. The PennWest Clarion Fact Book is a formal compilation of detailed information about the university’s purpose, leadership, admissions, enrollments, degrees awarded, and staffing.  Data is reported as of the fall term census date.

Career and Job Outcomes

Clarion is a high achieving, nationally recognized, comprehensive university, which delivers a personal and challenging academic experience. The university is committed to helping you be successful in your academic and career pursuits. The most recent student outcomes data, which, was compiled by our Career Services department.

Graduation Rates

Graduation Rates for Students Receiving Athletically Related Student Aid

As part of the Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act, information on annual participation rates and financing of men's and women's sports in intercollegiate athletic programs is available to students and the general public. To obtain this information, go to: http://ope.ed.gov/athletics/. Choose the "Get Data for One School" link, and then type "PennWest Clarion". A copy of this report can be found at: https://clariongoldeneagles.com/sports/2010/6/27/GEN_0627102338.aspx.

Intercollegiate Athletic Program Participation Rates and Financial Support Data (Equity in Athletics Disclosure Act)

Graduation Rates for Students Receiving Pell Grant and/or Subsidized Stafford Loans

Retention Rate

Transfer-out Rates

Clery/Campus Security Act & Fire Safety Reports on Student Housing

Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Office - The Office of Social Equity is responsible for monitoring compliance with the University's Notice of Non-Discrimination and Equal Opportunity Statement. Related policies and procedures are available at first link in this paragraph or on the Policies and Compliance page or you may contact Amy Salsgiver, Director of Social Equity by mail at 210 Carrier Hall, 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214; by phone at (814) 393-2109 or email.

Anti-Hazing Policy - All acts of hazing are prohibited. Students are entitled to be treated with consideration and respect. No Clarion student, individually or as part of a registered student club or organization, is permitted to engage in behavior that is likely to cause physical or psychological harm to any other person within the PennWest Clarion community. Such behavior is forbidden in admitting, initiating, pledging, joining or continuing membership in any group-affiliation activity.

Campus Security and Fire Safety Report (Clery Act)

Crime & Fire Log Clarion Campus - The daily Crime and Fire Log is printed each day and available for public inspection seven days a week, 24 hours a day in the lobby of the Public Safety Office located on Wood Street. Venango students can stop by 200 Frame Hall to access the fire log for Venango Campus.

Crime & Fire Log Venango Campus  - The daily Crime and Fire Log is printed each day and available for public inspection seven days a week, 24 hours a day in  200 Frame Hall of the Venango Campus.

Department of Public Safety & Communications About Crime

Emergency/Warning Notifications – The office of Emergency Management within the Public Safety Department is responsible for emergency planning and emergency response protocols. The Chief of Police acts as the Director of Emergency Management and is in frequent contact with the Clarion County Emergency Management Office to stay informed regarding potential events that could impact the campus community.

Missing Students Policy - In accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, this policy establishes a protocol for the PennWest Clarion community regarding the reporting, investigation, and notification when a student residing in University housing is believed missing.

Sexual Misconduct Policy - PennWest Clarion is committed to creating an environment free of sexual harassment for all members of its University community. Sexual harassment encompasses all forms of sexual misconduct: sexual harassment, sexual assault, sexual exploitation, stalking, dating violence, domestic violence, and any sexual activity conducted without consent. Accordingly, PennWest Clarion will not tolerate any form of sexual harassment and provides this policy to ensure its employees, students, and other members of the University community are not subjected to sexual harassment in any form.

Sex Offender Registry - Pennsylvania's General Assembly has determined public safety will be enhanced by making information about registered sexual offenders available to the public through the internet. Knowledge whether a person is a registered sexual offender could be a significant factor in protecting yourself, your family members, or persons in your care from recidivist acts by registered sexual offenders. Public access to information about registered sexual offenders is intended solely as a means of public protection, any other use prohibited.

Student Code of Conduct

Title IX – The Office of Social Equity at the University is responsible for monitoring compliance with Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 (20 U.S.C. § 1681). Title IX is a federal civil rights law that prohibits discrimination on the basis of sex/gender in all educational programs and activities of the University. For questions about the Title IX Policy or to file a complaint, please contact the Title IX Coordinator, Susanne Fenske, at Becht Hall, 840 Wood Street, Clarion, PA 16214; by phone at (814) 393-2351 or by email. An online complaint form also is available.

FERPA/Safeguarding Customer Information

A student's rights with respect to their educational records are protected under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA).

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) - PennWest Clarion

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) - U.S. Department of Education

Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act - The Financial Services Modernization Act of 1999, provides limited privacy protections against the sale of your private financial information.

Information Protection Policy – Postsecondary educational institutions participating in Federal Student Aid programs are subject to the information security requirements established by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) for financial institutions.  

 

Misrepresentation Policy

The Department of Education has provided numerous examples in the regulations of topics that cannot be misrepresented within each of the three areas covered by statute 20 USC § 1094(c) (3). Those three areas include:

  • The nature of the institution’s educational programs
  • The institution’s financial charges
  • The employability of the institution’s graduates

PennWest Clarion is prohibited under federal regulations (20 USC 1094§ (3)) from making any false, inaccurate, or misleading statements directly or indirectly to a prospective or current student, member of the public at large, accrediting agency, state agency, or the Department of Education. Misleading statements include any student testimonials given under duress; facts or figures that have not been verified through surveys, focus groups, independent accreditation and/or ranking organizations and websites.

PennWest Clarion will actively investigate any alleged misrepresentation and will take appropriate steps to ensure no further violations.

Reporting:  Any related concerns about possible misrepresentation from PennWest Clarion may be reported to the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs at provost@pennwest.edu or 814-393-2413. 

Last Updated 12/20/23