Third-Party Payments

Â鶹´«Ã½ (WMU) participates in Third-Party Billing to companies, embassies, or other organizations that have agreed to pay a Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s tuition and fees. Any Â鶹´«Ã½ who is sponsored by a Third-Party must submit a letter of authorization on the company/organization letterhead or have the Third-Party complete the Third-Party Authorization for Payment form.   

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) prohibits an educational institution from releasing confidential, non-directory information about a Â鶹´«Ã½ without the Â鶹´«Ã½'s consent. The Â鶹´«Ã½ must complete and sign a Student Information Release Authorization in order for information to be released to a Third Party. The specified information will be made available only if, and when requested by the authorized Third-Party.

FINANCIAL AID AND THIRD-PARTY BILLING

A third-party sponsorship counts as a resource when calculating financial aid, which could reduce the amount of financial aid the Â鶹´«Ã½ may be eligible for. Any financial aid you receive will first pay toward your outstanding balance for the term. Therefore, your third-party sponsorship could adjust or reduce your financial aid awards, even if your financial aid has already been paid. If you have any questions regarding the impact on your financial aid, please reach out to Bronco Express at (269) 387-6000 or email finaid-info@wmich.edu.
 

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Students for which a company, embassy, or other organization has agreed to pay all or a portion of the Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s tuition, meals, room, and/or fees that are not contingent upon a grade received by the Â鶹´«Ã½ at the end of the term. 
 

HOW DO I PARTICIPATE?

Any Â鶹´«Ã½ sponsored by a Third Party must submit a letter of authorization on the organization's letterhead, or complete WMU’s Third-Party Authorization form. Letters of authorization must include:
  1. Student's Name
  2. Western Identification Number (WIN #)
  3. Semester/Year(s) Covered
  4. Specific Classes Covered (or the amount or maximum credit hours they will pay)
  5. Address and Phone Number of the Third-Party Payer
The letter of authorization or completed Third-Party Authorization form should be submitted to: Â鶹´«Ã½, Accounts Receivable, 1903 W Michigan Ave, Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5210, fax the form to (269) 387-4227, or email the form to acnr-thirdparty@wmich.edu.   We strongly recommend emailing the authorization forms to ensure receipt.

Any charges not authorized by the Third Party are the responsibility of the Â鶹´«Ã½ and must be paid by the semester due date.  Accounts Receivable will send an invoice to the Third-Party after the last day to drop/add classes. Payment from the third party is due upon receipt of the invoice. Any authorized or non-authorized charges not paid for by the third party will be the responsibility of the Â鶹´«Ã½.  Any outstanding charges may result in a hold being placed on the Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s account, which may prevent the Â鶹´«Ã½ from registering for classes. Third-party payments not received as invoiced may result in service charges of 1.5% monthly (18% annually) on the Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s account.

DEADLINES AND DUE DATES

To avoid incurring service charges of 1.5% monthly (18% annually), Â鶹´«Ã½s are strongly encouraged to ensure that all third-party authorizations are submitted as far in advance of the tuition due date as possible.
 

529 cOLLEGE saving pLANS

Students with 529 College Savings Plans should contact their plan administrators for information on making withdrawals as far in advance of the tuition due date as possible.  

Michigan Education Trust (MET)

Students with MET contracts should initially contact MET at (800) 638-4543 and inform MET that Â鶹´«Ã½ is their school of choice. Â鶹´«Ã½ will bill MET after the semester drop/add date. Students must have their Social Security Number on file with WMU in order to bill MET. Students are responsible for all tuition and fees not covered by the contract. MET generally covers tuition and mandatory fees only.

Other State Prepaid Programs

Â鶹´«Ã½ participates with several other state prepaid programs such as the College of Illinois and Florida Prepaid.  Students should contact their plan administrator to inform them that Â鶹´«Ã½ is their school of choice.

Third-party payment options

Third Party sponsors should issue checks to Â鶹´«Ã½ and mail them to:
 
Accounts Receivable - Third-Party Billing
Â鶹´«Ã½
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo, MI 49008-5282
 
Please include the Â鶹´«Ã½â€™s name and Western Identification Number (WIN) on all checks.  Â鶹´«Ã½ is not able to accept ACH transfers from business accounts.  ACH transfers from 529 plans will not be successful.
 

Additional Questions

Please contact the Accounts Receivable Office at (269) 387-4141 or via email at acnr-thirdparty@wmich.edu.