Student Financial Responsibility Agreement

Promise to pay

I understand and agree that this Student Financial Responsibility Agreement, (this “Agreement“) between me and Portland Community College (“PCC“), signifies my agreement to pay all charges related to my registration with, or services provided by, PCC or related third parties, including, but not limited to, tuition, parking charges, bookstore charges, course fees, transcript fees, collection fees, fines, and any other charges and fees on my student account.

Financial responsibility

  • Nondischargeable: I understand and agree that registering for classes, the charges to my student account, and this Agreement constitute a financial obligation which may be nondischargeable in Bankruptcy under U.S. Bankruptcy Code 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8).
  • Payments: I understand and agree that I am responsible for paying the balance on my student account even if I do not receive a bill, statement, or my account is being paid by another party.
  • Attendance: I understand and agree that failure to attend class does not absolve me of the obligation to pay the balance on my student account.
  • Drop/Withdraw: I understand and agree that if I want to receive a full refund for a class, I must drop the class by the Drop Deadline. I understand and I agree that I will not receive refund for tuition or fees if I withdraw, or drop, a class after the Drop Deadlines.
  • Financial Aid: I understand and agree that if some or all of my financial aid is revoked, I am obligated to repay all revoked aid disbursed to my student account including any funds that resulted in a credit balance refunded to me. I understand and agree that any financial aid revoked constitutes a financial obligation in the form of a nondischargeable educational benefit as defined by the U.S. Bankruptcy Code 11 U.S.C. § 523(a)(8).

Payment

  • Payment due date: I understand and agree to pay the full balance on my student account by the payment due date. Unless I have been approved for a payment plan, I understand and agree that:
    • payments are due ten business days before the first day of the academic term and
    • charges made after the start of the academic term are immediately due and payable.
  • Insufficient funds and chargebacks: I understand and agree that I am responsible for the balance on my student account resulting from any payments returned to PCC as unpaid, whether due to insufficient funds, chargebacks, or any other reason. I also understand and agree that PCC may suspend my ability to make payments using a check, debit card, credit card, or other methods, if payments made using such method have been repeatedly returned unpaid.

Delinquency

I understand and agree that if I fail to pay the full balance on my student account or fail to make official payment arrangements with PCC by the payment due date (as defined above), PCC may, without advance notice to me and at PCC’s option:

  • cancel my registration and remove me from classes;
  • assess a late payment fee of 10% of the unpaid balance on my student account, up to $75 per academic term;
  • place a financial hold on my student account preventing me from registering for any additional classes or changing my class schedule; and
  • refer my student account to a collection agency.

Collections

  • Collection agency and fee: I understand and agree that if my student account is referred to a collection agency or an attorney for collection, I am responsible for paying all reasonable collection agency fees, plus attorney fees, including those incurred at trial, on appeal, or in any bankruptcy case, including any proceeding to determine whether the amounts owing to PCC are dischargeable.
  • Tax offset: I understand and agree that pursuant to ORS 293.250, PCC participates in the Oregon Department of Revenue’s tax offset program and the Collections Unit in the Department of Revenue may divert state monies or tax refunds that I may be expecting to pay for the past due balance on my student account.
  • If a hardship prevented you from continuing your studies through the term, you may request a non-refundable tuition credit by filing an appeal with the college appeal committee. The tuition appeal must be received no later than 90 days from the end of the term being appealed. All past due amounts must be paid in full, or be entered into a payment plan, before the appeal will be considered. PCC does not offer tuition credit refunds.

Credit reporting

I understand and agree that PCC may report any past due payments on my student account to one or more of the national credit bureaus, which can affect my credit score and ability to obtain credit.

Error notification

In case of errors or questions on my student account I understand and agree that I may contact PCC’s Student Accounts Office at 971-722-8888 Option 3.

Communication

  • Contact: I authorize PCC and its agents and contractors to contact me at my current and any future cellphone number(s), email address(es), or wireless device(s) regarding my delinquent student account, or any other debt I owe to PCC. I authorize PCC and its agents and contractors to use automated telephone dialing equipment, artificial or prerecorded voice or text messages, and personal calls and emails in their efforts to contact me. Furthermore, I understand that I may withdraw my consent to have PCC call or text my cellphone using automated telephone dialing equipment by submitting a clear revocation request to the office of Student Accounts at 971-722-8888 Option 3 or to the applicable contractor or agent contacting me on behalf of PCC.
  • Updating contact information: I understand and agree that I am responsible for keeping PCC records up to date with my current mailing addresses, email addresses, and phone numbers. I understand and agree that I may update my contact information online via MyPCC portal or by contacting the office of Student Accounts or the Enrollment Offices. Upon leaving PCC for any reason, I understand and agree that it is my responsibility to provide PCC with updated contact information for purposes of continued communication regarding any amounts that remain due and owing to PCC.

Miscellaneous

  • Minors: I understand and agree that I am liable for the balance owed on my student account, even if I am under 18 years of age, in accordance with ORS 348.105.
  • Governing law: I understand and agree that this Agreement will be governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Oregon without regard for its conflict of laws rules and any suit for enforcement may be filed in any state or federal court located in Multnomah County, Oregon.
  • Entire agreement: I understand and agree that this Agreement supersedes all prior understandings, representations, negotiations, and correspondence between me and PCC, constitutes the entire agreement with respect to the matters described in the Agreement, and will not be modified or affected by any course of dealing or course of performance.
  • Severability: I understand and agree that if any provision, term, or clause of this Agreement is declared illegal, unenforceable, or ineffective in a legal forum with competent jurisdiction to do so, this Agreement will be deemed severable, and all other provisions, terms, and clauses of the Agreement will remain valid and binding.
  • Modifications: I understand and agree that PCC may update or modify the terms of this Agreement from time to time. I understand that PCC will notify me of any changes to the applicable fees in advance of the change. I understand and agree that my continued enrollment in, obtaining services from, or incurring charges to PCC constitutes acceptance of the new terms.