Student Right to Know

The federal Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) requires colleges and universities to provide key information to students and the public. The primary reasons for insisting on such institutional accountability is to protect student's ability to make informed decisions and to ensure federal financial aid is being used appropriately. Each topic provides a brief description of the information that must be disclosed and provides access to the information. 

When clicking a link on this site, please use your browser's back arrow to return to the previous page.  Note, some links are external to SUNY Old Westbury

General Institutional Information

notice of availability of institutional and financial aid information

Each year, SUNY Old Westbury distributes to all enrolled students a notice of the availability of information required pursuant to specific requirements under the Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA), as amended, and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended.

A paper copy of any and all of the information provided on this page is available upon request by emailing financialaid@oldwestbury.edu(link sends e-mail).

contact information for assistance in obtaining financial aid

For institutional or undergraduate financial aid information at SUNY Old Westbury please email the Director of Financial Aid at financialaid@oldwestbury.edu(link sends e-mail).

Constitution day

Celebrate the Constitution by attending our annual Constitution Day Celebration. Development of the campus' Constitution Day programming is led by the Division of Student Affairs!

Read more about our 2023 Constitution Day event.

facilities & services for students with disabilities

The Office of Services for Students With Disabilities (OSSD) is the office on campus charged with and committed to providing educational opportunities for students with disabilities in compliance with Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), and the ADA Amendments Act of 2008.
 
The OSSD uses a multifaceted team-based approach to determine eligibility for services and accommodations to qualified first-year students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors as well as graduate students. Our goal is to provide and coordinate accommodations that enable students with disabilities to have equal access to all programs and activities. Services and accommodations are provided to students with a variety of disabilities including, but not limited to, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorders, blindness/low vision, deafness/hard of hearing, learning disabilities, psychological disorders (including Autism Spectrum disorders), mobility, and chronic health, as well as other medical conditions.

harassment & discrimination policy
privacy of student records -- ferpa rights

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (link is external)(link is external) (FERPA, also known as the Buckley Amendment) was passed by Congress in 1974 to protect the confidentiality of student records and information. SUNY Old Westbury's policy on student records incorporates the rights guaranteed by FERPA. Students are notified of their FERPA rights each semester via the "Dates, Deadlines & General Information" that accompany course listings.  The information is also available in the University's catalogs. Additional information can be found through the Registrar's Office.

Student Activities

The Center for Student Leadership and Involvement creates opportunities for students to expand their knowledge and skills outside the classroom through Clubs, Organizations, Events, Arts and Performance, Event Planning, and Student Media. 

Visit CSLI

student complaint process

The University’s student complaint process offers students and their parents the opportunity to seek resolution on issues not otherwise bound by state and federal laws and policies. The campus' complete complaint policy can be found within the online Policy Library. 

accreditation

SUNY Old Westbury is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education to award baccalaureate and masters degrees. Contact the Commission at 3624 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104-2680 or call 267-284-5000 for questions about the accreditation of SUNY Old Westbury or to file complaints with the accrediting body. 

Learn about other accreditations SUNY Old Westbury has earned

voter registration information

To vote in New York State or in your home state get all the information you need by contacting the Office of Services for Students with Disabilities at (516)628-5666 or email defelices@oldwestbury.edu

Voter Education and Registration Resources are also available online

Instructional Programs

course schedule

Course schedules are released 3-4 months in advance of the beginning of a given semester. The schedule of classes is available via the Office of the Registrar.

Educational programs

SUNY Old Westbury's Undergraduate Catalog and Graduate Catalog provide the University's official information on programs of study, academic requirements, teaching staff, academic calendar, and other matters pertaining to study at the institution. 

Access Academic Catalogs 

study abroad

A student's enrollment in a program of study abroad approved for credit by the home institution may be considered enrollment at the home institution for the purpose of applying for assistance under Title IV, of the Higher Education Act, as amended, program. 

For more information on SUNY Old Westbury's Study Abroad Programs please visit the Study Abroad website

transfer of credit policy

The Transfer Credit Policy is managed by the Office of the Registrar. :

Financial Assistance

financial assistance available

Financial Assistance Available

Federal and state grant funding are available to all undergraduates applying to SUNY Old Westbury. Work Study Funds are also available. Different eligibility requirements must be met to qualify for different types of funding. To review the types of funding available to undergraduates and their eligibility requirements, please visit Types of Aid.

Federal Student Loans

Need-based loan funds are available to undergraduates at SUNY Old Westbury. Non-need based federal student loans are also available to undergraduates, graduate students, and parents of undergraduates.  Visit the Types of Aid page for information on how to apply for federal student loans.

Alternative Loans

Alternative loans are available to students at a variety of interest rates and repayment terms.  Review the Types of Aid page to see the difference between the federal loans and alternative loans. 

Other Sources of Aid

While the Office Financial Aid considers students for need-based aid only, other sources of funding are available to help with the cost of SUNY Old Westbury. Merit scholarships, scholarships from outside organizations, veterans benefits, tuition benefit programs, loans, and other sources of aid can all serve to make your education more affordable.

Please review the Types of Aid page for information on scholarships and other sources of aid available to undergraduates at SUNY Old Westbury. 

financial aid refunds

Information on refunds to students or parents for overpayment can be found in the University's Fee Refund and Waiver Policy

how to apply for aid

SUNY Old Westbury awards need-based awards to its undergraduates. Information on the process to follow can be found on the Applying For Aid page. 

satisfactory academic progress (SAP) for financial aid

Federal regulations require that, in order to be eligible for assistance from any Federal Title IV student aid program (Federal Pell Grant, Federal SEOG, Federal Work-Study, Federal Perkins Loan, Federal Direct/PLUS Loan, and State Student Incentive Grant Programs) a student must be making satisfactory academic progress.

SUNY Old Westbury's policy on SAP can be found on the Financial Aid Procedures, Disclosures & Forms page

statement on educational lending

SUNY Old Westbury has adopted the State of New York's set of publicly available principles and policies to govern educational lending practices for undergraduate, graduate and professional students. These principles emphasize that our lending practices come from a commitment to the best interests of our students. Neither SUNY Old Westbury nor its employees accept financial payments, goods or services of material value from lenders. All employees involved in financial aid and student lending adhere to a rigorous code of conduct policy

tuition refund policy

f a student withdraws from school before the end of the term, there may be an adjustment of the amount of tuition charged depending on the withdrawal date.  The official University schedule of percentage of tuition to be refunded at a particular time during the semester is available in the Fee Refund and Waiver Policy

undergraduate net price calculator

Use our interactive calculator for an estimate of how much financial aid you might be eligible to receive and what your overall cost to attend SUNY Old Westbury undergraduate programs might be.  

Net Price Calculator

cost of attendance

The cost of attendance is an estimate of the total of tuition, fees, room, meals, transportation, books/supplies, and personal expenses not accounting for any financial assistance from SUNY Old Westbury or any outside grant agency that may be received.

The  Undergraduate total cost of attendance is available on the Undergraduate Tuition & Fees page.  To estimate your own cost at SUNY Old Westbury (to include estimated grant aid) please go to our Net Price Calculator.

The  Graduate total cost of attendance is available on the Graduate Tuition & Fees page

Health & Safety

annual clery report

SUNY Old Westbury prepares an Annual Security Report in compliance with the Clery Act and distributes it by email to the campus community in the beginning of October each year. It includes reported campus crime statistics for the past three years and information about campus security policies.

A printed report is available by visiting the University Police Department or by calling (516) 876-3333.

Get the Clery Report (PDF)

crime prevention activities

The University Police Department is a law enforcement agency employing police officers trained by New York State.  Crime Prevention Tips are available online and officers from the department are available to conduct safety presentations and workshops for students, staff and faculty. 

emergency preparedness & response

Emergency preparedness and emergency response is critical to the reliability of our systems on campus and is equally important in helping to manage emergencies that impact SUNY Old Westbury facilities. 

For more information, view the Emergency Response Summary along with additional information about Emergency Preparedness.

Also review SUNY Old Westbury's Inclement Weather Policy.

missing student notification

In accordance with the Higher Education Opportunity Act of 2008, SUNY Old Westbury notifies the designated emergency contact of record for a student who is determined to be missing.

If members of the campus community believe that a student has been missing for 24 hours, it is critical that they report that information to the University Police Department at (516) 876-3333. 

For a full record of SUNY Old Westbury Policy on Missing Student Notification, see page 17 of the Annual Campus Safety Report.

vaccination policies

All students are required to complete certain immunization requirements prior to their arrival on-campus. New York State requires that all students entering college present a certificate of immunization that documents that the student has received all immunizations required by law. While a state or country of origin may have different immunization requirements, all students must comply with New York State laws and our University's requirements.

Student Outcomes

Graduation & retention rates

SUNY Old Westbury reports its retention and graduation rates through the Integrated Post Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS).  It outlines first-to-second- year retention rates, overall graduation rate, 4-year, 6-year and 8-year bachelor’s degree graduation rates,  and graduation rates by ethnicity.  Outcome measures are broken out by Pell grant and non-Pell grant recipients. 

Please visit this link to view SUNY Old Westbury's most recent Graduation and Retention rates in IPEDS.

View SUNY Old Westbury's most recent outcome measures by Pell eligibility.

integrated post-secondary education data system (Ipeds) & college navigator

The IPEDS Report contains university-specific annual data relating to cost, aid available, net price, enrollment, admissions, retention and graduation rates, Outcome measures, program/majors, veterans information, athletic teams, accreditation, campus security, and cohort default rates.

View SUNY Old Westbury's most recent IPEDs report

teacher preparation program report

The SUNY Old Westbury School of Education is committed to sharing information about the progress and achievements of its students. Included here is information on the performance of students during their studies at Old Westbury and as participants in certification processes required by New York State.

See the School of Education website for cohort-level data regarding New York State Certification Tests.