Applying Your Aid Toward Other Schools (Consortium Agreements)
If you receive approval to transfer in new courses toward your Towson University degree, then the TU Financial Aid Office may be able to process your financial aid based on your enrollment at another school or your combined enrollment at Towson University (your home school) and the host school. Federal aid regulations prohibit students from receiving financial aid from two different schools during the same term, but they do allow one school to process your aid based on your combined enrollment at both schools. If the TU Registrar's Office approves your course transfer request, then the TU Financial Aid office may be able to use a Financial Aid Consortium Agreement to process your TU aid based on your enrollment at the other school.
You are responsible for ensuring that your host school participates in the Financial Aid Consortium Agreement process. Schools are not required to participate in the Consortium Agreement process and some schools refuse to sign Consortium Agreements. If the host school's Financial Aid Office will not sign the agreement, then TU will not be able to approve any financial aid for those courses.
Inter-Institutional and Baltimore Student Exchange Programs
You do not need to request a financial aid Consortium Agreement Request Form or any other financial aid adjustments for courses taken through the Inter-Institutional or Baltimore Student Exchange Programs. The charges for these courses will be included in your TU bill, and your TU financial aid will automatically be processed based your regular TU courses and these courses. You will not need to submit a Transfer Petition Form to the Registrar's Office.
Students attending University of Maryland University College (UMUC) must request a consortium agreement because UMUC does not participate in the inter-institutional Registration Program.
Requesting Course Approval - Undergraduate Students
Undergraduate students must receive approval from the Registrar's Office and the Financial Aid Office. Please follow these procedures to request approval:
Please begin this process at least 4 weeks before the beginning of the term.
Submit the TU Consortium Agreement Request Form and a separate Transfer Petition Form for each course to:
Towson University
Office of the Registrar/Academic Standards Committee
Enrollment Services Center, Room 236
8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252-0001
If you plan to take a course out-of-state or at a four-year Maryland institution, you must ask your department chair to sign your Transfer Petition Form prior to submission.
Once your Transfer Petition Form has been approved, both you and the Financial Aid Office will be notified. The Financial Aid Office will then begin to process your Consortium Agreement Request Form for all approved transfer petitions.
Requesting Course Approval - Graduate Students
Graduate students must receive approval from the Registrar's Office, the Financial Aid Office, and your graduate program director. Please follow these procedures to request approval:
Please begin this process at least 4 weeks before the beginning of the term.
Review all transfer requirements and restrictions on the Registrar's Office Graduate Transfer Petition Form for Consortium Coursework and complete a separate form for each class you will transfer. You must complete Section 1 of the form and are responsible for having your Program Director complete Section 2 of the form prior to submission.
Towson University
Office of the Registrar/Academic Standards Committee
Enrollment Services Center, Room 236
8000 York Road
Towson, MD 21252-0001
Once your Transfer Petition Form has been approved, both you and the Financial Aid Office will be notified. The Financial Aid Office will then begin to process your Consortium Agreement Request Form for all approved transfer petitions.
After Courses Are Approved - Undergraduate and Graduate Students
If your course transfer requests are approved, all your financial aid for the term will be awarded and disbursed by Towson University.
To receive aid from most financial aid programs at TU, your enrollment status (the combination of units/credits between TU and the host school) must be at least 6 units/credits.
Your financial aid cost of attendance budget under a Consortium Agreement is the combined budget at both institutions, but there is no guarantee that your financial aid will cover all costs at either or both schools.
You must pay your bill at the host school from your own resources by that school's standard payment due date, or they may drop your classes for non-payment.
The TU Bursar's Office will apply all of your financial aid to your TU account.
The Bursar's Office cannot automatically pay your bill at the other school.
If your total term aid exceeds your total term charges at TU, you will receive a rebate check from the TU Bursar's Office, but it will usually not be available until after your payment is due at the other school.
Questions?
If you have questions about the financial aid Consortium Agreement process, please contact TU Financial Aid Adviser, Sarah Richardson, at 410-704-4236 or srichardson@towson.edu.
8000 York Road | Towson, MD 21252 | 410-704-2000
