Third Party Billing/Sponsored Billing

Attention MET Students: If you will be using your MET Funds for the first time at Schoolcraft College. You must notify MET by calling (800) 638-4543. Students must contact Student Accounts each semester they want to use their MET.

Sponsored Billing is when a student’s tuition and fees will be paid by a third party, such as Michigan Works, Michigan Rehabilitation, Military Assistance or Michigan Education Trust, or a company. The sponsor must agree to make full payment regardless of a student’s grades or course completion. Written authorization from the sponsor must be submitted each term. Once the sponsorship has been confirmed by receipt of an authorization to bill, a third-party credit is placed on the student’s account. Note: this credit is conditional and reflects the amount the college will bill to the sponsoring agency; it does not mean payment has been received from your sponsor. After bookstore dates and the add/drop period have ended invoices will be distributed to companies.

The college reserves the right to refuse sponsored billing accounts for reasons including but not limited to delinquency or non-payment. When applicable, student reimbursement will not occur until payment is received from the sponsor.

The authorization must include the following: 

• Sponsor’s name
• Billing address
• Contact name, phone number and email
• Student’s name
• Schoolcraft Student ID,  Social Security Number (last 4 of SSN), or date of birth
• Term to be covered, i.e. Fall 2025
• Types of charges that are to be covered:
  • Tuition and Mandatory fees
  • Required books/ supplies
• If applicable the Funding cap or maximum funding amount for the term
• If sponsor authorization is for specific courses, indicate the course name and number
• Instructions on how this voucher should be applied with Financial Aid/Scholarships.
• Authorized signature

The student is responsible for the total charges and must pay any charges not covered by the authorization in full by the payment due date. If for any reason, the sponsor refuses to pay for charges, the student will be held responsible. The student will be unable to register, until paid in full. If necessary, the account will be referred to a collection agency and reported to credit bureaus. 

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Important Information for Third Party Sponsors

Timing

Third party invoices for tuition and fees are prepared after add/drop period and bookstore purchase dates for the semester in order to limit changes that might impact the amount due for tuition and fees. Invoices are e-mailed directly to the funding agency. Please keep in mind invoices can take until the end of the term to be prepared and submitted to the funding agency. Student Financial Services is unable to provide an invoice for future tuition estimates or future terms.

Collections

If the college is unable to collect from the funding agency within a reasonable amount of time, the student will become responsible for payment. The student will be notified by U.S. Postal Service to the address listed on file with the college if a balance exists on their account prior to submitting to an outside collection agency. It is the responsibility of the student to ensure they update the college with their current address. No exceptions will be made to extend the resolution date provided in the mailed communication to the student.

Confidentiality

It is the policy of the college to protect our students’ right to confidentiality under the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).  Sponsors must obtain information regarding grades, transcripts, enrollment, course listings or other specific information, not contained on the invoice directly from their sponsored student.  The college cannot send invoices including other student’s information to anyone other than the sponsor.

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Responsibilities

Sponsor Responsibilities

By furnishing an authorization to bill companies agree be invoiced by the college. Third party Payments should not be made directly to the student’s account:

• Provide each term a Voucher, Authorization to bill. The billing document must include the following information:
  • Student’s name, student number, date of birth or last 4 of SSN
• Description of charges being paid by your agency from the following:
  • Tuition & Mandatory Fees
  • Required Books/ Supplies
  • Tuition, Mandatory Fees, Required Books/Supplied
• Third Party/Sponsor’s address, contact name and phone number
• Email address of Fiscal or Accounts Payable Department
• Semester of student sponsorship
• Sponsor’s signature
• Sponsor shall mail payment to the address provided on the invoice. Payment in full is due upon receipt of invoice.
• If the student is an employee of the sponsor and is terminated during the semester, the sponsor must pay as agreed and invoiced and seek reimbursement directly from the student.
• If the student drops one or more of their classes after add/drop period, the sponsor must pay the full amount of tuition and fees as invoiced and seek reimbursement from the student.
• It is the responsibility of the sponsor to communicate timely with the college when requests for payment are made

 Agencies should email staff in Student Financial Services with any invoice questions.

Student Responsibilities

• It is the student’s responsibility to provide the college with a valid voucher/letter of authorization from their sponsor within 3 weekdays of registration to avoid being dropped from classes.
• Review periodically your Ocelot Access  and SC mail to check for any unpaid balance. Students are responsible for charges not covered by the third party authorization.
• Any amount billed to the sponsor that they refuse to pay, will be charged back to the student’s registration account and must be paid by the student.
• It is the student’s responsibility to maintain their current contact information.
• It is the student’s responsibility to know your sponsor’s requirements to receive funding.
• It is the student’s responsibility to what charges the sponsor is paying on your behalf.
• Supply your sponsoring agencies with any additional information (grades, transcripts, amount of financial aid).
• Understand that providing an authorization to bill does not relieve the student’s financial obligation to the college.
• Adhere to the bookstore purchase dates if purchasing books with authorized third party funding.  No late exceptions for purchases will be allowed.
• The student is responsible for the total charges and must pay any charges not covered by the authorization in full by the payment due date. If for any reason, the sponsor refuses to pay for charges, the student will be held responsible. The student will be unable to register, until paid in full. If the balance remains unpaid, the account will be referred to a collection agency, and reported to credit bureaus. 
• Provide valid photo identification for transactions with Student Financial Services upon request.

College Responsibilities

• Review authorization/contract upon receipt and provide follow up confirmation if needed.
• Invoice the funding agency. Invoicing begins after the semester bookstore purchase dates and semester add /drop dates.
• Any refund resulting from an adjustment to the student’s registration after sponsor payment, will be returned to the sponsor.  Requests for adjustments to invoices must be made in writing to the Student. Accounts office at [email protected]

The college will make every effort to apply third-party funding as requested but reserves the right to apply third party funding in compliance with federal and state regulations.