Student Rights and Responsibilities

Student Rights and Responsibilities

  • You have the right to privacy. All information submitted with your financial aid application will be treated as confidential.
  • You have the right to an explanation of the financial aid process. If you do not understand how your financial aid award was determined, please contact the office of financial aid.
  • You have a right to appeal. Please contact the office of financial aid if you believe that your application for financial aid was not fairly evaluated.
  • You are responsible for repaying your loans. Acceptance of any loan carries a serious legal and financial obligation. Failure to meet this obligation will adversely affect your credit rating and prohibit you from receiving federal financial aid in the future. Student borrowers are required to complete entrance counseling before receiving any loan funds. Borrowers are also required to complete exit counseling before leaving school. During exit counseling we will explain the various repayment options and types of deferments available.
  • You are responsible for reporting changes in your finances. You must notify the office of financial aid if you receive scholarships, loans or grants from any source so that your financial aid may be reappraised. The office of financial aid is required by law to consider all sources of aid when awarding federal student aid funds.
  • You are responsible for reporting changes in your student status. If you change your address, drop below full-time status, or withdraw from school you must notify the office of financial aid as soon as possible.
  • You are responsible for using financial aid funds only for educational purposes. Educational expenses include fees, room, board, books, supplies and other living expenses.
  • You are responsible for promptly responding to requests and inquiries from us.
  • You are responsible for keeping copies of all documents and records you submit to us.
  • The Cooper Union is willing to make every effort to assist the student and the student’s family in helping to meet educational costs, but the school is unable to assume the role of substitute for the family.

Academic Standards

Our three schools of Architecture, Art, and Engineering each have a Committee of Academic Standards that is responsible for meeting with students that have not made satisfactory progress toward degree completion. Each Committee is comprised of a group of faculty, students, and deans.

The Committees meet after the conclusion of the fall and spring semesters (often mid-January and early June) at which point the students who are placed on academic probation have an opportunity to discuss their academic performance with the members of the Committee.

The requirements to maintain satisfactory progress toward degree completion vary for each school. More information can be found in the Academic Standards section of the respective school.

In addition, students must also make satisfactory academic progress by completing degree requirements on a timely basis. Federal regulations require students who receive federal financial aid to complete degree requirements within 150% of the published length of the program. Failure to complete degree requirements within this time frame will result in a suspension of federal student aid.

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.