PARENT / FAMILY S.O.A.R.
Summer 2014
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/stuaffairs
WELCOME
 DURING TODAY’S PROGRAM, OUR
FOCUS WILL BE ON INFORMATION
FROM THE FOLLOWING SERVICE AREAS:
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NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
OFFICE OF THE BURSAR
OFFICE OF STUDENT AID
HEALTH & WELLNESS CENTER
UNIVERSITY POLICE SERVICES
OFFICE OF STUDENT CONDUCT
Opening of Academic Year 2014-15
Required Events:
 Move-in Day: Thurs., August 21
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New Student Orientation: Thurs., August 21 – Sun., August 24
 Classes Begin: Monday, August 25
http://psualtoona.orgsync.com/Orientation
Pre-Arrival New Student Requirements:
 PSU AWARE – http://edge.psu.edu/firstyear/
 PSU SAFE - http://edge.psu.edu/firstyear/
 AT RISK - http://kognitocampus.com/student
W113 E. Raymond Smith Building
814-949-5055
www.altoona.psu.edu/stuaid/
Student Aid
Applying for Student Aid
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
www.fafsa.gov
Student Aid
Summary of Student Aid
 My Penn State (eLion)
 Paper Copy (issued to student this AM)
Student Aid
Grants
 Verification (Federal & PSU)
 Income Validation (State)
Student Aid
Loans
 Sign Master Promissory Note
 Complete Loan Entrance Counseling
Student Aid
STUDENT AID ELIGIBILITY
 Complete a minimum number of credits
 Dropping Courses
 Failing Courses
 Walking away from courses
Student Aid
Strategies
 Parent (PLUS) Loan
 Deferred Payment Plan
 Budgeting and Savings
Student Aid
Tips and Reminders
 Complete Registration Every Semester
 Rapid Refund
 Watch Mail and Email
Student Aid
Contact Us
 W113 Smith Building
 1.800.848.9843
 StuAidAltoona@psu.edu
 www.altoona.psu.edu/stuaid
PSU ID required for all contacts
Sheetz Family Health Center
814-949-5540
www.altoona.psu.edu/healthwellness/
Health Services
 Visit Types- sick/well, physicals, urgent, travel
 Women’s health
 Allergy and Immunization Clinics
 Lab Services
 Fee for service
 Billing Third Party Insurance
 Payments by cash/check or bill to the student’s account
 Working on contracts with BCBS, Aetna, and United
Healthcare
Immunization
Compliance
• Adhesive bandages
• Antibiotic Ointment
• Ice pack/heat packs
• Tylenol or Motrin
• Antacids
• Cough drops
• Lozenges for cold and flu season
• Thermometer
• Health & Wellness Center phone
number & web address to schedule
appointments
• Health insurance information
Disability Services
• Students must self-identify in a college setting
• Requirements for eligibility and documentation are
different than in secondary education
• Documentation requirements:
www.altoona.psu.edu/healthwellness/disability
What’s Next?
• Intake appointment at the Health & Wellness Center
• May be eligible for classroom accommodations
• Each semester the student attends Penn State
Altoona, they must schedule an appointment with
Disability Services to receive the needed classroom
accommodations
Health Education & Outreach
 Healthy eating and exercise
 Smoking Cessation
 Stress Management
 Alcohol and drug use
 Mental Health Issues
Counseling and Psychological ServicesCAPS
 Individual counseling
 Case Management Services
 Crisis Services
 EASE program- stress and anxiety management
How can you help?
 Pay attention to how your student is adjusting to
college!
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Do they have new friends?
Do they seem sad?
Do they seem to be getting involved and participating?
 Encourage use of campus resources
 Address your concerns and expectations
 Visit our website and stay informed about programs
and resources on campus
How we reach out?
To Do:
Student Required Trainings:
Ensure that your student completes them before
the semester starts! AT RISK, PSU SAFE, PSU
AWARE
Submit Immunizations!
Visit UHS online AND fax official record
Handouts are provided on each of these
responsibilities in your packet
University Police
Welcome to Penn
State Altoona
•WHO WE ARE
•SERVICES PROVIDED
•PSU-Alert Text Messaging
•PARKING REGULATIONS
•ALCOHOL and DRUGS
•BEHAVIOR
•Move -In Day
Who We Are
 (9) Full Time, Act 120 certified and armed Police
Officers.
 Always on-duty, 24/7 operations.
 Investigate all criminal acts on campus.
 Strong working relationship with local and state
police.
 Provide Additional Services.
 Always available (814) 949-5222.
Services Provided
 Walking Escort Service to/from campus and across
campus.
 Emergency phones on campus (27).
 Vehicle parking registration.
 Weapon storage (all weapons must be stored at the
University Police Office – limited to one weapons
case).
Services Provided
 Crime Prevention Programs.
 Self Defense Classes-Rape Aggression Defense
(Females Only).
 Victim Witness Advocate Services.
 Vehicle Lock Out Service.
 Vehicle Jump Start Service
 askacop@psu.edu
PSU Text Messaging
 Sign up for Emergency Text Messaging at:
https://psualert.psu.edu/psualert/
Limited to students, staff and faculty.
 Student may register two additional
cell phones (parents) for text alerts.
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Parking Regulations
 Students must register their vehicle to park on campus.
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(students are never visitors)
Registration begins early August. An email will be sent
when it becomes available.
 http://www.altoona.psu.edu/Police/genpark2.htm
Pay via credit card on-line or by cash, check or money
order at the University Police Office.
Do not ignore tickets, we do boot and tow vehicles for
failure to pay parking tickets.
If you park off campus illegally, local police will
issue tickets for violations- Do Not Ignore Them.
Alcohol & Drugs
 Almost all behavior problems with students revolve
around alcohol use/abuse.
 University Police arrest/cite for all alcohol
violations on campus.
 Diversion program in place for all first time offenders.
 In PA all first time offenders lose their driving privileges for 90
days;
 2nd offense= 1 year, 3rd offense=2 years
 In PA a .02% BAC for a driver under 21 years of age is considered
DUI.
 Marijuana is illegal in Pennsylvania. University
Police arrest for all violations.
Off Campus Behavior
 Be a good neighbor. Students are guests
in the community.
 Local Authorities will hold students
accountable for their actions.
 Students who violate the law will be held
accountable by the Office of Student
Conduct.
Move In Day
 Move-In Day is a choreographed event!
 Go to www.altoona.psu.edu/movein to self-schedule for
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move-in times. (Students will pick the move-in time – after
8/1/2013).
Students moving into off campus housing should contact
their landlord for move-in instructions.
If you need to change your selected time, call (814)949-5222,
Monday through Friday between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m.
Follow the directions that are posted on the website.
Be prepared to unload your vehicle and move it to another
parking lot on campus.
There will be volunteers to assist you in carrying belongings
to the student’s room.
Important Web Sites
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Penn State Altoona University Police –University Police Information
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/police
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Emergency Text Messaging-Sign up to receive text messages for campus related emergencies.
https://psualert.psu.edu/psualert/
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Parking Regulations and Parking Permit Registration-Parking Regulations and link to Parking
Permit Registration, must be completed on-line. http://www.altoona.psu.edu/parking
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Safety and U Bulletin-Crime Statistics, Safety Policies, Health and Wellness and Student Life
information:
http://www.police.psu.edu/clery/securityreports/upload/122425fPoliciesSafetyU_Altoona.pdf
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Emergency Procedures Quick Reference-Quick reference for responding to emergencies.
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/police/docs/emergency.pdf
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Student Conduct-Policies and procedures regarding misconduct and/or violations of the law.
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/studentconduct/
University Police
Welcome to Penn
State Altoona
814-949-5065
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/studentconduct/
The Office of Student Conduct
Mission Statement:
The Office of Student Conduct works to create a campus
culture that is self-disciplined, where civility and diversity are
embraced.
Vision Statement:
The Office of Student Conduct strives to deliver an
educational process that is fundamentally fair, and provides a
system that promotes student growth through responsibility.
Behavioral Expectations of
Students & Related Policies
Penn State Principles &
Code of Conduct
Title IX Resources
Off Campus Misconduct Policy
Parental Notification
The Penn State Principles
• I will respect the dignity of all
individuals within the Penn State
community.
• I will practice academic integrity.
• I will demonstrate social and personal
responsibility.
• I will be responsible for my own
academic progress and agree to comply
with all University policies.
The Code of Conduct
The Code of Conduct describes behaviors that
are inconsistent with the essential values of the
University community. Attempts or assisting in
prohibited behavior will be treated the same as a
completed action. Additionally, many Code of
Conduct items are supported by University
Policy Statements.
The University & The Court
Students may be charged with
violations of the law as well as with
appropriate University violations for
the same incident. Sanctioning by
both the courts and the University is
not considered a violation of double
jeopardy protection.
Court outcomes have no bearing on
ourof internal
conduct
process.
The level
evidence required
to charge
a student
is “reasonable suspicion,” and that used to
determine a student’s responsibility is
preponderance or “more likely than not.”
Levels of Evidence…
Reasonable
Suspicion
Probable
Cause
Preponderance
or More Likely
Than Not
Clear and
Convincing
Beyond a
Reasonable
Doubt
Off-Campus Misconduct
While the University has a primary
duty to supervise behavior on its
premises, there are many
circumstances where the off-campus
behavior of students affects a
“Substantial University Interest,” and
warrants disciplinary action. When
students are determined responsible
for behavior off-campus that both
meets the definition of affecting
“Substantial University Interest” and
Living the Penn State
Principles, Code of Conduct,
Title IX &
Off-Campus Misconduct
Please refer to the packets you
may pick up on the table
outside
Pond View Lounge as you
depart for additional
information.
Parental Notification
The University may report general disciplinary information to
parents or legal guardians of dependent students (as defined by the
IRS), and disciplinary information concerning alcohol and drug
violations to parents or legal guardians of students under 21,
regardless of dependency.
Additionally, there are other circumstances when the University will
notify parents or guardians such as:
1) the parent or legal guardian inquires about a specific University Code of
Conduct infraction, which the student was accused of violation;
2) the student exhibits a repeated pattern of misconduct and has exhausted
or failed to complete required program or other performance
requirements;
3) the Code of Conduct violation constitutes a felony under state or federal
law;
4) the student has been involved, or has involved others, in a potentially lifethreatening situation;
5) in the professional judgment of the staff of the Office of Student Conduct,
a report to the parent or guardian of the student is advisable under the
specific facts and circumstances of the disciplinary incident in question.
Disciplinary Records
University Disciplinary Records are maintained for
seven (7) years following the student’s graduation
from Penn State or from another institution (if
documentation is provided). Records are reported to
third parties for three (3) years following graduation,
but only with the student’s written consent. These
reports may include potential employers, study abroad
programs, scholarship opportunities, or graduate
school programs.
Three years ago, an “External Non-Disclosure” policy
was introduced for students with a single violation,
where the resulting sanction assigned did not exceed
Disciplinary Probation (level 1) for one semester or
less. Students may apply for “External NonDisclosure” by completing the form found at The
Office of Student Conduct web-site.
Questions???
Division of Student Affairs
 http://www.altoona.psu.edu/stuaffairs
 Parent/Family Website:
http://www.altoona.psu.edu/parents
 Contacting Us?
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We welcome all concerns/questions
We expect appropriate behavior/language/ etc.
Quick Tip: Don’t rush in to solve your student’s
problems