Ensuring Student Success
Biola University
Opening Weekend 2012
Can you relate?
Overview
Finance and Financial Aid
Academic Advising
The Learning Center
Office of the Registrar
Finance & Financial Aid
Sandie Weaver, Sr. Director
Financial Planning & Operations
Emilee Hidy, Assoc. Director
Financial Aid
Is your student enrolled?
Completed all online steps
Signed up for payment plan (unless paid in full)
Payment has been received by Biola
Enrolled Status
ID Card Activated
Access residence halls
Access to Meal Plan
Not Enrolled? It’s not too late!
Late enrollment August 16 – September 7
($120 late fee)
Enroll by Monday, August 27, to keep
classes!
Not Enrolled?
Student can use cash to pay for meals
Call Campus Safety for Residence Hall access
Enrollment Help Line (562)777-4002
Financial Aid Office Open Today until 3 pm
Accounting Office Open Today until 3 pm
Financial Aid – What’s your status?
Aid is Authorized:
File is Complete,
BUT NOT confirmed:
File is NOT
Complete:
my.biola
Have you considered these?
Biola’s Church Matching Scholarship
Federal Stafford Loans – up to $5,500 for
Freshman
Federal Parent (PLUS) and Private Student
Loans
Federal Work Study
Please note
Loans are applied against the
total balance, not just the down
payment
Payment Options –
No Finance Charge
Pay in full
Payment plan with down payment,
balance paid by 9/15
Financed Payment Plan
Payment plan, down payment,
payments by 9/15, 10/15, 11/15
Total finance charge assessed
during payment plan sign up.
Billing
Includes semester charges & authorized aid
Processed on the 15th of each month
Sent to student’s university email
Posted on my.biola, at “Manage My
Account”
Refunds
Available after the credit appears on
the student account.
 Entire balance with one request!
Refunds from credit card payments
will be refunded back to the same
card.
Ferpa
Family Education Rights and Privacy Act
FAMILY EDUCATFAMILY EDUCATION RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACTION
RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT
Only Authorized Users May Access
Student Financial Information
How to become an authorized
user
Students set up Authorized users at
my.biola
Instructions at biola.edu/accounting
Authorized users can access
Account Balance
Online Payments Options
 Payment History
Storage of Payment Methods
Scheduling Payments
Sign up for a Payment Plan
Other useful info
Students may Charge Books to Account
– if there’s a “true credit”
Cashier Services
– cash up to $200 with University ID
Banks on Campus Today
What? A tax credit???
Hope and Life Long Learning Tax
Credit
Form 1098T mailed to permanent
address by Jan. 31st
Students have online access
Academic Advising
Carrie Stockton, Director
Academic Advising & Student Retention
Ensuring Academic Success
 Empower your student to take ownership of
the academic experience.
 Encourage your student to seek help.
 Entrust academic responsibility to your
student.
Making the Most of the
Academic Experience
Academic Advising
Major Departments
Declared Students
Faculty & Staff Advisors
The Advising Center
Undeclared Students
Transfer & Probation
Students
Opportunities
Academic Clubs
 Ink Slinger
 Guerilla Film Society
 Accounting/Investment
Societies
 Social Justice Ministry
 Health Careers Club
 Conferences/Symposiums
Cross Cultural Engagement
 Study Abroad
 Community-Based Learning
 Justice, Spirituality, and
Education Symposium
 Arts Symposium
 Center for Christian Thought
 Torrey Bible & Missions
Conferences
Internships & Research
 Career Development Center
 Off-campus employment
 Career fairs/networking events
 Internships
 On-Campus Employment
 On-Campus Research Opportunities
Recommendations for
Student Learning
 Attend and be on time to all class sessions.
 Read before class and come prepared for
discussion.
 Take advantage of faculty office hours.
Recommendations for
Student Learning
 Utilize a planner to map out your
semester's assignments and events.
 Use Blackboard (linked from
my.biola.edu) whenever possible to view
grades and course information.
 Use your Biola email address and check it
frequently.
The Learning Center
Kevin Grant, Director
The Learning Center
Don't Be Afraid to Ask for Help
What if My Student is Struggling?
 We have valuable resources...
…but your student has to utilize them!
 The .5 Rule
 Holistic Assistance Model
 Student Care
 Advising/Registrar/Learning Center
Partnership
 Teach a man to fish…
General Academic Resources
The Math Lab
 The Writing Center
 The Advising Center
The Learning Center
 Tutoring (one hour/week)
 Disability Student Services
 Academic Accountability
College Study Skills (GNST 001)
 Sharpen Academic Techniques &
Strategies
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

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Time Management
Critical Thinking
Learning Styles
Test-Taking
Strengths-based living & learning
What if this doesn't go as planned?
 Students must self-identify and selfadvocate
 Below 2.0 gpa = Academic Probation
 Limited Course Load
 Required College Study Skills
 Connection with Academic Advising
The Big Idea
 Encourage your student toward Biola's
resources... they exist and are available.
 Be Proactive!
 Ask for help here
Not here
Office of the Registrar
Isaac Fite
Assistant Registrar
Changing dynamic of parent
and student roles
•
•
•
•
Opportunities Shift
Resources Shift
Responsibility Shift
Privileges Shift
Academic Policies & Resources
University Communication
Biola University uses email as its primary
vehicle for communication to
students…
… they should check it daily!
FERPA
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
 Giving Students Rights to
 Timely access of their educational records

Request amendment of their educational
records
 Privacy of their educational records
How FERPA protects student
privacy
Directory Information
Non-Directory Information
Each category is subject to its own set of
restrictions
FERPA
Additional Information
Website: biola.edu/registrar and search FERPA
Total Confidentiality
FERPA Releases
Financial Records – certain exceptions
Financial Aid
Student Accounts
To Ensure Student success
Understand and stay on top of financial needs
Complete Financial Aid requirements early each year
Empower your student to take ownership of their
academic experience
Encourage your student to seek out help
Entrust academic responsibility to your student
Questions?
Student Accounts –
www.biola.edu/offices/accounting
Phone: (562) 903-4760
Email: accounting @ biola.edu
Financial Aid -
www.biola.edu/finaid
Phone: (562) 903-4742
Email: finaid@biola.edu
Registrar -
www.biola.edu/registrar
Parent Relations -
www.biola.edu/parent
Phone: (800) 99-BIOLA
Email: parent.relations@biola.edu