ENSURING STUDENT SUCCESS
Biola University Opening Weekend
Parent Seminars
August 25, 2012
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Finance
Sandie Weaver, Sr. Director
biola.edu/accounting
Is your student Enrolled?
a. Made online selections
b. Enrolled in payment plan (unless paid in full)
c. Payment has been received by Biola
It’s not too late!
a. Late enrollment August 16 – September 7 ($120 late fee)
b. Enroll by Monday, August 27 to keep classes!
Enrolled Status
a. ID card activated to access residence halls
b. Meal plan activated
Not Enrolled?
a. Student can use cash or credit card to pay for meals
b. Enrollment Help Line (562) 777-4002 for non-financial aid or accounting
issues
c. Registrar’s Office open today 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
d. Accounting Office open today, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Financial Aid
Emilee Hidy, Associate Director
biola.edu/finaid
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Financial Aid – What’s your status?
a. Confirmed/Authorized – Aid is used to calculate your required payment.
b. File is complete, BUT NOT CONFIRMED – Until your aid is confirmed, your
estimated aid could possibly change.
c. File NOT complete – Estimated aid will NOT be used to calculate the required
payment.
d. PLEASE complete your Fin Aid requirements today! (Look for the red flags on
my.biola)
Considered these options?
a. Biola’s Church Matching Scholarship – up to $1,000/year
b. Federal Stafford Loans – up to $5,500 for freshman
c. Federal Parent (PLUS) and Private Student Loans – based on credit, up to
cost minus financial aid
d. Federal Work Study
Finance
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Refunds
a. Entire balance with one request
b. From credit card payments, back to same credit care
Billing
a. Sent to student’s university email address
b. Posted on my.biola, at “Manage My Account”
c. Semester bill will have semester charges with authorized aid
d. Processed on 15th of each month
Finance charges
a. Down payment +1 installment by 9/15 = $0 finance charge
b. Down payment + 3 installments 9/15, 10/15, 11/15 = total finance charge
assessed at time of contract.
c. Early Payment – proportional finance charge reversed upon payment.
Parents and Account Access
a. Students set up authorized users of my.biola
b. Instructions at biola.edu/accounting
Authorized users can accessa. Account balance
b. Online payments option
c. Payment history
d. Storage of payment methods
e. Scheduling payments
f. Enrollment in a payment plan
Misc. but important
a. Charge books from Bookstore to account if there’s a “true credit”
b. Cashier Services – Cash up to $200 with University ID card
c. Tax Credit! – Hope and Life Long Learning, 1098T form mailed to permanent
address January 31, students will have online access.
Academic Advising
Carrie Stockton, Director
biola.edu/advising
Ensuring Academic Success
a. Empower you student to take ownership of the academic experience
b. Encourage your student to seek out help
c. Entrust academic responsibility to your student
Making the Most of the Academic Experience
a. Academic Advising
i. Faculty Advisors – declared majors
ii. The Advising Center – undeclared, transfer and probation
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b. Cross-cultural Engagement
i. Study Abroad
ii. Community-based Learning
c. Academic Clubs
d. Conferences and Symposiums
e. Internships and Research
Recommendations for Student Learning
a. Attend and be on time to all class sessions.
b. Read before class and come prepared for discussion.
c. Take advantage of faculty office hours.
d. Utilize a planner to map out your semester's assignments and events.
e. Use Blackboard (linked from my.biola.edu) whenever possible to view grades
and course information.
f. Use your Biola email address and check it frequently.
The Learning Center
Kevin Grant, Director
biola.edu/academics/learning-center
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Don’t be afraid to ask for help!
What if my student is struggling?
a. We have valuable resources…but your student has to utilize them?
b. The .5 Rule
c. Holistic Assistance Model
i. Student Care
ii. Advising/Registrar/Learning Center Partnership
iii. Teach a man to fish…
General Academic Resources
a. The Math Lab – a working lab with assistance from course TA’s (teacher’s
assistants)
b. The Writing Center – focuses on writing process, not editing. Wali-in and
scheduled appointments available.
c. The Advising Center
i. Professional Staff
ii. Peer Academic Advisors
The Learning Center
a. Tutoring (one hour/week)
i. Individual: $60
ii. Small group: $30
iii. Many subjects pre-hired
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b. Disability Student Services – Physical, learning, mental health, temporary
medical
c. Academic Accountability
College Study Skills (GNST 001)
a. Sharpen Academic Techniques and Strategies
i. Time Management
ii. Critical Thinking
iii. Learning Styles
iv. Test-taking
v. Strengths-based living and learning
What if this doesn’t go as planned?
a. Student must self-identify and self-advocate
i. We are here to advise, equip, support and serve…
ii. however, we will not hunt your student down and mandate
intervention at their first poor grade.
b. Below 2.0 gpa = Academic Probation
i. Limited Course Load
ii. Reequired College Study Skills
iii. Connection with Academic Advising
The Big Idea
a. Encourage your student toward Biola’s resources…they exist and are
available
b. Be proactive!
c. Ask for help sooner than later.
Office of the Registrar
Isaac Fite, Assistant Registrar
biola.edu/registrar
Changing dynamic of PARENT and STUDENT roles in the educational endeavor
a. Opportunities Shift
b. Resources Shift
c. Responsibility Shifts
d. Privileges Shift
Academic Policies and Resources – our website is an invaluable resource
a. Catalog - biola.edu/catalog
b. Academic dates – biola.edu/registrar/academic_schedules
c. Degree Requirements – biola.edu/registrar/degree_requirements
University Communication – Biola email.
Students should check their email daily!
FERPA – The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act gives students:
a. Timely access to the educational records
b. Right to request amendment of their educational records
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c. Privacy of the educational records
Type of information treated differently
a. Directory information – not FERPA protected
b. Non-directory information – protected. See website for details.
c. Financial Records also protected by FERPA
FERPA – Additional Information
a. Biola.edu/registrar and search “FERPA”
i. Total Confidentiality
ii. FERPA Releases
b. Financial Records – certain exceptions
i. Financial Aid
ii. Student Accounts
RECAPI.
To ensure your student’s success
a. Understand and stay on top of financial needs
b. Complete Financial Aid requirements early
c. Empower your student to take ownership of the academic experience
d. Encourage your student to seek out help
e. Entrust academic responsibility to your student
II. You are partners with Biola to assist your student in reaching their educational
goals.
Financial Aid Office Hours
Today:
9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (will take walk-ins until 2:30 p.m.)
Metzger Administration Building, Middle Level West
Normal Hours:
Monday through Thursday: 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Counseling Hours (during the semester):
Monday-Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. & 1:30 pm. to 3:30 p.m.
Friday: 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Our website: http://undergrad.biola.edu/finaid/
Phone Number: (562) 903-4742
FAX Number: (562) 906-4541
E-mail Address: finaid@biola.edu
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Accounting Office Hours
Today: until 3:00 p.m.
Semester Counseling Hours:
Monday-Friday: 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. &
1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Semester Office Hours:
Monday-Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Our website: www.biola.edu/offices/accounting
Phone Number: (562) 903-4760
E-mail Address: accounting@biola.edu
Parent Relations
(800) 99-BIOLA
Email parent.relations@biola.edu
www.biola.edu/parent
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UNDERSTANDING STUDENT CARE
Biola University Opening Weekend
Parent Seminars
August 25, 2012
Campus Safety
John Ojeisekhoba, Chief
biola.edu/offices/campus_safety
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Crime
a. No major issues – serious crimes against persons
b. Minor issues - crimes of opportunity, i.e. stolen property
Crime Prevention
a. We Promote awareness among students
b. Saturated Patrols/ 120+ camera system
c. Partnership with Residence Life
d. Monitor crime trends – in La Mirada, on campus and off campus housing
Disaster Preparedness
a. Biola’s Emergency Response Team
b. 11 annually scheduled training sessions
c. FEMA’s Center for Domestic Preparedness
d. Goal – manage major emergencies to an “acceptable level”
Health Center
Kristin Phelps, RN, Director
biola.edu/healthcenter
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Available to ALL enrolled students
Costs
a. Office visits free
b. Fees for physical exams, lab work, meds, some treatments
c. Payment required at time of visit – cannot be billed to student’s account
Functions like a Doctor’s Office
a. Same day and pre-scheduled appointments
b. Provide Off-campus care options if schedule is full
c. Privacy Laws – HIPAA
Hours
a. Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
b. Self-help medications
c. Weekends
d. Emergencies (562) 777-4000 for Campus Safety/ Resident Director on call
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Residence Life
Beth Tabor, Associate Dean of Residence Life
studentlife.biola.edu
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Caring for and developing your student – outside the classroom
Attentive to students
a. 11 Resident Directors (RD)
b. 10 Resident Coordinators (RC)
c. 81 Resident Advisors (RA/ trained peers)
Developing neighbors
a. Help them grow and develop
b. Taking responsibility, asking for help
c. Will not leave them in an unsafe environment
Student Care
a. Mental Health Needs – you are not alone
b. Community Standards – correction is redemptive
c. Resources – Biola Counseling Center, Health Center
Parents’ Role
a. Encourage involvement
b. Know what they’re learning
c. Help student advocate for themselves
d. Keep the end in mind
e. You can contact Parent Relations with questions and concerns!
(800) OK-BIOLA
Commuter Life
Katie Tuttle, Ph.D., Director
Studentlife.biola.edu/campus-life
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What is Commuter Life?
a. Every commuter connected to a campus community
b. Leadership team and staff
Services & Opportunities
Commuters – Get Involved!
a. Join the Collegium; $55/semester; $90/year
b. Club Fair
c. Hang out on campus!
Off Campus Housing Services
a. Part of Commuter Life
b. 562-777-4078
c. offcampus.housing@biola.edu
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Parent Relations
Colleen Heykoop, Director
Biola.edu/parent
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Avoid the PARENT TRAPS Dump Phone Calls
a. Often they want sympathy, not answers or actions
b. Listen and ask questions
i. “What do you think you can do now?”
ii. “Do you know someone you could ask for guidance?”
iii. “Is there a place you can find an answer for this problem?”
Micro Managing
a. Homework
b. Chapel
c. Roommate issues
d. Sleep schedule
Being “The Fixer”
a. Do things to make their life easier
b. Attempt to resolve their conflict
Final Advice
a. Don’t panic if your student is having a hard time.
b. If you’re concerned and need to talk to someone, please call our office.
c. Your student can do amazing things, if you let them!
Recommended Reading for Parents:
College of the Overwhelmed. Kadison, Richard & Theresa Foy DiGeronimo
Don’t Tell Me What to do, Just Send Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to the College
Years. Johnson, Helen & Christine Schelhas-Miller.
* A Parent’s Guide to the Christian College. Ream, Todd C., Timothy Herrmann, & C. Skip
Trudeau.
You’re on Your Own (But I’m Here if You Need Me):
Mentoring Your Child During the College Years. Savage, Marjorie.
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