February 2022

Volume 4, Issue 7

• Campus Announcements

  Weekly COVID-19 Testing Available to All Students and Employees
  Kutztown University offers voluntary COVID-19 testing on a weekly basis for KU students and employees. Testing occurs every Monday and Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the East Gym of the Student Recreation Center. Registration is required. While testing is voluntary for all students and employees, we strongly encourage our campus community to take advantage of this service. 

  COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic: Feb. 25
  Kutztown University’s next Moderna COVID-19 vaccination clinic is Friday, Feb. 25. The clinic is free of charge and open to KU students, university employees and members of the community ages 18 and older. The clinic is 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the East Gym of the Student Recreation Center. Registration is required.

• Academic Affairs

  Communication Studies has New and Improved Offerings
  The Department of Communication Studies recently added three new courses to their curriculum and revised a fourth to maintain their commitment to the changing communication environment in our world and student interests and needs. COM 243, Social Games and Communication, explores how we communicate in an online environment when engaging in video games and looks at the intersection of interpersonal communication and mediated communication. COM 207, Political Communication, explores varied perspectives and how issues of power and identity are shaped in a political environment. COM 315, International Communication, considers how strategies and power struggles manifest themselves in an everchanging world. COM 307, Rhetoric of Visual Media, has been revitalized and expanded to investigate the messages that are communicated through what we see. Everything from monuments, to advertisements, to virtual reality is discussed. All these courses can be taken as electives by other majors.

  Tutoring Services
  Tutoring Services is helping students lay the foundation for a successful semester. Whether your student is struggling in a class or just wants to get a better grade, free peer tutoring is available in both individual and group settings. Tutor requests are available online in the student’s MyKU account under academic services. If your student has questions, contact us at tutor@kutztown.edu. Tutoring Services is also recruiting peer tutors for Spring 2022. If your student is interested in this employment opportunity, please have them complete the Tutoring Services Employment Application. If your student has questions, they can contact us at tutor@kutztown.edu.

  Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence
  The Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence provides students with individualized success plans, study skills support and connections to campus resources. The Center offers academic skills workshops and one-on-one consultations on study skills, time management, note-taking and learning strategies to enhance success inside and outside the classroom. For more information and resources, visit www.kutztown.edu/studentsuccess. 

  Writing Center
  Please have your students reach out to the KU Writing Center for help and to schedule a writing session concerning papers for any subject or discipline. We have in-person and online sessions available. Please call 610-683-4733 or email wrcenter@kutztown.edu to setup an in-person appointment. To begin using the WCOnline site and schedule an online session, please go to https://kutztown.mywconline.com. Please see our website for additional helpful instructions and screenshots on our website: https://kutztownwritingcenter.wordpress.com/. Please direct any questions to: wrcenter@kutztown.edu or pytleski@kutztown.edu.

• Administration and Finance

  Payment Plans
  Spring 2022 payment plans ended Feb. 6. Summer payment plans will start in March/April 2022. Fall payment plans will start late April 2022. Payment plans are setup in the Payment Dashboard. MyKU > KU Financial Account tile > Payment Dashboard. Parents who were set up as a payer can use this link to provide your own credentials and manage payment plans.

  1098-T and Year-End Tax Information
  Just a reminder that these tax documents were made available online and were mailed to the permanent home address of the student, if not retrieved online, not their mailing address. We have had some returned for old addresses, so you may need to get the item online and then take a minute to update your home address with the Registrar’s Office for future use. You may need your state ID or driver’s license to do so. For more information about the 1098T’s, click here.
  
  Adding Bear Bucks Throughout the Semester
  Students can add Bear Bucks to their ID cards, in person with cash or check at 107 Academic Forum or online. MyKU > KU Financial Account tile > Payment Dashboard – scroll down to the Bear Bucks box and enter how much you want to buy.

  Spring 2022 Overpayments from Financial Aid

  Reduce Loans
  Spring 2022 aid will start disbursing the end of the third week of the semester; once Add/Drop has ended and Attendance Verification is completed. The aid disbursement may result in an overpayment. If this occurs, please understand we do not reduce loans for you or roll this credit to a future semester, we refund the overpayment to you or your student. If you do not want to get a refund, the loans need to be reduced by the student or parent immediately, depending on the loan holder. Simply not accepting a refund won’t reduce or cancel a loan. Loan change forms are online.

  Refunds
  Overpayments that are the result of student-funded aid will be released to the student through the BankMobile refund program selection the student made online. Overpayments that are the result of parent-funded aid (i.e., Parent PLUS loan or parent alternative loan) will be released to whomever the parent designated on the loan application.

  • If the designation was the parent; the overpayment will be a paper check mailed to the parent.
  • If the designation was the student; the overpayment would go through the student’s preference at BankMobile.

  Refund Preference Selection
  Students who never selected a refund preference should go to http://www.refundselection.com/ to make this selection. Students who have previously made a refund preference will find that remains in place unless they change it. We encourage reviewing it at www.bankmobilevibe.com and verifying address information, banking information and more.

  Parent Refunds
  Since students have the direct deposit option and parents do not, parents will often choose to allow the refund to go to the student. If the parent elected for the refund to go to them, but now want the refund to go to the student, the parent can complete a Parent PLUS Release Form, allowing us to refund the student regardless of what aid causes the overpayment. This form requires a signature and can be faxed, scanned or emailed to us before refunds start. If the refund has already been released, we are unable to process this request.

  Summer Tuition Inquiries
  Summer tuition rates will be posted mid-March, or sooner, for students to peruse the costs and determine if summer enrollment is desired. The only aid a student would have for summer would be if they did not use all of their available aid in the fall and spring, they were making progress after spring grades post and are enrolled in the number of credits needed for the aid (such as minimum six credits). Some students may find it safest to take an additional spring loan to get the funds when they are meeting eligibility or if they only want to take three credits in the summer. Summer payment information will be on this page by mid-March.

  Summer Internships
  Just a reminder that internships are credits that a student earns with a grade that affects their GPA. These credits have a cost just like any other credit at KU. There are fewer fees for these experiences as they are off campus, but there are costs associated with them. Discounted tuition rates do not apply to internships. Please budget accordingly for summer internships.

• Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

  Commuter Tuesday
  Does your student commute to campus? They are welcome to join us on the first Tuesday of every month for a free meal; 11 a.m., 223 MSU (while supplies last). Dates are March 1, April 5, May 3. Questions about Commuter Student Services? Email agarcia@kutztown.edu.

  SIBS DAY: Postponed to April 2
  Siblings or cousins (ages 13-20) of Kutztown University students are welcome to join us for a full day of fun 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, April 2. More info about “Game Your Way at SIBS Day” can be found online. Postcards and emails will be sent home with registration info. Must register in advance.

  Kutztown Mosaic
  Take a look at our developing online mosaic and upload pictures of your Golden Bear to help us develop this unique digital display of pride. www.kutztownmosaic.com.

  Family Day 2022 – Mark Your Calendars
  Parents and families of Kutztown University students should mark their calendars for Saturday, Sept. 24, for Family Day 2022. Please stay tuned for more updates. For questions, please contact the assistant director of Student Involvement and Community Outreach at blichar@kutztown.edu.

  Volunteers Needed for Operation Snowflake
  The Community Outreach Center needs volunteers for Operation Snowflake. If your student lives in town and is willing to assist senior citizens and other borough residents that have a disability in shoveling their sidewalks and driveways during snow storms, please direct them to sign up on GivePulse: https://kutztown.givepulse.com/event/258396-Operation-Snowflake. For questions, please contact blichar@kutztown.edu.

  Homecoming 2022 – Mark Your Calendars
  Parents, families and alumni of Kutztown University should mark their calendars for Saturday, Oct. 22, for Homecoming 2022. Stay tuned for more updates.

• Equity, Compliance and Legal Affairs

  Disability Services Office
  McKenzie Hollenbach is serving as interim director of the Disability Services Office (DSO). If you need to contact McKenzie, she can be reached at mhollenb@kutztown.edu or extension x34109. Megan Rutter is serving as the interim assistant director of the DSO. If you need to contact Megan, she can be reached at rutter@kutztown.edu or extension x34792.

  Invitations to join Delta Alpha Pi (DAP) International Honor Society for students with disabilities will be sent to eligible students via email in late February. Eligible students who wish to join DAP must respond to the invitation by April 1. New members will be inducted at a ceremony Wednesday, April 20. For more information about Delta Alpha Pi, please visit http://deltaalphapihonorsociety.org/.

  Public Safety and Police Services
  The Kutztown University Department of Public Safety and Police Services is pleased to announce the hiring of Mr. Ethan Hugg, a recent graduate of the Pennsylvania State Police Municipal Live-In Academy. Mr. Hugg had a distinguished military career of 12 years with the U.S. Air Force. Please introduce yourself and welcome him to our campus community.

• Housing and Dining

  Community Assistants
  The Office of Residence Life, Housing and Dining Services is hiring Community Assistants for the 2022-2023 academic year. Community Assistants (CAs) are on the front lines and serve as a key component in the creation of a welcoming and inclusive environment within the residence halls. CAs are essential in the community-building process as they help the residents adjust to their new surroundings, solve problems, develop skills and establish relationships with others living on their wing, their floor, as well as within the hall. If your student is interested in being a leader on campus and wants to make a difference, then the CA position just might be the job for them. Applications and details about compensation can be found online: Community Assistant.   

  Room Selection
  It's hard to believe we are getting close to on-campus housing and room selection for the 2022-2023 academic year. Please remember that Kutztown University has a two-year residency requirement. Information on our two-year residency requirement can be found online at https://tinyurl.com/Residency-Requirements.

  You may find the process and timeline for on-campus housing for the 2022-2023 academic year by going to https://tinyurl.com/Room-Selection. Returning students: the 2022-2023 Housing Application is open. If you have any questions, please reach out to housing@kutztown.edu.

• University Relations and Athletics

  Pioneering Women of Jazz: Feb. 16 at Schaeffer Auditorium
  Join KU Presents! and Berks Jazz Fest for a celebration of three amazing women. Backed by Jazz at Lincoln Center's all-female jazz band and featuring three dynamic vocalists (Charenée Wade, Camille Thurman and Tahira Clayton), this show delivers the popular music and tells the stories of Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone who used their talents to combat racial prejudice, sexism and poverty during the Jim Crow era-South through the turbulent 1960s. Visit www.KutztownPresents.org for the complete listing of upcoming performances. Tickets: are $40, $34 for seniors and students and can be purchased online or by calling 610-683-4092. KU Students can access $10 tickets by logging for tickets with their MyKU log in.

  KU Students can Access Discounted and Free Tickets to Events Across Campus
  Students can click here, log in with their MyKU login and create an account. Once they create an account in the university ticketing system, they will have access to discounted tickets to events across the KU Campus including planetarium shows, KU Presents! and a free ticket to each regular season Golden Bears basketball home game.

  First Action for Spring Sports
  The Golden Bear baseball and softball teams hit the field for the first time this past weekend. Check out each team’s season preview below and be on the lookout for women’s acrobatics and tumbling, women’s golf, women’s lacrosse, men’s and women’s tennis and men’s and women’s outdoor track and field previews at https://KUBears.com over the next month as their respective seasons get underway.

  BASEBALL PREVIEW: https://bit.ly/3oAg1Pc

  SOFTBALL PREVIEW: https://bit.ly/3LmwHDU

  Inaugural Acrobatics and Tumbling Season Begins Feb. 18
  Women’s acrobatics and tumbling, introduced as KU’s 22nd varsity sport, begins its inaugural season at home against Quinnipiac, 7 p.m., Friday, Feb. 18, at Keystone Arena. Come out and support the Bears at their home meets Feb. 18, April 2 and April 8. Admission is free. To learn more about acrobatics and tumbling at KU, click here.

  Stay Up To Date With Golden Bear Athletics
  For the latest news, results, schedules and more, visit Kutztown University’s official athletics website at https://KUBears.com. Weekly live coverage schedules for home and away contests can be found at https://KUBears.com/coverage. Be sure to follow Golden Bear athletics’ social media channels at the links below or find us in the Facebook, Twitter and Instagram apps @KUGoldenBears! #HereYouRoar

  FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/KUGoldenBears

  TWITTER: www.twitter.com/KUGoldenBears

  INSTAGRAM: www.instagram.com/kugoldenbears

  Kutztown University Radio (KUR)
  Is your Golden Bear looking for an award-winning campus organization to join where they will learn broadcasting in a fun and inclusive environment? Kutztown University Radio may just fit that bill. Absolutely no experience is required. The radio station will train and needs volunteers in all aspects including, but not limited to, sports broadcasting, music, DJing, news and promotions. For more information, email kur@kutztown.edu expressing interest or call 610-683-4059.

• KU Campus Store

  Dixon Marketplace
  Dixon Marketplace is a retail store comprised of student goods including convenience items, health and beauty aids, dorm and school supplies, logo apparel and trendy gifts. Located on the ground level of the Dixon Residence Hall and open until midnight, seven days a week. Additional information can be found online at https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/kussi/dixon-marketplace.html.

  Did you miss a sale or event at KU Campus Store?
  Follow KU Campus Store on Facebook and Instagram. Sign up for VIP to receive sales via email and be included special sales. Sign up for VIP: https://kubstore.com/vip.

  Facebook Link: https://www.facebook.com/kucampusstore/.
  Instagram Link: https://www.instagram.com/kucampusstore/?hl=en.

• KU Foundation

  Thank You for Your Heart of GOLD
  From Feb. 7-11, the KU Foundation and the KU Presidential Ambassadors celebrated I Heart KU Week, expressing what they love about KU and sharing their gratitude to our campus community for their support. Visit our social media accounts or search #heartKU to see their selfies. Interested in showing your heart of gold by making a gift? Click here.

• Campus Affiliates

  PSECU Offers Money Tips for Every Stage in Life
  As a not-for-profit credit union, PSECU is proud to provide money-management tips for every stage of life. Students and their families are invited to visit psecu.com/learn for free resources, including access to an interactive Online Learning Center with 30+ activities. One of PSECU’s newest educational initiatives, the WalletWorks podcast, covers everything from shopping tips to home-buying. The latest episode, “Tips on Saving Money While in College” features an interview with Kutztown University’s PSECU Manager, Kelly Ann Ryan. TuneIn to learn more about the financial education center at KU and get some money-saving tips for your student. The podcast is also available via Spotify. For more information about PSECU, feel free to reach out to the Financial Education Center at KU by calling 610-894-4814.

• Dates to Know

  KU Central Calendar
  A full listing of upcoming events and academic deadlines can be found on KU's central calendar.

  Spring 2022 "W" Period	Feb. 1 to April 8
  First Day Financial Aid can disburse	Friday, Feb. 11
  Last Day to Apply for Spring 2022 Graduation	Friday, Feb. 11
  Spring 2022 Refunds	Friday, Feb. 11
  60% Refund Period Ends Spring 2022	Friday, Feb. 11
  Spring 2022 Late Registration Bills Due	Thursday, Feb. 17
  50% Refund Period Ends Spring 2022	Friday, Feb. 18
  Presidents Day - Classes Held	Monday, Feb. 21
  Deadline Return/Exchange Textbook w/drop slip	Friday, Feb. 25
  40% Refund Period Ends Spring 2022	Friday, Feb. 25
  First Day No Refund Spring 2022	Saturday, Feb. 26