February 2024

Volume 6, Issue 7

• Academic Affairs

  KU ADVANCE
  We are thrilled to announce KU ADVANCE as the new brand for our professional and continuing education programming. KU ADVANCE epitomizes career acceleration and unlocks your student’s potential through non-credit courses and certificates. In the coming weeks, we will provide access to Coursera’s Career Academy at no cost for your KU student. They can earn resume-enhancing digital badges and certificates from top-tech companies like Google and IBM through self-paced courses perfectly fitted around their class schedules. By mastering sought-after abilities that leading firms actively hire for, without paying any additional tuition or fees, your KU student can invest in their professional growth and career trajectory. This opportunity is unique within the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education and we hope you will encourage your Golden Bear student to join Coursera’s 90+ million strong global learning community. Your student’s career acceleration starts with KU ADVANCE. Contact Lori Lentz with questions at lentz@kutztown.edu or visit our website.

  Writing Center
  Please have your student(s) 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. Call 610-683-4733 or email wrcenter@kutztown.edu to setup an in-person appointment. To begin using the Writing Center online website and schedule an online session, please go to https://kutztown.mywconline.com. Please visit our website for additional helpful instructions and screenshots at https://kutztownwritingcenter.wordpress.com/. Direct any questions to wrcenter@kutztown.edu or pytleski@kutztown.edu. 

  Career Development Center
  If your student is still deciding on a major or is uncertain if their current major is right for them, please encourage them to make an appointment with the Career Development Center. We specialize in helping students start their career path by choosing a major. All appointments can be made in Handshake at www.kutztown.edu/handshake.

  Academic Skills Workshops
  The Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence offers academic skills workshops 11 a.m., Tuesdays, 203 Academic Forum. For the workshop schedule, visit www.kutztown.edu/studentsuccess.

  Starfish – Student Success Platform 
  Featured tools in Spring 2024 include the “I Need Help” feature for students, allowing them to proactively connect to needed resources and information. For more information, visit https://www.kutztown.edu/starfish. 

  Tutoring Services
  Tutors are available for most 100- and 200-level courses and some upper-level courses starting the second week of class. Students can sign up for a tutor through Starfish using the tutor link next to their course, or by using the "I Need Help" button in Starfish. An Academic Peer Mentor (APM) is a trained undergraduate student who offers academic readiness assistance like time management and academic organizational skills. For example, rather than helping to understand math homework, an APM might help them plan time to do homework, connect with a math tutor or lab and suggest testing strategies for success on an upcoming math exam. Students can sign up with APMs in Starfish under My Services. Please encourage your student to take advantage of these resources. More information about Tutoring Services can be found on our website. Students may also contact tutor@kutztown.edu with questions. 

  Transfer Student Success Coordinator 
  The Coordinator for Student Success and Transfer Engagement maintains a strong partnership with the Transfer Admissions Counselor to assist transfers from the time they are accepted to KU until they graduate. The Coordinator for Student Success and Transfer Engagement can review each unique transfer experience and assist in navigating various transfer policies, including transfer credits, degree progress, Reverse Transfer, general education waivers and more. The Coordinator for Student Success and Transfer Engagement advises the transfer specific organization of Tau Sigma National Honor Society and is available to support transfer students beyond academics in their college journey. Learn more here.

• Finance and Facilities

  Payment Plans
  One plan is left for Spring 2024 (a three-payment condensed plan for late registrants). Payment Plans are setup in the Payment Dashboard. MyKU > KU Financial Account tile > Payment Dashboard. Parents who were setup as a payer can set up a plan and can use this link to provide your own credentials. Summer payment plans will start in March/April 2024. Fall payment plans will start late spring on a new payment platform as we move toward our new Student Information System and new payment vendor.

  1098-T and Year-End Tax Information
  Just a reminder that tax documents were made available online and were mailed to the permanent home address if not retrieved online (not the 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
  Students can add Bear Bucks to their ID cards, in person with cash or check in 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 2024 Aid Disbursements Start No Sooner than Friday, Feb 9
  Spring 2024 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. 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 or scanned and 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 by early 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 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 know they are meeting eligibility or if they only want to take only three credits in the summer. Summer payment information will be on this page by mid-March.

  Internships
  Internships are credits which a student earns with a grade that affects their GPA. These credits have a cost just like any other credit does at KU. They have less fees for these experiences as they are off campus, but there are costs associated with them. Please budget accordingly for summer internships.

  Special Undergraduate Non-Resident Pricing for Summer and Faculty-Led Experiences
  We are maintaining this special pricing structure rolled out last summer, to all non-resident students in the summer sessions and for their participation in faculty-led experiences. Non-residents will be charged the following rates (courses average as three credits, but some are more or less). More information can be found online: $625 per credit for on-campus courses (II’s and IS’s); $574 per credit for off-campus courses (internships); $391 per credit for distance education as a part time student remains.

• Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

  Room Selection
  Please remember that Kutztown University has a two-year residency requirement. Information on our two-year residency requirement can be found here online. You may find the process and timeline for on-campus housing for the 2024-2025 academic year by going to Room Selection Process. Returning students: the 2024-2025 Housing Application is now open. If you have any questions, please reach out to housing@kutztown.edu.

  Social Justice Movie Club Open to All Students
  Encourage your student to join our movie club. We watch movies and documentaries with social justice themes. Freshly popped popcorn, soda and candy is provided. This is a great way for your student to learn outside of the classroom and make more campus connections. Both screenings/meetings will be in the Rothermel Conference Room; visitors should sign in at the front desk. Screenings include: 5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 28, “Mankiller;” and 5:30-7:30 p.m., Wednesday, March 27, “Stamped from the Beginning.”

  Admissions
  Do you know someone who would be a great addition to the Golden Bear community? Tell them to apply for admission at www.kutztown.edu/apply (use the code “GOLDEN” to waive the fee). They can stay up to date on deadlines and important information by following us on social media.

  Folds of Honor Scholarships
  VA Chapter 35 students may be eligible for this scholarship. Interested students must apply by Sunday, March 31. Military, veteran and military-affiliated students should visit our website for more information.

  Military Benefit for Students Receiving Chapter 35 VA GI Bill Benefits
  Pennsylvania’s Educational Gratuity program provides financial assistance to children of honorably discharged veterans who have service-connected disabilities and served during a period of war or armed conflict, or children of veterans who die or died in service during a period of war or armed conflict. Payment will not exceed $500 per semester per qualified child to each approved educational institution. Educational gratuity payments are paid directly to the educational institution and may not be made for longer than four scholastic years. The application process is simple. Contact veterans@kutztown.edu or call 610-683-4228 for more information.

  FAFSA
  The new FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) has arrived. We have provided some helpful tips in helping you to complete this new process. This year’s application has some challenges and we hope to mitigate those with our FAFSA Tips. You are welcome to reach out to us via Zoom, email, chat or phone. Visit our website and select your preference. Click here access FAFSA Tips.

• Equity, Compliance and Legal Affairs

  Disability Services Office
  Is your student interested in disability justice and advocacy? If so, please encourage your student(s) to contact the Disability Services Office (DSO) via email at DSO@kutztown.edu to ask to be included on our email list of disability justice and advocacy opportunities, on-campus events related to disability-awareness and inclusion, as well as opportunities to serve on student panels. We are always looking for student volunteers to assist with events.

• University Relations and Athletics

  Kutztown University Radio
  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, disc jockeying, news and promotions. For more information, email kur@kutztown.edu expressing interest or call 610-683-4059.

  Acclaimed Irish Singers Emmet Cahill and Chloë Agnew at KU
  Two of Celtic music’s biggest voices, Emmet Cahill and Chloë Agnew, will be joining forces to bring the thunder to Schaeffer Auditorium 7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 13. As one of the original members of Celtic Woman, Chloë Agnew is part Ireland’s newest creative platform ‘The X Collective.’ Celtic Thunder star Emmet Cahill has been thrilling audiences across the states for many years with powerful renditions of Broadway hits and widely adored Irish songs. Following enormous success with their respective groups, this duo celebrates Ireland's rich musical and cultural heritage, performing both solo and together. Tickets can be purchased online. KU students can access $10 tickets by logging in for tickets using their MyKU login. 

  Golden Bear Basketball
  Get your tickets for the Kutztown Golden Bears. Advance tickets are $8, $4 for seniors and non-KU students. Game day tickets are $10 and $5. Pick three games and save. KU students can access one free ticket per game by logging in for tickets using their MyKU login. KU Basketball Parents: Your student can reserve their four free player passes up to four hours before game time.

  Wrestling Regional Championships
  Kutztown University will host the 2024 NCAA Division II Super Region I Championships 10 a.m. Saturday, March 2, Keystone Arena. 11 teams will compete to determine who will qualify for the NCAA National Championships. Tickets can be purchased online in advance by clicking here. One admission price for the full day.

• KU Campus Store

  One Hour Sweatshirt Sale
  Don't miss out on getting your paws on a $18 crewneck sweatshirt Tuesday, Feb. 20; 11 a.m., KU Campus Store; 7 p.m., Dixon Marketplace. One hour and in-store only. All sales final.

  Dixon Marketplace
  Dixon Marketplace is a retail store comprised of student goods including convenience items, health and beauty aids, dorm accessories, 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.

• KU Foundation

  Connect with the KU Foundation
  Do you want to learn about the Kutztown University Foundation's impact on student scholarships, athletics and experiences? Complete this form and return it to info@kuf.org to receive communications that show the impact of philanthropy and how you can get involved to help today's students. Check out our website and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

• Dates to Know

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

  Last day for undergraduate and graduate students to apply for Spring 2024 graduation	Friday, Feb. 9
  Refunds for overpayments of Spring 2024 will start no sooner than this date	Friday, Feb. 9
  First day Financial Aid can disburse	Friday, Feb. 9
  Last day for students withdrawing from the university to receive 60% reduction in charges or refund (Spring Only)	Friday, Feb. 9
  Priority deadline for filing FAFSA (for new students)	Thursday, Feb. 15
  Due date for Late Registration billing	Friday, Feb. 16
  Last day for students withdrawing from the university to receive 50% reduction in charges or refund (Spring Only)	Friday, Feb. 16
  President’s Day – Classes Will Be Held	Monday, Feb. 19
  Last day for students withdrawing from the university to receive 40% reduction in charges or refund (Spring Only)	Friday, Feb. 23
  First day no reduction in charges or refund for university withdrawals	Saturday, Feb. 24
  Undergraduate students meet with advisors for assistance in building Fall 2024 student schedules. Web Registration by appointment March 25-28.	Feb. 26 to March 28
  On or about this date, master schedules for Fall 2024 available online for faculty.	Thursday, Feb. 29
  Last day to return Spring 2024 textbooks with a drop slip	Friday, March 1
  First round interviews for doctoral applications	Friday, March 1
  Registrar to create grade rosters for first half of classes	Wednesday, March 6
  Mid Term	Wednesday, March 6