June 2022

Volume 4, Issue 11

• Academic Affairs

  Fall 2022 Recruitment
  Tutoring Services is currently recruiting peer tutors and academic peer mentors for Fall 2022. If your student is interested in this employment opportunity, please have them complete the Tutoring Services Employment Application. If your student has questions, 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.

  Success Academy
  KU’s Success Academy is designed to show new students how to achieve their educational goals during their freshman year. The Success Academy is free and takes place Aug. 24-26 (a few days before the start of the fall semester). Students can register at www.kutztown.edu/studentsuccess. If you have any questions, contact R. Chad Brown, assistant director for Student Success and Academic Excellence at cbrown@kutztown.edu.

  KU Succeed
  KU Succeed is an academic recovery program designed to help students return to good academic standing by providing a framework for academic success. This framework includes skill-building seminars, mentoring and educational and personal advising. If your student would like to participate, they can register at www.kutztown.edu/studentsuccess. If you have any questions, contact R. Chad Brown, assistant director for Student Success and Academic Excellence at cbrown@kutztown.edu.

  Kutztown University Writing Center - Fall 2022
  Parents of KU Bears: 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. 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/. Direct any questions to: wrcenter@kutztown.edu or pytleski@kutztown.edu.

• Administration and Finance

  Spring 2022 Balances
  Some students still owe money from the Spring 2022 semester, either from ID replacement fees, forgotten parking fines, residence hall damages and more. While small, these balances may still be assessed a late fee and result in a hold on the account based on the age of the debt. Please check MyKU to ensure all spring (and summer) charges are paid. Fall aid cannot pay spring or summer charges. MyKU > KU Financial Account tile > Payment Dashboard

  Fall 2022 Tuition, Fees, Housing and Meals Billing
  Tuition rates are set for next academic year and will be updated on the website shortly. As you may have heard, tuition and the tuition technology fee will remain the same as in 2021-22; however, some other required fees, housing and meal plans may have increased. The bill will not be the same as last year.

  Billing will occur mid July with a due date of Aug. 5. Online bills will include tuition, required fees, on-campus housing and meals based on the student’s enrollment/selection as of that day (changes can affect charges and aid). Remember, only pending aid will reduce the amount due on the bill. Aid that is not in pending status (i.e., awarded aid or loans not yet certified) may require action and will not be considered as a valid payment type reducing charges due. Undergraduate students having 12-18 credits of enrollment will see the same tuition line item, although required fees may change based on course selections and the method of instruction. After July 12, please don’t forget the Intent to Attend tile in MyKU (the double sized tile). Billing help is found here.

  Lastly, amounts due and balances will fluctuate as professors select or adjust their inclusive access items – you will want to watch the account periodically for any additional charges that show up as to avoid late fees or notices.

  Locating the Bills Online
  MyKU > KU Financial Account tile > Payment Dashboard > Statements – if the statements are not viewed within seven days of the notice, a second reminder email is sent. Any payment plans that you may have set up – will be on page two or three and you can easily compare the amount due on the bill to the amount left on the plan to see if the plan is still sufficient. You may need to increase or decrease the plan. For those changes that occur to aid or charges after the billing, you can now get an updated statement in the Your Account box prior to the next month’s bill, most recent activity link. Payment Plan How-To’s are found here.

  Additional Funding Options
  Many students will need additional funding after their awarded aid package from the FAFSA completion. Some will pay the difference; some will use a payment plan (see below) and some will use additional loans. Additional loans should be applied for now so that Financial Aid Services will have time to certify the loan and allow it to show on the fall bills, thereby reducing the charges due. Don’t wait to apply on the due date, as it can take up to two weeks for a loan to be certified.

  • Alternative Loans are loans in a student’s name with a credit-worthy cosigner (some even have a parent option now). These can take up to two weeks to show as pending aid in MyKU.
  • Parent PLUS loans are loans in a parent’s name they take to help a student.  Approvals and denials (parent denials may offer students some additional Stafford Loans). These can take up to two weeks to show as pending on the account.

  Interest does not start until the funds are disbursed (i.e., September and February). Apply for the full school year now, loan period August 2022 to May 2023, Financial Aid will split the loan in half for you. You can easily reduce the loans later by completing a loan change form once the actual charges are on the account and you see all of the figures in one place.

  For more information on additional funding options click here. You can also get more information by calling Financial Aid Services at 610-683-4077.

  Pending and Awarded Aid – The Difference
  Once the FAFSA is completed, an aid package is prepared for a student by Financial Aid Services. This is awarded aid. This aid will not reduce charges on a bill at this point. To move from awarded aid to pending aid, students must complete all requirements, such as verification if selected, Master Promissory Note and Entrance Counseling (if not already completed at KU), submitted their final high school transcript, be enrolled in courses and lastly, the student must be eligible for aid (financial aid progress). Only aid that is shown as pending or anticipated will be considered as payment toward the charges due. Check to see if the student owes any items to financial aid or other areas regularly. MyKU > KU Tasks tile – click on the blue line To Do’s for more details on what’s needed and who to contact for help.

  Fall 2022 Payment Plans
  Payment plans remain open for the fall 2022 semester charges. The five-payment plan ends June 5, when the plan will become a four-payment plan for a month and then it will be a three-payment plan. Take advantage now if you can. A student can sign up for a plan now and adjust the plan later once the actual bills are prepared. There is no fee to increase or decrease the plans as need should a surprise scholarship show up or the bill increase due to a housing change, for example. MyKU > KU Financial Account tile > Payment Dashboard > Payment Plans.

  Payers – Third Party Dashboard Access
  Students can grant their parents (or other third party) their own access to the Payment Dashboard including getting the billing emails and even billing texts as to not solely rely on the students to share their notice. Students go to MyKU > KU Financial Account tile > Payment Dashboard > My Account > Payer. Send a payer invitation (this is different from FERPA access).

  Contact Method
  Please know that while we are on campus, we still encourage emails as our best and quickest way to lend assistance as we can share links and information. If you prefer a phone call – call 610-683-4133. We wish you and your family good health and a wonderful summer.

  Guide for First-Time Students
  We have a webpage dedicated to new students covering finances, bills, aid and more. There is a video that details orientation like items including a lesson on how aid works.  Anyone can benefit from this 15-minute video. There are also wonderful handouts you will find helpful. Take a few minutes and check it out today.

• Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

  Family Day 2022
  Parents and families should mark their calendar for Kutztown University's annual Family Day, Saturday, Sept. 24. For questions, please contact blichar@kutztown.edu.

  Financial Aid
  Summer is upon us and as usual, July is very busy for the Financial Aid Office. We encourage you to reach out to our office early to avoid longer response times either with phone calls or email. If your student was selected for verification, log on to www.kutztown.verifymyfafsa.org and complete the requested items. If students are accepting their Direct Stafford loans, they must complete the Loan Entrance counseling and Master Promissory Note (MPN) at https://studentaid.gov using their FSA ID and password. Check our website for all the options to communicate with us.

• Equity, Compliance and Legal Affairs

  Human Resources
  KU is a great place for your students to learn and grow, but did you know our beautiful campus is also a great place to work? Eligible employees are offered excellent benefits, career growth and development opportunities and tuition waiver. Current opportunities are listed on our website. Apply now.

  Data shows that students who work on campus retain at a much higher rate than other students. Students who work on campus learn valuable skills and earn extra money under flexible schedules that accommodate their class schedules and academic needs, while building strong connections with staff and faculty. Student job opportunities are listed in Handshake. Students working on campus for the first time will need to complete payroll paperwork and background checks and present I-9 documents, so your student will need to bring their original passport or Social Security card or birth certificate to Human Resources before they can begin to work.

  Disability Services Office (DSO)
  A friendly reminder from the Disability Services Office (DSO) that accommodation letters for summer courses will be available to send to professors via MyKU one week before the start of each summer session. Please encourage your students to check their KU email for instructions on how to send electronic accommodation letters to summer course professors. Any questions about summer accommodations should be directed to the DSO at 610-683-4108 or DSO@kutztown.edu.

  Parents of incoming freshman and transfer students: now is the time to start the Accommodation Request Process. Please visit www.kutztown.edu/DSO and select “Requesting Accommodations” then “Student Accommodations” to review the process for requesting accommodations (academic, housing and dining). If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the DSO at 610-683-4108 or DSO@kutztown.edu.

  Public Safety and Police Services
  The Kutztown University Department of Public Safety and Police Services would like to welcome Officer Samuel Willis to the Kutztown University campus and Berks County community. Officer Willis is a graduate of the Delaware County Community College Police Academy and came to us from the West Chester University Police Department, where he was a dispatcher in their communications center. He was sworn in May 20, by the Honorable Judge Gail Greth, who presided over the “Oath of Office” ceremony. Please introduce yourself and welcome Officer Willis to our campus community.

• Housing and Dining

  Community Receptionists
  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 to 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 here Community Assistant.

  Meal Plan Selection
  Fall 2022 Meal Plan self selection for our returning students closes June 20. Any returning students who would like to add, change or remove a meal plan for Fall 2022 after the June 20 deadline will have to reach out to kudiningservices@kutztown.edu to make that request. For our incoming new students, meal plan selection for Fall 2022 opens Tuesday, July 5, and runs until Monday, July 18. New students should monitor their email the week before July 5 for instructions.

• University Relations and Athletics

  KU Men’s Rugby Wins First National Championship
  Tournament Most Valuable Player Mate Kvirikashvili registered his second game-winning try of the day with less than two minutes remaining as the Kutztown University men's rugby team capped off a dream spring sevens season in New Orleans. With the Golden Bears' 17-12 victory over Dartmouth in the Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) Men's Premier National Cup Final, they claimed the first national championship in program history. Read the full recap online.

• KU Campus Store

  Why purchase from KU Campus Store?
  As a nonprofit affiliate of KU, our priority is student success and retention. Savings up to 80% off the price of new with a large selection of rental, used and digital materials is available with a full refund for materials in original condition throughout the add/drop period. We contribute our surplus to student scholarships, activities and campus athletics. Our goal is for students to have access to the most affordable course materials available to support their academic success.

• KU Foundation

  Celebrate Your KU Student’s Experience with a Year-End Gift
  Last month, the Class of 2022 crossed the academic finish line and received their diplomas at commencement. KU graduates are walking into the world prepared and confident and many would not have had the opportunity to attend college without the support of generous donors.

  We are grateful to the thousands of individuals who supported scholarships, enrichment, athletics, emergency funds and more. As this fiscal year comes to a close, we ask you to consider making a gift to the KU Annual Fund, Helping Paws Emergency Fund or an area most meaningful to you.

  Thank you for leading with generosity and creating a culture of philanthropy at KU. Your support makes a difference.

• Campus Affiliates

  Extra Cash from PSECU
  Start the summer with some extra cash in your pocket. PSECU is offering up to $250 when you join and meet promo requirements. Simply Join PSECU using promo code: UPTO250UD. Add a free checking account with a debit card plus digital banking for a $100 bonus. Establish qualifying direct deposit(s) for an additional $150 bonus. Click here for full rules and application. Family members are eligible to join if their student is a member of PSECU.

  If your student is new to Kutztown University, they can join PSECU during summer orientation. They will be able to apply this promotion plus an event-only incentive. Students must bring their driver’s license or state ID and should know their Social Security number to apply. Students under 18 should bring a copy of their Social Security card and are not eligible for any PSECU promotions. Contact the PSECU office at 610-894-4814 with any questions.

• Dates to Know

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

  Summer Session I "W" Period	June 2-20
  Make up classes held (Summer Session 1)	Friday, June 3
  Add/Drop Deadline (Summer Session 10 week)	Monday, June 6
  First Day Aid disburses - Summer Session I	Monday, June 6
  100% Refund Period Ends (Summer Session 10 week)	Monday, June 6
  60% Refund Period Ends (Summer Session 1)	Monday, June 6
  Summer I Refunds	Monday, June 6
  Summer Session 10 week "W" Period	June 7-July 29
  80% Refund Period Ends (Summer Session 10 week)	Tuesday, June 7
  50% Refund Period Ends (Summer Session I)	Tuesday, June 7
  40% Refund Period Ends (Summer Session I)	Thursday, June 9
  Summer I - Graduation Application Deadline	Friday, June 10
  First Day No Reduction in Charges Refund (Summer Session I)	Friday, June 10
  Make up classes held (Summer Session 1)	Friday, June 10
  60% Refund Period Ends (Summer Session 10 week)	Monday, June 13
  Spring 2022 Graduate List sent to University Relations	Monday, June 13
  50% Refund Period Ends (Summer Session 10 week)	Thursday, June 16
  Juneteenth Holiday	Sunday, June 19
  Deadline to Withdraw "W" from a Summer Session I course.	Monday, June 20
  Juneteenth Holiday Observed - University Closed	Monday, June 20
  40% Refund Period Ends (Summer Session 10 week)	Wednesday, June 22
  First Day No Reduction in Charges Refund (Summer Session 10 week)	Thursday, June 23