June 2023

Volume 5, Issue 11

• Academic Affairs

  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.

  Starfish
  Fall 2023 incoming freshmen, transfer students and returning students can log in to Starfish with their KU login and password. Students can use the “I Need Help” feature to ask questions or connect with a Student Success Coordinator in their Success Network. Student Success Coordinators are available to provide students with accurate information and help students navigate KU resources.

  Tutoring Services
  Tutoring Services is recruiting peer tutors, academic peer mentors and first-year experience guides for Fall 2023. 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 success@kutztown.edu.

  TRIO Student Support Services Program
  Did you know that KU has a TRIO Student Support Services Program (SSSP) to assist first-generation college students? The TRIO SSSP assists students with resources, advising and preparation for college and beyond. Students are eligible if they are first-generation college students and income eligible. First generation is defined as neither parent having a four-year college degree. For more information and to apply electronically, please visit www.kutztown.edu/trio. Questions may be directed to 610-683-1347.

  Career Development Center
  Summer break is a great time for students to work on their career development. Job shadowing, informational interview and working to gain related experiences can all happen during this time. Encourage your student to think about what they can do to prepare themselves for a career they will love. We host student appointments during the summer, so encourage your student to schedule one. Appointments are made through Handshake at www.kutztown.edu/handshake.

  Art Education Department
  Alessandra (Allie) Fanelli (M.A., Arts Administration) has known she wanted to be on stage since watching Rent on DVD as a child. She used the Graduate Capstone as a springboard to question and proactively address how community theaters can protect, engage and empower performers. A certified theater intimacy director and with the support of academic research in addition to her own experiences, Allie developed her Performance to Pillars program. She has successfully presented four times to actors, directors and producers using improvisational activities and discussions about establishing context, staging intimacy and communicating closure. Allie has also begun staging intimacy scenes for numerous productions. Bringing everything full circle, Allie was a contest finalist to perform with Anthony Rapp, who originated the role of Mark Cohen in Rent on Broadway. Allie met Rapp thanks to the connections she made while developing her intimacy program. Congratulations to Allie and all the arts administration graduates.

• Finance and Facilities

  Spring 2023 Balances
  Some students still owe money from the 2023 Spring 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. Housing residence hall damages have been assessed to all students. If there are questions on this charge, please reach out to Housing directly – the Student Accounts office is unable to accept appeals. Charges are due June 7.

  Fall 2023 Tuition, Fees, Housing and Meals Billing
  Tuition rates have not been set for the upcoming year. This will likely occur in mid-July. In the meantime, we do have an estimating tool sheet on our Guide for First Time Students that all students can use to estimate their costs outside of their aid package. This page is a great resource to determine if you want or need the payment plan or if you need to apply for additional loans such as Parent PLUS loans or Alternative loans.

  Billing will occur mid-July with a due date of Aug. 4. 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 approximately 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 to avoid late fees or notices.

  Locating Bills Online When Available
  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 – Apply in June
  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 co-signer (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 2023 to May 2024, and 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, visit our website. You can also get more information by calling Financial Aid Services at 610-683-4077.

  Aid Eligibility/Progress
  If a student has lost their access to federal aid due to not meeting the minimum requirements, the student will only have the option to look at Alternative loans – Parent Plus Loans is federal aid. The minimum requirements for federal aid are a cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher and a completion rate of 66.67%. Questions on this matter can be directed to 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 towards 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 2023 Payment Plans
  Payment Plans remain open for 2023 Fall semester charges. The five-payment plan ends June 8, 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 needed should a surprise scholarship show up or the bill increases 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).

  Guide for First Time Students (Freshman, Transfer and Graduate)
  We have a webpage dedicated to new students covering finances, bills, aid and more. There is an orientation video that includes details explaining 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.

  Parking Permits
  Student vehicle registration will open in early August for the upcoming school year.

• Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

  Dining Selection
  Self-service dining plan selection for returning students is open until Tuesday, June 20. After June 20, students can email kudiningservices@kutztown.edu to make a request to add, change or remove a Fall 2023 meal plan. For our incoming students, self-service dining selection opens Monday, July 3, and closes Monday, July 17. To self-select a meal plan, students can use their KU credentials and login to mykuhousing.kutztown.edu. Visit our website for details on KU dining and meal plans or email us if you have any questions at kudiningservices@kutztown.edu.

• Equity, Compliance and Legal Affairs

  Disability Services
  Disability Services Office (DSO) staff will be attending all summer orientation sessions for incoming freshmen and transfer students. To ensure confidentiality and privacy, DSO staff will not accept physical documentation during KU orientations. Instead, documentation can be uploaded on the DSO website, sent to the DSO via email at DSO@kutztown.edu, faxed to the DSO at 610-683-1520, or documentation can be dropped off in person to the DSO in 215 Stratton Administration Center for review.

• University Relations and Athletics

  Be An Advocate for Funding KU and PASSHE
  The Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) is requesting a state-funding package that provides an inflationary increase of $21 million (3.8%) that – in combination with $112 million in targeted student support – would strategically increase financial aid for students preparing for jobs with worker shortages (teachers, nursing and physician assistants, social services, business and STEM fields, including computer science and engineering). Governor Shapiro’s initial budget provided a 2% increase with no additional student support. The State System will continue to advocate for public higher education in Pennsylvania and has created resources for parents to help toward the cause. The online Advocacy Resource Center includes a ready-to-print, two-page document that outlines the State System’s needs and how it will benefit the commonwealth. As the budget nears its completion June 30, please consider using this document and become an advocate for KU and the State System.

• KU Campus Store

  Inclusive Access – Course Materials
  Inclusive Access is a collaboration between your professor, KU Campus Store, the Office of Student Accounts and publishers to provide required course materials at a significantly reduced cost. When a professor makes the decision to participate in this program, all students registered for the class automatically receive access to these materials digitally, on the first day of class. For your convenience, you will be billed for your materials on your MyKU account. For more information, visit https://kubstore.com/access-success.

• KU Foundation

  Celebrate Your KU Student’s Experience with a Year-End Gift
  Last month, the Class of 2023 crossed the academic finish line and received their diplomas at commencement. KU graduates are walking into the world prepared and confident. 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.

• 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 1-27
  Last day for students withdrawing from the University to receive 80% reduction in charges or refund (Summer Session I Only).	Thursday, June 1
  Last day to drop a course with 100% reduction or refund ends at midnight. No reduction of charges or refunds for individual courses after midnight (Summer 10 Week Only).	Thursday, June 1
  Deadline to add/drop a Summer Session 10-Week course at midnight without receiving a grade of “W”.	Thursday, June 1
  Summer Session 10 week “W” period.	June 2 to July 31
  Make-up classes will be held for Summer Session 1.	Saturday, June 3
  Last day to set up a five-payment plan for Fall 2023 semester in MyKU > Payment Dashboard (subject to change).	Sunday, June 4
  Last day for students withdrawing from the University to receive 60% reduction in charges or refund (Summer Session I Only).	Monday, June 5
  Refunds for overpayments of Summer Session I will begin no sooner than this date (subject to change).	Tuesday, June 6
  First day Financial Aid can disburse for Summer Session I (subject to change).	Tuesday, June 6
  Last day for students withdrawing from the University to receive 80% reduction in charges or refund (Summer 10 Week only).	Tuesday, June 6
  Last day for students withdrawing from the University to receive 50% reduction in charges or refund (Summer Session I Only).	Tuesday, June 6
  Last day for students withdrawing from the University to receive 40% reduction in charges or refund (Summer Session I Only).	Thursday, June 8
  Last day for Undergraduate and Graduate students to apply for Summer Session I 2023 graduation.	Friday, June 9
  First day no reduction in charges or refund for University withdrawals (Summer Session I Only).	Friday, June 9
  Make-up classes will be held for Summer Session 1.	Saturday, June 10
  Last day for students withdrawing from the University to receive 60% reduction in charges or refund (Summer 10 Week only).	Monday, June 12
  Last day for students withdrawing from the University to receive 50% reduction in charges or refund (Summer 10 Week only).	Thursday, June 15
  Juneteenth Holiday - University Closed.	Monday, June 19
  Last day for students withdrawing from the University to receive 40% reduction in charges or refund (Summer 10 Week only).	Thursday, June 22
  First day no reduction in charges or refund for University withdrawals (Summer 10 Week only).	Friday, June 23
  Deadline to withdrawal from a Summer Session I, 2023 course and receive a grade of “W”. There is no withdrawal from individual courses after this date.	Tuesday, June 27