March 2013 - Parent eNewsletter

Parent Newsletter – March 2013

•    Welcome
•    Important Dates
•    Be in the Know: Campus Information
•    Offices of Strengths and Vocation
•    Important Student Financial Information
•    Send Some Sweet Treats
•    Study Skills from the Tutorial Center

Welcome

Hello PLNU Parents!

Spring is officially here! The weather’s warming up and we are enjoying every minute of it here in sunny San Diego! We have lots of important information for you in this month’s Newsletter regarding events on campus, as well as academic opportunities.

Please be sure to click on the link below to view the full eNewsletter so that you can be in the know about all of the opportunities we have for your student! If you have any questions at all, please feel free to contact us. We are here to serve you!

Blessings! 
 
Cristy Booher
Parent Connection Manager

 

Important Dates

March 2 | Residence Halls Close (Noon)
March 4-8 | Spring Break Week (No classes)
March 10 | Residence Halls Open (Noon)
March 13 | Network 9: Biology and Chemistry
March 15-22 | Career and Internship EXPO
March 16 | Point Loma Singers-Spring Tour Concert
March 19 | Perspectives on Science with Dr. William Welsh
March 23 | Vocal Jazz Ensemble Festival Concert
March 28-April 1 | Easter Recess (No classes)

Looking Ahead:

April 2 | Perspectives on Science with Dr. Don Cleveland
April 5-6 | The Point Loma Singers Present: A Madrigal Feast
April 9-13 | Theatre Production: Little Shop of Horrors
April 11 | Practical Skills: Interviewing for a non-profit job
April 11-14 | Come to the Water Conference
April 26 | Classes End
April 29-May 3 | Final Examinations
May 4 | Graduate Convocation (10am)
May 4 | Undergraduate Convocation (1pm & 4pm)
May 5 | Residence Halls Close (3pm)

Full PLNU event calendar.
Full PLNU academic calendar.

Be in the Know

**Below are campus offerings from your student**

Don’t forget to file your 2013/2014 FAFSA! Monday, March 4th, is this year’s priority FAFSA filing deadline to be considered for a Cal Grant and other aid, so don’t delay.  Filing is easy, if you go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.  If your student has not filed their taxes already,  they can use estimated figures and revise them when they complete their taxes. Click here to watch a video made by PLNU students!

2012 1098-T Tax Forms. PLNU has partnered with ECSI to provide your student with their 1098-T tax forms.  ECSI has been providing other services to PLNU for many years, and is a trusted partner.  Students can consent to electronically receive their 1098-T Tax Forms, by following this link. With questions, call the PLNU 1098-T Hotline, at (619) 849-2799.

Cal Grant GPA Verification Form Now Available.  Cal Grant GPA Verification Forms for 2013/2014 are now available in the Student Financial Services Office, or online at the Cal Grant website. The form deadline is Saturday, March 2nd. Note: current PLNU students who have previously received a Cal Grant at PLNU do not need to complete this form. All freshmen who did not receive a Cal Grant this year must submit the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form to their high school. New transfer students must submit the Cal Grant GPA Verification Form to the institution they attended prior to PLNU.
Movie in the Greek.  Students are invited to come out to the Greek, at 8 p.m., on Thursday, March 14th, for another fun night with a movie, kettle corn, and other snacks. They should bring blankets and pillows to get cozy for this family-friendly film.

Mardi Gras Masquerade. Mark your calendar for Friday, March 22nd, because students won’t want to miss PLNU’s first Mardi Gras Masquerade. Taking place on the Adventure Hornblower, this night is guaranteed to be a time of fun, with music, munchies, and masks! So, students should save up $15 for their ticket, thrift some fancy attire, and get ready to dance on deck while cruising the San Diego Bay.

Shadow a lawyer. Is your student thinking about a legal career? This is a very special opportunity to shadow an alumni attorney. Only five spots are available, and the deadline is Monday, March 4th, so they should apply now! The application is online, and students may contact Dr. McCoy, at kmccoy@pointloma.edu, with questions.

Movie in the Greek.  Students are invited to come out to the Greek, at 8 p.m., on Thursday, March 14th, for another fun night with a movie (Wreck-it-Ralph), kettle corn, and other snacks. They should bring blankets and pillows to get cozy for this family-friendly film.

Spring Break! Don’t forget that Spring Break is next Monday, March 4th, through Friday, March 8th.

ASB is hiring! Does your student want to help out with planning or publicizing ASB activities, or promoting school spirit? If so, they should go to www.pointloma.edu/GetInvolved for more information, and to grab an application. Positions are available for Activities Coordinators, Campus Activities Board Members, Publicity Coordinators, and a Coordinator of School Spirit. All positions offer stipends for $1,000 per semester. Applications are due on Friday, March 15th, at 4:30 p.m., so be sure to apply as soon as possible!

Need to Get Away? Does your student need to see themselves on the other side of the world this summer or fall? The deadline is approaching for Summer and Fall 2013, on Friday, March 15th. Use this Spring Break to talk with your student and begin the study abroad application process. Visit the study abroad website, or contact studyabroad@pointloma.edu, for further information.

Off-Campus Summer School Courses. Is your student planning on taking a summer course at another college or university? They should be sure to stop by the Records Office with the course description, to fill out a course approval form before the end of the spring semester. Online courses will also require a copy (one per student) of the online syllabus. Note: some departments do not approve online courses. If courses are not pre-approved, you may not receive the credit you anticipated. Please make sure the course is being offered where you plan to take summer school prior to bringing in your course description.

 

Have you got SEALION spirit?

Games this week:

Women’s Tennis vs. Villanova, Saturday, March 2nd, at 1 p.m.—Tennis Courts

Women’s Basketball vs. Dixie State (Utah), Saturday, March 2nd, at 2 p.m.—Golden Gym

Men’s Basketball vs. Dixie State (Utah), Saturday, March 2nd, at 4 p.m.—Golden Gym

Men’s Tennis vs. Villanova, Saturday, March 2nd, at 4 p.m.—Tennis Courts

 

 

Offices of Strengths and Vocation

Spring Is In The Air!

The birds are chirping, flowers are beginning to bloom, and the weather is getting warmer!   Spring is quickly approaching, and your s

tudent’s attention will soon be drawn to those relaxing days called Spring Break.  As always, any time away from the demands of college should be used to re-energize, to spend special time with friends and family or to serve on a short-term missions trip.  But this year with spring break scheduled for March 4 – 8, this is just two short weeks before our Career Expo, so along with taking time for reflection and refreshment, this is valuable time for your student to prepare for this career event.

In previous newsletters, we have discussed important ways in which your student can plan and be equipped for the life transition from college to career.  Those same strategies will benefit them for this career fair.  They include encouraging your student to:

•    create a résumé or fine tune the one they have
•    develop a LinkedIn profile as this is vital to discovering inside connections for future employment opportunities
•    research companies they are interested in working for and those that are registered for the Career Expo
•    visit our office before the Career Expo to seek guidance with these activities and more!

The Career Expo is scheduled for Friday, March 15 – Thursday, March 21. Specific industries will be highlighted each day.  Currently we have 30 companies representing 8 industries participating over the 6 days.  Several of the companies registered to attend are Scripps Healthcare, Enterprise, Insurance Company of the West, AT&T, and 24 Hour Fitness.  A complete list of companies and additional information about this event is available on our website. 

The Career Expo is going to give your student a chance to meet with top employers in the industries they are seeking, in a much more intimate setting.  The companies are offering opportunities for both employment and internships.  Your student will want to dress in business attire to meet with these hiring professionals whether they are graduating and interested in a full-time position or a continuing student needing to obtain a summer job or internship.  Wherever your student is in their college experience, this Career Expo is the right time to connect with professionals interested in meeting with them!

Spring break is definitely a time to rejuvenate and recharge, but it is also an opportune time for your student to be engaged in those activities which will enhance their career preparation whether they are a freshman, sophomore, junior or senior.  Encourage your student to complete the strategies mentioned above and attend the Career Expo!

Follow Us!       @OSVatPLNU

 

Student Financial Information

Important Student Financial Services Dates

March 4        2013/2014 FAFSA Priority Deadline
March 15        Financial Holds Placed on Delinquent Accounts
April 2            Priority Registration begins for fall 2013
April 12            SFS Named Scholarship Application due

FAFSA PRIORITY DEADLINE

The 2013/2014 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA – www.fafsa.gov) priority deadline is March 4th, 2013.  Meeting this deadline ensures that your student will be considered for the most aid possible for the 2013/2014 academic year.  If you haven’t yet filed your taxes for the 2012 tax year, you can always use estimated figures to meet the priority filing deadline and just update your FAFSA once you’ve filed your taxes.  Feel free to contact us if you have any information about filing a FAFSA.  You can also click here to watch a video made by PLNU students promoting the FAFSA!

FINANCIAL HOLDS

Financial Holds will be placed on all delinquent accounts on March 15th.  This hold will prevent registration for any subsequent semesters, and will prevent participation in on-campus housing room draws.  Note that pending aid will not be taken into account, so please be sure to have your student follow up on any sources of pending aid to ensure that it posts prior to March 15th. 

GRADUATING STUDENTS

Is your student participating in Commencement this Spring?  Congratulations, you made it!  In order to pick up caps and gowns and participate in commencement, your student’s account balance must be paid in full.  Please contact us if you have any questions about your student’s account.

2013-14 SFS NAMED SCHOLARSHIP

The SFS Named Scholarship application allows current students to apply for multiple endowed scholarship funds with one simple, on-line application. The application will be available through the student portal by mid March and all students will be sent an email notification once the application is made available.  The due date for the application is April 12, 2013. Your student can also talk to his/her academic department to see what departmental scholarships may be available.

 1098-T TAX FORMS

PLNU has contracted with ECSI to provide 1098-Ts electronically for 2012, and these tax forms are now available through your student’s portal.  Form 1098-T is a tax summary issued by PLNU to all students registered during a specified tax year, and includes tuition and required fees, adjustments made for prior years, and scholarships or grants received by the student.  Room and Board, living expenses, and textbook costs are not included.

Information on Form 1098-T is reported to the IRS and can be used by students to claim certain tax credits or deductions.  More information is available on our 1098-T telephone line: (619) 849-2799.

To view and print the 1098-T, students will login to the student portal and click on the “Students” tab.
•    Click on “Financial Services”
•    Click on “1098-T” on the left hand side navigation bar.
•    Follow the instructions to access the 1098-T tax form through ECSI’s website.

If you run into any difficulties, please call ECSI at (866)428-1098.

Note that Box 2 of your 1098-T will reflect amounts billed for qualified tuition and related expenses during the 2012 calendar year.  Box 1 should be blank.  We recommend that you provide this form to your tax preparer, as neither PLNU nor ECSI is able to provide you with any tax advice.

If you have any questions regarding your student’s statement of account, please feel free to contact the Student Financial Services Office at (619)849-2538 Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM- 5:00 PM and Friday 8:30 AM- 4:30 PM or by email at sfs@pointloma.edu.  We are here to serve you!

 

Send a Celebration Treat!  

Point Loma Nazarene University Women’s Auxiliary

Would you like to send your student some homemade desserts? For a $25 donation, the Women’s Auxiliary of PLNU will lovingly bake homemade cakes, cookies, or brownies and have them delivered right to your student’s residence hall!

You can order and pay online at www.pointloma.edu/cake.

Proceeds from this fundraiser are going toward Women’s Auxiliary’s fundraising efforts to fulfill the wish lists of each residence hall.  They will be working on projects like putting in bike racks, kitchen upgrades, purchasing printers, adding dehumidifiers, and so much more.  So, it is a double benefit for your student!
Please note:  Two weeks advanced notice is appreciated.

If you have any questions, please feel free to call Mary De Luca at 858-461-1640.

Study Skills: Tutorial Center

Keys to Testing Success
1.      Read questions and directions carefully; read directions twice.
2.      Answer easy questions first, and plan time to come back to the more difficult.
3.      Pay attention to the wording of questions, especially qualifiers such as “if,” “except,” “always,” “never,” “most,” “least,” or words that create a negative  statement.
4.      Choose the best possible answer.
5.      Re-read each question after answering it.
6.      Only change an answer if you realize that you misunderstood the question, or miswrote or omitted important information.
7.      Answer every question and write legibly.
8.      Plan your use of time for essay exams to allow some proofreading.
9.      Know how much you can write; make a brief outline or list of information to help you organize your essay answers.
10.  Compose each essay paragraph with a clear topic sentence and supporting details.
11.  After you finish writing, re-read the essay question and your answer to make sure your answer clearly responds to the full question.

 

Hours: MONDAY-THURSDAY 8 a.m.- 5 p.m. and 6 - 9 p.m., FRIDAY 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
The Tutorial Center is located in Bond Academic Center next to Study Abroad Office. Stop by and make a FREE tutoring appointment today. Or call us at X2593 or e-mail us at tutorialservices@pointloma.edu for more information!