September 2012 - Parent eNewsletter
• Welcome
• Important Dates
• New Student Orientation Survey and Family Photos
• Be in the Know: Campus Information
• Offices of Strengths and Vocation
• Important Student Financial Information
• Send Some Sweet Treats
• Study Skills for a New Semester
Welcome
Hello Parents,
Here we are at the beginning of the fall semester! All PLNU staff and faculty on campus are completely overjoyed to have our new students and returning students on campus. The fall semester is in full force and we are truly enjoying the buzz in the air. So, it is with great joy that we start up the Parent eNewsletter again for the first time this semester.
This month’s Parent eNewsletter is stuffed with all kinds of important information, but please be sure to note the NSO Parent Survey and the NSO Family Photo information for the parents of new students. We would love for you to take the time to take the survey in the coming week.
It is my hope that this Parent eNewsletter will be a valuable place for any and all resources that you may need throughout your student’s time at PLNU. So, please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions you may have throughout the year. Afterall, we are here for you!
Sincerely,
Cristy Booher
Parent Connection Manager
Important Dates
September 12 – Study Abroad: Study Abroad Fair
September 13 – OSV: Meet Professionals in Sustainability
September 14 – Christian Family Night at Six Flags Magic Mountain
September 17 – Departmental Chapel
September 18 – FBEI: Professional Development Event
September 21 – John Reynolds’ Jazz Quintet Concert
September 24-28 – Renewal Week
September 26 – Study Abroad: London Semester Essentials Meeting
September 27 – OSV: Network 9-Communication and Theater
October 2 – FBEI: Entrepreneur Enrichment EXPO
October 3 – OSV: Major Minute Networking Reception
October 3 – School of Education & Biology: Info Event
October 4 – OSV: Network 9-Literature, Journalism, and Modern Languages
October 5 – Jazz Band and Vocal Jazz Ensemble Concert
October 6 – School of Nursing: MSN Information Event
October 8-16 – OSV: EXPO Days
October 26-28 – Family Weekend
November 14-18 – Homecoming!
November 15 – FBEI: Economic Outlook Forum
For the full PLNU event calendar, please visit www.pointloma.edu/calendar.
New Student Orientation Survey and Family Photos
Attention Parents of New Students!
We would greatly appreciate your feedback about your personal experience at New Student Orientation. Please follow the link below to share your thoughts.
NSO Survey: https://pointloma.us.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_dfYIV1kCMKcRmCx
NSO Family Photos:
We know that you have been waiting for your family photos from New Student Orientation. Please follow the link listed below to the NSO Flickr page. You will then find sets of photos that are organized by your check-in time. So, please find your check-in time and that set will have your family photo. Once you have located your photo you will be able to download the photo.
NSO Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/plnu_nso/sets/
To Download:
• Select the photo set titled with your check-in time.
• Find your family photo and click on it to view your photo only.
• Right click on your photo and in the “View all sizes” column, select the size you would like to download (Recommend: Original).
• Once the new size of your photo opens, select “Download the … size of this photo”
• Choose the location that you would like to save the photo and follow prompts to complete the download.
• You can then have your photo printed at your local photo printing store or at your own printer.
Be in the Know
Lunch-4-A-Buck. Commuters, come join us for an all-you-can-eat at the cafeteria for one buck! Bring yourself and your dollar on Wednesday, September 5th, from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Colorado River Canoe Trip. A three-day canoe/camp trip, from September 14th-16th, near the Hoover Dam, will explore the stretch of the river that is notorious for its hot springs and hot waterfalls. This is a trip for all levels of canoe-ers, but will require a bit of strong paddling upstream the first day. Several experienced guides will be leading the trip and will be able to give paddling lessons. One and a half days of canoeing will be complimented with one night at a campground and one night on the river’s shore. Sign up at www.plnuoutdoor.org or at the ARC.
Homecoming Variety Show Auditions: Got Talent? Music, comedy, whistling like a boss, jump roping, and anything else that falls under awesome…we want to see it! Start practicing NOW—we want the most entertaining student acts out there to audition for Variety Show 2012. Auditions will be held on October 25th, with the performance coming up on November 16th. Contact bethanydenney@pointloma.edu for more information or questions. Limited audition time slots are available, so lock in your audition now. Click here to sign up! To see photos from last year’s variety show, visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/plnualumni/sets/72157628434944537/.
Free, on-campus heart screening event. The Eric Paredes Save a Life Foundation is partnering with PLNU to sponsor this event and bring awareness about the danger of sudden cardiac arrest and other heart conditions in young people. Free cardiac screenings are regularly held by EP Save a Life at high schools throughout Southern California, providing free EKGs and even ECHOs for those who would benefit from further testing. The event to be held a Point Loma will be open to all students and faculty on October 6th, 2012 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Kinesiology classrooms 1, 2, and 3. For students who are not yet 18, a parent consent form is required and can be found at epasavealife.org. For further information or questions, please contact Heidi Ness at heidiness1990@pointloma.edu.
Cheer Squad tryouts. Are you looking to be part of a team that has energy, spirit, and dedication? Can you dance, tumble, or stunt?
If so, the famous Sea Lion Cheer Squad may be the place for you! Come to the information meeting on Thursday, August 30th at 4:30 p.m. on the second floor of the dining hall in Robinson. Visit http://www.pointloma.edu/experience/community/student-life/student-activities-and-leadership-opportunities/associated-student-body/clubs-and-societies for more information or contact ayannadiaz720@pointloma.edu.
Check out PLNU Jobs and Internships! Log on to your portal, look under the Employment section, and click on the appropriate link.
Last day to add classes! The last day to add Quad I classes is Tuesday, September 4th. The last day to add semester-long (15-week) classes is September 7th.
Last day to change grading type! The last day to change your elective grading type to pass/no credit is coming up at the start of September. Tuesday, September 4th is the last day for Quad I classes and Friday, September 7th for semester-long (15-week) classes. You must pick up the Change of Schedule form in the Records Office to complete this process.
Grad checks. Attention juniors and seniors: get your application in early to reserve a meeting time with the Records Office. Meetings for grad checks will begin on September 10th, so to reserve a time please get your application in as soon as possible. You can find the grad check application in the Records Office Forms link.
Study Abroad Info Sessions. Are you interested in studying abroad at some point during your time at PLNU? If so, you should check out a Study Abroad Info Session! These are held daily at 4 p.m. in the Study Abroad Office. We hand out study abroad program information, go over the application process, and answer any questions you may have. We hope to see you at an Info Session soon! The Study Abroad Office is located on the south side of Bond Academic Center in the Academic Support Center. Look for our blue directional sign outside! Visit www.pointloma.edu/studyabroad or contact studyabroad@pointloma.edu for further information or with questions.
Check out our new online catalog! The Records Office catalog is now available for viewing online. View the new catalog at http://catalog.pointloma.edu/ and make yourself familiar with all of its nifty new features!
Intramural Sign-Ups: Fall Leagues. Intramural leagues are now forming! Sign-ups for fall intramural leagues are outside the cafeteria during lunch hours until Tuesday, September 11th. Fall sports/activities include co-ed volleyball (power and recreation), co-ed softball, women’s soccer, co-ed ultimate Frisbee, 3 on 3 basketball, tennis, aerobics, and yoga. Check the gym calendar for open gym, weight room, and tennis court hours. Also, check out the PLNU Intramural website at http://www.plnusealions.com/sports/2012/7/12/INTRAMURALS.aspx or the PLNU Intramural Facebook site, http://www.facebook.com/PLNUintramurals, for more information. Contact Alisa Ward at alisaward@pointloma.edu with any questions you may have.
Guitar Classes on campus. Learn to play, or improve your skills, in a one unit course. Class Guitar 1 (MUA 151) is a beginning course covering the basics, while Class Guitar 2 (MUA 152) is a continuation of Class Guitar 1 and is for those students with some experience. Private Lessons (MUA 163) are also available for beginners to advanced players, all styles. With questions, or to sign up, contact Miles Moynier at mmoynier@hotmail.com or 619-659-0577.
Ryan Library’s new hours. You spoke- we heard. Beginning this fall, the demand for more library hours has been answered. Ryan Library’s new hours for this school year are:
Monday - Thursday: 7 a.m. - 1 a.m.
Friday: 7 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Sunday: 1 p.m. - midnight
To view the Ryan Library’s Fall Newsletter, please visit: http://www.pointloma.edu/news/whats-new-ryan-library.
Auditions for Tartuffe. Join PLNU’s Salomon Theatre in a romping production of Moliére’s Tartuffe! This side-splitting play is being directed by our own Doc. By far one of the most famous and wittiest satire plays ever written, it has stood the test of time- having audiences in stitches since 1664. Tartuffe, a “man of God,” uses his connections to swindle his generous host, Orgon, out of his wealth and his wife. Auditions will be Tuesday and Wednesday, September 4th and 5th, from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m. Please sign up in Salomon Theatre for a spot; don’t hesitate to just show up if your courage is a little lacking. We guarantee you’ll have a great time and make lifelong college memories with a new “family” at PLNU! Performances are October 30th-November 3rd and November 17th for homecoming weekend. Please contact paul.bassett@pointloma.edu for more information. If you would like to be involved behind the scenes please email sshay@pointloma.edu, letting us know what you are interested in doing.
Driftwood Creative Arts Magazine Submissions. Get your creativity on! Are you a budding writer, poet, filmmaker, artist, or a just all-around awesome person? Driftwood Creative Arts Magazine is accepting submissions for Fiction, Non-Fiction, Poetry, Art, Photography, Film, and Music. You can win CASH prizes for each category. For more information contact driftwoodplnu@gmail.com. Stay classy, PLNU!
Chapel. The Greatest of These...Check out the chapel schedule and even listen online.
Photos. What to see what is going on here on campus? Check out the Week in Pictures (it is also found on the homepage of the website). This captures what is going on in and around our campus community through the weeks.
Offices of Strengths and Vocation
Your students need to take advantage of The Offices of Strengths and Vocation (OSV)!
Times have changed! Every graduating class since the year of 2008 has been facing a challenging job market. OSV is aware that students’ success lies in preparation. The sooner students begin to build their résumé through internships, volunteer work with worthy organizations, and growing their social collateral, the better their chances of finding employment following graduation. The common phrase we say in the career counseling field is “your career begins in your freshman year.”
Freshmen should visit the OSV office as soon as possible to set up a coaching appointment regarding their Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI). First, this will help give them a sense of their type of personality, and second, it will provide information on the careers available that will best use their individual gifts and talents. Strengths coaching sessions are also available to help build their self awareness and learn how to apply their strengths for academic success. Freshmen should not refrain from networking by relegating it only for juniors and seniors. Attending the Network 9 events will place them in an environment where they will have opportunity to learn about other careers and the skill of networking. Freshmen should begin by establishing a LinkedIn account and building their résumés.
Sophomores are often placed in a category termed the “Sophomore Slump” and tend to “tune out” of preparing for their careers. Good news! OSV will be adding the Strong’s Interest Assessment for all sophomores. This assessment will furnish a detailed breakdown of specific jobs fitting their special interests and personality and will help them to stay on a clear path in planning their careers. They must decided upon by the end of the sophomore year. Exploration is crucial during this year before they travel down a road that will not be in alignment with their passion. Completing a résumé and setting up a LinkedIn account is mandatory by the end of this year! In addition, they need to attend networking events and participate in informational interviews. Sophomores also need to find their first internship experience and continue to find volunteer opportunities which build their community service experience.
Juniors have already passed the half-way mark through their four-year college experience. They are no longer introspective i.e. “looking within” the university experience but are becoming prospective, i.e. “looking out,” or beyond their university experience. Beyond the requirement of learning to network they should have a goal of interfacing with at least 120 professionals on LInkedIn. Juniors need to become serious about networking by doing their homework in researching every professional they expect to meet at the Network 9 events. Subsequently, they need to ask the professionals for their business cards and then follow up with another contact. Internships are mandatory during the junior year. In OSV, we have discovered that students with at least 3-4 internship experiences on their résumés are more likely to “beat out” their competition for a post graduate position. All juniors, whether they are transfers or have attended PLNU since their freshman year, must meet with a career coach in OSV to set up a plan for finding employment by graduation.
Seniors must literally begin planning for the end of their school year in the month of October. The average time for seniors to find employment is seven months, so by the fall of the year, they should be making connections that will lead them to employment following their graduation. In OSV we advise seniors to compile a list of a hundred people that they know. This list may include parents, friends, roommate’s parents, professors, social clubs, and yes, even OSV. Students should start by asking each person on their list if they know of anyone willing to introduce them to a person that will share about their career leading them to what we term an “informational interview.” These initial encounters can lead to learning about job openings, internship opportunities, or contacts with more professionals. In OSV we have discovered the most common comment from employers is “we do not even look at a résumé unless we know someone.” Students searching the “hidden job market” will more likely find a lead to employment than randomly sending out résumés to employers posted on the online job boards.
Recently, a new freshman informed me that before his father drove away following New Student Orientation (NSO) he said, “Son, please promise me that is you will stay in contact with OSV.” As parents, please encourage your students to take advantage of this incredible support as soon as possible and not wait until their senior year. We are pleased to inform you that all of our networking events and the cost of career assessments has been graciously funded through the Parent Fund. Therefore, we do not want even a $15 charge to become a barrier for any student to meet a professional connection that will change their lives.
Please remember to connect with us on Facebook and keep up with the latest career trends, events, and job opportunities for your student.
Follow Us! @OSVatPLNU
Student Financial Information
Don’t forget these important dates!
September 7 - Deadline to Change Meal Plan
Through the student portal, students can change their meal plan during the first two weeks of school. Keep in mind that this might affect the balance owing, and that after September 7th, no changes can be made until the following semester.
September 10 - Pending Aid Posts to Student Account
Financial Aid will post to student accounts the week of September 10th. If there is pending aid remaining on your student’s account after that date, there is likely some further action required by your student (see Pending Aid Requirements below).
September 10 - 5% Late Fee Applied on Owing Balances
If there is still a balance owing on September 10th, a 5% late fee will be applied to your student’s account. Any pending financial aid that has been awarded will not be subject to the late fee. Please be sure to take care of any balance prior to this date.
September 21 - Deadline to Waive Health Insurance
Every PLNU undergraduate student is automatically covered by PLNU’s health insurance. If your student is covered by another plan, please have him/her waive PLNU’s health insurance via the student portal. This will remove the $458.50 charge from your student’s account. If the health insurance plan is not waived prior to September 21st, it cannot be waived until the following semester, even if the student has other coverage.
Have you set up your parent portal?
First, your student must give you permission to have access to his/her statement of account. (This is due to federal law (FERPA) which states that college students are responsible for their own records and forbids educational institutions from divulging information without the student’s permission.)
Your student can grant you permission through the Profile Update>Update Information Releases section of his/her student portal, and will need to make note of your parent ID number.
Once your student has granted you information releases, you can set up a parent portal. Simply go to my.pointloma.edu and click on Create Account on the left-hand side of the page. Enter your parent ID number and your zip code and follow the directions to set up a portal.
You can access your student’s statement of account online
Once your portal is set up (about 15 minutes after creating the account), you can log in to your portal and choose Financial Services and then Statement of Account. To see the most recent statement generated by our office, click on View Bills and then click the bill link with the most current date. Bills are generated around the 15th of each month, if there is a balance owing. If your student has granted you financial information releases, you will receive a postcard notification in the mail when bills are generated. If you would prefer to receive notification by email, click on Change my bill notification preferences at the top of the Statement of Account page. Please be sure that you have provided us with your email address.
NOTE: You will need a PDF viewer to view the statement. You likely already have this on your computer, but you will be able to install a free Adobe Reader from our website if necessary.
If you have any difficulties in viewing the statement, please contact our support staff at 619-849-2222 or helpdesk@pointloma.edu.
Did you know that you can generate a new statement of account at any time?
Through your portal, you are able to generate a new online statement at any time in order to see up-to-the-minute posted transactions. (Note that most transactions post overnight, so you will be able to see these changes the following day.) To generate a new statement, click on View Bills and scroll down to the link entitled Generate a New Bill. For Fall 2012, click on Current Monthly Statement of Account and then click Generate. Your newly-generated bill will now be available at the top of the right-hand column entitled Self Generated Statements.
To Pay Your Bill
Log in to your portal at my.pointloma.edu and choose Financial Services and then Make A Payment. This will link you to our online payment site, where you will be able to pay by electronic check or credit card.
Pending Aid Requirements
Make sure that your student has accepted or declined all awarded aid through the portal, and be sure to sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) at www.studentloans.gov, using your FAFSA pin number (if you have borrowed a Direct Loan in the past, you will not need to complete a new MPN.
If your student is borrowing a Direct Subsidized/Unsubsidized Loan for the first time, he/she will also need to complete entrance counseling at www.studentloans.gov. Remember that financial aid will be adjusted if your student is registered for less than 12 units, and that students must be enrolled full time in order to be eligible for institutional aid.
Parent PLUS Loan
If you are having difficulty covering the remaining balance on your student’s account, you may want to consider applying for a PLUS loan, if you haven’t already. The PLUS loan is a credit-based government loan specifically designed for parents of undergraduate college students. If you are denied a PLUS loan, your student will become eligible for an additional amount of Direct Unsubsidized Loan.
You can apply for the PLUS loan by visiting www.studentloans.gov and signing in with your FAFSA pin number (you can request a duplicate PIN if you don’t remember it). You will also need to sign a Master Promissory Note (MPN) through this site.
Credit Refund
If financial aid creates an overage (credit) on the account, your student can contact SFS for a credit refund after aid posts the week of September 10th. If an advance is needed, we can authorize up to $600 to be used towards books or other educational expenses, as of the first day of school (as long as the financial aid covers this amount).
Potential Changes to Accounts
Be sure to keep an eye on your student’s account, because the balance on the account may fluctuate throughout the course of each semester. For example:
• Registration Changes:
o Some classes have associated fees. If your student adds a music or science class, there may be additional course or lab fees.
o If your student adds courses beyond block tuition (12-17 units), additional courses will be charged at $965/unit.
o If your student drops courses that brings him/her below block tuition (12-17 units) there will likely be a refund of tuition costs, but this may jeopardize the student’s financial aid eligibility.
o Part-time registration: Students registered for less than 12 units are not eligible for some forms of financial aid, including all institutional aid and Nazarene district grants. In order to allow for changes in registration, financial aid will not be adjusted until after the first two weeks of school.
• Manual Adjustments:
o Audit courses are charged at 50% the regular unit cost if the student is taking more than 17 or less than 12 units, but are not charged until after the first two weeks of classes.
o Fines and fees are placed on student accounts when SFS is notified by the Library, Residential Life, Chapel Attendance, Public Safety/Parking, or the Wellness Center. These fines might occur at any time during the semester, and many of them will post after the end of a semester (such as chapel and dorm fines).
• Housing and Meal Plans:
o Your student has the option to change his/her meal plan during the first two weeks of school. This may have an effect on the balance owing on the account, so generate a new statement once the change is made to see if the change creates an owing balance.
Tuition Installment Plan
If you are paying your student account through PLNU’s Tuition Installment Plan (TIP), you will receive an email 3 days before your payment due date, letting you know that your next installment is due. However, please be sure to keep an eye on your PLNU statement of account as well, to make sure that your TIP contract covers your school bill. Your TIP contract will not automatically adjust to match the balance owing on your student account.
Student Financial Services is here to serve you! Please feel free to email us at sfs@pointloma.edu or call us at 619-849-2538. We are available 8:30AM-5PM, Monday through Thursday and 8:30am to 4:30pm on Friday.
Send Some Sweet Treats
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 for a New Semester
HOW TO GET THE MOST OUT OF YOUR TEXTBOOKS!
- Survey the Entire Text-read the preface, scan table of contents, scan index and appendices.
- Preview Each Chapter-check chapter summaries, read all headlines, charts, and graphs.
- Take Notes as You Read-identify main ideas in each chapter and summarize what you read.
- Question Yourself as You Read- ask what, why, how, who, and when questions.
- Highlight and Make Margin Notes- write in margins at the end of every page.
- Match Class Notes and Textbook Notes-use textbook notes to supplement lecture notes.
Review Consistently-before reading new assignments, review what you have previously studied.
For more help or information on the tutoring, please contact the Tuturial Center at tutorialservices@pointloma.edu or at 619-849-2593.
The Tutorial Center is located in Bond Academic Center (next to the Study Abroad Office) and offers FREE tutoring appointments!
Tutorial Center Hours:
Monday - Thursday: 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Friday: 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
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