West Liberty University Orientation –Parent’s Session

1. West Liberty UniversityOrientation –Parent’s Session WHAT’S NEXT?

2. Accepted Students……Now What? • Student Information Section located on WLU web site • Go to westliberty.edu and click on Admissions • Includes important dates and information

3. Housing Assignments • Mailed in June- Students will receive information on room assignment, room mate, what to bring/not bring • Roughly 80% of our freshmen and 50% of all students live in campus housing • All students pay cable/internet fee and residence hall capital fees • Students assigned 19 meal plan • Meal changes can be made during the first two weeks of the semester • Room consolidation begins after 1st week of classes • Housing sign-ups for 2012-13 will be held in the spring

4. Financial Aid/Billing • Financial Award Letters will be mailed in early July • Award letters do not need to be returned unless a change is requested • Included will be instructions on Promissory Notes • Parent Financial Aid Session at 11:30 a.m. • Renewal FAFSA for 2012-13 • Academic Requirements for Renewal • Bills available in late July

5. Move In Weekend • Residence Halls open for new students Friday, August 19, at 10:00 a.m. • Topperfest also begins August 19 • Topperfest schedule will be on WLU Web site • Freshman Lap Top Program • Pick up Parking Tag

6. Getting Connected • Getting Connected to the University is critical to retention and graduation success • Attend Organizational Fair • Attend Residence Hall Programming • Attend Athletic and Cultural Events • Attend Campus Life Events

7. Classes • Classes begin on Monday, August 22 at 9:00 a.m. • Freshman class schedules are now being completed • Students can add and drop classes on-line via WINS accounts until August 31 • Academic Advisors assigned to assist students with registration

8. Classes Continued • Pre-registration (on-line) for Spring 2012 begins on October 31 • Last day to drop a course with an automatic grade of “W” is November 4. • Last day to drop a course for the fall semester is December 2 (WP or WF issued) • Contact Registrar’s Office for enrollment verification

9. First Year Experience Course • Required for all freshman • Transition course to help students successfully make the change from high school to college • Sessions of the course will include; time management, study and learning skills, communication, safety, dealing with stress, and others • It is a graded course

10. Electronic Communication • All students will have WLU email accounts-primary method of campus communication • On line accounts via WINS (West Liberty Information System) for course registration, accessing grades, financial awards, billing charges, etc. • TopperNet – emergency text messaging system for students, faculty and staff. • Information available on the WLU web site under Admissions….Accepted….Now What?

11. Grades • Mid-term and Final Grades are accessed on line via WINS • Grades are not mailed home • Students can repeat a grade of D or F taken in the first 60 hours. If repeated with a better grade, the D or F will be removed from the GPA calculation • Academic Standing (Probation & Suspension)

12. FERPA • Enrolled students have rights, cannot release information to a third party with written permission of the student • Parents can ask procedural or general questions • Only directory information can be released • Students can request to have directory information withheld by signing a request in the Registrar’s Office

13. Safety • 24 hour a day, 7 day a week Campus Police • Secure Access to Residence Halls • Security Cameras on Residence Hall Doorways • Door alarms in Residence Halls • Department of Health Services, located in Krise Hall -provides treatment & assessment -on-line Student Health Newsletter

14. TARGET: Graduation!

15. Graduation Requirements General Requirements-2.00 GPA and a minimum 128 credit hours Some programs have higher GPA and credit hours General Studies Requirements, Major Requirements and Electives based on major (listed in College Catalog) 56 credit hours must be from 4 year institutions, 36 of which must be from WLU

16. CAAP On Line Degree Audit/Advising Sheets • Academic Advisors also have access to CAAP. An on-line degree audit system • Advisors also provide advising sheets to their students listing all courses required for graduation in a particular major.

17. The Center for Student Success • Offers peer tutoring to students, free of charge • Offers personal and confidential counseling • Provides ADA accommodations • Provides Career Services to graduating seniors

18. MAP-Works • Identifies at-risk students early in the term • Allows for intervention to get students back on track • Allows for coordinated efforts within the campus community to address needs of at-risk students • Demonstrates gaps between student behavior and desired outcomes

19. Parent Power • Parent Power is a bulletin designed to keep parents informed • Includes important dates, deadlines and highlighted topics • Parent Power is now on Facebook • The Facebook page allows for interactive communication between parents

20. HilltopperAcademy (July 31 – August 7, 2011) • Week-long, Residential Summer Bridge Program • Strengthens Basic College Readiness Skills in Math and Writing • Student Success Strategies Sessions • Eligible Students have a combined ACT score of 17 or lower • Limited Space: Students Selected on a first-come, first-serve basis • Cost: $25 non-refundable registration fee

21. Financial Aid & Billing

22. Financial Aid Information-Federal Loans • The following documents are required to finalize the Federal Loan (Stafford &PLUS) process: • Entrance counseling for first time Stafford Loan borrowers. May be completed on campus or online at www.studentloans.gov • Master Promissory Note required first time Stafford Loan &Parent PLUS borrowers. Must be completed online at www.studentloans.gov

23. Financial Aid Information-Satisfactory Academic Progress • For first-time students to have their Federal Financial Aid renewed they must meet the following academic requirements. • Pass 70% of all coursework attempted. • Cannot be on academic probation/suspension. • Any deficit can be made up during the summer.

24. Financial Aid Information-Satisfactory Academic Progress • For students receiving the WV Higher Grant or the PA Grant the renewal requirements are as follows: • Meet the institutions Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements. • Must pass at least 24 credit hours during the fall & spring semesters. • Have at least a 2.0 accumulative GPA. • Deficit cannot be made up during the summer.

25. Financial Aid Information-Satisfactory Academic Progress • WV PROMISE recipients who are first time students must meet the following requirements to have the PROMISE renewed: • Pass at 30 credit hours during the fall & spring semesters. • Attain at least a 2.75 accumulative GPA. • College coursework completed during high school or prior to regular college enrollment cannot be considered. • Deficit can be made up during the summer. • Academic Scholarship renewal requirements are listed on student agreement (typically a 3.00 GPA )

26. Billing Statements • Billing statements available the last week of July. • Emailed to students who provided a email address when they applied to WLU. • Mailed to students who do not have an email address on file. • Statements show balance due or refund due the student • Bills must be signed by the student

27. Billing Statements • Refund checks cannot be processed without the signed bill • Refund checks are issued by the Business Office and will be available August 22 if signed billed returned on time • Monthly payment plan option • Additional fees-orientation fee, parking fee, course lab fees • Additional tuition charges for students in Nursing, Dental Hygiene, College of Sciences, College of Business, Broadcasting, and Graphic Design.