Blast Off into Freshmen Year or How to Cut the Tether to the Mother Ship

1. Blast Off into Freshmen YearorHow to Cut the Tether to the Mother Ship Connections 2014

2. Financial Aid • Federal • Must complete FASFA to receive federal monies, i.e. Stafford Sub and UnSub, Perkins, Pell • Must complete Master Promissory Note (MPN) as well as Entrance Counseling for Stafford and Perkins • Parents will need to complete Counseling and an MPN for PLUS loans

3. Financial Aid • Verification happens in 4 out of 5 cases • Listed on opening page of your MyKU student center in your “To Do List” • Currently taking 2 weeks; turnaround time will increase • Do NOT delay, will hold up refund and/or disbursement

4. Financial Aid • State • PHEAA deadline was May 1st, 2014. This is firm. • May also be considered for verification • Takes longer than Federal Verification process • Do NOT delay in getting info to Financial Aid – may hold up disbursement of funds

5. Additional Funding – Apply After 6/1/2014 • Alternative or Private Loan • Loan is in student’s name • Requires a credit-worthy cosigner • May have more attractive interest rates • Kutztown preferred lenders and interest rates are visible at www.elmselect.com • Check your own bank. There is a large variance in interest rates, dependent upon credit worthiness

6. Additional Funding Apply After 6/1/2014 • Parent PLUS loan • In the name of a parent • Awarded based on credit worthiness • If denied, may be eligible for additional unsubsidized funds • Can be deferred until graduation • Can be consolidated in the future

7. Additional Loans for NJ Residents • NJ Class Loan • For NJ residents • Attractive interest rates • Can be in student’s or parent’s name

8. Contact Information- Financial Aid • Stratton Administration Bldg. Room 209 • M-F 8-4:30 pm during the school year • Extended hours first two weeks of school Fall for 14’ & Spr 15’ (excluding holidays and Fridays) • Phone Number - (610) 683-4077 • Email- financialaid@kutztown.edu • Parents- please, allow your students to be involved in these financial discussions. We will only contact the student first if we have any questions due to FERPA (Family Education Right to Privacy Act). We must have student’s written consent to speak about their accounts. Including them will make the response time shorter. This is an important part of your student’s education.

9. Bursar’s Office • We are the ‘bank’ on campus. We receive all payments across campus and deposit them into the correct accounts. • Please make sure all checks have the student’s ID number on them.

10. Bursar’s Office • Student Accounting matters including but not limited to: • Invoicing • Charges • Payments • Refunds • Financial Aid disbursement of aid awarded and authorized by FA • Intent to Attend • Deferment options excluding FA – Employer Reimbursement, Military, TAP/529 • Military Funding Questions • Scholarship awards (submit copies to Bursar’s Office) • Payment Plan guidance for Tuition Pay • Bear Bucks / Flex additions – online and in our office

11. Invoicing • Invoices will be created on a regular basis and sent if any activity has occurred on the account during the time frame since last sent. ( Invoices will be created showing payment and -0- balance ) • Invoice notifications are only sent through KU email. Detailed instructions are included. Call with any problems for us to help troubleshoot (pop up blocker- always allow from KU) • Invoices will be going out near July 10th with a due date of August 1st, 2014 • You can print as many copies as needed. • Payment is due in full on 8/1 or you must be enrolled in the Tuition Payment Plan offered by Higher One to cover all the out of pocket costs seen on the invoice.

12. Invoicing -MyKU

14. Financial Aid

15. Payment Plans • Payments are due August 1st, 2014 • KU offers three payment plans • Our best plan is a 5 pay which began May 1st (6/1,7/1,8/1,9/1). We ask you to estimate using numbers received from Financial Aid, or you can call us at 610-683-4133. It’s not to late to join. • We will begin again for the spring on 10/1 (11/1,12/1,1/1,2/1) • Our 4 pay begins June 1st (7/1,8/1,9/1) • Spring begins on 11/1 (12/1,1/1,2/1) • Our 3 pay will open on July 7th with first payment due on 8/1, 8/26,9/26 • Spring will open on 1/1 • Plans also available for winter and summer sessions • All plans carry an enrollment fee of $35.00 • Failure to participate in the payment plan or to make the payment in full may result in the removal of your schedule, and there will be no guarantee of its return as originally scheduled

16. TAP Accounts • TAP accounts are accepted as payment for tuition and fees. • Please submit a copy of the completed TAP for to the Bursar’s office by fax or email. We will review the account for balances due and place a code on the student account to indicate payment is expected. No protection is given without our receipt of the applications, and outstanding balances not covered by Fin Aid are due 8/1 unless we can verify good standing in the Payment Plan

17. Military Benefits • Military benefits that come directly to the university, such as Chapter 33, are accepted as payment. • We will need a copy of the DD-214 (EOB), and it must also be submitted to the Registrar’s Office. The balance not covered must be paid in full by 8/1/2014 or we must be able to verify participation and good standing in the payment plan

18. Required Actions (after invoice) • All students must complete their intent to attend, available after invoices have been created, and notice received • Failure to complete this will prevent Financial Aid from disbursing to student • Students must accept the Terms and Conditions, available after invoices have been created • Update preference to opt OUT of KU alert system (bad weather, emergency on campus, etc.) • Includes opportunity to update address and phone number on MyKU for efficient contact

19. Intent to Attend

20. Golden Bear Debit Card • All Student Refunds are issued by the Bursar’s office through the Golden Bear Debit Card program. All students will be issued a golden bear debit card that they will need to create their refund account. • Card will arrive prominently in a bright green envelope. • NO credit is attached to this card or account. • Go to www.goldenbeardebitcard.com , enter 16 digits from face of card and KU email • Sign up for text message or email alert of refund • Choose refund method • Most Popular: deposit to a checking or savings account already open, takes 48-72 hours from time of notification • Paper Check option: takes 7-10 business days from time of notification • Deposit to the ‘One Account’: Declining balance debit card option • Making no choice, or choosing not to activate will result in a paper check created 21 days after email is sent to KU email, and then placed into the mail to arrive 7-10 days later. Total time= 28-31 days. Many phone calls are made in an attempt to get resolution

21. Refunds www.goldenbeardebitcard.com - Card should arrive early August – do NOT throw away – it is NOT a credit card

22. Refund: Parent PLUS Loans • Refunds will go to the parent unless we have a signed copy of the refund release form found on the bursar web page at www.kutztown.edu/bursar under the refund link on left. The form must be completed and returned to the Bursar’s Office prior to the creation of the refund. • Parent PLUS refunds are currently issued in the form of a paper check and mailed to the parent

23. Please parents- Encourage and allow the student to do the things that are their responsibility-Terms and Conditions, Intent to Attend, GBDC activation. • Students-take ownership of these responsibilities. • Our first and only contactpoint will be the student. They should be encouraged to take this on as a sign of their introduction to adulthood. We strongly encourage students to share access to MyKU with their parents and to complete the Consent to Disclose every academic year if they do not wish to be solely responsible for their finances.

24. Consent to Disclose Form • Parents – Our mutual goal is to educate our students to be able to utilize all the tools they will need to succeed in tomorrow’s world. Please involve them in all activities concerning their financial aid and other payments. The student will be our contact for all questions regarding their account. • Due to FERPA regulations, we can NOT share any information with a parent regarding charges or payments without written permission from the student. • The student can fill out a Consent to Disclose form that will grant us this permission, and it can be revoked by the student at any time. This form is available on the bursar web site at www.kutztown.edu/bursar or in our office.

25. Book Store Accounts • Must be applied for through the Financial Aid office beginning in August • Eligibility is determined by the amount of aid showing on the invoice (or MyKU account for those with late figures) over and above the charges due • Can only be used in the KU bookstore for book and supply purchases • Refunds will be reduced by the amount used in the bookstore • Will take 48 hours from time of submission before available to student, if approved • Approved in amounts ranging from $200 to $700, depend on refundable amount seen at time of application • Alternative loans are ALSOconsidered

26. Contact Information –Bursar’s Office • Email: bursar@kutztown.edu • Website: www.kutztown.edu/bursar • Phone Number: (610) 683-4133 • Fax Number: (610) 683 – 4674 • Located in the Stratton Administration Bldg., 2nd Fl. Room 225 • P.O. Box 730 Kutztown, PA 19530