Fall 2015 is almost here!

Website: uakron.edu/pfa | On Facebook: Zip Parents
In this issue:
  • Billing and financial aid for fall 2015 classes
  • Getting ready for the residence halls
  • Tips for living off campus
  • Student employment opportunities
  • New Roo Weekend events

Billing and financial aid for fall 2015
FOR UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS ONLY

If your student signed up for classes before Aug. 1 but have yet to pay their bill, the deadline to pay was Aug. 10. But we have good news -- we have put in place a one-week grace period. That means they have until Monday, Aug. 17. See complete details on the Office of Student Accounts website.


Getting ready for the residence halls

Moving into a residence hall can be very exciting. Some helpful tips for families include:
  • Having an open and honest discussion with students about residence hall rules and expected behavior.
  • Discussing the use and misuse of alcohol and other drugs on a college campus.
  • Ensuring that students understand, are aware of and in control of their own personal safety at all times as well as how to report concerns related to the health and welfare of themselves and others.

Our residence-hall staff will text students and parents if inclement weather poses a safety risk during move-in. The texts would urge students and parents to delay departure for campus or delay unloading vehicles until the storms pass.

To receive the texts, sign up for UA’s free Z-Alert text messaging service.

For a resident student whose cell phone number has recently changed, we encourage him or her update that number in My Akron. (Instructions for students: In My Akron, go to the Technology Support tab > Look for the Z-Alert icon in the upper right > Click on the link and login with your UANet ID and password. Delete an old number and add a new one. You will receive a validation text for the new number. Follow the instructions in that text to complete the process.)


Tips for living off campus

Are looking for personal property insurance coverage? UA has partnered with Haylor, Freyer & Coon, Inc. to provide this service to students that live on campus or around The University of Akron. Personal property insurance is a great way to protect what goes to school.

Document everything.

The relationship you have with your landlord is very important to ensure that you are living in a clean and safe environment.
  • Always get a copy of your signed lease. Make sure your parents also have a copy if they co-signed for your apartment. Keep it in a location where you can easily refer to it, if needed.
  • Make sure you have a contact phone number and email for your landlord.
  • Walk through every inch of your apartment and take pictures of anything that is not working or needs to be repaired. This will also help with documentation in regard to your security deposit at the end of the lease.
  • Communicate in writing to your landlord about anything that needs to be fixed or repaired within 24 hours. Make sure to include the photos you took. Email is the fastest way, but snail mail also works.
  • Consider contacting University Police to schedule a security audit to learn more about making your apartment a safer place to live.


Student employment opportunities

Students seeking on-campus, Federal Work Study (must be awarded in financial aid package), or off-campus jobs should check the Student Employment website. The site includes job descriptions, responsibilities, hours allowed to work, pay rate, skills needed and much more.


New Roo Weekend events

New freshmen will learn about dozens of tips to help them get ahead, meet new friends, faculty members and staff, and take part in social events. New Roo Weekend is scheduled Aug. 28-30. See the tentative schedule of events.