April 2016 Parents & Family Newsletter

Website: uakron.edu/pfa | On Facebook: Zip Parents

In this issue:
  • Tip of the Month: Scheduling for fall
  • Billing and financial aid for summer and fall classes
  • Residence hall move out
  • Summer housing
  • Encourage your student to request summer and fall accommodation letters now


PFA Board's Tip of the Month
Students should schedule for their fall classes now!
It’s important for your son or daughter to have their classes scheduled for the fall 2016 semester before they leave campus. Your student can meet with his or her advisor to get help determining what classes are needed. By scheduling early, students won't risk not getting required or preferred classes/days/times.




Billing and financial aid for summer and fall classes

Summer 2016
  • For students enrolled in summer 2016 classes by April 29, the payment due date will be May 23, 2016. The Installment Payment Plan is now available for summer and must be signed up for by May 27, 2016. See ways to pay.
  • Financial aid will be disbursed to students’ accounts on Friday, May 13, for summer classes.

Fall 2016
  • For students enrolled in fall 2016 classes by July 22, the due date will be Aug. 5, 2016. Enrollment after July 23 is due on Aug. 29. Learn more about due dates.
  • The first financial aid disbursement will occur on Friday, Aug. 19, for fall classes.

Reminders
  • The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) must be completed every year and should be submitted no later than June 1 to receive a financial aid award prior to the start of fall classes.
  • Your student has certain privacy rights on campus. The FERPA release allows the University to disclose information in person, or by phone, to individuals authorized by the student. The FERPA form can be found on our website. Otherwise, UA can not share any information, such as amount due, financial aid, etc.
  • A student can also authorize parent access to the eBill, Make a Payment and the Payment Plan signup through My Akron. Go to my.uakron.edu, enter the student’s UAnet ID and password, click on “Student Center,” then Finances. Learn more about due dates.



Residence halls close after finals

The end of the semester is quickly approaching and students should be preparing to move out of their residence hall rooms. The residence halls close at 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 15, 2016. However, students should plan to vacate their rooms within 24 hours of their last final exam.

In order to avoid additional charges upon check out, students should ensure the room is clean, free of trash and all assigned furniture present. If students have questions about damages, they should speak to their resident assistants. Once students have completed removal all of their belongings and trash, they should go to the service desk of their building to have a resident assistant inspect their rooms and turn in their keys.

Extended stay is available for students who may need to stay an extra day or two after May 15. Those interested must complete the Extended Stay Request form. Additional fees per night may apply. The priority deadline to request extended stay is Wednesday, May 11, 2016 at noon.




Summer housing

The Department of Residence Life and Housing is now accepting requests for summer housing. Students interested in living on campus during the summer sessions are encouraged to apply for summer housing by selecting "Manage Housing" in My Akron.

Summer residents will be accommodated in the Exchange Street Residence Hall, at a cost of $36/night/person for a four-person apartment, or $28/night/person for a shared single. Students must take at least 3 credits hours during the summer session(s) they wish to live in Exchange Street Residence Hall. Students who require summer housing application access should contact Residence Life and Housing at 330-972-7800 or reslife@uakron.edu.

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For off-campus housing, short-term leases are available, but normally cost an extra 10 percent to 25 percent per month; those rates are not normally advertised online. Make sure it’s clear and double check before signing a lease.

Another option is to see if any UA students are looking to sublease for the summer while they study abroad, complete a co-op or go home for the semester/summer. There are two places students advertise their subleases:

If they don’t see something that meets their needs, students can always post that they are looking. Most landlords permit subleases, but may require a small fee for processing the paperwork or a background check, but some students will offer discounts for someone to take over a summer lease to help offset any expenses. Students can visit ZipAssist in the Simmons Hall Lobby.



Encourage your student to request summer and fall accommodation letters now

Students registered with the Office of Accessibility who have completed summer or fall 2016 class schedules should log into their STARS accounts and schedule their letters of accommodations. Though letters are scheduled at the time they are requested, they will not be sent until the week prior to the start of either the summer session or fall semester. It is important for students to schedule accommodation letters as soon as possible — some accommodations have deadlines and require more time for coordination.

The sooner students request services, the faster the office is able to coordinate services. Your son or daughter should contact the Office of Accessibility at 330-972-7928, TDD 330-972-5764, or access@uakron.edu if assistance is required in requesting letters of accommodation.