January 2016 Parents & Family Newsletter Website: uakron.edu/pfa | On Facebook: Zip Parents In this issue:
Upcoming PFA Event: Paying for College: Beyond the FAFSA Greetings and Happy New Year from your Parents & Family Association (PFA) Board! We invite you to a free "Paying for College: Beyond the FASFA" night at The University of Akron. Tanya Lundy, assistant director of Student Financial Aid, will be our guest presenter and will answer your questions throughout the evening. Wednesday, Jan. 27, from 6 to 7:30 p.m. in Simmons Hall Topics covered will include:
Light appetizers and refreshments will be provided. Students are invited to attend with their parents and family.
Visit the PFA website for complete details. Go Zips! UA PFA Board Spring billing and deadlines The payment due date for spring semester registration is Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2016. The last day to sign up for the payment plan is Monday, Jan. 25, to avoid late fees and possible enrollment cancellation for nonpayment. Your student can authorize Parent Access by following these steps, along with completing a FERPA Release form. UA policy on Hoverboards Recent information has revealed that the batteries in Hoverboard-type devices can be dangerous and may be prone to explosion, creating a safety and fire risk. Based on this concern, the Department of Residence Life and Housing is prohibiting Hoverboard devices from being in any of our residence halls. Effective immediately, the use, possession, or storage of Hoverboards, Swagways, IO Hawks, Skywalkers and similar devices, is prohibited in campus residence halls until safety standards for them can be developed and implemented. Students encouraged to check spring course schedules in My Akron Please remind your student to check his or her spring 2016 schedule via My Akron Student Center. Information regarding course meeting times, days and room locations is given in real-time; in other words, all information is up to date as it is retrieved. The Office of the University Registrar sends an announcement via e-mail to all enrolled students’ UAnet e-mail addresses when there is a classroom change made in the course(s) they are enrolled. It is recommended students check their UAnet e-mail often for any important messages from the University, as this will be the official means of notification used by the Office of the University Registrar. Questions regarding a course schedule may be directed to the Office of the University Registrar at registrar@uakron.edu. It’s time to resubmit the FAFSA A new year means a new application. Students must resubmit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) every spring to request aid for the next academic year. The FAFSA can be completed online, and should be submitted before March 1. The application looks at a number of factors, such as income, then determines what type(s) of aid you may qualify for, like Federal Work Study, and how many dollars might be awarded. Even if you do not plan on accepting any aid, it is very important to complete and submit the FAFSA. Should your or your student’s financial situation change after March 1, funds are extremely limited. As the saying goes, it’s better to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. If your student is awarded aid, you don't have to accept it, just let it sit there. To complete the 2016/17 FAFSA:
College Goal Sunday The University of Akron will host College Goal Sunday on Feb. 14 at 2 p.m. in the lobby of Simmons Hall. College Goal Sunday is open to all students – regardless of age – who are seeking financial aid to pay for college expenses for the upcoming academic year. Whether you are a traditional student right out of high school or an adult who is returning to school or pursuing higher education for the first time, College Goal Sunday will help you complete the FAFSA, accurately and on time. Dependent students (generally those under 24) should bring a parent or legal guardian. Independent students (generally, those 24 or over) will not require a parent’s income information. Complete the 2016 Student Registration Form if you plan to attend. |