Issue 1, Spring 2015

Tips for Touring CampusFinding the right college is a tough decision. How do students find the perfect fit for what they’re looking for? The best way is to take a tour of the campus. A website and a brochure can only do so much. By going on campus tours, students will get a better feel for campus life, the atmosphere, and an overall glimpse of what the college has to offer. We encourage you to ask questions during the tour. Ask about academics, requirements, clubs, organizations, activities, the area, student life, and any other concerns you may have. Also, make sure you tour the housing facilities. This typically plays a big role in the overall decision.

Here are a few ideas to help you during a campus tour:1. Keep a journal: Document the questions you ask and the answers you receive. Make notes of the various campus organizations you see, what type of housing is on campus, etc.2. Take your own tour: Once the official campus tour is over, visit the places on campus that were not on the tour. 3. Meet with various people on campus: You will get to spend time with an admissions counselor during the tour, but stop and ask current students questions along the way. They will be able to give you a true insight on the school and campus life.

This IssueAdmissions P.1

Answers from the ESC P.2Military & Veterans Services P.3

Save the Date P.4Student Financial Aid P.5

Mark Allen Poisel began his role at GRU in August 2012 as the Vice President for Student Affairs. As the Chief Student Affairs and Student Services Officer of the University, Dr. Poisel worked collaboratively across the campus and in the community to develop and promote the optimal environment for student success.The Division of Student Affairs underwent a reorganization in January 2015. With this new Division of Enrollment and Student Affairs, Dr. Poisel has brought Enrollment Services and the Department of Military and Veterans Services under the same umbrella as Academic Admissions and Financial Aid. The Org Chart can be found here. With the implementation of some new and exciting programs such as JagSearch and Academicworks, 2015

will bring changes that lead to positive engagements between the two campuses.

New Division, New Dimensions

Mark Allen Poisel, Ed D

Benefits, Mike will be sorely missed by his director, coworkers, and veteran students. After retiring from GRU, Mike will expand the amount of time he volunteers for his church and spend more time with his family. He and other church members, including the pastor, will begin a fitness walking regimen. He has even promised to serve GRU as a volunteer VASCO advisor.

Interviews are being conducted for Mike’s position, Military Services Coordinator I, with the attempt to fill the position before he retires on March 31, 2015, to give his replacement an opportunity to train with an expert. Although we will replace the position, we will never replace Mike who aptly earned the nickname “Grumpy” from his VA Work-study students. His heart of gold always shines through his sometimes gruff exterior.

Contact Us:The Office ofAdmissionsBenet House706-737-1524

Websitegru.edu/admissions

Emailadmissions@gru.edu

The Enrollment ServicesCenterFanning Hall706-737-1872

Websitegru.edu/em

Emailenrollmentservices@gru.edu

The Office of Student Financial AidFanning Hall706-737-1524 Phone706-737-1777 Fax

Websitegru.edu/finaid

Emailosfa@gru.edu

The Department of Military & Veterans ServicesWashington Hall, Rm. 212706-667-4087

Websitegru.edu/military

Emailmvs@gru.edu

In a continuing effort to support the military, the Georgia Board of Regents passed a resolution on April 20, 2012, to waive the $262 institutional fees for those active duty military students on the Summerville Campus and the $450 institutional fees for those active duty military students on the Health Science Campus of Georgia Regents UniversitySince Fall 2014, Georgia Regents University has also waived mandatory fees for all active duty service members. Beginning spring 2015, the USG agreed to allow schools to waive mandatory fees for active duty service members, National Guard, and reservists who are using Tuition Assistance. To determine your eligibility for the Mandatory Fee Waiver, complete a waiver application in the Office of Military & Veterans Services or contact a staff member. All active duty, reservists and National Guard need to contact Chris Ham at 706-729-2254 or

cham1@gru.edu, tamsc@gru.edu to determine if they are eligible for the waiver of ALL mandatory fees.

The GRU Military and Veterans Services Office is located at Washington Hall, Room 212, on the Summerville Campus. All active duty must have a confirmed enrollment to be certified to VA. This means unless an advance pay is requested a certificate of enrollment will not be sent prior to the first day of classes. Please check with this office for further assistance.

The Green Zone Program is a campus-wide initiative providing locations recognized by veterans as a safe place to aid in their transition from military to university and civilian life. Find out more atgru.edu/military/greenzone.php

Pat Tillman Scholarship

Hero Scholarship

Veterans United Foundation Scholarship

Thanks USA Scholarship

Children of Fallen Patriots Scholarship

Marine Corps Scholarship

Scholarship Opportunities

Army ROTC is one of the best leadership courses in the country and is part of your college curriculum. During classes and field training, you will learn first-hand what it takes to lead others, motivate groups and how to conduct missions as an Officer in the Army. Upon graduation from Army ROTC, you will earn the bar of a Second Lieutenant and become a leader for life. For more information about ROTC click here

Mike Wilkins retired from the military in 1991 and began taking classes at Augusta College in 1992. When

the VA School Certifying Official (VASCO) he worked for retired in 1993, Mike assumed the responsibilities of the position six months before he was actually hired. For many years, he was a “staff of one” in the Veterans Affairs Office at Augusta College and Augusta State University. Prior to consolidation as Georgia Regents University, Mike joined the staff of Military and Veterans Services. MVS staff members owe Mike a great debt for his guidance and efforts. Our department could not have been successful without him. On Nov. 6, 2014, Mike received the Erie P. Blissit award for his outstanding service to veteran students, his colleagues, and the entire university community. An expert on the confusing government rules and regulations governing VA Educational

Each student is allowed only a certain number of withdrawals in his/her tenure at GRU. As we approach the spring midterm deadline for withdrawing from classes with a “W” (March 3), it is very important that students and faculty understand what that means for registration and for financial aid.“Withdrawing” versus “dropping” a class:Students can only “drop” a class during registration periods prior to the semester beginning and during the schedule adjustment period during the first three days of each semester. Dropping a class will remove that class from your academic summary and will not affect your GPA. Withdrawing, the student will receive a grade of W or WF for that class. Students will only receive a W if they withdraw from a class before the midterm deadline. After the midterm date has passed, students will receive a WF as a grade. The difference in a W and a WF is the GPA calculation. A grade of W will not affect your GPA at all. A grade of WF will calculate into your GPA as a grade of F. Students under 60 credit hours should keep in mind that they must drop and withdraw from classes through their advisor.

How does dropping and withdrawing affect my financial aid?Dropping classes will not affect your financial aid unless you drop below 6 credit hours (this only applies to loans). Withdrawing from classes will place a strain on your financial aid status. Every grade of W or WF will affect your satisfactory academic progress (SAP) calculation. You MUST complete 67 percent of all the courses you attempt. If you have four 3-credit hour courses (12 credits) and you WITHDRAW from two of them (6 credits) you will only complete 50 percent.Every grade of W or WF also affects your SAP 150 percent calculation, which states you must finish your program within 150 percent of the time required. If you fall below the 67 percent completion rate or exceed the 150 percent maximum allowable time frame, you are immediately placed on financial aid (FA) probation, or if you are already on FA probation you will be moved from FA probation to FA termination.Students, be sure to meet with you advisor and financial aid before making the decision to drop or withdraw from a class. Be informed before making decisions.

To Withdraw or to Drop?

~Answers From the Enrollment Services Center ~ Thank You for Your Service

A Salute to Mike WilkinsGRU VA School Certifying Official

FATV is an online video library which gives users access to video clips of financial aid topics 24 hours a day. These videos communicate complex financial aid information in an easy to understand style and cover a wide array of topics including: • How to Complete the FAFSA• What are Direct Loans• Repeat Coursework• Satisfactory Academic Progress• Financial LiteracyCounseling videos are also now available.

2015-16 FAFSA Available Now

*The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and all required documents must be received by the priority deadline in order to complete your 2015-16 financial aid application.

The Office of Student Financial Aid cannot guarantee that your application will be complete by the deadline for tuition and fee payment if your file was not submitted by the priority deadline of April 1.

How to Determine if Additional Documents are Needed for FAFSA

Read the comment section of the student aid report (SAR) located at fafsa.ed.gov. It will indicate if you have been selected for a process called VERIFICATION.

Check the Financial Aid section in your POUNCE account (pounce.gru.edu). Any required documents will be listed.

Please submit required documents as soon as possible. Documents are processed in the order they are received. They may be submitted by fax, mail, or delivered to the Enrollment Services Center located on the first floor of Fanning Hall on the Summerville Campus.

Mailing Address: Georgia Regents UniversityThe Office of Student Financial Aid1120 15th St., Augusta, Georgia 30912Fanning HallOffice Hours: 8 a.m.-5 p.m.Phone: 706-737-1524Fax: 706-737-1777osfa@gru.edu

We Value Your OpinionEnrollment Services welcomes your comments. We care about providing quality and excellent customer service. Take our survey at:surveymonkey.com/s/QKBNMZX

2014-15 FAFSA reminderPriority deadline for summer 2015 is March 1, 2015. Go to fafsa.ed.gov to apply. When completing your FAFSA, make sure to use GRU’s Federal School Code: 001579

FAFSAFile your

ENROLLMENT UPDATE Comments? Tell us how we are doing at dmunoz@gru.edu. • 706-721-0301

facebook.com/GRUOfficeOfStudentFinancialAid

studentaid.govstudentloans.govnslds.ed.govpin.ed.govfastweb.comfatv.com

Important Resources

Financial Aid TV

FILE YOUR

FAFSA

Freshman ProfileAverage SAT Score

(Critical Reading and Math): 1030Average ACT Score

(English and Math): 22Average GPA: 3.22

AdmissionsDeadlines

Summer 2015General Admission Deadline:

April 1, 2015

Fall 2015General Admission Deadline:

June 1, 2015

The average freshmen index fornew freshmen for fall 2014 is 2,670

Dual EnrollmentInterest Meeting

March 27, 2015 &April 30, 2015

UndergraduatePreview DayMarch 28, 2015

Health Sciences “Closer Look” Tour

June 5, 2015

The Friends of the DivisionThe Office of the Registrar April 6 - 10, 2015Students can look forward to Spring Break in Auguta and a pretty big golf tournament.

The Business Office March 16, 2015Early Summer and Fall Registration Opens. Summer Semester Nelnet Payment Plans Available, Summer Semester Student Bills Available On POUNCE.

Academic Advising March 16 - April 28, 2015Speak with your advisor for specifics of Summer/Fall 2015 Registration.

Career Services March 3, 2015Come to University Hall, Room 220, to learn the best practices for interviewing well for teaching positions. From 5:30-6:30 p.m.

Visit the newly renovated

WELLNESS CENTERSwim Passes on sale for $10

STUDENTS only

OPEN UNTIL MIDNIGHTMonday-Thursday

AcademicWorks offers easy access to each applicant for better service and faster review of scholarship applications.

AcademicWorks is user friendly, sends automated notification of awards, and is available online 24/7. All you will need is your Jag ID and Password to log in.

For general scholarships, the deadline has passed; however, students can visit the website gru.academicworks.com and review any other scholarship opportunities.