West Liberty UniversityOrientation –Parent’s Session

Facility Updates• Shaw Hall renovation has been completed.

Administrative Offices, including Enrollment & Student Services, have now moved to Shaw Hall

• Ground breaking will soon take place for Campbell Hall/Healthcare Science Building

• Learning & Student Development Center moving to Main Hall

Accepted Students……What’s Next?• Student Information Section located on WLU

web site• Go to westliberty.edu and click on Admissions• Includes important dates and information

Changing Roles/Communicating with College Students

• Students are going to mature, become more independent and more self sufficient

• Do not pressure students to make home visits• Email, text and send cards/letters • Try and let them call you-THEY WILL!• Stay connected and involved, but let them “grow”• Work at not being a “Helicopter Parent”

Rules and Regulations

• Academic Policies and Regulations located in the University Catalog

• WLU becomes a Tobacco Free Campus in January 2013

• Students have a sense of freedom when enrolling at a college/university

• Be clear on YOUR expectations when they return home.

• Student Policies & Procedures located in the Student Handbook

Housing & Residence Life• Students have access to their roommate information via

their WINS accounts• Roughly 80% of our freshmen and 50% of all students live in

campus housing• All students pay cable/internet fee and residence hall capital fees• Students can choose a weekly • 19 meal, 14 meal, or 10 meal plan• Meal changes can be made during the first two weeks of the

semester• Topper Card Serves as Meal Card/Secure Access Card

Move In Weekend• Residence Halls open for new students Friday, August

24, at 10:00 a.m.• Extended Office Hours• Topperfest also begins August 24• Freshman Lap Top Program• Pick up Parking Tag• Liberty Grocery in West Liberty/Wal-Mart at the Highlands • Local banks in Wheeling

Getting Connected• Getting Connected to the

University is critical to retention and graduation success

• Attend Organizational Fair• Attend Residence Hall

Programming• Attend Athletic and Cultural Events• Attend Campus Life Events

Classes• Classes begin on Monday, August 27 at 9:00 a.m.• Freshman class schedules are now being completed • Students can add and drop classes on-line via

WINS accounts until September 5• Academic Advisors assigned to assist students

with registration

Classes Continued• Pre-registration (on-line) for Spring 2013

begins on November 5• Last day to drop a course with an automatic

grade of “W” is November 9.• Last day to drop a course for the fall semester is December 7 (WP or WF issued)• Contact Enrollment Services Center for

enrollment verification

First Year Experience Course• Required for all freshman• Transition course to help students successfully

make the change from high school to college• Topics in the course will include; time

management, study and learning skills, communication, safety, dealing with stress, and others• It is a graded course

Electronic Communication• All students will have WLU email accounts-

primary method of campus communication • On line accounts via WINS (West Liberty

Information System) for course registration, accessing grades, financial awards, billing charges, etc.

• TopperNet – emergency text messaging system for students, faculty and staff.

• Information available on the WLU web site under Admissions….Accepted….What’s Next?

Grades• Mid-term and Final Grades are accessed on

line via WINS• Grades are not mailed home• Students can repeat a grade of D or F taken in the first 60 hours. If repeated with a better grade, the D or F will

be removed from the GPA calculation• Academic Standing (Probation & Suspension)

FERPA• Enrolled students have rights, cannot release information to a third party without written permission from the student• Parents can ask procedural or general

questions• Only directory information can be released• Students can request to have directory

information withheld by signing a request in the Enrollment Services Center

Safety and Health• 24 hours a day, 7 day a week Campus Police• Secure Access to Residence Halls• Security Cameras on Residence Hall Doorways• Door alarms in Residence Halls• Student Code of Conduct• Need for follow-up discussion on conduct and responsibility• Discuss healthy habits (eating and sleeping)• Relieving Stress• Department of Health Services, located in Shaw Hall

TARGET:Graduation!

Graduation Requirements•General Requirements-2.00 GPA and a minimum 128 credit hours (programs are moving to 120 credit hours)•Some programs have higher GPA and credit hours•General Studies Requirements, Major Requirements and Electives based on major (listed in University Catalog)

CAPP On Line Degree Audit/Advising Sheets• Academic Advisors have access

to CAPP. An on-line degree audit system

• Advisors also provide advising sheets to their students listing all courses required for graduation in a particular major.

Learning & Student Development Center

• Offers peer tutoring to students, free of charge• Offers personal and confidential counseling• Provides ADA accommodations• Provides Career Services to graduating seniors• Supplemental Instruction• Diversity Programming• Hilltopper Academy

MAP-Works• Identifies at-risk students early in the term• Allows for intervention to get students back on

track• Allows for coordinated efforts within the

campus community to address needs of at-risk students• Demonstrates gaps between student behavior and desired outcomes

Parent Power• Parent Power is a bulletin designed

to keep parents informed• Includes important dates,

deadlines and highlighted topics• Parent Power is now on Facebook• The Facebook page allows for

interactive communication between parents

Financial Aid &

Billing

Financial Aid Information-Federal Loans

• The following documents are required to finalize the Federal Loan (Stafford &PLUS) process:– Entrance counseling for first time Stafford Loan

borrowers. May be completed on campus or online at www.studentloans.gov

– Master Promissory Note required first time Stafford Loan &Parent PLUS borrowers. Must be completed online at www.studentloans.gov

Financial Aid Information-Satisfactory Academic Progress

• For first-time students to have their Federal Financial Aid renewed they must meet the following academic requirements.– Pass 70% of all coursework attempted.– Cannot be on academic probation/suspension.– Any deficit can be made up during the summer.– Students must complete requirements within a 150%

maximum time frame

Financial Aid Information-Satisfactory Academic Progress

• For students receiving the WV Higher Grant or the PA Grant the renewal requirements are as follows:– Meet the institutions Satisfactory Academic

Progress requirements.– Must pass at least 24 credit hours during the fall & spring semesters.– Have at least a 2.0 accumulative GPA.– Deficit cannot be made up during the summer.

Financial Aid Information-Satisfactory Academic Progress

• WV PROMISE recipients who are first time students must meet the following requirements to have the PROMISE renewed:– Pass at 30 credit hours during the fall & spring semesters.– Attain at least a 2.75 accumulative GPA.– College coursework completed during high school or

prior to regular college enrollment cannot be considered.– Deficit can be made up during the summer.

• Academic Scholarship renewal requirements are listed on student agreement (typically a 3.00 GPA )

Billing Statements• Billing statements issued early in August– Emailed to students who provided a email

address when they applied to WLU, thereafter to the student’s WLU email account

– Mailed to students who do not have an email address on file.

• Statements show balance due or refund due the student

Billing Statements• Refunds are issued by the Business Office and will be

available August 27 if the student’s financial aid awards are accepted

• Monthly payment plan option• Additional fees-orientation fee, parking fee,

Hilltopper for Life fee, course lab fees• Additional tuition charges for students in Nursing,

Dental Hygiene, Athletic Training, College of Sciences, College of Business, Broadcasting, and Graphic Design.

West Liberty UniversityOrientation –Parent’s Session