FREQUENT QUESTIONS FOR PARENTS OF NEW STUDENTS
residence halls
Are there residence halls that are reserved for first year students only? First year students comprise about two thirds of the resident student population on campus. On the Downcity Campus, the only residence hall that is reserved solely for business/hospitality/technology first year students is McNulty Hall (the NSO Hall). On the Harborside Campus, South Hall and West Hall are reserved solely for first year students. West Hall and McNulty Hall are also available to Access students.
When are room assignments released to new incoming students? New AND returning students will be informed of their housing assignments in early August once they have made an approved payment plan with Student Financial Services.
What does my student need to bring with him/her to live in the hall?
Check out Residential Life for full
details.
Are the residence halls equipped with internet connections? Telephones? Yes, the rooms are equiped with the jacks for each service; however, the rooms are not equiped with phones or internet cords.
Who do I go to if there is a problem with something in my room that needs to be fixed? Any problems should be brought to the attention of the resident assistants who are assigned to the residence hall floor to assist students with their residence hall living experience and transition to college. They have been selected because of their ability to understand and work with fellow resident students. Each residence hall is managed by a resident director who is fully trained, supervises the resident assistants and resides in the residence hall.
How will my student reserve his/her room and roommates as a returning student? Returning students who desire to live on campus have an opportunity to apply for a room and specify a roommate choice upon returning from the spring break in March. Please note that housing is not guaranteed for returning students, as our on campus housing is limited.
academics
Why do new students have to take placement exams? All new students must take placement exams in order to ensure placement in the correct level in Mathematics and English. This ensures that each student gets off to a good start.
How many absences from class are allowed? What if my student exceeds those with an appropriate reason? The attendance policy is strictly adhered to. Students are allowed one absence for each 1.5 credit hour. A normal 4.5 credit class would allow three absences. All absences are recorded, so absences should be saved for illness and emergencies. Courses meeting during double periods allow no more than two absences. Culinary students with 4.5 credit classes that meet twice a week are allowed only two absences. Any class less than 4.5 credit hours allows for only one absence. For serious and documented absences outside of the student's control, the course instructor and an academic counselor in the Student Academic Services office should be contacted to discuss the student's eligibility to remain in class.
Is my student assigned an advisor in the school or college he/she attends? All students are assigned a faculty advisor. Student development counselors are also available to all students by contacting Student Academic Services.
Are there services available to students who have disabilities? Students identified with disabilities will be assigned to meet with a special needs advisor who will assist the student in obtaining appropriate services. These advisors are found in the Center for Academic Achievement Office located in the Kinsley building and the HAC building.
Is there someplace where my student can go to receive academic tutoring or help in developing study or test-taking skills? Both Downcity and Harborside campuses have Learning Centers that offer free tutoring in any subject as well as workshops in academic skills. They are located in Kinsley and Paramount.
As a parent, will I be notified of my student's grades? Grades are no longer mailed to students. Once grades are available, students are sent a notification to their JWU email account. Students can view all term grades by viewing their academic transcript via Uconnect. Parents are not notified of their student's grades. Federal law prohibits universities and colleges from providing this type of information to parents without the written consent of the student. A parent's best source of information is their student.
Why is full-time status important? What exactly is full-time status? Often, it is vital that students maintain full-time status for insurance company policies, external scholarship standards, financial aid purposes, and University course completion standards. Full-time status is determined on a term-by-term basis and requires the minimum scheduling of 13.5 credits each term (summer excluded).
In most cases, insurance companies and external scholarship foundations require students to maintain a full-time schedule in order to be included in the parents' or guardians' policy. The University cannot confirm full-time status for students who have not scheduled accordingly.
In order to be eligible for financial aid, students must be enrolled on a half-time basis or more; however, students who are scheduled for less than 12.0 credits will have their financial aid (federal, institutional and state) adjusted. Students who receive a JWU sponsored Academic and/or Merit scholarships must maintain a full-time schedule. Financial implications of less than full-time status should always be discussed with a representative in Student Financial Services.
The University advises students to schedule 13.5 to 18.0 credits each term in order to meet course completion standards and graduate "on time." In compliance with the standards of our accrediting agencies, students are required to complete associate degrees within three years (nine terms) and bachelor's degree — including associate degree coursework, if required — within six years (eighteen terms). Undergraduate day division students are allowed to schedule a maximum of 19.5 credits each term.
Maintaining full-time status is critical; negative implications are easily avoidable. While it is ultimately each student's responsibility to make sound academic decisions, a variety of University resources are available to all of our students. Faculty advisors can support students with career and degree program direction. Additionally, counselors in Student Academic Services can assist students with their academic choices and scheduling of courses. We encourage students to utilize all of our University resources to guide and prepare them for graduation and career placement.
Implications of falling below full-time student status Every year we talk with parents who have heard from the University concerning a change in their student's full-time status. At this point, the problems are already beginning.
Full-time status is determined on a term-by-term basis. For undergraduate students, full-time status is defined as a minimum of 12.0 credits each term.
What are the consequences of falling below full-time status? There are several and they can create real problems for you and your student. First, if a student is receiving financial aid from the University, it will be adjusted and any merit or academic scholarships will be revoked. Second, if a student athlete receives a grade of W, P, or NC in a course, that course will no longer count towards full-time status for NCAA athletic eligibility. Finally, insurance companies and scholarship foundations frequently require students to maintain full-time status.
Avoid these problems by discussing with your student the importance of proper scheduling and assuring full-time status is maintained. Urge your student to discuss with you changes he or she may be considering in majors, or the impact of dropping a class. Also, ask your student who his or her academic advisor is. Suggest that your student find out, if the answer is "I don't know". The academic advisor is there to provide assistance and support to your student.
