Frequently Asked Questions
See also: Past
Questions for 'U' from the Parent Newsletter.
Academics
My student was invited to join an honorary society. Should he join?
In terms of assessing whether it's worthwhile for your student to join any group,
our recommendation is to ask your student to consider why he or she wants to
join the group and whether this group will meet your student's reason for joining.
For most students, the reasons for participating in an organization is to share
a particular interest, to meet like-minded students, and to advance personal
or career knowledge and opportunities.
In general, it seems not to be beneficial to have the name of an organization
on a resume unless the student can also say that he or she participated in some
ACTIVE way. That participation might be serving as an officer, playing a role
in planning or organizing events, or making a contribution to the development
of the group through a committee.
Students sometimes believe that having a list of memberships on their resume
will improve their chances when they apply for a job or for graduate school.
Employers and graduate schools will be impressed with a good grade point average,
and they will want evidence of how students contributed to the organizations
to which they belonged. They will want to know what students learned from their
activities.
Some groups suggest that membership in an honorary society helps in getting scholarships—the
most important factors in receiving departmental and academic scholarships are
grade point average, evidence of involvement, and the recommendation of a professor
or an academic adviser. Advisers usually know about a range of scholarship opportunities;
professors are likely to hear about the scholarships offered by their department.
The best suggestion for determining the value of any group would be for your
student to get in touch with the person listed as the contact to find out what
the group does and how your student feels about the person or people leading
the organization. If the contact person can talk about planned activities and
the organization's goals, see if they fit your student's interests.
You can find out if a group is a registered student organization on the University
of Minnesota campus by checking the Student Activities Office's list of registered
student groups.
You also can do a Web-based search for a national branch of the organization
through any Internet search site (Yahoo, Netscape, AltaVista, Google, etc.) to
find out about the organization's mission and goals and any national activities
the student can participate in.
For more information see www.academic.umn.edu/provost/undergrad/honor_societies.html.
My student is not doing well academically. How can I help?
Students, particularly freshmen, can encounter academic difficulties. First-year
students often face difficult transitions and adjustments to college, including
separating from family members, adjusting to new living arrangements, and accommodating
the University's higher academic standards.
The Student Affairs, Understanding
Today's Students Web site, offers suggestions and resources for achieving
academic success, dealing with stress, depression, illness, alcohol misuse, and
other issues.
My student was named to the
Dean’s List. What does that mean?
Each of the colleges within the University has a Dean’s List to recognize
high-achieving students. Although there may be slight variations for each college,
in general students who receive a 3.67 or higher for the semester are named to
the Dean’s List. Students also must have completed 12 or more credits during
the semester, graded as A-F, and have no “N” grades for the semester
(students can select S-N or Satisfactory-NonSatisfactory rather than A-F grading).
Finances
I was recently laid off from my job, but on the FAFSA forms, there
is no space to provide information to reflect that our family income will be
lower this year than last year. Is there any way for my daughter to get any additional
funds, based on our reduced family budget this year?
The Office of Student Finance (OSF) will be happy to review your current
situation and make any possible changes to your daughter's financial aid
eligibility.
You and your student can complete and submit the Special Circumstances
Appeal form for dependent students (along with any requested documentation).
OSF's review committee will consider your appeal and make any appropriate adjustments.
If the committee members have questions, they will contact you directly. The
appeal form contains all the information and instructions you'll need, and
it is available as a PDF at Forms
Online.
Are there deadlines/dates that we need to be aware of when applying
for the Ford or PLUS loans or Stafford Loans? Or are we able to wait until
our student is given the award package?
The U of M is a direct lending school, so students and parents borrow
from the federal government, rather than through commercial lending institutions.
The University's Office of Student Finance (OSF) administers the loans, determining
loan eligibility, approving the loan, confirming the promissory note when necessary,
receiving the funds from the federal government, and crediting the loan amount
directly to the student's University student account. More information is available
on One Stop.
The short answer is that parents should wait for the award notice to see what
financial aid the student is eligible for. OSF will consider them for grants,
work-study, and student/parent loans. Then the student can accept, reduce,
or decline any of their loan offers on the electronic financial aid award
notice (eFAAN). OSF will then provide instructions on how to complete the
promissory note for each loan.
See Money Matters for more information
and a link to Office of Student Finance Parents' frequently
asked questions.
Insurance
What kind of insurance
does my student need to protect her computer, stereo, and other personal possessions?
As students review their to-do lists and begin packing for the move to a residence
hall or off-campus apartment, they should also be thinking about how to insure
their possessions in their new home. Parents might want to help their students
go over their options.
Many parents choose to add their college student to their existing homeowner’s
policy. This is often the less expensive option, as long as the student’s
primary residence remains the parent’s home. If your student rents an apartment,
however, the insurance company will likely consider that to be his primary address.
Downsides to adding your student to your homeowner’s policy may include
the need to add a rider to your policy, the possible effect of claims made by
your student on your insurance policy and rate, and the possible inadequacy of
coverage due to caps and high deductibles.
Renter’s insurance is another possibility for your student and you to consider.
This will allow you to tailor coverage for your student’s specific needs,
and prevent claims made by your student from affecting your own insurance policy.
For students who do not live permanently with their parents, renter’s insurance
is likely their only choice to insure their belongings.
Whichever option you choose, a few things to consider:
- What situations are included and/or excluded from the policy?
Does it cover damage from fires or floods?
- Does the policy cover replacement or the actual value of the
property? Electronics like computers, televisions, cameras, etc.,
depreciate significantly over time. A policy that only covers
the actual value of a stolen or damaged item may not provide
your student with enough money to replace it.
- Does the policy cover liability claims?
How can you and your student make the best decision for both of you?
Carefully review your options with your insurance broker or agent.
Does
my student need to have the U of M health insurance to use the
Boynton Health Service?
Students who pay the Student Services Fee are eligible to receive
most services at Boynton at no cost, although some services do
require a fee. All students
are also required to have current health insurance (also called hospitalization
insurance. The costs of surgery, emergency treatment, and hospitalization are
not covered by the Student Services Fee. Students who are not covered by a
parent’s
health insurance or who do not have health insurance from another source will
be automatically enrolled in the University-sponsored Health Benefit Plan.
For more information, see www.bhs.umn.edu/insurance/twincities/other.htm.
School
Records
How can I obtain a copy of my student's grades?
The easiest way for you to receive a copy of your student’s grades, current
financial information, and other student information is for your student to look
up his or her student records at the Student
OneStop Web site. Students can print the information from the Web
site and pass it on to you.
The University is prohibited from releasing certain information to parents without
permission of the student. By federal law (The Family Educational Rights and
Privacy Act, FERPA, also known as the Buckley Amendment), students over the age
of 18 are considered responsible and are allowed to determine who will receive
information about them.
Students can give access to parents by going online at the OneStop Web site (www.onestop.umn.edu)
and linking to "Parent/Guest Access." They can follow the instructions
at that site to give their parents or other guests access to one or more of these
six subject areas of the student's record:
Enrollment Summary
Financial Aid Status
Grades
Holds
Student Account
View Financial Aid Awards
Students can also sign a release form to give parents access to protected information
(http://onestop.umn.edu/onestop/Forms/,
link to Student Information Release Authorization). Having a release form on
file does not mean that reports will automatically be mailed to parents or other
authorized designees; information will be made available upon request from the
authorized third party. Parents also can receive information by submitting proof
that their student is dependent. Proof is considered to be a copy of the most
recent year’s federal tax form showing that the parent claims the student
as a dependent.
Note: More information about the the Family Educational
Rights and Privacy Act can be found on the FERPA page. In
addition, a journal article from Business
Office explains how the University's
Parent/Guest Access system was developed as a way to promote student-parent relationships.
Where
do I get proof of my student's enrollment and grade point average
for my insurance company?
Students can download a form from the Web that will cover both these issues.
The form is at the following Web site: www.onestop.umn.edu/onestop/forms.html.
On that Web page, scroll down to the heading "Verifying your Academic Record," and
link to the Acrobat file called "Request for Certification." Your student
will need to sign the form.
Students also can get the form by going in person to one of the Registrar offices,
which are located in Fraser Hall on the East Bank, in the West Bank Skyway, and
in Coffey Hall on the St. Paul campus.
How
can I change my mailing address to get University mailings? Is
it possible to have mailings sent to a second address?
A change of address can be done only by the student, but it can be done online.
Your student can go to Forms
for Students on the OneStop Student Services page. The University
Parent newsletter and other parent mailings are sent to the student's home address
(permanent address). If you would like mailings to be sent to another address,
we maintain a separate mail list. Contact the Parent Program at 612-626-9291
(e-mail
address parent@umn.edu) to be
added to this separate list.
My student’s
tuition bill was sent by e-mail to his University e-mail account.
Since I am paying for his education, can the bills be mailed to
me?
The University of Minnesota now offers electronic billing and payment
of student account bills (tuition, fees, housing, books, etc.)
Electronic billing is the
official means of generating tuition bills to all University of Minnesota students.
This means that paper bills will no longer exist for enrolled students.
The new UM Pay electronic billing and payment system will automatically send
an e-mail notification to the student's U of M e-mail address when the bill is
ready to be viewed online. Students can set up parents and other authorized payers
to view and pay bills online. As an authorized payer, parents can view student's
tuition bills online; view student's billing and payment history online; pay
student's tuition bills online by automatically deducting the amount from a checking
or savings account; download and print a copy of the student's bill for sending
check payments via U.S. mail.
Exemptions to electronic billing may be allowed by appeal. Scroll down this
page
for a PDF of the Electronic
Billing Exemption Appeal Form.
How does my
student apply for reciprocity tuition rates?
The U of M has reciprocity agreements with Wisconsin, North Dakota, South Dakota,
and Manitoba. Students from Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, and Nebraska may qualify
for discounted tuition at the University of Minnesota through the Midwest Student
Exchange Program (MSEP). Application for reciprocity is separate from application
for admission to the University. Contact the University residency adviser for
information on applying for reciprocity, 612-625-6330.
Seasonal
When is commencement?
Each college within the University has its own commencement ceremony. A listing
of the various times and dates can be found at www.umn.edu/twincities/commencement/.
How
can my student buy course books before classes start?
Students may buy course books at the U of M Bookstores or online
from their Web
site at www.bookstore.umn.edu at
any time after registering for classes, as long as the instructor has identified
the required textbooks.
To determine textbook needs, students can log-on to www.bookstore.umn.edu and
follow the links to buy textbooks. Students can enter their University Internet
ID and password, and the Bookstore's Web site generates a book list directly
from the student's registration records. Students may print this listing and
bring it to the Bookstores to shop for their books, or they may purchase them
online by selecting the books they wish to order.
We would like
to store some of my student's belongings for the summer. Are there any storage
facilities near campus? What questions should we ask when we call to find
out storage rates?
Several storage facilities near campus have agreed to provide special rates.
The following storage facilities near campus have specials for University of
Minnesota students. When you call for information, identify yourself as the parent
of a University of Minnesota student and ask about their special rates.
Storage facilities near the U of
M Minikahda
651-641-0101
www.minikahda.com
EZ Mini Storage
612-722-1111
http://ezmini.com
SMARTBOX of
Minnesota
3900 50th Avenue North, Suite 100
Brooklyn Center, MN 55429
1-87-SMARTBOX (1-877-627-8269)
763-535-9202 (phone)
763-535-9419 (fax)
You should ask:
- What size storage spaces are available?
- Do you have short-term, month-by-month rentals?
- How far are you from campus?
- What special rates are available for U of M students?
- If storage includes drop off and delivery of a storage box or
unit, where are units placed near campus for loading? How long
will they be near campus, and is security provided?
Transportation
Is there a weekend bus for students
that goes to Madison and Milwaukee?
The University has no affiliation with transportation beyond our campus (excepting
our U-Pass agreement with Metro Transit), but there are some options
that students may consider. MegaBus (www.megabus.com/us/index.php)
offers routes to Chicago and Milwaukee. Amtrak and Greyhound have
routes to Milwaukee, and Greyhound and Jefferson Lines (www.jeffersonlines.com/students.asp)
have routes to Madison.
How do students
find parking if there's a snow emergency in the Twin Cities?
The University is part of Minneapolis's SnOasis program. A SnOasis is a parking
lot or ramp that allows folks to get their cars off the street (at a free or
reduced rate) during the first night of snow emergency parking restrictions
(the first night of snow emergency parking restrictions runs from 9 p.m.
until 8 a.m.).
Currently, there are five snOasis parking ramps available; three at the University
of Minnesota and two near downtown Minneapolis. SnOasis parking rules and addresses
are available on the City's Web site: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/snow/SnOasis-home.asp.
For up-to-the-minute information about where to park in Minneapolis
during a snow emergency—and throughout the season—call
the city's Snow Emergency 24-Hour-Hotline (English: 612-348-SNOW; Spanish:
612-673-3819; Somali: 612-673-2141;
TTY: 612-673-2116) or check the city's Web site: www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/snow.
Is there shuttle
service between the University and the airport?
The University itself does not have an airport shuttle, but students
can use the Super Shuttle service. The cost is $13 one-way or $21 round
trip. Service
runs daily, once an hour, at approximately 35 minutes after the hour. Service
continues until 10:35 p.m. The trip to the airport takes an hour. Students
must make a reservation between 2 and 24 hours in advance. Call 612-827-7777
or check
the Web site (www.supershuttle.com/default.aspx)
The standard advice is that if more than one student is likely to be going
to the airport at one time, a taxi is a more reasonable option. That should
cost
about $25 to $30, and it takes much less time—usually 20 to 30 minutes.
Taxis will pick up from the residence halls and apartments.
Also, students can catch the Metro Transit Hiawatha Line (light rail) to the
airport from the Downtown East/Metrodome or Cedar/Riverside Stations. For more
information,
see www.metrotransit.org/rail/index.asp.
How
can my student get a parking contract on campus?
A parking lottery is held before each semester for students
who want to get a parking contract. To apply for the
fall or spring semester lottery, students
must enter online within the timeframe outlined by Parking & Transportation
Services. The fall semester 2005 parking lottery will be conducted between July
19–July 28, 2005; spring semester 2006, the lottery will be November 29–December
8, 2005.
For more questions/answers related to parking on campus,
see www.umn.edu/pts/generalfaqs.htm#Parking.
Other
My student needs to withdraw from
the University. Is there something he's supposed to do?
Students who decide to withdraw completely
from the University should take the following steps:
- Contact the college office to inform them of the intent to
withdraw and to discuss procedures for future re-admission, if
appropriate. It's a good idea to file a Leave
of Absence form in case the student decides to return.
- Cancel classes. Students should consult the cancel/add and
refund deadlines for any permission required and/or financial
responsibility for canceled classes.
- Request a tuition refund, if applicable. If students are leaving
for medical or military reasons or from academic dismissal, they
may be entitled to a tuition refund.
- Cancel housing contract if they're living on campus.
- Return any books, equipment, or materials on loan from the
University.
- Request an official transcript. Students who are transferring
to another school will need to provide their new school with
a record of their course work at the University.
- Update address and phone number. Students can update their
information on the One Stop Web site by clicking on the "Update
personal Information" link.
- Pay any balances due. Pay outstanding library or other fees.
- Take care of financial aid. If the student has financial aid,
dropping classes at any point during the semester may result
in a return of financial aid funding. Students may also need
to cancel their financial aid if they will be transferring to
another institution and applying for aid there. Students who
had a Federal Perkins or University Trust Fund Loan while they
were at the University must complete an Exit Interview with Student
Financial Collections.
My student
is a sophomore and still doesn’t have a major picked out. Who
can help?
University Counseling and Consulting Services helps
students explore academic major and career options. In addition, the colleges
within the University provide career advising. For a list of career offices,
see www.career.umn.edu/.
My
student is thinking of joining a fraternity/sorority. What is the
process?
Joining a fraternity or sorority is a mutual selection process. For fraternities
it is best for your son to visit several chapters in order to find the best fit
for him. After multiple visits the chapter may choose to offer your son a bid.
With the sororities, women have the opportunity to visit every chapter during
formal recruitment. After several visits to each chapter, your daughter will
have the opportunity to select her top three choices, and she will then be matched
up through the mutual selection process. For other questions about the Greek
community on campus, see www.parent.umn.edu/greekfaq.html.
My student was in the band in high school. She doesn't plan to major in music,
but are there any music groups she could join?
The University has a number of ensemble groups ranging from symphony,
jazz, and orchestra to chorus, chamber singers, and gospel. Some require auditions,
but some are open to anyone who is interested. For more information, see www.music.umn.edu/enscomp/ensembles.php.
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