Family Fusion Newsletter

Staying Connected

Dear Parents and Families,

As the new academic year approaches, this edition of Family Fusion will help you support your student's success at Alvernia.  This month, our articles center on move-in day, fall semester billing, financial aid, books/supplies purchase, and early fall Campus Ministry service and spirituality events.

Please help your student keep in contact with Alvernia throughout the summer.  We have encouraged students to read Alvernia email at least twice weekly.  As an incentive, we will be randomly selecting, from among those who do, several students to receive up to $400 off their fall textbooks.  There's already been one winner, and there'll be more.

Of particular note, help your student review our summer editions of Vern Vibe (the student newsletter that is similar to Family Fusion).  They contain important information about the start of the academic year and about our Freshman Year Experience web site (Click on the link below to learn more.)

Please don't hesitate to call or write me if additional information or assistance would be helpful.

Sincerely,

Joseph J. Cicala, Ph.D.
Vice President for University Life and Dean of Students
joe.cicala@alvernia.edu // 610.796.8211

File Early

October 1^st is right around the corner. Well, for us in the Student Financial Planning Office it is!  We want to remind you of the changes made last September allowing all students and their parents to file the 2018-2019 FAFSA beginning October 1, 2017.  This FAFSA form will use the income tax information from 2016.

Please keep an eye on your email, mail and the financial aid page of the Alvernia University website for more information and tools to filing the Early FAFSA!

Freshman Opportunities

Please encourage your students to join Campus Ministry in two wonderful opportunities to kick off the academic year!  First up, they can join us at the St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia for a wonderful weekend of service and reflection on the life of St. Francis.  We will leave campus Friday afternoon, Sept. 15 and arrive back on campus Sunday afternoon, Sept. 17.  Transportation is provided.   Then, we hope many of them will join us for our Freshman Retreat on Saturday, Sept. 23 to learn about the life of St. Francis and how life on campus can be enriched by our patron saint from Assisi! Advanced registration is needed for both, and here's how they should do that: email the Director of Campus Ministry, Julianne Wallace at julianne.wallace@alvernia.edu

Important Housing Information

Check-in for new freshmen who will be living on campus is Thursday, August 24 between 8:00 a.m. and 12:00 p.m. If your student is a fall athlete (men’s and women’s soccer, field hockey, women’s volleyball and cross country), move-in day is Friday, August 18. If you have specific questions regarding athlete check-in please contact Athletics at (610) 796-8276.

As you prepare for moving onto campus please know that the first day of Orientation, August 24, is a very busy day. Dress comfortably and bring your patience; we will do our best to check everyone in as quickly as possible. Remember to label all of your belongings. Things like boxes, plastic bins and text books should all have your student's name, building and room number so that our volunteer staff can help you move in. If you get to campus and realize that you have forgotten something, don’t panic; stores such as Target, Walmart and Bed Bath and Beyond are only a few minutes away from campus. Also, the second weekend of Fall semester is Labor Day weekend and a great time to bring anything to campus that you forgot.

Returning students are able to move on to campus Sunday, August 27 between 12:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. Check-in is at the Veronica Hall lobby

Top 10 Reasons to visit the Office of Student Accounts:

#10)     Make a Tuition Payment

#9)       Set up an Interest-Free Payment Plan

#8)       Find Out When Your Student Can Expect a Refund

#7)       Transfer Money to Your Student’s Bookstore Account

#6)       Find Out How to Become an Authorized Payer

#5)       Buy Commuter Meals or Crusader Cash

#4)       Learn How Your Student Can Redeem One Free Overload Credit

#3)       Buy Extra Printing $$

#2)       Understand Why Your Student’s Account is on Stop

AND THE #1 Reason to visit the Office of Student Accounts…..

We Always (well, almost always) have CANDY!!!

It’s soon time to pick up your fall invoice to do so electronically go to: myAlvernia / Finances / Student Accounts. From our page, you can Retrieve Statement and Pay Your Bill. The due date for Fall 2017 is August 21, 2017.

Don’t forget, your son or daughter must have submitted an authorization form for us to review account details with you.  It’s referred to as FERPA and it’s federal law! 

Need assistance or additional information?
◦610.796.8319 ◦Student.Billing@alvernia.edu   ◦FH200/201