UCM Family Newsletter

HELP YOUR STUDENT TO BE INFORMED!

Do you have trouble remembering all of those campus dates and deadlines?  Add "UCM MoInfo" to the Facebook pages that you "like" and you will receive updates from the Office of the Registrar.  These announcements will include information regarding course enrollment, graduation, refund dates and other important deadlines.  The Registrar's Office also tweets.  Check out their Twitter account at "UCMRegistrar".  If your student receives campus announcements via text, encourage them to join the 'UCM Registrar' message group.

MENTAL FITNESS

January 22:  Stress Management
January 28 & 29:  Healthy Relationships

Mondays and Tuesdays (same content both days)
3:30-4:45 p.m. – Rec Center Classroom

 

What's happening with students during January:

• Students return to campus after the winter break. Many will feel homesick as they return to campus; others will feel relieved to be back to their independent lifestyle.
• Students will be able to access their grades through MyCentral and either feel disappointed or delighted. Parental reactions to the grades weigh heavily on their minds and influence their stress level as they anticipate a new term. Whether the grades were good or bad, they will have a better understanding of what college requires.
• Uncertainties will arise in the new semester as students begin new classes and meet new professors.

What parents can do:

• Be supportive of your student regardless of the fall term grades. If grades were poor, refer your student to college resources for help in future academic struggles. Remind her of your academic and class attendance expectations, but also keep those expectations realistic given the level of academic difficulty at UCM.
• Remind him to keep up with the coursework. Many students find that falling behind early in the term is a major cause of stress and failures later on in the term. Help with time management tips so that academics and social activities are balanced.

UCM NEWS UCM Appoints Executive Director for Academic Support Services Four New Corporate Partners Join Missouri Innovation Campus Program Psychology Professor, Student from Sedalia Receive Learning to a Greater Degree Awards UCM Alumnus, MCC Inclusion Officer Presents MLK Freedom Scholarship Dinner Address Common App Expands Opportunities for Students to Enroll at UCM, Extends National Reach To track the latest news and events at UCM link to www.ucmo.edu/news/index.php.

 

IMPORTANT FINANCIAL AID APPLICATION INFORMATION FOR 2019-2020

The 2019-/2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is now available for completion online. It must be filed each year at www.fafsa.ed.gov for your student to be able to receive federal financial aid.

Our priority date for filing the FAFSA is February 1st, 2019 to be considered for state aid. The priority date to be eligible for the full range of financial aid, including limited federal aid, is April 1, but students can still file their FAFSAs after that date for the Pell Grant and student loans.   

If you or your student have questions or need additional clarification about any aspect of applying for financial aid, you're welcome to contact the University of Central Missouri Office of Student Financial Services in person or by mail (1100 Ward Edwards Bldg.), by telephone (660-543-8266) or online (go to www.ucmo.edu/contactsfs). Many questions can be answered by reviewing our website at www.ucmo.edu/sfs.

1098T REPORTING

IRS regulations require universities to report qualified tuition and related expenses and provide information to each student on a 1098T form.  Per IRS guidelines, UCM will have a change in reporting for the 2018 1098T form.  The change will require UCM to now report payments received in Box 1 instead of previously reported charges billed in Box 2.

In order to comply with IRS regulations, the University of Central Missouri is required to obtain the social security number of each enrolled student. Earlier this term letters were mailed to students who did not have their social security number on file with UCM. An IRS Form W9S was included with instructions to complete the form and return it to the UCM Student Financial Services, Ward Edwards Bldg. Room 1100, Warrensburg, MO 64093.  For additional information regarding federal education credits, please refer to www.irs.gov/publications/p970/ch03.html.

Electronic copies of the 2018 1098T form will be available in the UCM Payment Center no later than the end of January 2019. Log into “MyCentral”, click on “Student Services”, navigate to “Continue to Payment Center”, and choose the “E-Statement” tab. The 2018 1098T form will be mailed to the home address no later than the end of January 2019 for those who have not opted to receive it electronically.

PAYING SPRING BILL

An electronic statement is available in the UCM Payment Center mid-December for the 2019 Spring semester.  Monthly statements can be accessed using the online Bill and Payment System by clicking the ‘Student Services’ tab and navigating to the UCM Payment Center and selecting “continue to my account details”.  All students and authorized users will receive a monthly email when a new billing statement is available for viewing.

If full payment for the 2019 Spring semester has not been satisfied in full by January 20, 2019, a student will automatically be set up on a payment plan (see details below).

Payment Methods:

• Mailed: Student Financial Services, 1100 Ward Edwards Bldg., University of Central Missouri, Warrensburg MO 64093
• Payments are accepted online using checking/savings account information or a debit card.
• Want to pay by credit card? Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express payments are accepted online only. However, a fee of 2.85% will be assessed by UCM’s third party processor if you elect to use this payment method.
• A student can pay his/her UCM charges using the monthly installment option. The account balance will be divided into equal installments over the 2019 Spring semester, due on the 15th of each month through May. A 1.5% fee on the outstanding balance will be added to the student’s account each month.
• More information can be found at: ucmo.edu/sfs/tuition/index.cfm.
  
  

STUDENT ACTIVITIES DURING FIRST WEEK OF SPRING SEMESTER

 There are lots of activities planned to welcome new and returning students back to campus as Spring semester begins.  To learn more about these events, check out Spotlight on Facebook at UCMSPOTLIGHT.

 Events include:

Date	Event	Location	Time
1/15/2019	Intramural Basketball Registration Due	imleagues.com	11:30 p.m.
1/15/2019	Let's Talk: "What's you life's Blueprint?" - MLK	Café Rouge	12:30 p.m.
1/15/2019	Comedian: Jose Barrientos	Hendricks Hall	8 p.m.
1/16/2019	Involvement Fair	SRWC	3-5 p.m.
1/16/2019	Jennies Basketball vs. Lincoln	Multipurpose Building	5:30 p.m.
1/16/2019	Welcome Back Bowling Bash	Union Bowling Center	7-9 p.m.
1/16/2019	Mules Basketball vs. Lincoln	Multipurpose Building	7:30 p.m.
1/17/2019	Union Cinema Movie	Union Cinema	7 p.m./ 9:30 p.m.
1/17/2019	MAD: UCM Bingo	Union 237 A & B	8 p.m.
1/18/2019	Pride & Traditions: Wear Red! Be Proud!	Around campus	All Day
1/18/2019	Union Cinema Movie	Union Cinema	4:30, 7 & 9:30p.m.

 

INVOLVEMENT FAIR

 The Spring Involvement Fair will be held on Wednesday, January 16 from 3:00-5:00 pm in the Student Recreation & Wellness Center. Many of the student organizations will be present for students to gather information to learn where they want to be involved. There will be academic, community service, religious, greek and special interest groups all present.

STUDENT JOB OPPORTUNITIES FOR UNIVERSITY HOUSING STUDENTS

The Office of University Housing has the following student job opportunities for students who live in University Housing. Applications and hiring processes will be available during the Spring semester. Please watch for publicity in the Housing facilities and the Human Resources job search site at jobs.ucmo.edu

• Community Advisor: A CA lives on the floor with the students and assists them with a variety of items, including maintenance, personal and academic needs. Need students with leadership skills and a strong work ethic. Each CA gets a single room, a meal plan and a stipend, as well as an experience that will prepare them for virtually any field. Qualifications include being in good standing academically and behaviorally, a cumulative and semester GPA of at least 2.50 and two semesters of group living experience. Interested students should pick up an application at any residence hall front desk. These applications are due on Thursday, February 1, 2019.
• Office Assistant: Students who work at the 24 hour front desk of residence hall, answering the phone, responding to questions, monitoring fire board, provide service to residents of change, refunds, work request etc. Monitor the safety and security of the building. Late night and weekend hours required. Qualifications include 2.0 semester and cumulative GPA, live on campus, and be in good standing with the University. Applications will be available March 1 and will be due March 29.

SPRING CAREER EXPO NEWS:

Resume Help Day

The Career Services Center will be hosting Resume Help Day on Monday, February 11th, from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. in WDE 1200. This is a great opportunity for students to have their resume reviewed in preparation of the upcoming Spring Career Expo.

Handshake App

Encourage your students to download the Handshake App to see which employers will be attending the BIG Career Expo, Spring 2019 and the BIG Interview Day. Students will also use this app at the BIG Career Expo event to see where employers are located and what majors they are recruiting for.

B.I.G. (Business, Industry, Government) Career Expo, Spring 2019

The Career Services Center will be hosting the Spring Career Expo on Wednesday, February 13th, from 1:00-4:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Building Arena. This is a great time for students to identify opportunities and network with prospective employers who are recruiting for internships and fulltime positions in all areas of business, industry, and government. Approximately 150 employers are expected at this year’s event. Students should dress professionally and bring multiple copies of their resumes. Students should check their Handshake account or download the Handshake App to see who will be participating in this event. While this is a vital event for juniors and seniors, freshman and sophomore students are also encouraged to attend to become more familiar with the career expo setup and gain exposure to employers recruiting on the UCM campus. For more information regarding this event, please visit our website at www.ucmo.edu/offices/career-services-center/ .

B.I.G. (Business, Industry, Government) Interview Day

Nearly 40 employers will conduct interviews on Thursday, February 14th in the Career Services Center, WDE 1200. Students should check their Handshake account or download the Handshake App to see who will be participating in our BIG Interview Day. Students should visit with these companies at the Career Expo in order to secure an interview slot. Questions? Please contact the Career Services Center at 660-543-4985 or by email at careers@ucmo.edu.

CHANGING MAJORS

Many first-year students that entered the university with a chosen major decide that the major selected at entry was not a good fit for them. Other students who entered the university in the Open Option Program continue to search for a major that stirs their interest and challenges their abilities. Success Advisors/Career Counselors in the Success Advising Center (Union 128) provide a number of services to assist students who are considering changing their major or who are having difficulty with their decision. The following options are available to your student to assist them in methodically moving forward in making a sound major decision:

• Enroll in “Exploring Majors and Careers” (UNIV 1410) for the Spring 2019 Semester. There are still plenty of seats available.
• Schedule an appointment with a Success Advisor/Career Counselor in the Success Advising Center for individualized assistance.
• Stop by the Success Advising Center during walk-in hours (Monday-Thursday 1:00-4:00 p.m.) to speak with a Success Coach about potential options.

 If you have any questions, or would like to schedule an appointment with a Success Advisor/Career Counselor, please give us a call at 660-543-4721, or email us at success@ucmo.edu. We look forward to helping your student with their decision.

THE SUCCESS ADVISING CENTER: SUPPORTING YOUR STUDENT’S SUCCESS  The Success Advising Center serves students equitably and holistically, building strong relationships to achieve academic success!  The transition from high school to college can be intimidating. At UCM we encourage families to be proactive in utilizing our advisors and peer mentors.  Housed in our NEW Success Advising Center, both Academic Success Advisor and Coaches are equipped to guide your students through their programs of study! To learn more about the Success Advising Center, our staff and coaches: Online: https://www.ucmo.edu/current-students/student-services/success-advising/ In Person: Elliott Student Union, Office 128 Phone: 660-543-4721 How We Serve: ●       Holistically: a balanced approach to success, where ALL components are identified based on student’s individual needs. ●       Each student will have a Success Team made up of but not limited to their: o   Academic Success Advisor o   Academic Success Coach o   Career Advisor o   Financial Aid Counselor Academic Success Advisors assist students with: ●       Academic Planning ●       Academic Wellness ●       Financial Wellness ●       Personal Wellness “Our nationally recognized advisors provide the needed supports to successfully navigate the university environment and develop an academic plan to keep you on track to graduate on time.”   -- Karen Goos, Interim Vice Provost Enrollment Management Peer To Peer Assistance With Academic Success Coaches Academic Success Coaches are fellow students who have been trained to provide direct assistance and coaching to students with academic concerns. These students are dedicated to introducing students to a variety of support strategies and tools to boost their academic success, as well as provide ongoing support to their peers through one-on-one contact, group meetings, and programs related to academic skill building. Academic Success Coaches assist students with: ●       Transition to UCM ●       Campus Resources ●       Campus Technology ●       Campus Involvement ●       Study Strategies ●       Time Management Techniques “Research has proven, the fastest way to achieve success is to hang out with others who have already achieved what it is you want to be successful in doing. Success Coaches are uniquely positioned to do just that; they help students successfully transition to UCM, and to develop the academic skills they need to be successful students from their first days on campus through graduation.” -- Ken Schueller, Director of Success Advising

 

 

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