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ST BONAVENTURE UNIVERSITY :: 3261 WEST STATE ROAD :: ST. BONAVENTURE, NY 14778 :: (716) 375-2000

Having a Successful Semester…How You Can Help

You can be an active part of your student’s academic life, even while helping him take responsibility for managing it all. Even from afar, there are many things that you can do to help your student have a successful semester. Make academic success a part of every conversation you have. Ask probing questions, and then give suggestions.

Has your daughter mentioned a difficult class? Encourage her to get a tutor now! Don’t wait until midterm; it may be too late.

  • The Teaching and Learning Center, located in the basement of Doyle Hall, offers individual and group tutoring.
  • The Writing Lab is also located in the Teaching and Learning Center.
  • The Math department offers help through “Math Lab” every day of the week.
  • The English department offers a Writing Center in the basement of Plassmann Hall; students can sign up two weeks in advance for a session to review a paper.
  • Every professor has office hours!

Where (and when) is your student studying? The residence halls may not be the best place, but there are lots of great “study spots” on campus:

  • University Ministries is quiet and comfy – and open 24/7.
  • The upper floor of the library is a quiet floor.Information about the residence halls closing.
  • There are lots of nooks and comfortable chairs throughout the library.
  • The Quick Center for the Arts is a quiet, beautiful spot with tables and chairs in the atrium.
  • There are computer labs in Plassmann, the RC, Murphy and the library.

Staying active and healthy is important for academic success! The Richter Center has announced a semester-long “Iron Man Challenge” -- 90 days to complete 2.5 miles swimming, 112 miles biking and 26.2 miles walk/running. You might even consider teaming up with your student, doing the challenge at home, and checking in to compare your accomplishments.

You can help your student be successful by having focused conversations and asking good questions. It will help your student stay healthy, keep on track and earn great grades.

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Send your student a little love....Cafe La Verna is taking orders for personalized heart cookies! Personalized cookies are $4.29 + tax. 
Order yours by calling (716) 375-2584 or visiting Cafe La Verna!

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Financial Aid for College: Keep it going
Tips from St. Bonaventure’s Office of Financial Aid

Many families need assistance to pay for a college education. The first thing to do is file the FAFSA as soon as possible. Sound familiar? You are probably flashing back to your previous experience with the FAFSA. That experience will pay off when you complete it this year. Remember, you need to file the FAFSA every year.

File the FAFSA
To get started, find both the parents’ and student’s PIN. If you forgot your PIN, you can get it again at www.pin.ed.gov. File the FAFSA electronically at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Make sure to include St. Bonaventure’s school code: 002817. If applying for aid for the fall 2008, use 2008-09 as the academic year for the FAFSA and submit 2007 income information on the FAFSA. The deadline for St. Bonaventure University returning students to file the FAFSA is April 1, 2008. After you successfully file the FAFSA, watch for a Student Aid Report (SAR). Review the SAR and make corrections if necessary. If you are selected for verification, the SBU Office of Financial Aid will notify you regarding specific documentation you must submit (usually income verification, tax returns, W2s, verification of family size). Reply to this verification request as quickly as possible. The student’s financial aid is considered tentative pending the completion of verification. New York state residents will be directed to the New York State Higher Ed Web site (www. HESC.org) to complete the application for the New York State TAP Grant through TAP-on-the-web using a PIN. If you want to file the FAFSA by paper you can download one at www.federalstudentaid.ed.gov, call 1-800-433-3243 to have one mailed to you, or ask the Office of Financial Aid.

Investigate other sources of financial aid
Private scholarships can be a source of additional funding for some families. Many families find they need to borrow to supplement the student’s financial aid package. If you decide to borrow, we recommend you exhaust all federal loan options (Stafford, Perkins, and PLUS loans) before seeking private or alternative loans in the student’s name. Federal loans have the best terms and rates available. The SBU Business Office offers plans which enable you to pay your balance in monthly installments. You will receive specific information about the plans in a separate mailing from the Business Office. Questions can be directed to the Business Office at (716) 375-2100.

Financial aid from SBU
Finally, your student should watch for a financial aid package by late June. Academic awards are renewed at the same amount each year provided the student maintains the minimum cumulative GPA required for the award. Need-based aid will stay relatively the same as in prior years provided the family financial situation is relatively the same and federal funding levels remain constant. In all cases, the student must demonstrate satisfactory academic progress toward his/her degree in order to renew financial aid. Returning students receive notification of the financial aid award via their SBU e-mail account. They should review the financial aid award on our secure intranet at my.sbu.edu, where they must accept or decline their awards. Please remind your student to watch his/her SBU e-mail account for financial aid and other SBU notices over the summer.

Information about the residence halls closing.For further information about financial aid at St. Bonaventure, please see our Web site at www.sbu.edu.

Application Tips:

      1. File the FAFSA as early as possible. Estimate information if necessary. Watch for the Student Aid Report.
      2. NYS residents, complete the TAP-on-the web as early as possible.
      3. Keep copies of all application materials.
      4. Follow up to make sure everything is received.
      5. Pay attention to application and billing deadlines.
      6. Respond as soon as possible to requests for additional information.
      7. Seek out additional “free” sources of aid through private, state, and federal organizations.
      8. If you need to borrow, exhaust federal loan sources first.

WHAT'S GOING ON . . .
Upcoming events on campus include:
Saturday, 1/26 - Men's Basketball vs. Rhode Island
Sunday, 1/27 - College Night at Holiday Valley
Sunday, 1/27 - Polar Bear Walk/Run
Monday, 1/28 - Bona's Relay for Life fundraiser at Friendly's
Wednesday, 1/30 - BonaResponds Spring Break interest meeting
Wednesday, 1/30 - Women's Basketball vs. Duquesne
Friday, 2/1 - Women's Swimming vs. St. Francis (PA)
Saturday, 2/2 - Women's Tennis vs. Cleveland State
Monday, 4/1 - 150th Anniversary Convocation

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Information about the residence halls closing.

 

 

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