Office of Student Financial Services Newsletter Fall 2009
Happy Holidays from the Office of Student Financial Services (OSFS)
Have You Checked the Emmanuel Portal Today?
Not only are the falling leaves and the dropping temperatures a sign of the changing season, but also a sign that the fall semester is coming to an end and the holidays are approaching. As this semester comes to a close and we prepare for the upcoming semester, please remember:
In addition to visiting the Office of Student Financial Services, students can also view important information electronically through the Emmanuel Portal (portal.emmanuel.edu). The “Student Financial Services” section of the Emmanuel Portal has been designed to allow students to find information about financial aid, payment options, refunds, scholarships and student employment. Every form provided by the OSFS can be downloaded through the “Student Financial Services” section of the Emmanuel Portal. The Emmanuel Portal not only provides information regarding the OSFS, but it is also the College’s official means of communication. Stay connected, stay informed – check the Emmanuel Portal!
Spring tuition bills were mailed to registered students in mid-November and are due no later than Friday, December 18, 2009. If you have any questions about your bill or payment options, please call the OSFS at (617) 735-9938 or e-mail financialservices@emmanuel.edu. Students must re-apply for financial aid each academic year by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov. The FAFSA is available beginning January 1, 2010. To receive priority consideration, students must apply by March 1, 2010. Please note, the College will be closed December 24th through January 3rd, however, our office will be open for limited hours. We encourage you to contact us at (617) 735-9938 or at financialservices@emmanuel.edu prior to the holiday. The OSFS wishes you a happy holiday break and looks forward to seeing you back for the start of the spring semester!
Tax Season & Tax Benefits With tax season approaching, parents and students should be aware of the variety of tax benefits (some of which are new this year) that are available to taxpayers to assist with higher education expenses. The OSFS will include information on these tax benefits with the 1098T that is mailed in late January (available through Online Academic Resources). Additionally, you can visit www.irs.gov or talk to a tax professional to get more information. Also, students who worked for Emmanuel will receive their W-2s in January.
Did you know you can view your tuition bill and make electronic payments through Online Academic Resources (OAR)? Go to portal.emmanuel.edu and sign in using your student login.
OSFS Newsletter Going Paperless! The OSFS is proud to announce that this is the last paper edition of the OSFS newsletter. Beginning next spring, all OSFS newsletters will be posted electronically on the Emmanuel Portal and under the “Tuition & Aid” section of the Emmanuel web site. In a continued effort to be green, we encourage students to view important financial documents through OAR via the Emmanuel Portal. Students and parents can also learn more about the academic and student life opportunities through the College’s e-newsletter. To subscribe, visit www.emmanuel.edu, click on “About Emmanuel,” then “News & Events” and “Subscribe to E-News.”
Work-Study Partnerships: Tutors for All There are many ways that the OSFS helps students pay for their education. One of these ways is through federal workstudy partnerships, which allow students to earn money by working with organizations that have created partnerships with Emmanuel. “Tutors for All” is one of the many programs that helps Emmanuel students earn money for their education while providing needed services to the surrounding community. Speaking on the wonderful work that Emmanuel students do, Mark Destler, founder of Tutors for All, writes: “Over the past three and a half years, well over 50 Emmanuel work-study students have partnered with Tutors for All to bridge the achievement gap one student at a time. In the process, they’ve transformed the lives of their students and the five high-poverty schools that they attend. The extent of their dedication and level of contribution has made them a uniquely effective partner – Emmanuel students have filled more leadership roles than students from any of the other 14 colleges and universities with which Tutors for All partners.”
Yellow Ribbon Program Beginning this academic year, Emmanuel College announced its participation in the Post-9/11 GI Bill Yellow Ribbon Program, a supplemental scholarship designed to assist eligible veterans pay for college. Under a voluntary agreement with the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Emmanuel will help fund tuition expenses that exceed the highest public-in-state tuition rates. This agreement signifies the College’s commitment to support veterans who are pursuing an education. For more information regarding the Yellow Ribbon Program, please visit the VA web site at www.gibill.va.gov or contact the OSFS.
Private Scholarships Did you know that there are approximately 2.4 million scholarships, worth $14 billion dollars, available to college students nationwide? Although scholarships require time and effort on your part, they can help minimize borrowing as well as pad a résumé when searching for that perfect career after school.
To help you with your scholarship search, the OSFS frequently updates scholarship postings on the “Student Financial Services” section of the Emmanuel Portal. If you have questions about private scholarships or need help with the private scholarship search, the staff of the OSFS is available to assist you.
Moving Off Campus Are you considering moving off campus for the 20102011 academic year? Although apartment living may seem like a cheaper alternative than living on campus, you should consider all options before signing that lease. Here are some costs that go with apartment living to consider: rent, heat and electricity, cable and Internet, furniture, food and cleaning supplies. Students should also consider the upfront costs of application fees and security deposits and oftentimes first and last month’s rent. Additionally, students living off campus are required to sign a 12-month lease, even if the student does not plan on residing there during the summer. Furthermore, changes in your housing status may affect your financial aid award. If you are currently receiving Emmanuel funding, living on campus and considering moving off campus or commuting from home, we encourage you to meet with your Student Financial Services counselor to discuss what effect this will have on your financial aid award for the 2010-2011 academic year.
Meet the New OSFS Staff The Office of Student Financial Services would like to welcome our newest staff members. Please stop by our office (Administration Building, Room 340) to meet Keith Curtis Dimalanta, Ryan Martinez, Stephanie Rege ’08 and Jen Scullin. The staff of the OSFS is here to provide you with personal attention, whether you have questions on the best financing options available, would like assistance finding a part-time job, need help searching for private scholarships or have any questions about your options to pay for your Emmanuel education.
The Office of Student Financial Services is available to answer any questions that you might have. Please contact us via phone at (617) 735-9938, by e-mail at financialservices@emmanuel.edu or in person in the Administration Building, Room 340.