March 2023

Volume 5, Issue 8

• Academic Affairs

  Tutoring Services
  Tutoring Services offers support for more than 150 courses and has implemented additional labs to offer more availability. Visit our website for Spring 2023 tutoring lab schedules and course lists. Students can also request academic support for courses not on this list. We will make every effort to match students.

  Students can request a peer tutor or academic peer mentor (APM) through the Starfish app or KU homepage using the “I Need Help” drop-down menu. Our office is located in 26 Rohrbach Library and our hours are as follows:
  - 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Thursday.
  - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Friday.
  - Closed Saturday and Sunday.

  The Center for Student Success and Academic Excellence
  The Center for Student Success offers academic skills workshops weekly at 11 a.m., Tuesdays, 203 Academic Forum. For the workshop schedule visit www.kutztown.edu/studentsuccess.

  Starfish
  Featured tools include the “I need Help” feature for students, allowing them to proactively connect to needed resources and information. For more information, visit https://www.kutztown.edu/starfish.

  Visual and Performing Arts Gathering
  Faculty, staff and student leaders from the College of Visual and Performing Arts gathered Feb. 28, to recognize the work of the college. More than 20 student leaders were recognized as representatives of the many clubs and organizations within the college. Department chairs of Art and Design, Art Education, Cinema, Media and Television Production, Communication Studies and Music featured department highlights from the year. Dr. Bradley Shope, dean, provided opening and closing remarks assisted by Dr. Amy Pfeiler-Wunder, interim associate dean.

  KU's Miller Gallery Presents the Scholastic Art Awards
  Celebrate 100 years of the longest-running, most prestigious art competition for grades 7-12 in the country. See the winners in our region online.  

  Kutztown Hosts Second Ignite Event
  The Department of Communication Studies hosted the second Ignite Kutztown event March 1. Ignite is a public speaking event where speakers have five minutes and 20 slides that advance automatically to share their ideas with the audience, making for dynamic presentations – enlighten us, but make it quick! This semester’s Ignite featured two faculty members from Kutztown, Jennifer Forsyth from English and Josh Miller from Art and Design, as well as student speakers Ethan Bortz, Maria Clark, Breann Craley, Rachel Glembocki, Austin Harris, Avery Meiners and Marrisa Moore. Ignite is open to the community for both presenters and audience members and we plan on holding our next event 7 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 4. Please contact Emily Cripe, department chair, at cripe@kutztown.edu if you are interested in participating or want more information. Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/KUCommunicationStudies.

  Cinema, Media and Television (CTM) Production Events
  Professor Suwak is hosting a Tollywood/Hollywood “Screening Extravaganza” of the film RRR Wednesday, March 22, with prizes that include five original movie posters from India.

  Career Development Center
  The Internship and Job Fair will be held noon-3 p.m., Wednesday, March 29, 218 MSU.

  Lunch and Learn: Beginning Spanish for the Workplace
  These sessions, taught by Karen Rauch, Ph.D., will focus on retail and general office needs. 10 Sessions: 12-12:45 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, beginning Monday, March 13. The cost is $150. Northeast Berks Chamber of Commerce members and KU employees receive a 10% discount. Enrollment is limited to 15 so register early to start learning Spanish. Register online.

• Administration and Finance

  Spring 2023 Balances
  These are past due unless the student is participating in a valid payment plan that covers the balance. Please address any uncovered balances. If you are unsure of how to pay, we can always assess the account to be sure you have received and know all available options. Did you know if a parent is denied a parent plus loan, the student might be eligible for additional Stafford loans? Email us for guidance at studentaccounts@kutztown.edu.

  2023-2024 FAFSA
  This FAFSA opened Oct. 1, 2022, using 2021 taxes and it is required if you want to use any federal aid for the next school year. To be considered for any state-grant funding, the FAFSA must be filed and processed before May 1; meaning you must file and sign by April 15. Do not delay any longer. Yes, FAFSA’s are required every year.

  Summer 2023 Registration and Costs
  Summer 2023 registration opens shortly. Summer Costs are published online as well as a page dedicated to Summer session payment information. Due dates are assigned based on the date the registration occurs. A payment plan is now open for summer. We encourage planning in advance to get the most payments. Students do not have to be enrolled to sign up for the payment plan.

  Internships
  Just a reminder that internships are credits students earn with a grade which affects their GPA. These credits have a cost just like any other credit at KU. They have less fees for these experiences as they are off campus, but there are costs associated with them. Please budget accordingly for summer internships.

  Special Undergraduate Non-Resident Pricing Announcement for Summer & Faculty Led Experiences
  We are pleased to offer a special pricing structure to all non-resident students in the summer sessions and for their participation in faculty-led experiences effective Summer 2023. Non-residents will be charged the following rates (courses average as three credits but some are more or less). More information can be found online on the summer costs page.

  • $625 per credit for on-campus courses (II’s and IS’s).
  • $574 per credit for off-campus courses (Internships).
  • $391 per credit for distance education as a part-time student.

  Fall 2023 Payment Plan Update
  Fall 2023’s best payment plan, six payments, will open in April. As time goes on, the number of payments in the plan decreases. Please read about the payment plans on our website, clicking on the semester or session you are interested in learning more about. Payment Plans are set up on the Payment Dashboard only. While costs are not billed until July, you can use this year’s costs as an estimate to set up a plan. You can adjust this plan, increase or decrease, as needed with no fee or penalty. MyKU > KU Financial Account tile > Payment Dashboard. Fall 2023 bills will be due Aug. 4. 

  Graduating Seniors - Exit Interviews
  Students planning to graduate in May will want to ensure that they have cleared all balances in MyKU; including recent ones such as health center visits, parking tickets and ID replacements, for example. Students who received federal aid may have requirements to complete, such as an exit interview for Stafford Loans, if Stafford Loans were used.

  Online Billing Notifications and Texts for Parents
  Students can set up parents to receive billing emails and texts easily online. The student needs to login to MyKU > KU Financial Account tile > Payment Dashboard > Select My Account > Payers section > Send a Payer Invitation. The parent will be emailed a special link to their own version of the Payment Dashboard and they will now receive emails and texts.

  Incoming Students for Fall 2023
  Welcome! Access to the Payment Dashboard will open on or about April 1, 2023. This will allow time for our new families to set up payment plans and assign payers for billing notifications and more. MyKU > KU Financial Account tile > Payment Dashboard – See you at Orientation.

• Enrollment Management and Student Affairs

  Women’s Herstory Month with Noura Erakat
  Join KU Activities Board (KUAB) and the Office of Student Involvement (OSI) for an evening celebrating Women's History Month with Noura Erakat 6 p.m., Thursday, March 9, 183 MSU. Noura Erakat is a human rights attorney, an associate professor of Africana Studies at Rutgers University and a published author. Her research interests include human rights law, humanitarian law, national security law, refugee law, social justice and critical race theory. Erakat will give a presentation titled Activism, Women’s Rights & the Current Political Climate in the Middle East, followed by a brief Q&A session. More details can be found here.

  The Dinner Detective
  Join OSI and KUAB 6 p.m., Thursday, April 13, 250 MSU, for an evening of whodunnit as they host The Dinner Detective, a murder mystery dinner show. Free tickets must be reserved for this event, as seats are limited. Tickets are available online. More details can be found here.

  Commuter Appreciation Week
  CSA and OCAC will host Commuter Appreciation Week March 27-31.

  • Monday, March 27: Breakfast Sandwiches, 8-10 a.m., MSU lobby, while supplies last.
  • Tuesday, March 28: Taco Tuesday, 2-4 p.m., 218 MSU.
  • Wednesday, March 29: Whoopie Pies near the MSU Starbucks. All day while supplies last.
  • Thursday, March 30: Trivia and Cheese Steak Bar, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 250 MSU. 
  • Friday, March 31: Free Tee Friday. Stop by the MSU Info Desk for a free t-shirt. All day while supplies last.
• Equity, Compliance and Legal Affairs

  Disability Services Office
  Please encourage your student(s) to join the Disability Services Office (DSO) Monday, April 3, for Neurodiversity Pride/Acceptance Day. The DSO is providing well-being and sensory activities noon to 4 p.m., McFarland Student Union lawn. All members of the KU community are welcome and encouraged to stop by. Additionally, please encourage your students to stop by 218 MSU, Friday, April 14, anytime 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., for KU Wellbeing Day events. The DSO will be facilitating mindful meditation and a sensory/quiet space.

  KU Public Safety and Police Services Offering RAD Training (Rape, Aggression, Defense classes)
  Free to female students, staff and faculty. 6 p.m., March 20, 21, 23, Old Main. Sign up by emailing dsantos@kutztown.edu or call 610-683-4860. Must attend all three nights to complete the RAD program. Inquiries about RAD for men, please call number listed above.

• University Relations and Athletics

  Music and Magic coming to KU Presents! in March
  Join London’s Kingdom Choir Thursday, March 9, for an evening of gospel music that brings love, hope and inspiration. March 19 brings state-of-the-art magic performed by Jason Bishop with a totally modern energy and an outstanding rock and pop soundtrack. We close out the month March 29 in partnership with the Berks JazzFest by presenting legendary jazz guitarist and singer, John Pizzarelli, and stunning vocalist, Catherine Russell who pay homage to Nat King Cole and the Ladies of Song who appeared on his popular TV show. Tickets are available online or by calling 610-683-4092.

• KU Campus Store

  Graduation Festival: March 20-21
  Graduation Festival is a "one-stop-shop" for Spring graduates to purchase caps and gowns, order class rings, purchase diploma frames and learn more about KU Alumni Engagement. For more information, click here.

  Order your Official Kutztown University Ring
  Balfour is bringing the tradition to you. Shop Balfour’s collection of class rings here, or stop at their table at Grad Fest.

  Schedule Senior Portraits
  Do not miss this opportunity to be photographed at Grad Fest. Portraits will be taken in your own business attire and cap and gown. Sign up with code 22 for an appointment during Grad Fest now at https://www.ouryear.com.

• KU Foundation

  Honor Your KU Grad's Achievements
  Are you looking for a way to celebrate your Golden Bear? Consider having your graduate's name engraved on a brick in Alumni Plaza. Click here to learn how to purchase a brick in the plaza, one of the most popular spots on campus.

• Dates to Know

  KU Central Calendar
  A full listing of upcoming events and academic deadlines can be found on KU's central calendar.

  Residence halls close 6 p.m. for Spring Break	Friday, March 10
  Spring Break	Monday, March 13 - Sunday, March 19
  Summer 2023 Course Materials Available	Tuesday, March 14
  Summer Session 2023 Registration Opens	Tuesday, March 14
  Residence halls open at 1 p.m. after Spring Break	Sunday, March 19
  KUSSI Graduation Festival, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., 218 MSU	Monday, March 20 -Tuesday, March 21
  Master Schedule Online - Fall 2023	Friday, March 24
  Undergrad Advisement	Monday, March 27 - Monday, April 24