Guide to Student Services

Table of Contents and Checklist

1

Introduction

from Student Services 2

SageAdvisor

Instructions for Registration 3 Student Services

Contact Sheet

4

Academic Calendar

(and Important Registration Dates) 5

Your Student Account:

What You Need to Know 6

Tuition Planning

Guide

7

Health Insurance

Coverage & Waiver Process

8 Federal Financial Aid Completed Date Sent

Disbursement Authorization Form

q [ ]

9

FERPA

Form q [ ]

Welcome to Sage! We know that new beginnings are exciting – but a lot to absorb. This

packet will help you stay on track for a successful start to your college career.

About Student Services

The Office of Student Services at Sage is exactly that: a full-service resource for our students. Our student services specialists provide guidance and answers to questions and issues relating to financial aid, registration for classes, accessing your academic record, and managing your student account.

For our students’ protection, Student Services will not disclose any academic information over the phone, nor will we accept payment information by phone. In order for Student Services to be able to discuss information about a student’s academic record with a third party, the student must have a signed

FERPA form

(see page 9 in this packet) on file with the Office of Student Services.

Online Resources

For your convenience, Sage’s financial aid and billing systems are automated and online. • SageAdvisor is your one stop shop for financial aid, student billing and registration.

• The billing system can be accessed through SageAdvisor. When you pay your enrollment deposit, you

are sent a username and password to access SageAdvisor (until then, you have limited access). You will

receive monthly e-mails when your statement of account is available, and you’ll be able to view statements and make payments online.

• You can also accept your financial aid package, email financial aid counselors and register for classes through SageAdvisor.

Contact Us

Student services specialists are available to assist you throughout your academic career at Sage. Student Services is located in Cowee Hall (1st floor) in Troy and Administration Building (1st floor) in Albany.

Call: (518) 292-1781 Albany Call: (518) 244-2201 Troy

Email: [email protected]

Graduate Students Important Registration Information:

All graduate students are required to pay an enrollment deposit prior to registering for your first semester of courses:

Doctorate in Physical Therapy $ 200 All other Graduate Schools programs $ 50

In subsequent semesters, as a matriculated graduate student, you are encouraged to take advantage of the open enrollment period which typically lasts six weeks during which no deposit is required to register. Please make sure you check your Sage

email and MySage announcements for when this period is available each semester.

Graduate students are strongly encouraged to register early during the open enrollment period as departments will cancel courses that are under-enrolled, which could impact course sequence for your program.

SageAdvisor Instructions for Registration

Log in to SageAdvisor. You must log in to access registration functions (same User ID & Password as MySage). Click on the dark blue box:

Students Menu

From the Students Menu

Go to the

REGISTRATION

menu, use the

link: SEARCH/REGISTER FOR SECTIONS

In SEARCH/REGISTER FOR SECTIONS screen:

In this screen use these 3 boxes - only

•

TERM

… use the drop-down arrow to select the Term

•

SUBJECT

… use the drop arrow to select the Subject (i.e., Psychology) •

COURSE NUMBER

… (i.e., type in “101”)

You may leave ALL other items on this screen – BLANK (i.e., days, times)

Click once on SUBMIT

(at bottom of page)

A screen, Section Selection Results, will appear.

• To select a course, click on the small white box (put in a check mark) in the first column for each course you are interested in.

• Be sure to check the

Course Availability

column (Available/Capacity/Wait list). The first number is number of available seats/the second number is total allowed in class/the third column is the number of students on wait list.

Click once on Submit

(at bottom of page).

Important Final Step

A new screen, REGISTER AND DROP SECTIONS, will appear.

SageAdvisor allows for schedule changes during the add/ drop period (please refer to the academic calendar). SageAdvisor will not allow for students to drop or withdrawal from all registered course work.

In the first column, ACTION FIELD, there is a white box with a drop down arrow - SELECT one option: REGISTER or put yourself on the WAIT LIST - if the class is closed.

Click once on SUBMIT

(at bottom of page).

A message will appear that you have been REGISTERED for the courses you just entered.

To make sure your registration was processed, review your schedule by clicking on “My Class Schedule” on

SageAdvisor.

Student Services Centers

❏

❏ Rhiannon Antico -Student Services Coordinator and Technology Specialist

❏

❏ Erin Bink - Student Services Senior Specialist

❏

❏ Melissa Chamberlain - Student Services Specialist

❏

❏ Katherine Vander Veen - Student Services Specialist

❏

❏ Erica Smith - Student Services Specialist Financial Aid

❏

❏ Kelley Robinson - Director of Financial Aid

❏

❏ Jean D’Ambrosia - Associate Director of Financial Aid

❏

❏ Jurgita Rahmane- Assistant Director of Financial Aid

❏

❏ Toni Naughton - Assistant Director of Financial Aid

❏

❏ Megan Henry - Financial Aid Specialist - Verification & Veterans Affairs

❏

❏ Lauren Tinger - Student Loan Coordinator

❏

❏ Rachel Walker - Student Records Specialist

❏

❏ Emilee Loeffler - Student Records Specialist Student Accounts

❏

❏ Kim Higgins - Director of Student Accounts

❏

❏ Lisa Dooley - Assistant Director of Student Accounts

❏

❏ Shauna Alderman - Student Accounts Manager Registrar’s Office

❏

❏ Pat Schumann - Acting Registrar

❏

❏ Gary Miller - Assistant Registrar for Data Management

❏

❏ Kathy Scoville - Assistant Registrar for Degree Audits

❏

❏ Mary Dirolf - Assistant Registrar for Transfer Evaluations

❏

❏ Annetta Coleman - Assistant Registrar

❏

❏ Jill Bierman - Senior Student Records Specialist

I spoke with...

3

Student Services Date Notes

Student Services Contact Sheet

We’re here to help!

Call: (518) 292-1781 Albany | (518) 244-2201 Troy Email: [email protected]

Summer 2015

Session I & III Classes Begin May 18

Memorial Day: College Closed May 25

Session I & III Classes End June 29

Holiday- College Closed July 2 & 3

Session I Grades Due July 6

Session II & III Classes Begin July 6

Session II & III Classes End August 13

Session II Grades Due August 21

Session III Grades Due August 21

Fall 2015

Fall Semester Classes Begin August 31

Labor Day: College Closed September 7

Last Day to Add/Drop a Course September 8 December Graduation Applications Due October 1

Columbus Day: College Closed October 12

College Open, No Classes October 13

Last Day to Opt for Pass/Fail Option November 20 (SPCE)

Thanksgiving Break November 25- November 29

Last Class Day/Exam December 18

Fall Grades Due December 22

Spring 2016

Martin Luther King Day: Offices Closed January 18

Spring Semester Classes Begin January 19

Last Day to Add/Drop a Course January 26

Filing Deadline for May Graduation February 15 Registration Opens (tentative) March 28

SGS Research Symposium April 30

Last Class Day/Exam May 9

Graduating Student Grades Due May 10 (12 pm) Baccalaureate Ceremonies May 13

Commencement May 14

All Other Grades Due May 16 (5 pm)

Academic Calendar

2015-2016

and Important Registration Dates for Sage Graduate Schools and

School of Professional + Continuing Education

Your Student Account: What You Need to Know

Your

student account

refers to your financial account at Sage. The term “Statement of Account” refers to your bill.

Explanation of Billing

• You are billed for one semester at a time, not a full year. • Bills will be sent electronically to your Sage email account.

• Email notifications will be sent on a monthly basis to your Sage email account when your statement has been posted in Sage’s

online billing system

, found in SageAdvisor.

• Through SageAdvisor, you can view your current Statement of Account, make a payment online, view recent activity, and view previous statements.

• You can set authorized users so that your parents, guardians, spouse, or employer can view your tuition bill as well as make payments online to your account.

Payment Due Dates

All student balances must be paid in full by the dates below unless the student has been awarded financial aid sufficient to cover the outstanding balance or is enrolled in the College’s payment plan. Students will be permitted to attend classes and utilize College facilities only after they have settled their financial obligations to the College.

Failure to fully pay the student’s liability or make alternative arrangements with Student Accounts may result in the removal of registration from any or all classes and prevent access to Student Housing. In addition, an unpaid financial obligation to the College will result in the withholding of the student’s grades, transcript of credits, diploma, and official reports and make the student ineligible for future financial aid awards, pre-registration, and resident room selections.

July 31, 2015 Fall 2015 semester December 18, 2015 Spring 2016 semester

Reading Your Bill

• All itemized college charges are listed on your Statement of Account, as well as any pending financial aid. • You will see a balance due prior to pending financial aid as well as the balance due after financial aid is applied.

Should you accept all of your aid, the amount due is the balance due after pending financial aid.

• Graduate Assistantships are available to students who qualify. More information regarding Graduate Assistantships is available at sage.edu/costaid/tuition/sgs/assistantships/

• If you ever have questions about your bill or what you owe, please contact Student Services for help.

Payment Options

You can pay your bill online using a debit or credit card or checking account, or at the Student Services counters with check, cash or debit or credit card. You can pay all or part of your bill at any time prior to the due dates, or you can enroll in a payment plan.

Payment Plan

For your convenience, Sage offers a monthly payment plan through Tuition Management Systems. This helps spread your college costs throughout the semester instead of paying in one lump sum. To sign up, go to www.afford.com. Make sure to

calculate what you owe for the

entire semester.

For help in calculating your yearly costs, refer to the list of fees on page 6.

Refunds

If your payments and applied financial aid exceed the amount of charges to your student account, you may be due a refund. You will need to complete a

Federal Financial Aid Disbursement Authorization Form

(see page 9 in this packet) in order to receive refund money.

There are several options for how to receive refunds. Log in to SageAdvisor and under Financial Information, go to Student Refunds to select your preferred option:

• Direct deposit into your own checking account

• Enroll in a Higher One No Fee Student Checking account and have the funds deposited in that account via the SageAccess Card

Tuition Planning Guide

Tuition charges are not refundable. Adjustments for withdrawals and other circumstances can be found in the Adjustments for Tuition, Room and Board Charges online at sage.edu/costaid/tuition/. All students enrolled in Sage Graduate Schools pay

tuition per credit hour according to the program for which they enroll. Summer tuition rates are published each spring prior to course registration.

Rates listed below are for 2015-2016:

Tuition

Per Credit Hour

Esteves School of Education master’s programs $620

School of Management master’s programs $680

School of Health Sciences master’s programs $680

Doctoral programs (on campus) $790

Doctoral programs (off campus) $1,000*

Occupational Therapy master’s programs $790

Certificate programs $620

Practice Teaching, per credit hour $620

School of Professional and Continuing Education (NON-Nursing) $590 School of Professional and Continuing Education (Nursing) $400

Non-matriculated students $680

Audited courses, per credit hour $170

* $850 per credit for CSA members

Program Based Fees

The following fees are not refundable or subject to adjustment after the first day of classes. These fees are charged accordingly and in addition to the previously stated tuition charges.

ABA Practicum Fee $900

Student Teacher Placement Fee (per course section) $250

Reading, Writing, Language (RWL) Fee $25

Activity Based Fees

The following fees are not refundable or subject to adjustment.

Application Fee $40

Late Fee Payment $50

Transcript Request $5

Placement Service File $5

Diploma $50

Vehicle Registration (before 12/31) $50

Vehicle Registration (1/1 to 5/15) $30

Vehicle Registration (after 5/15) $15

Returned Check Fee $25

Enrollment and Room Deposits

Health Insurance Coverage and Waiver Process

Sage Graduate Schools & School of Professional & Continuing Education

Full-time students in the Sage Graduate Schools or School of Professional & Continuing Education are not automatically charged for student health insurance, but they may purchase insurance through Sage’s health insurance partner, The Allen J. Flood Insurance company (www.ajfusa.com). Students who opt for this coverage will make payments directly to the insurance company.

• Go to www.mystudentmedical.com

• Click on College & University students • Select “Online Enrollment Form”

(including full-time SPCE students) • Follow the instructions

Federal Financial Aid Disbursement Authorization Form

Federal financial aid regulations require Sage to obtain the student’s (and parent’s if you have a PLUS Loan) authorization prior to disbursing federal funds (Pell, SEOG, Perkins, Stafford Loans, and Parent PLUS Loans) in excess of the amount required to pay institutional charges (tuition & fees, room & board, etc.). Typically, federal financial aid first pays a student’s institutional charges, and then you determine how the remainder of the funds is applied by selecting one of the disbursement options below.

I understand that if I wish to change my options, that I must do so by submitting a new form to Student Services.

q Option #1

I authorize that I want the option to use excess federal financial aid funds, if any, to be used to pay non-institutional charges I may incur such as book accounts, parking and library fines, and health center charges.

q Option #2

I authorize that I want the option to use excess federal financial aid funds, if any, to be applied to balances on

my account to pay any prior semester balances within the same academic year.

q Option #3

I wish for Sage to hold any excess federal financial aid funds and apply them to future semesters’ institutional charges within the same academic year. By selecting this option all refunds will be held on the account until the end of the academic year.

OR

q Option #4

I have read Options #1-3 above and do not wish to consent to any of these options. I understand that by signing below, my federal financial aid funds will only be used for institutional charges for the current

semester in which they are awarded, and any excess financial aid funds will be issued to me. I understand that if I incur any of the items in option 1-3 that I will pay the charges within 10 days or a hold may be placed on my account.

Parent PLUS Loans

All refunds will be issued to the student, except when the credit is generated on the student’s account as a result of the posting of a Parent PLUS Loan. Then the refund will be issued to the parent that applied for the PLUS Loan, via check.

Student’s Name (please print) Student ID#

Student’s Signature Date

Parent’s Signature* Date * required if there is a Parent PLUS Loan on the account

Annual FERPA Notice to Students

• Please read the following information

• Please sign on the next page

THE FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS AND PRIVACY ACT (FERPA) OF 1974

Annually, The Sage Colleges informs students of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, as amended. This Act, with which the institution intends to comply fully, was designated to protect the privacy of educational records. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) affords students certain rights with respect to their educational records. These rights include: 1 The right to inspect and review the student’s educational records within 45 days of the day the college receives a request for

access. Students should submit to the registrar, dean, head of the academic department or other appropriate office written requests that identify the record(s) they wish to inspect. The college official will make arrangements for access and notify the students of the time and place where the records may be inspected. If the records are not maintained by the college official to whom the request was submitted, that official shall advise the students of the correct official to whom the request should be addressed. 2 The right to request the amendment of the student’s educational records that the student believes are inaccurate or misleading.

Students may ask the college to amend a record that they believe is inaccurate or misleading. They should write the college official responsible for the record, clearly identify the part of the record they want changed, and specify why it is inaccurate or misleading. If the college decides not to amend the records as requested by a student, the college will notify the student of the decision and advise the student of his or her right to a hearing regarding the request for amendment. Additional information regarding the hearing procedures will be provided to a student when notified of the right to a hearing.

3 The right to consent to disclosures of personally identifiable information contained in the student’s educational records, except to the extent that FERPA authorizes disclosure without consent. One exception which permits disclosure without consent is disclosure to school officials with legitimate educational interests. A school official is: a person employed by the college in an administrative, supervisory, academic or research, or support staff position (including law enforcement unit personnel and health staff); a person or company with whom the college has contracted (such as an attorney, auditor, or collection agent); a person serving on the Board of Trustees; or a student serving on an official committee, such as a disciplinary or grievance committee, or assisting another school official in performing his or her tasks. A school official has a legitimate educational interest if the official needs to review an educational record in order to fulfill his or her professional responsibility. The following is considered “Directory Information” at The Sage Colleges and may be made available to the general public at the discretion of the college unless the student notifies the Office of the Registrar in writing before that end of the first month of the fall semester:

Student’s name, address, phone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency attended.

4 The right to file a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education concerning alleged failures by The Sage College to comply with the requirements of FERPA.

The name and address of the office that administers FERPA is: Family Policy Compliance Office, U.S. Department of Education, 600 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC 20202-4605

>> FERPA form, continued

Authorization to Disclose Academic Information

In accordance with FERPA, The Sage Colleges will disclose information from the academic records of a student provided the college has on file written consent of the student. Please sign below and return to The Sage Colleges’ Registrar’s Office if you consent for the college to release your educational records. This authorization is valid for one academic year (fall through spring semester). Upon conclusion of the spring semester, all authorizations will be removed. If you wish to renew this, a new request form must be signed and returned to the Registrar’s Office.

I authorize the Sage Colleges to disclose my academic information to the following individuals:

Authorized Individuals

Student’s Name (please print) Student ID#

Student’s Signature Date

Authorization to Withhold Directory Information

The following is considered “Directory Information” at The Sage Colleges and may be made available to the general

public unless the student notifies the Registrar’s Office in writing by September 30:

Student’s name, address, phone listing, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, weight and height of members of athletic teams, dates of attendance, degrees and awards received, and the most recent previous educational agency attended.

Please consider carefully the consequences of withholding such Directory Information

. Should you decide to inform The Sage Colleges not to release any of this information, any requests for such information from The Sage Colleges would be refused. Student groups and organizations will not be able to contact you, your name would not be listed in the student directory, your name will not appear on the Dean’s lists or in the Commencement program, nor will The Sage Colleges be able to verify that you attend here. This signed request must be received in the Registrar’s Office by September 30. This authorization is valid for one academic year. Upon conclusion of the spring semester, all directory holds will be removed. If you wish this action to be renewed, a new request form must be signed and returned to the Registrar’s Office each academic year.

I hereby request that The Sage Colleges not release any Directory Information. I have read the above paragraphs and understand the consequences of my action.