The new Parent Connection Workshop Series addresses issues relevant to parenting college students and is held on the first Wednesday of each month and in coordination with the academic calendar.

Co‐sponsored by the Dean of Students Family Connection Program, Parent Relations Office and Parent Association, the series features presenters from a variety of university departments. It provides a regular opportunity for parents to gain new insights from campus experts and to network with other parents to improve their students’ experience at UNM. 

Workshop Date & Location:
Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2009
Dean of Students Conference Room (Students Services Center #260)

Workshop Agenda:
5:30 – 6:00 pm Check‐in
6:00 – 6:05 pm Welcome and Speaker introduction
6:05 – 6:45 pm Presentation by Susan Chavez & Bill Bloom
6:45 – 7:00 pm Q & A
7:00 pm Workshop Evaluation & Conclusion

Workshop Topic: Money Matters: Financial Aid & Scholarships
With the economic downturn, many people need some help. This workshop will provide parents with information on Financial Aid and Scholarship opportunities.
Financial Aid: January is the time when students and parents should be preparing for the FAFSA again. Whether it is your first time submitting this important form or just a renewal of last year’s form, this workshop will provide you with important information about this year’s financial aid process.
Scholarships: Learn what UNM has to offer current and returning students. Topics include the General Scholarship Program and other outside scholarship opportunities.

Future Workshop Series:
February — Student Health and CounselingLove is in the air! Learn how relationships affect student success and retention. Whether your student is in love or looking for it, this workshop addresses many issues including relationship counseling, transferring, study time, and family planning issues.

March — Academic Support
Conquering academic challenges! Every student has a class that he or she is struggling through all semester. Learn what UNM has to offer in terms of tutoring programs, mentorship opportunities, and other student support services that will help your student succeed in the classroom.

Contact:
Parent Relations Office: 505 – 277-5915, parent@​unm.​edu
Dean of Students Office: 505 – 277-3361, nso@​unm.​edu

The title of this article is a liberal interpretation of a saying about a bird and worm with the same message – it pays to take care of business early. Of course, for the student, the worm translates to more money in the form of college grants. Grants are always more desirable because unlike loans, they do not have to be paid back. Not everyone who applies for financial aid will be eligible for grants, but for those New Mexico residents who are eligible could receive considerably more grant aid by meeting the March 1, 2008 priority date.

March 1 is a target date and not a guarantee date. What this means is if a FAFSA is received by the central processing agency before March 1 and a student’s file is complete then a student has a much better chance of receiving additional grants if eligible. Completing a file is a very important part of the process and will be addressed in more detail in this article. Jan. 1 is the earliest a FAFSA can be filed for the 2008 – 2009 school year, which starts August of 2008. (more…)

As the parent of a high school senior or college student you will want to explore financial aid options. As a family, soon you will need to submit the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid).

According to James Boyle, president of College Parents of America, myths abound when it comes to financial aid.
They include:
- Only students with high GPAs get all the aid;
- Only extremely needy students receive financial aid, so if your family income is high, then don’t bother to apply; and
- If your older son or daughter didn’t qualify for aid, then neither will your other children.

The FAFSA, to be issued Jan. 1, 2008, will be available online. Filing online is highly recommended for both speed of transmission and accuracy of information.

Hard copy forms may be available at your high school’s guidance counseling office; or, in the case of returning college students, at the UNM financial aid office. According to Boyle, fewer paper FAFSAs will be printed for this upcoming financial aid cycle, as the government’s goal is for the process to go paperless.

UNM’s Bursar’s Office is where students and parents take care of business. The Bursar Web site is a great place to start and is updated to reflect the spring ’08 semester.

One very important change is that the terminology for disenrollment is now “enrollment cancellation.” The Enrollment Cancellation deadline for spring is Jan. 11 at 5 p.m.

Students permitted to register for the spring semester must pay tuition, fees, and all outstanding charges by the Enrollment Cancellation deadline. Students who set up a payment plan on LoboWeb by the deadline will also be cleared from Enrollment Cancellation.

Students who fail to meet the deadline will have their registration cancelled and be removed from all classes. Students with cancelled registration who wish to be enrolled at UNM must re‐register. The student will be required to make full payment, or complete financial arrangements for all university charges, and pay a non refundable reregistration/late registration fee.

If a student is removed tuition and most fees are refunded in full. 

Students can log onto https://my.unm.edu and click on the “Student Life” tab to check Bursar status. The Enrollment Cancellation balance option is available about two weeks before the Enrollment Cancellation date.

College remains affordable for most families, according to national reports. This month UNM was identified as one of “America’s 100 Best College Buys” by Institutional Research & Evaluation, Inc. a private research firm. UNM has been featured in the report for each of the past 12 years it has been in existence.

“The fact that UNM has been included in this top 100 ranking since its beginning is a testament to what we want prospective students and families to realize,” said Interim Vice President for Enrollment Management Terry Babbitt. “You can get a top tier education here in a vast number of disciplines for a cost that is well under the national average. This is more about quality than value, but it is great when you can get both.”

Yearly in‐state tuition, fees and residence hall costs for a full‐time student taking 30 credit hours at UNM is $11,270, lower than many schools in the region.

College Board released a report this week citing that students and families can expect to pay, on average, from $95 to $1,404 more than last year for this year’s tuition and fees, depending on the type of college. In January, UNM regents will ask the State Legislature for a zero percent tuition credit so the university will not be required to raise tuition in the coming year.

College financial planners are proving popular, according to an article in today’s Chronicle for Higher Education. In “Consultants Help Families Pay Less for College,” the author points out that even financially savvy families can benefit from working with a certified college financial planner.

Five years ago, the article states, the National Institute of Certified College Planners did not exist. It now has 1,200 registered members. Public accountants and financial planners without certification are also offering education‐related financial advice.

Students interested in setting up a payment plan can do so online through LoboWeb from my.unm.edu. By clicking on the “Make Payments, View Bill, Setup eRefunds, Installment Plans, etc.” link, students will be directed to the UNM Account Suite.

The student can also use this suite to setup “authorized users” to view statements and make payments on their behalf.

Every semester students must pay a “disenrollment balance” by the due date posted on the Bursar’s Office Web site to prevent disenrollment.

Students can locate their disenrollment balance by going to LoboWeb. Disenrollment balances are available for online review after the July 2007 billing statement has been processed.

A disenrollment balance includes all current and past‐due charges on the July statement as well as any additional tuition and fees incurred after the billing statement has been issued. A balance is reduced when financial aid (grants, scholarships and loans) are awarded. Because the balance adjusts whenever a student changes his or her course schedule, it is important to review the balance on LoboWeb after each change.

The Bursar’s Office offers all students in good standing the option of paying tuition, fees and housing costs over the course of the semester in three to five installments. There is a $10 per payment fee to setup the installment plan.

UNM students with a payment arrangement are required to pay the first installment and setup fee online at the time the plan is established to prevent disenrollment. All subsequent payments will be automatically withdrawn from the account specified. Payments can be made using VISA, MasterCard or a savings/checking account.