GM Connection

“Maintaining the Communication with our Parents”

Office of the Vice President for Student Services

Hello,

It may seem like only yesterday that you were melancholy as you helped to pack your son or daughter’s belongings for College.  Here we are at the end of an academic year and you probably are wondering where the time went!  Summer is almost here and before your attention is diverted to what I hope will be some much deserved R&R, I wanted to draw your attention to information for the coming year.

Student Health Insurance

Gwynedd-Mercy College requires that all full-time undergraduate students carry health insurance.  Students will be automatically enrolled in and billed for the College Student Health Insurance Plan unless an online waiver is completed prior to the deadline.  Part time students are invited to enroll in this health plan as well.   

This year, Niagara National Insurance Group will continue to provide for our student health insurance needs.  The annual rate for the base coverage will be $727.00 for coverage from August 21, 2010 through August 2011.  Niagara National will also make available optional supplemental coverage that is especially helpful for students with no other primary insurance coverage.

During the month of June, the insurance company will send to your home a brochure that includes a description of the plan, pricing information, and instructions for waiving or enrolling on-line.  We strongly encourage all families to consider the coverage and services carefully.  Additionally, you should speak with your health care provider about the new legislation that allows college students to remain on your insurance policy through twenty-six years of age. 

Summer Job Preparation

Our Career Services Center offers many opportunities for our students to prepare for summer employment.  There are a host of workshops including the Resume Marathon on April 15th from 1-6 pm.  Our Career Development professionals will critique resumes and provide helpful tips to those seeking employment during that time.  Encourage your son or daughter to attend. 

Additionally, you may not be aware but your son or daughter has access to over 700 internship opportunities through the Career Services Center.  An internship is a wonderful opportunity for a student to not only gain practical experience, but also to determine if the field in which they are studying is a good fit for them.  Internships may be paid or unpaid, but either way the experience is invaluable to a student who participates.  

U-Car Share

I often hear about how students “feel stuck” in our great suburban setting because they cannot access public transportation or they cannot take care of simple needs like going to the grocery store, etc. 

Coming in fall 2010...

What is it?
UCarShare is an auto sharing program designed to promote an effective, efficient car sharing program for businesses and schools. It is a program of the U-Haul Company. It has the potential to alleviate parking pressures and to aid in reducing carbon foot printing.

How car sharing works
Join now for just $25. Student will be issued a membership card once approved. Driver's license with no negative driving history required. Once requirements are met, students are issued a U Car Share membership card. The process takes about 3-5 business days.

Reserve
Choose one of two cars (one hybrid) at any time. Auto rates as low as $4.95/hour with a low price guarantee.

Sign in to your account and reserve any of our cars for any time you wish, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Students only pay for what you use. You'll start out on our Pay as U Go plan, but can upgrade any time.

Drive
Cars will be parked on campus for community use.

Unlock your reserved car by swiping your membership card. Get in and go!

Your membership card is your key to mobility. You simply swipe your card over the windshield and the doors unlock.

The keys are in the glove box! Run all your errands and return the car where you found it.

Look for signage and promotions in the Fall!

I wish you a safe, healthy, happy summer and I look forward to hearing from you if you have any concerns or suggestions.  Have a great summer!"

Cheryl Lynn Horsey, PhD

Interim Vice President for Enrollment & Student Services

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Resident Life Information

Summer Break Housing

Students, who would like to request to remain on campus for a college-related purpose after the Residence Halls close on May 11th at 12 noon, must complete a Break Housing request form. Forms are available outside of 130 Loyola Hall and 130 Alexandria Hall. They must be returned to Loyola 130 no later than May 4th, at 4pm. Students who are approved to stay past closing will be charged $150.00 per week; this includes residents staying for summer nursing programs. Exceptions: those participating in graduation or college sponsored athletic competitions.

Summer residents can expect to be placed in a room with a roommate.  Meal plans are not offered during the summer.

Housing Deposits

Students who paid their $250 housing deposit and have decided not to live on campus may request to have their deposit refunded by:

- Seeing John Verdi, Associate Director of Resident Life, to complete a Release from Housing Contract (130 Loyola Hall)

- Release from Housing Contracts must be received by 4 pm, April 23rd in order to receive a refund

Students may still withdraw from housing after April 23rd but will forfeit their housing deposit and be subject to the room and board tuition refund policy listed below:

100% refund prior to first day of the semester

  75% refund through end of the drop/add period

  50% refund through 1st week after drop/add

          period

  25% refund through 2nd week after drop/add

          period

 0% refund after end of the 2nd week after

       drop/add period

Please Note this Important College Policy on Student Eligibility

Students must be officially registered to attend any classes at the College. If the student is not on the class list the professor may ask the student to leave class and report to the Campbell Solution Center to resolve any outstanding administration issues. The student will not be able to report back to class until they are officially registered.

Resident Students- In order to be eligible to move into the Residence halls a student must be officially registered for 12+ credits each semester and be in good financial standing. (No financial holds)

Financial holds that prevent a student from officially registering and attending classes also prevents a student from moving into the residence halls. Financial matters can be discussed with the staff at the Campbell Solution Center.

All students must complete their financial aid paperwork prior to attending any class or moving into the residence halls at the beginning of each academic semester.

Did You Know?

In the most recent and nationally recognized resident study (ACUHO-I) Gwynedd-Mercy College students ranked GMC Resident Assistants “9th” out of the 269 participating colleges and universities across the nation to the question for  Learning Outcomes – “To what extent has living in on-campus housing enhanced your ability to:  “Understand the consequences of drug use and abuse.”

Mercy Movers

Mercy Movers are upper-class students that assist new students on move-in day with their belongings. It is a great opportunity to provide service and meet the newest members of the Gwynedd-Mercy Community!  An additional benefit is that all Mercy Movers will be able to move into their room assignment on Wednesday, August 25th, 2010 – five days earlier than other upper-class students.  Applications are available outside of 130 Loyola Hall.  Completed applications should be returned to Loyola 130 no later than Friday, April 23rd, 2010 at 4pm. You will receive an e-mail notice if your application is accepted.

Important Dates

4/9     Last Day to Withdraw Regular Classes &

     Accelerated IV

4/15   3-8pm~ Spring Fling-Keiss Lawn

4/23   8pm~ VOG Spring Musicale-JBA

4/23   4pm~ Last Day to Request Full Housing

          Deposit Refund for 2010-2011

4/23   Accelerated Session IV ends

4/26   Accelerated Session V Classes Begin

4/28   Last Day to Add/Drop Accelerated V  

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Financial Aid Office

Important REMINDER FOR May 2010 Graduates !!!

Dear Parents:

This is an exciting time – graduation is practically around the corner !  This is also the time to prepare our students for upcoming financial obligations regarding repayment of Federal loans (Stafford, Nursing or Perkins) which may have been processed for your son or daughter while attending Gwynedd-Mercy College.  In order to educate our students, we have prepared information packets regarding this process which was distributed at the Graduate Finale.  If your son or daughter was unable to attend, do not worry - this information was mailed directly to student.  

To prepare for upcoming financial responsibilities/obligations, Electronic EXIT COUNSELING sessions must be completed as soon as possible.  If questions/concerns arise after reviewing the Exit Counseling information packet, please do not hesitate to contact the Student Financial Aid Office @ (215) 646-7300, Ext. 466. We are here to help !!  Please remind student to complete this process as soon as possible to avoid an unnecessary HOLD on student account. 

Thank you for your cooperation in this matter and do not hesitate to contact the Student Financial Aid Office should you need assistance in this matter.

IMPORTANT REMINDER FOR RETURNING STUDENTS

If your student is planning to return to GMC for the 2010-2011 academic year and they want to be considered for financial aid please remember that they must complete the 2010-2011 GMC Returning Student Financial Aid Application which they may request from the Financial Aid Office or retrieve themselves from the GMC website.  Additionally, your student will also need to file the 2010-2011 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) which can be completed at www.fafsa.ed.gov.  A paper copy of the FAFSA may be obtained from the Student Financial Aid Office or by calling FAFSA at 1-800-433-3243.  If your student is receiving MERIT AID only, please indicate this information, accordingly, on the GMC Returning Student Financial Aid Application.  Student will also need to indicate, on the GMC Returning Student Financial Aid Application, that he/she does not plan on filing a 2010-2011 FAFSA.  All other students MUST complete the FAFSA prior to May 1, 2010. 

ACADEMIC PROGRESS REMINDER

In order for students to continue to receive institutional, state, and federal financial aid they MUST make satisfactory academic progress.  If a student fails to make satisfactory academic progress they may become ineligible for financial aid.

            Satisfactory Academic Progress Requirements:

Full-Time Student Academic Progress Requirements:

• Must complete a minimum of 24 credits per academic year (2 semesters) and at the end of Spring semester, academic records are reviewed to determine satisfactory academic progress.
• Freshmen Students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 1.80
• Sophomore, Junior, & Senior Students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.00

Part-Time Student Academic Progress Requirements:

• Must complete a minimum of 12 credits per academic year (2 semesters)
• Freshmen Students must earn a cumulative GPA of at least 1.80

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TIPS from the Counseling Center

The Emotional Side When Adult Children Move Back Home

Anger, anxiety and joy are all part of the mix when grown kids move home

By Jackie Burrell, About.com Guide

Between a troubled economy and crushing student loan debt, grown children are moving home at ever-increasing rates. More than 14 million young adults, ages 18-24, were living at home in 2007, according to U.S. census stats. At least 60% of recent college graduates end up moving home, at least temporarily, but those numbers may take a dramatic spike as the recession deepens. An online poll by CollegeGrad.com found that 77% of new college alums had moved home in 2008 - a 10% jump in just two years.

On the plus side, there is comfort in knowing you're not the only family whose empty nest has suddenly unemptied. On the other hand, this was never the plan, was it? So it's hardly surprising that a mixture of emotions - anger, anxiety and joy - flows when junior moves back home. If you're still trying to decide if this step is right for you, this "Are You Ready for a Refilled Nest?" quiz may help. But if you've already taken the plunge, it may be helpful to understand where the boomerang trend and its accompanying emotions are coming from, and the issues most likely to arise.

·         It's Not the Same World: Many parents today grew up in an era when people got married in their early 20s, when the salary of an entry level job was enough to cover at least half the rent on a reasonable sized apartment, and new grads dreamed of saving up $20,000 for a down payment on a house, not to pay off student loans. There's a huge gap today in what an entry level job - assuming you can find one - pays and what it costs to live. The average entry level job for a psychology major, for example, in 2008 was just below $31,000. That's a fine amount if you're paying off the mortgage on a house purchased in 1980, not so great if you're renting a 21st century apartment in Southern California, where the average monthly rent was $1,500. Layoffs are the norm. And it's an unusual student who doesn't graduate deeply in debt.

·         Parenting Skills and Anxieties: It's an unusual parent who doesn't internalize the move home as some sort of judgment on his parenting skills. "If only you'd taught your child better money sense," you may think, "...insisted on that internship" or "... instilled more discipline." Give yourself a break. This is a massive societal trend, not a reflection on you or your child. Take comfort in knowing that you are supporting your child through a difficult time and that even back in 2003, 34% of the nation's young adults, ages 18 to 34, were still on the parent payroll, according to the Institute for Social Research. And avoid comparing your child with your neighbor's genius offspring - that's just demoralizing.

·         Old Roles and New: It's easy to slip back into old roles, but it's not a healthy thing for anyone. As parents, you are entitled to enjoy your freedom, your new interests and social life, quiet home and intact retirement funds. And your grown child is entitled to be treated as an adult, a role that includes freedoms and responsibilities. Expect some bumps along the way, particularly when it comes to such childhood standards as the magically refilling refrigerator, free laundry service, and curfews. But this is also an opportunity to joyfully reconnect with your beloved, grown child and forge a new relationship. You may have just acquired a new yoga buddy.

·         Smooth Transitions and Clear Expectations: Any new living situation brings friction, but particularly one so fraught with changing roles, anxieties and a considerable history. Don't let anxiety or irritation build up. Address those issues before they fester, and understand that most problems between new roommates - which is what you are - occur when unspoken expectations and assumptions collide. Ideally, the decision to move back home was reached together. Now sit down and discuss all the other expectations and issues: the grocery shopping, cooking, use of the family car, rent and so on. Discuss a time limit and goals. Put your agreement in writing or use a sample rental contract as a basis of discussion.

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Dancing with the Griffins

VIDEO: Dancing With the Griffins

If you missed the Dancing With the Griffins competition on April 22, you can watch a video of all the performances.

Dance team members paired up with student-athletes and team leaders, and practiced endlessly to become the dancing champs of Gwynedd-Mercy College.

If you are interested in purchasing a DVD of the video below, please email Ginny Mintzer at mintzer.v@gmc.edu.

Watch all performances

Watch five finalists

Gwynedd-Mercy College Commencement

Gwynedd-Mercy College will celebrate its 61st Commencement on Saturday May 15, 2010 on main campus with over 700 graduates earning associate, bachelor's or master's degrees.

Graduate Finale was held on March 15th and March 16th where Graduates received their caps and gowns and celebrated with campus community members. 

For questions or additional information please email graduation@gmc.edu or visit our website at www.gmc.edu/graduation

Spring Sports Schedules

Click on links below for schedules

Baseball

Men's Lacrosse

Track and Field

Changing Student Night Life

Recently, students have had more options for activities on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights. “GMC Late Night” offers students on-campus programs every weekend from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. Events include movie nights, intuitive entertainment, dances, comedians, bingo, coffeehouses, Rock Band® competitions, and sporting kick-off parties.

The space previously known as Waldron Little Theater was refurbished to provide a relaxed environment for the activities. There, students have access to HD flat screen televisions, a Blu-ray Disc™ player, surround sound and Wii™ videogame consoles. A contest was held to name the new student hot spot, which became the “Late Night Lounge.”

Former Board of Trustees member Jerry Holtz funded the project. His enthusiasm about it stemmed from attending Villanova University, where a student center acted as the hub of all student activities. “I wondered, ‘Where did people go before this was built?’” Holtz says of VU’s building. “The Late Night Lounge at Gwynedd-Mercy College could be the genesis for a transformation of the Waldron Center to be a similar hub of activities, exclusively for students.”

The idea originated from a programming task force. “We researched different institutions and discovered that the biggest programming piece we were missing was a late night, weekend program,” says Marissa Turchi, assistant director of student activities. Thus, GMC Late Night was developed by the Student Activities Committee (SAC) with the intention of creating consistent programming for students.

Several students were major contributors to the project, including junior Chase Hall, who served on the programming task force. He thinks that the program stirs up an even greater sense of community at the College. It gives other campus organizations the opportunity to sponsor programs, he says, creating the sense that everyone can be involved. Senior Kelly Day, president of SAC, propelled the programming and led students through the naming of the new space.

Dates to Remember

April 7, 2010

Wellness Fair

May 3 , 2010

Last Day of Classes

May 4 - 10 , 2010

Final Exams

May 11 , 2010

Residence Halls Close

May 15 , 2010

Baccalaureate Mass and 

          Commencement

Resources from the IRS

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