Alfred University
Academics • Admissions • AU Life • About AU • Alumni • AU People • Athletics •
News for Parents of AU Students

Commencement
Commencement will take place Saturday, May 12, 2012 at 10:00 a.m. Please visit the Commencement web page for details.

Financial Aid Application Procedures for the 2012-13 Academic Year - Deadline: March 15th!
Current AU students, expecting to continue their enrollment in 2012-13 have been provided the AU Financial Aid Application and procedures information via their Powell Campus Center (PCC) mailbox. Please prompt your student to bring these documents home over the semester break to begin the work necessary to meet this deadline. To apply for University need-based aid, students must complete both the 2012-13 Alfred University Financial Aid Application (AU AP) and the 2012-13 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) by March 15, 2012. If your student has not secured the 2012-13 application documents, please direct them to the Student Financial Aid Office, Alumni Hall, to obtain the appropriate documents.

Parent Handbook
The AU Parent Handbook, updated each summer, contains lots of helpful information for parents of AU students. View the 2011-2012 AU Parent Handbook>>> Printed copies of the Handbook were provided to parents at New Student Check-in and Parents Orientation and will also be available at the Campus Center Info Desk during Fall and Spring Family Weekends.

Spring Family Weekend
Spring Family Weekend will take place April 20-22, 2012. Highlights will include Honors Convocation, the Hot Dog Day Carnival, special performances and presentations, MFA thesis exhibitions, the Parents Advisory Board meeting, the Pine Hill Derby, movies in Nevins Theater, an Ice Cream Bash, Chicken Barbecue, Observatory open house, Career Development Center open house, live music at the Village Bandstand and more. Plans will be finalized early in the spring semester and the schedule will be posted here by mid-March. In the meantime, to get an idea of what to expect, please check out the 2011 Spring Family Weekend schedule >>>

Parents Orientation
Parents Orientation took place Thursday, August 25, 2011. The program included a welcome from President Charles Edmondson, presentations on the topics of "Parents Association," "Parents as Partners," "Long Distance Parenting" and "Services Available for Students on Campus," and more. Parents Orientation concluded with a Information Fair giving parents the opportunity to speak with Student Affairs directors, members of the Parents Advisory Board and Melody McLay, Director of Parents Programs. Next year's Parents Orientation is scheduled to take place August 23, 2012.

Fall Family Weekend
Fall Family Weekend took place September 16-18, 2011. The schedule included special performances, presentations and events, an AU history presentation, athletic events, art exhibits, open classes, parent information sessions, Observatory open house, Career Development Center open house, a carillon concert, movies, the Parents Association annual meeting, Parents Advisory Board Meeting, and more. View the 2011 Fall Family Weekend schedule >>> Next year's Fall Family Weekend is September 21-23, 2012. Plans will be finalized over the summer and the schedule will be posted here by early August.

Transportation Information
If you have concerns about your son or daughter's transportation to and from campus we encourage you to view transportation information >>> for answers to frequently asked questions. The Alfred Travel Center (800.263.3167, or 607.587.8842 locally, or email) at 11 West University is a full service agency, and can assist with domestic and international travel. View the AU Airport Shuttle schedule >>>

Parent E-mail Addresses Needed for AU Crisis Communication System
If you have not already done so, please provide us with your email address by sending a message to the Office of Communications. The University will use parent email addresses, in addition to other forms of contact, to communicate vital information to parents in case of emergency.

NYAlert
NY-Alert is a system maintained by the State Emergency Management Office. Students sign up through Banner. When they sign up, students may enter more than one telephone number, and some choose to put down a parent’s cell phone number so that their parents receive the same text message, at approximately the same time, as students, faculty and staff. Students may update their information at any time by logging into Banner. In most emergencies, the University would use NY-Alert for the initial notice, and the University’s own web site or email system for updates during a crisis.

Electronic Billing
The AU Student Accounts Office has implemented an electronic billing and payment process with ALL students getting their bills electronically (to their AU email accounts). Students and authorized users have access to view account statements and daily account activity online. Alfred University’s “e-commerce” system offers students and families a safe means of receiving electronic billing statements and a secure method of making Web-based payments.

Students are responsible for the set-up of Authorized Users (i.e. mom, dad or another third-party) who then have access to billing information on the CASHNet system. Authorized Users receive their login information from the student.

For additional information, please visit the Student Accounts webpage. Questions may be directed to the Student Service Center at 607.871.2123. View and/or pay your student's account balance >>>

Online Room Selection for Returning Students
The online room selection for returning students usually takes place in April. Residence Hall staff will hold mandatory meetings to provide students with information on how online room selection works. An email message will also be sent to students providing them with their individual room selection date and time.

Students who are commuting or living off campus this year, and wish to live on campus next year, will be instructed to stop by the Office of Residence Life, Bartlett Hall. Residence Life staff will be available to review the process with them.

Reminder: To be eligible to move off campus, students must have fulfilled the 6-semester residency requirement, be in good academic standing at the end of last semester, and have attended an Off Campus Living Forum sponsored by the Student Affairs Office.

Students with questions about online room selection should be encouraged to contact the Residence Life Office at 607.871.2186 or email Bonnie Dungan.

Reminder from the Dean of Students re: Social Environment Policy
The AU Board of Trustees voted unanimously in May of 2002 to eliminate fraternities and sororities at Alfred University. As mandated by the trustees, rushing, pledging, perpetuating and initiating activities by fraternities and sororities are strictly prohibited and a serious violation of University policy. Anyone engaging in these activities on or off campus, either as a member, recruiter, or potential member, may be suspended or expelled. Consequently, please encourage your student not to engage in activities which might be a violation of our social environment policy.

Campus Happenings
For up-to-date campus news please check out AU Today and recent press releases. And, to see what's happening right now check out the campus via AU's web cam.

Dates to Remember
March 2 Spring Break Begins after Last Class
March 12 Classes Resume
March 12 Summer Sessions Registration Begins
March 26-30 Advisement Week for Fall 2012
April 2 Registration for Fall Semester Begins
April 20 Honors Convocation
April 20-22 Spring Family Weekend
April 21 Hot Dog Day
May 2 Final Exams Begin
May 5 School of Art & Design Senior Shows
May 7 Semester Ends after Last Final Exam
May 12 Commencement
May 14 Summer Session I Begins (ends June 22)
June 25 Summer Session II Begins (ends August 3)
August 23 Parents Orientation
August 23 New Student Check-in/Move-in Day
August 23-25 Orientation for New Students
August 25 Residence Halls Open for Returning Students
Sept 21-23 Fall Family Weekend

View the complete AU academic calendar >>>
View the AU on-line Calendar of Events >>>

Tips and Suggestions from Current and Past AU Parents

  • Making Hotel Reservations - Always Plan Ahead!
    • It is wise to book your hotel as far in advance as possible for Fall and Spring Family Weekends - hotels fill up fast. In fact, one parent suggests that as soon as parents send in the deposit for their child's freshman year they should make reservations for Fall Family Weekend.
    • Plan for Commencement at least a year in advance. The Saxon Inn is used for trustees and Commencement speakers that weekend, so you will need to contact other area hotels to make reservations. (It is also a good idea to make reservations at local restaurants as early as possible if you wish to take your graduate and family out to eat during Commencement weekend.
  • Handling Housing Issues
    • If your son or daughter has questions about their campus housing encourage them to contact the Office of Residence Life. Parents are welcome to contact them, as well. It is also a good idea to stop by the Residence Life Office during one of their open houses, during Fall and Spring Family Weekends.
    • Students who wish to move off campus should contact the Office of Student Affairs. Off-campus housing information >>>
  • Using the Wellness Center
    • If you are concerned about your son or daughter's well being encourage them to contact the Wellness Center, which incorporates Health Services (607.871.2400) and Counseling Services (607.871.2300). They really care and they can help. Find out more about the Wellness Center >>>
    • If you are concerned about your son or daughter because they are behaving abnormally and it appears to be an emergency situation please contact the Wellness Center immediately at 607.871.2300 or the Student Affairs Office at 607.871.2132. If it is after regular business hours, please call Public Safety at 607.871.2108, and they will activate the University's on-call system. (There is an on-site coordinator on call 24/7 during the fall and spring semesters. There are also RDs, RAs and a 24-hour counselor on call.) If no one answers at 607.871.2108, you will be directed to call 911 to be connected with Emergency Services in Belmont. Emergency Services has the University's contact information and can initiate our on-call process. If you call Health Services (607.871.2400) after hours you will be given an emergency number to call.
  • Concerns about Academic Performance
    • If your son or daughter is struggling academically please encourage them to speak with their faculty advisor about options for academic assistance such as tutoring, the writing center and Special Academic Services.
    • Parents often ask about accessing their students' grades. If your son or daughter signed a waiver allowing parent/guardian access to their educational record you can review your student's grades by having them login to BannerWeb to display the grades to you on the monitor or print the final grades for the semester, or you can obtain the UserID and self-selected 6-digit login PIN directly from your student and log in to Banner yourself. Should your student choose to have you log in to BannerWeb directly, you should find it easy to use and helpful in providing grades, class schedules, and other information and services.
  • Are you wondering what information AU can disclose to parents?
  • Do you have a questions about campus policies or judicial procedures?
  • Consult the AU Parent Handbook for lots of helpful information.
    • Copies of the Parents Handbook are distributed at Parents Orientation in August. A PDF version of the Handbook is available on-line. To receive a printed copy please contact Melody McLay.
  • Study Abroad Opportunities
    • Members of the Parents Advisory Board whose sons and daughters have studied abroad have told us that the experience truly enriched their children's lives and they encourage other parents and students to consider this wonderful opportunity.
  • Parents Association Involvement
    • As an Alfred parent, you are automatically a member of the Parents Association. We're parents who like to help other parents, and ultimately benefit all students and the University community. There are no dues, and all parents are welcome to participate in our meetings.
  • Dining Services
  • Career Development Center
    • Are you wondering if your son or daughter will be successful in finding a good job or getting accepted into graduate school after they leave AU? Do you have questions about what they can do now to prepare? Please visit the Career Development Center for information about programs, services and resources available at the Robert R. McComsey Career Development Center at the Steinheim.
  • Transportation Issues
  • Contacting Faculty
  • Summer Opportunities

Consult the "Experts"
Our Parents Advisory Board members are available to talk with you about their experiences here at AU and answer questions. Their contact information is listed on the Parents Association page.

Office of Parents' Programs
The AU Office of Parents' Programs was established more than 25 years ago to provide opportunities for parents of Alfred University students to communicate, participate, and establish a sense of community with one another and with the faculty, staff, and administration of Alfred University. The current director is Melody McLay, who also serves as Director of Summer School and Summer Programs.

We offer a variety of events, programs and services including Parents Orientation, Fall & Spring Family Weekends, the AU Parent Handbook, Parents website, the Parents Association and the Parents Advisory Board. Another helpful resource for parents of new students is the Parent-to-Parent Yahoo Group. For information about joining the Yahoo Group, please contact Jodi Bailey, via email.

About This Page
This page will be updated on a regular basis throughout the academic year and will be used to share information when issues or circumstances arise that may be of particular interest or concern to parents. Suggestions for tips and news that would be beneficial to current AU parents are most welcome. Please contact Melody McLay, Director of Summer and Parents Programs, to share your ideas.

top^