Nevada Parents & Families

The Hope Scholarship is a tax credit for eligible first- or second-year undergraduates or their parents; it is for qualified educational expenses paid on or after January 1, 1998. For 2009 and 2010 only, the Hope Scholarship tax credit has been modified with expanded eligibility criteria and a larger claimable credit (see the American Opportunity Tax Credit, below).The Lifetime Learning Credit is for eligible students who are beyond their second year of college or their parents; it is for qualified educational expenses paid on or after July 1, 1998.

To take advantage of the tax credits, taxpayers must submit IRS form 8863, Education Credits (Hope and Lifetime Learning Credits), with their federal tax returns to the IRS  The University of Nevada’s Student Cashier’s Office will supply students with Form 1098-T which lists all dollar information relating to the provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act. Form 1098-T also shows the student’s information (name, Social Security number, etc.) that the University provides to the IRS. For more information about the tax credits and these forms, visit the following websites:

• IRS information on the Hope and Lifetime Learning Educational Credits: http://www.irs.gov/individuals/students/index.html 
• National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators:
  http://www.nasfaa.org/redesign/taxbenefitsguide.html
• IRS toll-free telephone number:  1-800-829-1040

The American Opportunity Tax Credit for 2009-2010

Under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, more families will be able to claim a larger tax credit for educational expenses in 2009 and 2010. The new credit, known as the American Opportunity Tax Credit, modifies the Hope Scholarship tax credit (see below) for two years. It allows eligible taxpayers to claim up to $2,500 per year on their 2009 and 2010 tax returns. 

The American Opportunity Tax Credit also expands eligibility for the higher education tax credit. Families with incomes up to $80,000 ($160,000 for joint filers) will qualify. In addition, families may claim the credit for students who are enrolled in their first four years of college (instead of just their first two years). And for the first time, books and course materials will be considered eligible expenses. For more information, see the IRS website.

For more information about Financial Aid and Scholarships visit the website at www.finaid.unr.edu

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Many families want to know what happens after submitting their Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Here are some tips from our Financial Aid and Scholarship Office and resources help.

After the student has submitted the FAFSA, the federal processor will review the information, calculate the Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and send a record of this information to the financial aid office.  In addition, the federal processor will send the student a record of the FAFSA information, called a Student Aid Report (SAR). Be sure to review the SAR information carefully!  Look to see if any comments need to be addressed.  If corrections are needed, be sure to make them as soon as possible and follow the directions to submit the updated information.  Confirm that the record will be sent to the University of Nevada, Reno, federal school code 002568.

Note about signatures:  One of the most common mistakes students make when  completing or correcting the FAFSA is to forget to provide signatures for themselves and/or one parent (a parent signature is required if the student is a dependent student ).  Failure to sign will result in the FAFSA being rejected and the awarding of financial aid might be delayed.   

The student and the parent can provide their signatures electronically with separate Personal Identification Numbers (PINs) at

www.fafsa.ed.gov (select “Sign Electronically with your PIN”).  To request a PIN, go to www.pin.ed.gov. 

www.fafsa.ed.gov (select “Sign Electronically with your PIN”).  To request a PIN, go to www.pin.ed.gov. 

Missing Documents: Once the FAFSA data has been downloaded the Office of Financial aid and Scholarships will send an e-mail and a missing document postcard if the file is incomplete or selected for verification.  Verification is a process that double-checks the accuracy of the household and financial data listed on the FAFSA.  It ensures that need-based financial aid is distributed to the neediest students.  If selected for verification, the documents and forms are required.  Pay attention to the deadlines on the missing document postcard.

Offer Letter: The Office of Financial Aid and Scholarships began notifying students in early April with an e-mail and postcard to alert the student to check ePAWS to view their Offer Letter.  The letter lists the types and amounts of aid offered and are subject to change.

For more information about Financial Aid and Scholarships visit the website at www.finaid.unr.edu

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Post by:         Teri Galvin

                        Area Coordinator for Retention Programs

As Living Learning Communities in Residential Life, Housing, and Food Service go into their fifth year, the opportunities for students are expanding.  Living Learning Communities are small environments within the residence halls where first-year students are grouped according to common interests, or majors.  Students are assigned to the same floor in the residence hall, take core courses with other students in the community and participate in weekly activities together.  There are three Living Learning Communities currently offered at the University of Nevada:

The Honors Residential Scholars Community gives Honors students the opportunity to take classes, participate in social activities, and live with other Honors students who share an interest in academic and professional issues.  The community is open to qualified students in all academic majors who have been admitted to the Honors Program.

The PAC (Powerful Academic Communities) is open to all first-year students (with declared or undeclared majors) who are eligible for specific core Math courses.  The focus of these communities is to provide students with the tools and resources for a successful transition to college life.  Members of the communities take their Math course together facilitating the formation of study groups and support networks.  Students can also take dedicated English courses and Introduction to the College Experience which will help with their transition.

The WISE (Women in Science & Engineering) Community is for first-year women majoring in science, mathematics, or engineering.  An intensive first-year experience introduces WISE members to mentoring and support systems within the University and beyond.  Additionally, programs created specifically for WISE members provide a forum for members to explore educational, professional, and leadership opportunities.

Advantages of Participating in a Living Learning Community:

• Unique opportunities to explore UNR with yearlong support from peers, advisors, faculty, and staff.
• Greater interaction with faculty, community members, and classmates.
• Opportunity to live among other dedicated students with similar interests and ambitions.
• Opportunities to participate in programs designed to enhance academic and personal success.

For more information and applications, please go to www.reslife.unr.edu/llc.asp or email Teri Galvin at tmg@unr.edu.

Sign up for a Living Learning Community today!

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Have you ever wondered who makes up the staff at the University of Nevada, Reno’s Student Health Center?  The staff at the clinic is comprised of not only family physicians and nurses, but doctors with specializations ranging in dermatology to sports medicine.  The physicians also teach medical classes at the University of Nevada, School of Medicine, so students are receiving care from top doctors and educators in the area.  Below are two brief profiles of staff members at the Student Health Center.

Laura Dunn-Sparks, R.N., Nursing Supervisor at the Student Health Center

As an 18-year employee at the clinic, Laura Dunn-Sparks sure knows her way around the Student Health Center.  As the go-to person in the office, Dunn-Sparks is used to helping staff and students alike.  She has served as the nursing supervisor for the last 10 years, making her very knowledgeable in her field as well as with students and healthcare.

Dunn-Sparks has enjoyed providing medical help to the UNR population as an R.N.  “We are helping the students with their medical needs, but we are providing them with medical education,” says Dunn-Sparks.  “This education will hopefully help them in their adult lives.”

Caring for students during their entire UNR experience, Dunn-Sparks enjoys seeing the students evolve from teenagers to adults.  “Working at Student Health as a nurse is unique because we get to know many of our patients when they are first year students; caring for them until they graduate.”

Lisa Caverhill, M.D.

Following graduation from the University of Nevada School of Medicine in 1995 and the family medicine residency program in the School of Medicine, Lisa Caverhill, M.D. started working as a physician in the Student Health Center in 1998.  She enjoys working for the Student Health Center, watching her patients grow, and enjoying their journey through college.

“I sometimes feel like a surrogate mother to the hundreds of patients we see,” says Caverhill. “Sometimes that is all a patient needs: someone to listen to them, understand how they feel, and reassure them.”

 As a mother of two teenagers entering college next year, Caverhill understands the need for quality healthcare available for college students.  “I love working at the Student Health Center.  We have the best family practice physicians, nurses and office staff who are all dedicated to making the students as healthy as possible.”

The Student Health Center is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and walk in appointments are offered from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.  General needs require no appointment and all patients are seen on a first-come, first-serve basis. Students wishing to receive care in psychiatry, counseling, dermatology, and nutrition need to schedule an appointment prior to visiting the clinic.  In addition to these services, night clinics are offered during spring and fall semesters, by appointment only. To schedule an appointment, please call 775-784-6598. 

For more information on the University of Nevada, Reno Student Health Center, please visit the clinic’s website at www.unr.edu/shc.  The Student Health Center is located on the North campus Redfield Building Mailstop 196 off of 17th Street and across from the medical school.

Submitted to post by Stacy Vaughn
School of Medicine Communications Intern

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Free Summer Tutoring

Summer Session and the Academic Skills Center are partnering to provide free tutoring for most summer classes.  In addition to one-on-one and group tutoring, all math courses will be covered in the math and physics walk-in lab.  Hours for the Academic Skills center tutoring and walk-in labs are:

Please note: we will have tutors for ACC 201 and 202, and ECON 102, 103, 261, and 262.

If you have any questions, please contact the Academic Skills Center:
Thompson Building, Suite 100

784-6801

https://asc.unr.edu/asc_webapps/students/index.aspx

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Dear Parents,

Congratulations on your student’s acceptance to the University of Nevada, Reno! Despite the difficult economic times, we are ready to insure they have a complete and exceptional collegiate experience.  On-campus living is an integral part of that experience and this is an invitation to make the most of it by taking advantage of the benefits of on-campus living.  Living on-campus is extremely valuable because it provides opportunities to meet new friends and become involved in the new campus community.  National and university research indicates that when students live on campus they attain higher grades and are more likely to graduate.  That makes living in a residence hall a great value.  The money spent to live on campus during their first year will go farther towards ensuring their return as a sophomore than any other expenditure.

The University of Nevada, Reno strongly believes that residence hall living can be a tremendous asset to a student’s overall education.   A large part of the educational process is the learning that takes place outside of the classroom.  Our residence hall staff is committed to providing a supportive community where students learn about responsible freedom as well as mutual respect. 

Value!

·         All costs are fixed during the academic year – your student doesn’t worry about utilities or food cost increases, and they don’t pay rent for Winter Break or Summer unless they want to live here

·         24 hour access to staff in the event of crisis issues or maintenance emergencies  – we have upperclassmen that live on every floor and live-in full time graduate students and administrative faculty on call 24 hours a day

·         24 hour front desk service to enhance safety  and assist with any issues

Convenience!

·         Close to classrooms, fitness and recreation centers, library, student union, campus events, and dining areas

·         Easy access to public transportation including campus shuttle services, free bus service to downtown, and city bus service

·         Eliminates the need for commuting and vehicle maintenance, winter driving and daily parking hassles

·         Meal plans mean we shop, cook and do the dishes for them

Academics!

·         Students living on campus earn higher grades and are more likely to graduate in a shorter period of time meaning they’ll graduate faster and save money!

·         Free high-speed computer connections for each student in their room

Friendships!

·         Opportunity to meet other students and develop life-long friendships

·         Involvement in a variety of academic and social residence hall activities

·         It’s fun!!

If you weigh all of the benefits, I believe you will find living on campus is an excellent decision.  For more information please visit our website at http://www.reslife.unr.edu or contact the Department of Residential Life, Housing and Food Services at (775) 784-1113 for additional information.  We recognize these are challenging times in our economy and as such we are happy to discuss special payment arrangements.  We are here to help you!   The University of Nevada hopes you choose to live on campus! 

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Dear Parents,

We sincerely hope your student has decided to live on campus for the 2009-2010 Academic Year. Living on-campus is extremely valuable because it provides opportunities to meet new friends and become involved in the new campus community. National and university research indicates that when students live on campus they attain higher grades and are more likely to graduate. That makes living in a residence hall a great value. The money spent to live on campus during their first year will go farther towards ensuring their return as a sophomore than any other expenditure. We wanted to provide you with information regarding on-campus housing and to advise you of the assignment process. Please note that the 2009-2010 room and meal plan rates are available on our website at http://www.reslife.unr.edu/ratesinformation.asp.

ASSIGNMENT PROCESS/ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENT

· The University of Nevada, Reno expects enrollment in 15 credits each semester to graduate in 4 years. Students must be enrolled in at least 12 credits at the University of Nevada, Reno prior to receiving a housing assignment. New students should enroll in coursework by June 1, 2009 as we will begin assigning only those students enrolled in 12 credits at the University of Nevada, Reno.

· Enrollment questions: call 775-784-4700 or 1-866-2NEVADA. If you are in the Las Vegas area, you may call the Southern Office at 702-940-5416.

· Advising questions: contact the college advising/student center or dean’s office in the college that offers your major. You can access contact information on the UNR website at: http://www.ss.unr.edu/records/advisor.asp. If you are undecided regarding your major, you can call the Advising Center at 775-784-4684 or email questions to advising@unr.edu.

· Regulations passed by the Nevada Division of Health require that, any freshman college student under the age of 23 may not live in on-campus housing unless vaccinated against Neisseria meningiditis (Meningococcus) unless excused because of medical or religious reasons.

Vaccinations are available on the UNR campus Student Health Center as well as local health departments. You may also contact private physician offices to check on availability. Once you have received your vaccination please fax or mail your immunization documentation to our office. For more information, please contact the Student Health Center at 775-784-6598.

· Planning to cancel your license agreement? You should cancel immediately but no later than July 31, 2009 in writing. Although the security deposit is forfeited upon cancellation you should cancel your license agreement by this date to avoid additional cancellation fees. Also, if you are not planning to attend the University, please email asknevada@unr.edu.

QUESTIONS REGARDING HOUSING

Assignment letters will be sent in late July and we will include your roommate’s name and telephone number if available. If you have any questions regarding housing, please feel free to contact the Residential Life, Housing and Food Service Office by sending email to housing@unr.edu or calling 775-784-1113.

Sincerely,

Kile Porter

Manager of Support Operations

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Visit www.unr.edu/parents

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