Revolutionize your thinking with PLSC 320: Latin American Politics! CRN 43618

Do you need to register for another class? Revolutionize your thinking with PLSC 320: Latin American Politics; CRN 43618

- Mondays and Wednesdays: 11:10am - 12:25pm
- Conducted in English
- No Pre-requisites
- UC and CSU transferable

For more information, please contact parksk@smccd.edu

Register now! 
https://websmart.smccd.edu/

Latin American Studies Program Prepares Students for Changes in California

As the Latino population in California becomes the single largest ethnic group in the state it changes the political and social dynamics. Latin American and Latino/a Studies at Cañada College is a unique interdisciplinary program that examines these changes and prepares students for careers in this new environment.

“We combine courses from multiple academic departments to give students a broad understanding of historical, political, social, geographic and cultural aspects of Latin America and Latino/a communities,” said Alison Field, Professor of History at Cañada. “Coursework in social sciences, literature, music, drama and Spanish language provides a uniquely comprehensive approach to historical and contemporary issues as well as questions of identity, heritage and creative expression.”

Yolanda Valenzuela, professor of English and Reading at Cañada, said the Latin American and Latino/a Studies Program opens the door to a range of career opportunities for students. “The continuing importance of Latin America for the U.S. and the growing Latino/a population have produced an increasing need for trained persons with a knowledge of Latin American and Latino/a communities to work in social service, government and foreign service, non-governmental organizations, law, teaching, business and other fields.”

 Valenzuela said students can transfer to UC Santa Cruz, UC Berkeley, San Jose State, San Francisco State, Santa Clara, Notre Dame de Namur and other universities to pursue degrees in Latin American and Latino/a Studies.

Cañada’s Latin American and Latino/a Studies Program is the only one of its kind at a community college in San Mateo County. Students can also double major in Spanish.

For more information, contact Professor Field at fielda@smccd.edu or Professor Valenzuela at valenzuelay@smccd.edu.

Cañada College Student Invited to Debut Short Film at Cannes

A chance meeting and a simple sneeze led a Cañada College multimedia student to produce a five-minute film that will be featured at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Sir Wade Neistadt was notified by email last week that his short film, KERFLOOEY, is one of 26 student-produced films that will be featured in the Short Film Corner, one of three main sections of the famous French film festival. In addition, Neistadt’s film will be featured at Universal Studios in Hollywood in June as part of a three-day red carpet event where industry professionals host workshops and network with student filmmakers from around the country.

The idea for KERFLOOEY came from Neistadt and Cañada College classmate Melissa Loi, an aspiring writer. They met in a psychology course section. “When I met Wade he was trying to add the psychology class I was already registered for. He came into class and sneezed, I said ‘bless you,’ and we ended up doing ice breaker work in class. We paired up and became friends,” Loi said.

Neistadt, who grew up in Apple Valley and attended Granite Hills High School, transferred to Cañada from CSU San Marcos because he wanted to be in Silicon Valley to pursue his dream of making films. “I researched community colleges in the area and Cañada was the only school with both a good computer science program and multimedia program. When I visited the school last spring, I met Paul Naas, program coordinator for the Multimedia Art & Technology Program, and he convinced me Cañada was the right place for me.”

Neistadt began refining his video editing and special effects skills under the tutelage of Cañada faculty, many who have worked at major studios such as Disney, Pixar and Wildbrain. “The storytelling the faculty has done over the years for those studios is experience that a motivated student can draw from,” Naas said. “It’s pretty unique among community college animation and multimedia programs. Wade’s the kind of student who digs deeper into a subject – asking questions, incorporating feedback, and leveraging the knowledge and experience of faculty to make his projects better.”

What Neistadt couldn’t foresee was the simple sneeze that led him to meet Loi would be the catalyst for the creation of Manly Man, the protagonist in KERFLOOEY.

When Neistadt learned last November that Campus MovieFest, the world’s largest student film festival and a premier outlet for the next generation of filmmakers, would be at Cañada to host a competition, he was determined to enter. He ran into Loi, a graduate of Carlmont High School, at the Cañada College Learning Center and they talked about the competition and began reviewing five-minute films on YouTube created by their favorite stars. That’s when Loi had an idea.

“I thought it would be cool to make a movie about a superhero, since everyone seems obsessed with comic book characters…but maybe a superhero that can’t quite save the world at the moment.”

Manly Man, Sub City’s local superhero, was born but, unlike most superheroes, he wasn’t invincible. He was fighting a cold at the same time he was saving Sub City from the fearsome Madame Mayhem. As the story unfolds, every Manly Man sneeze brings Madame Mayhem closer to defeat while giving Neistadt an opportunity to display the special effects skills he refined in his Cañada classes. “I remembered that sneeze from our first meeting,” Loi said. “I began thinking about how people love comic books and they love to laugh. Comedy is a popular genre because it makes people happy and sometimes making people happy means purposefully falling on top of a garbage can several times.”

“Melissa wrote the story and it was brilliant,” Neistadt said. “I couldn’t have made this movie without her.”

They entered their film in the Campus MovieFest competition at Cañada and received a Silver Tripod Award for “Best Special Effects,” a Best Actor Award for Neistadt’s portrayal of Manly Man, and, to their amazement, the Best Picture Award.

“At the campus awards ceremony, we were told that Campus MovieFest has the opportunity to send about 30 student films to the Cannes Film Festival,” Neistadt said. “I was shocked to find out our film was chosen.”

Naas said having a film at Cannes is a major accomplishment for any filmmaker. “For a student filmmaker to achieve this is spectacular. I’m thrilled Wade’s hard work is being acknowledged. He has a very cinematic eye and several of the shots in the film are quite innovative.”

Loi said the movie’s success has surprised her. “I honestly didn’t expect this much attention to come out of our little movie, but I guess because I’m one of the film’s creators, all I see are the little things that went wrong.”

Manly Man’s sneezes will lead Neistadt to the Villa Maupassant Hotel in the south of France May 12-26 where KERFLOOEY will be featured at the film festival.

“While I’m there, I will be walking the red carpet with actors, directors, producers, and all sorts of celebrities,” he said. “I’ll be watching the world premiers of the Cannes Official Selection, going to workshops and Q&A sessions and making connections with a bunch of amazing and talented people. I still can’t believe this is happening.”

KERFLOOEY can be viewed at http://youtu.be/M2Osdbg1Vt0

Breaking Down the Programming Divide: Democratize Computing Lab

A group of entrepreneurs gathered on the Cañada campus in late October with a simple goal in mind: Demystify the world of computer coding and broaden and diversify the pool of software creators around the world.

It’s part of global effort that seeks to teach programming skills to designers, artists, women, people of color, scientists, health professionals, humanities majors, entrepreneurs – anyone who desires to add software to their creative problem solving arsenal. Kay O’Neill, Director for Workforce Development at Cañada, invited the Democratize Computing Lab Advisory Board to meet on campus. The quarterly meetings are led by about 30 entrepreneurs, and their respective organizations, including large tech companies such as Google and Facebook.

“Our goal is two-fold,” O’Neill said. “We want to empower people to thrive in today’s increasingly digital society, and to infuse the software development field with creative, big-picture thinkers. We want to open up the possibility for software creation to become part of a universal skill set just as literacy itself moved from a narrow elite to society at large over the course of modern history.”

Take a Survey, Win a $150 Amazon Gift Certificate!

How would you like to win a $150 Amazon gift card just in time for the holiday season? Cañada College wants to hear from you. We'd like to invite you to participate in a survey about how you use the media and spend your time. Your participation in the survey will help the college with our future communication efforts.

The college has hired Interact Communications to conduct the survey. It asks questions such as "what is your favorite radio station," and "what web sites do you visit". All responses are confidential. Your name will not be connected with your answers. If you decide to enter the drawing for a $150 Amazon gift card you will be directed to a different web site to leave your personal information.

We are surveying both students and the larger San Mateo County community. The online survey takes about 15 minutes to complete.

If you are a current student and would like to help the college by participating in this survey please go to http://www.interactresearch.com/mp23/. Enter the password - college.

If you are a community member, go to http://wwwinteractresearch.com/mpc23/. Enter the password - college.

So far, we've had more than 250 students complete the survey and 150 community members. We thank you for taking the time to help us with this project.

Rally for Sustainability Celebrates Opening of EV Charging Stations

The San Mateo County Community College District will celebrate the installation of plug-in Electric Vehicle charging infrastructure at all three Colleges and the District Office. The Grand Opening begins on October 28th at 11:30a.m. at the Skyline College Auto Department where students, faculty, staff, and members of the community will participate in the ribbon cutting ceremony. The ceremony will acknowledge industry partners, as well as the Auto Technology program’s new curriculum focused on Electric Vehicles.

 
At 12:30p.m., the EV Rally will begin. EV owners past, present and future are encouraged to join the Rally by driving to College of San Mateo for a ribbon cutting of the charging station in DaVinci Lot (Lot 3) at 1:00 p.m. The EV Rally will reach the finish line in Parking Lot 4 at Cañada College at approximately 1:30 p.m. where the third and final ribbon cutting will take place and a number of EV’s will be on display. Come for all or some of the event to see the future of the sustainable transportation in San Mateo County. In 2012, the College District collaborated with Schneider Electric in a public/private partnership to install eleven Electric Vehicle (EV) charging stations at each of its campuses Chancellor’s Office.

The District received funding from the California Energy Commission (CEC) to develop and deploy alternative and renewable fuels and advanced transportation technologies to help attain the state’s climate change policies.  Furthermore, the District matched the funds of the CEC to achieve its goals for sustainability: improve the campus-wide system of alternative fuel infrastructure, support the use of electric vehicles, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, establish workforce training programs and offer opportunities for student learning.

Writers on Writing: Anne Perry, Victoria Zackheim Share Experiences

Anne Perry

Authors Anne Perry and Victoria Zackheim will share their experiences as writers at a special lecture on Wednesday, Nov. 13. The event, which will be held in the Cañada College Main Theater, is free and open to the public.

Perry is a New York Times and international bestselling author noted for her memorable characters, historical accuracy, and exploration of social and ethical issues. Two of her most popular series feature Thomas and Charlotte Pitt and William and Hester Monk. Her latest novel, Blind Justice, was on the New York Times and USA Today bestselling list for fiction.

Zackheim wrote The Bone Weaver and is the editor of six anthologies, the most recent being FAITH: Believers, Agnostics, and Atheists Confront the Big Question. Zackheim created the Women's Voices project and is a 2010 San Francisco Library Laureate. Her screenplay, Maidstone, a feature film, is in development with Identity Films.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for our community to hear about the writing process from two award-winning authors," said Anniqua Rana, coordinator for Cañada's Center for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching and Learning, which is sponsoring the event.

Former Cañada student and Belmont resident, Rose Whitmore, recently received the prestigious William Peden Prize, which recognizes the best piece of fiction published in the Missouri Review during the previous volume year.

Another former Cañada student, Gerardo Pacheco, was named the 2012 Joseph Henry Jackson Award winner, a literary award offered annually to promising young California writers.

For more information, contact Rana at (650) 306-3470 or email rana@smccd.edu.

A Conversation With Author Lac Su

Award-winning author Lac Su will share his personal story of immigration, assimilation, gangs, poverty and abusive parenting at two lectures in the Cañada College Main Theater.

The first lecture will be held on Wednesday, Oct. 23 from 6 to 7 pm. The second will be held on Thursday, Oct. 24 from 9:30 to 11 am. Both lectures are free of charge but there is a $2 parking fee. Su will be signing books after the Wednesday evening lecture.

Lac Su's 2009 memoir, I love Yous Are for White People, received the top prize from the San Diego Book Awards in 2010. Su describes his experience growing up as a Vietnamese immigrant in LA in the '80s and his personal struggles with assimilation, gangs, poverty, and abusive parents. The story is told with humor and honesty.

Su says he was raised by two "tiger" parents, a Vietnamese mother and Chinese father, and he still has emotional scars from their harsh parenting style.

As a young child, Su made a harrowing escape from the Communists in Vietnam. With a price on his father's head, Su, with his family, was forced to immigrate in 1979 to seedy West Los Angeles where squalid living conditions and a cultural fabric that refused to thread them in effectively squashed their American Dream.

His search for love and acceptance amid poverty - not to mention the psychological turmoil created by a harsh and unrelenting father - turned his young life into a comedy of errors and led him to a dangerous gang experience that threatened to tear his life apart.

"Writing I Love Yous Are for White People helped me to cope with the wounds the tigers' claws left behind," Su told CNN in a 2011 interview. "Since its release I've met countless others who bare similar scars."

Su, a psychologist and business executive at TalentSmart, said he's been through countless hours of psychotherapy, and that his lack of self-worth beckons him to rely on alcohol to numb the pain. "Children need their parents' love and acceptance in order to develop real self-esteem," he told CNN. "Belittling children sends the message that they are not worthy of love and support -- as do mind games, emotional abuse, and tight-fisted control."

Anniqua Rana, professor of ESL/English and co-coordinator of the Cañada College Center for Innovation and Excellence in Teaching and Learning, said Su was invited to campus to share his story because his struggles and experiences are ones that many Cañada students identify with. She said his book raises issues related to history, immigration, political science, sociology, psychology, and parenting.

Cañada College Student Studies Labor Rights in UAE

Matet Malit, a Filipino immigrant, spent the past six months studying Filipino domestic workers

 

Matet (R) with Philippine Ambassador Grace Princesa

Cañada College student Matet Malit recently finished a six-month study of Filipino domestic workers in the United Arab Emirates that included an internship with Migrante International in Dubai, a Filipino labor rights group.

 

It is estimated that thousands of domestic workers from the Philippines, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, and Ethiopia are hired each year by families in the UAE and Saudi Arabia and paid substandard wages. Recently, the Philippines and UAE began discussing a new agreement outlining the rights of domestic workers.

 

Malit said the internship was an eye-opening experience. “I had the opportunity to interview several key grassroots actors, including the president of Migrante International in UAE as well as the group's members.” Malit said she conducted policy studies on runaway domestic workers and other cases involving low-skilled workers. She reviewed the legal, economic, and political challenges and constraints in providing labor and employment assistance to Filipino workers.

 

“At the policy level, I had the opportunity to assist the Philippine Ambassador to the UAE, Grace Princesa, on identifying legal and policy challenges in securing labor protection for household workers in the UAE,” she said.

 

Last December, Malit spent a month working for Kanlungan (Shelter), a Philippine organization in London. There, she assisted domestic workers applying for citizenship and other labor-related cases. “All of these experiences have not only deepened my understanding of labor but they’ve also inspired me to pursue a career in public policy.”

 

Migrante International holds a rally in the UAE

Malit’s interest in the issue was sparked by Cañada College History Professor Mike Noonan. “I took Professor Noonan’s Middle East History class and he instructed us to analyze a current event in the Middle East. I selected the issue of labor and migration issues of Filipino workers in the UAE. I focused on the coping mechanisms and experiences of workers.”

 

“Cañada has certainly provided me with excellent training and tools to become an insightful researcher,” she said. “I want to thank professors Chuck Carlson, Lezlee Ware, and Elizabeth Terzakis for helping shape my understanding of labor and its relevance in the global economy. I also want to thank the TRIO program and Melissa Alforja for helping to facilitate the internship.”

 

Malit plans to finish her studies at Cañada and earn an associate’s degree in political science and then apply to UC Berkeley where she will study public policy.

Tristan Sheldon Blossomed at Cañada – Personally and Academically

The Carlmont High School graduate is now studying at the Haas School of Business.

Tristan Sheldon arrived at Cañada College in 2009 as a very shy Carlmont High School graduate. When he earned his Cañada diploma in May of 2012 with a degree in business administration he had grown into a confident leader, ready to face his newest challenge – studying at Cal’s prestigious Hass School of Business.

 

“Cañada changed my life,” Sheldon said. “It was the best choice I have made so far in my life. Cañada’s motto ‘From Here You Can Go Anywhere’ is such a true statement. I have had friends and classmates at Cañada that have received letters of acceptance from so many top universities, not just in California, but from around the country.”

 

While Cañada provided Sheldon with support, the journey wasn’t easy. When he graduated from Carlmont in 2008 he had a 2.6 high school GPA, no extracurricular activities, and a mediocre SAT score. He decided to take some time off from academics and worked full time at Electronic Arts in Redwood Shores as a game tester.

 

“After about four months in that job I realized that if I didn’t get a college degree this is the job that I would be working in the rest of my life,” he said. “I started looking at community colleges around the area. My mom actually graduated from CañadaCañada so I enrolled.”

 

Sheldon walked onto campus an incredibly shy person who avoided interaction with fellow students and professors as much as possible. “I used to cringe or pretend that I was going to the bathroom when the professor initiated an icebreaker at the beginning of the semester.”

 

But then Sheldon found the Associated Students of Cañada College and Phi Theta Kappa, the school’s honor society. He met people and began to develop leadership skills. “I am now a much more open person and enjoy meeting new people. This skill has proven invaluable at Cal, especially at Haas, because business is a lot about effective communication.”

 

He fondly remembers working with friends in student government to organize a Spirit Thursday event at Cañada where snow was dumped in the main quad. “The massive snowball fight that soon ensued was so enjoyable, especially when I saw some faculty participating. It also marks the only day at Cañada that I was actually late to class.”

 

Sheldon said traveling to Nashville, Tennessee for the annual PTK International Convention forced him to face his fear of being in front of crowds. “Our chapter won the fourth most distinguished chapter out of 1,300 chapters so we had to accept our award in front of the entire convention. Walking up to collect the award with my co-president Karina Gonzalez De Graaf was one of the most nerve-raking moments of my entire life. Karina wanted to start skipping and taking the long way around the auditorium and I just wanted to get up to the stage and back to my seat as quickly as possible.”

 

Sheldon earned the Student Leadership Award at Cañada’s Commencement Ceremony for his contributions to ASCC and PTK.

 

Sheldon also rose to the academic challenges he faced at Cañada. “Economics 100, 102 and 230 helped prepare me for the similar level of work I have been receiving here at Haas.”

 

He also developed strong relationships with two faculty mentors, Paul Roscelli, Professor of Economics, and Leonor Cabrera, Professor of Accounting. Both agreed that, initially, given Sheldon’s approach to academics, it would be difficult for him to achieve his goal of studying at Haas.

 

“He was not used to looking for answers in a scholarly manner,” Roscelli said. “I have to admit that my first reaction, one shared by Professor Cabrera, was that his chances of being accepted to Haas, given the way he did his work, were slim and none. To my surprise, he evolved over time into a very astute scholar, especially as it relates to numbers and finance.”

 

Roscelli said Sheldon emerged as a campus leader, willing to give up his time for the college community and his honor society. “He became extremely involved on our campus and his impact continues to echo throughout Cañada.”

 

Sheldon said Cañada has an assortment of many outstanding professors but that Roscelli and Cabrera were his two favorites. “Their courses in economics and accounting have helped tremendously at Cal. They provided an exceptional foundation for which I was able to grow academically. Professor Roscelli was instrumental in guiding our Phi Theta Kappa chapter and Professor Cabrera helped me solidify my choice to purse a business administration degree at Cal.”

 

Sheldon said he’s grateful for the education he received at Cañada because his experience at Cal has been overwhelming. “It’s like trying to sightsee while traveling 500 mph down a freeway in a rocket car,” he said. While I would like to look around at the scenery, I have to stay focused on what’s in front of me so that I don’t crash. At Cal, everything around me has been moving so fast; deadlines for assignments, internship season, and in general, Cal life.”

 

Sheldon said studying at Cal wouldn’t be possible without the second chance he received at Cañada. “It was a chance for me to discover who I really was as a person and experience a different perspective on life. When I graduated in 2012 I was both happy but also sad. I was happy that I was moving on to a top business school but I was sad that I was leaving behind some many treasured connections that I developed with faculty and peers.”

Fall Theater Production - EmergenciPhone! - Opens Nov. 20

EmergenciPhone! won a sold-out award in the 2012 San Francisco Fringe Festival, and was a hit with the Fringe audiences. Now the production moves to Cañada College in Redwood City. It was written and directed by Anna Budd, professor of Theater Arts at Cañada College.

Tickets are available at https://­app.­ticke­tturtle.­com/­index.­php?­ticketing=­ccta

Emma has just been attacked on the street, so she does what people in the year 2030 do – she calls for help using the EmergenciPhone, run by AmeriSecuriCorp Incorporated, America’s “favorite” private, for-profit police company.

She is transferred, put on hold, forced to take surveys, cajoled into upgrading her contract, she explains and re-explains her situation to a ridiculous range of characters, all while being stalked by her mysterious attacker.

George Orwell meets Comcast’s Customer Service meets Samuel Beckett in this hilarious and disturbing exploration of law enforcement in this futuristic “free” market!

Performances:

• Tuesday, Nov. 20: 11:30 am & 2:30 pm TWO Pay-What-You-Can Matinees! *
• Wednesday, Nov. 21: 1 pm A Pay-What-You-Can Matinee! *
• Saturday, Nov. 24: 8pm
• Sunday, Nov. 25: 8pm
• Tuesday, Nov. 27: 10 am & 1pm TWO Pay-What-You-Can Matinee! *
• Wednesday, Nov. 28: 2:30 pm A Pay-What-You-Can Matinee! *
• Saturday, Dec. 1: 8pm
• Sunday, Dec. 2: 8pm

* Get in for as little as $1! Seats are first come, first served, so get there early!

The Cast:

• Hayley Adams
• Andrew Barri
• James Bruzzone
• Luke Gurri
• Danni Horowitz  
• Ava Kies
• Breanna Manore
• Kevin Schiltz
• Ramya

Sarah Haba Exhibit on Display in the Art Gallery

The Cañada College Art Department is pleased to present an exhibition of paintings by Sarah Haba in the Cañada College Art Gallery. This art show opens today and runs through December 13. The gallery is located in Building 9, 1st floor. 

Sarah Haba is a distinguished Bay Area artist whose work is widely exhibited. This current exhibit consists of 15 paintings, all of them acrylic on wood panel.  The images are painterly and sensual, yet also very spare and contemplative. The artist has a masterful sense of color and is able to use the wood surface and the physicality of the paint to create a seductive beauty. At the same time, you know this is not about surface, but about conveying deeper emotions.

The following is a statement by the artist.

“My paintings are beautiful frustrations in the domestic realm. Working from life, I paint books emptied of their content, twisted and bound laundry, and plastic bags of pulpy fruit until I can see the struggle for control, for order amid the chaos of domestic reality. Through cropping and brushwork, I create a space that hovers between abstraction and representation in order to blur the boundaries of emotional and rational thought. I paint subtle tonal shifts in thin layers on board, creating an emotional immediacy akin to watercolors. I paint quickly so that fleeting thoughts are captured. The domestic life is confined within my canvas, yet often spills beyond the picture plane. It is a world straining at its constraints.”

The gallery hours are Monday and Wednesday, 1 to 3 pm, and Tuesday and Thursday, 10 am to 1:30 pm. The gallery is located 

Take a respite from your hectic work day and drop in to see the work of this wonderful artist! 

Do You Have Questions About Paying Your Fees? We Have Answers

You Will Be Dropped From Your Spring Classes If You Have Not Paid Your Fees By Jan. 7.

San Mateo County Community College District
Fee Payment
Questions and Answers

 

Q: Why must I pay my fees at the time of registration?

San Mateo County Community College District policy requires students to pay all fees at the time of enrollment. The policy states that students will be dropped from classes for non-payment of fees. If students are unable to pay their fees, they should apply for federal financial aid, apply for the Board of Governors Fee Waiver, or enroll in an inexpensive payment plan offered by Sallie Mae in order to prevent being dropped from classes.

When must I pay my fees?

All fees are due at the time of registration. You may either pay by credit card, check or cash. Students are assessed enrollment, health, student body, student representation, student union (Skyline) and in some cases, instructional materials fees. You are responsible for paying all your fees in order to prevent being dropped from classes for non-payment.

Q: What should I do if I can’t afford to pay my fees at the time of registration?

You should apply for financial aid, by filling out the FAFSA (www.FAFSA.gov), apply for a Board of Governor’s Fee Waiver, or sign up for a payment plan (the district payment plan is administered by Sallie Mae) to spread your payments out during the semester.

Q: What happens if all my fees aren’t paid by the established dates that the drops for non-payment occur and I didn’t apply for a payment plan , apply for financial aid, or indicate that my fees are paid for by a third party?

You will be dropped from your classes for non-payment of fees at midnight on January 7, 2013.

One week before the start of the spring term, students will be dropped for non-payment at midnight on the day following their registration. These daily drops will begin on January 8 for the spring, 2013 term.

Q: What happens if I only owe $1.00 at the time of the deadline for paying fees? Will I still be dropped from my classes?

Yes. Students must have paid all their fees in full, applied for financial aid, enrolled in a payment plan, or indicated that their fees are paid for by a third party in order not to be dropped by the established deadlines.

Q: What happens if I initially paid my fees in full, but make changes in my schedule resulting in additional fees owed?

Students will be dropped for non-payment at midnight on the day following their registration. You will only be dropped from those courses for which payment has not been made.

Q: What happens if I’ve been dropped from my classes for non-payment?

If you are dropped from your classes for non-payment, you will need to try to re-enroll in the classes you were originally enrolled in or select other classes. If you believe you were dropped in error because you 1) paid all your fees, 2) filed a FAFSA or a Board of Governors Grant,  3) enrolled in a payment plan or 4) have your fees paid for by a third party, contact the Admissions Office, Building 9, First Floor. They will assist you in completing a petition to appeal the dropping from classes.

Q: How do I enroll in a payment plan?

After you register for your classes in WebSMART, follow the link to “Payment Plan.” You’ll then be provided additional information about how to complete your enrollment. If you only use cash, you will not be able to participate in the payment plan.

Q: What are the costs associated with the payment plan?

 A summary of all the fees associated with the payment plan is listed below.

Fees payable by students who sign up for the payment plan
Description of Fee	Amount	Remarks
Sign-up fee	$          20	$20 per semester.
Late Fee	$          10	$10 for each late payment, maximum is $20 and plan is canceled when payment is late for the second time.
NSF Fee	$          15	$15 for each check returned due to non-sufficient fund in the bank account.
Interest	$           -	No interest will be assessed for any balance on the payment plan.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q: How do I make payments?

You can make payment plan payments via paper check, electronic debit from your checking or savings account, and credit cards. You will make all payments directly to Sallie Mae, not to the Cashiers offices.  If you only use cash, you will not be able to participate in the payment plan.

Q: Is there any minimum amount I need to owe in order to sign up for a payment plan?

Yes, you must owe at least $50 in order to sign up for a payment plan.

Q: What if I add or reduce my total unit load such that my payment plan balances changes?

You must contact Sallie Mae to inform them that your fee balance has changed. They can assist you in adjusting your payment plan up or down.  You can contact Sallie Mae at https://tuitionpay.salliemae.com

Q: What if I decide that I want to pay off my plan balance early?

You must provide payment to Sallie Mae in order pay off your plan.

Q: What if I default on my payment plan?

If you default on your payment plan, you will have a hold placed on your record in April and you will not be able to register for any subsequent terms until the balance is paid in full. You will not be able to request official transcripts until your fees have been paid in full. In addition, you will be sent to collections for the outstanding fees owed to the college. If you pay your outstanding balance and enroll in a subsequent term, you will be able to sign up for another payment plan.

Q: Who should I contact if I have a question about my payment plan?

You can log in to the Sallie Mae website www.tuitionpay.salliemae.com which will take you directly to “Manage Your Account”. You will need your Sallie Mae Account Number, provided to you when you initially enrolled in the payment plan in order to manage your account. If you have forgotten this number, contact Sallie Mae Customer Service directly at 1-800-635-0120. Agents are available Monday through Friday from 7 am to 8 pm Central Time.

Mailing Address for Check Payments

Sallie Mae
PO Box 11953
Newark, NJ 07101-4953

Q: Can I sign up for a payment plan at any time during the semester?

There will be a deadline date established each semester. After that date you will not be able to sign up for a payment plan. (See website for date.) The later that you sign up for the plan, the fewer payments you’ll make but the amounts will be larger.

Q: When will my last payment on my payment plan be due for the spring, 2013 semester?

The last payment date is April 5, 2013. You must have a $0 balance at that time in order to register for the next semester.

Q: Do I have to be determined eligible for financial aid in order not to be dropped from my classes by the deadline?

No. If you file a FAFSA within five business days of the drop date you will not be dropped. You should plan to file no later than January 2, 2013. Subsequent to these dates, you should contact Financial Aid to determine if your financial aid application can be processed prior to the rolling drops for non-payment that will occur each Wednesday.

Q: I have applied for and received a Board of Governor’s Grant (BOGG) waiver.  Will this fee waiver cover all my fees? 

No, the BOGG only covers enrollment fees. It does not cover additional fees you are assessed (e.g. health fee, student body fee, student representation fee, instructional materials fees, student union fee, etc.) If you cannot pay these additional fees, you are encouraged to apply for federal financial aid by filling out the FAFSA (www.FAFSA.gov). While you will not be dropped if you file a BOGG, you are responsible for the additional fees. Failure to pay any remaining balance will prevent you from registering in subsequent semesters.

Q: I’m an international student? When will I have to pay my fees?

International students must meet the same fee deadlines as all other students. You should sign up for a payment plan if you cannot pay your fees by the drop date.

Q: My fees are paid by a third party. What do I need to do not to be dropped?

When signing up for classes, you will also be able to update information on WebSMART to indicate that your fees are paid for by a third party. Documentation will be required.

The colleges will also assist in identifying those students whose fees are paid for by third parties and not drop those students for non-payment. You should check with the Cashiers Office, Building 9, First Floor, to make sure that we know your fees are paid for by a third party (e.g. Veteran’s Administration, Department of Rehabilitation, etc.) Please be reminded that some third party payers only pay enrollment fees. You will be responsible for the other fees that are assessed students (e.g. health fee, student body fee, student representation fee, student union fee, instructional materials fees, etc.)

Q: Will I still be able to pay by check?

Yes, you will be able to pay your fees by check as long as your check arrives before the January 7, 2013 deadline. After that date, you will need to bring your check in person to the Cashier’s Office at any of our three colleges in order to prevent being dropped from your classes. If you are on a payment plan and using a check to make your payments, you should send your check directly to Sallie Mae.