2014 – 2015 A GUIDE FOR FAMILIES produced by in partnership with For more information, please contact California State University San Bernardino 5500 University Parkway (909) 537-3236 coyoteparents.csusb.edu contents About this Guide UniversityParent has published this guide in partnership with California State University, San CSUSB Guide Bernardino with the mission of helping you easily navigate your student’s university with the most | Comprehensive advice and information for student success timely and relevant information available. Welcome to California State University, San Bernardino Discover more articles, tips and local business 5 | information by visiting the online guide at: 6 | About CSUSB www.universityparent.com/csusb 8 | Advising and Academic Services Frequently Asked Questions The presence of university/college logos and 9 | marks in this guide does not mean the school 10 | FERPA: Why Can’t I Speak with My Student’s Professors? endorses the products or services offered by 11 | Four-Year Graduation Pledge Program advertisers in this guide. 12 | Career Services 2995 Wilderness Place, Suite 205 13 | Services to Students with Disabilities (SSD) Boulder, CO 80301 14 | Important Dates and Academic Calendar www.universityparent.com 18 | Stay Healthy Advertising Inquiries: Campus Safety (855) 947-4296 20 | [email protected] 22 | Money Matters 25 | Coyote OneCard 26 | Coyote Bookstore 28 | Home Away from Home SARAH SCHupp PUBLISHER RACHAEL MURRAY DESIGN Resources MICHAel FAHleR AD DESIGN | Must-have knowledge to navigate your way Connect: 16 | Campus Map facebook.com/UniversityParent 30 | Important Contact Information twitter.com/4collegeparents 31 | CSUSB Area Resources © 2014 UniversityParent 2 California State University, San Bernardino www.universityparent.com/csusb 3 CSUSB GUIDE CSUSB GUIDE Welcome to California State University, San Bernardino Greetings and welcome to the Coyote Family! Congratulations to you and your student for selecting Cal State San Bernardino. The support you give your student during his or her college years is one of the most valuable gifts you can give. We at CSUSB are committed to supporting them on this educational journey as well. The purpose of this family guide is to highlight programs and topics that will be of interest to new members of the CSUSB Family. We want you to experience all that CSUSB has to offer, and this guide contains some great ideas you can share with your student about campus life and resources. It is our goal to make the next few years wonderful and exciting for your entire family. Our new Parent & Family Program was created to form a partnership between the university and families to foster student success in the classroom and to enrich the college experience. We welcome you to participate in campus events and activities, and to consider joining our new Coyote Parent Association. If you would like more information on the Parent & Family Program, please contact us at: (909) 537-3236, (909) 537-3085, or [email protected]. We look forward to seeing you around campus. With Coyote PRIDE, Parent and Family Programs ■ 4 California State University, San Bernardino www.universityparent.com/csusb 5 CSUSB GUIDE CSUSB GUIDE About CSUSB California State University, San Bernardino is a preeminent center of intellectual and cultural activity in Inland Southern California. Opened in 1965 and set at the foothills of the beautiful San Bernardino Mountains, the university serves more than 20,000 students each year and graduates about 4,000 students annually. The “value added” by a CSUSB education ranks in the top 4 percent in the nation, according to the Collegiate Learning Assessment, a sequence of tests used by hundreds of colleges and universities nationwide that measure student learning in the freshman and then in the senior year. First-to- earned national accreditation. The second year retention rates are third university also is home to the California highest among all CSU campuses. Professor of the Year, Stuart Sumida. CSUSB reflects the dynamic diversity Cal State San Bernardino has seen of the region and has the most records in enrollment, diversity of diverse student population of any faculty and students, grant and university in the Inland Empire. It has contract funding, overhead funds, the second highest African American fundraising and international programs and Hispanic enrollments of all public development. CSUSB ranks as the universities in California. Seventy second-safest among all 33 public percent of those who graduate are universities in California. ■ the first in their families to do so. The university offers more than 70 CSUSB reflects the traditional baccalaureate and master’s dynamic diversity of degree programs, education credential and certificate programs, and a doctoral the region and has program. In recent years, CSUSB added its first doctorate (educational the most diverse leadership), engineering program student population (computer science and engineering), and M.F.A. programs in creative writing of any university in and studio art and design. Every CSUSB academic program that is eligible has the Inland Empire. 6 California State University, San Bernardino www.universityparent.com/csusb 7 CSUSB GUIDE CSUSB GUIDE Frequently Asked Questions Q. What placement tests are students required to take? A. The English Placement Test (EPT) and Entry Level Math (ELM) exam. If your student scored high enough on his or her SAT, ACT or AP, he or she can be exempt from taking these tests. Check the link to our website for the exemption scores, http://www.ugs.csusb.edu/advising. Q. How do students register for classes, and what are the deadlines? A. Students can register for classes using the MyCoyote system. For registration deadline dates please contact the Registration Help Desk at (909) 537-7671. Q. Is there a student handbook Advising and or academic guide available? A. Yes. Students can download a copy Academic Services from the Advising and Academic Services website in PDF or Microsoft Word formats. you can ask any question related to the university, [email protected]. The primary purpose of the academic Q. How does my student get help advising program at California State picking classes if they are undeclared? Q. What does it mean to be on University, San Bernardino is to assist A. Have your student contact “Academic Probation”? students in the development and Advising and Academic Services by A. It means that a student’s “CSUSB” implementation of meaningful educational calling (909) 537-5034 and set up an or “cumulative” GPA is below 2.0. It is plans that are compatible with their life appointment with one of the advisors. a warning. Most often, the student will goals. The program provides opportunities be required to sign a probation contract The Office of Advising and for students to assess their interests and with Advising and Academic Services. Academic Services advises and Q. How do students get help picking academic abilities, encouraging their counsels students who are: classes if they have a major? fullest intellectual development. Students A. Each department handles advising Q. My student is struggling with will receive ongoing support empowering • Undeclared differently. In some departments students a class and needs help. Where them to accomplish their personal, • On academic probation will be advised by thoroughly trained peer can she go to get this help? educational and professional goals. advisors and in other cases they will be A. The university has a several • Subject to disqualification assigned to a staff or faculty advisor. The academic support programs that can General Education Advising • Enrolled in remedial campus advising page helps to distinguish help. A list can be found at http:// If your student needs assistance math and/or English how each individual department has www.ugs.csusb.edu/advising. understanding general education organized their advising program. http:// requirements, he or she can come to advising.csusb.edu/myadvisor.html Q. Are there any tutors on campus? our office to schedule an appointment A. Yes. The campus offers several with one of our advisors. Have them Q. Is there online or email location where students can receive call us at (909) 537-5034 or email advising available? tutoring and assistance writing papers. us at: [email protected]. ■ A. Yes, there is email advising where http://advising.csusb.edu/tutoring.html ■ 8 California State University, San Bernardino www.universityparent.com/csusb 9 CSUSB GUIDE CSUSB GUIDE FERPA: Why Can’t I Speak with My Student’s Professors? The Family Educational Rights Privacy Rights of the student under FERPA: Act is a Federal law designed to protect • Inspect and review the privacy of student’s educational education records records. Under FERPA, parents have certain rights with respect to their • Contest an inaccurate or student’s educational records. These misleading record rights transfer to the student when • Consent to whom their educational he or she reaches the age of 18 for record can be disclosed students at the high school level. This right transfers solely to the student who CSUSB students have the ability to grant attends school beyond the high school access to authorized users. Access to level. Parents are no longer guaranteed this information can only be done with access to academic, financial or the written consent of the student. medical records of their student. For more information on CSUSB student record administration policies Four-Year Graduation please visit: http://policies.csusb.edu/ student_records_administration.htm. ■ Pledge Program California State University, San Bernardino Who Is Eligible? is committed to assisting students in All entering freshmen with a declared earning a baccalaureate degree in the major (and concentration if applicable), shortest time possible. With careful who are willing to enroll in at least 45-47 planning a student can graduate in four units a year, who enter without basic skills years. The campus has consistently deficiencies and who meet all entrance worked to provide an academic schedule requirements for the major are eligible.