WELCOME TO
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE!
NEW STUDENT GUIDE
WELCOME TO
OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE! Everyone at the College is thrilled to have you join the Oxy family this fall, and we look forward to meeting you at New Student Orientation, which runs from Thursday, August 22 until the first day of classes on Tuesday, August 27. I know that you must be excited, anxious and maybe even a little nervous about getting started with your college experience. I feel much of the same excitement and anticipation that all of you are feeling. Welcoming new students to the College is one of my favorite things to do, and I’m eager to greet you and support your start on this new adventure. I look forward to meeting as many of you as possible during Orientation. This packet contains important information about to-do items and due dates you will need to complete so we can best prepare for your arrival. Before you can get started with the new-student checklist, you must first activate your Oxy network account. Your Oxy email account will be a critical link for information during your time at the College, so please activate it as soon as possible and check it often. In addition to this packet, supplemental information for new students can be found at oxy.edu/new-students. In June, we will share more information on summer reading. We believe that starting your college education with a common reading experience will serve as one of many ways in which you will be connected with other incoming students in the Class of 2023. We also see the summer reading as an opportunity to introduce students to the Mission of the College which is equity, excellence, service and community. Recognizing that families have played a significant role in your success to date, please note that your family is invited to participate in the Family Orientation Program, which runs from Thursday, August 22 at 8 a.m. until 7 p.m. on Friday, August 23. This program includes both formal and informal events, and opportunities for your family members to meet administrators, staff and faculty at the College. I hope to see them there. Time will move quickly between now and your arrival on campus here in Los Angeles. At times the prospect of leaving home and beginning college may seem almost surreal—which is a pretty normal feeling. The transition ahead of you is a significant one, and we’re in it together. Like everyone else at Oxy, I am committed to helping you have a smooth transition to Occidental—please contact me with any questions you have. I’ll see you soon! Sincerely,
Dean Flot Rob Flot Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students http://www.oxy.edu/person/rob-flot
CONTENTS
TO-DO CHECKLIST & TIMELINE
2
OXYENGAGE
3
FIRST THINGS FIRST
4
Activate your @oxy.edu email address and student account
4
INFORMATION FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS
5
International students
5
Transfer, exchange and visiting students
5
Parents and family members
5
LIVING
6
Residential Education & Housing Services
6
Substance-free housing and College policies
6
Campus mail
6
Student ID cards photo submission
7
Residential meal plans selection
7
EverFi sexual violence prevention education program
8
Cars and campus parking
8
Campus Safety and emergency preparedness
8
LEARNING
9
Registration overview
9
Cultural Studies Program
9
Placement exams
10
Academic advising
10
LOGISTICS
11
Disability accommodations
11
Health insurance
11
Charging your student account
12
Tuition, room and board, fees
12
How billing works
12
Payment plans
12
Financial aid and federal loan information
13
HELPFUL CONTACTS Advising Center advisingcenter@oxy.edu (323) 259-1341 Athletics oxyathletics.com (323) 259-2608 Bookstore bookstore@oxy.edu (323) 259-2630 Campus Dining dining@oxy.edu (323) 259-2629 Campus Safety campussafety@oxy.edu (323) 259-2599 Campus Card Office cardoffice@oxy.edu (323) 341-4885 Core Program and CSP coreprogram@oxy.edu (323) 259-2783 Dean of Students Office deanofstudents@oxy.edu (323) 259-2661 Disability Services accessibility@oxy.edu (323) 259-2969 Emmons Wellness Center emmons@oxy.edu (323) 259-2657 Financial Aid finaid@oxy.edu (323) 259-2548 Information Technology Services (ITS) helpdesk@oxy.edu (323) 259-2880
Intercultural Community Center icc@oxy.edu (323) 259-2522 International Programs Office ipo@oxy.edu (323) 259-2533 Postal Operations Center vchico@oxy.edu (323) 259-2894 Office for Religious & Spiritual Life spirituallife@oxy.edu (323) 259-2621 Office of Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement slice@oxy.edu (323) 259-2918 Project S.A.F.E. survivoradvocate@oxy.edu (323) 259-1359 Registrar’s Office registrar@oxy.edu (323) 259-2686 Residential Education & Housing Services resed@oxy.edu (323) 259-2531 Student Business Services stuaccts@oxy.edu (323) 259-2610 Student Loans stuloans@oxy.edu (323) 259-2509
CONTENTS & HELPFUL CONTACTS • 1
TO-DO CHECKLIST & TIMELINE All forms can be found within the my.oxy.edu portal or linked directly from the online checklist at oxy.edu/new-students.
ASAP
JUNE
AUGUST
Request final official transcripts from your high school (showing graduation date) or most recent college
BY JUNE 13
BY AUGUST 1
Deadline for students interested in either CSP 1 or CSP 5 (by 5 p.m. PDT); see www.oxy.edu/academics/coreprogram/csp-plus
Submit required health forms:
Activate Oxy network account using your myOxy ID and initial password at my.oxy.edu. ID and password were shared within your online admission portal Activate your Oxy email through OxyConnect (Oxy Gmail) at oxyconnect.oxy.edu Choose your Cultural Studies Program (CSP) seminar preferences. See page 9 for instructions on how to register Submit your Oxy ID Card photo. See www.oxy.edu/offices-services/cardservices for information.
Meal Plan selection opens, visit www. oxy.edu/offices-services/card-services
ON JUNE 17 Registration for all CSP seminars (except CSP 1 and 5) opens at 9 a.m. PDT. CSP registration closes at 5 p.m. PDT on Friday, June 21.
JULY BY JULY 1 Complete the Advising Information form www.oxy.edu/academics/coreprogram/csp-plus Complete the Incoming Student Housing questionnaire Meal plan selection deadline Register for OxyEngage (optional)
Financial Responsibility and Permission for Treatment (signed by student and parent/legal guardian) Immunization Record (completed by healthcare professional) Authorization to Share Health Information (completed by student) Sports Physical (completed by healthcare professional for those participating in club sports)
BY AUGUST 3 Complete the EverFi online education program (see page 8)
BY AUGUST 14 Deadline to take placement exams for chemistry, mathematics, French, Spanish and German
BY AUGUST 15
Submit the Religious Information form
Deadline to sign up for or waive Oxy student health insurance
Submit the Request for Accommodations form (if applicable)
BY AUGUST 16
Submit the Student Photo Release Submit the waiver of FERPA Privacy Rights form Complete the Online Entrance Interview, Master Promissory Note and Disclosures for Oxy loans (if applicable)
Contact the advising center to register for any courses in which you may have been placed
BY AUGUST 17 Complete the Course-Planning Worksheet
BY JULY 15
Review the Code of Student Conduct
Add authorized users (parents or guardian) on your online student business services account
Review your Clearance form at my.oxy.edu
BY JULY 21 2 • TO-DO CHECKLIST & TIMELINE
Health History (completed by student)
Complete your ID photo submission
WELCOME!
HI TIGERS! We are O-Team, the group of students responsible for planning fall Orientation, and we’re super excited to welcome you to campus in August! Wondering what to expect when you get here? Well, we are an enthusiastic group of 60 current students ready to show you how to make the most out of your college experience. You’ll quickly learn that people tend to talk in acronyms here; O-Team will help you get acquainted with most of them during Orientation, but here are a few for you to study over summer break: • CSP (Cultural Studies Program: the first-year writing seminar) • MP (Marketplace: where you will forget about calories and buy that pint of ice cream) • SAC (Student Activities Center: where you can get discounted tickets to movies and theme parks as well as rent camping equipment) • SLICE (Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement: helps you get involved in student organizations, sponsors cool events on campus and creates opportunities for you to volunteer off campus) • JSC (Johnson Student Center: home to SLICE, the MP and the SAC) Last but not least, just a friendly reminder that the stuff in this packet is really important. So be sure to submit all of your forms on time and on your own (you are in college now, after all!). You will no doubt have lots of questions between now and August, and we are happy to answer them; just send us an email at orientation@oxy.edu and a member of O-Team will get back to you.
Io Triumphe, Your O-Team Leaders #OxyWelcome
EXPLORE LOS ANGELES OxyEngage is a great way to jumpstart your Oxy experience and dive right into Los Angeles. Not only do you get to meet your new classmates before Orientation, you also get to visit some of the best locations around L.A. We have trips for every lifestyle and interest, whether you want to see Hollywood, get down and dirty in the Southern California wilderness or learn about Social Justice all over the city. From behind the scenes at the Grammy Museum to the beaches of Santa Monica or the vibrant community space of Mercado La Paloma to the Getty Museum, these trips take you to places you might not have discovered on your own yet will want to revisit with friends time and again. Past participants have said that OxyEngage is a more relaxed and natural environment to meet new people and make great friends. Our 30 trip leaders are excited to help pass on the warm welcome to each class of new students and share insider knowledge of the city. OxyEngage registration opens Saturday, June 1 and runs through July 1. OxyEngage trips will take place August 20–21. Students who register to participate should plan to arrive on campus for early move in Monday, August 19 from 8a.m.-12p.m. For more registration information and costs, please visit oxy.edu/new-students/oxyengage. We can't wait to have you join us and make memories you’ll never forget! Sincerely, The OxyEngage Team
#oxyengage @oxyengage
WELCOME TO OXY! • 3
FIRST THINGS FIRST
If you have not already activated your Oxy Network Account (my.oxy.edu) and your Oxy email account, please do so right away.
ABBREVIATED 2019–2020 ACADEMIC CALENDAR FALL 2019 International Student Move-in (for students participating in International Student Orientation)
Friday
Aug. 16
New Student Move-in**
Thursday
Aug. 22
Orientation for New Students Entering Fall 2019
Thurs.-Tues.
Aug. 22-27
Account activation instructions were emailed to you; you also can find the information in the online Admission Portal linked from oxy.edu/new-students.
Returning Student Move-in
Saturday
Aug. 24
Clearance
Tues.-Wed.
Aug. 27-28
First Day of Classes (no morning classes; classes start at 1:30 p.m.)
Tuesday
Aug. 27
If you run into any problems with your MyOxy or @oxy.edu email accounts, the Technology Helpdesk can be reached at helpdesk@oxy.edu or (323) 259-2880.
Labor Day
Monday
Sept. 2
Fall Break
Mon.-Tues.
Oct. 14-15
Advising Week
Mon.-Fri.
Oct. 28-Nov. 1
Registration Week for Spring 2020
Mon.-Fri.
Nov. 4-8
Thanksgiving Break
Wed.-Sun.
Nov. 27-Dec. 1
Last Day of Classes
Tuesday
Dec. 3
Reading Days
Wed.-Thurs.
Dec. 4-5
Final Exams begin
Friday
Dec. 6
Reading Days
Sat.-Sun.
Dec. 7-8
Final Exams
Mon.-Fri.
Dec. 9-13
Residence halls close at 10 a.m. or 24 hours after last final exam (whichever happens first)
Saturday
Dec. 14
Your @oxy.edu email account is the primary way the College will be communicating with you over the summer and during your time at Oxy, so be sure to check and read it regularly.
THE NEW STUDENT PAGE As a companion to this packet, the New Student page at oxy.edu/ new-students provides you with links to all of the forms and additional information you need, as well as further instructions and updates. Throughout the summer, updated information about New Student and Family Orientation will be shared on this page.
**Fall athletes and international students should contact program administrators to confirm arrival dates.
SPRING 2020 Orientation for New Students Entering in Spring 2020
Friday
Jan. 17
Returning Students Move-in at 10 a.m.
Sunday
Jan. 19
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday
Monday
Jan. 20
First Day of Classes
Tuesday
Jan. 21
Clearance
Tues.-Wed.
Jan. 21-22
Presidents Day Holiday
Monday
Feb. 17
Spring Break
Mon.-Fri.
Mar. 9-13
Advising Week
Mon.-Fri.
Mar. 23-27
Registration Week for Fall 2020
Mon.-Fri.
Mar. 30-Apr. 3
Last Day of Classes
Tuesday
April 28
Reading Days
Wed.-Thur.
April. 29-30
Final Exams begin
Friday
May 1
Reading Days
Sat.-Sun.
May 2-3
Final Exams
Mon.-Fri.
May 4-8
Residence halls for non-graduating students close at 10 a.m. or 24 hours after the last final exam (whichever comes first)
Saturday
May 9
Commencement
Sunday
May 17
View the full calendar at oxy.edu/academics/2019-2020-academic-calendar 4 • FIRST THINGS FIRST
INFORMATION FOR
SPECIAL POPULATIONS INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS While all of the information in this booklet is pertinent to you, please refer to correspondence from the International Programs Office (IPO) for special instructions for International Student Orientation, as arrival dates and information may vary slightly. Additional information specific to you can be found at www.oxy.edu/academics/global-engagement/international-programs/international-students/newstudents.
TRANSFER, EXCHANGE AND VISITING STUDENTS We are excited that you have chosen to study abroad at Oxy or come here for the remainder of your college career. While most of the information here applies to both first-year and transfer students, we do want to mention a few points specifically applicable to transfer students. For example: Transfer, exchange and visiting students do not enroll in a CSP seminar. Though you begin Orientation at the same time as first-years, you will have some specialized sessions during Orientation to discuss transfer of credits and academic advising specific to you. You will register before the first-years. To ensure proper transfer units, please make sure your most complete official transcripts are sent to the Registrar’s Office as soon as possible. Over the summer, you will be contacted by Carolyn Brighouse, associate dean for student academic affairs, to schedule an advising consultation prior to Orientation and your arrival on campus. You may also wish to make an appointment with the Core Office or Registrar’s Office to discuss how to satisfy any additional requirements. You may have clear ideas about your academic program, and off-campus study can be an important part of that. Planning for program prerequisites and considering off-campus study are essential parts of the transfer process. Study-abroad applications are due in early September for spring and late January for fall. The International Programs Office is open all summer to answer any questions. You can contact IPO at (323) 259-2533 or ipo@oxy.edu.
PARENTS & FAMILIES The Federal Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), described at www.oxy.edu/student-handbook/general-college-policies/ family-education-rights-and-privacy-act-ferpa, prohibits the release of student information to anyone but the student without the student’s written permission (this includes parents and guardians). The online FERPA waiver allows the staff of Occidental to discuss information regarding your student’s account (including billing, delinquency, payment history, refunds and collections) as well as issues handled by the Dean of Students Office (conduct, disabilities, other records) and the Registrar’s Office (academic records) with the person(s) the student has designated. This form also provides each student the opportunity to designate their directory information as confidential. Records marked as confidential will only be available as allowed in the Act. The student must log into myOxy, go to the gateway channel and select Online FERPA Authorizations to complete the online form. California law also prohibits the release of records relating to health and counseling for any student 18 years or older. For more information on health records, contact Emmons Wellness Center at (323) 259-2657. INFORMATION FOR SPECIAL POPULATIONS • 5
LIVING This summer, Residential Education & Housing Services (REHS) staff will work hard to match you with your roommate(s) and within your first-year residence hall community. Your housing assignments will be available in early August; after receiving this information, we encourage you to get in touch with your roommate(s) to get to know each other and discuss the what-to-bring list (www. oxy.edu/new-students/residential-education-housingservices). Please note that, with the exception of OxyEngage, International Student Orientation and fall sports participants, we are unable to provide housing to new students before Thursday, August 22, when residence halls open and Orientation begins. Residence halls close for winter break on Saturday, December 14 at 10 a.m., and reopen on Saturday, January 18 at 10 a.m. for the start of spring semester.
LAUNDRY AND LINEN
PACKAGE AND MAILING INFORMATION
The College does not provide linen or laundry service. All beds are twin extra long, 38 x 80 inches, so plan accordingly when buying linens. Laundry facilities are available in each residence hall and use campus ID card funds for payment (coins are not accepted).
If you are shipping items to campus prior to your arrival, send them (prepaid) no earlier than August 15 to:
SUBSTANCE-FREE HOUSING & COLLEGE POLICIES All first-year residence halls are substance-free. New students will find College policies regarding student conduct and the use of alcohol, drugs and smoking on the Student Handbook website: www.oxy.edu/student-handbook. New students are expected to review the Code of Student Conduct prior to arrival for Orientation.
6 • LIVING
(Your Name) Class of 2023 Occidental College 1600 Campus Road, [Box # assigned in July] Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314 Visit the Postal Operations Center online at www.oxy.edu/offices-services/postal-operations for more info.
STUDENT ID CARDS & OXY CARD SERVICES Your Oxy ID card serves as your room and building key on campus. The ID card also grants you access to the library, gym, meal plan, laundry, vending and the Oxy bookstore. While this first ID is free, a charge applies for each replacement card. Additionally, your ID card is for your use only and may not be used by others. You will be able to pick up your Oxy ID card on your move-in day. You will need to upload a satisfactory ID photo using the selfsubmit photo process. The self-submit form is available starting June 1 and should be completed by July 21 at the latest.
SELF-SUBMIT PHOTO: To upload your ID photo, please: 1. Visit https://www.oxy.edu/offices-services/card-services 2. Click "Submitting Photo ID to Card Office" for uploading instructions. Remember, this will be your student ID photo for the next four years. Your photo is the image professors, staff and peers see on your card and in Moodle, which is accessible through MyOxy and serves as the main hub for your academic classes. If you do not self-submit your photo, you may have to wait up to two hours on move-in day for your student ID. If you prefer to have your photo taken on campus, you may visit the Card Office (second floor of the Johnson Student Center, Iron Man Room) to have your photo taken beginning Monday, July 1. Please reach out to us at cardoffice@oxy.edu if you have any questions.
MEAL PLANS Occidental’s self-operated dining program is among the best in the country, providing students many options, including a variety of meal plans. After June 1, visit the Campus Dining website for information about 2019-2020 meal plans: www.oxy.edu/ student-life/campus-dining/meal-plans/pick-your-plan. If you have special dietary needs, please visit oxy.edu/studentlife/campusdining/nutrition. To select your meal plan, log into MyOxy, go to the Student Services tab, select Student Business Services channel and then click on “Meal Plan Select Form.” If you do not select a plan by July 1, you will automatically be placed on Meal Plan A. If you decide to change your plan, you may do so using the same form until Saturday, August 31. After that date, changes are accepted for a fee of $5 until the final deadline of September 6 at 5 p.m. Changes will be reflected on your next monthly billing statement.
LIVING • 7
LIVING
SEXUAL VIOLENCE PREVENTION ONLINE EDUCATION As part of our commitment to a safe, welcoming and respectful campus environment, Oxy requires all incoming students to complete an online education program from our online partner, EverFi, before arriving on campus. It is an interactive online course that addresses the interconnected issues of substance abuse, hookup culture, sexual violence and healthy relationships through a variety of interactive, realistic scenarios and guided self-reflection. Please note that this training includes accounts of sexual violence. If you are concerned about your ability to complete this training, please contact Oxy’s confidential survivor advocate, Marianne Frapwell, at survivoradvocate@oxy.edu, to discuss opt-out support as well as onand off-campus resources. In order to enroll in the fall semester, students must complete the course by Friday, Aug. 2.
ACCESSING THE COURSE All students will receive an email with a link to access the online education program in mid-June. If you do not receive the email, visit https://admin.fifoundry.net/occidental_college/sign_in, select “Forgot Password?” and enter your Oxy email address. A confirmation email will then be sent to your Oxy email with a link for the course. Please set aside approximately 1 ½ to 2 hours to complete the course. You will need a computer with internet access and loaded with Flash Player to complete the courses. If you are unable to access a computer with the necessary features prior to the deadline, please contact Title IX Coordinator Jenn Broomfield at (323) 259-1338 or jbroomfield@oxy.edu. To learn more about sexual misconduct policies, prevention education and confidential resources at Oxy, visit www.oxy.edu/sexual-respecttitle-ix.
CARS & PARKING
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS
First-year students are allowed to have a car on campus. Parking is free, but all cars must be registered with Campus Safety, display a valid parking permit and be parked in an appropriately marked space. You will be able to register your car and get your permit during Orientation. There are charging stations on campus for owners of electric vehicles. Visitors must obtain a visitor’s parking permit; however, permits will not be necessary during Orientation. For more information, contact Campus Safety at campussafety@oxy.edu or call (323) 2592599.
Occidental has a standing committee on emergency preparedness to plan and prepare for various emergencies. If a major emergency should occur, Occidental will carry out its Emergency Operations Plan, which details response procedures to a variety of possible scenarios. All students are automatically enrolled in the Oxy Alert notification system. For more information, go to www.oxy.edu/offices-services/campussafety/emergency-preparedness-response-plans/emergencyoperations-plan.
Borrowing bikes, hopping on the Bengal Bus, or booking Zipcars are other transportation options available on campus. For more information, go to www.oxy.edu/about-oxy/ sustainability/transportation.
CAMPUS SAFETY Occidental’s Campus Safety Department provides security and emergency response services for the College 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with full-time, unarmed, uniformed officers who patrol the campus on foot, on bicycles and in marked cars. All officers are certified in first aid and CPR.
8 • LIVING
EMERGENCY CONTACT Should you need to contact your student in case of an afterhours emergency, please call Campus Safety at (323) 259-2599.
LEARNING 1. REGISTER FOR YOUR CULTURAL STUDIES PROGRAM (CSP) SEMINAR
REGISTRATION OVERVIEW All degree requirements and academic policies may be found in the College Catalog (http://oxy. smartcatalogiq.com/en/20192020/Catalog). The registration process for first-year students begins in June with online registration for your Cultural Studies Program and concludes with registration for your remaining courses during Orientation. In addition, some courses in math, chemistry, Spanish, French and German allow pre-registration following the completion of an online placement exam or by submitting a standardized test score. Here is an overview of what to expect over the coming months. 1. Register for your CSP Seminar in June pg. 9-10 2. Take placement exams and register for classes (if necessary)
pg. 10
3. Complete Schedule Planning Worksheet (online) pg. 10 4. Meet with faculty adviser during Orientation
pg. 10
5. Register for remaining fall classes during Orientation pg. 10
All students must complete a Core Program of required courses in order to ensure a broad education in the liberal arts and sciences. For a summary of the Core requirements, go to oxy.edu/academics/core-program/courses-requirements. The first courses in the Core program are your Cultural Studies Program (CSP) seminars, one in the fall semester of your first year and another in the spring. These are graduation requirements and cannot be waived or deferred (except for transfer students). We offer more than 30 individual CSP seminars each semester. While all of the seminars have the common goal of developing students’ writing skills and encouraging critical analysis, they focus on a broad range of topics. To see a list of the Fall 2019 CSP seminars and their descriptions, visit www.oxy.edu/academics/core-program/fall-cspseminars. In addition to the standard 4-unit CSP courses, we are offering two special 8-unit CSP courses that offer an opportunity to explore a topic in greater depth. The first of these courses is CSP 1: “Expulsions: Un/documented Migrants, Refugees, and the Stateless,” taught by a team of three faculty members from the departments of Sociology and Diplomacy and World Affairs. This course fulfills both the CSP and Core Global Connections requirements. It is open to all students, but may be of special interest to those who would like to explore a major in diplomacy and world affairs, economics, politics or sociology. The second special CSP course is CSP 5: “Economics by Example.” For this course, student will enroll in both a CSP seminar and a linked section of ECON 101. This CSP course expands and builds on the content covered in ECON 101, thereby engaging students more deeply with the topics that are critical for a strong foundation in economics and related fields. The course will address questions related to racial and gender labor market inequalities, immigration, and incarceration and crime. Information will be presented through real-world examples that engage different subfields in economics and related disciplines. Both CSP 1 and CSP 5 have a special registration process that is detailed here: www. oxy.edu/academics/core-program/csp-plus-courses. The deadline to sign up for either of these courses is 5 p.m. PDT Thursday, June 13. Registration for all other CSP seminars will open at 9 a.m. PDT on Monday, June 17 and close at 5 p.m. PDT on Friday, June 21. Many seminars will fill very quickly, so for the best selection you should register as soon as possible. Remember that you can only enroll in a single CSP seminar for the fall semester. To register for your fall semester CSP, please follow the steps below: 1. Choose your preferred CSP seminars in advance. Make a list of about 8-10 seminars, ranked in order of your preference. Make a note of the 4-digit CRN (Course Reference Number) for each course on your list. The CRN can be found at “Course Counts” within myOxy (my.oxy.edu) or at counts.oxy.edu (choose Fall 2019 on the “Semester” menu and Cultural Studies Program on the “Subject” menu)—it’s the blue number at the far left of the row for each course. Clicking on it will also give you the course description. LEARNING • 9
LEARNING 2. At 9 a.m. PDT on Monday, June 17, registration will open. Go to myOxy (my.oxy.edu), enter your username and password, and complete the following steps: • Go to the Academics link on the left side of the webpage. • Select Add or Drop Classes from the SSB Section under My Academic Records.
In some cases, an Advanced Placement or SAT II score may be used in lieu of taking a placement exam. For more information about placement exams and using standardized test scores for placement, see oxy.edu/advising-center/placement-exams. Languages: Yovanna Cifuentes-Goodbody mcifuentes@oxy.edu • (323) 259-1366
• Enter the following six-digit PIN when prompted: 202305.
Mathematics and Chemistry: Advising Center advisingcenter@oxy.edu • (323) 259-1341
• Select 2019 Fall Semester from the Select a Term menu and click on Submit.
Music Theory: Irene Girton igirton@oxy.edu
• Near the bottom of the screen, enter the four-digit CRN for your chosen CSP. • Click on Register. If the seminar is already full, the system will tell you that it is closed. If this happens, select your next choice until you are registered into a CSP. There are no wait lists for CSP seminars other than CSP 1 and CSP 5. 3. When you have successfully registered for your ONE CSP seminar, you will see a screen that says Current Schedule. This is your confirmation of the seminar that you selected. Note: If a special circumstance prevents you from having internet access on June 17 or you have questions, please contact the Core Program by June 12 at coreprogram@oxy. edu to arrange alternate means of registering. If you encounter difficulties while trying to register online, please call the Office of the Registrar at (323) 259-2686. Students who do not register for a CSP seminar by the deadline will be placed into a seminar by the director of the Core Program.
2. TAKE PLACEMENT EXAMS & REGISTER FOR RELATED COURSES If you intend to take a course in mathematics, chemistry, Spanish, French or German at any time while attending Occidental, you must take the appropriate online placement exam(s) by August 14 (www.oxy.edu/academics/academicsupport/advising-center/placement-exams). You can monitor your results through myOxy (Academics > Registration, Forms & Planning > Grades & Academic Record > Placement Results). Scores are typically posted 48 hours after completion of the exam. Only after your results are posted will you be able to register for courses over the summer. In many cases, your placement results or standardized test score will allow you to have priority registration for fall courses in the relevant department. Please contact the Advising Center by August 16 to register for any courses in which you may have been placed. Some courses may fill up quickly during Orientation, so registering over the summer may be beneficial. Please note that you will have the option to change your course schedule (i.e. add/drop courses) during Orientation, so there’s no risk involved in registering for a placement course during the summer. Placement exams for music theory, Japanese, Latin, Arabic, Chinese and Russian will be administered during Orientation. A schedule of placement exams will be included in the Orientation materials you will receive when you arrive in August. 10 • LEARNING
3. COMPLETE THE SCHEDULE-PLANNING WORKSHEET To get the most out of your meeting with your adviser during Orientation, you should come prepared with some general ideas of what classes you want to take and how you will fulfill your Core requirements. The Schedule-Planning Worksheet, which is available on the New Student page,(oxy.edu/new-students) will help you do just that. Most courses earn 4 units of credit. There are also courses that meet less frequently and earn either 1 or 2 units. A typical fulltime enrollment of 16 units (generally four 4-unit courses), with a maximum of 18 units per semester, allows a student to earn the required 128 units in eight semesters provided all courses are successfully completed. To see what courses are being offered this fall, visit counts.oxy.edu.
4. ACADEMIC ADVISING Each student will be assigned a faculty adviser who will help guide them through Oxy’s academic program. You will first meet with your faculty adviser during Orientation, when they will assist you in selecting your remaining courses for the fall semester. In order to help your adviser get to know you, please be sure to fill out the online Advising Information Form by July 1. In addition to your assigned faculty adviser, the Advising Center provides additional support for students with questions related to the curriculum and other academic issues. Advising Center staff is available to answer questions over the summer and can be consulted in person, by phone or by email. For more information and contact details, visit www.oxy.edu/academics/ academic-support-advising-center.
5. REGISTRATION DURING ORIENTATION During Orientation, the registration process starts with advising. On the Friday of Orientation, you will meet with your faculty adviser to talk about your fall course selections, as well as to discuss your academic and career goals. On Saturday, you will register for your remaining classes using Occidental’s online registration system (the same one used to register for your CSP seminar). Members of the O-Team and faculty advisers will be on hand to help you if you get stuck. By the end of Orientation you should be fully enrolled in 16-18 units. If necessary, you can change your schedule by dropping and adding courses (if there are available seats) through the appropriate add deadline. See the online academic calendar for those deadlines.
LOGISTICS DISABILITY ACCOMMODATIONS Students seeking accommodations for a documented physical, medical, psychological or learning disability or difference must apply to the Disability Services Office, which is a part of the Dean of Students Office. To apply, please submit the Request for Accommodations form (www.oxy.edu/offices-services/disability-services/housing-accommodation-policy) to the Disability Services Office with appropriate documentation by July 1. Once your request is received, our office will reach out to you with next steps. Students who do not have documentation, but believe they may have a disability or learning difference, should contact our office for consultation and support. We’d love to hear from you! For more information, call (323) 259-2969 or email Luci Masredjian, disability services coordinator, at masredjian@oxy.edu. Electronic submission of documentation is preferred, but supporting documentation may also be sent to the following:
Dean of Students Office, Berkus Hall 1600 Campus Road Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314 Or faxed to: (323) 341-4927, Attn: Dean of Students Office/Disability Services
HEALTH INSURANCE All entering students must complete and return all health forms prior to registration. They will become a part of the student’s permanent medical record and will be held in strict confidence at the Emmons Wellness Center. Please complete the forms online by August 2. Failure to complete this requirement on time may jeopardize your clearance status and you will incur late fees. Occidental requires all students to have adequate health insurance coverage. Students who are covered under their parent’s medical insurance may waive the Oxy student health plan. To be qualified to waive, your plan must cover you for full medical primary-care services within Los Angeles County. The waiver will be available July 1 and the deadline to waive is August 15. Information about the Oxy student health plan and instructions for waiving will be sent in June. All students attending Occidental as an international student on a student visa are required to enroll in and pay for Occidental student health insurance. Regardless of whether you are purchasing Oxy insurance or have a different health insurance plan, please bring a copy of your health insurance card with you to Oxy, as you will need it to access onand off-campus health services. LOGISTICS • 11
LOGISTICS
CHARGING TO YOUR STUDENT ACCOUNT
HOW BILLING WORKS
A debit account called Bengal Bucks may be opened to purchase items in the bookstore, Student Activity Center, and laundry.
Billing at Occidental is electronic. To receive your bills, you must set up your online student business account. Your first billing notice will be emailed to your Oxy email account (and any authorized account user) on July 15. Once you activate your MyOxy account, it is your responsibility to add any authorized users to your account prior to July 15 who need to receive your billing statements or make payments on your behalf. More than one authorized user can be added to any student account. For frequently asked questions, go to www.oxy.edu/offices-services/ student-business-services/ebill/quick-guidefaq.
Go to www.oxy.edu/offices-services/card-services to establish your account or to add funds. Any unused funds roll over for use in future semesters.
TUITION, ROOM AND BOARD, FEES The charges for the 2019-20 academic year are: ANNUAL COST
COST PER SEMESTER
PAYMENT PLANS
Tuition
$55,980
$27,990
Room
$16,034
$8,017
$6,910
$3,455
ASOC Fee (estimate)
$303
$ 151.50
Renewable Energy & Sustainability Fund
The College offers two payment options: the Semester Payment Plan and the Monthly (deferred) Payment Plan. All students are automatically assigned the Semester Payment Plan by default. Participation in the payment plan is on a semester basis. You will need to re-enroll each semester if you want to once again be able to pay in installments.
$21.50
$10.75
DEB Student Fee
$21.50
$10.75
$250
$125
$2,594
$1,297
Meal Plan (Plan B)
Student Health Fee Student Health Insurance (may be waived)
ROOM Oxy offers multiple types of on-campus student housing. For more information, please visit oxy.edu/residential-educationhousing-services.
BOARD For information on campus dining, please go to https://www.oxy. edu/student-life/campus-dining. ROOM Double Room Regular Single
ANNUAL COST
COST PER SEMESTER
$9,124
$4,562
$12,286
$6,143
Triple
$7,596
$3,798
BOARD
ANNUAL COST
COST PER SEMESTER
Meal Plan A+
$7,760
$3,880
Meal Plan A
$7,200
$3,600
Meal Plan B
$6,910
$3,455
Meal Plan C
$6,270
$3,135
12 • LOGISTICS
SEMESTER PAYMENT PLAN Payment of all regular charges is due before the beginning of each semester. First semester charges, less financial aid credits, if any, are due no later than Aug. 1, 2019. Second semester charges, less financial aid credits, if any, are due no later than Jan. 6, 2020.
MONTHLY PAYMENT PLAN If you want to participate in the Monthly Payment Plan, you must sign up through our eBill website: ebill.oxy.edu. Annual charges may be paid in 10 monthly installments, five each semester. For fall semester, monthly installments are due by the first of the month, August through December. For spring semester, monthly installments are due by the first of the month, January through May. There is a fee of $50 per semester to participate in the Monthly Payment Plan. In order to have the option of paying in five installments, you must enroll in the plan prior to the first due date: August 1 for fall and January 6 for spring.
PAYMENT METHODS Occidental accepts personal or cashier’s checks, cash (if paying in person at the cashier), money orders, ACH (electronic checks), debit cards or electronic funds transfer (EFT/wire transfer).
FINANCIAL AID Grants, scholarships and loans are reflected on your billing statements and result in a reduction in the amount you owe. Financial aid credits reflected on your bill are those that have been awarded up to the time the billing statement was generated. Federal work study awards and Occidental work awards are paid directly to the student as they earn them and are not reflected on the billing statement. Subsequent adjustments to aid will appear on the next billing statement. For questions regarding all other financial aid (including Federal Direct Loans and PLUS Loans), please contact the Financial Aid Office at (323) 259-2548 or finaid@oxy.edu.
ONLINE ENTRANCE INTERVIEW, MASTER PROMISSORY NOTE AND DISCLOSURES FOR OXY LOANS If you have been awarded assistance through the Occidental No-Interest Loan program or the Occidental Low-Interest Loan program, borrowers are asked to complete a mandatory entrance interview and electronically sign their Master Promissory Note (MPN) and Disclosures. You should complete your forms before July 1. by going to oxy.edu/offices-services/student-businessservices/student-loans and logging on to the ECSI portal.3
WITHDRAWAL POLICY
HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
Students who withdraw during the semester may be eligible for refunds, depending upon the time of the withdrawal. Students must give written notification to the registrar of their decision to withdraw and complete all withdrawal procedures to be eligible for any refunds. For important dates to remember for payments and refunds, go to oxy.edu/student-business-services/importantdates.
Check out the Frequently Asked Questions at oxy.edu/new-students.
TUITION INSURANCE A serious illness or accident that forces a student to leave Occidental before the semester is completed can be financially costly. To protect against this possibility, Occidental offers optional tuition insurance through GradGuard. For additional information, visit www.oxy.edu/offices-services/student-business-services/ student-accounts/tuition-insurance.
LOGISTICS • 13
1600 Campus Road M-39 Los Angeles, CA 90041-3314 Address Service Requested
#OxyBound GET SOCIAL WITH OXY To stay up-to-date on what's happening within the community.
Share That You’re #OxyBound
facebook.com/occidental
Take the hashtag to Twitter and Instagram to share your big news. We can’t wait to hear from you!
@occidentalcollege
@occidental
OxyOswald