Category: Student News

More than 130 students participated in Make a Difference Day

MakeADifferenceDay1 MakeADifferenceDay2OLLU helped “Make a Difference” on Oct. 17 when more than 130 students and a few staff participated in Make a Difference Day at the San Antonio Food Bank.

Volunteers picked vegetables in the fields, packaged frozen foods and prepared bags for upcoming food drives. The work of OLLU volunteers made enough meals to serve more than 6,000 individuals.

OLLU Make a Difference Day is coordinated by the vOLLUnteer Unity Council and the Center for Service-Learning and Volunteerism (CSLV). The CSLV coordinates volunteer opportunities every week. To learn more, visit Worden School Building, Room 23.

Notice: Changes in financial aid process for the 2017-2018 school year

In September 2015, President Barack Obama announced a change to the date when students and families can begin to submit a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), as well as a change to which tax year’s information will be collected on the FAFSA. Beginning with the 2017-2018 financial aid application cycle, the FAFSA will be available on Oct. 1, 2016, instead of Jan. 1, 2017. Additionally, income information from one year earlier, known as “prior-prior year” (PPY), will be collected on the FAFSA.

What this means:

  • Earlier filing date – With the FAFSA currently available starting in January, it can be difficult for students and their families to prepare and file their income tax return that early. Under the new PPY system, the 2017-2018 FAFSA will be available on Oct. 1, 2016 rather than Jan. 1, 2017, giving students and their families more time to prepare.
  • Easier submission process – The IRS Data Retrieval Tool (DRT) now allows automatic population of a student’s FAFSA with tax return data, which decreases the need for additional documentation. It can be used by millions more students and families under PPY, since tax data from two years’ prior will be readily available upon application.
  • Earlier notification of financial aid packages – Now that students can apply for aid earlier, OLLU can provide financial aid notifications to students earlier, ensuring that students and their families have more time to prepare for education costs, and provide additional time for OLLU to offer beneficial financial aid counseling.

More information will be available in the coming months.

Students are encouraged to visit the Financial Aid Office and speak with a counselor if they have any questions.

Announcements for graduating seniors

Texas Recognition, OLLU’s graduation regalia vendor, will be on campus Saturday, Oct. 10, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. taking orders for regalia, invitations and class rings.

Time correction to information sent in graduation packet:

The grey “commencement participation” card included in the graduation information packets lists incorrect start times for Ring Blessing and Liturgy. The correct times are as follows:

Friday, Dec. 18:

  • Ring Blessing Ceremony – 12 p.m. – Sacred Heart Chapel (regalia not required)
  • Baccalaureate/Graduate Liturgy – 3 p.m. – Sacred Heart Chapel (regalia required)

Student receives prestigious fellowship

Catalina Perdomo was awarded the Marriage and Family Therapy Fellowship. This is a competitive and prestigious award given to select students from Marriage and Family Therapy (MFT) programs from across the country in support of the delivery of “culturally competent” mental health and substance abuse services to underserved minority populations.

Association of Information Technology Professionals looking for new members

OLLU’s chapter of the Association of Information Technology Professionals (AITP) is looking for students to join its organization. Students who want to learn more about information technology, or have a passion for computers, coding or hacking, are invited to learn more during an informational meeting Wednesday from 5-6 p.m. in Main Building, Room 209. No experience is necessary and all majors are welcome.

OLLU introducing new tool to help students stay on track to graduation

OLLU is introducing a new tool to help students track their progress toward graduation. My Academic Plan, or MAP, will allow students to create a plan to complete all required courses in order to graduate on time.

MAP can be used to:

  • Plan each term to graduate on time
  • Register
  • View a degree audit to check progress
  • Communicate (Notes) with your adviser
  • View current catalog
  • View or print unofficial transcripts

Learn how to create your MAP to graduation during a training session.

Freshmen – MAP training will be provided during your Applications of Learning class.

All other students, attend one of the following:

  • Thursday, Sept. 24, 12:30-130 p.m. in Main Building, Room 211
  • Monday, Sept. 28, 12:30-1:30 p.m. in Main Building, Room 211
  • Tuesday, Sept. 29, 6-7 p.m. in Main Building, Room 211
  • Wednesday, Sept. 30, 6-7 p.m. in Main Building, Room 211
  • Saturday, October 10, 12-1 in Main Building, Room 21

Please review this video if you cannot make one of the above sessions.

For additional information, please contact the Registrar’s Office at Ext. 2316 or email registrar@ollusa.edu.