As a parent or family member, Benedictine University considers you to be a valued partner with us in your student’s success!
Your student will have many experiences while at BenU, and they will be surrounded by faculty, staff, and administrators who want the same things for your student as you do. We know that much learning and growing happens during the college years, and we hope the information on this page will help you find answers to questions you might have.
As your student progresses through their college years, there will inevitably be ups and downs normal to a student’s growth and development into adulthood. During times of challenge, disappointment, or uncertainty, we want to help students (and their parents/families) maintain their equilibrium, build up their resilience to change and challenges in their lives, and to move forward in a positive and productive manner.
Our campus is blessed with a myriad of resources, and along with parents/families we hope to promote these resources to students so they can become their own best advocate both while in college and in their lives after graduation.
Happy New Year!
We hope you have had a safe Christmas Break so far and have spent plenty of quality time with your student. Please take a few moments to review the important information included on this page.
Upcoming Dates and Events
For a list of Parent & Family: Important Dates
click below
2021-2022 Academic Year Important Dates
The Residence Halls will officially open on Sunday, January 16th 10am-12pm. Every effort will be made to reduce Covid-19 positive cases at the start of the semester. Due to the re-entry testing requirement, residents will not be allowed to move in any earlier than Sunday, January 16. The semester will begin the temporary implementation of no guest/visitation policy through February 5, 2022. This includes residents visiting other residents during this time. Implementing this temporary policy change will provide us a little extra time to further evaluate how safe and reasonable to reconvene to the full living community experience.
Move in approvals will not be given until enrollment and testing requirements are met.
New Resident Check-in: All resident check-ins will begin in the Rice Center (Athletic Facility) for official housing welcome and room key pickup.
Spring Move in Requirements – All Residents Must:
• Be enrolled for classes upon arrival to campus.
• Re-entry Test: Supply a negative COVID-19 test (PCR or Antigen) taken within 72 hours of January 16 (or arrival date).
o Students who are within a commutable distance are encouraged to utilize on-campus testing resources for their re-entry test with Loop Medical on Thursday, January 13th – 8am-10am.
o Students can submit off-campus test results to COVIDResponse@ben.edu if not utilizing the 1/13 testing.
• Arrival Test: Upon arrival, prior to entering room assignment: Sunday, January 16th - 10am-1pm. No exceptions will be made.
o All campus testing will be conducted at the Rice Center. No registration needed.
• Students who are unable to return to campus on 1/16 may return to campus on our next scheduled campus testing date of 1/18 8am for their arrival test. Re-entry test remains a requirement.
Testing Exemptions: Those with a positive test in the last 90 days are not required to test, but need to submit proof of a positive test to COVIDResponse@ben.edu by 1/12.
Residence Life will continue to promote and host programmatic activities within the halls and ongoing collaboration efforts within Student Life will remain in place to provide additional student engagement opportunities on campus during the virtual period. Residents are encouraged to participate and take advantage in all BenU campus activities, whether virtual or in-person.
Please refer to www.ben.edu/coronavirus/index.cfm for updates on our COVID-19 protocols.
Encourage your student to apply over the long Christmas Break. Ben.edu/awardspring
The deadline for applications is January 31, 2022.
Important Information
Benedictine University’s Advising Department will be hosting virtual Freshman check-in during the week of January 18th - 21st. Students will receive an email from their advisor with instructions on how to check-in. Students will also have an opportunity to book a time to meet with their advisor to discuss any needs or questions they have about the spring semester (meeting portion is optional).
Academic Space Available on Campus
Students who need university Wi-Fi or computers to attend class and/or study may visit the Krasa Student Center from 8am to 7pm, January 18th through February 6th. Please be sure to follow the safety protocols in place:
Virtual Open House
Please join us for an open house to ask questions about starting the Spring 2022 term virtually till February 6th. Representatives will be available to answer questions on Parent Support, Academic Support, and Student Life Support. The open house will take place on Wednesday January 12th, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., and Thursday January 13th, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Please sign up for the open house here:
Wednesday January 12th Registration
Thursday January 13th Registration
If your student is sick, they must remain home and complete this form from our Student Health Office: https://www.ben.edu/coronavirus/student-symptom-reporting.cfm. In addition to completing the form, it is always a good idea for students to communicate their absences to their professors. Also, students can make an appointment with a nurse by calling the Student Health Office at 630-829-6046.
The Benedictine University Counseling Center will re-institute the Wednesday Wellness Program starting January 26th. The topic of this event will be remote learning and mental health. Please encourage your student to participate.
Did you know that all current students are eligible to receive services from the BenU Counseling Center? Our Counseling Center is dedicated to offering a student-centered approach while supporting each student in their pursuit of personal, social and academic goals and in keeping with the Benedictine University Mission. We promote a student’s growth and development in a safe and confidential environment and by encouraging self-reflection. For more information, please visit: https://www.ben.edu/student-life/counseling-center/index.cfm
Bills for spring tuition and housing have been posted to student accounts. Tuition and fees are due on January 25th. Be sure to check MyBenU periodically since that will always
have the most up-to-date information. Perhaps during the break your student might set you up as an authorized user so that you have access to check financials, make payments, and set up a payment plan https://www.ben.edu/student-accounts/index.cfm has all the information about due dates, payment options, and setting up an authorized user.
According to the US Department of Education, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that affords parents the right to have access to their children’s education records, the right to seek to have the records amended, and the right to have some control over the disclosure of personally identifiable information from the education records. When a student turns 18 years old, or enters a postsecondary institution at any age, the rights under FERPA transfer from the parents to the student. The FERPA statute is found at 20 U.S.C. § 1232g and the FERPA regulations are found at 34 CFR Part 99. As this new semester begins, take the time to discuss this with your student. A FERPA form can be completed at any time and can be found here here.
Helpful Articles
Spring semester will be here before your students know it. This means a new class schedule. The remaining days of the Christmas break are a great time to prepare for next semester. Do a reality check: Take some time to discuss what your student thinks of college life and the past fall semester.
Resources
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