Resources for Students

To determine how much you owe on your account, you can access the information from My Ozone. To do this log into your Ozone, click on My Banner, then Student, click Student Account, and then click Account Summary By Term. This will show your account balance for the term.

The Financial Aid Web Page provides students with a list of scholarships offered to students. There are also external sources, such as FastWeb, that allow you to apply for scholarships from other various sources. Also, check national organizations that you are involved with, your local community or even family members, such as parents, employers. Please use this link to learn more about potential scholarships: http://www.otterbein.edu/public/FutureStudents/FinancialAidAndScholarships/Scholarships.aspx

If you cannot afford to pay off your balance by the due date each term, you can pursue a payment plan through the Business Office. Please note that you cannot register for courses if your account has a hold on it due to unpaid tuition (this is called a financial hold). Your balance should be at zero in order to register for future terms.

You can take up to one year off and return as an active student without any extra processes.  Your O-Zone account will remain active and you’ll be able to register for classes when you are ready to return.  If you need to take more than one year off, or perhaps take some time at another institution with the intention to return in a year or more, then you will simply need to re-apply through our transfer and adult admissions office.  This is to update our records and reactivate your student record.

In order to transfer to another institution, you must have your transcript sent from Otterbein to show the academic work you have completed here.  Your transcript cannot be released if you have a balance.  It is important, even if you are considering transferring, to begin working with the business office and financial aid to have a plan for your student account as soon as possible.                                                                                                

Also, if you fully transfer to another institution, you should submit your FAFSA to that institution (and follow their financial aid application process).  Your financial aid will discontinue at Otterbein when you are no longer enrolled and you can work with the new institution about their financial aid practices.

Yes, many students take courses over the summer at regional institutions close to home.  This is a great way to make progress on your degree!  You can identify potential courses on the registrar’s website (Follow link for Transferring to Otterbein and then Course Equivalency Guides).  If the institution you were thinking about is not listed, you can identify a potential course on your own and submit it to the Registrar’s office for review.  The process for doing this is called the Transient Course Approval Process.  You should always check with your advisor on the course selection and verify the transfer credits through the Registrar’s Office. 

In order for the course to transfer to Otterbein, you will need to send a transcript from the institution back to Otterbein when you have successfully completed the course.

For full and detailed information about course transferring, make sure to check out the online catalog.

To achieve commuter status, Otterbein offers a few options. 1. You live with your parent(s)/legal guardian(s) within a 30 mile radius of campus. 2. You have completed at least 90 credit hours by the end of the Spring term of the current year. 3. You will be 22 years old before the first day of the Fall Semester. 4. You are legally married or a single parent residing with your child(ren) or spouse within a 30 mile radius of campus. 5. You have lived in a Residence Hall either at Otterbein or another University for three full years. 6. You are a military veteran with 18 months or more active military service.

Keep in mind, your financial aid package is based on your anticipated residency status.  If you choose to live at home, your financial aid package will likely change from when you live on campus.  You can meet with a financial aid staff member to review the potential changes before you make the final decision whether to live on or off campus.

This all depends on your FAFSA.  While scholarships remain the same (within eligibility requirements), your other financial aid items can change each year based on your FAFSA.  If you and/or your family have experienced significant changes to your financial situation (both good or bad!) your financial aid can be adjusted accordingly.

Otterbein does offer work study jobs for students who qualify for Federal Work Study through their FAFSA and also non-federal Work Study. To look for Federal Work Study positions, visit the Cardinal Career’s link below. For non-federal work study, use the same link, but watch for non-work study noted positions.

 https://www.myinterfase.com/otterbein/Account/LogOn

The priority deadline to apply for financial aid is April 1.

 Yes, this is prior to the due date of Federal Taxes and many people wait to complete their FAFSA when their Federal Income Taxes are complete.  You can use estimated information from your taxes to submit the FAFSA by the priority deadline.  Submission after the deadline can result in less financial aid.

Students can seek small, interest free, emergency loans through the Student Affairs office. 

We do not have preferred banks, nor can we specifically refer you to a bank.  There is a list of loan providers on the financial aid website (under private loans) and the link is below.

http://www.otterbein.edu/public/FutureStudents/FinancialAidAndScholarships/private-loans.aspx

Expressing concern about a class or a faculty member should never directly impact your course grade.  If you are having concerns that you have not addressed, and they are negatively impacting your performance or engagement in the class, it is important to talk to someone to not allow your learning to suffer.

Ask yourself if you are participating in discussions and being an active listener. Even if you don’t know if your answer is correct, speak up, and show the instructor that you are trying to participate. Consider turning your phone off when class starts so that you do not become distracted.   If you use a laptop to take notes, make sure that you are not on social media websites, and are actively listening and taking notes. If the course does not require a lot of note taking, consider leaving your laptop in your backpack or room.

Many times we are stretched in our comfort zones in classes.  We might be asked to engage in a challenging conversation, consider a viewpoint that we have never thought of before, or be exposed to different ideology than our own.  Students can sometimes interpret a faculty member challenging their thinking as an attack, when really it is an invitation to a new idea.  Faculty members have chosen to teach because they love working with students and sharing new ideas in the classroom.  Try to remember the spirit of learning and education when confronting new ideas!

 If you have felt offended, then it is appropriate to talk with the faculty member and/or the department chair of the course that you are taking.  Many faculty members are very careful about their classroom environment and would want to talk with you about feeling offended and how you could feel more comfortable in the classroom.  Be prepared to talk in detail about exactly what was said or done and how you interpreted that as offensive.

When you are upset, ask yourself “is this a recurring issue” or “is this an isolated incident.”  Keep in mind we are all human and have good and bad days.  Sometimes good intentions are simply misinterpreted.  This is not making an excuse, and by all means, if you are upset, you should talk to someone.  However, think about the context and if this is something that happens frequently or is a one-time situation. 

Start by talking to the faculty member directly.  It is good to meet after class or during office hours and be prepared to share specifics about what has upset you and why.

Relationships between faculty members and students are much like other human relationships – everyone relates to others differently.  Does it seem like other students are having similar issues in the class or with the instructor?  If so, talk with those students about strategies for managing the course.  You could also talk with the students about approaching the faculty member together to share your concerns. 

If you are the only student with the concern, it doesn’t mean that your concern should be dismissed.  Talk with the faculty member and/or department chair of the department which is offering the course.

You should always start with the faculty member.  Think about a safe and comfortable way to approach the issue such as setting up an appointment or visiting during office hours.  It can be uncomfortable for you and the faculty member to talk before or after class, especially if you both need to be somewhere else shortly after class.  It is important to prepare for the conversation, thinking about the specific issues or incident.  Practice with a friend or a family member before the conversation to feel comfortable and confident about what you’d like to say.

If you do not feel comfortable talking with the faculty member, or have tried and are not making progress, you should go to the Department Chair of the department that offers the course.  For example, a math course you go to the Math Department and an INST (Integrative Studies) course you go to the INST chair.

Issues are held in as much confidence as possible and should not be widely shared.  In some cases, the issues might be across courses, or be related to your progress in a program.  In these cases, it might be shared with other faculty members, but again, it would be done to help improve your educational experience and would be done with discretion.

Many faculty members use different teaching techniques in their courses.  Where you might be used to a lecture style course, another small group activity based course might be challenging for you and vice versa.  Also, courses increasingly use online components which can really challenge students in their learning.  It is important when you are struggling to think about why you are struggling.  If you are not used to the teaching methods, we’d encourage you to meet with the faculty member and ask about strategies to be successful.  Not only can you get help with the class, but the professor will know that you are making an effort to do well!

While this may seem like a simple question, it is amazing the number of students who struggle in courses and never directly talk to the faculty member about their struggles.  Your professors teach because they enjoy helping students learn and develop.  They are typically eager to talk to students about how to improve or succeed in their courses.  It is important to schedule an appointment or visit during office hours and bring specific questions or issues.  For example, instead of saying “I just don’t get it” or “How can I do better” ask questions like “I read the material, but have a hard time following along in class, how would you suggest I prepare for class” or “I study by reading my notes and practicing problems, but I have not done well on the test.  Can you provide some tips for test preparation?”

Some students find that they might have tested into a higher level course, but really need to brush up on their skills before taking a harder course. It is okay to take a lower level, because in the long run you will need those lower skills to learn newer and harder material. Speak to you advisor to see if there is a lower level course offered, and if it is possible for you to register for this course before you take the higher level.

If you need a tutor in modern language or music, you should contact the department directly. Otterbein also offers an e-tutoring opportunity in: math, accounting, anatomy and physiology, biology, chemistry, statistics, and writing. For one on one tutoring, please contact the Academic Support Center located on the second floor of Courtright Memorial Library.

Otterbein offers both e-tutoring and traditional tutoring for students. For a traditional tutor, you should stop by the Academic Support Center located on the second floor of Courtright Memorial Library. To access the e-tutoring page, please visit this link to the Academic Support Center Page. http://www.otterbein.edu/public/Academics/AcademicAffairsDivision/AcademicSupportCenter.aspx

If your course offered Supplemental Instruction (SI) you should have received information at the very beginning of the term, or the information should be on the syllabus.  If you don’t remember or aren’t sure, simply ask the professor.  You can also seek assistance in the Academic Support Center (which provides Supplemental Instruction).

You should meet with your advisor to review the impact of the withdrawal.  There are short term and long term consequences to both your academic progress and financial aid.  Dropping courses should be done with caution.  However, there are some cases where dropping a course might make sense, so do not let the consequences scare you from dropping.  Just make a good and informed decision.

If the course is dropped early in the term, no record will show up on your transcript.  In the middle of the term, often called the “W Period” a “w” will show on your transcript.  At the end of the term, when the “W Period” has ended, you can only drop with an F grade.  The official dates are located on the campus academic calendar.

This is a very individual student and class question that can be answered by your advisor.  If the course is a pre-requisite for a course in a future term, you could have delays.  Dropping a course should always be done after review and discussion with your advisor.

If you are struggling in multiple classes, you may have some problems that are not class specific such as a mental health or physical health issues.  Talk with your advisor about your concerns or difficulty and they will help you identify the best place to go for help.  You can also visit the Academic Support Center, Center for Student Success or Student Affairs directly to seek out assistance.  All of these offices are happy to work with students who are struggling and can get you connected where is most appropriate.

The key to getting help with problems is to really think about what the specific problem is.  If you are unsure, consider talking to the professor teaching the course.  They will have insight into why you are not performing well in the class and might be able to give you some direction on what they see as the primary issue.  You can also visit the Academic Support Center, Center for Student Success or Student Affairs directly to seek out assistance.  All of these offices are happy to work with students who are struggling and can get you connected where is most appropriate.

Consider stopping by their office to see when their posted office hours are and visit during that time.  You can also ask the administrative assistant in the department office about the best way to reach the faculty member.  Finally, you can visit the Center for Student Success for supplemental advising.

Your department or advisor should have designated someone to serve as a contact for you while that faculty member is on sabbatical. (What is a sabbatical?  A term when the faculty member is released from their regular duties such as teaching and advising to work on their individual research and scholarship) Check with the department administrative assistant or department chair on who that person might be. Finally, you can visit the Center for Student Success for supplemental advising.