PARENT GUIDE
WELCOME TO GANNON
Dear parents and families:
The Office of Admissions would like to thank you and your student for exploring Gannon University as a higher education option. We look forward to the possibility of having you, as parents, join the Gannon community. We want to provide you with connections and important information that will enable you to best support your student’s success at Gannon.
The Gannon University Parent Guide is your key to a successful transition to university life. This valuable guide is filled with helpful information, frequently asked questions, as well as commonly used contacts to ensure that you have the information you need, right at your fingertips.
We encourage you to get involved with the university. Please contact the Office of Admissions with questions or concerns as you and your student go through the admission process. We look forward to hearing from you and meeting you at Gannon events.
Welcome to Gannon.
All the best,
Bridget Philip Director of Admissions
IMPORTANT CALENDAR DATES
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION
At New Student Orientation, new students and their guests are welcomed into the Gannon family through a one-day Orientation program where you will engage first-hand with the comprehensive, values-centered experience at the heart of our university community.
SUMMER ORIENTATION DATES
Friday, July 18
Monday, July 21
Saturday, July 26
Thursday, July 31
ENROLLMENT CHECKLIST
q File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at studentaid.gov after December 1 and before May 1. The recommended filing deadline is March 15. Include Gannon University as a school option on your FAFSA (code = 003266).
q Pay your student’s enrollment deposit through your student portal if you have not already done so. This confirms their attendance to Gannon University and triggers many other processes.
q Work closely with the Office of Financial Aid to finalize your student’s aid package.
q Ensure your student completes their online residence life forms to select their housing and meal plan preferences.
q Have your student become familiar with my.gannon.edu so that you can access their online bill in July.
q Have your student complete their health and vaccination forms in the summer months.
q Attend a summer orientation session in June.
*A comprehensive to-do list and resource hub can be found at gannon.edu/accepted
AFFORDABILITY
For nearly 100 years, affordability has been part of Gannon University’s Mission. Gannon’s Financial Aid Office has experts who are available to discuss the ways Gannon is making college more affordable and can help students individually. We are committed to offering the best financial assistance package possible.
PARENT ACTION PLAN
GET STARTED GET PREPARED
September – December
• Be aware of what specific deadlines academic programs, colleges and universities have that students should abide by.
• Research the facts on college costs. It’s more affordable than you may think it is.
• Gannon’s Net Price Calculator helps families plan for their educational costs (https://www.gannon.edu/calculator). File for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) after December. 1 and before May 1. Be aware of any state deadlines with regard to the FAFSA and be sure to list all schools that your student is planning on applying to on the FAFSA.
• Have your student stay engaged with the schools they applied to.
• Schedule a visit…or two!
January – May
• Make sure to look and apply for scholarship opportunities.
• Be supportive. This is a stressful time for your student and for you as well. Keeping open communication lines and taking time to work together through the decision-making process will make the experience that much more enjoyable.
• Be aware of spring visit opportunities. Many schools offer special days for admitted students, to help students and parents get answers on lingering questions (i.e. financial aid).
VISIT FINALIZE
Schedule a personalized tour with Admissions via phone at 814-8717407 or online at gannon.edu/visit
• Be sure to ask questions.
• Make sure the school fits your student’s needs and that is it appealing to him or her.
• Make a pros and cons list of each school to help narrow down your student’s choice.
• Virtual tour opportunities are also available. Learn about admissions, financial aid and academic programs at Gannon.
• Be aware of deadlines to pay bills, make payment arrangements or confirm enrollment to the college of your student’s choosing.
• Attend a summer orientation to get you and your student ready for the fall.
IMPORTANT CONTACT INFORMATION
RESIDENCE LIFE
Gannon Residence Life provides a comfortable environment to encourage the academic and holistic development of each student. There are several options for on-campus living locations along with programming for each residence building. Housing units are staffed by student affairs professionals with most buildings having a having a resident director or graduate assistant available with residents assistants living on each wing of each floor in first-year buildings.
814-871-7564 gannon.edu/reslife reslife@gannon.edu
CAMPUS LIFE
Ask students when they’ve had the most fun at Gannon, and you’ll get a variety of responses: the service trip to Central America, Homecoming, the concert at Gannon’s Highmark Events Center, first-year orientation, yoga class at the Recreation and Wellness Center. Everyone has a different answer. That’s because Gannon offers a wide variety of activities and organizations to meet all interests.
Students find it easy to make friends and find things to do here. Our welcoming, friendly environment is the perfect place to participate in on-campus events, they can join one of our more than 90+ clubs and organizations, and try something new. Our student-run Activities Programming Board organizes fun events including movies, concerts and trips. Residence hall life, Campus Ministry, service opportunities, and athletic and recreational activities add plenty of social activities to their schedule as well.
gannon.edu/student-life
CAMPUS MINISTRY
Campus Ministry is a community of people who stimulate growth in faith; formation of Christian conscience, leadership and personal development; formation of human community and an understanding of issues of peace and justice. Faith sharing groups, Christian living communities and several faith-based retreats are all overseen by the Office of Campus Ministry.
814-871-7435 gannon.edu/campus-ministry
CAMPUS SAFETY
Gannon University and Campus Police and Safety are committed to ensuring a safe living and learning environment for students. Consistently rated as safe, Gannon provides a variety of free safety resources such as the LiveSafe app to virtually walk with friends or contact Police and Safety at the touch of a button, Everbridge to receive emergency text messages, phone calls, and emails, and the Knight Watch Express shuttle service for safe transportation during evening and late night hours. Gannon’s Campus Police and Safety employs police officers who patrol campus at all hours and closely collaborate with the Erie Police Department located adjacent to campus, leading to a safer campus and community.
814-871-7690 gannon.edu/safety
Health Services | 814-871-7622
ITS | 814-871-7501 | helpdesk@gannon.edu | gannon.edu/ITS
Records/Registrar | 814-871-7611
Student Success Center | 814-871-7680
Tuition (in and out of state)
Room (double occupancy)
Connect Fee (required if housing on campus)
Board
APB/SGA/Engagement Fee
University Fee
TOTAL
*Tuition for engineering, computer science and health science programs is $40,430 and traditionally require two labs per semester. The average lab fee is $110 per lab.
Gannon Knight – gannonknight.com
**Total is dependent on room and board preferences. Part-time rate is between $920-$990/credit.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Is there a deadline for my child to make their decision on attending Gannon?
Some programs offer limited seating, which may require a timely response in order to secure a seat in the program. Otherwise, Gannon operates on rolling admissions, and we can accommodate students no matter when they make their final decision. It is recommend to make a decision prior to May 1 in order to begin additional processes.
Can my child select their roommate?
Students who agree to live in our residence halls and complete the housing application may request a specific roommate. However, please note that roommate requests are not guaranteed. To maintain roommate pairings, students should be prepared to compromise on location if necessary.
If a student does not have a specific roommate in mind, they may go through the housing process individually. The Office of Residence Life will review their profile and make a pairing that is best suited for their academic and social success.
How many students are on campus?
Approximately 1,000 to 1,200 students live in on-campus housing, which includes our residence halls and upperclassmen apartments. All students whose parent’s/ guardian’s primary residence is outside a 25-mile straight-line radius of the university are required to live on campus for their first four semesters. All students are encouraged to live on campus throughout their time at Gannon.
How does billing work?
Students will receive notification that their bills are available for viewing in early June via their Gannon email address. Bills can then be viewed by accessing the student portal system, my.gannon.edu, with the student’s log-in credentials.
