Quincy University Parent Guide

A COLLEGE GUIDE FOR

PARENT SUCCESS

AT QU, YOUR STUDENT’S SUCCESS IS OUR PRIORITY. 2

An Individualized Success Plan for Every Student.

WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AS A PARENT? Help your child make an informed decision about college.

quincy university has

50+ academic programs

College decisions are exciting. But as a parent, you may also feel some anxiety. At Quincy University, we believe parents have an important role in the college selection process: To help your child make a good decision about college.

As you fulfill this role, any anxiety you had about your child’s future should fade. You can sort out what’s most important to you and your child when it comes to college. You can gather the information. You can help your child assess the pros and cons. You can make sure your child’s final college decision is an informed decision.

To that end, we at QU are here as your partner. We welcome your involvement in the college selection process. Take joy and pride in your child’s achievements, and enjoy walking with him or her through this next stage of life.

3

ACADEMICS

AN EDUCATION FOR A 21ST CENTURY WORLD. IT’S TIME TO GATHER INFORMATION. Make a checklist of what’s important to you and your child, and begin to research.

Over the next several pages, we’ve provided information on topics to consider and questions to ask while researching colleges. Keep in mind, this information is from our perspective, supported by national research—but with more than 160 years of graduating successful and community-minded alumni, we feel more than qualified.

Sifting through stacks of college publications and innumerable websites can be overwhelming.

We hope the topics below will help you create a checklist of important things to look for and will keep you focused as you research colleges.

4

quincy university has a

14:1

student to faculty ratio

ACADEMICS As you review colleges, take a close look at each school’s academic environment, and think about how your child learns best.

Ask whether their studies will prepare them for a career. Will their courses broaden not just their knowledge in a particular subject, but how they think about a wide range of issues? Consider the following:

Every program at Quincy offers a four-year track and a pathway to business education for all majors.

FACULTY-STUDENT INTERACTION AND CLASS SIZE Good faculty-student interaction occurs when class sizes are small and faculty members really care about teaching and their students. The benefits are many: class discussions that involve all students; professors who know when one of their students is struggling; research collaboration; and a pre-professional relationship that leads to career networks and job opportunities.

•

9

pr pr o f e

io nal

pr

s

ss

m

e-

ogra

LIBERAL ARTS A liberal arts education imparts 21st century skills and knowledge across subject areas, helping students build a broad foundation of learning, develop critical thinking skills, and see things from different points of view.

CAREER PREPARATION As students begin taking the courses in their majors, they undoubtedly gain general and advanced knowledge in that subject matter. But will they have opportunities to apply that knowledge in real-world settings? And do the classes encourage active, handson learning?

QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE OF FACULTY Some universities rely on graduate assistants to teach undergraduate courses, while full-time faculty members concentrate on research and publications. Consider, too, whether faculty members have professional experience in their fields of study.

5

FRANCISCAN VALUES

ETHICS AND VALUE You have helped your child develop a code of ethics and a value system to live by.

An academic program that includes values and ethics helps develop a student’s whole self. If your child is interested in an education founded on faith-based principles, you’ll want to research private colleges and universities. A few things to think about when doing so: INTEGRATED ACADEMIC PROGRAM Find out whether a college integrates ethics and values into its academic program. Are class discussions involving ethical considerations encouraged? Are students offered a variety of courses focused on ethics and values?

RELIGION Some private colleges adhere strictly to the religion on which they were founded. Other private colleges take a more hands-off approach.

Still others take their religious heritage seriously while welcoming members of many faiths and belief systems. What learning and social environments work best for your child?

SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES Putting ethics and values into action is important to many students and their parents. Check to see if the colleges you are researching have ample volunteer opportunities in the community, as well as service trips, and find out if current students are taking an interest in them.

6

CAMPUS COMMUNITY When your child leaves your home for college, you want them to feel secure, to meet new friends, to get involved on campus, and to feel at home.

That’s a tall order, but definitely achievable. On your campus tours, watch how students interact with each other. Look for fliers promoting student organizations and activities that interest your child. Drive or walk around the outskirts of campus. Finally, on the campus tour, gauge how your child feels.

Often, a prospective student “just knows” when a campus community feels right for them..

ON-CAMPUS ACTIVITIES When students get involved on campus, they learn leadership and team-building skills, have fun, and make good friends.

Ask whether a college’s student organizations and on-campus activities are open to all students, no matter the major. (For example, if your child is a biology major but wants to be in the theatre club, is that possible and encouraged?)

Find out what kinds of events are held on campus and how often. Additionally, consider whether the student groups are the right size—will your child be able to take leadership positions if so desired?

SAFETY All colleges and universities that participate in federal financial aid programs are required by law to make their crime statistics available to current and prospective students.

Most colleges post their reports on their websites. You can also ask each college you are considering to provide its annual security report, or go to http://ope.ed.gov/security/, which provides online access to reports.

DIVERSITY Diverse communities are often welcoming communities. Look for a campus community that’s diverse in many ways (for example, geographic, ethnic, financial, and religious). Then, make sure that community is bonded together. A connected campus community usually occurs when students have common expectations about things.

30+ Clubs and organizations within Quincy University

7

STUDENT SUCCESS

SUCCEEDING AT COLLEGE College brings a new set of responsibilities and demands for first-year students and we want to see them succeed.

Even students who are excelling at college may need academic or personal support at times. Make sure the colleges you are considering have support systems in place and that they care about each of their students.

Consider the following: COLLEGE-WIDE SUPPORT SYSTEM A support system that involves everyone— professors, staff, coaches, even fellow students—can help a student succeed at college. Look for academic support programs that offer tutoring by peers and courses on skills such as time management, note taking, and studying. How accessible are health care and counseling services? Do you get the feeling that everyone at the school cares about the success of your child?

FACULTY/STUDENT RELATIONSHIPS Often it’s a professor who first realizes that a student is struggling academically or personally—that’s if that professor knows his or her students. At the colleges you and your

8

child are considering, find out if professors know their students, especially their first-year students, and make themselves available to students. Will they hold extra office hours to discuss difficult course material? Will they check up on a student who is missing classes? Are they familiar with the college’s academic and personal support services?

FIRST-YEAR SUPPORT Students who have a good first year of college often are successful throughout their college experience. Therefore, ask whether a college has a first-year support program in place. Will that program help your child adjust to college academically and socially?

ADVISORS With the hundreds of courses that colleges offer each semester, students sometimes struggle with deciding which ones to take and when. That’s where an advisor comes in. An advisor can help a student decide which classes are best for his or her major and when to take specific courses to ensure graduation in four years. An advisor can also be a sounding board for questions about majors, concerns about classes, and career opportunities.

SUCCEEDING AFTER COLLEGE Since the college experiences offered at each college you’re reviewing are different, you can expect the outcomes to be different, as well.

Determine your definition of success—both in your child’s career and personal life—to help you decide which college outcomes best match your child’s dreams and ambitions.

CAREER SUCCESS Colleges vary on how they prepare students for the workforce, even though employers desire graduates who have experience. Find out if your child will work in internships or gain other hands-on experience in college.

Ask, too, about the college’s placement statistics for recent graduates. Look into what services the college’s career center offers, and what support your child will get as they start their career.

ALUMNI, COMMUNITY, AND NETWORKING How connected is a college to its alumni and community? When professors and staff have good relationships among alumni and in their professions and community, students benefit.

Professors can refer students to networking or internship opportunities. Involved alumni will mentor students and can connect graduates with professional colleagues. If the college is active in the community, employers know to look for its graduates when positions are open.

PERSONAL SUCCESS In addition to achieving career success, you want your child to be happy in his or her personal life. Consider whether that happiness comes from a commitment to community service, a well-developed understanding of moral principles, and an integration of faith and spirituality into your child’s life.

Quincy University Experiential Study Center (QUEST) • Service Learning • S tudy Abroad • C areer Development • I nternships • U ndergraduate Research • Q UEST Cash

THE CITY OF QUINCY

A NEW START FOR THE NEXT STEP.

9

FINANCES

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS Paying for college is a stretch for nearly all families, but your child’s college selection does not need to be about cost only.

Make sure to talk to each college’s admissions and financial aid offices to find out how to best manage your college investment. Ultimately, you want a college that matches your child’s strengths and interests at a price that’s feasible.

VALUE VS. COST As you consider the cost of each college you and your child are researching, think about the value each one offers your child. The value is what you’re really paying for. So, perhaps a school with small class sizes, professors who know their students’ names, and a closeknit campus community costs more, but the value it offers your child may be worth your investment.

SCHOLARSHIPS Scholarships and grants (financial assistance that you do not have to repay) often make attending college financially possible for prospective students. Consequently, find out what scholarships your child can apply for at each school he or she is considering.

At many private colleges, nearly all students receive one or more scholarships or grants.

Additionally, make sure your child tells all on the scholarship applications—passions, school and community involvement, and distinctive experiences.

GRADUATING IN FOUR YEARS When reviewing colleges, make sure to ask about graduation rates, specifically the percentage of students who graduate in four years. For many colleges and universities, the average time it takes a student to receive a “four-year” degree is actually five to six years. That means those students are paying an extra year or two of tuition, and they are one or two years behind on starting their career and earning a salary.

FAFSA One of the most important college applications to fill out is the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. The FAFSA determines the amount your family can afford to pay toward tuition and determines your child’s eligibility for all federal and state grants and many of the grants available from the colleges.

No matter what school your child plans to attend or your family’s financial situation, filing the FAFSA should be one of your first steps. It will help you gather all the financial information you need to make decisions about college. The FAFSA is available at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Most of our students receive financial assistance.

NOTHING HERE IS DONE BY ACCIDENT–

SUCCESS IS INTENTIONAL 10

CHECKLIST

QUINCY UNIVERSITY CHECKLIST. To help with your research on Quincy University, we’ve compiled information on each of our checklist topics about us.

ACADEMICS

• Our professors know their students by name and are committed to their intellectual and personal growth.

• Our student-to-faculty ratio is 14:1, with an average class size of 14 students.

• Only faculty, not graduate assistants, teach classes.

• We combine our liberal arts curriculum with professional skills, hands-on learning, and ethics and values. Our students develop their whole selves and are prepared for their careers upon graduation.

• Our academic program is grounded in the real world, with experienced professors, simulated labs, and significant internships.

ETHICS AND VALUES

• A Catholic university with a strong Franciscan heritage, we live the Franciscan values of inclusion, nonviolence, reverence for creation, and celebration, and we integrate ethics and values into our academic programs.

• We welcome students of all faiths and beliefs. Half of our students are non-Catholics.

• Our Campus Ministry program is open to everyone and has activities for people of all faith backgrounds.

• Service trips and volunteer opportunities are prevalent at Quincy. Our students make a real difference in people’s lives.

CAMPUS COMMUNITY

• Our more than 30 departmental clubs and organizations bring students together for activities, learning, and fun.

• We have multiple music and fine arts organizations that involve students regardless of majors.

• Students can compete in our 21 NCAA Division II (and one Division I) intercollegiate athletic teams or play for fun in our popular intramural athletic program.

• The community of Quincy is safe and welcoming.

Check out our safety report at www.quincy.edu/studentlife/campus-safety-and-security.

• Inclusion is a Franciscan value you can feel on campus.

We welcome people of all backgrounds—ethnic, religious, financial, and geographical. Our students find common ground at Quincy and create a close-knit community.

Discover More Learn more about us at:

SUCCEEDING AT COLLEGE

• Our Student Success Center offers academic counseling, faculty-led study groups, and peer-to-peer tutoring services at no additional cost.

• Because our class sizes are small and our professors care about teaching, professors and students form pre-professional relationships that help students during college and as they start their careers.

• Professors submit progress reports on all first-year students three weeks into the first semester and again at midterm to make sure students are succeeding.

• All first-year students are assigned a Success Coach who guides their academic program and progress and helps with choosing a major and the career development process.

• Students who declare a major have an advisor in their discipline.

• QU Experiential Study Center (QUEST) provides opportunities such as service learning, study abroad trips, career development, internships, undergraduate research, and QUEST Cash.

SUCCESS AFTER QUINCY

• Among our graduates, over 90% were employed in a professional position or in graduate school within six months of graduation.

• Our students excel in graduate school. Consider this: Our medical school placement rate has been nearly 100% since 1999.

• More than 13,000 alumni live in all 50 states and 45 other countries and are eager to help our students succeed.

• Employers in the Quincy community look to us for students to fill part-time jobs, internships, and full-time career opportunities.

• Our students graduate with a deeper understanding of values and ethics and how to integrate them into their lives. They know the value of serving their communities and how to live a life of compassion, peace, reverence, and joy.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

• When you invest in Quincy, you get our commitment to student success; to hands-on, real-world learning; to Franciscan values; and to creating a close knit, welcoming community. Our value is far-reaching and long-lasting.

• Ninety-eight percent of our students receive scholarships or other financial aid, and we are committed to helping your family sort through the financial side of your college decision.

• The cost to attend Quincy University is significantly lower than at many private colleges.

• Quincy offers merit-based scholarships ranging from $10,000 to full tuition per year to qualified students.

• File the FAFSA after October 1 at www.fafsa.ed.gov.

Our FAFSA code is 001745. Include this code on your FAFSA to have your information sent directly to us.

quincy.edu/discover

11

QUINCY, IL CHICAGO

SEE FOR YOURSELF We invite you to visit our campus.

DES MOINES

ST. LOUIS KANSAS CITY

We are happy to personalize your schedule, as well as your child’s, to include meetings with professors, coaches, and financial aid counselors, in addition to an individualized campus tour.

Please contact us if you want to ask questions regarding the college research process or to schedule a campus visit.

LET’S TAKE YOUR NEXT STEP TOGETHER.

DISCOVER YOUR STUDENT’S SUCCESS AT

QUINCY UNIVERSITY. Office of Admissions 1800 College Avenue | Quincy, Illinois 62301 800.688.4295 or 217.228.5215 admissions@quincy.edu | www.quincy.edu