Office of Parent Services : Common Questions

Common Questions

1. Who do I contact if my student is not getting along with his/her roommate?
2. I would like to send my student some mail. What is the address that I should use?
3. Where does my student pick up the package I sent?
4. My student is having trouble with his/her laptop. How does he/she go about getting it fixed?
5. How can my student find out about on-campus jobs?
6. Do students live off-campus?
7. My student doesn't have a car. How can he/she get off-campus?
8. What does my student do if they are sick?
9. Can my student leave their belongings in the residence halls over breaks?
10. My student would like to travel home. Where is the closest airport, train, or bus station?
11. How does my student get to the airport, train, or bus station if they don't have a ride?
12. Can my student get a single room?
13. Does my student have to eat in the dining hall?
14. If I believe my student needs counseling, can the College force or otherwise encourage him or her to obtain it?
15. How do prescriptions get refilled?
16. Can my student stay on-campus over the holiday breaks?
17. What cell phone service works in the Putney area?
18. Does Health Services dispense medication to my student?
19. How do I get a copy of my bill?
20. When will I receive a bill for next semester's charges?
21. Am I required to send in a tuition deposit for every semester? How do I pay it?
22. I’d like to send my student some money. What is the best way to do this?
23. I have heard that Landmark College's costs are tax deductible. Is that true?
24. How Do I add money to my student's ID card?
25. How do I get in contact with my student's advisor?
26. Can I get a copy of my student's grades and progress reports?
27. What is FERPA?
28. How can I find out if my student is attending class regularly?
29. How does my student find out what books they need to buy?
30. My student needs to miss a class. Who should they contact?
31. My student is thinking about transferring to another college/university. Who should they contact to get assistance with this?
32. My student is not doing well in a class. How do they access academic support?
33. Is it acceptable for a student to miss a class for a religious holiday for which the college is not closed?
34. What is coaching? What type of student uses it?
35. Where can I see the Academic Calendar?

Answers

1. Who do I contact if my student is not getting along with his/her roommate?
   
   Answer: You should have your student contact their Resident Dean. You may also contact the RD to give them a “heads up”, though they will want to work with your student directly. Since students may never have lived outside their immediate family environments – and since they will be under tremendous pressure to adjust to college life – this is not uncommon. We work very hard to match students with compatible roommates using the information students provide. If there is conflict in spite of this, the Resident Dean will facilitate a discussion between the students about the issues and concerns. Only if absolutely necessary will we attempt to reassign rooms.
   
   
2. I would like to send my student some mail. What is the address that I should use?
   
   <Student Name>
   c/o Landmark College
   <Campus Mailbox #>
   PO Box 820 Putney, VT 05346 
   
   For packages use:
   <Student Name>
   Landmark College
   1 River Road South
   Putney, VT 05346
   
   
3. Where does my student pick up the package I sent?
   
   Answer: When a package arrives, your student will receive an email from the Business Office. (Located in the Administration Building). Students can go there, sign for it, and pick up their package.
   
   
4. My student is having trouble with his/her laptop. How does he/she go about getting it fixed?
   
   Answer: Students that purchased their laptop through the college should take it to the IT Department Help Desk which is located on the 2nd floor of the Library. They can be reached by calling 802-387-6800. Students who did not purchase their laptop through the college will need to have it serviced off-campus. There are numerous computer repair facilities locally. The IT Dept. can help students locate these resources.
   
   
5. How can my student find out about on-campus jobs?
   
   Answer: Students interested in on-campus employment should visit the Financial Aid Office. They are located in the Admissions Building and can be reached by calling 802-387-1679. Please be aware the on-campus employment is limited so we cannot guarantee jobs for all interested students.
   
   
6. Do students live off-campus?
   
   Answer: Occasionally, students do have permission to live off-campus. The vast majority of our students live on-campus though. A student that is interested in living off-campus should contact the Director of Residence Life to find out about this option.
   
   
7. My student doesn’t have a car. How can he/she get off-campus?
   
   Answer: Landmark College offers a regularly scheduled shuttle service to Brattleboro and other regional locations. Students should keep an eye on the bulletin boards in their residence halls and through out campus for the schedule. The shuttle schedule can also be accessed by going to: http://intranet.landmark.edu/spcd/offcampus/
   
   
8. What does my student do if they are sick?
   
   Answer: Students that are ill should go to the Health Center which is located on the 2nd floor of the Strauch Family Student Center. If the illness occurs after normal Health Center hours, Brattleboro Primary Care, an internal medicine group, provides medical coverage when Health Services is closed. A physician is on call 24/7.  If possible, students that are ill should notify their professors that they will be absent prior to the start of class.
   
   
9. Can my student leave their belongings in the residence halls over breaks?
   
   Answer: A limited amount of storage is available for students who are returning to the Putney campus the next semester. Students who do not ask for a room change between the Fall and Spring semesters are allowed to keep their belongings in their current rooms. Specific written guidelines are available from the Office of Residential Life. They can be reached by calling 802-387-6787
   
   
10. My student would like to travel home. Where is the closest airport, train, or bus station?
    
    Answer: The closest airport is Bradley Intl. Airport in Windsor Locks, CT. This is just north of Hartford, CT. The train/bus station is located in Brattleboro, VT.
    
    
11. How does my student get to the airport, train, or bus station if they don’t have a ride?
    
    Answer: Landmark College offers limited shuttle service during the semester and at breaks. There is a fee for shuttle service to Bradley International Airport. A limited amount of transportation is available to Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT; however, due to the range of departure times and airport selection, we cannot always accommodate everyone. You may also use a commercial shuttle service, such as Thomas Transportation. You can contact them by calling 1-800-526-8143 or visit their website at http://www.thomastransportation.com/
    
    
12. Can my student get a single room?
    
    Answer: Single rooms are generally not available to first year students. The College has a limited number of single rooms, which are assigned on a seniority basis. Students who would eventually like to have a single room are advised to put in applications early (and be patient). Students should ask their RD for an application.
    
    
13. Does my student have to eat in the dining hall?
    
    Answer: All students assigned to a traditional residence hall are placed on a 19 meal per week plan. Upperclass students who have access to kitchenettes in their residence may choose a 10 meal per week plan. Starting with the Fall 2007, Landmark will offer to all students a 14 + meal plan which allows up to 14 meals per week PLUS adds $150.00 to the Landmark Student ID debit account. Money in the debit account can be used in the Landmark College Bookstore, The Fireside cafe and in all soda machines on campus.

    Most students eat their meals in our dining hall, but they do have the option of using their meal 'credit' to take a 'grab-n-go' meal to go. Grab-n-go meals are available in the dining hall and the cafe.

    Within walking distance from the campus is a handful of eateries including McCliments Pub, Putney Pizza, The Putney Diner, The Front Porch Cafe and the Putney General Store.

    
    
14. If I believe my student needs counseling, can the College force or otherwise encourage him or her to obtain it?
    
    Answer: Generally, no. Except in the case of certain life-threatening situations, the choice of whether or not to go to counseling is entirely up to the student. Parents who are concerned about their students or wish to consult with a counselor about how to discuss that concern or the option of counseling may contact the Counseling Center by calling 802-387-1636.
    
    
15. How do prescriptions get refilled?
    
    Answer: There are two different approaches, each of which has plusses and minuses:
    
    
    • Continue relying on the prescribing physician at home. 
      
      Preferred when you have an established, positive relationship with your prescribing physician.
      
      Preferred when insurance benefits limit provider choice and/or out-of-state provider access.
      
      Requires planning ahead for appointments to coincide with visits home.
      
      Requires making arrangements to have prescriptions filled at home pharmacies and getting them mailed.
      
      Requires understanding your physician’s availability in case you have to report concerns or problems – or secure a refill prescription.
      
    • Establish a relationship with a prescribing physician in the Landmark area.
      
      Preferred when your current prescribing physician cannot continue with medication management.
      
      Preferred when you cannot get the support mechanisms in place to have prescriptions filled at home.
      
      Requires planning and scheduling ahead.
      
      Requires verification that both the physician and services are covered by your insurance, if benefits are a consideration for you.
    
    
16. Can my student stay on-campus over the holiday breaks?
    
    Answer: The Residence Halls are closed during most extended breaks to give us time to spruce things up and to give our staff a break, too. A small number of students can be housed during the Thanksgiving break only. Students will be provided with application information at the appropriate time.  The residence halls will remain open during 3 and 4 day weekends.
    
    
17. What cell phone service works in the Putney area?
    
    Answer: There is service from most national carriers; however, Landmark is in a somewhat mountainous and remote area. Many people here do very well with, Verizon, US Cellular or Unicel, which is a regional carrier.
    
    
18. Does Health Services dispense medication to my student?
    
    Answer: No. Students keep their medications and are responsible for taking them as directed by their physician.
    
    
19. How do I get a copy of my bill?
    
    Answer: As of November 1, 2007 we will no longer be mailing paper bills.  Instead, we will post tuition and fee billings in the QuikPay  online payment system for students and thier designated authorized payer to view online 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Authorized payers will also receive an automatic email from QuikPay notifying them that a bill is now available for viewing.
    
    
20. When will I receive a bill for next semester’s charges?
    
    Answer: Billing statements are typically available on November 1 for the Spring semester, and July 1 for the Fall semester. Summer session billing statements vary by session of enrollment. For questions about your billing statement, please contact the Business Office at 802-387-6845.

    Please note: The student can set up authorized payers (such as parents ) in our QuikPay online payment system. Authorized payers will receive email billing notifications and may view bills as well as make payments on line 24 hours a day 7 days a week. For Tuition and Tuition deposits, payers may use MasterCard, Discover, American Express or send an e-check. Visa does not participate in this program.
    

21. Am I required to send in a tuition deposit for every semester? How do I pay it?
    
    Answer: Yes. A non-refundable $1500 tuition deposit is required before the start of each semester of enrollment. This amount is deducted from the total amount of your bill. It can be paid by check or money order made out to Landmark College, or you may also use the QuikPay online payment system.
    
    
    
22. I’d like to send my student some money. What is the best way to do this?
    
    Answer: There are two preferred ways to send students money. You can send your student a postal money order which they may cash at the United States Post Office here in Putney. The post office is about a 5-10 minute walk from campus. Students may cash a check or money order in our Bookstore. Checks must be from a parent, guardian, grandparent or issued by Landmark College. The maximum amount of the check is $200.00, and only one check may be cashed each week. Students must show positive identification, and a $50.00 service fee will be charged to any check that is returned by the bank for any reason.
    
    
23. I have heard that Landmark College’s costs are tax deductible. Is that true?
    
    Answer: Yes. Landmark College’s tuition and fees may qualify as a medical tax deduction. IRS publications 907 and 502 offer information about medical deductions. In addition to tuition and fees, other costs such as books, notebook computers and other educational related expenses may be tax deductible. We recommend that you consult your tax advisor about these options.
24. How do I add money to my student's ID card?
    
    Answer: Money can be added to a student's ID card by using our QuikPay online payment system. Money can be added as a guest payer to a student's ID card 24 hours a day 7 days a week. The system accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover American Express and e-checks. There is NO Service fee or bank fee to use the system.

    Once in the system, enter the student ID number and birth date and confirm the student to which you want to send money. Once the payment has been received at Landmark, the student ID card will be updated by 12PM on the next business day. (Please note the system batches transactions and cuts off at 5:00pm EST and then sends payments to the Landmark bank account.)

25. How do I get in contact with my student's advisor?
    
    Answer: Shortly after the semester begins you will receive a letter providing you with a name, telephone number, email address and best time and method for contacting your student's advisor. If you continue to be unsure, you may contact the Assistant to the First Year Dean for Student Support by calling, 802.387.6888.
    
    
26. Can I get a copy of my student’s grades and progress reports?

    Answer: Under FERPA, only a student may request his or her transcript and must do so in writing to the Registrar's Office. Grades are not released in any other way.  At the end of each semester, the Registrar's Office mails out students' grade reports (note that these are not official transcripts) and instructor comments directly to the student. Specific questions regarding your student's progress should be directed to thier advisor. 

27. What is FERPA?

    Answer: In 1974, Congress passed the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). This law specifies that higher education institutions may not disclose any information about a student who is a legal adult (usually 18 or older) without that student’s express written permission. This means that we are obligated to be careful about what we say or send to anyone—even parents—without a student’s express permission. Students are offered the opportunity to sign FERPA releases upon entry. These remain in effect until the Office of the Dean of Students receives a written revocation.
    If your student is a dependent for tax purposes, we may disclose information to you. In order to certify this, you will need to complete the top portion of the “Authorization to Release Student Account and Education Information” form. With your student’s signature, this form is all we need. Without it, we must have a copy of the first page of the most recent year’s federal tax return. Please black out any sensitive information, such as social security numbers or income amounts. These provisions are explained in greater detail in a memo from the Dean of Students that you will receive as part of the family orientation process.
    
    Click here for the FERPA memo for parents from the Dean of Students.

28. How can I find out if my student is attending class regularly?

    Answer: This is a very common question. The first thing you should do is ask your student. Even though it may be difficult to believe, they very often will be honest with you about their attendance patterns. If you are still unsure about their attendance, the next step is to contact your student’s advisor.

29. How does my student find out what books they need to buy?

    Answer: Once your student has a copy of their schedule, they should take it directly to the bookstore. A bookstore associate will help them obtain the correct materials.

30. My student needs to miss a class. Who should they contact?

    Answer: Students should contact their professor directly via phone or email prior to the start of that day’s class. Each professor has their own attendance policies. Students should consult their course syllabus to find out the class absence policy for that particular course.

31. My student is thinking about transferring to another college/university. Who should they contact to get assistance with this?
    
    Answer: The Transfer Services Office helps students plan for transfer beginning with their first semester in a Landmark degree program.  We get to know students and their aspirations, help them make choices, and complete applications. The Transfer Services Office is located in the Admissions Building. They can be reached by emailing transferservices@landmark.edu, or by calling 802.387.6823
    
    
32. My student is not doing well in a class. How do they access academic support?
    
    Answer: The first thing your student should do it speak to the professor directly. The professor will be able to present your student with many options for getting the academic support they need. Also, students should stop by the Centers for Academic Support which are located in the East Academic Building. Support in many subject/academic areas is offered there.
    
    
33. Is it acceptable for a student to miss a class for a religious holiday for which the college is not closed?
    
    Answer: In most cases yes. Students need to ensure that they let their professors know prior to the start of the class they plan on missing.
    
    
34. What is coaching? What type of student uses it?
    
    Answer: Coaching Services provides a specific and unique type of support. They are designed for students who struggle with the various aspects of academic work production known as "executive functioning." Through regular one-on-one meetings (usually two 30-minute sessions per week), you work with trained faculty coaches to establish academic goals. They help to develop the strategies, utilize the skills, and establish and maintain the systems, structures, and routines that can support you in meeting those goals.