Housing Questions

Q. Can I bring in a homemade loft?
A. No, but Briar Cliff University does allow for manufactured lofts purchased at a store to be used.  Briar Cliff also has a number of lofts available for rental during the academic year.  You may request to rent a loft by selecting that option on the furniture request card.  However, supplies are limited and prioritized on a first come first served basis.

Q. Are there any limitations on the number of extension cords and power strips allowed in a room?
A. Yes, you may have one extension cord per pair of outlets.  If your room has three sets of outlets you may only have three extension cords, one plugged into each outlet.  You may not plug one extension cord into another and you may not plug a power strip into an extension cord.  Also, you are only allowed one power strip per roommate.  Each power strip needs to be plugged directly into a wall outlet and only one power strip maybe plugged into an outlet.  You may not plug one power strip into another.

Q. What kind of pets can I have?
A. You may only have non-threatening fish that are in a freshwater tank no bigger than 10 gallons.  All other furry, fishy, reptilian, and insect friends need to be kept at home.

Q. What if I didn’t turn in a furniture request card by the specified deadline?
A. You should turn it in as soon as possible and Briar Cliff University will make every attempt to meet your request.  However there are no guarantees regarding your request being honored when you move in.  We will strive to accommodate you to the best of our ability.

Q. My room isn’t air conditioned; can I bring my own AC unit?
A. We do not allow students to install their own air conditioning units.  Students that have a medical need for air-conditioning must provide the department of campus life with a doctor’s note explaining the need.  If approved an air conditioned room or AC unit will be provided to the resident.  There is an additional cost for residing in an air conditioned room or having an AC unit installed.

Q. Are there specific restrictions on refrigerators?
A. Yes, Briar Cliff University only allows 1 refrigerator per room and it may be no bigger than 4.6 cubic feet in size.  Briar Cliff does not allow for deep freezers of any type in dorm rooms. 

Q. Is it okay if my roommate and I both bring a microwave?
A. Each residential room may only have one microwave plugged in.  If there are two in a room the residents will be asked to take one of them home.

Q. Who has access to my room?
A. Each resident of a room is given a room key and there is one spare key in a lock box for each room on campus.  Campus security, the hall directors, campus maintenance, and resident assistants all have access to keys for each residential room on campus, but these keys are only utilized in extraordinary circumstances or with prior notice being given to the residents.

Q. What do I do if something in my room breaks?
A. You should contact your resident assistant or hall director and notify them of the situation.

Q. What do I do if I lock myself out of my room?
A. Contact your resident assistant, call campus security at (712) 898-1888, or contact your hall director.  Any of these individuals can let you into your room.

Q. What do I do if I don’t get along with my roommate?
A. The first thing you should try and do is talk to your roommate about the problems you are having.  College is a time for growing and learning and open communication is the best way to help you both understand each other’s personalities and positions.  Briar Cliff’s community has a number of resources for helping to work out trouble between roommates.  If talking with your roommate doesn’t work you can consult your resident assistant, hall director, or the director of campus life.  We all work together to help make your living experience at BCU a positive one.  Should an issue arise and you need assistance don’t hesitate to ask for help.

Q. What are the dimensions of the provided mattresses?
A. Mattresses are 36”X76”X8”.

Q. What are the dimensions of the dorm rooms?
A. Room dimensions can be found here. http.//www.briarcliff.edu/bcu_students/room_dimensions.aspx

Q. When do I need to have my furniture request card returned to BCU?
A. August 1^st.

Q. Can I move in early?
A. In an effort to have rooms ready after summer housing and summer conference housing, we are not able to accommodate early arrivals.

Food Service Questions

Q. How do I change my meal pan?
A. Meal plan changes are allowed during the first 5 business days of each term.  You need to stop by the student development office and fill out a short form that denotes the meal plan you currently have and the meal plan you would like to have.  No meal plan changes are allowed outside of the designated period each term.

Q. What do I do if I have special dietary needs?
A. You should notify the department of campus life and contact the director of dining services.  The director of dining services can work with you to meet your needs or may exempt you from participating in an on campus meal plan.

Security Questions

Q. How do I get a parking pass?
A. If you did not complete the vehicle registration form provided in the housing assignments packs, you need to stop in the security office located on the ground floor of Heelan Hall and fill out a vehicle registration form.  Once the form is completed you submit it to the security office and they issue you a vehicle parking pass which goes on your vehicles back window.  There is a annual fee for having a vehicle on campus.

Campus Ministry and BCCARES Questions

Q. Do you have church services on campus?
A. Yes, we have daily Mass in the chapel on Monday and Wednesday at 8 am; Tuesday and Friday at 11.55am and Thursday evening at 7.30 pm.  On Sunday we have a 10 am Mass and a 7 pm Mass.  Students of all faiths are welcome.   Information on worship services in other denominations is available in the Campus Ministry Office, Heelan 044. 

Q. How do I get involved in community service opportunities?
A. Contact the BCCares Office (Heelan 039)for service opportunities & the Campus Ministry Office (Heelan 044) for mission trips, retreats and other opportunities. 

Q. How do I request prayers for my family or friends?
A. Contact the Campus Ministry Office (H-044) or go to the Student Portal and click on Campus Life and then Campus Ministry/BCCares to list a prayer request.

Business Office Questions

Q. When does my bill have to be paid?
A. Bills are due and payable upon receipt.  Briar Cliff accepts personal checks, credit/debit cards, and money orders.  We also offer an auto-debit payment plan.  Bills must be paid in full or a payment plan in place in order to register for the next term.

Q. Where can I see my bill?
A. A monthly statement of account is sent to your permanent mailing address.  You can also see your account balance anytime on the BCU Student Portal at https.//bcyou.briarcliff.edu.

Q. When are refunds available?
A. The first round of refunds are available 14 working days after the beginning of each term.  After that, refunds are processed weekly throughout the term with checks available on Thursdays.  Refunds for students participating in the Evening/Weekend or Advance programs are not available until the student has participated in at least 4 credit hours of class beyond the drop date.

Q. How do I find a work study job?
A. At the beginning of the school year, a job fair is held.  Departments looking for student workers will advertise their openings there.  After the job fair, job openings are posted to the bulletin board on the Student Portal.

Q. I am a new work study student, what do I need to do to receive my paycheck?
A. In order to receive a paycheck, you must fill out W-4 and I-9 forms.  Those forms are located in the Business Office.  You will also need some identification when filling out those forms (ex. driver’s license, social security card.)

Q. When is work study payday and where do I pick up my check?
A. Student workers are paid every two weeks.  Checks are available in the Business Office.  Check with the Business Office for exact pay dates.

Q. Can I have my check directly deposited in to my checking account?
A. Yes, we offer direct deposit for our student workers.  To enroll in direct deposit, you will need to fill out the enrollment form and provide a voided check (deposit slips are not allowed) from the checking or savings account you want to use.  Enrollment forms are available in the Business Office.

Roth Campus Bookstore Questions

Q. How do I start getting my books?
A. Please bring a copy of your current schedule with you to the bookstore when shopping for text books.  Our books are shelved according to department code, course and section number.  Not all sections will require the same book, so without your personal schedule, you may purchase an incorrect book.  Please be aware that Advanced classes (section 91) and Algona classes (section 22) are located in a separate area of shelves.  Again, this is why you’ll need your personal schedule.  If taking Algona or Advanced classes and are not physically inside the store for your shopping, we recommend using our web site http.//oldsite.briarcliff.edu/campus_info/bookstore/books.asp to avoid being sent or purchasing incorrect books.  Shopping a week or two before the term begins will help as those who wait until classes have started may find only new books left on the shelf.  Shopping earlier than two weeks before the term means we may not have received the books for your class.

Q. How much will my books cost?
A. Total books and costs will vary with courses taken.  We try to make more used books available and save you out of pocket expenses.  We also try to buy-back as many used books as possible from our own students to make the next student needing a book available in used condition.  This may lower your out of pocket expenses as much as 25%. 

Q. What if I bought the wrong book or drop a class?
A. Keep your receipt after making your purchase!  Refunds are only made when you drop a class and you bring a copy of your drop slip as well as your original receipt.  Refunds are made during the first two weeks of each term.  If you’ve purchased a wrong book, you’ll need to bring your schedule along with your original receipt to prove you have purchased a wrong book and then be allowed to exchange for a corrected text.

Q. When I’m done with a class and don’t want to keep a book for future reference, what do I do with it?
A. At the end of terms 1, 2 and 3 (excluding the summer terms) we hold a three day book buy-back where you will have the opportunity to sell us unwanted textbooks.  No book is guaranteed to have any value.  Book values are based on several facts, such as if an instructor has given us an adoption for the next upcoming term to reuse the book, if we need additional copies of the book and if the publisher has changed the edition of the book you have.

After the refund/exchange deadline you may wish to sell us a book for a class you’ve dropped or a book you found laying in a closet.  We offer a daily buy-back, so simply stop at the store.  The daily rates are not as profitable as the term end buy-backs but are an option for you if you wish to quickly sell your books.  Defective books are not bought back.

Campus Mailroom Questions

Q. Where do I begin?
A. When a student checks into their residence hall, inside the packet will be a mailbox number and combination.  The campus student mailboxes are located in the Stark Center and each on campus resident receives his/her own box.  Off-campus residents may come to the mailroom and request a box at no charge.  Mail and packages are all delivered as follows.

(Student’s Name)
Briar Cliff University
3303 Rebecca Street
Sioux City, IA 51103

When students leave, they are to complete a forwarding address application at the mailroom.

Q. Can I ship a package?
A. The mailroom only sends letters with prepaid postage.  Envelopes can be no larger than .13oz and small enough to fit inside a US Post box on campus.  However, larger packages can be shipped via UPS through the Roth Campus Bookstore.

Financial Aid

Q. To receive a student loan what is the minimum amount of credits I need to carry?
A. Undergraduates need to carry at least 4 credits each term. Graduates need to carry at least 3 each term.

Q. If I move off campus does my financial aid change?
A. If you have an Academic Achievement Award your amount will be reduced to a commuter Award, also BC Grants and FSEOG Grants can be reduced or not awarded.

Q. Can I lose financial aid if I do not meet academic progress?
A. Yes,  Students are monitored each term and can be placed on probation or suspension which could effect what you are awarded.

Q. If I had a student loan last year and want one this year, do I have to complete a new Master Promissory Note?
A. Yes,    BC has switched to processing loans through the Department of Education. A new MPN is Required for the 2009-2010 academic year.

Q. Does BC have a priority date to apply for aid each year?
A. March 15. Students who apply after that date may see a reduction in their aid for the next year.