Parent Frequently Asked Questions

Waynesburg University educates students to make connections between faith, learning, and service so they can transform their communities and the world. Your student will receive one-on-one mentoring from faculty and career staff to make these deep-rooted connections and experience many one-of-a-kind opportunities to grow into a successful professional, a lifelong learner, and a caring service leader.

We offer students this quality education for a competitive yearly tuition that is one of the lowest for small private colleges and universities in Pennsylvania. Tuition, room, and board at Waynesburg is nearly $13,000 less the national average for private, non-profit, four-year colleges, and 100 percent of Waynesburg students receive some form of financial aid each year.

Plus, a Waynesburg University Degree gets results: As attention on higher education is turning toward outcomes and fiscal responsibility, new ranking systems that focus primarily on value and job placement are being developed. Waynesburg University is consistently ranked as a top school within these systems and has emerged as a national leader in educational value. Our graduates consistently achieve high graduate school and career placement rates, and stay connected to and in contact with the university throughout their lives.

Once the required components are received to complete the student's application, a decision is typically sent electronically and via USPS within 5-7 business days. Once the student receives their admission decision, the next step is to file the FAFSA and submit the appropriate enrollment deposit.

Top areas of study at Waynesburg University are business, communication, criminal justice, education, forensic science, and nursing.

Yes! First-year and transfer students will be scheduled by a professional advisor. When they come to campus for Orientation, they will work alongside their academic advisor to fine tune their schedule. This advisor helps guide your student’s coursework to help them meet graduation requirements, as well as their personal and professional goals.

Returning students will continue to work with their academic advisor for approval of each semester’s course plan. Their advisor will sign the registration form or authorize registration through Self Service. Registration through Self Service will be available on a student’s scheduled registration date and any time thereafter through the first week of the semester’s classes.

Your student will declare a major on their application for admission. Each major has different progression requirements, and some have separate admission requirements, that must be met for continuation or entrance into the program. Individual requirements can be found in the Academic Catalog.

Students who are unsure what to major in can declare their major as "Exploring." Exploring students work with a dedicated adviser to apply their strengths and skills to a potential career.

If your student wishes to change their major, they should work with their academic advisor and the Office of the Registrar to complete the appropriate paperwork.

Your student will enjoy a ratio of 12 students to every one faculty member and an average class size of 18 students; our total undergraduate enrollment is 1,400 students. This allows for individualized attention, mentoring, and communication for each student, which can be crucial in their college and career development.

Each course your student takes will be measured in credit hours. The general rule of thumb is that for every credit hour, students spend one hour in class per week. For example, if your student is in a three-credit class, they’ll spend three hours in that class each week.
 
Every hour spent in class typically requires about three hours of studying or doing coursework outside of class each week: If your student is taking 16 credit hours in a semester, they should plan for 48 hours of time outside of class.
 
If your student would like some guidance in time management, study skill development, anxiety and stress management, note-taking, test-taking, and more, they should reach out to the team at our Pathways Center located on the lower level of Eberly Library. Pathways offers many free services to help your student better balance their work, school, and social lives.

Before your student drops a class, they should meet with their advisor and financial aid to ensure it does not impact their graduation plans or financial aid package. Students may drop courses through the first week of a semester. To do so, they’ll go to the Register tab in Self Service, place a checkmark in the box located next to the course that they wish to drop, and click "Next." A page will then appear with their new semester schedule and the dropped class will not appear on their record.

Failure to attend classes and/or verbal notification to faculty does not constitute an official class drop or withdrawal. Students who do not attend class or do not file the required forms according to policy will receive a grade of F.

With the help of their academic advisor, your student can map out their four-year plan. While changing majors and dropping classes may impact your student’s ability to graduate in four years, the closer they work with their advisor, the more likely they are to succeed in creating a four-year plan to graduate.

On the myConnect portal, your student will access the required medical forms for enrollment found by using the New Student Tab. The forms will need to be printed and taken to your student's doctor's office to be completed.  Please have all paperwork turned in before arriving on campus.  Our fax number is 717-303-5006.

Their schedule and housing assignment will come via their Waynesburg University email account. When they receive this information depends on when they complete their New Student Form. If they completed the forms by March 1, they’ll receive these assignments and tentative class schedule by April 15; assignments will then be made on a rolling basis.

Two weeks prior to each semester, textbooks will become available for online purchase at efollett.com. Many titles are also available to rent or in an electronic format. Since new student schedules are tentative, if your student purchases textbooks before coming to campus, remember that your required textbooks may change. For this reason we recommend you do the following: Know the return policies if you buy from other textbook vendors; do not cut shrink-wrapped textbooks; do not write in the textbooks; and keep the receipts.
 

First-year students are not permitted to have a car on campus. If they have extenuating circumstances, please complete a Freshmen Parking Permit Form to explain the need and request an exception. Student Services offers a free local shuttle service for Waynesburg University Students, two days a week when classes are in session.

Fall semester new students will be expected to arrive between 8 and 11 a.m. on the Thursday before classes begin to attend mandatory Orientation. Some new students will arrive earlier than that to participate in athletic or other organization orientations. Additional information on early arrivals will be sent to your student’s Waynesburg University email over the summer.

Spring semester new students should plan to attend Orientation on the Sunday before the start of classes. Information will be sent to their Waynesburg University email.
 
Your student will receive their Student ID Card the day you move in to their residence hall or at new student check-in for Orientation. Your student can visit Student Services and get your ID photo taken any time after you make a deposit.

For additional information on New Student Orientation, click here.

This is the fun part! Here are our suggestions for what to bring. 

We know this is a really exciting but nerve racking time for parents and guardians. First and foremost, rest assured that your student is in good hands at Waynesburg University. We are experts at helping all kinds of students successfully make the transition to college life and have teams of trained professionals in place across all areas of the college experience. Our small size also affords us the opportunity to really get to know your student, be available any time they need help or have questions, and pay attention to spot and troubleshoot any warning signs.
 
It’s important to give your student space to make their own decisions—and sometimes their own mistakes. Part of the learning process, in life and in the classroom alike, requires failing, but we’re here to help them turn any failure into personal growth. This article from The Washington Post offers advice from college counselors and can provide some more direction for parents. Their top tips:

-Offer support, but don’t solve problems.

-Ask questions before giving advice

-Give advice, then give space.

-Always trust your gut: You are the expert on your child and sometimes decisions or solutions are “outside their pay grade.”

We respect our students’ privacy and there are some things we are legally required not to share about your student’s experience unless we receive their approval. 

We do provide opportunities for you to connect with your students on campus, including letting you surprise your student with cupcakes and a balloon bouquet on their birthday or other special occasion. All proceeds benefit the WU Faith, Learning and Service Immersion Trip Scholarship. You can do that here.
 

The Health Services building is open 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. Students can be seen for minor illnesses and injuries in our office. We can also provide off-campus medical accommodations if needed. Flu clinics are held on campus in the fall. The Health Services team can be reached at 724-852-3332 or healthservices@waynesburg.edu.
 
The Counseling Center provides free and confidential academic, personal, and career counseling to Waynesburg University students. Our qualified staff helps students gain self-knowledge, self-confidence, and interpersonal skills. Our goal is to help students on an individual level to achieve a positive campus experience and to develop to their full potential.

Located in Eberly Library, the Pathways Center is a student-centered campus resource that provides supplemental assistance and support to Waynesburg University students. Students with disabilities who believe that they may need accommodations are encouraged to contact the Disability Services Coordinator at (724) 852-7727. Students are encouraged to contact the office as soon as possible to better ensure a timely review of their request.

The university provides free peer tutoring in Eberly Library. Tutors are recommended by their instructor based on their performance in the course. Sessions can be booked through our online platform to accommodate the schedules of both the tutors and the students being assisted.
 
Study Tables for specific departments are also offered on campus. These "Tables" are scheduled hours during which students have open access to general assistance by a peer tutor in content areas for those courses. The library has many helpful resources including textbooks, writing manuals, practice guides, sample tests, and a diversity of information on general academic preparation.
 
A student doesn’t need to be doing poorly in a class to ask for a tutor. On the contrary, tutoring offers students an opportunity to process lecture notes, text readings, and personal perceptions. The dynamic exchange of talking with another student is a great way to enhance what they’re learning in class.

In cases of missing persons, if administration determines that a student for whom a missing person report has been filed has been missing for more than 24 hours, the university will notify a parent or guardian if the student is under 18 years old. If the student is over 18 and has not identified a person to be contact, the university will notify appropriate law enforcement.

Waynesburg University is located in the small community of Waynesburg within Greene County in rural southwestern Pennsylvania. The small community atmosphere both within the University and the town, individuals find Waynesburg University to be a very pleasant and peaceful place to live.

In the event of an emergency, Waynesburg University has established a system to notify the campus community through electronic and cellular communication. In the event of an emergency requiring the cancellation of classes or closure of the campus, public radio stations will be notified, and electronic messages will be distributed. For emergency assistance, Public Safety personnel can always be reached by calling their campus extension 23303.

Yes! Students can apply for work-study and local jobs on Handshake. To apply for work-study positions on the platform, students should access Handshake through myConnect, click the  "jobs" tab, then filter their search to include "work study" opportunities. Students who would like to have their resume reviewed before they apply can contact the career development division of the Pathways Center at pathways@waynesburg.edu. 

If you are awarded Federal Work Study, you are under no obligation to participate in the program. Some students, especially first year students, feel that their free time would be better served adjusting to college life and studies. The FWS award amount is based on potential earnings and is neither reflected nor deducted on your student bill. Please note that student employment is not guaranteed even if your student was awarded work study. For more information, visit www.waynesburg.edu/campus-employment-program-students. 

Although the goal of Waynesburg University is to keep the cost of education as minimal and as affordable as possible, the reality of higher education is that the cost often increases from year to year.

Students are billed on a semester basis by the university's Business Office. Annual costs are normally divided in half for each semester. Billing questions should be direct to the Business Office at 724-852-3385 or 724-852-3298.

The university's Business Office sends out fall semester bills by the end of June with a due date around the middle of August. Spring semester bills are sent out by the beginning of December with a due date by the beginning of January.

Waynesburg university offers families the opportunity to budget unpaid, direct educational expenses through the university's Monthly Payment Plan (MPP). The MPP enables families to determine how much of their annual tuition, fees, room, and board they want to pay in equal monthly payments. The only cost is a $40 annual application fee. For further information, please complete the Request a Payment Plan form.

If such a plan is used, it is necessary to return one copy of the signed payment plan contract to the Business Office prior to the start of each semester. This will ensure the student’s prompt clearance to classes.

Once a student is admitted to the university and completes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), the Financial Aid Office will send an award letter detailing the student's aid eligibility and additional information.

If you need additional funds, please contact the university's Financial Aid Office immediately. Although we cannot guarantee more aid, we can guarantee that we will do our best to assist you.

Since there are so many variables that determine aid eligibility from one year to the next, we cannot give any guarantees on future aid eligibility. However, if your family's financial and household information remains relatively constant from year to year, you can estimate that you will receive a similar aid package each year, assuming that you meet application deadlines and requirements.

Yes. If your student needs financial aid, they must complete the FAFSA each year that they plan to enroll in school.

The FAFSA can be completed on or after October 1 of each year. If they are a Pennsylvania resident, the deadline for applying for state grant consideration through the FAFSA is May 1 of each year. Non-Pennsylvania residents should check with their state agency for deadlines.

A student must be enrolled full-time (at least 12 credits per semester) to be eligible for Waynesburg University funding, including merit scholarships. For questions about your students enrollment status for state and federal funding, please call the Financial Aid Office at 724-852-3208.

For many students, educational loans are a reality in higher education. We recommended the Federal Direct Student Loan Program, which includes the Federal Direct Parent Plus Loan. These federally backed loan programs offer families affordable interest rates and various repayment options.

No, a student always has the choice to accept or decline any financial aid award. Educational loans are an investment in one's future. As such, we encourage our students and their parents to carefully consider their loan options and to borrow only what is necessary.

Since educational loans are for educationally related expenses only, there are limits to how much a student and/or parent can borrow. A student's total aid, including all loans, can never exceed the institution's estimated cost of attendance.

Students and parents are encouraged to exhaust all federal loan programs prior to considering private, alternative loans.

Students are encouraged to pursue as many scholarships as possible to assist with educational expenses. Please note: Applying for financial aid should always be free. This includes searching and applying for scholarships. Any scholarships that involve payment should be avoided.

If a student withdraws from the university, federal, state, and institutional regulations require that we determine whether a refund is due to any aid program or to the student. This standard refund calculation is performed once the student notifies the institution of the withdrawal. A revised award notice will be sent to the student detailing the results of this calculation. Please note that, if they decide to transfer to another school, their financial aid does not transfer with them. They must apply for aid at their new school.

Normally, all information from the FAFSA is based upon the family's prior financial information. Under certain unique situations (e.g., death, disability, divorce, separation, loss or reduction of income), aid administrators can reconsider aid eligibility based on these new circumstances. The special circumstances application is available on this website under "financial aid forms." Questions regarding this should be directed to the financial aid office at 724-852-3208.

To be declared independent for financial aid purposes, a student must fall into at least one of the following categories: be 24 years of age or older; be enrolled in a master's or doctorate program of study; be legally married; have children or dependents that you provide more than half of their support; be a veteran or active member of the U.S. Armed forces; be an orphan, ward of the court, emancipated minor or in a legal guardianship; are an unaccompanied youth who is homeless. Per federal regulations, financial independence, parental refusal to cooperate in the aid process, living on one's own or not being claimed on the parent's federal tax return do not make a student independent.

Yes, you can add Campus Dollars by contacting the Business Office at 724-852-3385. For more information, visit our residence life and dining page.

Yes! All undergraduate students are required to live on campus, unless they are living with their parents within a one hour drive from campus.

In each residence hall, all individual rooms have individual locks with keys/cards only given to those residents of that room. Rooms are only opened for those students who live in that room or by permission of those who live there. In Waynesburg University security personnel’s normal foot patrol of the campus, all buildings, residence halls, and academic buildings are checked to ensure that all buildings are locked at the proper times and that they remain closed throughout the evening. 

All residence halls are locked at all times. Residents receive a key/card for their individual room and a key/card for the outside door to their halls. During the regular breaks in the academic year, residence halls are locked by the outside doors. Students are encouraged to take any particularly valuable items home with them. During that time, public safety officers continue to check and patrol the residence halls regularly. Entrance to the residence halls during that time occurs only by permission of the Director of Housing or Dean of Students.

Students with special dietary needs should consult with the Dining Manager here. All efforts will be made to meet the special needs of the student. If a required school activity prohibits students from attending a meal, we’ll pack a meal for you if an individual request is made 24 hours in advance with the dining manager. Student ID numbers will be needed when an order is placed.

Students who are too ill to attend class or come to the dining hall can obtain a special dietary request form from a nurse at Student Health Services. When the form is presented to the Dining Managers along with the student's ID card, a take-out tray will be provided. 

We work to match students with a compatible roommate based on the information they submit in the roommate preference section of the New Student Form they complete on myConnect.

Yes. Washers and dryers are free for residents to use and located in each residence hall.

Room and roommate assignments are made on an academic yearly basis. A request for a room change should be made to your student’s Resident Director, who will first assist your student in resolving concerns through the roommate mediation process.
 
Roommate mediation must occur prior to any housing change and involves going through the following steps: 1) The Resident Assistant (RA) meets with the residents and encourages them to talk through their issues in an intentional way. 2) If step 1 is unsuccessful, the roommate indicating the concern must complete a formal roommate mediation request form available on the Residence Life tab in myConnect. The RA or Resident Director (RD) will coordinate a conversation between the residents and either the RA or the RD. In most cases, a formal roommate agreement is created and agreed to by all parties. 3) If the previous steps are unsuccessful, the RD will take a more active role and decide the best course of action moving forward. If you have made a good faith effort and cannot resolve the concerns, you may be given the option to move.
 
If a room change is granted, the student who initially registered the complaint will be the student who must move to a new location. The Director of Housing must approve all changes before implementation.

Waynesburg University is a drug-free and alcohol-free campus.

Waynesburg University provides various internship and career resources through the career development division of the Pathways Center. Through partnerships with employers, faculty, staff and alumni, we help students define, develop, and realize their career potential. They can visit us any time and request valuable opportunities to help them build professional documents and navigate professional experiences. For more information, email pathways@waynesburg.edu. 

Students should contact the Office of the Registrar to request an official transcript. This is also where they can find forms and information about their academic profile, including class and graduation registration.

Your support of Waynesburg University is vital as we continue our mission of inspiring students to pursue lives of purpose. You can give a gift to Waynesburg University online here or over the phone to the Alumni Office at 724-852-3378. 
 
No matter the size of your gift, we sincerely thank you for your generosity. This can be in the form of a financial donation, but we also are grateful any time you show up to campus to support your student, attend an on-campus event or support our athletic teams, or proudly wear your WU Parent gear.