KCSB Radio Volunteers Provide Critical Service to the Community
KCSB, serving the university and surrounding communities, is the only non-commercial
radio station in Santa Barbara. In addition to broadcasting independent music of
all varieties, news, and university sports coverage, the station serves as an important
public affairs outlet. This role was especially critical during recent fires that
struck our community—the Zaca Fire, the Gap Fire, and the Tea Fire.
During all three fires, KCSB volunteers carried three or more reports an hour, including
reports on evacuation, during the height of the crisis. Career staff and students
spent many extra hours at the station to ensure that announcements were up-to-date
and regularly made. Ten- and twelve-hour days were not unusual. The news director
and station advisor (to a lesser degree) gathered information from the city and
county and attended press conferences. That information was relayed to programmers
who are all student volunteers. During the Gap Fire, KCSB’s coverage was particularly
important because of the power outages that interrupted both television and Internet
reception. The chief engineer and his student assistant arranged emergency power
and kept KCSB on the air even when university power failed—especially important
since KCSB is the only local radio station that is not automated at least part of
the day.
During most of the Gap Fire and part of the Tea Fire, Santa Barbara County and City
officials were not providing Spanish translations of critical information. To fill
this need, bilingual students and the executive director of Associated Students
translated information into Spanish. Later when Spanish press releases were available,
programmers regularly read the Spanish versions over the air along with the English
versions. As a consequence of the Gap Fire, KCSB formed a partnership with the Santa
Barbara Independent, a weekly news magazine. Their reporters called KCSB programmers
or were called by them to give frequent reports from the field. This exchange allowed
the Independent reporters to get their news out and allowed KCSB to give broader
coverage than its small staff could manage. When the Tea Fire broke out, the Independent
lost power. Several of its reporters and its editor-in-chief came to KCSB to report
and post stories on the Web. That experience served to strengthen the relationship.
The Tea Fire occurred on the second day of KCSB’s annual on-air fundraiser. Regular
programming was scrapped in order to keep up-to-the-minute reports available to
listeners late into the night. The following morning, staff met with the student
governing group, the Executive Committee, to discuss what should be done about the
fund drive. After very little discussion, everyone agreed that it should be suspended
indefinitely. This was a big decision as the station normally raises between $25,000
and $30,000 from listeners during a ten day period, and it also represents months
of preparation by students and staff. The Executive Committee also decided to resume
the fundraiser in February.
Since the fires, KCSB staff members have met with city and county emergency representatives
to debrief about communications problems. Despite relatively limited resources,
KCSB often provided accurate information ahead of local officials. That is substantially
a consequence of UCSB students recognizing the seriousness of the situations and
acting out of a civic responsibility to provide information to the community. In
December the Executive Committee decided to do a direct-mail fundraising campaign.
One element of that decision was the intention to donate twenty-five percent of
all funds raised to Carla and Lance Hoffman, a couple who were severely burned during
the Tea Fire. Through this direct-mail campaign as well as the rescheduled on-air
drives, approximately $22,000 was raised, allowing at least $5,000 to go to Carla
and Lance. Also, the county is providing the station with a $12,000 piece of satellite
equipment to allow the station to receive and disseminate information in even the
most serious local crises. At a time when optimistic news is in short supply, it
is important to recognize UCSB students who’ve acted proactively and selflessly
to contribute to their community during difficult times.
FAQs: Financial Aid Information
If a student has not yet applied for financial aid for the 2009-2010 academic year,
is it too late?
No, although the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
priority filing deadline for 2009-2010 financial aid was March 2, 2009, students
can still apply for financial aid for the 2009-2010 academic year to be considered
for the Pell Grant, Direct Loans (subsidized and unsubsidized), and the Parent Loan
for Undergraduate Students (PLUS). The FAFSA application is available on the internet
at www.fafsa.ed.gov. UCSB’s school code number is 001320.
If a student has already
applied for financial aid for 2009-2010, when will he or she receive an offer of
financial aid?
If additional documentation is required to verify the accuracy of
the FAFSA information, the student will be sent an e-mail in April or May with instructions
on how to check his or her “Aid Status” on the Financial Aid Office Web site
(www.finaid.ucsb.edu).
When all documents requested are received, these will be reviewed and an offer of
financial aid will be created. At that point another e-mail will be sent to the
student directing him or her to view the Financial Aid Award Letter on the Web site.
What scholarships are available?
UCSB awards its limited allocation of scholarship
aid primarily to continuing UCSB students who filed the FAFSA by the March 2, 2009,
priority deadline and who meet the dual criteria of financial need and academic
merit. Additionally, there are links to free scholarship search engines on the scholarship
section of the Financial Aid Office Web site.
How does a student receive financial
aid?
Most of the types of aid that a student has accepted will be credited to the
student’s account with the UCSB Billing Office (BARC). If the aid placed on the
student’s BARC account does not cover all of the institutional charges, he or she
will be expected to pay the difference by the fall quarter fee deadline of September
15, 2009.
What is the PLUS Loan?
Parents may borrow a PLUS Loan on behalf of their dependent undergraduate student
to help fund educational expenses. A PLUS Loan may
be a type of loan offered on the student’s Financial Aid Award Letter. The interest
rate is fixed at 7.9%. Repayment begins 60 days after the last disbursement of the
loan. Parent PLUS loan borrowers may choose to have repayment deferred while the
student is enrolled and for an additional six months after the student is no longer
enrolled. Interest that accrues during these periods will be capitalized if not
paid by the borrower. All PLUS Loan applicants must pass a credit check to have
their loan approved.
Is financial aid available for Summer Session 2009?
Summer Session financial aid (grants and loans) will be available only to eligible incoming
freshmen, transfer and continuing UCSB undergraduate students who are in academic
good standing and who have a complete 2008-2009 FAFSA on file with the UCSB Financial
Aid Office. To apply, a student must submit a Summer Session 2009 Financial Aid
Application (which will be available on the Financial Aid Office Web site on April
15, 2009). The priority filing deadline for the Summer Session 2009 Financial Aid
Application is May 30, 2009.
Parent Support—Making a Difference
Parent support comes in so many forms—a gift package in the mail, a phone call or
text message at just the right time, the ability to give advice when sought and
to listen when needed.
But parents also are supporting their students through gifts made to the Division
of Student Affairs. This year, many parents are giving in response to some important
milestones that UCSB is celebrating. For example, this is the 20th anniversary of
UCSB’s MultiCultural Center. For more than two decades the MultiCultural Center
(MCC) has presented cutting-edge programs such as the Race Matters series, fostered
diversity of expression through its Cup of Culture lectures and art exhibits, and
provided a public forum and safe space for students advocating for social change.
Parent gifts to the MCC will help to ensure its continued vibrance in the campus
community.
Also, UCSB is celebrating its largest ever entering classes of African American
and Latino students. Currently, 42% of undergraduates are students of color—this
milestone is evidence of UCSB’s commitment to enrolling the most academically excellent
and richly diverse student body possible. Parents can help us celebrate this achievement
with a gift to our Admissions and Outreach Office or to our Educational Opportunity
Program, which provides guidance and support to low-income and first-generation
college students.
And as is always the case, many parents like to support Campus Learning Assistance
Services (CLAS) because it is crucial to their student’s academic success. Through
CLAS, more than 8,000 students a year have access to no-cost group tutoring, academic
skills workshops, writing assistance, drop-in centers, exam preparation, and review
sessions.
Finally, as more and more families face financial difficulties, UCSB students are
in need of scholarships and emergency loans. A gift to financial aid/scholarships
gives UCSB maximum flexibility in providing a need-based scholarship for a student
who otherwise might not be able to attend college. And a gift to the Umfundi Endowment’s
emergency loan fund provides small, but critical, loans to students who need assistance
with the basics—making the month’s rent, buying food, repairing their car so that
they can get to work, or getting medical attention.
These are just a few of the giving opportunities within the Division of Student
Affairs. To learn more and to make a gift, contact the Student Affairs Grants and
Development Office at (805) 893-7713 and ask for either Diane Duncan, director of
development, or Laurie Hoyle, executive director of grants and development. Thank
you for your support!
Alcohol and Drug Counseling Services Available on Campus
On-call alcohol and drug counseling services are available on a daily basis at Student
Health Service and campus-wide through the UCSB Alcohol & Drug Program. When a student
comes into Student Health Service with an illness or injury that is alcohol- or
drug-related or the student mentions any alcohol or drug use, an on-call alcohol
and drug counselor is available to meet with the student immediately. Also, when
a UCSB staff or faculty member is concerned about a student’s use, he or she can
call for immediate help; and a counselor will meet with that student anywhere on
campus.
If appropriate, the counselor will screen the student using a short, ten-question
assessment tool and provide feedback based on the results. Research from the World
Health Organization’s Department of Mental Health and Substance Dependence found
that “drinkers receiving a brief intervention are twice as likely to reduce their
drinking over six to twelve months than those who receive no intervention.” With
a non-judgmental approach, counselors use the opportunity to explore with the student
how alcohol or drugs are impacting his or her life. Counselors emphasize reducing
risks of injury, illness, or other emergencies, and provide education and support
as needed.
Referrals to appropriate services within Student Health may include individual counseling
with an alcohol and drug counselor, a stress management counselor, an eating disorders
counselor, a psychiatrist, or a social worker. Student Health also sponsors recovery
groups (including AA), the “Kick Butt” Tobacco Cessation Program, and the Wellness
Program. Referrals are also made to other on-campus services including Counseling
Services, the Hosford Clinic, the Women’s Center, Disabled Students Program, college-specific
academic advising, and Campus Learning Assistance Services. Often, the on-call counselor
will follow up with the student by e-mail or phone to offer additional support.
If you have questions or would like more information about the UCSB Alcohol & Drug
Program, please visit alcohol.sa.ucsb.edu or call (805) 893-5013.
Insuring Continuous Health Care Coverage
If your son or daughter will be graduating from UCSB this year, the next few months
will no doubt be filled with anticipation of both the opportunities and challenges
of life after college. With the excitement of graduation, it may not occur to either
of you to think about continuation of health insurance coverage. Each year Student
Health encounters some students who have serious problems getting the health care
they need because of changes in health insurance status. If your son or daughter
is covered by the Undergraduate Student Health Insurance Program (USHIP), the coverage
and the rules regarding use continue until September 20, 2009, (for June 2009 graduates).
If your son or daughter is covered by private insurance, be sure to contact your
insurance carrier for information about terms of coverage following graduation from
college. While several options are available for temporary coverage post graduation,
none of them allow enrollment while you are still covered by other insurance. This
means that students on the USHIP plan should wait until September 18, 2009, before
activating temporary insurance. No conversion plan (COBRA) is available with USHIP.
Temporary insurance to cover students in the period between the ending of university
or private coverage and the beginning of coverage through employment or other means
is important for two reasons. First, preexisting conditions continue to be covered
only if new insurance is purchased within sixty-three days of the expiration of
the previous insurance. Second, a new condition that develops while your son or
daughter has no insurance may not be covered by a new insurance policy or, at best,
only after a several-month waiting period.
Though it may not be as interesting as talking about other aspects of life after
graduation, post-graduation health care and health insurance should be a consideration
for every student who is leaving the university. Information on temporary coverage
is available through UCSB’s Alumni Association at www.ucsbalum.com/membership/behefits.html.
If you have questions, UCSB’s Student Health insurance advisors will be happy to
assist you at (805) 893-2592.
Office of the Ombuds: Confidential Conflict Resolution
Is your student having difficulty with a professor? Is a bureaucratic process at
a stand-still? Are you frustrated by not having your questions answered?
The Office of the Ombuds provides confidential and informal conflict management
services to the entire UCSB community—students, staff, faculty, visitors, and parents.
Assistance is provided to the campus community with informal resolution of any university-related
complaint or conflict. Ombuds staff adhere to professional standards of practice
to create a safe and confidential environment where members of the UCSB community
can discuss interpersonal conflict, academic concerns, bureaucratic runarounds,
and many other problems. Sometimes all that is needed is a place to think out loud
as options are considered and before decisions are made; the Office of the Ombuds
is that place.
Get in touch with the Ombuds Office as a first step or a last resort—or at any point
along the way. More information is available on their Web site at www.ombuds.ucsb.edu.
Parents and students who wish to schedule an appointment, can call (805) 893-3285
or stop by the office in Girvetz Hall 1205-K.
Campus Resources Ease Stress
Ease Stress Uncertain times can contribute to escalating stress levels for both
students and their families. If you find yourself dealing with repercussions from
current events that will impact your son or daughter, please encourage him or her
to use one of these UCSB resources.
Career Services
(805) 893-4412 www.career.ucsb.edu/
- Career and graduate school information and consultation for students and recent
graduates
Coordinator of Student Mental Health
Angela Andrade, Assistant Dean of
Students
(805) 893-8920
- Point of contact for parents, students, faculty and staff
who are concerned about a student who may be distressed and in need of assistance
and services
Counseling Services
(805) 893-4411 www.counseling.ucsb.edu
- Crisis Intervention
- Confidential Counseling Services - Individual and Group Treatment
- Stress Management
- Consultation
- After-Hours Phone Counseling Available 24/7:
(805) 893-4411
Office of Student Life
Candace Stevenson, Student & Parent Liaison
(805) 893-4569 or 893-4521 www.sa.ucsb.edu/osl
- In case of illness or emergency
will describe administrative options (withdrawal, course changes, etc.), and may
assist with faculty notification when appropriate.
Office of Student Life
Student Health Service General
Information (805) 893-5361 Appointments (805) 893-3371 www.sa.ucsb.edu/studenthealth
- Primary Care Medical Services
- Urgent Care
- Psychiatry
- Social Work Services
- Alcohol and Drug Program
- Health Education - Eating Disorders, Nutrition, Stress Management, Sexual Health, and Wellness
Commencement Planning Begins Now
Schedule of Ceremonies:
-
Sunday, June 7, 2009 – 11:00 a.m. College of Creative Studies,
Campbell Hall
- All Saturday (June 13) and Sunday (June 14) ceremonies take place on the Faculty Club Green
- Saturday, June 13 – 9:00 a.m. Science and Mathematics
- Saturday, June 13 – 1:00 p.m. Engineering and Science
- Saturday, June 13 – 4:00 p.m. Social Sciences I
- Sunday, June 14 – 9:00 a.m. Social Sciences II
- Sunday, June 14 – 1:00 p.m. Humanities and Fine Arts
- Sunday, June 14 – 4:00 p.m. Graduate Division
Students must make a commencement reservation for an open and available ceremony
in order to participate in commencement. Special note: Parents, please remind your
student that declaring candidacy for an official degree and making a commencement
reservation are two separate actions on the GOLD system. Please keep in mind that
thousands of graduating seniors will be inviting family and friends to the commencement
ceremonies. Students should limit their number of guests to a maximum of six to
help maintain a high level of comfort and decorum.
For more information, call the Commencement Hotline at (805) 893-8289, send an e-mail to
commencement@sa.ucsb.edu, or visit the Web site at
www.instadv.ucsb.edu/commencement.
For accommodations information, visit www.santabarbara.com. Book hotel rooms soon;
space is limited!
Grad Fair 2008
A Grad Faire will be held April 29-30 from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
in the University Center lobby. Various campus department representatives and vendors
will be available to answer commencement questions. Check out the Graduate Center
on the Bookstore Web site at
www.bookstore.ucsb.edu/graduation/graduation.html.
Grad Gift: Gaucho for Life
Need a special graduation gift idea for your son or daughter?
Consider giving the gift that will last a lifetime—a life membership in the UCSB
Alumni Association. Benefits include career connections, job postings, networking,
Coastlines publication, travel tours, alumni directory, and locator service. More
information can be found on the Alumni Association’s Web site at www.ucsbalum.com.
UCSBriefs
The Office of Admissions received more than 54,600 applications for fall
2009 which is only slightly less than the number received last year. Of the 44,600
freshman applications, we expect to admit around 21,500 and enroll around 4,100.
With receipt of over 10,000 transfer applications, we expect to admit almost 7,000
and enroll 1,700.
The third annual All Gaucho Reunion will take place on April 20-26, 2009.
The reunion will begin with student-focused events, known as Gaucho Days, which
will include a Senior Day, an Earth Day concert, and the Dalai Lama’s visit. The
week will conclude with the Gaucho Gallop, a 10k benefit race around campus, and
the Gaucho Festival, a celebration in Storke Plaza with live music, awards, and
food. For complete information and to RSVP visit the Web site at www.ucsbalum.com.
Parent’s and Family Weekend will be held November 6-8, 2009. Hundreds of
students’ families will explore the campus and get a firsthand look at what life
is like at UCSB. You will have the opportunity to attend classes, participate in
faculty presentations, take part in campus area tours and activities, as well as
meet a variety of UCSB faculty and administrators, including Chancellor Henry T.
Yang and his wife Dilling Yang. A schedule of events and other information will
soon be posted at www.ia.ucsb.edu/pfw/.
For questions, send an e-mail to parent@ia.ucsb.edu
or call the Office of Public Events at (805) 893-7382.
Staying Connected
Campus Connection On-line
Campus Connection is published by the University of California, Santa Barbara, Office
of the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, to provide news and resources to the
parents and families of UCSB undergraduates.
The University of California, Santa Barbara and the Division of Student Affairs
recognize the diversity of our society and the many important people who have become
"parents " to our students; these include stepmoms, stepdads, uncles,
aunts, grandparents, siblings, friends and others who play a significant and supportive
role in the lives and successes of UCSB undergraduates.
Editor: Candace Stevenson
Copy Editor: Debbie Fleming
Contributors: Cecilia Becerra, Elizabeth Downing, Laurie Hoyle, Michelle
Kitson, Priscilla Mori, and Elizabeth Robinson
Design: Brenda Bernu Reheem
Office of the Vice Chancellor - Student Affairs
University of California
Santa Barbara, CA 93106-2036
If you need this document in an alternative format, please call (805) 893-4521.
www.sa.ucsb.edu/parentnewsletter
Campus Connection is printed on recycled paper.
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