ORU FINANCIAL AID NEWSLETTER
September 2008
http://finaid.oru.edu
In
this issue…
- Scholarship Corner
- Essay Scholarships
- Fellowship Information
- Free Internet Scholarship Searches
- Scholarship for International Students
- Online Financial Aid Question and Answer (Q&A)
Forms
- ORU Joins the Facebook Community
- Fighting Back Against Identity Theft
SCHOLARSHIP
CORNER
The American Indian
Education Foundation Scholarship
Each year over one
hundred Native American students from across the country who encompass a
variety of personal and academic histories are awarded this scholarship. Visit http://www.aiefprograms.org/ for
scholarship information and applications.
Hispanic College Fund
You must be a U.S.
Citizen or a Permanent Resident residing in the fifty states or Puerto Rico, have a minimum GPA of 3.0, and must plan to
enroll as a full-time undergraduate student. Access www.hispanicfund.org
for the application.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
Awards range from $1000
to $2500. Student requirements are: must be of Hispanic heritage and a U.S. citizen or
legal permanent resident with a resident card or
passport stamped I-551, have a minimum of 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale, and must
apply for federal aid using the FAFSA. Applications available
online at www.hsf.net.
Microsoft College Careers
Tuition Scholarships
Microsoft offers four
types of technical scholarships to current undergraduate students. These are:
General Scholarships, Women's Scholarships, Under-represented Minority
Scholarships, and Scholarships for Students with Disabilities. For further
information on these scholarships go to: www.microsoft.com/college/ss_overview.mspx
Military Scholarships and
Grants
These
are exclusive scholarships and grants for persons in the military community.
Find the application here http://aid.military.com/scholarship/search-for-scholarships.do?ESRC=ov_edu_sch.kw
MG James Ursano Scholarship
Administered
by Army Emergency Relief (AER) to financially assist dependent children of Army
soldiers. Dependent children must be under the age of 22 to apply for this
scholarship. Scholarships are primarily
based on financial need and then on academic achievements and individual
accomplishments. Students may apply
online at http://www.aerhq.org/education_dependentchildren_mgjames.asp.
The 2008-2009 scholarship application will be available November 1, 2007.
National Honors Society
Scholarships
Eligible students are
those who demonstrate high academic standards. - $19,000
Total Aid - Benjamin Franklin, $5000 - Alexander Bell, $4000 - Abraham Lincoln
$5000, Thomas Jefferson $5000; etc. Apply online at www.CollegeHonors.org.
NextStudent Scholarship Search
New
scholarship search, please click
here to access this new scholarship search.
Sallie Mae Fund
Scholarships
Scholarships are awarded
to minority students with financial need. Several programs are available such
as: The Sallie Mae Unmet Need Scholarship, The
American Dream Scholarship, First in My Family, and Writers of Passage
Scholarship programs. These applications will be available
mid-January of 2008. Community College Transfer
Scholarship and The Sallie Mae 911 Education Fund applications
are now available.
Visit http://www.salliemaefund.org to find
out more information on how to apply for one of these programs.
The United Negro College
Fund Corporate Scholars Programs
The UNCF Corporate
Scholars Programs give students two things they really need-- scholarships that
help pay for college and practical, hands-on work experience. Program
participation is limited to sophomores, juniors, seniors and 1st year graduate
students. All programs require a minimum GPA of between 2.5 and 3.5. For more information go to www.uncf.org.
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ESSAY SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS
Elder & Leemaur Publishers
There are a number of
scholarships available. Half of the available awards will go towards entrance
scholarships, while the remainder will be given to current undergraduate
students. Field of study will have no
bearing on scholarship allocation. Recipients of the scholarships will be
determined on quality of work
submitted. Students must submit an essay no longer
than 500 words on ONE of several topics. Go to www.elpublishers.com/content/AboutUWS.php
for more information. Deadlines for submission is
dependent upon the topic chosen. Scholarships of up to $10,000 will be awarded.
See website for details.
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FELLOWSHIP INFORMATION
Ford Foundation Diversity
Fellowships
Approximately 60
predoctoral, 35 dissertation, and 24 postdoctoral fellowships are sponsored by
the Ford Foundation. Eligibility requirements are student must be a U.S.
citizen or national, and planning a career in teaching and research at the
college or university level. Go to http://national-academies.org/fellowships
for further
information and for application deadline dates.
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FREE INTERNET SCHOLARSHIP SEARCHES
Start now researching and
applying for outside scholarships. The following free internet resources are
available:
www.AIE.org/scholarships
www.collegenet.com
www.fastweb.com
www.freescholarshipguide.com/
www.latinocollegedollars.org
www.nextstudentloans.com/sse1
www.petersons.com (click on undergraduate or graduate scholarship search)
www.scholarship-page.com
www.scholarships4all.net
www.srnexpress.com/index.cfm
www.studentscholarshipsearch.com
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Attention International
Students!....
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
The following is a list
of websites that has been gathered to offer international students additional
financial aid resources on scholarships and alternative loans. Here you'll find
good information that may benefit you with additional financial resources to
aid in attending ORU. A few minutes of investigation may prove profitable.
www.rotary.org (type scholarship in the search
field)
www.iefa.org
www.internationalstudent.com
www.internationalscholarships.com
www.fastweb.com
http://www.collegeanswer.com/index.jsp (click on scholarship search)
www.petersons.com
ONLINE
FINANCIAL AID QUESTION AND ANSWER (Q&A) FORMS
Attention ORU students!
There has been a new development in the Financial Aid Office. The Question and
Answer forms that you fill out in our office are now on Vision (http://vision.oru.edu).
You can access these forms through Vision anytime of night, any place in the
world. It is quick and easy. Just log in to Vision, click on
"Enter Secure Area", Login, click on "Student Services and
Financial Aid", click on "Financial Aid", and then click on
"Financial Aid Q&A Forms". Your Financial Aid Specialist
will receive this Q&A form via e-mail and will respond back to you via ORU
e-mail. Now, whenever those questions or concerns come to you in the middle of
the night, at home, or even while you are on a mission trip, you can have full
access to you Financial Aid Specialist within a few clicks in Vision!
________________________________________________________________________
ORU JOINS THE FACEBOOK COMMUNITY
Oral Roberts University Financial Aid has joined the Facebook.com
community. With more than eight million members nationwide, Facebook.com aids
in communicating electronically with many college students, faculty, and staff.
Originally just for college folks, Facebook.com has recently allowed high
school students access to the site. As a result, the Financial Aid Office is
now more easily accessible to many people across the country.
Facebook is a fun and
functional environment. Our very own Mr. Rudolph Billington is having a great
time on Facebook and has received a great response.
Mr. Billington also runs
a financial aid group called Financial Aid - Making it through the ORU door.
The group is categorized under “Student Groups - General” and has a lot of
helpful information. The group discussion board is updated with financial aid
current events specific to ORU.
In order to participate
in the Facebook fun and access the Financial Aid profile and group, one would
need his or her own Facebook profile. In order to be eligible, all that is
needed is a school registered e-mail address.
For
example: _____@oru.edu. Come
join the community and be connected to Financial
Aid at Oral Roberts University.
________________________________________________________________________
FIGHTING BACK AGAINST IDENTITY THEFT
COMMON WAYS ID THEFT
HAPPENS:
Skilled
identity thieves use a variety of methods to steal your personal information,
including:
Dumpster Diving. They rummage through trash looking for bills or other paper
with your personal information on it.
Skimming. They steal credit/debit card numbers by
using a special storage device when processing your card.
Phishing. They pretend to be financial institutions or
companies and send spam or pop-up messages to get you to reveal your personal
information.
Changing Your Address. They divert your billing
statements to another location by completing a "change of address"
form.
"Old-Fashioned" Stealing. They steal wallets
and purses; mail, including bank and credit card statements; pre-approved
credit offers; and new checks or tax information. They steal personnel records
from their employers, or bribe employees who have access.
DETER
Identity theft is a serious crime. It occurs when your personal information is
stolen and used without your knowledge to commit fraud or other crimes.
Identity theft can cost you time and money. It can destroy your credit and ruin
your good name. Deter identity thieves by safeguarding your information.
Shred financial documents and paperwork with personal information before you
discard them.
Protect your
Social Security number. Don't carry your Social Security card in your wallet or write your Social Security
number on a check. Give it out only if absolutely necessary or ask to use
another identifier.
Don't give
out personal information on the phone, through the mail, or over the Internet
unless you know who you are dealing with.
Never click
on links sent in unsolicited emails; instead, type in a web address you know.
Use firewalls, anti-spyware, and anti-virus software to protect your home
computer; keep them up-to-date. Visit OnGuardOnline.gov for more information.
Don't use an
obvious password like your birth date, your mother's maiden name, or the last
four digits of your Social Security number.
Keep your
personal information in a secure place at home, especially if you have
roommates, employ outside help, or are having work done in your house.
DETECT
Detect suspicious activity by routinely monitoring your financial accounts and
billing statements. Be alert to signs that require immediate attention:
Bills that do not arrive as expected
Unexpected credit cards or account statements
Denials of credit for no apparent reason
Calls or letters about purchases you did not make
Inspect:
Your credit report. Credit reports contain information about you, including
what accounts you have and your bill paying history.
The law requires the major nationwide consumer reporting companies Equifax,
Experian, and TransUnion to give you a free copy of your credit report each
year if you ask for it.
Visit www.AnnualCreditReport.com or call 1-877-322-8228,
a service created by these three companies, to order your free credit reports
each year. You also can write: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta,
GA 30348-5281.
Review
financial accounts and billing statements regularly, looking for charges you
did not make.
DEFEND
Defend against ID theft as soon as you suspect it.
Place a "Fraud Alert" on your credit reports, and review the reports
carefully. The alert tells creditors to follow certain procedures before they
open new accounts in your name or make changes to your existing accounts. The
three nationwide consumer reporting companies have toll-free numbers for
placing an initial 90-day fraud alert, but a call to one company is sufficient:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian: 1-888-EXPERIAN (397-3742)
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
Placing a
fraud alert entitles you to free copies of your credit reports. Look for
inquiries from companies you haven't
contacted, accounts you didn't open, and debts on your accounts that you can't
explain.
Close accounts. Close any accounts that have been tampered with or established
fraudulently.
Call the security or fraud departments of each company where an account was
opened or changed without your okay. Follow up in writing, with copies of
supporting documents.
Use the ID Theft Affidavit at ftc.gov/idtheft www.ftc.gov/idtheft to support your written
statement.
Ask for verification that the disputed account has been closed and the
fraudulent debts discharged.
Keep copies of documents and records of your conversations about the theft.
File a
police report. File a report with law enforcement officials to help you with
creditors who may want proof of the crime.
Report the
theft to the Federal Trade Commission. Your report helps law enforcement
officials across the country in their investigations.
Online: ftc.gov/idtheft www.ftc.gov/idtheft
By phone: 1-877-ID-THEFT (438-4338) or TTY, 1-866-653-4261
By mail: Identity Theft Clearinghouse, Federal Trade Commission, Washington, DC
20580
To learn
more about ID theft and how to deter, detect, and defend against it, visit
ftc.gov/idtheft www.ftc.gov/idtheft. Or request copies of ID
theft resources by writing to:
Consumer Response Center
Federal Trade Commission
600 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, H-130
Washington, DC 20580
The FTC
works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business
practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot,
stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint https://rn.ftc.gov/dod/wsolcq$.startup?Z_ORG_CODE=PU01 ) or to get free
information on consumer issues www.ftc.gov/ftc/consumer.htm, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP
(1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing,
identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel www.consumer.gov/sentinel, a secure, online
database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies
in the U.S. and abroad.
