...,,,.. California University of Pennsylvania Undergraduate Catalog 2004-2005 A ugust 2004, Volume 100 . Number I Edited by th e Office of Academic Affairs: Page layour by the Office of Marketing Co ver design by T he Lori sh M arketin g Group: Printed by Von Hoffman Graphics. Inc. California University of Pennsylvania A member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education Is a member of the American As ociation of State College and Universities 1307 New York Avenue NW, Fifth Floor Washington , DC 20005-4701 202-293-7070 Fax 202-296-58 I 9 www.aascu_edu.org American Assoc iation of College of Teacher Education American Association of College of Teacher Education (AACTE) 1307 ew York Avenue NW, Suite 300 Washington , DC 20005-470 1 202-293-2450 Fax 202-457-8095 www.aacte.org Accredited by the Commission on Higher Education of the M idd le States Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools 3624 Market Street, Phil adelphia, PA I9104 2 15-662-5606 Fax 2 15-662-550 1 www.msache.org Accredited in Teacher Education by the ational Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education 20 10 Massachusetts Ave nue NW, Washington , DC 20036-1023 202-466-7496 Fax 202-296-6620 www.ncate.org ncate@ ncate.org Accredited by the Pennsy lvania Department of Health for Bas ic Life Support Training Program Emergency Medical Service In titute 22 1 Penn Avenue, Suite 2500 Pittsburgh, PA I522 I 7 I7-787-8740 Accredited in Social Work by the Council on Social Work Education 1725 Duke Street , Suite 500 , Alexandria , VA 223 14 703-683-8080 Fax 703-683-8099 www.c we.org Accredited in Athletic Training by the Commi ion on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP) 35 East Wacker Drive , Su ite I970, Chicago, IL 60601-2208 3 12-553-9355 Fax 312-553-9616 www.caahep.org caahep@caahep.org 2 Accredited in Nursing by the National League for Nursing 61 Broadway, New York, NY 10006 800-669-9656 212-363-5555 Fax 212-812-0393 www.nln.org nlnweb @nln .org Accredited by the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education (CCNE) One Dupont Circle , NW, Suite 530 Washin gton , DC 20036 202-887-679 I Fax 202-887-8476 www.aacn.nche.edu Accredited in Communication Disorders by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association 10801 Rockville Pike, Rockville , MD 20852 800-498-2071 301-897-5700 Fax 30 1-571-0457 www.asha.org Accredited in Phys ical Therapist Assistant by the Commi ss ion on Accreditation in Physical Therapy Education American Ph ys ical Therapy Association 1111 N . Fairfax Street, Alexandria, VA 22314 730-706-3245 www.apta.org Approved by the National Association of Sport and Phys ical Education/North American Society of Sport Management Program Review Council 1900 Association Dri ve, Reston, VA 800-213-7193 FAX 703-476-9527 www.aahperd.org California University of Pennsylvania is an academic community dedicated to the ideals of justice,fairness and equal opportunity for all. In compliance with federal and state laws, the university is committed to providing equal educational and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin , age , disability, ancestry, sexual orientation, or status as a disabled or Vietnam-era veteran. The university will not tolerate racial, ethnic or sexual discrimination. Sexual harassment is considered by law to be a form of sexual discrimination and is, therefore, unacceptable. Direct equal opportunity and affirmative action inquires or complaints to the Special Assistant to the President for £EEO/University Ombudsperson, Office of Social Equity, South Hall] 12, 724-938-4014. Direct inquiries regarding services or fa cilities accessibility to the ADN504 Compliance Officer, Office of Student Development and Services, Residence Building B, 724-938-4076 . Direct Title IX inquiries to the Senior Women '.s Administrator/Title IX Coordinator, Department of Athletics, Hamer Hall 248, 724-938-4351 3 From The President California Universi ty of Penn sy lvani a is in the opportunity business. Since 1852, thou ands of students have seized the opportu nity we offer to impro ve not on ly the ir li ves , but the lives of people they touched. Our alumni are practicin g profess ionals in educati on, health care, law, public service , business, e nvironmental science, and government , an d the list does n' t stop there. From coastal wetl ands to outer pace, California Uni versity grad uates are using their education to continue the never-ending search for knowledge . In variou settin g all over the globe , Cal U alumni are he lping to make the world a better place. At Cali fornia , we pl ace a great emphas i on people and relatio nships . We have a dedicated facu lty, a caring, concerned raff, excellent faci li ties , exemp lary curriculum , and a vari ety of ex tra-curric ul ar acti vities , all devoted to helping students get the most from their co llege experience. Learnin g is not confined to the classroom; the uni versity experi ence shoul d be a broad one. Persona l growth is proporti onate to the wise use of the many reso urces availab le . We encourage students to become in vo lved in the tota l life of the Uni versity and its su1Tounding communities. We also fos ter a family atmosphere. We are large enough to be able to offer a variety of program s, yet small enough to care about indi viduals . We have just opened new residence halls , three on campus and an add ition to the successfu l Jefferson@Cal ifo rni a, located adjacent to Roadman Park , onl y one mile from cam pu . These new res idence reflect our commi tment to tudents and their fam ilies. inc luded in alJ of them are ameniti es that student want -a ir conditi oning, private and semi-private baths, Internet connections , and sprinkler and security systems. Cali fornia Uni versity is moving co nfide ntl y forward, serv ing our students and providing them with a quality ed ucation that will erve them for li fe , whi le building character, based on our co re va lues of integrity, civility and responsibility. 4 Table of Contents Mission ................................................................................................................... 9 History ................................................................................................................. 11 Admissions .......................................................................................................... 13 Tuition and Fees .................................................................................................. 18 Financial Aid ....................................................................................................... 21 Scho larship Directory ... .............................. ..... .. .... ... .......................... ... ... .... ... ..... 3 1 Academic Policies ............................................................................................... 47 Academic Organization ..................................................................................... 62 College of Educatio n and Human Services ...... .. ... ......................... ............ ..... .. .. . 65 College of Liberal Arts ....... .................. ... .... ............... .......... ..... .... .... .. ....... .......... 68 Eberl y College of Science and Technology ....... .... ..... ... ............ .. .......... ... ......... ... 68 General Education ................. ... ... ... ... ..... ...... .. ... .... ..... ......... ...... .. ..... ....... .. ..... ...... 73 Academic Departments & Programs ................................................................ 82 Academic Development Services ... ... ... ............ ... ..... ....................................... .. ... 82 Applied Engineering and Technology ........... ...... .. ........... ... ...... ...... ...... ..... .. ........ 83 Art and Design ............ .... .. ........ ... .... ... ..... .. ..... ..... ... ... ... .... .. ... ... .. ... ... .. ...... ... ......... 99 Biological And Environmental Sciences .......... ... ... ...... .. .... .. .... ...... ... .. .......... ... .. 103 Business and Econom ics .... .... ... ..... ... .. .... .......... .. .... .... ..... ..... ........ ... .. ... ... ... ....... J 18 Chemi stry and Physics .......... ..... ..... ... .. ... .......... .. ... ... ... .. .... ......... .... ................... 120 Comm uni catio n Disorders ....... ... ..... .... ................ ........ ................... ........... ......... 127 Co mmuni cation Studies .................... .... .. ... .... ... ... .... .. ..... .. ...... ... ... ..... ............... . 129 Earth Science ..... .. .... ... ....... ........ ........... ...... ....... ... ... .......... .. .................. .......... ... l 33 Elementary/Earl y Chi ldhood Educatio n .. .... ..... ... .... ... ... ...... .. .... .. ...... ... .... ...... .... 144 English ... ....... ... ...... ....................... ... ..... ... ........ ... .... .... .... ....... ... .... ............. ... ...... 148 Foreign Languages and Cu ltures ......... ... ......... ... ... ... ...... ....... ..... ...... ... ........ ... .. .. 153 Health Science and Sport Studies ..... .. ..... .. ..... ... .. ..... ........ ... ... .. .. .... ..... .... ........... 157 History and Po li tical Science .............. ... ... ... ..... ....... ......... ... ............ .................. 165 Ho nor 's Program ....... .... ..... .... ... .... ..... .. .... ..................... .. .. ... .......... ... .... ... ..... ... .. 170 Justice Studies ................... .. ... ...... ... .... ..... .......... ..... ... ... ....... ..... ... ..... .. ...... .. ... .... l 72 Liberal Studies .............. .... ....... ..... .... ........................... ... ............ ... ... ...... ... ... ..... . 177 Mathematics and Computer Science ........................... ... ............ ... ...... ...... ... ...... 179 Music ............ ... ....... ..... .. .............................. ... .. ...... ..... ... .... ........... ... ..... .. .. ........ . 186 N urs in g .......... ... ... ... .. ... .... ..... .. ..... ...... ......... .. .... ... .... .... ....... .... ... ....... ..... .... .. .... ... 187 Philosophy ........ ... ... ... .. .... ... ...... ... ..... ... ....... ................. .. ... ....... .. ... ... ... .. ...... .... .... 189 Psychology .... ..... ...... .................... ... ... ..... .... ... ......... ... ..... ... ... .... ... .... ... ......... .. .... 19 1 Secondary Ed ucation and Ad mini strative Program ...... .............. ... .. ... ..... .. ..... .... 194 Sociology ... ............ ... .................................... ................ ... ............ ... ............ .. ...... 205 Social Work and Gerontology ... .. ... .. ... ... ...... .... ..... ... ... ... .... .. ... ... ............ ............ 209 Special Education ... .. ...... ... .... ........ ... ................... ........ ... ... ..... ... .... .... .... ...... ....... 2 11 Theatre and Dance ..... ..... ..... .... ... ... ... ... ...... ..... .. ..... ... ... .. .......... ... ... ... .......... ........ 215 Women's Stud ies Progra m .......... ...... ... ... ......... .. ................ ... ... .......... ....... .... ..... 2 18 Course descriptions Accounting (ACC) .... ... ... .... ....... .. ... ................... ............ .. .... .. ..... ... ... ... .... .. ....... 2 19 Anthropo logy (ANT) ........... ........... ..... ... .... ... .. ... ..... ... ... ... .. ... ............... .............. 219 Art (ART) ....... .... ... ... ..... ..... ..................... .... ... ................. ................. .. .... .......... .. 22 1 Athl eti c Training (ATE) ........ ... .... .... .... ... ..... ... ... ....... .. ... .... ..... ... ... ... ... .. ...... ........ 223 5 Biology (BIO) ......... ... .. ...... ... .... .. ....... ......... ... ... ... .. .... ..... ....... ... .......................... 224 Busine (BUS) ....... ... .. ......... .... ...... .... .. ... ... ...... ...... ..... ........... ...................... ..... 228 Career Planning (XCP) .. ......... ........ ...................... .. ........................................... . 229 Chemi try (CHE) ......................... ... ... ... ......... ..................... .. .... .... .. .... .. .. ....... ..... 229 Communication Disorders (C MD) ...................... ... ........ .. ............ .......... ............ 231 Communication Studies (COM) .. ... ..... ....... ..... ......... ... ........ .. .... ... .. ................ .... 232 Computer Engineering Techno logy (CET) ...... ............ ......... .. .... ......... .. .. .... ... .... 229 Computer Information Systems (CIS) .... ................... ................ ..... .... ... ... ....... .. 235 Computer Science (CSC) ...... ........ .. .... .... ... ..... ....................... .. ... .... ................... 235 Criminal Justice (CRJ , XJJ) .. ........ .. ... ..... ........ ........... ... ... ...... .......................... .. 238 Dance (DAN) ............ ... ......................................... ... .... ..... ... .... .............. ... ......... 242 Developmental Mathematics (DMA) ... ..... ... ... .. ... ..... ..... ...... ... ............ ............... 28 1 Earth Science (EAS) ........................................... ...... .......................... ......... ....... 244 Early Chi ldhood Education (ECE) ................ .................. ........... ... ..................... 247 Economi cs (ECO) ........ .. ................................... ... ... ...... .......................... ........ .... 248 Educati on (EDU) .. ........ .... .......... .. ... .. ............ .... .. ........ .. .. ..... ... ... ... ... .... ..... ......... 249 Educational Foundations (EDF) ............................... .............. ... ...... ... ................ 250 Educati onal Studies (EDS) .. ....... .. .. .... ........ ... .... .. ..... .... .... .... ... .. ... ... .... .. ... .... .. .... 250 Electrical Engineeri ng Technology (EET) ............... .............. .. ... ..... ......... ..... ... . 25 1 Ele mentary Education (EDE) ........................... ..... ............... ... ........................... 253 English (ENG ) ............................. ......................................... ..... .. ..... ...... .......... .. 254 Environmental Studies (ENS ) ... .......... .. ... ........ ... ............... .. ... ......... ...... ... ......... 258 Finance (FIN) .. ............... ... .. ... .. .... ......... ........ .......................... ..... .......... ..... ...... . 259 French (FRE) ... ...... ..... .......... ..... ... ... .... ....... ......... ............... ....... ..... ....... .. ........ .. . 260 General Engi neering Technology (GET) ....... ............................. ... ... ....... ..... ...... 264 Geography (GEO) ................... ..... ... ... .... ....... ... .... ...... ... ..... ........ .. ...... ........... ..... 264 Gerontology (GTY) ....... ..... .. ... .... ..... ................................... ....................... ........ 266 Graphic Commun ication Technology (GCT) ...... ...... .... ..................................... 26 1 Harrisburg Internship Program (HIN) ........ .......... .... ...... .................. .. .. .. .. ... ....... 267 Health and Phys ical Ed ucati on (HPE) .... ...... .... ... ... ... ........ ..... .. ........ .... ... ........... 267 Health Science and Sport Studi es (HSC) ........ ..... .... ..... ..... .. .... ........ .... .. ... .. ... ... . 268 Hi tory (HIS ) ............ ... ... ..... .... .... ... ...... ... ............. .... .... ... ... ... ....... ........ ... .. .... ..... 268 Honors Program (HON) .... ... ...... .... .. ...................... ...... .. ... ........ ... ............... ..... .. 27 1 Info rmati on Systems Techno logy (1ST) ................ ....... ..... ..... ... ... ....... ............. .. 273 Industrial Technology (ITE) .... .. .... .................. ...... ....................... ...................... 273 Literature (LIT) .................................................... .. ... .. ... ....... ... ... .. .......... ... ........ 278 Management (MGT) .. .. ... .... .. .... .. ..... ....... .. ....... .... ..... ....... ...... ................. ......... ... 279 Marketing (MKT) .. ..... ....... ... ..... .... ... ... ..... ....... ..... ..... ........... .. ............. .... ........... 280 Mathematics (MAT, including OMA) ... ... ... ........ ......... ... ..... ... ...... .... ..... ... ... ..... . 28 1 Mu ltimedia Technology (MMT) ....... .. .... ...... ............... .. .... .. .. ... .... ... ... ...... ... .. ... . 284 Music (MUS ) ................. ........................................................ ..... ........... .. ........... 284 Nanoman ufac turing Techno logy (NMT) ................. .. ..................... ......... ... ..... ... 286 Nursing (NUR, NRN) ................. ........ ....... .... .... ........ .. .. ..... ......... .................... ... 287 Philosophy (PHI) ...... ... .. ............ .. .. ..... .... ...... ..... ... ... .... ..... ..... ... ........ .... ... ........... 288 Physical Science (PHS) ....................................... .... .... ..... .................................. 289 Ph ysical Therapist Assistant (PTA) .. .... ... ..... ........ .. ... .... ..... ... ............................. 290 Phys ics (PHY) .. ............ .. ... ... ....................... .. ...... ....... .. .... ... .... ...... ........ .... ......... 29 1 Po litical Science (POS) ......................................... .... .... ...... ... ............ .. ..... ......... 292 Psyc hology (PSY) ........................ .......... ... ... .... ... ...... ... ... .. ..................... ............ 295 Sociology (SOC) ... ................................... ............ .. ....... ... ... .... ........... ................ 297 6 Social Work (SOW) ......... ... ........................... ... .... .. ............ ..... ...... ....... ........... .. . 299 Spanish (S PN) ...... ............................................... ................ .... ........................... 30 1 Special Education (ESP) .................................................................................... 303 Sports Management (SPT) .. .... ... .... .. ........ .. ... ..... ........... ........................... ........ .. 304 Technology Education (TED) .... .... ........... ... ....... .......................... .. .......... .......... 305 Theatre (THE) ... .. ... ... ............ ... ... .... .......................... ...... ... ... ... ... .. .. .. .... .... .. ....... 307 Uni versity College (UNI) ...... .... ... ...... .. .... ... ... ............... ... ...... ................. ... ... ... .. 3 JO Women 's Studies (WST) ... ......................... ................ ......... ... ... .... .. ...... ... .. ........ 310 Workforce Development (WFD) ........ ......................................................... .. ..... 310 University Services ........................................................................................... 311 Louis L. Manderino Library ....................................... ..................... ... ................ 3 11 Computing Services Center ........ ........... ............... ...... .... ........ ...... ... ......... ... ....... 313 Campus Learning Labs ..................... .. ... .................. ..... ..... .. .......... ..... .. .. ... ... .... .. 314 Career Services ........ ... ... .. ........ .............. .................. .......... ................. ............ .... 315 Cooperative Ed ucation .. ........................ ............ ... ...... ....... ...... .... ........ .. ........... .. 316 Visiting Student Program .. ... .......................... .......... .. ......... ........ ....... .. .. .. ..... .. .. . 317 Public Safety .................. .... ................. ... .... ........... ......... .. ....... ...... ......... ...... ... .... 3 17 Character Education Institute .... .......... .. .. .... ...... ... ...... ..................... ... ................ 318 University Advancement .................................................................................. 319 Student Development and Services ................................................................. 321 Cal Card ............ .............. .... ... ... ... ............... ........ ......... ....... ..... .......... ......... ......... 321 Cal U Student Bookstore ............ ..... ...... .. ....... .... ........ ......... ........ .. .. ...... .. ........... 323 Campus Ministry ............................. ... ... .... .... .. ........ ..... ... ... ................... .. ....... .. .. 323 California Times ..... ......................... ... ... .. ....... ...... .......... ........ ... ... ... ................... 323 Clubs and Organizations ..................... ... .......... ....... .... ... ....................... .............. 323 Commuter Center and Services .......... ............... ........ .... ......... ........ ... ... ............ .. 323 Counseling and Psychological Services ... ............... .................. ............ ... ... ....... 324 CUTV ...... ..... ........... .......... ......... ...... .. .. .......... ..................... ........ ... ... ... .............. 324 Dining Services ....... .......... ........... ..... .......... ... ...... ... ... ......... ... ... ... ....... .. ...... ....... 325 Drug and Alcohol Programs .. .... ...... .. .... ............ .................. ...... ... .. ....... ......... .... 325 Health Services ..... .......................... ... ............. ........ ................... ... ............ .......... 326 Housing ..... ..... .. ... ........ .... ................ ..... ....... ... ... ........... .......... ..... ... ... ....... .......... 326 Off-Campus Housing ....... .. .. ................. .... ........... ............................ ... .............. .. 329 Intercollegiate Athletics ... ...... ............. ............................................. ... .... ... ...... ... 330 International Student Office ............ .................. ...... .................... ...... ................. 33 1 Intramurals ... ............... ... ... .. ....... ................................. .................. ... ... ................ 331 Judicial Affairs ......... .. ................... ... ... .... ..... ...... ... ...... ......... ............ ................... 33 1 Judicial System (Student) ... .. .... .... .................. ... ... ... ... ... ............ .. .... .... .. ...... .... ... 332 Multicultural Student Programming ...... ............... ...... ... ... ............ ...... .. ............ .. 332 Multimedia Access Center .......... ..... ... ......... .............................. ............... .......... 332 Office for Students with Disabilities ..... ......... ...... ............ ... ...... ...... ... ... ............. 334 The PEACE Project .......... .. ... ... ... ....... .................. ..................... ... ... ...... ......... .... 332 Recreational Services ...... ... ... ..... ... ..... .................... .............. ............. ............. .... 332 Social Fraternities and Sororities .......... .... .................... ....... ........... ... ... ......... .... 332 Student Activities Board .... ... ... ... .... .... ... .......................................... ............... ... . 333 Student Association, Inc .... ... .... ........ ..... ............ ............ ......... ............... ............. 333 Student Congress ... ................... ............. .. .. ........... ... .......... .............................. ... 333 7 Student Leadership Develop ment .. :............... .. ... .... ......... .... ... .. .. ..... ... ... .. ........ ... 334 ati onal Student Exchange ........... ... ... ............................... .......... ...... .... ... ....... .. 335 Study Around the Worl d Program .................. ............... ....... .. ... ... .......... .......... .. 335 University Conference Services .. ... .. ...... ... .. .. ... .. ...... ... ....... .... .. ... ... .............. .. ... . 335 Veterans' Affair .... .. ... ...... ................................................. ......... .. .... .. ...... .. ... ... .. 335 Web Site Development ......................................... ... .... .. .... ... ...... .... ... ... ............ .. 336 Women 's Center ..... ... ...... .. ... ........ ... ... ... .............. .. .. .... .... .... ... .......... ........ ... ..... .. 336 WVCS (Student Radi o Statio n) ................................. .. .... ....... ... .......... ....... ... ..... 336 Office of Social Equity ..................................................................................... 337 Governance & Administration ........................................................................ 340 Faculty ............................................................................................................... 344 Index .................................................................................................................. 354 Calendar ............................................................................................................ 364 This ca1alog is neither a con.tract nor an offer of a con.tract. The in.formation. it contains was accura/e when ii was printed and placed on !he /11terne1. Fees, deadlines , academic requ.iremems, courses, degree programs, academic policies, and other matters described in this catalog may change withou1 notice. Not all courses are offered each academic year, and facu lty assign.men.ts may change . This catalog is updated annually. 8 CALIFORNIA UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVA IA IDENTITY Californ ia University of Pennsylvani a, a comprehensive regional instituti on of hi gher education and a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education , is a diverse caring and scholarly learning commun ity dedi cated to excellence in the liberal arts , sc ience and technology, and profess ional studies th at is devoted to building character and careers , broadly defined. The University is inspired by its core va lues of integrity,civility, and responsibility and is guided by its bill of ri ghts and responsibilities: We have the ri ght to safety and security, we have the responsibility to ensure the safety and security of others; We have the right to be treated with res pect, we have the respon sibility to treat others with res pect; We have the ri ght to ex pect the best, we have the responsibility to give our best; We ha ve the ri ght to be treated fa irly, we have the responsibility to treat others fairly. MISSION: BUILD! G CHARACTER AND CAREERS To advance its ultimate mission of building the character and careers of stude nts, the Uni vers ity shall foc us its efforts on three goals: student ach ievement and success, institutional excellence, and community service. These interre lated ends will be fac ilitated by the following mean : hi gh qu ality fac ulty, students, progra ms, an d facilities. These means , in turn , will be funded through an energetic program of resource acq uisition and stewardship. VISION Be recogni zed as the best comprehensive public uni vers ity in America What does thi s mean? • Offer an exceptional, one-of-a-kind character and career-buildin g ex perience; • Focus character-building on the Univers ity's three core va lues and four ri ghts and responsibilities; • Define career-bui lding broadl y to include li fe-w ide (multiple life roles) an d lifelong (legacy) aspects; • Recruit and retain a di stingui shed fac ulty who challenge and mentor students to attai n their fullest potenti al; • Recruit and retain a tal ented , diverse , and hi ghl y moti vated student body ; • Maintain an administrative staff dedicated to the highest profess ional standards and service; • Maintain a learning co mmunity known for its academic excellence, intellectual rigor, and civ il di scourse; • Instill not just learning but the love of learning; • Be widely known as a center for thought, inquiry, di alogue, and action in matters of character and leadership; • Maintain a campus of natural and architectural bea uty fea turing state-of-the-art facilities and equipment; 9 • Refl ect a special mission in science and technology through programs in science, technology, and applied engineering, as well as through emphasis on technology and information literacy across the curriculum ; • Be widely known for hi gh qu ality undergraduate and selected masters level graduate programs; Fos ter increasingly higher admi ss ions criteri a, academj c quality, and scholarl y ex pectations; • Incorporate continuous improvement into al l programs and activities to ensure competitive excellence; • Prepare students fo r the world of work or further educati on fro m multiple locati ons throu gh multiple techno logies in o rder to meet the ever c hanging needs of the Commonwealth and the larger world ; Sustain a reputati on for the Uni versity 's academj c excellence, its daring and entrepreneuri al spirit , and the integrity, success, and loyalty of its gradu ates; • Instill a culture of philanthropy among students, fac ulty, staff, and alumnj ; • Create an ever larger community of supporters and an endowment that will perpetuate the work of the Uni versity and enable constant innovation and renewal. LEGACY Founded in 1852, and now in its second 150 years of service, the Uni versity is commjtted above all to academic excellence and intellectual rigor in the context of persona] and institutional integri ty, civility, and responsibility. Adopted by the Council of Trustees of Californ ia University of Pennsylvania on June 4, 2003 . 10 About California University The university lies within the Borough of California , a community of approximately 6,000 res idents, located on the banks of the Monongahela Ri ver, less than an hour 's drive south of Pittsburgh. It is accessible via Interstate 70 , Exits 15 (PA 43) , 16 (Speers), or 17 (PA 88, Charleroi) or via U.S. 40 (PA 43 or 88) . The Mon Valley/ Fayette Expressway (PA 43) links California to the federal Interstate Highway system . The universi ty is approximately 30 minutes from Exit 8 (New Stanton) on the Pennsy lvania Turnpike, and an hour from Greater Pittsburgh International Airport . The main campus consists of 37 buildings situated on 90 acres . An additional 98-acre recreation complex , George H . Roadman University Park , is located one mile from campus. This complex includes a football stad ium , an all- weather track, tennis courts , a baseball diamond , a softball di amond , soccer and rugby field s, a cross country course, areas for intramural sports, and picni c facilities. Roadman Park is also the site of a new student housing co mplex (Jefferson at Californi a) th at is home to 432 students who li ve in attracti ve, furnished , four person-s uites that feature four bedrooms, each with individual baths , a living room , dining area, co mpletely furni shed kitchen, including dishwasher and microwave, and a full-size washer and dryer. Similar accommodations for an additional 336 students are under constructi on at Road man Park. The geographic locati on of the uni versity gives the resident student opportunities to ex plore and pursue a wide vari ety of activities. Located on the Appalachian Pl ateau, an area of rollin g hills, the university is a short drive from camping, hiking, fishin g, hunting , white water rafting , canoeing, and ski ing. In add ition to varied cultu ral activi ties on campus, the student has easy access to the Pittsburgh metropolitan area, located only 35 miles north of the campus. This provides an opportunity to enjoy the Pittsburgh Symphony; the Pittsburgh Ballet; the Civic Light Opera; the Dav id L. Lawrence Convention Center; the Pittsburgh Steelers, Penguins, and Pirates; various museums and all of the excitement and attractions of a major metropo litan area. History In June 200 1, the uni vers ity began a 17-month celebration of its sesquicenten ni al. The institution that is now California University of Pennsylvania began as an academy 150 years ago. It has evolved over the years into a multi-purpose uni versity, one of the fourteen state-owned institutions that comprise the Pennsylvani a State System of Higher Education. Important Milestones 1852: A two-story Academy, offering education from kindergarten through college was established in the recentl y founded community of California . 1865: The Academy obtained a charter as a Normal School for its district and became a teacher-preparatory instituti on. 1874: The institution was renamed the South-Western Normal School. 1914: The Commonwealth acquired the institution and ren amed it the California State Normal School. The curri culum became exclusively a two-year preparatory course for e lementary school teachers. 1928: The institution became California State Teachers College , returning to its previous status as a four-year-degree-granting institution , concentrating on industrial arts and special education. 11 1959: Liberal arts curricul a were introduced and the college became California State College . 1962: A graduate program was introd uced. 1974: The college developed a special mission in science and technology. 1983: On July 1, 1983, the college became a part of the State System of Higher Ed ucation and changed its name to California Uni versi ty of Pennsylvan ia. 1983: The College of Science and Technology became fully operational. 1992: Angelo Arrnenti Jr. appointed pre ident of California University. 1996: College of Science and Technology renamed Eberly College of Science and Technology in honor of the Eberly Foundation fo r its philanthropic generosity. 1997: Cal U Southpointe Center in the Southpointe Technol ogy Center in Canonsburg, PA , opened offering a variety of cour e and programs. 1998: The University formally adopts three core val ues: integrity, civi li ty and responsibility. 2002: The Uni vers ity Council of Trustees formall y adopts a list of Ri ghts and Respon ibilities . (Additional in formation about the uni versity and its nistory may be fo und in the book by Reg is J. Serinko, California University of Pennsylvania: Th e People 's College in Monongahela Valley , publi shed in 1992.) 12 Admissions How to Apply to California University Address inqui ries to : Admi ssio ns Office Cali fo rni a Uni versity of Penn sylvani a 250 Uni vers ity Avenue Cali fo rni a, PA 154 19-1 394 Pho ne: 724-938-4404 FAX: 724-938-4564 E- mail address: inquiry@c up .edu Appl y o nline at www.cup.ed u We encourage applicants to write, e- mail o r call for an appoi ntment to visit the uni ve rsity. General Admission Requirements To be considered for ad miss io n as a degree-seeki ng student , app licants mu st submi t the fo ll ow ing: I . Compl eted applicati o n fo rm 2. App licati o n fee 3. Official hi gh school transcript which inc ludes class rank (or GED certificate and scores) 4 . Scholastic Aptitude Test (S AT) or American College Tes t (ACT ) sco res (may be waived for ap plicants who have been o ut of high school fo r at least two years o r have an Assoc iate, R. N ., o r Bacca laureate degree) 5. Transfer students mu st submi t offic ial transc ripts from all colleges and uni versiti es attended. Students in special categories of admi ssio n should check the sectio n o n Specific Ad mi ssio n Req uirements for required applicati o n materi als. Specific Admission Requirements Freshmen Students attendi ng a post-secondary institutio n fo r the fi rst time are considered new fres hmen. All students in thi s class ificatio n must submi t the materi als inc luded in ite ms I thro ug h 4 li sted under General Admi ssion Requireme nts . Transfers Students seeking to transfer to C ali fo rni a Uni ve rsity fro m another post-second ary insti tuti on must submit the materi als included in items 1-5 listed under General Admi ssio n Req uirements. ff a degree has not been earned beyo nd high school, appl icants must also submit hi gh school transcripts, incl uding the resul ts of all stand ardi zed test scores . T he awarding of an assoc iate degree is considered to have sati sfied the hi gh school graduati on requi rement. Students seeking to tran sfer to Cali fo rni a Uni versity mu st be in good academic and social standin g at the last instituti on attended in order to qu ali fy fo r admi ss io n . In cases w here students have been o ut of school fo r at least o ne semester, spec ial considerati o n w ill be given. See the Transfer Student Polic ies fo r mo re in fo rmatio n on transfer cred its. Students can apply o nline at www.cup .edu . 13 Early Admission for High-School Students High school students may be eligible for admission to California University provided the fo llowing requirements have been met: I . The student must submit a completed application and pay the application fee. 2 . The applicant must have completed the sophomore year of hi gh school and be enrolled in a college preparatory curriculum . 3. An early admission clearance form must be completed with all necessary signatures affixed . 4 . The student 's official high school transcript must be submitted and reflect a cumulative grade point average of 3.00 for the past two years. (For up-coming juniors, ninth- and tenth-grade averages will be used.) 5. The applicant must have taken the PSAT, SAT, or ACT examination and scored at least !050 on the PSAT or SAT or 23 on the ACT. 6 . The student 's status will be class ified as provisional fo r each sess ion while still in high school. 7. The student must submit a completed early adm ission clearance fo rm and a transcript for each session that enro llment at California Uni vers ity is desired. 8. At the completion of the student 's hi gh school program , a second application must be submitted with the fin al hi gh school transcript. A second applicati on fee is not required. At this time the student wi ll be in a degree program. Graduates of California University Post-associate and post-baccalaureate students who graduated fro m California University and are seeki ng an additional degree must re-apply to the Admissions Office. Other Post-Baccalaureate Students Students who graduated from another institution and want to enroll in undergraduate programs at California Uni versity must submit a completed application , application fee , and official transcripts from all colleges and uni vers ities attended. International Students International students are required to submit an international student application form to Cali fo rni a Uni vers ity. All official transcripts , TOEFL scores , a statement of financial support , and letters of recommendation must be submitted . Assuming th at all records ind icate that international studen ts could be successful, fina l admission is contingent upon acceptable clearance from the education authorities of the home country and from the Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service, of the United States. Applicants from foreign countries must have com petency in the use of English as demonstrated through the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) examinati on . The minimum TOEFL score is 450 on the paper version or 133 on the computerized version. Internati onal students must subscribe to the insurance plan of California Uni versity. For identification purposes , international stude nts can obtain a United States Social Security number. Visiting Students Students who wish to enroll at California University with the expectation of transferring credits to their home institution and do not wish to receive a degree 14 from California University are classified as visiting students. An application with application fee must be submitted to the Office of Lifelong Learning. Admission is granted for the approved semester onl y. Please contact the Office of Lifelong Learning for more information at 724-938-5840. Non-Degree Students Students may take courses at Cali fo rni a University without being a candidate for a degree. Non-degree students must submit a completed application , application fee , and all appropriate official transcripts to the Office of Lifelong Learning . Tuition and fees are the same as for degree students. Students may co mplete up to 30 credits in a non-degree seeking status. After reaching 30 credits, students must ei ther declare a major or indicate that they do not pl an to pursue a degree at California Uni vers ity. Please contact the Office of Lifelong Learnin g for more information . Veterans Veterans of the United States Armed Forces who have not attended an institution of hi gher education since their honorable discharge are admitted to Califo rnia University upon fo llowing the general adm ission procedures. Veterans may be awarded credit for their military training and military school s. All veterans, reservists, and Nation al Guard members who have been honorably discharged may be elig ible for credits. Credits are awarded primarily in elective categories. Each veteran or reservist seeking such an award must submi t a copy of DD 214 to the Director of Veterans Affairs. Army veterans who entered the army after October 1, 198 1, should submit an A.A.R .T.S . tra nscript; Air Force veterans who served after 1974 shou ld submit a C.C.A.F. transcript. Evaluations based on the latest American Counci l of Education Guides will be forwarded by the Veterans Affairs Office to the Articulation and Transfer Evaluation Office. Evaluation of Applicants All applications are individuall y evaluated . As soon as applications are complete, decisions are reached and applicants notified. Every attempt is made to complete this process within two weeks. Admission standards have been established by the university to select those students who will be most likely to succeed in the various programs of the university. I. Academics . An applicant must be a graduate of an approved or accredited second ary school or have an equ iva lent preparation as determined by any state's Department of Education . 2. Assessment and Ability Standards . An abil ity to do work in hi gher education should be evident from an assessment exa minati on such as the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT). In certain instances, other kinds of evidence may be used to determine the abi lity to do such work . 3. Character and Personality. Applicants must be able to demonstrate that they possess the personality traits, interests, att itudes, and personal characteristics necessary for higher education. 4 . Admission to Special Curricula. A student seeking admission to a special curriculum may be required to complete additional requirements or have earned specific credenti als. The Admissions Office considers as many variables as possible in making admission decisions: class rank , cumulative grade point average , type of curricu lum co mpleted 15 in re lati on to proposed major, guidance counselor or other recommendations , oncampus interview, standardi zed lest scores, acti vities, and maturity. Each of the vari ables conLributes to the overall assessment of applicants. Student Credentials All credenti als presented in support of an application for admission become the property of the uni versity and cannot be returned to the student. The complete file will be retained according to the pro vision of uni versity policy and the Family Rights and Pri vacy Act of 1974 , as amended. All info rm ati on fil ed in support of the applicati on must be complete and authentic . An y false in fo rmation may be grounds fo r deni al or dismi ssal. Pennsylvania Residency Res ide ncy is determined at the time of admission. Change of residency may only occ ur by appea ling to the Residency Appeals Committee. For further information , contact the office of the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs after admission and prior to reg istrati on. Advanced Placement Credit A student who has taken Ad vanced Placement examinations under the auspices of the Educational Testin g Service may receive credit for them at California, provided the score is 3.00 or hi gher. Transfer Student Policies Please contact the Articul ation and Transfer Evaluati on Office at 724-938-5939 or Lransfer@cup.edu for answers to any questi ons regardin g articulation agreements or transfer credits. Academic Passport and Student Transfer Policy Academi c Passport is a transf~,r program des igned to promote and facilitate the transfer of students in commu i1ity colleges to State Syste m of Higher Education uni versities , and to support the transfer of undergraduate credits earned by State System students to other Syste m uni versities. 1. Academic Passport Students: A. Transferring with an Associate Degree: Students transferring with an AA or AS degree must have a 2 .0 minimum cumulative grade po int average (GPA) in all course work presented for transfer from each instituti on attended . The AA or AS degree recogni zed fo r Academic Passport must contain , as a minimum , 30 hours of liberal arts courses from the fo llowing fields of study : Compositi on/Communications, Humanities/Fine Arts, Behavioral/Social Sciences, Biological/Phys ical Sciences, and Mathe matics and Computer Science . A maximum of 45 general education credits and liberal arts course credits earned at the two-year college may be transferred to meet lower di vision requirements (a course by course match shall not be required). All additional course credits will be applied first to major courses and lastl y, as electi ves. B. Intra-System Transfers: Incumbent State System uni versity students who have attained a minimum cumula16 tive GPA of 2.0 or hi gher with a minimum of 12 credit hours of college level course work shall hold an Academic Passport enabling transfer to any other State System uni vers ity. Up to a max imum of 45 general educati on credits and/or liberal arts course credits earned at the sending university shall be used to meet lower divi sion uni versity general education requirements (a course by course match shall not be required). Capacity limits and/or hi gher admissions standards may apply to certai n high demand academic programs. State System students ho lding the Academic Passport shall be entitled to take any course offered through distance learning and listed in the catalogue at any other System university and have those credits and the grade earned accepted by their home institution . 2. Students Transferring Without Academic Passport Students who have not completed the A.S . or A. A. degree may transfer: With a minimum of 12 credit hours of college leve l course work, up to a max imum of 45 credits in courses designated and credited as general education by an accredited community college which shall be used to meet lower divi sion university general education requirements (a course by course match will not be required). Additional transfer cred its will be applied first to major courses and lastl y, as e lecti ves. With a minimum cumul ati ve GPA o f 2.0 or greater in all course work presented for transfer from each institution attended . Transfer Credit Evaluation Policy 1. California University will accept the following transfer credits toward a baccalaureate degree (four years): A max imum of 75 credits fro m an accredited two-year community or junior college. A maxi mum of 90 credits from an accredited four-year institution. A maximum o f 90 cred its from a comqination of accredited two-year and four-year colleges. 2. Students transferring with a degree may transfer a max imum of 30 credits towards an assoc iate degree (two years); students transferring without a degree may transfer a max imum of 15 credits toward s an associate degree at California University. 3. Developmental courses are not tran sferable . 4. Grades of D are not transferable unl ess they are counted as part of the Academic Pass port or if they were co mpleted at a college or uni versity that has an articulation agreement with California Uni vers ity. 5 . When credits are transferred , only the credits are counted as advanced standing , the grade point average of transfer courses is not calculated with California University earned courses. 6. Although credits will always transfer accordi ng to these prov isions, regulations that govern the nation al professional accreditati on of certain programs offered at California University of Penn sy lvani a may not permit so me courses taken in program s not similarl y accredited at other two- and four-year institutions to be transferred as the equivalents of courses that may be similarly en titl ed or described in thi s catalog. 17 For the most up to date information on undergraduate tuition, fees, room and board, please visit the Cal U Web site at www.cup.edu/ administration/bursar 18 Payment Information Students who take advantage of early/roUing registration wi ll receive a billing statement with instructions by mail. Students who enroll at residual registration should be prepared to make payment at the time of registration. Payment at Residual Registration All fees will be assessed at the time of registration. Payment may be made by cash, check, money order, or certified bank draft made payable to Californi a Uni versity of Pennsylvania, or by VISA , MasterCard , or Discover Card . If fin ancial aid has been awarded , this amount will be deducted from the bill. Payment plans (with initial pay ment) may be contracted at this time. Payment Plans Pay ment plans are available each semester. Pay ment plans enable you to pay your costs on a monthly bas is. Payment plan informati on and contracts will be included with each semester bill. Third Party Billing Some companies and government agencies pay tuition directl y to the university. If tuition is to be pai d in this manner, please suppl y authori zing fo rms or letters to the Bursar 's Office. Veterans Deferment Military veterans receiving G . 1. Bill benefits may request deferment, if needed , fro m the Veterans Affairs office . Refund Policy Tuition is adjusted when a student withdraws or drops/adds a class. Fees are adjusted when a student withdraws from all classes. Refund s are made to the amount of the charge, not the amount that has been paid to date. The refun d policy is available in the Bursar's Office. Financial aid recipients should refer to "refund/repay ment policies" located in the Financial Aid secti on of the catalog. Advance Deposit All first-year students, transfers and readmitted students are required to submit a $75 advance deposit payable to Californi a Uni versity of Pennsylvania. It is to be paid in advance of reg istrati on and is credited to the student's account for the first semester. This is a non-refund able fee . Room Deposit An advance room deposit of $ 100 , held in the student's account and applied toward the spring semester, is required in order to reserve a room fo r the fo llowing academic year. First- year students will receive a housing contract with their admissions packet. The contract and card must be signed and returned to the Bursar's Office with a$ 100 deposit. Late Registration Fee Students who register after the first day of the semester will be charged a $25 late · registration fee. 19 Late Payment Fee A late payment fee of $25 will be assessed when a student fails to pay the required fees by the due date or when a student fails to pay according to an approved payment plan. Return Check Charge A $25 fee will be charged for any check which is made payable to California University of Pennsylvania and returned by the bank . Degree Fee A fee of$ 10 must be paid by each candidate for a degree from California University of Pennsylvania. A student is not permitted to complete graduation from the university until this fee has been paid. CLEPFee A one-time fee of $25 is charged for the administration and recording of CLEP (College Level EquivaJency Program) credits regardless of the number of credits awarded . 20 Financial Aid Mission Statement The primary mi ss ion of the Financ ial Aid Office at Californi a University of Pennsylvani a is to prov ide fin anc ial planning and assistance to students and the ir families in meeting the costs of education. In fulfilling this mission, each student will be given careful considerati on and the uni versity will determine fi nancial ass istance based on federal, state, and institutional guidelines. Financ ial aid programs have been established to prov ide access to higher education with guidelines to insure fa irness in di sbursing available fund s to qualifying students. The Financial Aid Office stri ves to ensure that courteous, time ly, and accurate fin anc ial aid services are deli vered to all students seeking assistance from our offi ce. Location & Office Hours The Financial Aid Office is located on the first fl oor of Dixon Hall . The offi ce hours are 8:00-4:00 , Monday through Friday. Appo intments are encouraged but a da il y oncall counselor is available to ass ist walk- ins. Students can contact the Financial Aid Office by calling 724-938-44 I 5 or by Fax at 724-938-455 J. In additi on, general fin anc ial aid in fo rm ati on may be obtained on our website at www.cup.edu/ flnancial_aid . Specific fin ancial aid and student account info rmati on is avai lable 24 hours per day th rough our secure website at sisweb.cup.edu. How to Apply About Financial Aid A college ed ucati on is one the most important in vestments a student and family can make . You and your fa mil y will be ex pected to co ntribute as much as you can from your ow n resources (inco me, sav ings, and assets) to help meet your college ex penses. The purpose of fin anc ial a id is to help students and families meet educational ex penses th at cannot be met through their own resources. Financ ial aid can be e ither need-based or non-need-based. The results of the Free Applicati on for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) along with the cost-of-education will determine whether a student has fin ancial need . T here are several types of fi nancial ai d avail able. Grants and scholarships are considered "gift a id" because they generally do not have to be repaid. Loans and empl oyment are considered "self- help aid" because loans have to be repaid and by working , you earn money fo r educational expenses. Loans are by far the largest source of fin ancial aid fo r the majority of students and families. Most grants, some loans (Subsidized Stafford and the Perkins Loan), and Federal Work-Study are needbased fin ancial aid programs. The Unsubsidized Stafford and the Parent Loan fo r Undergradu ate Students (PL US) are considered non-need-based. Scholarships ca n be based upon merit, fi nanc ial need or both . Approx imate ly 78 % of all students attending California Uni versity receive some type of fin ancial aid . There are fo ur main sources of fin ancial aid . These include the federal go vernment , the state government , the institution and private entities. The federal government is by the far the largest source of fin ancial aid . 21 Eligibility Requirements In order to be eligible for mos t federa l financial aid programs, you must meet the following eligibili ty requirements: have financial need, except for so me loan programs. have a hi gh school d iploma or a Genera] Education Development (GED) Certifi cate, pass a tes t approved by the U.S . Department of Education , or meet other standards establi shed by your state and approved by the U.S. Department of Educati on. be enrolled or accepted for enrollment as a regular student working toward a degree or certifi cate in an e ligible program . be an U.S. c itizen or eli gible non-citizen. ha ve a valid Social Security Number. make satisfactory acade mi c progres . sign a statement of ed ucati onal purpose and a certifi cation statement indicating th at you are not in default on a student loan and do not owe money back on a grant. Both statements are found on the FAFSA . register with the Selective Service , if req uired . You can register onli.ne at the Selective Service System 's website . (www.sss.gov) Completing the FAFSA Each year, you must co mplete the Free Application fo r Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA. The 2004-2005 FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA is avai lab le now. Prior year aid recipients will recei ve a renewal version of the FAFSA that can be used to appl y for federa l financial aid fo r the new award year. The Renewal FAFSA will be sent to the address you used on your 2003-2004 FAFSA and wi ll have some information about you preprinted as we ll as items you must upd ate. If you do not receive your Renewal FAFSA or you are a new aid applicant, you must complete a blank 2004-2005 FAFSA . You can obtain the 2004-2005 FAFSA fro m a hi gh school guidance counselor, public library, or the fin ancial aid office of a college or university, inc luding the Financial Aid Office at California University. It is important that yo u read the instructions before completing your FAFSA because the instructions should answer mo t of your questions. If, after reading the instructi ons that acco mpany the FAFSA , you need he lp com pleti ng your form , there are several places you can contact to receive assistance. You can call 1-800-4-FED-AID ( l -800-433-3243), consult yo ur hi gh school guid ance counselor, or contact the Financial Aid Office. Please Note: California University does not have an institutional financial aid application . Online FAFSA Online FAFSA is a web-based version of the U.S. Department of Education 's Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It enables you to apply for student financi al aid over the Internet. Students wantin g to com plete the upcoming year FAFSA via the web can do so after January I . After transmitting an application over the Internet, you may sign electronically with your PIN (see Personal Identification Number topic listed below), print a paper 22 signature page to sign and mail in, or wait for a signature page to arrive in the mail. If you are a dependent student, a parent wiU also need to sign. Once you submit your application, you'll be taken to a confirmation Page that shows your confirmation number and estimated Expected Family Contribution (EFC) . You ' ll receive a Student Aid Report (SAR) Information Acknowledgment in the mail about two weeks after submitting your on line FAFSA. If you provided your e-mail address you ' II receive an e-mail with a link to your SAR on the Web in no more than five days. The Online FAFSA site provides students/parents with numerous electronic options, such as checking on the status of your FAFSA form, requesting a duplicate set of SARs , tips and shortcuts, and requesting a Personal Identification Number (PIN). The Online FAFSA site is located at: www.fafsa.ed.gov. In addition to the web site, a customer service line (1-800-801-0576) is available in order to assist students/ parents access to the same type of information provided at their web site. The Benefits of Online FAFSA Online FAFSA is free. Students can save their application information for up to 45 days so that it can be completed and transmitted later. Online FAFSA does not require software to be installed , so it takes less time before students can actually use the application. Students can access the Online FAFSA web page from anywhere, including school or home , making it more convenient to complete the application. Online FAFSA automatically edits applicant answers before transmitting, resulting in better information and fewer applications rejected by the CPS. Online FAFSA uses skip logic, so it will only ask students those questions that they need to answer. Online FAFSA can support an unlimited number of users , allowing thousands of students to apply at once. Renewal Financial Aid Applicants As a renewal financial aid applicant, you have two choices in completing your 20042005 Renewal FAFSA. You can complete the paper version of the Renewal FAFSA or submit an electronic version of the form over the Internet. To use the electronic version you will need a special code caUed a Personal Identification Number (PIN). The PIN serves as your identifier to let you access your personal information in various U.S. Department of Education systems. The PIN is similar to the Personal Identification Number that you get from your bank that enables you to access your bank account. Your PIN is confidential and should not be shared with anyone, even if someone else completes your FAFSA for you. Students can request a PIN by going to www.pin.ed.gov. If you are a dependent student, your parents should also apply for a PIN so they can electronically sign your FAFSA. Your PIN will be e-mailed to you within one to five days . If you don 't provide an e-mail address , your PIN will be mailed to your permanent mailing address within seven to ten days. All prior year electronic FAFSA applicants will receive a "PIN" automatically. Your PIN is a valuable electronic tool , which aUows you to electronically complete your Renewal FAFSA on the web, sign your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or Renewal FAFSA and make electronic corrections. The application process is faster if you use a PIN to sign your online Renewal FAFSA. PIN mailers will be sent out to all 2004-2005 FAFSA applicants as well. 23 Both versions of the Renewal FAFSA contain preprinted information that you and your famil y (if applicable) reported last year, maki ng it faster and easier for you to complete . Please carefull y review and update any preprinted information, whi ch needs to be changed fo r the 2004-2005 school year. Federal Campus-based Aid At Cal ifornia Uni versity, we want to have the results of your 2004-2005 FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA by May 1, 2004 for you to be considered firs t-priority fo r federal campus-based aid (Federal Supplemen tal Educational Opportunity Grant , Perki ns Loan and Federal Work-Study). In order for California University to receive the results of your FAFSA by our firs t-priority deadline, we strongly recommend that you file your FAFSA as soon as possi ble but no later than April I , 2004 , even if you have to use estimated fi nancial information. This will allow the federal government enough time to process your FAFSA and send the results to California Uni versity by May 1, 2004 . If you cannot or do not file your FAFSA by our first-priority deadline, please fil e as soon as you can . You will still be considered fo r the Pell Grant , student loans, work-study, etc. PHEAA State Grant In order to receive state grant ass istance fro m PHEAA , students must file their 20042005 FAFSA or Renewal FAFSA by May 1, 2004. All students are urged to apply even if the deadline has passed , since late applications are considered if fund s permit. Handling Special Circumstances Although the process of determining a student's eligibility for fin ancial aid is the same for all students, an adjustment sometimes can be made if a student has special circumstances. Special circumstances may include a reduction in income due to loss of employment , death or disabil ity of a wage earner, di vorce or separation, loss of social securi ty benefits, unusual medical expenses, etc . In addition , a student who does not meet the federal defi nition of an independent student for fin ancial aid purposes may be able to document those exceptional circumstances in order to be considered an independent student. The Financial Aid Office has a Change of Income Inform ati on Form (CIIF) , which should be used when the special circumstances in vo lve a loss of income/benefi ts or un-reimbursed medical ex penses, which exceed 7 .5% of the famil y's adjusted income. The Change of Income Info rmation Form will be available after January 3, 2005, by contacting the Financial Aid Office. A student who wan ts to appeal his or her dependency status for fi nancial aid purposes should file the Dependency Appeal Form for the appropriate school year. A student who does not meet the federal definition of an independent student normal ly must file as a dependent student and include parental information on the FAFSA. Only students with exceptional circumstances should fil e the Dependency Appeal Form . Unfortunately, parents' un willingness to help pay fo r college, not being claimed as an exemption on parents' tax return , or li ving on your ow n does not make a student independent fo r fi nancial aid purposes . The Dependency Appeal Form is available upon request fro m the Financial Aid Office. 24 If you think you have special circumstances that you want to discuss with a financial aid counselor, please feel free to contact our office . After You Apply FAFSA Results The federal government will process your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and electronically send the results to the Financial Aid Office provided you li sted California as one of the schools to receive the results of your FAFSA. You should receive a paper Student Aid Report (S AR) in the mail approximately two weeks after the federal processor receives your FAFSA. You should review the SAR to see if any corrections are necessary. Otherwise, you can keep the SAR for your records . When you apply for Federal student aid , the information reported on the FAFSA is used in a formula approved by Congress . This Federal formula determines a student's Expected Family Contribution (EFC), the amount the family (student and parents, if applicable) is expected to contribute toward the student's education. The bas ic elements included in determining the EFC are: contribution from the parents' income and assets contribution from the student 's income and assets number of members in the household number of family members enrolled at least half time in college You can obtain an estimate of your EFC yourself by using the web calculator available at www.finaid.org/calculators/finaidestimate.phtml . The lower your EFC , the more financial need you will have. The lowest EFC possible is zero; the hi ghest is 99,999 or above. If the student 's EFC is below 3850, the student may qualify for a Federal Pell Grant (only students pursuing their first baccalaureate degree are eligible). To determine eligibility for other Federal aid , a student's EFC is used in the following equation: Cost of Attendance less: Expected Family Contribution