Student Financial Assistance

Mars Hill University made a decision in early May to refund, on a prorated basis, a portion of room and board (including commuter meal plans) to students affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Shortly after that, we learned that the U.S. Department of Education has provided additional funding for student assistance through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Mars Hill University was designated to receive $1.7 million dollars. Half of the funds received by the university ($850,000) are designated to be distributed directly to students that have been impacted by campus shutdowns due to coronavirus. 

We have worked diligently to calculate the distribution of these funds in an expedient manner. Every qualified Mars Hill student will receive a portion of the CARES Act funding. We look forward to getting this to you and helping with financial burdens you may be facing. 

Who is qualified?

Any non-international Mars Hill student, traditional or AGS, that has filled out a FAFSA will receive a minimum $250.00 financial disbursement. Students in different categories (Full-time, Residential, Graduate, Part-time, Commuter) will receive funding that reflects their classification.

Who is not qualified? 

Under the regulations of the CARES act, International Students and those that have not filled out a FAFSA are not qualified to receive the distribution. 

When will I receive the funding?

The funding will be distributed via direct deposit or check within the next 14 days. A student who has not set up his/her direct deposit information for refunds, reimbursements and payments, can go to self-service and enter the needed banking data.  This is separate data from work study.   Colleague self-service requires students who may have banking information in the system for work study to also add the banking information for refunds, reimbursements and payments.

How is the amount of funding determined? 

The CARES ACT/ Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund money was distributed directly to students based on 8 categories (AGS full-time, AGS part-time, Graduate, Undergraduate that receives aid money to cover EFC (Expected Family Contribution as determined by your FAFSA), Traditional student that has an EFC over $3K, Traditional student that has an EFC between $0-$3K, Traditional student that has $0 EFC, and students with funding from the VA). Students that had a lower EFC received more CARES money to assist with their financial need.

Parent and Student Resources

MHU administration and campus health officials, in coordination with local health departments, the NC Department of State Health Services and the CDC, continue to monitor the ongoing outbreak of COVID-19. MHU has no cases of COVID-19 on our campus.

The following is helpful information for students, faculty, staff and community members.

For Students

Message from President Floyd regarding credits, refunds

Textbook return information

Residence Hall Check Out Procedures for Spring 2020

Remote Learning Will Continue For Remainder of Spring Semester

Latest message regarding Residence Life and check out process (PDF)

Mail room information for students (PDF)

Read the latest message from President Floyd to students

We realize that online learning can have its challenges. During this time, faculty and staff will work with all students to overcome obstacles they may face. Please reach out to your instructors or staff members with any questions about your classes.

Registrar’s Office

If you need information from the registrar’s office, email and voicemail are being monitored. Registrar’s email: registrar@mhu.edu and voicemail: 828-689-1151.  We will respond as soon as possible.

Registration for Summer and Fall 2020 opened Monday, April 6. All Summer 2020 courses are online. Students who want to get ahead in preparation for a busy athletic or performance season, Summer School is a great option. It is also a good option for students who might need to catch up or to repeat a course.

** New information!
For this registration cycle only, students with a financial balance below $2000 may register. The Critical Stop level has been raised from $1000 as another way to help students navigate during this difficult time. The students that are impacted by this change, and their advisors, will get a direct email notification.

Online Learning Tips

Dr. Chris Cain, head of the newly formed Center for Engaged Teaching and Learning, has created a helpful video, which you may view at https://youtu.be/aMlv-serKek.

There are additional resources on myMHU, under this link: https://my.mhu.edu/course/view.php?id=157

Writing Center

Important Academic Calendar Changes

• Registration for fall and summer terms has been delayed and is now scheduled to open on April 6. This is a change from the previous date of March 30.
• The last day a student may withdraw from a class with grade of “W” has been extended to April 7. This is a change from the previous date of March 31.
• The last day a student may request S/U grading (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) for a course has been extended to April 7.
• At this time, no changes have been made to the end of the semester or to graduation schedules.
• AGS students:  The last day to drop a 2nd short term course has been extended to Friday, March 27.

Work Study

After consulting federal guidelines regarding the federal work study, and careful consideration of student needs, the following package has been put together to accommodate work study payments for the month of March.

Even though most were unable to work the full hours in March, in order to soften the financial stress of the recent events, we have:

• Determined the average number of hours that Mars Hill work study students work each week (11 hours).
• Credited this average number of hours for each week (11 hours) in March, and paid you for the week of spring break and the extended week of spring break. (Total of 44 hours for the month).

See this document for all of the details. We are still working through Community Involvement Activities.

Business Office

The Business Office staff will be mainly working from home during the campus closure.  Please contact the following personnel below for assistance:

• Student accounts (billing) – contact: Beth Babb @ bbabb@mhu.edu.

Self-Service is available 24/7

Counseling Services

Counseling Services is taking steps to prepare for video conferencing through Zoom, in addition to traditional email and phone communications. You can reach them at:

All dining locations on campus are currently closed. Campus administrators will reassess opening dates in the event the progression of the COVID-19 impact becomes more apparent.

Renfro Library

The Renfro Library staff is ready, willing and able to provide virtual research assistance and library services to MHU students, faculty, and staff. Please refer to this post for all of the ways they can assist you.

Online Help

Beginning Saturday, March 21 the Help Desk will have extended hours:

• Monday-Friday: 8am-10pm
• Saturday: 10am-6pm
• Sunday: 1pm-9pm

You may reach the Help Desk at 828-689-1444 or helpdesk@mhu.edu

Please understand that many university personnel are volunteering to assist with this extended support. If they cannot provide an immediate solution, IT personnel will respond to resolve any issue.

AGS student info

The last day to drop a 2nd short term course has been extended to Friday, March 27.

For technology or internet needs, please fill out this brief form:  (https://form.jotform.com/200725224619956)

The University Helpdesk number is (828) 689-1444.  This number will be staffed with extended evening and weekend hours beginning Monday. Those exact hours will be published soon (mhu.edu/healthinformation).

• For questions about your course, please contact your professor via email.
• For any concerns about your course of study, please contact your advisor.
• Heidi Sermersheim can be reached at (828) 689-1671 or via email at hsermersheim@mhu.edu.
• Dean Donna Parsons can be reached at (828) 689-1132 or via email at dparsons@mhu.edu.

Residence Halls

The residence halls are closed as of 5pm on March 18, 2020. Requests to stay on campus were submitted by 5pm on Tuesday, March 17, 2020. Approval and denial emails have been sent out. Complete this form if you need to request to stay. Emergency Request for Campus Housing

For Faculty/Staff

Business Office

The Business Office staff will be mainly working from home during the campus closure.  Please contact the following personnel below for assistance:

• General Business Office (financial, deposits, etc.) – contact Neil Tilley at ntilley@mhu.edu & Shentell Ramsey at sramsey@mhu.edu.
• Vendor Invoices – contact Bess Fisher at bfisher@mhu.edu; scan and e-mail your invoices for processing and payment to: invoices@mhu.edu.
• Accounting questions (budgets, reports) – contact:  Neil Tilley @ ntilley@mhu.edu & Chase Ammons @ cammons@mhu.edu.
• Payroll (paychecks) – contact Tammy Cutshall @ tcutshall@mhu.edu.

For Everyone

Events

All events have been cancelled until further notice.

Athletics

The NCAA has canceled all Winter and Spring Championships for Division I, II and III.  The South Atlantic Conference has also canceled practice and competition for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Bookstore

The on-campus bookstore is closed. The online bookstore is still taking orders, and orders will ship once per week (on Wednesday.)

Admissions Visit Day and Tours

Campus tours are available virtually, until our campus is reopened to the public. You may sign up for a tour here.
LionFest Spring Visit Day has been cancelled. Please reach out to your admissions counselor for any additional information.