2024-2025 Student Handbook 
    
    Oct 11, 2024  
2024-2025 Student Handbook

Student Services


Expanding on the educational purpose of College of the Ozarks, the objectives of the student development program are as follows:

  1. To provide an orientation program for all newly-enrolled students.
  2. To provide a variety of opportunities for students which meet the interest of a varied population and give opportunity for interaction with others in a variety of ways.
  3. To provide a variety of social events for students which meet the interest of a varied population and give opportunity for interaction with others in a variety of ways.
  4. To provide an adequate, safe, attractive housing environment which allows all students a quiet, pleasant living experience conducive to study, privacy, sleep, and social needs.
  5. To provide adequate medical facilities to meet the needs of the students.
  6. To provide adequate security and safety for students, employees, and the property of College of the Ozarks.
  7. To provide counseling services to meet the mental health needs of students and to encourage the student to be self-reliant.
  8. To provide advising and career development services and to aid the student in academic and career decisions.
  9. To provide aid and counseling in securing institutional, state, and federal financial aid.
  10. To provide spiritual counseling and advising.

Calendar

The master calendar of the College is kept in the Assistant Vice President for College Operations office. Committees or individuals scheduling social events or requesting the use of any facility or outdoor area on campus are required to fill out a facility permit. The facility permit is to be completed online and can be found under Resources on Campusweb. Facility Permits must be filed at least seven days before the event. The weekly activity calendar is printed on Friday for the upcoming week.

Career Services

The Vanek Center for Vocation and Callings engages with students and equips them with the skill sets that will empower them to discover their vocation and calling. The Vanek Center supports students in using their knowledge and skills to go about securing meaningful and successful careers.

The Vanek Center provides a wide variety of services, including but not limited to:

  • Cover letter preparation
  • Resume preparation
  • Interview skills
  • Networking
  • Guidance on choosing majors
  • Career counseling
  • Career fairs

The Vanek Center is in the Berger Building, second floor.

Dean of Students Office

The Dean of Students office is located in the Administration Building. This office coordinates many student programs including Character Camp, convocations, and campus-wide activities. Services provided by the Dean of Students office include residence life, student identification cards, vehicle registration, and convocation and chapel credit. Additionally, student needs such as personal counseling, conduct issues, and physical needs can be addressed or referred to other areas when necessary. The Dean of Students office seeks to be a resource for all students.

Dining Hall

The Pearl Rogers Dining Hall is located on the second floor of the Good College Center and serves as the primary location for students to eat meals on campus. Students living in the residence halls pay room and board which provides both lodging and meals. Students are required to use their identification cards in order to verify that they are a current student. Students are allowed to eat as much as they choose while in the dining hall, but are not allowed to take any food with them when leaving the dining hall. Students who live off-campus may purchase multi-meal board plans at the dining hall that will allow students to eat in the dining hall when on campus. On weekdays during the academic year, campus announcements and prayer are given at noon by faculty and staff. All individuals eating in the dining hall are required to remove hats upon entering. Students are expected to carry their trays and all plates, glasses, and other items for cleaning to the dish room.

The College will make reasonable accommodation for student food allergies in the Pearl Rogers Dining Hall. Students should first visit the McDonald/Armstrong Clinic to have food allergies documented. Approved accommodation requests may then be directed to the General Manager of the dining hall.

Financial Aid

Students at College of the Ozarks receive funds from a variety of federal, state, institutional and private sources in order to pay for their college expenses. In order to receive financial aid, and avoid problems with your continued registration at the College, please note the following items:

  • You must submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) annually between October 1 and January 16.
  • Failure to submit the FAFSA as noted above may cause loss of your registration at the College.
  • Failure to submit the FAFSA as noted above may result in loss of eligibility for the Summer Work Program.
  • Failure to submit requested documentation to the financial aid office to secure funding for your education may result in loss of registration at the College.

Cost of Education and Expenses

College of the Ozarks is dedicated to providing a Christian education to students who are without sufficient financial means but are willing to work for their education. The costs associated with attending College of the Ozarks include the following components and how each is or may be paid.

Cost of Education (COE) - all full time students work on campus to pay a portion of the COE with the balance paid by scholarships through the College.

Room and Board - work during the Summer Work Program and/or scholarships combined with family resources.

Books and Supplies - scholarships and/or family resources.

Fees - limited scholarships and/or family resources.

Personal/Transportation expenses - family resources.

More information regarding the above costs is available online or going to www.cofo.edu>Admissions>Costs.

Scholarships

In addition to the COE scholarships mentioned above, the College provides scholarships to students to assist with room and board, books and fees. The C of O General Scholarship Application is the single point application to be considered for the variety of scholarships available. Additional scholarships are available through the Alumni office and some academic departments at the College.

More information, and the C of O General Scholarship Application is available online or going to www.cofo. edu>Admissions>Financial Aid>Scholarships.

Responsibilities of Financial Aid Recipients

Satisfactory Academic Progress Policy

Students receiving Federal Student Aid (Federal Work College, Federal Work Study, Federal Pell Grant, Federal

Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant) may enroll in courses that will fulfill their educational goals. These courses should follow published degree requirements.

Students are required to meet minimum academic requirements in order to receive student aid. For students who withdraw from the College during a semester, student aid must be recalculated to determine final aid eligibility. More information on these requirements is found online or going to www.cofo.edu>Admissions>Financial-Aid>Financial Aid Policies.

Health Services

The mission of the Armstrong McDonald Clinic is to provide quality, compassionate, Christ-centered care to meet the basic healthcare needs of our Campus Community.

Armstrong McDonald Clinic Hours

Fall and Spring Semesters: Monday-Friday 7 am - 5 pm  
Summer: Monday-Friday 7:30 am - 4:30 pm

Patients must check in upon arrival at the front desk.

Students who have paid the Health/Technology/Services (HTS) fee for the term in which they are registered are entitled to care from the campus health care facility during that term. A nurse and/or a physician assistant are available to see or be called on for advice. Care is provided for these students during clinic hours. Any student who becomes ill or gets injured may report to the Armstrong McDonald Clinic for treatment. If the student reports during the time the physician assistant is available, he/she may be seen by the P.A. Appointments are required. Student visits to the Armstrong McDonald Clinic will be at no charge. Any medication or supplies required will be charged to the student’s work account.

Some over-the-counter medications are available during operation hours. Loan items available include heating pads and crutches. Students should limit visits to the Armstrong McDonald Clinic to hours outside of their work and class schedules, if possible.

If a student requires treatment deemed necessary by the nurse or physician assistant beyond what is available at the Armstrong McDonald Clinic, arrangements can be made for the patient to go to Cox Medical Center Branson Urgent Care or Emergency Room.

A. If the illness or injury was campus work-related, the health care facility will certify to Cox Occupational Health Clinic or another physician’s office that the college would be responsible for the bill.

B. If the illness or injury was not work-related, the student would be responsible for providing their insurance information to Cox or any other medical facility and be responsible for their balance.

If the student reports to the campus clinic and fits into category (B), as stated above, and does not have health insurance, the outstanding balance of their Cox bill will be on their student account and is to be paid at the cashier’s office. These charges CANNOT be paid with work hours.

Payment for Medical Services

All students have accident insurance; the premium is billed automatically as a part of the health services of the HTS fee.

Accident Medical Expense Benefit

A. The Accident Plan is a secondary plan after your primary medical insurance has paid. The first expense must be incurred within 60 days of the date of the accident, and only expenses incurred within 52 weeks from the date of the accident are eligible. ER visits must be within the first 72 hours after the accident.

B. Accidental Death and Dismemberment Benefits: Aggregate limit of liability is $5,000.

Claim Procedure

In the event of an injury, it is the student’s responsibility to:

  1. Report immediately to the Armstrong McDonald Clinic on campus for treatment or referral. If the injury is severe and you are not in the area, or if it is after clinic hours, report to the nearest hospital or physician.
  2. You should then secure an accident claim form from the Armstrong McDonald Clinic on campus, fill in the necessary information, and attach all medical bills. You should also attach the explanation of benefits from your primary insurance plan, sign the form, and mail it to the address at the top of the form.
  3. If you have any questions regarding the student accident insurance, contact the nurse at the Armstrong McDonald Clinic at extension 3399.

Workers’ Compensation

If illness or injury is work-related, the injury must be reported to the student’s work supervisor. The student must then report immediately to the campus clinic. If the injury occurs after hours, the student must report to the campus clinic as soon as it opens the next business day. If it is after hours, the worker must follow the instructions on the work-related injury flow chart posted in your department and on the campus web.

If the injury is deemed too severe and the ambulance would be called, the patient will need to be transported to Cox Branson ER. The campus nurse will certify to the local hospital or the physician that the College’s workers’ compensation insurance will be responsible for the bill.

Notification of Parents

In emergencies requiring immediate surgery when parents cannot be consulted in advance, the President of the College will assume responsibility for authorization of treatment if needed.

All communication from the parents and guardians concerning the health of students should be addressed to the McDonald Health Services administrator, and/or medical director for the College. Due to HIPPA regulations, students must sign a medical release form for information to be released.

Special Cases

The Dean of Students is authorized to require any student to withdraw from school at any time if he/she has an ailment that:

  1. Interferes with his/her attendance or progress in class.
  2. Might possibly constitute a hazard to him/her and/or other students.
  3. Disturbs him/her so that he/she does not fit satisfactorily into the social pattern of the student body.

The College does not assume responsibility for:

  1. Expenses due to medical conditions existing before enrollment in the college.
  2. Expenses incurred for illness or injury resulting from the student’s misconduct or irresponsible behavior.
  3. Expenses incurred while the student was not actually enrolled.
  4. Expenses incurred for injuries in accidents off campus; however, the student’s accident policy would be enforced at that time.

A student unable to participate in the required Physical Education program must furnish a letter from his personal physician or the school physician stating the reason. This letter, in itself, does not excuse the student from the P.E. program. The letter is subject to review by the Medical Director, Dean of College, and the Department of Physical Education from whom a final decision is received.

Laundry

Coin-operated washers and dryers are available in each residence hall for students living in the residence hall. Individuals not living in the residence halls cannot do their laundry in the housing washer and dryers. Additionally, there is a laundry service on campus where students may get laundry done. Students may pay for this service or work extra hours to offset the charges.

Mail Operations

The federal post office for Point Lookout, Missouri, is located on the campus of College of the Ozarks. As a federal post office it is managed and operated with standard federal postal regulations. Customers may send mail, purchase stamps and money orders, order passports, and other services provided by all post offices. Students receiving mail through the United States Postal Service must be addressed to their individual Post Office Box Number. Students may rent a P.O. Box by going to the post office during regular business hours or going to https://poboxes.usps.com/ poboxonline/search/landingPage.do any time and complete the signup on this website.

Personal mail that is sent to the College’s business address (P.O. Box 17) or that is sent to a street name on the college campus will be returned. The post office does not recognize any of the local street names on campus for delivery purposes.

All campus mail sent between departments on campus, as well as incoming and outgoing business mail is distributed in the Mail Operations department, located on the lower floor of the post office.

All Non-Postal service deliveries are handled through the warehouse using UPS, FedEx, and various trucking companies. If you want to receive a package using any of these methods, simply state that this is a shipping address only and send it to:

College of the Ozarks

Attn: Name of student and residence hall where the student lives

1 Industrial Place

Point Lookout, MO 65726