Feels like they have just moved in!  Cars loaded with Every. Single. Thing. from their room at home to their dorm and now they need to bring all of that stuff home, plus all of the things that they have accumulated this year. If you have plenty of room in your garage or closets this shouldn’t be an issue, however, if you are like me plastic crates will be piled up in my garage for 3-4 months this summer. Before you begin the moving out process check out our blog, you may find some helpful tips to assist with the process.

After seeing all of the items that need to move out, perhaps finding a storage area is not such a bad idea.  When looking for a facility there are a few things to keep in mind. Some storage may be a bit more costly if they are air-conditioned. It is very hot and humid during the summer in north Florida, so if you decide to go with a non-air conditioned unit, decide carefully what gets stored in there. Bedding, clothing, or books should not be placed in a non-air-conditioned unit because there is a risk of mold or mildew developing. Whatever type of unit you choose to get, make sure you have confirmation in writing. We have heard of students believing they have secured a unit well in advance and then showing up on moving day and told they were sold out for months.

Here are some of the facilities that parents and students have recommended:

Atlantic Self Storage – Located very close to campus, on Kernan Blvd. Month to month rentals, packing and moving supplies, student discounts. It offers a variety of storage sizes.

Cubesmart – Cube Smart has several locations around Jacksonville. Offers clean state-of-the-art storage units and a variety of convenient storage services. In addition to offering clean, modern units, Cubesmart features a variety of safety and security features like brightly lit areas, high-tech security gates at most locations, and 24-hour video recording. 10% courtesy when reserved online.

Extra Space Storage – 10523 Deerwood Park Blvd, Jacksonville. Different size units are available. Excellent security and lighting.  Offers the first month free.

MakeSpace – Storage without the struggle! They pick up, haul, and store your stuff. 

Public Storage – 3424 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville.  Multiple locations are available Offers $1 for the first month and low monthly rentals.

The last piece of advice regarding the storage unit is to reserve early.  Storage units sell out quickly.

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One of the best things about UNF (for a shopper) is the surrounding area.  UNF is a relatively new school and over the past few years, the population growth has exploded.  New stores are popping up overnight. With St Johns Town Center within two miles of UNF, you will find major department stores like Nordstroms and  Dillards. You will find almost every major box stores including Target, Walmart, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Best Buy, Family Dollar Store,  TJ Maxx, Kohl’s and most others. Surely enough to soothe your retail therapy needs!

For those unfamiliar with these retail stores, here is a quick description:

Bed Bath & Beyond – As its name implies, this large store carries almost every item imaginable for a bathroom, bedroom and kitchen. They cater to the college market offering many convenient services. In some college towns, BB&B offers the service of ordering your items online and picking them up at the location nearest to your school.  Unfortunately, the BB&B in Jacksonville is about 20 minutes away from UNF and doesn’t offer this service. That doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t check out their products online and have them shipped to your home or even to UNF; it just means it won’t be as convenient if you left something off of your list.

When you are first moving to college, you should expect that the town will be extremely crowded with parents and their students all vying for the same items. While most of the stores are prepared for this onslaught, there are some items they still run out of or items you may have omitted off of your list. Some parents have suggested going to the Bed, Bath & Beyond furthest from the campus even perhaps a city away. Sometimes a more distant location will get you in much quicker and without the low inventory. For those driving from the South, St Augustine would be the closest. For those coming from the north, Brunswick, Georgia is a good option.

Target– is considered to be a trend retail discounter. They sell everything your student may need for college including room essentials, cleaning supplies, furniture, school supplies, toiletries and nonperishable and grocery items (their superstores carry fresh produce, meats, and dairy, ice cream and more). A quick look at their website and you will see that in addition to other registries, they also offer a college registry. You may also be able to order all of your items online and arrange to pick up in Jacksonville or in your hometown or have them shipped directly to UNF. Keep in mind that while shipping directly to the school is a convenience, typically move-in day is very hectic.

Walmart – is a chain of discount department stores. With three locations near UNF, they carry almost every item a college student could need. From toiletries to furniture, groceries, paper goods, cleaning supplies to clothing, it is a go-to place for picking up almost anything you could possibly need for college.  If you want an egg crate pad (which looks like an empty egg carton but is made for more padding on a mattress) Walmart typically has an abundance of this product. Expect long lines during the move-in week of each semester so they may run low on stock but can be seen restocking shelves daily especially for the items you may have forgotten at home.

Best Buy – This chain store is known for electronics, computers, appliances, cell phones, video games & anything tech-related. They also are known for their Geek Squad when you need to repair your computer or electronics. For students needing an appliance such as a dorm refrigerator or large electronic item such as a television, simply order it conveniently online or a store near you and arrange for pickup at the location in Jacksonville. They do not currently deliver to dorms. Receive discounts by signing up for College Student Deals. To sign up for college deals, register by providing your student information on their College Student Deals page.

Office Depot –  There are three Office Depots in the vicinity of UNF. All three of the stores are about 20 minutes from the campus. These stores are where you want to go for school supplies, office furniture, printing services, ink, and toner. Sign up for their rewards program to maximize your benefits. During move-in week, when most stores were sold out of under the bed plastic storage bins, they had plenty in stock for a competitive price. Additionally, some locations are also testing smartphone screen repairs so check the location to see if that service is available. They also offer computer tech support and repairs.

Apple –  (***This location is temporarily closed.)  Luckily there is an Apple store in the St. John Town Center.  St. John is less than two miles from campus. Like any other Apple store location, it is highly recommended that you make an appointment if you need assistance with any product.

For a list of repair stores for broken computers, laptops and cell phones, read our blog on Computer and Phone Repair.

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Don’t be alarmed on move-in day when you walk into your student’s bare and cold dorm room. It’s amazing how quickly this space can change with planning and some trips to Bed, Bath and Beyond, Target, and Walmart.

The key to transforming the dorm space into something a little homier is preplanning. Pinterest alone has enough ideas to make your head spin.  Of course, decorating for a girl’s room is drastically different from a boy, but both will need a little extra organization. Either way, check the size bed their dorm will provide. UNF freshman residence halls (Osprey Cove, Osprey Crossing, Osprey Hall, and Osprey Landing) offer twin extra-long beds. Two of the upperclassmen dorms (Osprey Village and Osprey Fountains) both have twin beds. The last upperclassmen dorm (The Flats at UNF) offers double size beds. The Flats at UNF are more apartment-style housing.  UNF provides a list of do’s and don’ts for the dorm.

Over the summer, the store shelves will begin to fill up with sections specifically for college dorm life. Here you will be able to easily find many organizational options and sheet sets in twin extra long. The bed-in-a-bag can be a great choice as it provides many pieces at once. In addition, we highly recommend a mattress encasement. It protects from bugs, allergies, and who knows what else. A mattress topper is a must; the beds can be rather thin. The topper will make the place they spend much of their time more comfortable.

The beds in the dorms are all adjustable up to 32” and risers or concrete blocks are prohibited. There is plenty of room under the bed for extra storage. Mini refrigerators, extra storage bins, laundry bins, and baskets will all fit perfectly under the beds. An excellent place to put small books, pens, pencils, or even a light laptop is in a bedside storage pocket.

It’s Fun

Students usually have space for a comfortable chair.  Most girls really like to fully decorate the space. If possible, suggest they check with their roommate before you begin your multiple trips to Bed, Bath and Beyond, etc. My daughter and her roommate went Dormify crazy over the summer, and together they decided on specific colors.

Lately, covering the walls in big tapestries is the rage. A great place to get ideas (and shop) is Tapestry Girls, a one-stop-shop for small space decorating and inspiration designed for fashion and budget-minded. Visit Tapestry Girls today and use code HAVEUHEARD at checkout for an additional $5 off any order. You cannot put any holes in the walls, this also makes it difficult to hang things, but no worries; because Command Hooks have you covered. HaveUHeard that you need to apply rubbing alcohol first before hanging the command strip or it won’t adhere? Area rugs also warm up a room and bring in some color.

Another popular item is string lights. You’ll want to buy a tension rod and a curtain for the closet. The closets in the dorms do not have doors, so a curtain is a great substitute door to hide clothes, shoes, or any disorganization that may occur there. If they know their roommate’s name, a custom dorm room sign is a great way to make them feel at home.

The Guys Too!

I haven’t forgotten our sons; there just isn’t as much to say. Basically, they will need the same essentials, but as far as décor goes, most boys are happy with a poster or two and possibly a flag or banner. UNF paraphernalia is usually a hit too. A great place to also shop for boy’s dorm decor including easy-to-shop bundles and dorm inspiration is Pottery Barn Teen (PB Teen). The best advice that was given to me was to start shopping early. Your student will have the most options to choose from and you’ll be able to get everything you need.

There are different kinds of dorms throughout campus ranging from suite to corridor to apartment-style. When you find out which dorm your student will be living in, you can check out the floor plans as well as get an idea of what UNF Housing supplies. For our complete list of the top items they need for college, check out our Shopping Guide for New Students. And, if you want to get an idea of what each dorm is like, make sure you check out our Insider’s Guide to Campus Dorm Living.

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Touring college campuses is so important before your student decides where they want to attend school. Some students will tour campuses before they apply and some will tour after they have been accepted. Obviously, whichever works best for your students is the way to go. I have three kids; one toured before he applied, one toured after she got accepted and one didn’t tour at all. Discuss with your child what they feel is best for them.

Because of the size of UNF, touring the campus is very manageable in just a few hours. Tours are typically led by current college students and include classrooms, state-of-the-art labs, the Student Wellness Complex, and a residence hall room. HaveuHeard that UNF tours are available on weekdays and Saturdays for groups of about 25? Virtual tours are available as well. Schedule a virtual tour.

When you take the tour, be prepared. Go with a list of questions, but not the kind of questions that you can just use google for an answer. Don’t be shy about asking your tour guide, financial advisor, a specific department, or even students hanging out on campus or in the dorm. They can be your greatest resources.

Some of the more common questions our interns found important to prospective students are:

• What is the size of the overall campus?
• What is the size of the dorm rooms and how many people live in each room?
• What food options are available to a freshman?
• What does the meal plan cover and will it fit your diet?
• What are the locations of your majors’ classes?
• What type of technology is used or available in the classrooms/libraries?
• How many printing locations are available?
• Is it free to print or does it cost money?
• How clean is the campus/restrooms?
• How many gyms are on campus and where are they located?
• How safe are the campus and surrounding neighborhoods?
• What is the transportation system like?
• Are there frequent bus stops?
• Available parking spaces?
• What safety precautions are on campus?

Perhaps Greek life is important to your students. UNF does not have sorority or fraternity houses, however, perhaps you have a friend whose daughter or son is a member of a sorority or fraternity. Reach out to them before going. They won’t be able to give a tour of Greek life per se, however, they can answer any questions.

If your student has a health condition that makes having specific health center capabilities nearby of great importance; go check it out. UNF’s Health Center offers a wide variety of services. Or if you’re religious and that is important to your student, be sure to check out the student organizations around campus. We have information about on-campus and off-campus religious organizations. You may want to visit the registrar’s office to be sure that your credits would transfer from any AP, AICE, or dual enrollment classes too. The registrar’s office is typically only open on weekdays so keep that in mind when scheduling your tour. There really is no better way to get a sense of how you truly feel about a college until you step foot on campus. My daughter and I toured three college campuses and the moment that we stepped foot onto the UNF campus, we both knew that it was the place for her!

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***Move-in day for fall is undetermined at this point, however, please check back in July for an update.

Move-in day, one of the most exciting, nerve-wracking, filled-with-emotion days is the day I moved my daughter into UNF.  I had been preparing for this day with her since she found out she was accepted to UNF in January – six months earlier.  I told myself that I would not get into the emotional goodbyes at the end of the day, but I will say that large sunglasses to cover my watery, red eyes was my savior. Everyone’s experiences moving in their child are a little different but here are a few tips to make your move-in day a drop easier.

Be Prepared and organized – Make sure that you print college-ready lists from different websites, from the UNF page and our carefully curated list from parents who have done this before. This list will give you all the information that you will need for the dorm.  Obviously, your child will be attending the orientation prior to move in and will get an abundance of information. UNF is very organized and will send your child their dorm and room assignments a few weeks before along with a separate email that will give the move in time.

Arriving on Campus

UNF’s move-in day system is extremely organized and very easy.  Police are on campus directing parents where to go which keeps the traffic moving.  When my daughter and I arrived for the summer session, we parked the car near her dorm and she went to check-in and pick up her key while I waited by the car.

After she came back to the car to unpack, we were immediately surrounded by a ton of volunteers from different sororities, fraternities, and clubs to help us unpack.  My car was filled to the top with stuff and with all the help that we received, it took us one trip to unpack and bring everything to her dorm room. If you find that there is no one around to help you (which is very uncommon), the clubhouse has carts that are available.  These carts are on a first come first serve basis.  The heat does not help, but a hand truck and Ikea bags do.

Unpacking and Leaving

After our car was unloaded and after several trips to Walmart, Target, and Publix, I knew it was time to leave.  I remember the first day I dropped her off at preschool; her teacher said to me “band-aids hurt worse when you rip them off slowly.”  So with that thought in my head, I gave her a hug and a kiss, told her I loved her and managed to leave her room….it was her time to fly!

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All the Tips and Tricks to Make Moving Easy

Once your student has been given their move-in date and dorm or residence assignment, the process of handling what can be a stressful, labor-intensive and often expensive process of moving begins. Traditionally, female students tend to take a full-on decorating approach complete with wall décor, signs, pictures frames, string lights, desk accessories, and many other decorative items. Male students do not go that full in and often just want a comfortable bed, maybe a poster or two and perhaps a rug. It is quite humorous after each drop-off, whether it is for summer or fall, to see my friends’ postings on Facebook and Instagram and see the obvious male/female difference between a completed dorm room.

This may be one of those sticker price shock moments. According to the National Retail Federation, back to college spending averaged $1300 in 2019. This is big business with college checklists resembling the lists usually reserved for wedding and baby shower registries. If you go by the many college dorm checklists, you will be faced with a list filled with items you may have never considered. Some, like gaming systems, seems a bit far-fetched. You are not looking to entertain your student for the next four years; just to set up a comfortable room where they can study, relax and feel a bit of that home feeling they left behind. The key is to try to get a head start on shopping. Perhaps you are a one-store-gets-it-done type of person. Maybe you are a bargain shopper. We have a New Student Shopping Guide to help you out!

Break It Down

Let’s break moving in down with some tips for both genders:

If you have a student living in a dorm, the beds are not necessarily the most comfortable. You will want to get a mattress protector pad, mattress cover and for the best comfort, a memory foam mattress topper. You will find these at Target, Walmart, Bed, Bath and Beyond and many department stores. Consider this an investment for this year as many students move off campus their second year and end up with full or queen size mattresses.

From there you will need a minimum of two sets of sheets (fitted, many students don’t use flat sheets anymore) plus pillowcases.  They won’t need the top thread count but certainly try to get a set that will not pill after one wash. They will want to wash their sheets once a week minimally so two should be sufficient. Next, most will want a comforter or duvet cover. Consider getting a queen size comforter if you want their comforter to transition from the dorm size twin xl bed to most apartment’s queen size beds. Throw in an extra blanket as the dorm rooms tend to be kept very cold.

A floor rug, if they have hard floors, is not a bad investment, not the Persian variety but just a rug that will cover some of the floors between the traditional two-bed dorm rooms. A 5’ x 7’ should be sufficient.

And More Moving Tips

Most of the dorms do not have walk-in closets, the area that is considered a closet has ample space yet does not have a door or enclosure. You can purchase a curtain or panel, a tension curtain rod, and clip rings but keep in mind, many times these tend to fall down. This is more what we consider to be decorative. If your college student is planning on having a television in their room, you will need a coaxial cable. Extension cords are not allowed in UNF dorms; they do suggest a power surge outlet that can come with extra plugins. Many students also like to have a mini-refrigerator in their room. Some roommates may share the refrigerator to determine the size, but some may prefer their own. Many stores, such as Best Buy, will allow you to order it online and arrange to pick it up or have a family member or friend pick it up, at the store of your choosing.

Most dorm check-in processes allow you to use their carts.  They do not have dollies or hand trucks or flatbed hand trucks. The entire process of moving your student into the dorm during the heat of August will be quicker and easier with the use of a hand truck. Personally, I bought this folding hand truck and left it with my daughter her freshman year so she could use it during the year and move out.

Can You Bring It?

You will need to check with allowable items but you may want to consider purchasing a small microwave as well. Another great item to have is a Keurig or one cup coffee maker. If you have a student who cannot live without hot coffee, this is very convenient, but definitely more expensive, way to have coffee. There is a Starbucks on campus and countless Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts close by, but having your students make their own is often more economical. Target and Walmart sell the bottles of Starbucks Iced Coffee which have six 8 oz. servings.

A Brita water filtration system is also recommended over the more convenient plastic bottles. For one, Florida water doesn’t taste so great and two the filtration system will remove any unnecessary chemicals, etc.

If your student is like mine, there just is not enough closet and drawer space to accommodate all of his or her clothes, shoes, dry goods, toiletries, medicines, etc. That is where the under-the-bed plastic drawer system comes in handy. The problem you may face is availability. Here are a few tips. Either bring them with you if your vehicle space allows or order ahead of time. Besides Target Bed, Bath & Beyond and Walmart, which is where most will head, consider Office Depot, Dormify, Overstock. We purchased ours at Office Depot so with the 20% off coupon I had, it was comparably priced.

Instead of a traditional iron and ironing board, consider using the now popular mini hand steamers. They are very easy to use and work just as well. Another great item, especially if your student needs a step stool to reach the bed, is a storage ottoman. Clearly, by its name, you can see it can be used for storage but it is a more decorative way for them to climb into bed. Looking for something fancier, try Dormify. Overstock has some reasonably priced ones too. Bed, Bath & Beyond also carries them.  Most of the stores were sold out when we got to campus, so we would recommend either bringing it with you (and store stuff in it) or ordering online.

For our complete shopping guide for new college students, click here.

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For some, the process of moving in is easier than moving out. When your student moves in, they neatly pack their items in a suitcase. Their towels, sheets, comforters, and décor are new, clean and many times still in its original packaging. Moving out? Not the case. Items are shoved in garbage bags, clothing is piled into a suitcase and the suitcase is sat on so that it can be zippered. Towels and sheets haven’t been washed all semester and can practically walk home! Needless to say, it can be just as stressful as moving in. For some students who are coming back to school for the summer session, their items can be stored. Some students can move their items into their next year’s apartment and some just don’t want the hassle or see the necessity to bring their refrigerator or microwave home. For these students there are options.

UNF’s move out date for Fall 2020 is undecided at this time. Due to the Covid19, this information will be updated by the university. Please refer to any emails that you will receive.

I have two older sons (which helped me a lot in preparing for my daughter’s first year at UNF) and I tell them every year a few weeks before finals to start preparing. Clean out and throw away whatever they don’t need or use anymore. Although it may not seem like much, it is a start to a process that you don’t want them to begin the day you are picking them up. They can organize items into things that they need to bring home and things that they want to bring to storage. Finally, take 100 pictures, then take 20 more time-stamped. You could be charged for damages to the dorm room and if you have not documented everything, be prepared to be charged.

I have listed a few storage units for your convenience.

• Cube Smart Self Storage –  8585 Touchton Rd, Jacksonville. It offers the first month free and has several locations around the UNF area.
• Extra Space Storage – 10523 Deerwood Park Blvd, Jacksonville. Offers the first month free.
• Public Storage – 3424 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville. Offers $1 for the first month and monthly rentals. Several locations.
• Atlantic Self Storage – They have several locations but the one at 3635 Kernan Blvd. S is the closest to campus and used by many students who live off Kernan.

These are just a few local storage units. As I mentioned before your student can check with their apartment complex, depending on when their lease starts. Students can often store their items in their new apartment or even in a storage area within the apartment complex.

Some other options include companies like Dorm Room Movers Spaceship division which sends your student boxes and they pack and print labels. They then will send UPS to pick them up and ship them to their nearest facility. The cost is monthly, by-the-box and when your student is ready to receive their items, they log in and request them and they will be shipped back to them.

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Did you know there was a time gap? Although it feels like you just moved your students into their dorms, you now have to move them out. The worst part, aside from the grueling heat, is that some may be returning in just a few weeks to move back in somewhere. And, if they have to be back early in August, whether it be another dorm or an apartment, having to schlep their stuff back home to return in just a few weeks seems a little silly. I know how many carloads it took to get our daughter moved in and, frankly, I am not prepared to rent a U-Haul to get her home and back again. I recommend your students start bringing things home before the semester ends or if you are visiting, bring some items home.

Also have your student check with their apartment complex, depending on when their lease starts.  Students can often store their items in their new apartment or even in a storage area within the apartment complex. Another inexplicable frustration is for students who live off-campus in apartments over the summer but are not planning on renewing their lease. Most leases end on July 30th but classes do not end until August 2nd. That leaves those students in a bind as to where they should live for that 2 day period and store their stuff all while heading into finals. Check with the apartment rental to see if they will extend the lease.

It’s not ideal to have to move while studying. If they are graduating, perhaps find a good friend to put them up or look at an inexpensive hotel or Airbnb. As for their belongings, there is no easy solution. It is one of the many reasons I am not a big fan of students changing living arrangements every year. And for those students who have to be back a week early to help with sorority recruitment, they will have to find someplace to start since their lease doesn’t start yet. My daughter is staying with her big sister for the week and then I will have to drive her stuff up to her when the lease on her apartment starts, which is the weekend before school starts. That should be SO much fun for me, however, at least I get to see her again!

I have listed a few “gap” storage units for your convenience.

Cube Smart Self Storage –  8585 Touchton Rd, Jacksonville. It offers the first month free and has several locations around the UNF area.

Extra Space Storage – 10523 Deerwood Park Blvd, Jacksonville.  Offers the first month free.

MakeSpace – Storage without the struggle! They pick up, haul, and store your stuff!

Public Storage– 3424 Southside Blvd, Jacksonville.  Offers $1 for the first month and monthly rentals.  Several locations.

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Congratulations!  Your child has been accepted to UNF!  This is such a wonderful time in your child’s life and the start of the next chapter for your family.  Being accepted to UNF comes signing up for orientation. The university will provide you with everything you need to know to sign up for orientation,  what you will need to bring and how the two-day event will function. However, I will give you some valuable information to help with this process.

Just so you know, you will not be spending most of those two days with your students; they have their own sessions. Students will stay in the dorms and parents will stay in hotels.    Try to discuss what classes your student may want to take before orientation so they are prepared when they actually sit down with an advisor for enrollment (at the end of a successful orientation).  If they don’t get the classes that they wanted, they will have the opportunity during drop/add to add the classes. There will be a tremendous amount of information discussed with your child and it can be overwhelming; however, UNF is fully prepared to answer any questions.

Time on Your Own

Orientation is a time for parents to learn all aspects of the college process.  There will informative sessions on everything from housing to financial aid and meal plans to dorms.  Dress comfortably, bring a sweater (it can get cold in the sessions), bring snacks and drinks. Walking shoes are recommended for the tour. Bring an umbrella. It always seems to rain at least once a day in the hot months.

Come Prepared for Orientation

A great deal of what the students cover will require they have access to their myWings account. Make sure they are aware of their passwords, etc. This will be the time to activate their UNFID and create a pin, which will then give them access to their UNF email account. Bring any medical forms, copies of insurance cards, photo ID and anything they may need.

Wondering about College level exam scores and University Course equivalents? Check out the equivalency for AICE, AP, CLEP, DANTES, and IB.

Bank Ready

Set up banking. If your student will be receiving Bright Futures or financial aid, it is much easier to have it direct deposited to a bank account, rather than waiting for a check that may arrive in their U-box and sit there for weeks. UNF has a relationship with many banks such as Wells Fargo, Bank of America, Chase, etc and the financial aid representative will explain how to link your child’s bank account which is where any overages or disbursements go.  For out-of-state students, it makes more sense to have a Florida bank checking account. If you are unsure, wait until you head home and you can always open one at your local branch.

Items to Bring

Your student will want to bring comfortable clothes, phone charger, a pillow, sheets, a bath towel, shower shoes and a blanket, a jacket or sweater and, of course, their toiletries. Girls may want to bring some makeup for their UNFID pictures.  Also bringing a folder, pen and paper is recommended just in case they need it.  Click here for more information on UNF Orientation. Early registration is strongly recommended (dates fill quickly). Registering for orientation has to be done through the new student’s myWings portal.

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The time has come to pay for your college costs and panic sets in. I have three kids and each experience has been different. My oldest son’s financial aid took forever to disburse and we had to make sure that the school would not assess any penalties. My younger son’s financial aid disbursement has been like a dream. Disbursement has been on schedule with a certain amount left over for his books, rent, or whatever he needs. Although my daughter’s funds were disbursed on time, UNF requested a lot of financial information for her financial aid. With each child, I wonder when does the money get disbursed this time? Can you get a deferral for books, living accommodations, and student fees if necessary?

For your student’s specific account details, you should log into their mywings account. UNF encourages all students who receive financial aid to sign up for a direct deposit. Go online to mywings and click on the eRefund section under the “View & Pay My Bill” link and enter the routing and account number you wish to have your refund deposited into.  You will see on that page a tab on how to set up an eRefund Account.

Here are some specifics:

Financial Aid Disbursement

As a rule, the first available financial aid disbursement date is typically two weeks after classes have begun each semester. Your individual disbursement date maybe later depending on the status of your financial aid file. For example, if you are selected for verification and have not submitted the requested documents, your disbursement will be delayed.

The summer semester at UNF is a bit more complicated as there are multiple terms (A, B, C, 10, and 12 weeks) and two separate add/drop weeks. Enrolling in fewer than 6 hours during the summer A and/or C term could delay, or even prohibit, disbursement of your financial aid. As an example, if you have accepted a Federal Direct student loan, you are required to enroll in a minimum of 6 credit hours in a semester to receive those loan funds. If you choose to take 3 hours in summer A (or Summer C) and 3 hours in summer B, your student loan would not disburse until after summer B add/drop has ended.

To avoid disbursement delays, remember to monitor myWings and your UNF e-mail in the weeks leading up to disbursement. Respond to any request for documentation promptly, read emails from financial aid thoroughly, and ask questions well in advance of the start of classes.

Florida Prepaid Money

UNF will automatically post a deferment on the student’s account a few days after registration for the lesser of: the number of registered hours or number of remaining Florida Prepaid hours. The deferment will show on mywings as estimated financial aid under ‘View and Pay My Bill.’  If you do not see the amount listed, it could be due to a wrong social security number (either in UNF’s system or Florida Prepaid system) or your account is on hold with Florida Prepaid.

Any student that is using Florida Prepaid to pay their tuition and fees is required to pay the balance that Florida Prepaid does not cover by the payment deadline unless the student has other aid/awards to cover the balance due. Students participating in the Florida Prepaid College Program who are also expecting to receive financial aid (i.e., Bright Futures, Pell, student loans, other scholarships/grants) will have the Florida Prepaid applied first to tuition and applicable fees.  Financial aid received will be disbursed and applied to outstanding charges which may include tuition and fees not covered by the Florida Prepaid Program. Any excess financial aid that remains after debts have been paid will be refunded to the student (student/parent if PLUS Parent loan.)

Bright Futures

UNF automatically identifies UNF Bright Futures recipients from a State of Florida database. It is your responsibility to ensure that UNF is your “school of attendance” on your Bright Futures account. You must also check your UNF online bill to ensure that your scholarship is in place prior to the payment deadline each semester.  Florida Bright Futures recipients do NOT need to enroll full-time to receive their award each semester. However, a minimum of half time enrollment (six credit hours) is required to be eligible each semester.

Bright Futures awards appearing in myWings can be used to defer tuition charges. The initial amount awarded will be an estimate, assuming 15 credit hours per term. Throughout registration, your award will be adjusted to reflect your actual enrollment for the term. After the add/drop period has ended, your scholarship will pay toward your UNF tuition charges. If your Bright Futures and other forms of financial aid are greater than the balance due, excess financial aid will be issued to you in the form of a financial aid refund.

Deferral for Books/Bookstore Authorizations

If you have sufficient financial aid to cover your UNF bill with funds left over, you may qualify for a UNF Bookstore Authorization. If you qualify, you will receive a notification via an email to your UNF e-mail account about three weeks before the semester starts. This notification will provide you with instructions on where to locate your Bookstore Authorization in myWings. You can monitor your transaction history and amount remaining on the authorization in your myWings account.

Bookstore authorization amounts will vary according to your balance due and accepted aid, up to a maximum of $600. Only the amount that you charge will be posted to your account and this amount will reduce the refund you will receive. Please be advised that a Bookstore Authorization is not additional money for books. Rather, it is an advance of your anticipated financial aid overage. Learn more about Bookstore Authorizations.

Dorm Payments

Students are responsible for payment of their housing balance if financial aid money is not released in time to pay by the Housing rent deferment due date or if there is not enough money to cover all of the student’s university debts.

Students are responsible for paying their rent or obtaining a rent deferment prior to the rent due date to avoid any late charges. A $100 late charge will apply if the deferment is secured after the rent due date. Housing payment is due before tuition payment so that UNF knows who is living on campus. For a list of payment deadlines please check the academic calendar.

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