Frequently Asked Questions - Students

Degree Programs/Admission Information

1.  Who do I need to contact for information about Park University’s graduate programs? 

2.  Where do I get information for international students, and who can I contact? 

3.  What Master’s programs does Park offer? 

4.  What Master’s programs does Park offer online? 

5.  Does Park offer Certificate programs, and what are those? 

6.  Do you have a minimum GRE or GMAT score requirement? 

7.  How do I register for GRE, GMAT or PRAXIS exams? 

8.  What if Park doesn’t presently offer teaching certification in my subject area?

9.  Is work experience considered for possible graduate credit? 

10.  How do I apply for admission? 

Tuition/Financial Aid/VA benefits

11.  How do I apply for financial aid? 

12.  Do you offer discounted graduate tuition for military personnel? 

13.  Who do I contact about tuition assistance? 

14.  Who do I contact about VA benefits? 

15.  How can I pay/confirm my classes? 

16.  How do I apply for Graduate Assistantships? 

Course Enrollment

17.  Who do I need to contact for registration/enrollment or payment of classes? 

18.  Who do I contact to drop classes? 

19.  How much money will I be refunded if I drop classes? 

20.  Where can I find which courses are being offered, each term? 

21.  How long are terms usually? 

22.  What is considered full-time and part-time enrollment? 

23.  Where do students get their textbooks?  

Student ID/Parking

24.  What is an ID card and how do I get one? Who to call? Building(s) where they are available? Why do I need one? 

25.  How do I get to the parking garage downtown? 

26.  Will I be required to pay any parking garage fees? 

27.  What do I need to do if I lost my ID card? 

Park Computer Systems

28.  What is an ID number (faculty or student) and what does it work for e.g. Pirate mail, Park Online? 

29.  What is OPEN and what is it used for? Separate password? 

30.  How to use OPEN? 

31.  What is my e-mail address on Park Google Apps? 

32.  How do I access Park Google Apps? 

33.  How is Pirate mail different from the park.edu mail system? Do faculty/adjuncts get both?  

34.  What is eCollege? 

Current Student/Graduation Information

35.  Who do I call in case of an emergency and I cannot get to class? 

36.  Who can I contact regarding Comprehensive Exams? 

37.  What do I need to do for graduation?

Important Contacts

38.  List of important phone numbers that I need to know.

39.  List of Graduate Programs' contacts, including e-mails and phone numbers that I should know. 

If you do not see your question, please contact Betty Deck, Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director for the Graduate School, at (816) 559-5625 or via email: betty.deck@park.edu.

1. The Admissions Office will be able to help with information on programs in education, business, public affairs, healthcare and communication and leadership; check your application status, receipt of transcripts, or receipt of other admission materials. Contacts:  Judith Appollis, Admissions Director, (816) 559-5627, email: judith.appollis@park.edu or Andrew Minor, Admissions Counselor (816) 559-5630, email:  andrew.minor@park.edu. 

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2. Information for international students is available here. If you have any questions, please contact the Graduate Admissions Director at (816) 559-5627, email: judith.appollis@park.edu.

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3. For a listing of the Master’s programs, please go to http://www.park.edu/grad/degrees.aspx. 

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4. For a listing of the Master’s programs available online, please go to http://www.park.edu/grad/degreesonline.aspx.

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5. For a listing of Certificate programs and a description of what they are, please go to http://www.park.edu/grad/certificates.aspx.

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6. Score requirements vary upon the program; these scores are evaluated upon application, along with other admissions criteria. The scores are sound indicators of potential graduate school performance. Please contact Graduate Admissions Counselor for specific program requirements.

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7. Please follow the desired link(s): GRE, GMAT, PRAXIS.

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8. Please follow this link for information regarding alternative certification programs: www.dese.mo.gov/divteachqual/teached/altcertprog.htm.

9. No, we do not offer graduate credit for work experience.

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10. Please click here to apply for admission.

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11. Please click here to apply for financial aid. For more information and details, please contact the Financial Aid office at (816) 584-6290.

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12. A 25 percent graduate tuition discount is available to active duty military personnel, active duty military spouses and dependents, and retired military.  Eligible students must complete and return the Military Tuition Discount form.

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13. For questions regarding tuition assistance, please contact Deena Schneider at (816) 584-2107 or at deena.schneider@park.edu.

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14. For questions regarding VA certification, please contact Deena Schneider at (816) 584-2107 or at deena.schneider@park.edu.

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15. Students may confirm/pay for classes via the OPEN system or by contacting Joslyn Creighton, Student Services Coordinator, at (816) 559-5622, email: joslyn.creighton@park.edu; Michele Woody, Graduate Student Support Coordinator, at (816) 559-5629, email: michele.woody@park.edu; or Helen Lucas, Cashier, at (816) 584-6433, email: helen.lucas@park.edu.

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16. Please follow this link: Graduate Assistantships. If you have any further questions, please contact Betty Deck, Administrative Assistant to the Executive Director, at (816) 559-5625, email: betty.deck@park.edu.

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17. You may register/enroll for classes via the OPEN system; see also How to Register in OPEN

For assistance with registration, graduation, or general current student inquiries you can contact the following individuals:

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18. To drop classes you may contact the following individuals:

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19. Park University Refund Calculation Schedule  

If you have financial aid, please contact the Financial Aid office at 816-584-6290 to see how dropping or withdrawing from a course will impact your financial aid.

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20. Please follow this link to the course schedule.

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21. Depending on the program, courses are offered in 8 week and 16 week terms. Students are urged to check the course schedule with their advisor to determine what courses are offered in what format and the recommended sequence of courses to be taken.

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22. Full- and Part-Time Enrollment

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23. The Park University Bookstore, located in the Underground at the Parkville Campus, stocks textbooks for face-to-face and online courses. You contact the bookstore at (816) 584-6747, or www.park.edu/bookstore.
Textbooks can also be ordered through MBS. To order textbooks from MBS, go to http://direct.mbsbooks.com/park.htm, or order by phone at 1-800-325-3252. Please allow sufficient time for delivery.

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24. Each student, faculty and staff member of Park University receives an ID card. The student ID card should be carried at all times for use at the Park University library, campus athletic events, the Office of the Registrar, the Cashier’s Office, and other offices, where identification may be needed. Photo ID pictures in Parkville will be taken in the Student Assistance Center (1st floor Norrington). Contact the Student Assistance Center at 816-584-6388 for further information.

They also double as parking IDs for the downtown campus, if you attend courses/work downtown. The parking garage is at 910 Walnut, Kansas City. You will receive your parking ID from the facilities coordinator, located at 911 Main, Suite 800, Kansas City, MO 64105. This post will be occupied Monday through Thursday from 1.30 p.m. to 10.30 p.m., and Fridays from 1.30 p.m. to 6.00 p.m. (contact 816-559-5602 for more details). You will not need another ID card from Parkville, if you already have an ID card issued downtown.

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25. The parking garage is located at 910 Walnut, Kansas City, MO 64105. To view a map of the immediate area of the parking garage downtown, click here.

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26. No, currently, you do not need to pay any fee for parking.

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27. If you lost your ID card, contact the office where you received it and apply for a new one. There is a replacement fee of $10.00.

If you lost your ID card which you also used for the parking garage downtown, please contact James McKinley at 911 Main, Suite 800, Kansas City, MO 64105, for a replacement card. The replacement fee of $15.00 will apply.

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28. Each student, faculty and staff member of Park University receives and ID number with their ID card. This number is unique to you and is your login and username for OPEN, Park Google Apps and ParkOnline.

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29. Using the Online Park Enrollment Network (OPEN), students can

· Review their schedule

· Access their academic record

· Run a degree audit

· Register for courses

· Check financial aid

· Pay tuition online

Please note: Students are advised to consult with their advisor or Campus Center Director before registering for classes. Faculty Advisors, Office of the Registrar staff, Student Support/Services Coordinators, or the Campus Center Director will also be available to help with registration.

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30. The OPEN system is an automated system that allows you to access a wide variety of services any time from any location.  You can use the system to register for classes and look up the course schedule.  The system also allows you to conveniently access other services including: 

• Academic Record – Print a copy of your unofficial transcript.
• Course and Fee Statement – Check your balance and see what you owe.
• Course Catalog – Get a full list of the courses offered at Park University.
• Degree Audit – See what classes you have taken and what classes you still need to take.
• Financial Aid – Calculate amounts and check your status.
• GPA Projection – Calculate your GPA.
• Grade Report – Get your grades from past and current classes.
• Registration – Register for classes.
• Student Schedule – See the classes for which you have registered.
• Check for holds on your account and other personal information.

For more information on how to use OPEN, please click here.

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31. Park Google Apps addresses typically follow this format: firstname.lastname@park.edu. To find the student’s email address, click on the “Compose” button. The “From” field will display the student’s email address. (Example: John Doe’s email address would be: john.doe@park.edu.) Please note that email addresses are not case sensitive.

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32. Park Google Apps is located at https://pirate.park.edu.

Park Google Apps currently does NOT support connectivity via Outlook, Outlook Express, Eudora, Netscape Composer or any other 3rd party e-mail client.

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33. Park Google Apps is IMP: the Internet Mail Program, an email service to all students, full-time and adjunct faculty, and staff at Park University, using the following email address: firstname.lastname@park.edu.

IMP is a web-based e-mail client for sending and receiving e-mail via the World Wide Web. Park Google Apps has been developed by Park University, using the IMP platform. You can work with Park Google Apps in whatever internet browser you are familiar with after learning only a few new commands and procedures.

Park email is an email service available to full-time faculty and staff, based on MS Outlook. Email addresses usually are: firstname.lastname@park.edu. Full-time faculty and staff get both services, Park Google Apps and MS Outlook, and may forward their Park Google Apps account to their MS Outlook account.

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34. Within 48 hours of registering in the first course, students are granted access to eCollege. This system provides eClassroom - a virtual classroom for online courses, and eCompanion - an online supplement for face-to-face courses. Additionally, this can be used as a homepage and has links to MBS Bookstore, Park Google Apps, and OPEN.

It is a good idea to test the computer system and explore eCollege before starting an online course. Students are expected to be prepared and ready to work on the first day of the term.

To login, students need their username and password. The username is the student’s Park ID number (six digits): e.g. 123456. To obtain password information, please contact the Graduate School at (816) 559-5625, or the Help Desk at (800) 927-3024 during the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. CST/CTD, Monday through Friday.

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35. In case you will not be able to attend class, you must inform your instructor. Their email-address and telephone number is available on the course syllabus. If your course is scheduled downtown, you may also leave a message with the facilities coordinator at (816) 559-5602, or the administrative assistant to the Executive Director at (816) 559-5625.

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36. For the MPA program contact Michelle Concepcion, MPA Program Coordinator, at (816) 559-5619 fax: (816) 472-1173, e-mail: michelle.concepcion@park.edu.

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37. To apply for Graduation, click here.  If you are planning on walking at the Graduation Ceremony (held in May and December), you will also need to order your cap and gown by contacting the bookstore at 816-584-6747 or at bookstore@park.edu.  Upon request, the bookstore will ship your cap & gown to you for a $6.99 fee.  For more information, please go to http://www.park.edu/grad/documents/GraduationInformation.pdf.  If you have any questions, please contact Betty Deck at 816-559-5625, or by email betty.deck@park.edu.

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38. List of important phone numbers:

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39. List of Graduate Programs contacts:  

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University Resources