Seniors look to tie up loose ends before graduation in May

With less than one month until graduation, IU seniors are almost finished with their college years. As future alumni begin to celebrate, there are a few loose ends seniors should tie up before leaving Bloomington for good. \nOne of the biggest potential problems for seniors is taking care of parking tickets and changing permanent addresses to receive their diplomas.\n"I think the main thing we encourage at the Registrar's office is for students to leave Bloomington with an up-to-date address," said Dorothy Kemp, references service coordinator for the Office of the Registrar. \nKemp also said that the quickest way for students to change their address is simply by changing their information on OneStart. \nAlthough it might be easy to change an address, graduating seniors might encounter more difficulties when trying to actually receive their diplomas at the end of the summer. IU policy states in order for a graduate to receive a diploma, they must have paid off their bursar bill -- including any outstanding parking tickets or library fines.\nParking Operations Service Representative Linda Coleman said students should contact the Bursar's Office to find out whether they have any outstanding tickets. \n"Generally, the parking tickets are billed to the Bursar," Coleman said. "Students can also verify if their account is current, or they can call Parking Operations for tickets that have been recently billed."\nWhile cleaning out house with bursar bills and parking tickets, seniors should also attend to other housekeeping issues such as student loans.\nBill Ehrich, associate director for client services said seniors should give loan lenders their new address and find out the specifics of their student loans. \n"Graduates need to know how much they've borrowed and from where, and they need to know when they need to start making payments," Ehrich said. "Then, once they get wherever they are going, they should let new lenders know their address. This way, the lender may be more willing to work with them. Lenders get discouraged if they can't find somebody."\nSenior Brett Leeper has taken care of his spring cleaning. Now he's left only to enjoy the rest of his last semester, Leeper said. \n"I've already talked to my loan provider about when I have to start paying them back, and my parents are getting me under their health insurance plan the minute I graduate."\nHowever, other seniors are not as prepared as Leeper, left to spend their last week tying up loose ends around campus.\nSenior Leila Riazi would like more guidance in helping her get all the things done necessary to leave Bloomington, but understands the hassle as part of the big transition to the real world.\n"I wish there was more guidance towards helping me know what needs to be done. I still have to change my address and check my bursar information," Riazi said. "I want to enjoy the last couple weeks of school and pass my classes, but I have to worry about making sure everything is done, but I guess that what this is all about, getting ready to be on our own." \nJohn Hobson, senior vice president of the IU Alumni Association, recommends seniors make the most of the semester and get to know the Alumni Association as the last weeks of the year draw to a close. Hobson encourages seniors come to the Senior Salute from 4 to 6 p.m. April 28 for free food and live music.\n"Certainly we recommend when seniors establish a permanent address that they will let us know so we can keep them in touch. I'm looking forward to seniors through commencement," Hobson said.\n-- Contact Senior Writer Lindsay Jancek at lmjancek@indiana.edu.