MSCHE Self Study April 2021

the budgeting choices they make now will influence the amount of debt they carry upon graduation. Students are counseled on the importance of setting up and keeping a budget. Students are also provided with general information regarding their rights and responsibilities as well as an introduction to debt management. Canadian and foreign students are notified of specific programs that apply to them. Refunds are per University Refund Policy . The Director of Financial Aid is available to students throughout their entire programs. The financial aid office sends entering optometry students a Letter with Relevant Financial Aid Information . Once the student is evaluated for aid, he/she is sent an award letter stating his/her financial aid eligibility and budget. Prior to graduation, each student receives another training session known as the exit interview. This session is conducted at the https://studentloans.gov/myDirectLoan/index.action website and is used to meet the federal government’s requirement for exit interview counseling. This site is a free resource for career, college, financial aid, and money management information and is designed to help students and families understand their rights and responsibilities as borrowers and also achieve life ‐ long financial stability. The service also provides budget and loan repayment calculators. Upon completion of this program, students are invited to meet with the director of financial aid for follow ‐ up counseling sessions. For the SUNY Class of 2020 the average debt across all students was $123,168 while the average debt for those students who took out loans was $164,802. (Figures refer to debt for optometry school only.) This compares favorably with an average national indebtedness of $169,298 for optometry students who took out loans in 2019 (most recent data available from Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry). SUNY State College of Optometry graduates have had a 0% federal default rate for last 5 years, pointing to the effectiveness of its debt ‐ counseling program. Academic Counseling and Learning Support Services Academic counseling services are available for optometry students through the Office of Student Affairs. Academic Advising, Clinical Enhancement, and Boards Assistance programs are conducted through the Office of Academic Affairs. The Office of Graduate Studies and Research provides academic advising and career guidance services for graduate students. Individual residency programs, as well as the Office of Residency education provide academic counseling and learning support services for residents. In 2016, the office of Student Affairs implemented the Academic, Clinical & Personal Excellence Initiative (ACPEI), a program designed to assist students in becoming the best doctors and community members they can be. ACPEI is a partnership between the offices of Student Affairs and Academic Affairs, as well as Beta Sigma Kappa (BSK), an international optometric honor society. Participation involves attendance at a Tea ‐ Chat session, which is a workshop or informal conversation around a specific topic. Past discussions have covered topics such as stress management, test anxiety, debt management, study strategies, sleep hygiene and career planning. Faculty members, outside speakers, Student Affairs staff and BSK members lead the sessions.

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