Issues with Microsoft Outlook? TSS Can Help!

Hello Campus Community,

TSS has been made aware of an issue occurring with Microsoft Outlook for many of our users. Currently Microsoft is aware of the issue and working to resolve this on a patch coming sometime mid-January. TSS has been looking into this for our users and we have developed an individual solution until Microsoft can get this resolved.  If you are experiencing any issues of crashing or unresponsiveness with your Microsoft Outlook, please submit a TSS ticket so we can address these directly.  We thank you for your attention to this matter and hope everyone can have a wonderful Holiday season. 

Fire System Update – Bldgs 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, and 2300 

Dear Campus Community,

Buildings 1900, 2000, 2100, 2200, and 2300 have lost communication lines that allow their fire alarm systems to report out to Campus Security and the fire department.  The current timeline for reestablished communications lines is before the start of Winter Quarter 2024. Updates will be provided to the campus as they become available. 

Safety mechanisms that remain in place in these building include active horns and strobes (audible and visual alerts) which willnotify occupants in the building if there is any need to evacuate. Should an evacuation be necessary, occupants should contactCampus Security directly once they have left the building to provide notification that the alarms have been triggered (call the On-Duty Officer Cell Phone 206-235-5860). Campus Security will then coordinate a response from the Shoreline Fire Department if required.

I have connected with leadership of Building 1900, 2000, 2100, and 2300 to brief them directly on the situation. We will also be posting signage throughout the buildings previously listed (example below). Additionally, supervisors will communicate this information directly to staff to ensure that this message is not missed.

This is a sign on a white background with red and green writing.

Please feel free to reach out to me with any questions at gcranson@shoreline.edu

Respectfully,

Greg Cranson | Acting Director of Safety, Security, and Emergency Management

Important Financial Aid Updates

Greetings!

2023-2024 Financial Aid 

Great news! The Financial Aid Office is current on reviewing files for Winter quarter.  Students who have already applied and submitted all required documentation should receive an aid offer notification if they have not so already. Disbursement of financial aid money begins on January 5 for winter quarter. This date is based on compliance of when funds to students can be disbursed. 

Students applying now should check that all outstanding documents have been submitted and plan to pay their tuition (or make tuition payment arrangement) if their aid has not been finalized by the tuition deadline of January 3, 2024.   Note: Because the disbursement of financial aid will start on January 5, all financial aid students who have an aid offer notification are protected from being dropped for non-payment. 

Please encourage students who plan to attend this coming Winter and/or Spring to apply for 2023-2024 financial aid if they have not already done so. For assistance with financial aid application and/or questions, please have students visit our financial aid office, M-TH, 8-5pm, and Friday, 8-12 or by email at Financialaid@shoreline.edu.

To see if students are eligible for other funding opportunities, check https://www.shoreline.edu/apply-and-aid/funding-and-aid/default.aspx

2024-2025 Financial Aid Application 

The biggest change to financial aid in 40 years is occurring with the 2024-25 FAFSA. These changes impact how students and their parents are required to complete the application as well as processing for financial aid offices.  It will require the financial aid office to learn new policies, create new forms, and set up the ctcLink system. These are just a few examples of the changes the financial aid office will be implementing. 

Students across the country are expected to be able to complete the 2024-2025 aid applications starting on December 31, 2023.  This is much later than the usual October 1 date the form becomes available.   The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can be completed at www.studentaid.gov/fafsa and the Washington Application for State Financial Aid (WASFA) can be completed at www.wsac.gov/wasfa.   The 2024-2025 financial aid applications are for students who plan to enroll for the 2024-2025 year (Summer 2024, Fall 2024, Winter 2025 & Spring 2025).  

To learn more about the changes and the communication to our students, please visit:  https://www.shoreline.edu/apply-and-aid/funding-and-aid/financial-aid/fafsa-simplification.aspx

Based on these unprecendented changes, the financial aid office is not expected to receive applications until late January.  As a result, we anticipate the earliest we may begin processing files is late March or early April. We will  communicate any changes to this timeline.  Please help narrate the timeline to our students and encourage them to apply as early as possible. We will make sure all students who apply and submit their required documents by our recommended priority deadlines are protected from being dropped for non-payment while they await their aid offer. 

Winter Quarter Emergency Aid

The Winter quarter emergency aid application opens on December 28. The Financial Aid Office will begin disbursing emergency aid on January 5.

Starting Winter quarter emergency aid will be handled through the Benefits Hub. For assistance with the application or questions, students can either schedule an appointment with a Benefits Hub Coach at https://benefitshub.as.me/schedule.php or email emergencyaid@shoreline.edu.

Campus Alert: Incident Update 12/19/23

Dear Campus Community, 

This message is in follow-up to today’s RAVE and email alert regarding police activity on campus this morning. 

Incident Summary: 

At approximately 10:55 am today, 12/19/23, Shoreline Police located a vehicle on the west side of campus that had been carjacked at gunpoint in Seattle earlier this morning. Believing the vehicle was occupied, Shoreline Police set up a perimeter and attempted to make contact with possible occupants.  

Out of an abundance of caution, the College moved to lockdown the Parent Child Center and to evacuate the buildings on the west side of campus. This decision was made based on the limited impact area contained by the perimeter set up by Shoreline police.  

Shoreline Police ultimately determined that the carjack suspects were not in the vehicle or area and gave the all-clear for Shoreline to resume normal operations. Shoreline Police then remained on-scene until Seattle Police was able to arrive and process/remove the stolen vehicle. 

Due to the excellent relationship between the College and Shoreline Police, the College was able to quickly establish communication and obtain information/updates as they became available. 

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Campus Security Officers Karl Hicks and Chris Ward, Maintenance Technicians Tom Harvey and Norm McLain, ED of Communications & Marketing Cat Chiappa, and VP-I Lucas Rucks for their assistance during the incident.  

Related to today’s incident, and the ongoing safety needs of the campus, please be aware that a new locking mechanism is scheduled for installation for classrooms in 1100, 1300, 1500, and 1800. Additional safety solutions are also being researched and devised for doors with different locking mechanisms. This new safety feature will allow spaces that require a ‘hex key’ to lock the ability to lockdown in active threat situations. All parts required for the installation are on campus and installation has already begun and will be completed by the first day of Winter Quarter ’24. More information and an instructional video will be sent out after the new year. 

This is an image of the new hex key door bar that will be seen in the winter quarter.

Campus Resources 

If you did not receive a RAVE alert and/or would like to update your information or create an account, click this link
https://www.getrave.com/login/shoreline. Staff and students are automatically enrolled via their school email address, which is also their RAVE username. 

Employees may access services and support at any time through the Employee Assistance Program at 877-313-4455.    

Students may access the following services:    

• If you are experiencing distress related to this, please reach out to the Counseling Center for support. Member(s) of our Counseling Center staff will be on-hand for class today at 1:00 pm.   

• In addition, for emergency counseling, referral, or assistance 24-hours/day and 7-days/week, please call:    

  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline | 800-273-8255   
  • King County: Crisis Connections (Crisis Line) | 866-427-4747   
  • Snohomish County: Volunteers of America Care Crisis Response Services (Crisis Line) | 800-584-3578   
  • Lifeline Crisis Chat: Go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org/chat/   
  • Crisis Text Line: Text 741741   
  • 911 (for immediate health-related emergencies)   

For those with additional questions, comments, or feedback, please contact Safety & Security at safetyandsecurity@shoreline.edu.  

Respectfully, 

Acting-Director of Safety & Security 

Greg Cranson 

Microsoft Teams VOIP Phone System Update

Hello College Campus Community,

We just wanted to send a reminder regarding the new Microsoft Teams VOIP phone system.  As we have now rolled this out to most departments across campus, please remember when calling or forwarding calls to Shoreline phone numbers, please use the full 10-digit phone number. The previous 4-digit abbreviated dialing will only work on the old phone system and does not translate to the new Teams system. However, in Teams, you can look up the person by name to transfer or call directly, so it is unnecessary to know the full 10-digit number for all Shoreline contacts. TSS will come around sometime after the new year to collect the old desktop phones that are still around campus.  We thank you for your attention to this and hope you have a wonderful weekend. 

Thanks!

Jason Brandon

Executive Director of TSS