The most popular airports used by Biola student are Los Angeles International (LAX) and Orange County (John Wayne). Long Beach, Ontario and Burbank airports are also near the campus. For specific directions to and from these airports, please refer to Airport Directions on our web page.

Biola does not offer a shuttle service to/from local airports. Students can refer to the "Ride Board" on BUBBS to make arrangements with other students to carpool. Students could also consider using the City Bus and Metro Rail Green Line system (visit MTA's site) . Or, Primetime Shuttle offers a Biola discount at 1-800-REDVANS.

Please refer to the Academic Calendar for specific holiday dates. Check with your student regarding when tests, finals, papers and important lectures are scheduled prior to making arrangements. We do encourage you to make your travel arrangements early, especially during the holidays, so your student leaves and arrives to campus at the appropriate times.

If your student needs a ride home or even to the airport, be sure to have them check the "Ride Board" on BUBBS (Biola University's Bulletin Board System) to make arrangements with other students to carpool. Biola does not offer any shuttle services.

Parents are welcome to stay through the Communion Service on Saturday evening. This special time for students and their families provides a wonderful opportunity for saying final good-byes.

Each student is assigned a mail box number during registration. The box number stays the same during their entire time at Biola, even if they change residence halls or move off-campus. All residential and commuter students are assigned a box that they are expected to check regularly. If mail is sent to a student without the box number, it will be delivered to the student's box, but may be delayed. Mail Services encourages the use of the student's box number to expedite delivery.

Please address mail to your student in this form:
Student's Name
Biola University
13800 Biola Ave. Box #
La Mirada, CA 90639-0001

You can dial your student's dorm room directly by using their 4-digit extension which they will be given with their room assignment by mail during the summer months. To dial directly (562) 903-xxxx, or to call a room in Hope Hall, dial directly (562) 777-xxxx. A caller may also call the University Operator at (562) 903-6000 and ask for the student's room. Each residential student receives a voicemail box for no additional charge.

Visit Financial Aid's site or contact the Financial Aid Office at 562-903-4742 to speak with a Financial Aid Counselor.

During the Fall and Spring semesters students may stay in their residence hall through vacation times excluding Christmas Break (Friday, December 19, 2008 through Saturday, January 3, 2009). Beginning January 4, 2009 those registered for Interterm housing may return to their dorm. Those not signed up for interterm housing may return on Sunday, January 25, 2009. Residence hall housing for Interterm and summer as well as apartment housing for Christmas, Interterm and summer must be arranged for separately and is subject to the relevant fee structures. For more housing information, visit our housing detail pages.

If your student is returning for Interterm classes, they should check in on Sunday, January 4, 2009. If your student is returning for Spring Semester, they may begin to check in on Sunday, January 25, 2009. For other important dates like these, please refer to our academic calendar.

The university does not provide any storage for students’ belongings. You can ship boxes to campus prior to Opening Weekend, contract with a portable container provider such as PODS or Public Storage, or rent local short-term storage for your student’s summer storage needs.

If you have boxes shipped, address them with your student’s name and 13800 Biola Avenue, La Mirada, CA 90639.  Boxes may be picked up at the on-campus post boxes next to the Student Union Building.

If you send your student’s belongings in a portable storage container please check first with Facilities Services (562-903-4897) and Campus Safety (562-903-4877) about on-campus locations for the drop-off. We often repave and re-stripe parking lots during the summer months and we’d like to be certain your container won’t wind up in the middle of a project. 

You can obtain a list of local self-storage facilities from Auxiliary Services (562-903-4872). Auxiliary Services is located in the Student Services Building, across from Chase Gymnasium.

Telephones are proved in each residence hall room and can be used without charge to make calls to other campus extensions and to receive off campus calls. Students can also reach toll-free numbers (800, 866, 877, 888) by dialing “8” and then dialing the toll-free number. Off campus calls can be made from any campus phone by using a pre-paid calling card. Pre-paid calling cards may be purchased in the Campus Bookstore in increments of $5, $10, and $20. Rates will be at approximately 4.9 cents per minute nationwide.

Please Note: To prevent interference with Biola's Wireless Network, 2.4 GHz cordless phones are not permitted on the Biola Campus. Wireless network access will be available in various areas of the campus. Cordless phones operating in frequencies other than 2.4 GHz (i.e. 49 MHz, 900 MHz or 5.8 GHz) are permitted.

Many students use their own cell phones on campus. However, some locations may not have clear reception.

BUBBS (Biola University Bulletin Board System) is an online community of Biola students, staff, faculty and alumni. On BUBBS, participants can send and receive local and internet, email, post to a wide variety of conferences, download software, enter public and private chats, etc. Students will receive their own BUBBS account during registration. Once they are registered, they can report to the Computer Support Department for their account information.

Internet access is free on campus. All of our residence hall rooms (as well as the computer lab and library) are wired with Ethernet for high-speed (broadband) communication with both the Biola intranet and the Internet.

For Frequently Asked Questions about BUBBS and other computer questions visit Biola's FAQs.

There are three payment plan options, as follows:

1. Payment in full on or before the day of registration
2. 60% payment plus insurance; balance in full at first billing. No finance charges will be assessed.
3. 60% payment plus insurance; balance spread over three payments. A monthly finance charge will be assessed.

Illustrations of these plans plus additional information may be found at the accounting website.

Payments may be made in the following forms:

• Cash, Check (write I.D. number & name on check), Cashier's Check
• Money Order or Credit Card (Visa, Master Card, Discover)

Payments may be made (by credit card only, except during registration):

• At the cashier window
• By mail
• Dropped in the drop box conveniently located outside the cashier office
• By telephone to the cashier at (562) 903-6000, extension 5054.
• Online through the Biola Portal. Please note that the student must provide you access to use this feature by setting up a unique password. The student may set this up by logging into the Portal, choosing "Manage Who Has Access to My Information," creating a uinque password, then selecting "Creit/Debit Card Payment on Your Account."

During Registration, students may use their parents' credit card information while going through the line. It is best not to make telephone payments during registration; payment should be made in person. Please note that all returned checks will be assessed a $20.00 fee.

The Office of Parent Relations at Biola is available to address concerns that parents may have and to provide services while their student is at Biola. Parent Relations may be reached at 1-800-99-BIOLA or at parent.relations.edu.

Special events are planned for parents during Opening Weekend Orientation and also during Parent Weekend in October. Visit our homepage for more information on these important events.

A variety of services are provided through the Office of Parent Relations including our Biola Care Packages program, which features gift packages and birthday cakes. Visit Care Packages for more information.

Parents may also order Survival Sacks at the end of each semester from the Office of Spiritual Life. Information will be mailed to parents regarding the Survival Sacks. Spiritual Life can be reached at 562-903-4754.

Students who cannot attend a meal because of scheduling problems may sign up for a sack lunch in the Caf' Biola office. The sack lunch is prepared by the food service staff and a time is scheduled for the student to pick it up.

Another option available is the Eagles' Nest, which is our coffee shop, located on the lower level of the Student Union Building (SUB). It is a retail food service operation which offers Pizza Hut, beverages, sandwiches, burgers, salads, a featured entree each day, snacks, and desserts. It is open all day and evening, Monday through Friday, with additional hours on Saturday and Sunday. Students may use Flex Points or cash to eat in the Eagles' Nest.

Learn more about Biola's food services.

Please refer to the Academic Calendar for specific holiday dates for each academic year. The University is closed on the following holidays: Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Martin Luther King Day, Good Friday, Easter, Memorial Day and Independence Day. Classes are not in session during the Torrey Memorial Bible Conference in October and the Missions Conference in March, however students are required to attend conference sessions during those events.

Yes, student packages may be shipped ahead of time. However, due to the space constraints we ask that items be shipped no more than two weeks prior to the student's arrival on campus. Always use the student's box number on the package. If your son/daughter is a new student without a mailbox number, please put NEW STUDENT on the package. You may call mail services at (562) 944-0351 x5475 prior to shipping the materials to acquire a box number for your student. Receiving a mailbox number can be done prior to the registration process.

Parents are highly encouraged to attend the Parent Orientation events when they bring their student to campus. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn how to support your student throughout their educational process at Biola. There are several seminars offered on a variety of topics including: financial services, general information, how to parent a college student, special and study abroad programs, career planning and Bible curriculum. There is also a special Parent Hospitality Tent that will be open on Friday and Saturday of Orientation Weekend. We recommend that you stop by to meet our council members and learn about resources in the area and on-campus.

The Office of Parent Relations sponsors two highly-recommended events during Orientation weekend, the Parent Dessert Reception on Friday evening and the Parent Luncheon on Saturday. Both events are a wonderful time to meet other parents, become acquainted with the Parent Council and enjoy wonderful food.

Check out the complete listing of Orientation activities.

There are not any specific events scheduled for siblings of Biola students. Siblings are welcome to attend any of the parent seminars, sessions, meals, etc. with their parents. The entire family is encouraged to attend the Outdoor Dinner and Communion Service on Saturday evening. There is an additional cost for more than two people at the Parent Luncheon on Saturday.

Although family members are welcome and encouraged to come to orientation, the ages of the children should be considered when parents are determining which events to attend as many of the events include speakers. Many families choose to make alternate arrangements for their younger siblings (babysitters, drop-off at amusement parks, etc.) during the day on Saturday, so parents may focus on the orientation events.

No guests or family members are able to accompany the new Biola student to the mandatory Student Orientation activities, nor will the new Biola student be free to watch their younger siblings while their parents attend sessions on Saturday. Children under the age of 18 should be accompanied by an adult while they are on campus.

Feel free to contact the Office of Parent Relations with additional questions.

During Fall Orientation we encourage parents to stop by the Parent Hospitality Tent, located near the Fluor Fountain, to pick up maps and listing of nearby stores and restaurants.

Stores located in close proximity to the campus include: Home Depot, Wal-Mart, Target, Sam's Club, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Staples, Office Max, TJ Maxx, Ross, Albertson's Grocery Store, Von's Grocery Store, Ralph's Grocery Store and the Brea Mall (Nordstrom's, Macy, Robinson's May, Sears, JC Penney).

There are a variety of factors that must be considered when determining how frequently parents visit their students and how often students visit their parents. This is of course an individual decision between students and their parents, however we do have a few suggestions.

Come to Parent Weekend! This is a special event that is scheduled each October where parents have the opportunity to visit chapel, sit in on classes, attend a concert or sporting event, attend church with their student and meet their student's friends. The timing of this event is planned to give your student enough time to settle in, but also it's planned at a time when many students start to get a little homesick.

Visit your student, but please: no surprises. Homework, jobs and social activities tend to fill up a student's schedule. Allow your student time to plan ahead.

Biola does not have a Sunday service on campus because we desire for students to get involved in a local church in the community. There are a variety of churches in the local community as well as throughout the greater Los Angeles and Orange County areas that Biola students attend. For a listing of churches near Biola, refer to Student Ministries.

The City of La Mirada offers a dial-a-ride service which operates on weekdays and Saturday for a very low cost. For a complete listing of their schedules and services, check out the City of La Mirada website. Look under 'Community Services' and then 'Transit'.

Students can also refer to the 'Ride Board' on BUBBS to make arrangements with other students to carpool.

Several local churches operate shuttle services which bring students from campus to church and back again on Sunday mornings. Students can contact Student Ministries for a complete listing of church shuttle times and locations.

Biola has a detailed, well prepared plan to meet the needs of the Biola community in case of an emergency. This plan includes Emergency Response Teams, composed of university specialists, to address different aspects of any problem; routine fire drills practiced once a month in dorms where students are informed of evacuation plans; Building Coordinators assigned to coordinate emergency preparedness for every building on campus. There is an emergency hotline at (562)903-4727, and a Communication Department to keep the public informed.

There are several hotels in the local area that offer discounts to parents and family members of Biola students. For a complete listing, visit our local hotels page.

It is not recommended that parents stay in their student's residence hall room. However, students are permitted to have overnight guests of the same gender. Those guests are limited to three total nights in University housing per semester and must have consent of all roommates. Guests must register with the Resident Director or Resident Assistant.

Biola's school colors are red and white. The mascot is the Eagle. To find out information about Biola athletics, please check our Eagle Sports site. To order logo items, check out the Biola Bookstore.

For the most up to date and accurate figures check Tuition and Costs at Biola's website.

We want parents to be involved in supporting their students at Biola! There are a variety of ways that parents can serve students and other Biola parents. There is a Parent Council, composed of 20 members, that represent a cross-section of the student population. There are also five different parent committees that parents are welcome to join at any time. Get more information on either our Parent Council or our Parent Committees.

To stay connected with the University parents can sign up to be part of our weekly parent e-mail news update, monthly prayer e-mail group or receive a weekly edition of the Chimes, the student newspaper. To stay connected to your student we encourage you to send letters and care packages to your student and that service is available through our Hugs from Home program.

Parents are also encouraged to attend Parent Weekend in October each year and sporting events or music performances on campus or in your local area.

Parents also have the opportunity to give to Biola out of their financial resources through our parent fundraising project, currently the chapel seating expansion, or in support of any of the current fundraising projects. Visit our Development website for more information.

The Mission of the Career Services Department is to educate, prepare, empower and serve the students, alumni and extended community of Biola in the process of career development and placement. The services offered by the department include, but are not limited to, assistance in choosing a major and career field by means of career counseling and coaching, career assessment, major selection, internship assistance and listing, career planning courses and a career resource library.

As students prepare to graduate and look for jobs, Career Services offers annual career fairs and on-campus recruiting, job listings, local employer information, internet resources, reference files and resume assistance. There are also several different resources available for students interested in Graduate School. Many services are free or at a low cost to current Biola students and recent alumni.

For a complete listing of their services, visit the Career Services website.

With a dress standard, our specific interest is to create an environment that promotes a Christ-centered community and a Christian witness to the world. While there is freedom for personal choice and comfort in dress, the standard of modesty should reflect our membership in the body of Christ.

For a full explanation of Biola's standard and for specific instructions, please check out the Student Handbook under the section 'Modesty Standard'.

Parent Weekend is held on Columbus Day weekend each October. Since it's about six weeks into the semester, it's a great time of year to see your student's environment, meet their friends and visit their favorite classes. It also falls around midterms when students often need some encouragement and to see a face from home. Parents, siblings, grandparents and any other family members are highly encouraged to come. It's a valuable time for both you and your student to interact and help make their Biola experience more complete. Look for more details on this year's Parent Weekend .

No. Grade reports will be available at the end of each academic term to the students on the Biola Student Information (BSI) page. Students may access their grades on-line or they may request a printed paper report at the end of the term from the Registrar's Office.

The Student Health Center provides confidential health services for all registered students. Consultation with a physician or nurse is free, however there is a fee for medications or specific treatments. There are 22 items available in the Health Center waiting room for self-care at no cost. For office hours or contact information, including a list of local hospitals, check out the Health Center website.

We recommend you check out our packing list that was assembled by current students and members of our Parent Council.

Check out our Commencement information for details about graduation at Biola.