Blugold Nuggets - October 2006

October is an exciting month at UW-Eau Claire! This month's newsletter is designed to give you information about some of the upcoming events, services, deadlines and issues facing our students.

Parents' Weekend

Bill Cosby

This coming weekend we’ll welcome hundreds of parents to our campus for the annual Parents’ Weekend.  It is hard to believe the weekend is here already! Check-in for the weekend will take place from 3 – 10 p.m. Sept. 27 in the Towers Hall Lobby. Questions about the weekend should be directed to Paul Shepherd, assistant director of Housing and Residence Life, by e-mailing shephepr@uwec.edu or calling 715-836-3630.

Map and directions

Schedule of events

Homecoming Week

Homecoming

Yell Like Hell

Homecoming Week is an exciting week jam-packed with fun events and Blugold traditions like the sand sculpture contest, campus games, medallion hunt, Yell Like Hell, and Varsity Night Live. The week culminates with a parade, pre-game festival in Carson Park, and Blugold football game versus UW-River Falls. Encourage your student to get involved in the many activities and traditions. These activities are a great way to meet new people and to learn what it really means to be a Blugold.

You also may want to have a conversation about high-risk drinking and safety during homecoming week. Because of increased visitors to campus, students should carry identification at all times, walk in groups, and lock their car and room doors. Underage students should be reminded that law enforcement still takes place even though it is homecoming weekend! We’ve had a number of cases already this semester where students have been transported by ambulance to the hospital for detox because of excessive drinking. These students are drinking large amounts of alcohol in short periods of time. The excitement of homecoming may tempt students to forget about responsible decision making.  A friendly reminder from you may help them to choose wisely!

Roommate Relations

Some of you may have heard from your son or daughter that a roommate is “driving me crazy!” For many of our students, living with a roommate is a new experience. Learning how to work out problems, share space and belongings, and merge two lives can be very challenging. It’s important for parents to encourage their students to communicate, communicate and communicate some more! Often problems can be avoided by simply saying, “When you do that, I feel uncomfortable.” Talking in advance about things like bedtimes, property sharing and overnight guests can prevent problems later. And if communication doesn’t help, it is important for your student to ask for help.  Their resident assistant and hall director are there to assist when conflicts come up. Encourage your student to ask for help when needed!

In her recent book, “My Roommate is Driving Me Crazy!”, Susan Fee, shares some great strategies for problem solving and setting boundaries.

Tips for Parents of Transfer Students

Transferring to a new university can be exciting, but it comes with its own set of challenges. Some transfer students, while initially self-assured, soon feel like they are freshmen all over again. Everything that had become familiar- from building locations to requirements- is now new. And while freshmen are all “in the same boat,” transfers can feel like they are alone.

What can parents do?

• Assure your student that the feelings are normal. It is like moving to a new city. It takes time to learn where everything is, what the new requirements are, what offices are called. And it takes time to make new friends.  You can share your own experiences with moving to a new town, starting a new job, etc.
• Encourage them to get involved in organizations or recreational activities--- check out the Activities and Programs and the University Recreation web sites.
• Let them know that in addition to the adviser in the major, there are two transfer advisers - Katie Ritland Clouse (ritlanka@uwec.edu) and Erik Rotvold (rotvolep@uwec.edu) that will be happy to answer all types of questions (not just academic ones). Tell them to e-mail, call (715-836-3487), or make an appointment with them.

We care about helping transfer students with what can be a difficult transition. So let us know what we can do.

Paying Tuition

If your student elected to participate in our partial payment plan, the remaining balance of their bill, plus finance charges, is due on Oct. 27.  An electronic bill will be e-mailed to students at their university e-mail address on Oct. 17.  For more information about billing, go to www.uwec/edu/busvs/busoff.

Staying Healthy

Fight cold and flu season!

 

With the cold and flu season just around the corner, we encourage students to practice healthy lifestyle habits to remain as healthy as possible and protect themselves from colds and flu. Healthy behaviors we promote to students include frequently wash hands, cover mouth and nose when sneezing, eat wisely and nutritiously, get adequate sleep, exercise regularly, and avoid smoke. These protective behaviors help maintain and strengthen one’s immune system.

The Student Health Service offers the flu vaccine to all UW-Eau Claire students for a cost of $15.  Students can check the SHS web site for a schedule of flu shot clinics.

Students who are absent from class for three consecutive days or more because of illness should contact the Student Development and Diversity office. Students can call 715-836-2003, stop by Schofield 240 or complete the online absence form. SDD then sends electronic correspondence regarding the illness to student's instructors.

Applying to Live in Chancellors Hall

Chancellors Hall

 All students can apply to live in Chancellors Hall, UW-Eau Claire’s apartment-style residence hall. Applications for the Spring 2007 term are currently available at all residence hall front desks and in the Housing Office, Towers Hall 112. Students who apply by Oct. 2 will be given priority consideration based on seniority.

Applications for the 2007-08 academic year will be available at all residence hall front desks, the Housing Office and Campus Information (Davies Center) beginning Nov. 1. Students who apply by Nov. 17, will be given priority consideration based on seniority.

Registering for Spring Semester

Think Spring Registration

Registration for second semester will come sooner than you think! It will take place from Nov. 8 – Dec. 8. With a few exceptions, students register according to the number of credits they have, with seniors registering first. Second semester freshmen will start registering around Thanksgiving.

 

It is crucial to start thinking about registration much sooner than that. Here is some important information you can share with your students.

• During the week of Oct. 16 students will be e-mailed their registration materials, including their exact registration time as well as a degree audit that lists all the requirements for their degree. 
• All students must pay a $100 deposit for spring semester prior to registering. This goes toward the spring semester tuition.
• All students with fewer than 60 earned credits and all students in academic difficulty must see an adviser and receive their PAC (personal advising code) prior to registering. In reality, all students should see an adviser before registering. Please encourage your students to make these appointments early.
• Students who want to change their major should do it before they register so they can talk with their new adviser. Information on how to do that can be found on the Registration Web site.
• Students who are considering changing a major can get a “What-if degree audit” for the major they are considering.

For answers to most registration related questions, see “Steps to a Successful Registration.”  

Winterim

Registering for Winterim

Winterim sessions are a great time for students to earn additional credits - allowing them to catch up, or to move ahead in working toward a degree. The classes are usually smaller; the atmosphere is more casual, yet more intensely focused because of the short timeframe. Students can enjoy the camaraderie of these classes, and instructors frequently have more time to meet with students.

The 2007 Winterim session will begin January 2, 2007 and run through Jan. 19.  Since the Martin Luther King holiday falls within that period (Jan. 15, 2007), classes will be held on Saturday, Jan. 6, 2007. 

Students will register for Winterim classes Oct 9 - 19.  They will be notified of the first day they may register, based upon their classification - graduates first, then seniors, juniors, and so on. Enrollment will be reviewed and classes with low enrollment may be cancelled.  Registration continues until classes begin, but students take the risk of classes having closed or cancelled if they haven’t registered by Oct. 19.

Winterim class schedules will be available on the UW-Eau Claire web site beginning September 29. Students are not required to see an adviser in order to register for Winterim, but it is always a good idea to do so.

National Student Exchange

Photo submitted by Kate Brown - taken while on exchange at Towson University.  Kate participated in the NSE program twice - attending one semester at Winthrop and one at Towson.

When most people think of exchange, they think of crossing oceans and international borders that are thousands of miles from home.  But, thinking globally can begin a bit closer to home through the National Student Exchange. NSE is a consortium of 190 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada and three U.S. territories. Students can go on exchange for a single semester or a full academic year, continue to pay normal tuition and fees to UW-Eau Claire and earn resident degree credits. Who wouldn't want to travel, study in another state and have a once in a lifetime experience?

NSE participants must be full-time students with a minimum 2.5 GPA, in good standing (academic, personal and financial), and have completed at least 30 credits at the time of the exchange. Successful NSE applicants also are flexible, goal oriented and curious.

Now is the time to begin thinking about NSE participation during the 2007 - 08 academic year by attending an NSE information meeting. NSE information meetings will be held during October and November. The first meeting is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 11, in the Potawatomi Room of Davies Center. For a complete listing of NSE information meetings visit www.uwec.edu/sdd/nse/nseapp.htm.

The application process, requirements, timeline and the placement process will be explained and application packets and NSE directories will be distributed. Students who have participated in the NSE program will be available to talk about their experiences and answer questions. Because the NSE placement process involves far more than identifying schools, NSE applicants must attend an information meeting. Completed applications will be due Feb. 7, 2007. Please encourage your students to learn more about this terrific opportunity.

Study Abroad Fair

Alyssa Retzlaff, Jared Kiefer, Analiese Tushaus at the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin while studying in Wittenberg, Germany, Spring '06

UW-Eau Claire is a national leader in study abroad.  What sets us apart is not only the number of students who study abroad, roughly 25 percent of a graduating class, but the fact that the majority of our students study abroad for a semester or more.  This is possible because UW-Eau Claire academic departments increasingly treat study abroad as an integral part of the academic curriculum.

Application deadlines are early:  November of this semester to study abroad summer or fall 07; March or April of spring semester to study abroad in spring ’08. The early deadlines allow students to plan both academically and financially for their time abroad, and it allows the Center for International Education to provide a comprehensive orientation to help students maximize their learning abroad.

Students considering study abroad should visit the Study Abroad Fair from 3 – 5:30 p.m. Oct. 12 in the Council Fire Room of Davies Center. All UW-Eau Claire study abroad programs will be represented by past student participants and/or international partners from our sites abroad.  Students can stop in for five minutes or browse for two hours. A study abroad application fee (value $30) will be raffled off every 15 minutes.

Midterm Exams

Academic Skills Center

Expect your student to become a little stressed toward the end of this month and the beginning of November. Let your student know that you are supportive during this difficult time of the semester. If your student is struggling or not doing as well as they had hoped, encourage him or her to seek help.  The Academic Skills Center provides a variety of resources for students experiencing difficulty.  The ASC developed the following check-list for test preparation.

Preparation - in general

• Attend all lectures and take notes.
• Do all assigned reading and take notes.
• Review all notes periodically.

Test Day

• Get a good night’s sleep.
• Eat a good breakfast.
• Arrive early enough to get settled in and comfortable before the test.

During the Test

• Write your name on the test and scan the entire test.
• Write down any important information that you might forget on the back of the test.
• Budget your time.
  • Answer easier questions first.
  • Skip difficult ones, or guess, if they are multiple choice or true/false.
• Ask instructor to clarify any questions you don’t understand.
• For essay questions, decide what is being asked.
  • Outline your answer in the margin.
  • Organize the response by using major points and supporting details.

• Don’t worry about being the first or last to finish the test.  Take the time you need to finish, within the time allotted.
• Review skipped questions. If you still don’t know, make an educated guess.
• Review your test before turning it in.

After the Test

• Review concepts, terms, ideas that proved difficult on the test.
• Decide how you can better prepare for the next exam.

Resident Assistant Selection

Residence Life Staff

Students who have lived in the residence halls for one semester can participate in the resident assistant selection. If your student is interested in applying for resident assistant position, encourage him/her to talk to an R.A. The applications for Spring 2007 are available beginning Oct. 3, and may be picked up from any residence hall front desk, hall director or the Housing and Residence Life Office, Towers 112.

Completed applications are due to the hall director of the hall where your student plans to apply.

University Recreation and Sport Facilities Updates

In an attempt to enhance customer service for UW-Eau Claire students, faculty/staff, student/faculty/staff spouses, and CVTC students who reside in UW-Eau Claire residence halls, University Recreation and Sport Facilities is offering the option of dual memberships for Crest Fitness Center and the McPhee Strength & Performance Center. Your student can purchase his or her membership at the Recreation office in Hilltop Center.

Come play nine holes of golf with your son or daughter at the REC FEST: Early Birdie Golf Outing Sept. 29. Tee times start at NOON at the Princeton Valley Golf Course.  If you’d like to sign up please contact Andy Jepsen via e-mail at jepsenan@uwec.edu or call 715-836-2176.

If you’re a Blugold alum, check out the University Recreation and Sport Facilities Alumni Database, donate $25 and receive a new Recreation champion shirt.

Student Citizenship

Eau Claire Police Department Update

Submitted by Brad Venaas, Deputy Chief, Patrol Division

As students return to campus and the Eau Claire community, I would like to take the opportunity to address a few issues. The City of Eau Claire Police Department and the UW-Eau Claire continue to work together to provide a safe environment for all citizens in the community, including your students. All citizens who reside in or visit Eau Claire have a responsibility to make the community an enjoyable yet safe place to live. Learning to be a good neighbor is often difficult especially for young people who are out on their own for the first time.

Eau Claire is a college town and with that comes a number of perceptions, some right and some wrong. We are a unique community in that the campus has grown up in two neighborhoods and a business district. This geographical relationship in itself brings problems relating to traffic congestion, parking and rental property density. Excessive alcohol use is an issue our department is addressing because of the following violations - loud parties/noise, underage alcohol, parking, garbage and littering, vandalism and criminal damage, sexual assaults, disorderly conduct and fights.

Students need to understand the importance of being a good neighbor and citizen especially when they are in the neighborhoods around campus. Forfeitures related to the above listed violations range from $198 to over a $1,000. Alcohol disorder involves over consumption of alcohol by young people who are typically inexperienced drinkers. With over consumption the behaviors listed above are more likely to happen and the police become involved. The behaviors create strained relationships the rest of the year with surrounding neighbors. In addition, I am sure that students also start to have academic issues involving class attendance and grades. Finally, in our world of public computer records, the convictions follow a person for a long time and potentially will be looked at by future employers.

Unfortunately, the consequences may be worse than those addressed above. Each year we have a number of sexual assaults reported that stem from high alcohol use. Often the victim is unable to recall circumstances due to excessive alcohol use, which in turn, limits both investigation and prosecution efforts. Young people also receive injuries from alcohol related traffic crashes, assaults and accidents. We have in the Midwest recently lost young people who have drowned in rivers or lakes. The drowning usually involves a university student and excessive alcohol consumption.

Alcohol consumption by young people is not going to go away or be held in check through enforcement. We need to ensure students are making responsible choices and limiting risk in whatever they decide to do. Having a plan for an evening and friends that can be trusted are often keys to having a good and safe time. 

The officers of the ECPD are committed to providing a safe environment for all who are part of our community. We can’t do it alone! Everyone has a part and needs to take responsibility for their behavior. Parents need to continue to be parents and hold their children, now adults, accountable for their behavior. They have grown up but still have a long way to go. Students continue to look to their parents for guidance and direction and need your support to be successful. Your support of our initiatives relating to responsible and low-risk behavior can go a long way and will be appreciated by all involved.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact Brad Venaas at 715-839-6060 or bradley.venaas@ci.eau-claire.wi.us.

Career Conference

49th Annual Career Conference

The Career Conference takes place from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m on Oct. 12 in Zorn Arena to meet with our students. Over 100 employers representing a wide range of industries and opportunities will visit UW-Eau Claire. Students can meet with these representatives as well as learn about internship and full-time opportunities with them. Freshman, sophomores, juniors and seniors can all benefit from this outstanding networking opportunity.

Explore Your Possibilities Week - Oct. 16-20 is a week long chance for students to discover how to live their great adventure. Faculty, staff, employers and alumni of UW-Eau Claire will present hour long workshops and seminars about careers, the job search and ways to get experience while in school. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors benefit from attending. Workshops are held Monday through Wednesday, and Career Services hosts an Open House on Thursday and Friday. Pre-registration for students will become available October 2.

Majors Fair

The Majors Fair takes place from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m on Oct. 26 in the Council Fire Room of Davies Center. Students will have the opportunity to meet informally with faculty and students from all departments. The event is designed so students can gather information on all majors, minors, inter-disciplinary and pre-professional programs in "one stop." Plus, there are lots of great prizes and free popcorn! The event is coordinated by Advising and New Student Initiatives.