Blugold Nuggets - November 2007

Midterms are behind your Blugold now. For some students, November is a time to breathe a sigh of relief and for others, it's time to rededicate to their studies. We hope this issue of Blugold Nuggets will give you information to support your student through the end of the semester.

Getting Involved on Campus

Beta Upsilon Sigma students volunteer for Adopt-A-Highway project

Intramural sports team poses with championship t-shirts

The first semester of your student's college career is already half over, and by this point, your student has probably settled into a regular routine - get up, eat, go to class, eat, go to another class, do homework, eat, do homework, go to bed, or something similar. Perhaps your student is feeling perfectly comfortable and "at home" in their new environment, or maybe he or she is still feeling disconnected from campus. Regardless, now that the newness of college has worn off and some of the anxiety has dissipated, what next? How can your student make the most of their college experience and take advantage of all UWEC has to offer? The answer: get involved!

UWEC serves a rich environment for living and learning. Opportunities abound for students to get connected and get involved. Faculty and staff have long known that student involvement both in and outside the classroom is both beneficial and important for students. A scholar by the name of Alexander Astin (1985) conducted extensive work with college students, which resulted in his "theory of involvement." In his theory, Astin simply states, "students learn by becoming involved" (p. 133, as cited in Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005). Not only do students learn by becoming involved, but scholars have found involvement results in several other desirable side effects, including retention and persistence.

Involvement in this sense is very broadly defined and can include anything from working on a project with a staff or faculty member to completing an internship to joining a student organization, among other activities. If your student has not quite found his or her niche on campus yet encourage them to explore the opportunities on campus. Here are few ideas:

• Join a student organization. UWEC has over 225 student organizations, and if there is not a group that fits your student's interests, then they can create their own. For a full listing of all student organizations on campus, visit www.uwec.edu/studentorgs.
• Volunteer. Every UWEC student is required to complete 30 hours of service learning to graduate. Why not get started early? Available opportunities can be found at http://www.uwec.edu/sl/index.html, and if students do not see something that matches their interest, they can design their own projects.
• Find a part-time job. What student couldn't use a little extra cash? Students can seek out job opportunities on the electronic student job board. Ten to fifteen hours per week is typically a reasonable number of hours for students to manage with other commitments.
• Commit to trying one new activity each week. Between fitness classes, The Forum and Artist Series, student organization events, theatre and music productions, and the numerous other opportunities that abound on campus, there is no reason for your student to ever be bored. Encourage your student to try one new activity a week...they just might find something they love, and make some new friends in the process.

Of course UWEC has many other opportunities than just those listed here, but these are some good starting points. The next time your student calls home and says they are bored or homesick, encourage them to make the most of the college experience and get involved!

Thanksgiving Break

Students living in the residence halls should be aware that all halls will close on Wednesday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m. with the exception of Towers, Katharine Thomas and Chancellors Halls. A UW-Eau Claire student who plans to stay in the halls during the Thanksgiving recess must register to stay in Towers, Katharine Thomas or Chancellors. He/she can do this by completing an online registration form by 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 20. If a student wishes to stay on campus during the break but does not reside in one of the three halls that are open, that student must stop in the Housing and Residence Life Office before Tuesday, Nov. 20 at 4 p.m. to fill out a form and get permission/signature from a student(s) to use their room.

The residence halls reopen on Sunday, Nov. 25 at noon.

International Folk Fair

2006 Folk Fair Participants

Davies Center will once again be transformed into a miniature world with many nationalities and groups proudly displaying their cultures at the International Folk Fair, to take place from noon - 4 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 4.

Folk Fair, which is coordinated by the Center for International Education, is the largest international festival of its kind in the area. Serving as a cultural exchange between exhibitors and visitors to the fair, it includes educational activities for children, live music, colorful cultural exhibits, dancing, art and craft displays, history, language and a variety of ethnic food for sale. Many of the exhibits are presented by international students who currently attend UW-Eau Claire.

Fair participants will be given "passports" to be stamped as they "travel" from country to country. For every seven countries visited, guests will receive a ticket for prize drawings that will be held throughout the day in Davies Theatre. Prizes are donated by business in the Eau Claire community.

Past attendees have called the Folk Fair an enlightening experience, noting both the quality of the exhibits as well as the pleasure of seeing so many people from different cultures working together to make the fair happen.

International entertainment will also be featured during the day throughout Davies Center. Folk Fair is free, international crafts and food will be for sale. For more information please contact the Center for International Education at 836-4411 or Bryan Stempka stempkbm@uwec.edu

National Student Exchange

Students interested in learning about exchange opportunities are invited to attend a National Student Exchange Informational Meeting. The application process, requirements and timelines for participating in a 2008-09 exchange will be explained. Students who have participated in the NSE program will be available to discuss their experiences and answer questions. For more information, contact Mary Ryan-Miller at ryanmk@uwec.edu or 836-2003. The information sessions will take place on Nov. 7 and 15 in the Badger Room, Davies Center, 3 to 4 p.m.

Midsemester Grades

Midsemester Grades

Students with freshman classification will get mid-semester grades emailed to them on Nov. 5. The grades will come from each individual professor. It is a good time to check-in with your son or daughter about how things are going. If your student does not receive a mid-term grade, encourage him or her to ask the professor for one. University policy states that all freshmen should receive such reports.

 

Withdrawing from Classes

Monday, Nov. 12 is the last day to withdraw from a class or to withdraw totally from the university. All students should realistically assess their chances of success in all their courses before this time. While we encourage students to work with their professors to find ways to successfully complete their courses, sometimes withdrawing from a course is the most prudent course of action.

Students are required to talk with their professor and their adviser before withdrawing from a course. This should be more than a perfunctory discussion. Students should discuss whether it is possible to be successful in the course and what help is available. They should also discuss the consequences of withdrawing from the course.

A brief discussion of issues related to withdrawing from a class can be found at http://www.uwec.edu/advising/withdrawing.htm

What parents can do?

Help the student realistically assess how he/she is doing in the course.

• How much of the total grade for the course has been completed? 
• Does the course build on previous content? 
• Does the student understand the material being covered?
• Is extra credit available?
• Has the student sought out help or tutoring?

Make certain the student understands the consequences of withdrawing from a course.

• If the student is withdrawing from a second course, do they understand how it will affect academic standing?
• Have they taken the course before? Note - A course can only be repeated once.
• Do they understand how all of this will affect financial aid or scholarships?

If the student is going below full time, a parent should check on the whether health insurance will be affected.

Try to be supportive of whatever decision the student makes. Particularly for new freshmen, having to admit that they are not successful in a course can be extremely upsetting. Parental understanding and reassurance can be crucial in minimizing the effect on the student’s academic confidence. Remind them that no one is successful at everything.

Tutoring Services

Tutoring Services

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 is a resource for students needing individual tutoring to enhance learning strategies and skills in mathematics, reading, studying and writing. Group tutoring also is available for a variety of entry-level courses. An English as a second language program is available for permanent resident students. Walk-in tutoring for writing is also available. For more information about the Academic Skills Center, students can go to 2112 Old Library.

The Mathematics Department offers a walk-in tutoring service in the Math Lab. The Math Lab provides assistance to students who have questions on details of their homework or who need clarification of concepts that they are learning in their mathematics courses. The math lab is located in Hibbard Humanities Hall (HHH 220). Courses tutored include Math 020 through Math 215 and Math 246. Please visit the Math Lab web site to learn more about the services and see available schedules.

Spring and Winterim Registration

Spring semester registration is from November 7-December 7.  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.

Here is some important information you can share with your students.

• During the week of Oct. 15 students were 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” on the web for the major they are considering.

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

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 interact with students.

The 2008 Winterim session will begin Jan. 2, 2008 and run through Jan. 18.  Required classes will be held on Saturday, Jan. 5, 2008. Registration for Winterim began on Oct. 8 and will continue until classes begin, but students take the risk of classes having closed or cancelled if they do not register early.

Encourage your student to check out the Winterim class schedule for available classes. Students are not required to see an adviser in order to register for Winterim, but it is always a good idea to do so.  

Off Campus Living

Now is the time when many students start thinking about renting for next year. Students should be sure to check out our off campus living web site to learn more about selecting a rental house or apartment. First year students are encouraged to wait until after House Day on January 29 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in the Council Fire Room, Davies Center to begin apartment hunting. More than 60 landlords representing an estimated 500 Eau Claire rental units will participate in the event. The Student Senate organizes the annual event to increase communication between students and landlords in an effort to reduce complications associated with signing leases.

With winter quickly approaching, it is important for students to know rules regarding parking and snow removal. Calendar parking is enforced from Nov. 1 to May 1, from midnight to 7:00 a.m. On odd numbered days (the date after midnight), residents must park only on the side of the street displaying odd numbered addresses. On even numbered days, park on the even side of the street. Additionally, cleaning of snow and ice is required. Sidewalks must be cleared of snow and ice within 24 hours after snowfall.

Planning for Final Exams

Final exams are a very hectic time for students and faculty alike. Final exam week's schedule is different than other weeks and is designed to accommodate longer exam times and minimize conflicts for students. Common exams are also given so tha all members over many selection of a course will take test at the same time.

Please do not make family vacation plans or other travel plans before the conclusion of final exam week. It is important to know that no student will be permitted to reschedule a final examination unless there are extraordinary circumstances over which the student has no control (e.g. hospitalization or military obligation). If your student has a serious issue arise which prevents him or her from taking an exam, your student should contact the Student Development and Diversity Office for assistance. Changes are not allowed for reasons such as an already purchased plane ticket, leaving campus early, or a family vacation.

The National Residence Hall Honorary sponsors a care package program to help parents and families support their Blugold through finals week. A letter from the President of NRHH will arrive at your home address with information on how to order. Look for the letter in November.

Copyright Policy Information

The following copyright policy is in effect to attempt to protect the university and students from civil liability and potential lawsuits or other litigation:

UW-Eau Claire takes copyright issues seriously. We provide education and information to our users through direct e-mails, posters, information on websites, training during Freshman Orientation, and information in the student and parent Orientation binders. We also offer free support for our students if their computers are compromised through a virus, exploitation, or if a user wants assistance removing peer-2- peer software.

We will disable computer network access if a computer appears to be connecting to multiple other computers or exhibiting other properties that violate our network usage policy. When a port is disabled, the registered owner of that computer will be notified that the computer could potentially be compromised, and will be offered contact information to assist in cleaning/repairing the software on that computer. Once the problem has been rectified, the computer will be allowed back on the network.

When notifications of copyright violations are received from recognized groups, such as the Recording Industry Association of America's (RIAA), the registered owner of the computer will be notified. Access to the network will be removed for 14 days. After 14 days, if the offending material has been removed, the computer will be allowed back on the network. 

A second violation will result in the computer being banned from the network for one month.  After one month, if the offending material has been removed, the computer will be allowed back on the network.

A third violation will result in the computer being banned for a semester. In addition, the user will be required to meet with the Associate Dean of Student Development. Disciplinary action may be taken against the user at that time.

If students or parents have any questions or wish to discuss this matter further please contact Rick Richmond (rrichmon@uwec.edu).

Chancellors Hall Applications

All students can apply to live in Chancellors Hall, UW-Eau Claire’s apartment-style residence hall. Applications for the 2008-09 academic year will be available at all residence hall front desks, the Housing and Residence Life Office and Campus Information (Davies Center) beginning Nov. 1. Students who apply by Nov. 16, will be given priority consideration based on seniority.

This deadline comes up quickly. If your student is interested in living in Chancellors, you may want to remind them of the early deadline.

One in Four RV Tour Program

 

 

 

On Friday, Nov. 2nd, the One in Four RV Tour will be coming to UW-Eau Claire!  This is a group of all male peer educators who travel the country with the goal of preventing rape on college campuses. They will present 5 hour-long workshops titled "How to Help a Sexual Assault Survivor: What Men Can Do."  These workshops address men as potential helpers, not as potential rapists. 

According to an article published in the January 2000 issue of the Journal of American College Health, this program has been shown to significantly decrease men's belief in rape myths and significantly lower men's self-reported likelihood of committing acts of sexual assault.
  
Program Schedule
Men's Program, open to all FYE students, 8 - 9:30 a.m., Alumni Room
Men's Program, male athletes and fraternity members only, 10 - 11:30 a.m., McPhee 106.
Women's Program, only workshop focused on female students, 1 - 2:30 p.m., Alumni room.
Men's Program, open to any and all students, 3 - 4:30 p.m., Alumni Room.

Men's Program, open to any and all students, 5 - 6:30 p.m., Alumni Room.

Encourage your Blugold to attend one of these programs.

Online Ride Board

If your student is looking for a ride home or to visit friends, the Online Ride Board is a great place to start the search. This Online Ride Board is provided as an opportunity for students to find and provide rides with other students to home or other destinations outside of Eau Claire. The system is simple to use and a student can post a request for riders or a ride.

Students should get to know the driver/riders ahead of time and drive responsibly.

Winter Break Planning Tips

Winter Break Planning

Your student may want to be thinking now about winter break plans. If employment is part of the plan, your student should visit Career Services for information about job searching.  Students can also utilize the online job board to find jobs in Eau Claire.

It might also be a great time to do some career exploration. Students can job shadow, conduct informational interviews or tour job-sites during the winter break to help them move closer toward a career choice.

Some students have found that winter break is a good time to complete their service-learning project. All candidates for the baccalaureate degree must satisfactorily complete 30 or more clock-hours of approved service-learning activity. This requirement is intended to provide students with an opportunity to serve their community, apply knowledge gained in the classroom and enhance their critical thinking skills.

Service-Learning promotes student learning and development through participation in thoughtfully organized service experiences. These experiences are defined, planned, implemented, and coordinated collaboratively by students, the university, and the community. They offer students opportunities to apply their education in service to the community, which enhances their appreciation, understanding, and respect for others.

Students can create their own service-learning experience or they can select a project that has been posted by The Center for Service-Learning. Thanksgiving Break is a great time to begin thinking about plans for winter break. If service-learning is a part of your Blugold's winter plans, encourage them to look into service opportunities now.