Blugold Nuggets - February 2008

The information in this month's newsletter should help to get your student off to a great start for Spring Semester!	February Survey Question: What topic regarding your student would you be MOST likely to personally contact the University?

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Internship Mania

Internship Mania is an annual event sponsored by UW-Eau Claire Student Organizations and Career Services. Last year over 1500 students attended the fair and more than 90 organizations, businesses and agencies were represented.

Internship Mania provides your son or daughter with excellent opportunities to learn more about internships that exist within various industries. Students can also expect to make contacts in their field of interest, learn more about specific industries, careers and organization and obtain valuable interview experience.

If your son or daughter is planning attending Internship Mania this month - please encourage them to go to the Making the Most of Internship Mania web site. They will find great advice on how to prepare for the day, including resume and interview preparation tips.

Civil Rights Pilgrimage

UW-Eau Claire students will have an opportunity to spend their spring break on a Civil Rights Pilgrimage to the South, vising sites of historic importance to the U.S. civil rights movements. Some of the stops included on the tour are the birthplace of Martin Luther King in Atlanta, Ga.; the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, Birmingham, Ala.; the Civil Rights Memorial in Montomery, Ala, ; the Community Bakery and Central High School in Little Rock, Ark.; and the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Tenn.

The trip, planned for March 14-23 will cost $200, which includes transportation, lodging and tours. Students must register by Friday, Feb. 15, in the Student Senate Office, Room 132 in Davies Center. A $75 deposit is required at registration. Informational meetings with complete itinerary will be held at 6pm on Wednesday, Feb. 6, and at noon on Monday, Feb. 11, in the Arrowhead Room of Davies Center.

Please contact January Boten for more information.

 

Spring Break 2008

Spring break (March 17-24) is a time for students to enjoy the first days of spring here in Eau Claire or at home, or for many, it’s a time for trips to even warmer locales. If your son or daughter is planning a spring break trip away, take a few minutes to talk with him/her about how to be safe while traveling. You have an important role to play in helping to ensure a safe and fun spring break for your student!

The Center for Alcohol Studies and Education has prepared the following list of top 10 things to discuss with your college student before spring break:

• Remind your college student about the health and personal physical safety dangers of excessive alcohol consumption (i.e. fighting, drunk driving, and sexual assault).
• If your student is using a tour company to plan their trip, ask to see any company promotional materials he/she has. Make sure that the company is reputable and that it isn't using excessive alcohol promotion to target and influence students.
• Ask your son or daughter to provide you with a copy of his/her travel itinerary, the name and number of his/her hotel(s), as well as cell phone numbers for friends.
• Talk to your son or daughter about your expectations with regard to alcohol use. Remind him/her of the importance of setting limits if he/she decides to drink.
• Give him/her a pre-paid calling card (valid for international use)and establish a regular check-in time.
• Offer to cover the cost of participating in an alternative spring break program (see Civil Rights Pilgrimage above).
• Review the signs of alcohol poisoning with your son or daughter so that they can better protect his/her peers and themselves.
• Make sure you and your student know the alcohol laws of their destination. Ask your travel agent for information on age of consumption and local laws regarding alcohol use. Some areas will ticket for open intoxicants, while others may have stiff penalties for public inebriation. Some international locations may allow students as young as 18 to legally purchase alcohol (e.g. Cancun, Mexico).
• Warn your college student about the danger of drinking and dehydration. It’s important that if in the sun, they remember to drink plenty of water or non-carbonated and non-alcoholic drinks, even if he/she does not feel thirsty.
• Prepare your college student with tips on how to travel safely.

Safe Travel Tips:

• Stay with friends at all times.
• Do not give out personal information to strangers.
• Never go off alone with someone you have just met.
• Carry only the minimum amount of cash needed when out, including enough for a taxi or public transportation back to the hotel.
• Stay off hotel and balcony railings.

For more information about travel and spring break safety tips, visit the following web sites, or search the web for spring break safety.
http://www.cdc.gov/women/owh/springbreak

http://www.travel.state.gov/travel/tips/brochures/brochures_1219.html

Adapted from a fact sheet prepared by A Matter of Degree: The National Effort to Reduce High-Risk Drinking Among College Students

Paying Spring Semester Tuition

An electronic bill with financial aid applied was emailed to each students' UW-Eau Claire email address on January 17th. A final electronic bill will be emailed on February 6th. Payment is due in full by Friday, February 15, 2008 to avoid finance charges.

If the student elected to participate in our partial payment plan, one half of his/her bill is due on Friday, February 15th. The remaining half, plus finance charges, is due on Friday, March 14th, 2008. An electronic bill will be emailed to students at their UW-Eau Claire email address on February 21st.

For more information about billing contact the University Business Office.

Financial Aid Info

If your student's financial aid exceeds his/her University costs, refunds can be picked up from 8:00am through 4:00pm at the Cashier's Window, Schofield Hall 108.

If your student wishes to have his/her financial aid refund check mailed, please complete the Refund Authorization Form

FAFSA Completion Information

Students must apply for financial aid each year to determine eligibility for need based financial aid and some non-need based financial aid. Aid is awarded when a student’s application is complete and is based on the funds available at that time. UW -Eau Claire has a priority date of April 15th. To apply for financial aid, students must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). This form collects the information needed to determine financial aid eligibility. Students and parents may sign the on-line FAFSA electronically if they have a federal PIN number. If you do not already have a U.S. Department of Education Personal Identification Number (PIN), you can apply for one at http://www.pin.ed.gov. With your PINs, you and your student can electronically sign the FAFSA on the Web. The PIN simplifies the application process and allows you to get your results faster. UW-Eau Claire’s Federal School Code is 003917. Completing the FAFSA by the priority date allows students the opportunity to receive consideration for all financial aid.

Additionally, about 30 percent of our applicants are required to submit signed copies of income tax forms (both parent and student). You do not need to submit tax forms unless requested to do so by the UW-Eau Claire Financial Aid Office.

Free Help in Completing the FAFSA
College Goal Sunday is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 10 in locations across the state and will offer students and parents free advice from financial aid professionals in completing the FAFSA.  The following link will allow you to find the location closest to you: http://www.wicollegegoalsunday.org/

Scholarship Applications
Now is a good time to apply for UW-Eau Claire Foundation scholarships for 08-09.  Check out individual scholarships, their eligibility criteria and application procedures at: http://www.uwec.edu/finaid/aid/FDNscholarships.htm

What's Happening on Campus?

The Artists Series presents excellence in the performing arts, which uplifts the spirit and enlivens the mind. On Monday, February 11th in Zorn Arena at 7:30 pm. San Francisco’s most acclaimed dance company, Janice Garrett & Dancers, will perform. Garrett and her company have received five nominations for Isadora Duncan Dance Awards as well as the 2004 “Twenty-Five to Watch” honor bestowed by Dance Magazine.

Since 1942 The Forum lecture series has presented many of the world's greatest minds and imaginations. Believed to be the oldest such continuous program in the United States, The Forum informs, enlightens and inspires through the spoken word. On Thursday, February 7th in Council Fire Room at 7:30, the Forum welcomes Anthony Romero. A provocative speaker deeply committed to American rights, equality and freedom, Romero is the Executive Director of the American Civil Liberties Union and is the first Latino and openly gay man to serve in that capacity.

Tickets for The Forum and Artists Series can be purchased at the Service Center located in Davies Center. Please call 715-836-3727 for more information.

Campus Film Series - The International Film Society and the University Activities Commission (UAC) Films committee present foreign and domestic films on campus for UW-Eau Claire students, faculty, and staff, and
for community members who purchase memberships. Since 1958 the series has represented a wide variety of countries, cinematic styles, directorial methods, genres and points of view in films that help to foster a better understanding of other peoples and cultures, as well as a lifelong appreciation for the art of film. For a list of the movies that will be shown this semester go to Spring 2008 Film Series.

The 34th Annual Viennese Ball

The largest social event hosted annually by the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the Viennese Ball will be Friday, April 11th & Saturday, April 12th from
6:30 p.m. until 1 a.m. in Davies Center. Ticket order forms will be available Friday, February 8th at 3pm. Call 715-836-3727 to be added to the Viennese Ball mailing for next year, or send your name, address and phone number via email to carrjk@uwec.edu.

Our Residence Halls - Convenient and Affordable!

Room sign up for students this year will be February 25 and 27 for students in Chancellors Hall and March 4 and 5 for students in all other halls.  Please feel free to check out the Housing and Residence Life web site for additional information about the residence halls.

As sign up approaches, we want to share some important information with you to discuss with your son or daughter.  Students and parents know the advantages of living on campus already:  Close to class, schedule friendly, variety in the meal plan, safety and security measures in place, and easy access to friends and study space!  There are a number of other advantages to living on campus as well.

Grade Advantage
Students in residence halls traditionally and consistently do better than their peers off campus in all class standings.  Here is the GPA comparison from Fall 2006:

Fall 2006		Mean GPA
Freshmen	Residence Hall	3.07
	Off Campus	2.79
Sophomore	Residence Hall	3.16
	Off Campus	2.90
Junior	Residence Hall	3.26
	Off Campus	3.08
Senior	Residence Hall	3.38
	Off Campus	3.21
All Undergrad	Residence Hall	3.14
	Off Campus	3.06

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Special Living Communities
In order to meet the needs of some our students, we have also developed two special living communities.  Students may choose to live in our Global Learning Community where faculty come in and present information about world issues and culture.  Student programs also focus on international themes several times through the year.  Our Substance Free floors also allow those students who choose not to consume alcohol, use illegal drugs, or use tobacco products to live with other students who are choosing a similar lifestyle.  Both of these options have been popular requests for our students.

Opportunities to Learn Outside of the Classroom

Countless studies indicate college students learn a variety of life skills by living in close proximity to one another.  Our staff works to maximize this opportunity by offering a variety of learning experiences in each residence hall.  Whether it is attending a program in the basement of the hall, getting involved in the hall government, or joining one of our several student organizations, students have many opportunities to learn valuable lessons and gain critical experiences that will benefit them throughout college and after graduation. 

Full University Experience with Added Value

The cost to live on campus next Fall will be approximately $2750, averaging out to $275/month for 10 months (Sept. through May).  Included in this cost are ALL utilities AND HIGH SPEED INTERNET. A few places off campus have fees around $275 per person, though many are in the $300 to $500 range making average off-campus rental costs around $350.  These costs often do not include utilities, and often there are additional transportation fees as well with off-campus living.  Finally, the majority of the contracts are 12 month contracts and many students who are not here in the summer pay monthly fees for those months as well since there are a limited number of people available to sub-lease those apartments! .

Registering for Summer Session

Students can now register for Summer Session 2008. Students should check out the Summer Session Class Schedule now to see if a course or two will fit into their plans for this summer.

Summer Session allows you to ...

• Complete your undergraduate or graduate degree program more quickly.
• Catch up on missed courses and/or lighten your workload for fall and spring semesters.
• Enhance your career opportunities.
• Make new friends in small, interactive classes.
• Earn while you learn. Our flexible scheduling options and online local job listings make it convenient for you to find a summer job while taking classes.
• Enjoy the beautiful Chippewa Valley and all it offers during the summer.

$100 down payment not required until April 25, 2008

Library Tours

The McIntyre Library faculty invite University of Wisconsin-Eau students to take a short tour of the library at the start of the spring semester.

Encourage your student to get to know the library! To join a tour group, students should meet in the Library Grand Corridor couch seating area outside the library, near the display cases. Tour participants will learn where to locate books and journal articles; how to ask a question online or in person; how to schedule a group study room, including those with plasma screens and other technologies; how to check out materials, including DVDs, CDs, laptops and digital cameras; and how to locate call numbers.

The tours are from February 4 through February 14 and last about 30 minutes.

Tour times are:
Mondays......... 5:30 pm
Tuesdays........ 3:00 pm
Wednesdays...... 10:00 am
Thursdays....... 12:00 pm

For more information, please contact the library reference desk or Betsy Richmond

National Student Exchange

The application deadline is fast approaching for National Student Exchange. This exchange program allows UW-Eau Claire students to study at one of nearly 190 colleges located in the United States, Canada, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands while the student continues to pay UW-Eau Claire tuition. If your student is interested in applying for 08-09 academic year participation, he or she should contact the Student Development and Diversity Office as soon as possible. If your student already has an NSE application and is planning to apply, but has not met to discuss school choices, call (715)836-2003 for an appointment.

The application process does take time, so students should act now!  The application deadline is Feb. 4th.

Thoughts from you.... last month's survey results

Thanks for the great responses to last month's survey question "How has your student changed since starting college?" A majority of your responses indicated that your students have matured and value their families more since starting at UWEC. You also said that they are handling their time and money well, have acquired new skills, have become more outgoing, or have changed in appearance. Your love and pride was evident in the responses. Here is a sample of some fun and heartwarming responses:

"We've both grown up in so many ways... and have discovered that we've grown CLOSER!"

"He has become such a nice young man. Mature, easy to talk to. It makes all the hard teenage years worth living!"

"She has made new friends and even learned to knit!"

A parent's favorite quote was "Mom, do you know I don't have enough clothes? I have to do laundry every week."

"He is so happy with his choice to go to UWEC! He has grown up some and become even more outgoing than before. He's a happy camper!".

WANTED - Parent Contributions!

We value your experience and wisdom, we ask for families to offer your expert advice in orientation discussions, and now we want to give you a voice in the Nuggets!

Beginning with the March issue of the Nuggets we would like to feature advice from parents and families. Articles should be between 400 and 600 words and can include a picture of you and your student. Quotes and comments from your son or daughter would be an excellent inclusion. If chosen, your article and picture will be circulated to all parents, families and university personnel who subscribe to the Nuggets. Please send articles to the Blugold Parent and Family Office by February 20th via email to family@uwec.edu. If you have any questions or comments, please do not hesitate to contact us.