Parent Newsletter April 2008
Dr. Dawn Remmers, Director, University Advising, Student Success and Testing Services, University of Texas at Arlington
Summer and Fall registration begins this month. If your students are ready to register for classes, you might remind them they may need to see an advisor in their major or come to the University Advising Center, if undeclared. Advisors can remove advising holds for both semesters, if the student is prepared with class choices.
The month of April is Counseling Awareness Month and this issue of the newsletter will focus on UT Arlington’s Counseling Services and services offered through this office. Read more in this month’s “Topic of the Month” article and more details on exactly what services the office provides in the “Did You Know?” section.
The month of March was an exciting one for the University. The men’s basketball team won the Southland Conference Tournament for the first time in UT Arlington history, and went on to play in the NCAA Tournament! Read more here.
Finally, UT Arlington has chosen its 2008-09 OneBook. This coming fall, all incoming freshman will read “The History of Love,” the second novel of emerging young author Nicole Krauss, born in 1974 and a graduate of Stanford and Oxford universities. The book is a Chinese-puzzle story of several different and seemingly unrelated people, told by four different narrators.
OneBook is a program for all UT Arlington freshmen, who will study, discuss, and write about the same book in their first semester English composition classes, freshman seminars, and selected other classes. Each year a theme or issue is drawn from the year’s OneBook selection for a year of Conversations. The theme for the 2008-09 year will be “connections”.
The theme drawn from each year’s OneBook selection provides the focus for various “conversations”: events and activities (for example, panel discussions, lectures, art exhibits, film series), discussion groups and book clubs, and informal discussions with students and colleagues. These conversations, cutting across the boundaries of departments and colleges, faculty, students, and staff, will serve to unite the University and enrich the intellectual life of its members.
by Cynthia Bing, Director, Counseling Services, University of Texas at Arlington
April is Counseling Awareness Month
As the parent of a college student you may find yourself wondering about the stressors or concerns that your son/daughter may face in college.
For a closer look at the concerns reported by college students, we refer to the National College Health Assessment of over 20,000 students. This survey highlights the top factors identified by students as impacting their academic progress. These factors include stress, sleep difficulties, concerns over family and friends, relationship problems and depression and anxiety. Responding to these concerns requires a collaborative effort between family members and the campus community. Understanding common stressors and establishing a clear line of communication with your student will support their success in college.
Communicate on a regular basis and be aware of the stressors your students face. Set up a regular time to talk and catch up on the events of the week. Encourage them to talk and then listen carefully to what they have to say.
During the month of April, students approach the end of the long school year. This is often a time of additional stressors. Time is spent preparing for final exams and projects, planning for the summer break and anticipating the fall semester.
Counseling Services recently posted flyers throughout the campus community encouraging students to talk about their concerns. The flyer asks the question “how are you doing?” The response, “we really want to know.” This flyer is part of a national campaign sponsored by the Jed Foundation to encourage college students to talk about stress, anxiety, depression, and other emotional issues that impact their lives. I encourage you to join the counseling staff in asking this question as we approach the end of the school year. This is a good time to ask your student “how are you really doing?”
Encourage your students to talk about difficult subjects. Often parents find it difficult to talk with their students about sensitive subjects. Some students may be concerned about their progress at the end of the school year. Other students may have emotional, health or financial concerns that impact their academic performance. Don’t be afraid to talk to your student if you think something is wrong. As a parent, you are in the best position to notice changes in your student. Don’t worry if you don’t have all of the answers. Simply start a conversation and address your concerns. Then encourage your student to ask for help.
Encourage help seeking behavior. Asking for help is a challenge that many students face. The campus community provides numerous resources to help students with a variety of concerns. A student can ask to meet with a faculty to address academic concerns, ask for a tutor to assist with exam preparation, ask a health provider to address medical concerns and ask a mental health professional to address emotional concerns. Let your student know that it is OK to ask for help.
Finally, I understand that many parents are concerned and wonder if their students actually listen when they talk. I have good news! According to the National College Health Assessment, 77 percent of the college students surveyed report that they get their health related information from their parents. This means students really listen when you talk. Students actually rate their parents as more reliable sources of information than their friends. So keep talking and ask the question “How are you really doing?” Communicating with your student is vital to their success in college.
Source; American College Health Association. American College Health Association – National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) Web Summary. Updated August 2007. Available at http://www.acha-ncha.org/data_highlights.html. 2007.
by Lynne Von Roeder, M.Ed., Academic Advisor, University of Texas at Arlington
Majoring in Stress
When I look back on my college years, life seemed much simpler. I took 17 hours each semester and worked part-time my second semester and continued part-time for the next three years. I studied something I loved – political science, and minored in something that made my accountant father more comfortable – business. I did not have a car in college until my sophomore year and I felt “up-to-date” with my electric typewriter.
As an academic advisor to undeclared and probationary students and as the mother of a college student, I see first hand how much more complicated student life is now. Now, students must shoulder all or part of their college expenses and the costs continue to rise. Also, many students are living at home and helping with family members. Working uses up valuable study time and extracurricular activities can add to that deficit as well.
A recent article published in the Fort Worth Star Telegram titled “College Students Majoring in Stress” (March 19, 2008) talked about a poll conducted by The Associated Press and mtvU (a television network found on many college campuses in the dining and public areas).
The poll (conducted across the U.S.) surveyed college students in several areas including; How often do you endure stress? What kinds of stress do you feel? How hopeful are you? How supportive is your family? Have you felt depressed? Have you had suicidal thoughts?
An astounding 40% responded they have had over whelming stress and are having issues dealing with it.
As a result, I have prepared a list of topics you might discuss the next time you are talking to your student regarding college:
Time Management – For every one hour of class, students should study two hours. Hence a 12 hour schedule becomes a 36 hour work week when you add the number of hours the student is actually in class. Therefore, it’s almost impossible for any student to work full time and go to school full time. For freshman, we recommend they not work their first semester, or at least keep it part-time. Also, have the student invest in a planner they will use.
College is Hard – At least it’s harder (or different), than high school. So often we hear freshman say they got good grades and did not have to study in high school. More often than not, these freshman end up on probation after their first semester. Remind students – typically, there won’t be homework grades. They will have three, possibly four papers and/or tests and that is their grade.
Choose Your Classes, Times and Professors Wisely – College students, especially those living away from home, don’t go to bed early. Students should not choose 8:00 am classes unless they are really a morning person. When it’s time to choose professors or classes, students might consider talking with friends, or other students, who have taken similar classes to help determine a professor’s style that fits with their style. Don’t forget to modify your work schedule to allow for plenty of study time as well.
Find Help – Encourage your student to find help when they need it and not to be afraid to ask. You have already read about all the services offered by Counseling Services (Topic of the Month) but don’t forget about the other valuable resources on campus. At UTA, your student can go to the Student Success website and find a lot of information on other support services on campus.
In closing, remind your student that we all need help sometimes and it’s always better to ask sooner rather than later.
by Liz Hannabas, Coordinator of Advisor Outreach, University of Texas at Arlington
Lori Leach
While our topic this month focuses on student mental health, the University Advising Center finds it prudent to recognize a member of the Counseling Services Office for this month’s Maverick of the Month.
Lori Leach, a UT Arlington employee for almost eight years has been working as a Counseling Specialist in the Counseling Services Office for five years. A licensed Professional Counselor in the State of Texas, Lori works to provide individual and group counseling sessions to address personal, academic, and career issues with students. She has a master’s degree in Counseling and also participates in outreach activities across campus in order to increase student awareness of mental health issues and the resources available to them within the UTA community.
Lori’s outgoing personality and hands-on technique helps her reach out to UT Arlington students and helps them find balance between academics and their daily routine; “finding a way to balance the 6 dimensions of wellness, as defined by Dr. Bill Hettler of the National Wellness Institute, means incorporating a healthy lifestyle into daily priorities, such as getting adequate sleep, exercise and nutrition, practicing healthy ways of coping with stress and expressing emotion, connecting one-on-one with others (that means turning off the IM and cell phone for a period of time) through social and volunteer activities , exploring a sense of connectedness with “something bigger than myself”, stretching the mind (okay, this one probably already takes up more than it’s fair share for college students), and identifying an occupation that is a good fit with interests, personality, aptitudes, and values.”
Lori believes a student who makes these areas a priority will ensure “Maverick” status – “by incorporating these six dimensions of wellness the student will create value and make a real commitment to personal wellbeing as they strive to reach their academic goals.”
As an Honorable Mention in the 2002 UTA Outstanding Academic Advisor awards, Lori also makes it her priority to help raise awareness of the importance of personal well-being as a preventive measure and to provide support to those who choose to work in that direction. “This is one of my areas of expertise and I am currently facilitating seminars on topics such as Sleep Well: Getting a Better Night’s Sleep, Stress Management, Overcoming Test Anxiety, and Using the Wellness Wheel to Find Balance in Your Life. Other personal growth seminars offered through our office include Healthy Dating, Self-Esteem, The Relaxation Response, and Anger Management.”
It’s Lori’s involvement and commitment to student health and wellness that make her our clear choice for April’s Maverick of the Month – Congratulations!
Help is Available
UTA Counseling Services can help students with many concerns regarding academic, career, and personal problems. Our goal is to provide confidential services that help students to succeed academically, in their careers, and in their personal lives. We are focused on working with students who can benefit from a short-term counseling model. Some issues may require treatment and/or monitoring that is beyond the scope of what our office can accommodate. In these cases, referrals to appropriate services will be provided.
UT Arlington Library
Did you know about all the resources, services and help available at the library? The library is available to all visitors! Click here and start browsing today.
LIVE – Entertainment!
Tickets are on sale now to see Lavell Crawford April 1st.
Crawford is now one of the biggest names in comedy. He most recently placed second behind Jon Reep in NBC’s latest season of “Last Comic Standing”. He has also appeared at HBO’s US Comedy Arts Festival, The Comedy Festival in Las Vegas, NV, and Laffapolooza, as well as headlining at the Montreal Just for Laughs Festival. His television appearences include “Comedy Central’s Premium Blend”, “The Jamie Foxx Show”, “Showtime at the Apollo”, “BET’s ComicView”, Russel Simmon’s Def Comedy Jam”, and much more. Lavell has also appeared on stage in the hit play Men Cry in the Dark and critically acclaimed Friends and Lovers.
Lavell recently released his own comedy CD “Takin’ a Fat Break.” Currently, he is touring nationally and playing to sold out crowds in theatres, comedy clubs, and colleges nationwide.
Tickets can be purchased in the lower level of the University Center. The performance will take place in the Bluebonnet Ballroom, University Center. Doors open at 7:00 pm.
Friday Night Live Featuring The Vanished – April 4th
Bowling and Billiards for $1.00. Free food. Live music from The Vanished. Ticket prices for students, faculty/staff and alumni are free and $7.00 for General Public. Tickets sold at the door on April 4, 2008. For more information, click here.
International Week
The University of Texas at Arlington and the International Student Organization (ISO) will present the 31st annual International Week (I-Week) from April 5 to April 11. Approximately 20 different student-led nationality organizations participate in this week-long celebration. This year’s theme is “Culture Splash,” and will feature a soccer tournament, an Opening Parade led by the widely recognized UT Arlington Samba Band, a Food Fair featuring food from all over the world made by UT Arlington’s international students, an international Fashion Show, a special guest speaker, visiting Fulbright Scholar Dr. Daramola from Nigeria, intriguing and intricate cultural exhibits created by the students, and a talent show showcasing all the spectacular talents of the many and varied international students who have come to UT Arlington from countries all over the world. The festival officially begins at noon Monday, April 7, at the E.H. Hereford University Center, 300 W. First St. Click here for times and locations of other scheduled events.
Important Dates to Remember
April 7 Summer and Fall 2008 Registration Begins
April 12 The Big Event
Is your student looking for some fun activities? Campus Recreation keeps its calendar busy with events all semester long. Click here to view all upcoming events.
Academic Calendar | Featured Events | Full Calendar
To view archived copies of this newsletter visit www.uta.edu/studentsuccess-home and click on the Parent E-Newsletter link at the bottom of the page