Parent Newsletter November 2006
Dr. Dawn Remmers, Director, University Advising and Student Success, University of Texas at Arlington
Whether this is your first experience with higher education or another step in a long family tradition, as a parent, you know this is a critical passage for your son or daughter.
University Advising and Student Success is proud to bring this Parent e-Newsletter to you as a method of communicating issues that we hope are important to you and relevant to the relationship you have with your child.
Each month the e-Newsletter will have one in-depth story that will provide insight on parent – student relationships. It will also give you information on what’s going on within the institution both socially and academically.
One area of special interest to be covered will be the “Maverick of the Month”. UT-Arlington’s mascot is the Maverick – you might be asking, “What is a Maverick?” Well, each month we will highlight an employee of the University who epitomizes what a Maverick truly is.
Thank you for taking the time to read this first issue of the Parent e-Newsletter. Archived copies of this newsletter will be available at the University Advising and Student Success website.
Home for the Holidays by Cynthia Bing, LPC, NCC; Director, Counseling Services, University of Texas at Arlington
It’s hard to believe that we are in the final weeks of the fall semester. The beginning of the school year was packed with the excitement of returning to school, meeting new friends and many campus activities. At this time, however, students have settled into the routine of daily work, research papers, projects, and exams. Many students are concerned about their grades and anticipating time at home with friends and family.
What can you do as parents to support your students during the next few weeks?
Grades and Academic Concerns:
- Provide support for students who express concerns about their grades.
- Understand that first semester students experience a significant transition from high schools and community colleges. Listen carefully and support your students by acknowledging the challenges of this transition.
- Encourage students to identify their strengths and challenges.
Talk with them about the classes that are “going well” and the classes that they “fear.”
- Encourage students to identify their perceived obstacles and resources for each class.
Example: Your student has a history class that requires a research paper. Your student does not like writing papers and sees this assignment as an obstacle to achieving their desired grade.
Once your student identifies the obstacle (i.e. writing a research paper), encourage them to locate a resource on campus to address this obstacle. In this case, a referral to the writing center can assist the student in editing their paper.
- Encourage your students to ask for help. Often, asking for help is the biggest challenge.
Encourage students to talk with faculty, advisors, counselors, tutors, and residence life staff. These professionals have a wealth of knowledge in which to answer questions and guide students to the appropriate resources.
Returning Home for the Holidays:
- Initiate conversations about family expectations prior to their arrival at home.
- It is not uncommon for parents and students to have different expectations for the holidays.
You may be anticipating long conversations and personal time with your student only to find that their entire break is already committed to friends and other activities. Discuss your expectations ahead of time.
- Discuss curfews and family responsibilities. Help your students anticipate and plan the transition.
- Understand that while students are on break they are also concerned about returning to classes and preparing for final exams.
Finally, provide a supportive environment that encourages students to evaluate their performance at the end of the semester. Acknowledge their strengths and successes and encourage them to seek resources to address their concerns. The partnership between parents and students is critical to a successful college experience.
In our next issue: What happens when the visit home becomes confrontational?
The University hopes to redefine the concepts of health, fitness and wellness with its new Maverick Activities Center. The center is currently undergoing a multimillion-dollar makeover. read more…
Article courtesy of UT Arlington Magazine, Fall 2006
by Liz Hannabas, Coordinator of Advisor Outreach, University of Texas at Arlington
Andrew Leverenz, Web Site and Content Coordinator
When it came time to choose the Maverick of the Month for our inaugural issue of this Parent e-Newsletter the choice was obvious.
This person had to be open to new ideas; innovative in more ways than one. Our Maverick, in his own words “is unconventional and eccentric, someone who fosters innovative thinking by constantly learning from people with different interests and backgrounds.”
Our Maverick of the Month contributes to the quality of UT-Arlington’s image on a daily basis. As Web Site and Content Coordinator in the Office of University Publications, our Maverick is responsible for producing and maintaining the main university web site and assists academic and administrative departments with their web sites. He was also involved in the redesign of the university’s main web site in the Fall of 2005, both visually and functionally.
It is this major redesign which has become an overall communications strategy that will increase awareness of UT-Arlington – a university founded in 1895 as a private liberal arts institution and eventually achieved senior college status in 1959 and became part of The University of Texas System in 1965.
So, in honor of his consistent commitment to UT-Arlington, the Office of University Advising and Student Success is proud to acknowledge Andrew Leverenz as November’s Maverick of the Month.
by Morgan Jones, M.A., Academic Advisor II, University of Texas at Arlington
Finals are just around the corner…click here for the Fall 2006 schedule. Below, some tips to help your student succeed in each course!
1.) Determine the weight of each exam (i.e. 20%, 100%, etc.).
2.) Determine the topics to be covered – Is it cumulative or just over the last sections learned?
3.) Determine the type of test – multiple choice, T/F, essay, etc.
4.) Make an End of Semester Assignment Calendar—Finish some assignments very early so you can have more time to study later on (up to 2 weeks early)
5.) Start studying for the final 5 days in advance – Make a calendar to plan when you will study each topic.
6.) Don’t start studying too early however, because you could forget the material. Space the study times throughout the days and split the day up with different topics to keep it fresh.
7.) Set priorities – classes that are harder require more study time.
8.) Be sure to attend all classes leading up to the final.
9.) Use active study strategies – don’t just read the material, make notecards, summary sheets, self-tests.
10.) Stay motivated.
11.) Work hard leading up to the final.
12.) Work hard during each exam and don’t panic!
