Parent Newsletter October 2008
Dr. Dawn Remmers, Director, University Advising, Student Success and Testing Services, University of Texas at Arlington
For most students, their world consists of going to class, making friends, maybe a part-time job, and of course, studying. For students who choose to study abroad, their world opens doors to new places, new experiences and broader awareness of cultural differences. This month’s Topic of the Month talks about the study abroad program and the options available to UT Arlington students. Could this be an option for your student?
UT Arlington, along with several colleges across the United States, is offering flat-rate tuition in an effort to make college more affordable. Read more about UT Arlington’s tuition rates in “Did You Know?”
Mid-term grade reports will post for all first time freshmen and also for students whose GPA is less than 2.25. Be sure your student checks their student center in MyMav after October 20th. If there are any questions about their grades, encourage your student to see his professor promptly. And, the last day to drop with an automatic “W” is October 31st.
Finally, be sure to check out the calendar section and make plans to attend UT Arlington’s Parent and Family Weekend.
by Karl M. Petruso, Dean of the Honors College and Professor of Anthropology University of Texas at Arlington
Study Abroad: The Evolution of a Program
Travel broadens one’s worldview; in travel, we discover ourselves; experiencing life in other countries makes us appreciate all the more our own country; travel can change your life; etc., etc.
These workhorse adages are among the most common clichés to be found in literature on international travel in general, and in advertisements for study abroad programs in particular. As is typically the case with clichés, endless repetition diminishes much of the force they once might have had. Nonetheless, the very fact that they are so commonly invoked—not merely in advertising literature, but by those who have had profound experiences abroad—suggests that that there might well be something to these old saws after all.
Although my own undergraduate experience was not typical, I daresay it is representative: I was fortunate enough to spend my junior year abroad in the late 1960s in College Year in Athens, an outstanding study abroad program in Greece. The courses I took, the professors I came to know, the archaeological and historical sites I was able to study intensely and at length, and my sustained exposure to a different culture and rhythm of life brought focus to my academic pursuits and thoroughly shaped not only my career, but my life. It is no exaggeration to say that I became both an archaeologist and an academic on the strength of that undergraduate experience, and I have always been deeply grateful for the support and encouragement I received from my parents toward this end. More to the point, it made me a lifelong believer in, and passionate advocate for, the undergraduate study abroad experience. I have directed many study abroad programs for four American universities since 1976.
At the peak of Arthur’s Seat, Edinburgh (Scotland, 2004)
Each year UT Arlington sponsors more than a dozen programs taught by our faculty in various parts of the world. These valuable programs typically aim to enhance, reinforce and complement the academic and professional work students do on campus in their majors. In the Honors College our study abroad program has evolved over the years to become something a bit out of the ordinary. Our clientele is university-wide and our approach is inclusive (both Honors and non-Honors undergraduate students are eligible to participate). The courses we teach are upper-level, thematically linked and rigorous, but they are not aimed exclusively at any particular majors. While the courses often appeal to students in relevant disciplines, we are especially keen to attract students for whom the experience of being and studying abroad is itself the attraction. In recent years the Honors College, with generous support from the offices of the Provost and the President, has sponsored many summer programs to Europe and Central America. As an example, our programs in Greece have focused on the art and archaeology of the prehistoric and classical Aegean (taught by me) and classical Athenian institutions (taught by Dr. Charles Chiasson, Associate Professor in the Department of Philosophy and Humanities and Director of the university’s Classics program).
The author lectures at the Broch of Dun Telve, Scottish Highlands (Scotland, 2004)
Each summer, pre-departure preparation is important. Each student is assigned an oral presentation for each course, to be researched and prepared before leaving Arlington. The reports focus on a place, a significant person, or an historical event. A series of lectures on campus for each course precedes our departure, to prepare the participants to hit the ground running upon arrival.
We made the decision long ago that Honors College study abroad programs would expressly avoid the classroom environment, since we find ourselves tied to the classroom so much of the year in Arlington. Rather, we consider the country itself our classroom. We are constantly on the go, by hired coach, metro, boat and—most often—on foot, clambering about archaeological ruins, historical buildings, battlefields, landscapes and, frequently, museums. One can argue that a new place can be fathomed most vividly on a mundane human scale, by walking. Thus we hike often and far, and even the most inclement weather does not deter us. Our work in France last summer took us up and down the Seine by boat through many arrondissements of Paris; down into dark caves containing some of humankind’s earliest art in the Dordogne Valley; into breathtaking medieval cathedrals; to the tops of the battlements of several fortified towns; inside the ruins of German bunkers defending the Normandy coast until the Allied invasion on D-Day; and along the many rows of enormous but silent megaliths of the Neolithic period near the coast of Brittany.
Robert Clark does an oral report on the Allied landing at Omaha Beach, D-Day (France, 2008)
As an experiment, the study abroad program of the Honors College in summer 2008 was organized explicitly around the phenomenon of travel. Several years ago, in discussing our own travel experiences, Dr. Kimberly van Noort (Associate Professor in the Dept. of Modern Languages and Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts) and I realized that we shared scholarly interests in the history of travel and the transformative nature of travel. We decided to collaborate on a new kind of program for summer 2008 in France. Dr. van Noort created a course on the travel literature of France from the medieval period to World War II. In addition, her students each kept a journal in which they entered their own reactions to the country, refracted through the perceptions of earlier travelers (religious pilgrims, foreign invaders, Crusaders, Allied liberators, etc.) who encountered and wrote about the same places we visited. I taught a course on the archaeology and early history of France (Paleolithic through Roman Imperial periods), for which the students read the reconstructed book of an explorer named Pytheas the Greek, who lived in the 4th century BC. Pytheas was a citizen of Marseilles (the ancient Greek colony of Massalia on the Mediterranean); he traveled overland northwest to the Normandy coast, around Britain, to the Orkney and Shetland Islands, perhaps to the Baltic Sea and, in the view of many scholars, sailed as far as Iceland before returning to Massalia.
At the Temple of Poseidon, Sounion (Greece, 2006)
I asked the students in my course to consider the motives of foreigners who came to France over the centuries: the ways they exploited resources, built trading networks, related to the indigenous populations, established settlements, and in so many other ways transformed this part of western Europe. Here again, the students were asked to put themselves in the shoes of travelers centuries and millennia ago, and strive to experience the country accordingly. We also put a modern gloss on our project by discussing exactly what our own role was. Were we merely tourists, or did we have a more restricted, serious mission? Indeed, does the word “tourist” deserve the often dismissive connotation it has acquired since jet travel became so commonplace over the past four decades? For cultural anthropologists, the topic of tourism has become a hot topic. We addressed it through both academic articles and popular essays by journalists and humorists.
Shannon Edwards does an oral report on the Roman amphitheater at Arles, still used today for bullfights (France, 2008)
The University of Texas System recognizes the value of study abroad and has recently made it a priority to increase the number of students from component institutions who acquire an international learning experience. The Provost and President of the university endorse this objective, and the Honors College seeks to put its own stamp on it. We hope the parents of our students will also promote this worthy objective, and will encourage their sons and daughters to explore the world with us.
by Liz Hannabas, Coordinator of Advisor Outreach, University of Texas at Arlington
Jay Horn, Director of International Student and Scholar Services
UT Arlington’s diverse groups of students come from all corners of the United States and almost 130 countries, according to UT Arlington Fast Facts. This diversity is essential to helping students who attend UT Arlington see the value of different cultures.
Director of International Student and Scholar Services, Jay Horn hopes this focus will continue to grow; “I am always striving to provide effective and efficient service to the international students on campus. I am also happy to have been a part of the development of International Education Week at UT Arlington, a week which focuses on encouraging American students to see the value of getting a global education. I hope this continues to be a focus of this campus.”
Jay has been at UT Arlington for twelve years and enjoys the adventure his career provides; “My role is to lead a team of talented advisors that provide programming and advising for international students and scholars on a variety of issues including: immigration, academics, personal and social issues.”
His vision of the ideal Maverick? “Being a maverick means being adventuresome in your approach to the various aspects of your life; taking chances, trying new things, seeking out ways to better yourself and the community.”
Jay has been involved in many aspects of the International Student Office over the years. He started as Assistant Director, International Student and Scholar Services, then Director of International Programs, and finally in his current position of Director, International Student and Scholar Services.
It’s a formidable role and one the University Advising Center and Student Success office recognizes as necessary to campus life and student development – we Congratulate you and the work you do for UT Arlington and for being October’s Maverick of the Month!
It’s Not Just A Journalism Degree Anymore
by Emily Toman, Editor-in-Chief, The Shorthorn
As commercial newspapers struggle to compete with broadcast and the Internet, students entering the journalism profession need more than just writing skills. The Shorthorn student newspaper has followed the shift toward more multimedia content, training students on video, audio and the Web.
The industry itself has experienced a decline in readership as people find it easier to go online, listen to the radio or watch TV rather than sit and flip through the daily newspaper. Baby boomers continue to drive the industry as younger generations take advantage of the latest technologies.
Ideally in today’s industry, a reporter must be able to cover a story through writing, video and audio – possibly all at once. When breaking news happens, reporters must post the story online quickly and update it as they get more information.
The Shorthorn provides the training ground to do just that. The web site has greatly expanded since it began in 1998. Videos and audio slideshows appear regularly as events happen on and off campus. Editors maintain blogs to supplement regular content and keep readers updated on topics mentioned in print. The opinion editor conducts polls online to garner feedback on columns and editorials. Photographers can showcase their work in galleries telling stories through pictures – something that can’t always fit into the print edition. Readers can register and submit comments on any stories posted online.
This semester, editors aim to make the site even more interactive and easier to navigate.
The Shorthorn has access to video cameras, audio recorders, editing programs and other tools for visual media. Training sessions are held periodically to teach or refresh staff members on how to produce multimedia. However, as newspapers move more toward the web, the daily print edition can’t be overlooked – especially on college campuses. Unlike the commercial industry, the university has a smaller community, and newspaper stands are around every corner and inside every building. Students tend to pick up the paper while waiting for class, eating lunch or taking study breaks.
The Shorthorn has a circulation of about 10,000 publishing Tuesday through Friday each week during the fall and spring semesters. It comes out twice a week during the summer.
Working at The Shorthorn gives journalism majors the experience they need to get an internship or job after graduation, especially in the evolving industry.
Enrollment Is Up At UT Arlington
Fall enrollment at The University of Texas at Arlington has reached 25,061, an increase over last year’s enrollment of 24,888. The incoming freshman class of 2,310 is an increase of 175, or 8.7 percent over last year. Minority enrollment continued to increase, especially among Hispanic students, whose ranks increased by 214 or six percent. Asian students increased by 3.7 percent, and blacks by 0.2 percent. New doctoral students increased from 108 to 132, an increase of 22 percent.
Fifty-two percent of the new freshmen were in the top quarter of their high school class and 17 percent graduated in the top 10 percent. The average SAT score is 1063, up from 1058 last year. The percentage of students taking 12-14 hours increased by 5.3 percent this year.
Breakdown of UT Arlington Student Ethnicity –
47.9 percent White
14.4 percent Hispanic
13.9 percent African American
10.8 percent International
10.3 percent Asian
0.5 percent Native American
(source; UT Arlington Fast Facts)
Flat Rate Tuition
Undergraduate students at UT Arlington can benefit from flat rate tuition by taking more than 12 hours. Twelve credit hours will cost $3,890 in 2009.
According to President Spaniolo’s office, the rate flattens at $4,093 in 2010 for undergraduate students. Graduate students can also benefit. In 2009, tuition flattens 11 credit hours for $4,250 and in 2010, the same number of hours will flatten at $4,600.
According to reports, this type of policy makes it easier for families to budget. (source; USA Today, September 4, 2008)
Hispanic Heritage Month
Events are on-going through the month of October. Click here for more information.
Important Dates to Remember
October 6th Pre-Registration advising begins for Spring 2009 classes
October 24 Parent and Family Weekend
October 31 Last day to drop a class with automatic “W”
Important Dates Beyond the Fall term
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.
UT Arlington Housing – UT Arlington Housing
UT Arlington Financial Aid – UT Arlington Financial Aid
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