September 2010 PHOENiX FAMILIES A Newsletter for Elon Phoenix Family Members What s Inside Welcome Happening At Elon The First Few Weeks Elon Basics Student Involvement Get Ahead Academically 1 2 3 4 5 6
Welcome. Welcome to Elon University s newsletter just for parents and families of first-year students! The Offices of New Student Orientation and Parent Programs strive to inform parents and families of Elon students with relevant information regarding their Elon student. In order to achieve this goal we have established a Parents & Families Newsletter created especially for YOU! This newsletter aims to provide you with information relevant to Elon Parents. Through this and future newsletters you will find current information about upcoming events as well as articles to help you understand what your student may currently be experiencing. This issue includes information regarding the transition period of students who have recently begun college and have joined the Elon community, as well as valuable details about students getting ahead academically and seeking involvement opportunities. Additionally, you will see a section titled What s Happening at Elon, which helps you stay up-to-date with events and programs on campus that may be of interest to you and your student. Also inside this issue are the academic calendar, helpful Elon basics, and office contact information. We hope each of these topics allows you to gather more details about our campus and generates conversation between you and your student. If you ever have any questions please feel free to contact either the Office of New Student Orientation or the Office of Parent Programs! Thank you for your time and commitment as parents and families of Elon Students. Maggie Byerly Parent Programs Maggie Byerly Parent Programs Academic Calendar Fall 2010 10.15-10.19: Fall Break 11.3: Preregistration Begins 11.23-11.28: Thanksgiving Holiday 12.7: Classes End 12.8: Reading Day 12.9: Examinations Begin 12.14: Examinations End Winter Term 2011 1.4: Classes Begin 1.17: University Holiday 1.24: Classes End 1.25: Examinations Emily Ivey New Student Orientation Emily C. Ivey New Student Orientation Spring 2011 2.1: Classes Begin 3.18-3.27: Spring Break 5.12-17: Examinations Students enjoying class out on campus is a great way to celebrate cooler temperatures! Page 1
Happening at Elon Family Weekend 2010 is scheduled for October 1-3 The Elon community welcomes all family members and friends to return to campus to visit with their students and participate in the many scheduled events, including a home football game against Samford. For a schedule of events, hotels, and additional information visit www.elon.edu/familyweekend. Student Organization Fair Over a thousand students attended the Organization Fair on Friday September 10th, where over 100 student groups represented benefits of involvement. New students had the opportunity to collect information and talk with current members of organizations. For more information on organizations at Elon visit Student Activities at www.elon.edu/activities. Elon Phoenix Athletics The 2010-11 Elon Phoenix athletic season continues as the football, men s soccer, women s soccer and volleyball teams all begin conference play. More information about Phoenix Athletics, including complete schedules, available at www.elonphoenix.com. Elon University Honor Code Parents & families join us in upholding the ideals of Elon University by supporting actions and conduct described in the Honor Code. Every member of Elon University has the right to live and learn in an atmosphere of trust and support. Responsibility for maintaining these values in our community rests with each individual member. On September 21st, New Students attended the Call to Honor Ceremony to affirm their commitment in upholding the Honor Code. Each of the four class presidents lit a candle to represent the four core values. Freshmen were joined by numerous alumni members and students as they received the symbolic honor coin and recited the Call to Honor. Cultural Events Elon University presents a broad offering of cultural and academic programs every semester. This includes musical and theatrical performances, guest and faculty lectures, recitals, art exhibitions, and special entertainment. For more information view the Cultural Calendar at www.elon.edu/e-web/news/cultural_events/fall10 Most events are free for students! The Elon Commitment: Engaged Minds. Inspired Leaders. Global Citizens. During the past decade, Elon University has defined one of the great success stories in American higher education, rising quickly in stature through wise strategic planning and a student-and-learning-centered culture characterized by challenging and innovative academic programs. The goal of The Elon Commitment is to complete the Ever Elon Campaign and launch the university s next comprehensive campaign, tripling the university s endowment by 2020 and building an essential financial base for future generations. Read more about the Commitment, visit www.elon.edu/strategicplan. Elon Homecoming: October 22-24, 2010 Long Live Elon! The University welcomes back alumni to revisit the days of old Elon and participate in the many scheduled events, including a home football game against Wofford. For a schedule of events, hotels, and additional information visit www.elon.edu/homecoming. HONESTY Be truthful in your academic work and relationships. INTEGRITY Be trustworthy, fair and ethical. RESPONSIBILITY Be accountable for your actions and learning. RESPECT Be civil. Value the dignity of each person. Honor the physical and intellectual property of others. Page 2
The First Few Weeks Recognize the Transition The first few weeks of college consist of a series of adjustments, some small and some large. There are countless new freedoms, many of which students have been eagerly anticipating. However, there are also new responsibilities, including some that students haven t really considered before, but are now experiencing as they face all the choices and decisions that are part of college life. Besides the simple responsibilities of meals, laundry, cleaning, personal health, and money management, students have to choose each morning whether or not to get up and attend class, how much time to devote to studying and preparing homework assignments, and to which campus activities and people they want to devote their free time each day. So much freedom and responsibilities can feel overwhelming at first; and while students may not express this directly, parents may sense from phone calls or email messages that their student is struggling with the transition to college life. Within the first several weeks of the semester, most students have settled into a comfortable and familiar routing and begin to feel a sense of pride in managing their new lives. The reality of being a college student has set it, and some experience the consequences of earlier, poor choices. Parents should be hearing more about classes, assignments, and professors than they did earlier in the semester and can provide much-needed encouragement. For those students who have struggled a bit with their new freedoms and responsibilities, parents can help them focus on what they ve learned and create an action plan for what they will do differently for the rest of the semester. Supporting Financing Trusting As a college student, your son or daughter will begin to make decisions on their own and on occasion you may disagree with them; however, it is important for you to be supportive and provide encouragement. We expect your student to take responsibility for their behavioral choices; respecting rules and policies, abiding by the Elon Honor Code, seeking assistance when needed, and being a positive member of the campus community. Set and stick to monetary guidelines with your student. College is new and exciting, but shouldn t cost you a fortune on top of tuition. You may want to discuss the possibility of your student having a part-time, on-campus job as a means of offsetting some of the expenses associated with college. Students who work 15 hours a week or less actually do better academically than those who do not work at all (Pascarella & Terenzini, 2005). It is normal for the nature and frequency of communication with your student to change during the transition process. Students who feel trusted by their parents are more self-confident and are more apt to say no when the situation warrants. It is important to remain interested but not too inquisitive. It can be difficult for parents to let their student handle a problem situation. However, each time an individual finds a solution; it can enhance their self-confidence and provide an important life lesson. Page 3
Elon Basics Academic Assistance Elon provides academic assistance to students through various services including advising, tutoring, and the writing center. The Advising Center provides academic mentoring and primarily serves students who have yet to declare a major. Essentially, the center is available to support the entire campus with advising concerns when needed. Tutoring Services provides students walk-in and by-appointment peer tutoring along with information on improving study skills. The Writing Center offers consulting to help improve students writing and aims to help students develop strategies for producing more effective texts in any discipline or genre. For more information about academic services, visit www.elon.edu/advising. Care Packages Sending a Care Package on your own: Receiving care packages from home is always exciting! If you choose to send a package, make sure to include the student s name, campus box, 100 Campus Drive Elon, NC 27244. When a package arrives, the recipient will receive a slip in his or her campus box. The student will take the packing slip to the Mail Center front desk to pick up their package. RSA Care Packages: The Resident Student Association also sponsors a variety of Care Packages for students. More information is available online at http://www.carepackages.org/ elc6/home.aspx. Packages range from Holiday Themes ($25) to larger Encouragement Packages ($135). Emergency Information (E-Alert) If there was an emergency on campus, students would be notified immediately through our E-Alert system. All students would get an email sent to their student account and if they have signed up for E-Alert text messaging they would get a text to their cell phone. E-Net also provides up-to-date notifications. Encourage your students to sign up for E-Alert text messages by visiting www.elon.edu/e-alert. Fee Payment Visit the the Bursar s Office at www.elon.edu/bursar for complete and up-to-date fees and fee payment information. To make payments directly, visit https://ebill.elon.edu/c20721_tsa/ web/login.jsp Health Services The R.N. Ellington Health & Counseling Center offers basic medical & short-term counseling services to the students, faculty and Parent Survival Tip: Adding Money to your Students Phoenix Card Or should we say a tip your student will appreciate?! You can deposit funds into your student s Phoenix Card account either online, through the mail, or over the phone. If you choose to deposit money online visit the Online Card Office. Simply fill out the Guest Deposit section by entering the Phoenix Card holder's first and last name, and the Phoenix Card number - you may have to ask your student for the number on the front of their Phoenix card. Elon accepts Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card, and American Express. For more information contact the Phoenix Card Office by phone at (336)278-5436. staff of Elon University. Expenses incurred at the center may be paid at the time of service via cash or Phoenix Card or will be billed to the student s account. Located near the Moseley Center, Health & Counseling Services is a great option for students. Students experiencing medical emergencies after hours should contact 911. Students with acute, non-emergency medical conditions which require evening or weekend medical care may seek treatment at the following locations: Alamance Regional Medical Center Emergency Room 1240 Huffman Mill Rd., Burlington, NC Doctor's Urgent Care 1713 S. Church Street Burlington, NC 222-8888 (walk-in clinic) Urgent Care Hours: Mon - Sat: 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. Sun: 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Registration and OnTrack With OnTrack, students have access to the academic calendar, exam schedules, semester course schedules, as well as registration information. OnTrack is how students access and register for classes each semester. First-year students must set up a meeting with their Academic Advisor before registration begins to discuss classes for the following semester. Students should view their Academic Catalog and review course availability via OnTrack prior to meeting with their advisor. Page 4
Student Involvement Go Phoenix! ELON PRESS Campus life does not have to be a one-way street of classes, exams, and papers. There are many ways to get involved through athletics, clubs and organizations, residence hall associations, student government and much more. Elon offers more than 150 campus organizations and programs. Students were able to learn about these programs through Elon s annual Organization Fair, which was held on September 10, 2010. At this event, every organization on campus was invited to set up a table to answer questions, sign up members and give out information. Encourage your students to take advantage of as many new endeavors as possible in order to broaden their horizons. Here s some more reasons why your student should get involved: They could find a possible career path. If college students limit themselves to activities that they are already comfortable with, then they could miss out on a possible career path that they find truly exciting. By participating in an extracurricular activity they have never considered before, they could end up having a whole new perspective on what they want to do with their life. So, if your child is the type of student who is interested in art, encourage them to mix it up a little and try joining a new club. Encourage them to try something new like writing for the school newspaper or volunteering for the campus radio station. Campus involvement will look good to potential employers. Employers want well-rounded individuals who are interested in growing and learning about new ideas. Students should definitely be involved in activities that pertain to their career path, but they should also be involved in one or two other activities that show they can be a flexible and diverse employee. For instance, even if they won t be dealing with the general public in their chosen career field, employers for that career will still want an employee with good communication skills. They will meet and make friends with a variety of people. College is a melting pot of diverse cultures, lineages, and ideas. Being involved in different activities will allow your child to meet a variety of people and learn about their different cultures and ideas. They can use this opportunity to learn as much as possible while making new friends along the way. They will build self-esteem. By putting themselves out there and trying something new, it will help your child build self-esteem. They will be proud of themselves for opening up to new experiences. If they try something new and succeed, they will gain the confidence to keep trying new activities. Activities can range from sports to clubs all offer new experiences. Your child will expand their leadership skills. Part of being a leader means being able to adapt to new ideas while working toward a common goal with others who share a similar interest. Encourage your child to get involved in an activity that challenges them. Leadership is best learned by experience and is a valuable skill in college and beyond. Keep in mind that while your child should diversify their college activities in order to be a well-rounded person, they also shouldn t spread themselves too thin. Help them understand they shouldn t be involved in so many different activities that they don t have time for school work that is the main reason they are here. Have them find a few activities that pertain to their possible career path(s), and then find one or two activities where they can challenge themselves and be open to new possibilities. Page 5
Update Your Information If you need to update your contact information as a parent or family member of an Elon student or need to be removed from our mailing list, please contact the Office of Parent Programs at 336.278.7455 or parentprograms@elon.edu. Get Ahead Academically What to Join Our Mailing List? Did you receive our newsletter from another Elon parent and are interested in joining our email list? If so, email your contact information including your name, student s name, your email address, phone number and mailing address to parentprograms@elon.edu College academics are different. As a result, it is common for Elon students to find their coursework more demanding than what they experienced in high school. Some students will find themselves struggling for the first time and may become discouraged. As a partner in the educational process, you can have a powerful influence. As it is still early in the semester, we encourage you to think about a couple of things: What are your spoken and unspoken assumptions and expectations? In what ways are your expectations different from when your son or daughter was in high school? It is critical to think about these items and communicate openly and honestly with your son or daughter. If a student begins to struggle academically, it can be a great relief to know that their parents will be there to support them. In fact, if students are comfortable enough to communicate their struggles with a parent, there is a higher chance that they will be willing to seek support early. Here are some questions you may want to ask your students about his or her academic experience: Which of your classes are you enjoying most? Have you visited your professor during their office hours? How have you had to change or develop your study habits and skills? Where is your favorite place to study? Remind students of resources available to them such as the Advising Center, Counseling Services, Tutorial Services, and the Writing Center. Contact Us New Student Orientation Campus Box 2990 Elon, NC 27244 www.elon.edu/orientation compass@elon.edu 336.278.7777 Office of Parent Programs Campus Box 2600 Elon, NC 27244 www.elon.edu/parents parentprograms@elon.edu 336.278.7455 Page 6