April 2008
The monthly e-newsletter for members of the UNCG Parent/Family Association
We are very excited to implement a new Parent/Family Association registration system. This new system will allow us to better serve you and your student through enhanced information collection and storage. As we transition to this new system, we need everyone who has previously registered for the PFA to re-register using the new system. To complete your registration, please go to http://web.uncg.edu/saf/pfa/. As an exciting new benefit, once you have completed your registration, we will send you a UNCG PFA window cling, which you can use to display your UNCG pride. Thank you for helping us better serve you!
AlcoholEdu for College is an on-line alcohol prevention program that has been administered to all first-year students enrolled in University Studies 101 (UNS) for the past five years. The program is intended to motivate behavior change, link choices about drinking to academic and personal success, help students practice safer decision-making, and engage students in creating a healthier campus community. Students complete a pre-survey, take the course, take an exam, and complete a post-survey approximately one month after they have finished the course.
AlcoholEdu has provided UNCG with Executive Summaries of pre- and post-survey results from which we have pulled some highlights to share with you:
Caretaking Behaviors
The data show a consistent increase in caretaking behaviors between the pre- and post-surveys. By caretaking behaviors, we mean taking care of an intoxicated friend or roommate, worrying about a friend who has been drinking too much, or expressing concern to a friend about his or her drinking habits. Self-Described Use of Alcohol
Over the years of this survey, the number of students who self-identified as abstainers increased between the first and last surveys. The number of students who identified as moderate drinkers decreased slightly while the number of heavy drinkers remained fairly constant. Most students identified themselves as abstainers or light drinkers. Each year, the number of students who chose to abstain increased slightly between surveys while unhealthy drinking rates decreased. When compared with other national data, UNCG consistently had a larger number of students abstaining from alcohol. Knowledge Gains
Approximately 80% of students reported that they know more about Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) following the AlcoholEdu program while 55-60% of students reported that they know more about the effects of alcohol on an individual's ability to make good decisions. Students' scores on the exam consistently increased between the pre-test and the final exam.
These results are used in planning alcohol education programs for students and are currently being analyzed as a part of a year-long review of alcohol and other drug programs and policies. A Task Force chaired by Dr. Cherry Callahan, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, has undertaken this review and will be making recommendations to the University community sometime in Fall 2008.
UNCG, like much of North Carolina, has been hit hard by the flu this year and Student Health Services has felt the impact of the flu season. "The Student Health Center has experienced an unprecedented number of students requesting medical attention due to influenza and influenza-like symptoms. This has had an adverse effect on days missed from classes as well as from work," states Cassandra Foy, Student Health Services Nurse Supervisor. Ms. Foy encourages everyone to get the flu shots that are given on campus and in the community each fall, preferably in November. For the period of January 14 until March 7, we saw 1,013 more students than the same time period last year - many days seeing over 141 patients per day; one day seeing 158! The rate of flu and flu-like illnesses on campus increased 773% over last year's incidence rate. Dr. Eldaliz Fernandez, Student Health Services' Medical Director, describes it as "the busiest flu season we have had in the fifteen years I have been at UNCG."
Flu symptoms are sudden onset of fever (usually high -101 degrees or above), body aches, headache, sore throat, and sometimes associated nausea and vomiting. Because it is a viral infection, antibiotics are not useful. Usually antiviral medications are prescribed and are more effective if given within 24-48 hours of the onset of symptoms. Despite the fact that this year's flu vaccine did not fully protect against all strains, getting the flu shot will help lessen the severity of symptoms.
To try and minimize further infections on campus, The Wellness Center conducted nine educational sessions on proper hand washing. The workshops were conducted at different times of the day and evening in five campus locations - the Health and Human Performance Building, the Caf, Campus Recreation, the School of Music, and the Science Building. Using a technique taught to health care providers, students' hands were coated with a glow in the dark gel and they were then asked to wash their hands. After washing, the gel revealed what dirt and germs had been left behind. The program was successful in reaching 74 students who participated in the full demonstration and countless other passers-by who received information and hand sanitizer compliments of Student Health Services.
So, if your son or daughter calls home and describes a feeling of "being run over by a bus," you may want to direct him or her to Student Health Services. For an appointment, have your student call (336) 334-5340 and, choose extension 2. Students without an appointment will be worked-in as medical providers availability allows.
~Jeanne Irwin-Olson, Assistant Director for Wellness Programs, Student Health Services
The Commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, May 16 at 10:00am at the Greensboro Coliseum. The ceremony will last approximately two and one half hours and students will need to arrive for the ceremony by 9:15am at their designated area of the Greensboro Coliseum Complex. The Commencement speaker will be Thomas Warren Rose, current president of Davidson College. Rose served as a North Carolina Superior Court judge for seventeen years and received the William H. Rehnquist Award for Judicial Excellence. Prior to accepting the presidency of Davidson, Ross served for seven years as the executive director of the Z. Smith Reynolds Foundation in Winston-Salem, NC.
If your student is planning on attending the graduation ceremony, he or she will need to RSVP by May 6. If your student has not already done so, he or she may RSVP on-line at http://web.uncg.edu/reg/forms/rsvp/student.asp. Departmental ceremonies for graduates will also be held during the week of Commencement. For a list of departmental ceremonies, please visit http://www.uncg.edu/reg/Com/Comm_Event_Web.pdf. Most departmental ceremonies also require that students RSVP. Please have your student contact the department for more information.
Parking at the Greensboro Coliseum is free and unlimited in the general parking lots. No parking pass is needed. Seating at the Coliseum is also unlimited and no tickets are required. The Coliseum doors will open at 8:30am and the ceremony will begin promptly at 10:00am. All guests should plan to be in their seats by 9:45am.
Additionally, please also be aware that the Greensboro Coliseum has increased its security measures in recent years. Purses and possibly coats may be checked on commencement day and we suggest that you leave any packages, balloons, flowers, or other gifts for graduates in your vehicles as these may be confiscated in the Coliseum.
If you do have a student graduating, congratulations and enjoy Commencement! It is a time of celebration for the entire family, not just the graduate. If you have any further questions about the Commencement ceremony, please visit the Commencement Central website at: http://www.uncg.edu/reg/CommencementCentral.html or contact Abby McCrillis in the University Registrar's Office at (336) 334-3724.
As we head into the final stretches of this academic year, Housing & Residence Life is already starting to prepare residential students for the closing of the residence halls. Closing is an important process and, for a smooth procedure, all students must abide by specific guidelines, some of which we have shared below. It is important for everyone to work together in ensuring that we have a stress-free closing.
Here are important closing points that will be shared with all of our residential students within the next few weeks to help them have a smooth closing experience:
Residents need to check out 24 hours after their last final. In addition, all halls will be closed by 5:00pm on Friday, May 16. If a student needs to stay beyond the 24 hour window following his or her last final, he or she must see the building Coordinator no later than Friday, May 2. Request for a late stay does not guarantee that an extension to stay late will be granted.
Residents of Grogan and Weil/Winfield Residence Halls must be completely out of these halls by 5:00pm on Friday, May 16. There will be no exceptions allowing students to remain past this timeframe because of renovations being conducted in these halls over the summer.
All residential students must sign up with their hall staff for a check-out appointment. The deadline for signing up for an appointment is Monday, April 28. Failure to sign up for a time may result in an additional charge.
Students participating in summer school may request break housing at our website (http://hrl.uncg.edu). There will be no charge for break housing from the close of the spring semester to the start of Summer Session I.
23-hour quiet hours begin Tuesday, May 6 and continue until Graduation. This is an extension of our normal quiet hours throughout the year in order to provide a more conducive atmosphere for final exam preparation.
Students are asked to remove and place all trash in the appropriate receptacle areas. No trash or large items such as furniture, carpet, etc. will be allowed to collect in common areas of the residence halls. Failure to properly dispose of trash may result in an additional charge upon check-out.
Also, if your student participated in the recent Returning Student Room Selection process and has not yet received an assignment for the upcoming 2008-2009 year, please be assured that your student is guaranteed housing unless he or she chooses to cancel his or her housing request with us. Please encourage your student to check his or her housing assignment status via UNCGenie at the "View Housing Assignment" link.
Housing & Residence Life appreciates the opportunity to have your student live with us in the residence halls and wish you and your student a safe and relaxing summer break.
~Brad Johnson, Senior Assistant Director, Housing & Residence Life
The UNCG International Students Association and the International Programs Center invite you to attend the 26th Annual International Festival (I-Fest), Saturday, April 12 from 12pm to 5pm on the UNCG campus at the fountain area in front of the Atrium. I-Fest is a cultural festival intended to educate and entertain people of all ages. It is the University's largest annual international event of the year! Admission is free and free parking will be available in the Walker Avenue parking deck. Both the university community and the general public are invited! Last year, we welcomed over 3,000 visitors and this year promises even more.
This exciting event has something for everyone, from the very young to the very old, and all those in between. Come and travel around the "Global Village" and interact with interesting people from around the world. You can practice a language, try international foods, participate in folk dances, games, songs, etc. Immerse yourself in the most comprehensive international experience that the Triad has to offer by spending an afternoon with UNCG and Greensboro's global community!
Upon arrival, obtain your official ISA passport from Passport Control and, at each of the "countries" you visit, your passport will receive a unique stamp. This year, kids will have their own special "Children's Corner" to learn children's games from different countries, paint pictures of their favorite countries, and listen to international music. Teens and adults are also invited to participate in International "Jeopardy," which will feature questions about the countries represented. This is a wonderful opportunity for all to show off their country's flag and wear traditional clothes as well!
Other activities include live entertainers from around the world and more than 40 international merchant and cultural booths for your browsing, dining, and shopping pleasure. Current UNCG international students will give presentations and audience participation is encouraged. A list of performers, vendors, and country booths is available on our website http://www.uncg.edu/ipg. All students, faculty and staff, and community members are encouraged to participate.
~Susannah Morgan, Student Activities Coordinator, International Programs Center
On January 14, 2008, the first day of classes for the Spring semester, Jackson Library opened a 24/5 study space. The first floor of the Tower is open continuously from 10:00am Sunday morning to 10:00pm Friday evening during the academic year. The open area includes the new Information Commons area and the Jackson Instruction Lab, which includes a total of 38 computers with printing services. Both group and individual computer space is available as well as comfortable seating. The Check-Out Desk provides print and e-Reserves materials and photocopy machines are available. This area also has wireless capability. Students have access to all of the Libraries' electronic resources as well as the wide variety of software applications available any other time of the day. In addition, the Superlab, administered by UNCG Information Technology Services, will remain open until 3:00am. Users are not able to use the stacks or other areas of the first floor during these extended hours.
The 24/5 space is staffed at all hours. A library staff member is available at the Check-Out Desk for basic assistance and a Security Guard from Campus Police is also on duty. To further ensure safety, access to the Library between midnight and 7:30am is only available through the Elliott University Center Connector entrance and requires a validated UNCG ID card for use in a card swipe control system. Only UNCG users will be able to use the building during these hours. The University Escort service may be called at (336) 334-5919 when leaving the building if students want to be escorted to their dorm or car.
Developing this new service has truly been a collaborative effort, not only within the Libraries, but also across campus. The Libraries worked closely with Elliott University Center, Information Technology Services, Campus Police, Campus Safety, and Facilities Operations.
Students have been requesting this service for many years and the University Libraries are delighted to offer a safe and secure space for students to study overnight. For more information about the 24/5 study space, please visit: http://library.uncg.edu/about/24.5.asp.
~Kathy Crowe, Associate Director for Public Services, University Libraries
Encourage your student to attend these upcoming programs offered by the Career Services Center. Refreshments and door prizes will be provided. RSVPs are encouraged and can be made through Spartan Careers at www.uncg.edu/csc. If your student has questions, he or she can contact the Career Services Center at (336) 334-5454. Funding for these programs has generously been provided through the Spartan Families Fund.
Real World Survivors
Recent alumni share true stories about life after UNCG and succeeding in the work world
Tuesday, April 1, 4:00-6:00pm, Alexander Room, EUC
Insurance: What You Need to Know
Insurance now that you're on your own - what is necessary and what to watch out for
Wednesday, April 2, 4:00-5:00pm, Maple Room, EUC
Basics of $$$: Managing Your Personal Finances
How to get ahead while avoiding financial pitfalls
Thursday, April 3, 4:00-5:00pm, Alexander Room, EUC
April 2008 Academic Calendar
4/2-4/18
Summer and/or fall 2008 registration for continuing students
Please see the University Registrar's Office website for additional information, http://www.uncg.edu/reg/.
We are here to serve you, the parents and family members of UNCG students. If you have ideas for future articles in Family Connections or any general suggestions, comments, or concerns, please email us at families@uncg.edu. We look forward to hearing from you!
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