Happy Holidays
December Parents Association Newsletter
In this issue:
- Winter Break Residence Hall Closing Information
- Commencement Weekend Information
- Making the Most of Winter Break
- Spring 2018 Class Registration
- Parents Resource Corner: Finals Week
- Campus Resource Corner: Counseling and Testing Center
Winter Break Residence Hall Closing information
Residence Hall Closedown
Students will not be permitted to stay in the residence halls (with the exception of Barnes Campbell, Bemis Lawrence, Northeast, and Southwest Halls) over the Winter break. The lobby key cores will be changed and no one will be allowed in the buildings after they close on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at 4PM. Students are not required to take home all of their belongings, just those items they will need during the break (remind your students to bring home any medications, plants, fish, electronics, computers, or homework they will need over the break). Your student will be responsible for preparing his/her room for the break.
How Should your Student Prepare His/Her Room for Closedown?
To prepare his/her room for the Winter break, your student will need to complete the following tasks for his/her side of the room before leaving for the break:
- Sign-up in advance for a check-out time with your RA (if your RA is not available, check with another RA in your building).
- Defrost and unplug refrigerator. Prop door open to prevent mold and mildew build-up. Make sure the refrigerator is clean and dry.
- Unplug all electrical equipment including computers, aquariums, stereos, televisions, etc.
- Move the refrigerator, furniture, and all other belongings from in front of the heating unit so the filter can be changed.
- Wash all dirty dishes
- Throw away all trash and clean out the trash can. Take all trash to compactor or outside dumpster. Activate compactor with your room key.
- Set room temperature to 65 degrees and the fan speed in auto OR set dial at halfway between blue and red with the fan speed on low (depending on what building you live in). Take plants home because the heat will be reduced.
- Remove belongings from the closet floor. This prepares the room to be sprayed for pests. You do not have to remove belongings from wardrobes.
- Close and lock windows. Turn lights off and lock room door.
- If you are changing rooms or if you are permanently checking out, see your RA or Hall Director for additional paperwork and instructions.
- Check your mailbox.
- Unplug all of your appliances, except for your refrigerators.
- Close and lock your windows.
- Throw away all trash and clean out your trash can. Take all trash to the compactor. Activate compactor with your room key.
- Turn off room lights.
- Close and lock room door.
- If you are changing rooms or if you are permanently checking out of your residence hall, see your RA or Hall Director for additional paperwork and instructions.
Finals Week Support
If your student seems concerned about his/her grades or overwhelmed with classes, encourage him/her to seek out the services provided by our various departments. There are dozens of academic and emotional support resources available to your student, a few include:
- The Academic Advising and Retention Center (DSU Annex, 2nd floor)-provides free tutoring services and academic skill-building workshops in addition to academic advising and Change of Major services
- The Writing Center (Cherry Hall 123 & Cravens Commons)-provides free paper editing and peer review of papers
- Math Lab (College Heights Hall, room 2124)-provides free tutoring in several math courses, as well as access to computers with math software programs
- WKU Counseling and Testing Center (Potter Hall, room 409)-students can call (270) 745-3159 to schedule an appointment with a licensed counselor; there is a one-time $20 fee for counseling services, but students can utilize a payment plan if needed
- Your student's Resident Assistant (RA) and/or Hall Director is also a fantastic resource right there in your student's residence hall! Visit the Housing website to identify your student's Hall Director(s).
Commencement weekend
Numerous graduation events and ceremonies are scheduled for Saturday, December 9th. To see a list of the ceremonies and receptions taking place, visit the Registrar's Commencement page.
Commencement participants and guests are strongly advised to plan their travel with sufficient time to locate parking.
Parking for Commencement Ceremonies at Diddle Arena
- Parking Structures 1 and 2 will be open for free public parking for all ceremonies.
- Diddle North, Diddle South, ad the first floor of Parking Structure 2 will be reserved for Disability Parking on Saturday.
- Overflow parking is available in remaining parking lots throughout campus.
- For a map of commencement ceremony parking, visit the Parking and Transportation Services website.
For any parking related questions, please contact Parking and Transportation Services at (270) 745-2361 or transportation@wku.edu.
making the most of winter break
Winter Break is almost here. You had a taste of having your student home from college over Thanksgiving Break, but that was just an appetizer. The full course is coming over Winter Break, which might be as long as a month or more. Hopefully, everything went well over Thanksgiving Break, but there may have been some adjustments and compromises along the way.
Thinking ahead to Winter Break, and doing some planning, means you and your student can work together to make it not only a pleasant, but a productive break as well. Here are fourteen suggestions for ways that your student can use at least a portion of Winter Break to do more than just catch up on sleep and friends (but be sure to leave plenty of time for that as well). Of course, he can’t do everything on this list, but help your student decide what will give him the most benefit.
- Make sure that everyone agrees on any important “house rules” or expectations for the Break. Talking about these up front will mean less tension and fewer hours spent worrying about getting along.
- Help your student make a concrete plan to accomplish something over Break. This may be a grand plan to accomplish big things, or just a plan to get a few small things done, but having some goals – even for a few weeks – will give some structure and purpose to the time. Having too much downtime can get boring and even depressing for some students.
- Use time for reflection and evaluation. Your student should be sure to check his final grades for fall semester. Were they what he expected? Could they have been better? He can use this time to evaluate what he might have done differently. Suggest that he make a list of things he’d like to change next semester, and things he wants to be sure to continue doing. Making sure to build on his first-semester experiences will give him insight for future success.
- Take a Winter Term class. WKU offers short-term classes over break. Your student may return to campus to take a class, may take a class at a local college or university, or might take a class online without ever needing to leave home. An extra class can give your student a chance to try a new subject, make up for some missing credits, or get a head start with a few additional credits.
- Spend some time conducting informational interviews. If your student has an idea of a career that he’d like to pursue, or even just a general field he’d like to enter, informational interviews can give him a lot of ideas to consider. He’ll contact a few people in the field and ask for a few minutes of their time to interview them about their jobs. This is a chance to ask why they like what they do, what their career path looked like, what classes they think are essential, and what advice they might give someone entering the field. Many professionals are happy to share what they know with someone interested in their career. This may help your student affirm his direction or decide to change his focus to a new area.
- Participate in some kind of field experience. Getting out into the professional world is always helpful, and sometimes inspiring, for students. Your student might ask to shadow someone for a few days, ask to assist or intern somewhere, even just volunteer. Anything he does to get involved in the community and/or professional world will give him experience, new information, and potential resume material.
- Focus some time on work. Your student may be lucky enough to be able to return to a former job to earn some money over break. If not, this is a great time to begin to make connections for possible summer jobs. Your student can think about where he’d like to work and ask whether he can apply now for summer. He’ll have a head start on those who begin looking for summer employment in May.
- Spend some time focusing on career goals – even if they seem a long way off right now. Your student can use some structured time to update his resume and have someone look at it, to work on a cover letter template, to establish or update his LinkedIn profile, to clean up his social media accounts, or to network with individuals who may be able to help him when he begins looking for a job. It’s never too early to lay the foundation for a successful job hunt.
- Use some time to take care of college business. Complete the FAFSA for next year’s financial aid. Confirm next semester’s schedule and contact the Advising Office if changes need to be made. Confirm or explore potential internships. Clear any outstanding issues with financial aid. Your student may not need to be on campus to get some of these potential issues cleared up before the semester begins.
- Create a budget for the new year. Now that your student has a more realistic sense of the financial needs of being at college, this is a good time to get control of his finances by creating a budget. Help him estimate his income and/or how much he expects to draw from his savings each month, help him estimate his expenses for necessities and then for wants. Let him work to make sure his finances are in balance. If your student is approaching graduation, this is also a good time for him to begin to make sure he understands areas such as health care options, retirement savings, etc. so he will be ready to evaluate the benefits that go along with job offers. Talk to your student about his financial literacy.
- Just get out of the house and help someone somewhere. Even donating just a few hours a week can make a difference for someone – and help your student feel good about himself.
- Go back to school. Volunteer to visit the local high school or even middle school to share college stories. Reach out to a Boy or Girl Scout troop or church youth group. Share wisdom about what students should do now to be prepared for college in the future.
- Get a head start on next semester’s work. Order textbooks now so they will be on hand at the beginning of the semester. Begin reading the first chapters to get a head start. Do some outside reading about next semester’s subjects to have some background. Anything done now won’t need to be done during the semester when things are busy.
- Review expectations and plan ahead. Winter Break is a good time for students and parents to spend some time reviewing how things went last semester – for everyone. Were expectations in the areas of academics, financial spending and social behavior realistic? Should they be modified? What about communication? Take stock now and make sure everyone is on the same page.
It is important to remember that Winter Break is just that – a Break. Your student works hard at school and needs some down time. However, making a plan and setting some goals to accomplish something over Break can mean that your student will feel prepared and in control when he returns to school.
spring 2018 registration is now available
Registration for spring 2018 classes is now open! To view the Registration schedule and determine when your student will be able to register for classes, visit the Registrar's website.
Prior to registration, an advising hold is placed on all student accounts. All WKU students must meet with their Academic Advisors to have their advising holds lifted prior to registering for classes. Encourage your student to schedule an appointment with his/her Academic Advisor today!
Your student can find his/her Academic Advisor's name and contact information on TopNet (TopNet>Student Services>Registration>View Advisor Information). For additional information, visit the AARC website www.wku.edu/advising.
parent's resource corner: Finals week
6 Tips for Being a Rock Star Parent During Finals Weeks, by Deb
Are you feeling stressed, like you are the one going through finals? Are you worried about your kid and how they will survive these last couple weeks? Do you just wish that it would be over so that you can get everyone home and you can start to enjoy the holiday spirit? Parental Final Stress is real – especially the first couple of years that your kid is away at college. With 32 rounds of parental finals under my belt, here are some suggestions to help you navigate those turbulent couple of weeks.
1. Send them a goodie bag that includes something that will countdown the days until they are done with finals. For this season of holiday finals, I usually send them an advent calendar but I have also done the old fashion paper chains with a link for each remaining day, or even inexpensive countdown clocks. Be sure to include snack foods that require little preparation but bring them some comfort. Hot Chocolate and homemade cookies are my kids favorites. Including an extra $20 bill is also a welcome rescue from the dwindling funds. I’ve even included ‘pin the tail’ on the donkey targets with a note to insert the name of their ‘less favorite’ professor or most dreaded class.
US Mail flat rate boxes are my go to for everything I send my kids. You can print the label with postage from home and the boxes are free at all post offices. I have a supply in my closet and it makes it very easy to send goodies to the kids. You just drop the prepaid labeled box at any post office counter (no need to stay in line) or give to your postman. (www.usps.com)
2. You may get what I nickname “911 calls”….the call when they tell you how much their life sucks and they just can’t imagine that it will ever get better. Listen and don’t panic. Just let them talk. Affirm that you love them and can’t wait for them to be home. Don’t try to fix their problems unless they ask for specific help. Usually, they just want to vent and know that they are still loved.
3. Text or post on Facebook funny messages, meme or cartoons throughout finals week. For just a few, brief seconds it will relieve their stress and will also confirm that you love and are thinking of them and really understand what they are going through. Even a text wishing them luck on a final or “I believe in you” goes a long way in letting them know that they will survive. Google “finals week comics” for ideas.
4. If and when you do talk with them, build up what you are going to do once they get home. We make a big point that the family holidays are waiting to start until they are done with finals and home. That way they don’t feel like they are missing out on family stuff. It is already hard when roommates finish finals early or they see on Facebook that ‘everyone else’ is out and partying. They feel like the only one left studying, and with dorms empty, it can get very depressing.
5. By all means, do not tell them that it is their fault their life sucks. Do not preach that the reason they need to pull all nighters is because of too much fun and not enough study. The right time to have that discussion (and it should be done with a positive spin) is at the beginning of the next term. They know what they could have done differently and in most cases they are kicking themselves for that behavior.
6. Last but not least… To make you feel better and relieve your frustrations, you might make your own “I told them so” call to one of your buddies. Remember, as the parent of a college student, one of your most important responsibilities is being their cheer leader and soft landing spot during stressful times… that is particularly true during finals weeks. Do what you need to to make sure you stay in that space. Your next coaching opportunity will be when they are really to begin the next term.
campus resource corner: counseling and testing center
The WKU Counseling & Testing Center supports the university mission, vision, and goals by serving three primary roles: one-on-one personal and group counseling, outreach and training for the university community (e.g., to classrooms, residence halls, and student organizations), and academic and industry testing (i.e., ACT, HESI, PRAXIS). The staff at the CTC believes that the university experience should be challenging, not overwhelming! With this in mind, we offer a variety of psychological services to students to strengthen students’ capacity to tolerate distress, form healthy relationships, and seek healthy expressions of their ideals and values.
The primary mission of the CTC and the counseling we offer aids in students' psychological and emotional success and overall well-being. As an adjunct to therapy, the CTC is proud to offer the option of Animal Assisted Therapy. Our AAT dog, Star, is a Poodle/Australian Shepherd mix, purposefully blended for the intelligence of those breeds. Star’s purpose is to lessen the symptoms of anxiety or depression by her presence. All of our programs and services help students to cope with adversity, manage their emotions, make healthy choices, and learn skills to succeed in college. Our outreach and training offers knowledge, awareness, and skills for the faculty and staff at WKU to better assist students experiencing various levels of distress.
Confidentiality is a top priority. Students can make appointments by calling the CTC at 270-745-3159 or stopping by Potter 409. We also accept referrals/walk-ins by Faculty, Staff, and Peers. Additionally, there is a one-time $20 fee (for unlimited counseling sessions while the student remains a WKU student), we refer for medications, and we offer after-hours crisis and sexual assault response.
Counseling & Testing contact information:
www.wku.edu/heretohelp | ctc@wku.edu | Potter Hall Room 409 | (270)745-3159
plan ahead
- Winter Term
- Make sure your student's bill is paid.
- Make sure your student has registered for the spring 2018 semester.
important dates to remember
Fall 2017
- Final Examinations: Monday-Friday, December 4-8
- Commencement: Saturday, December 9
Winter 2018
- Classes Begin: Tuesday, January 2
- MLK Day (university closed): Monday, January 15
- Final Examinations: Friday, January 19
Spring 2018
- Classes Begin: Monday, January 22
- Spring Break: Monday-Friday, March 12-16
- Final Examinations: Monday-Friday, May 7-11
- Commencement Weekend: Friday-Saturday May 11-12
WKU Parents Association
Your Parents' Association gift is charitable. A gift designated to the Parents' Association secures yours presence in the Association for that year. The gift will be used for annual projects designed specifically for the benefit of WKU students.
Email: parents.association@wku.edu
Website: https://www.wku.edu/parents/parentsassociation.php
Phone: 270-745-2037
Facebook: facebook.com/wkuparents