September 2012 Newsletter

UTA uses multiple outlets to keep the campus community informed about emergency situations and rapidly changing conditions - from hazardous weather and campus closures to building emergencies and life-threatening criminal activity. As the new school year is starting, encourage your students to check and make sure their emergency contact information is correct so they can be contacted quickly in the event of an emergency.

Students should update their emergency contact information through MyMav. For more information on emergency communication, visit here.

Rent cars on campus through Connect by Hertz

Does your student not have a car on campus? Students can use Connect by Hertz to rent an environmentally-friendly car by the hour or day, all for a low price.

Visit Hertz On Demand or call 877-654-4400 for more information.

Career Center offers job search resources

If your student is looking for an internship or job, the Career Center can help. Encourage your student to begin preparing now for the Job Fair on September 19. View the Career Center's tips and tricks for surviving the job fair here.

Is your student looking for on-campus employment? These jobs can be found through the SNAP Job System.

Purchase Maverick All-Sports Pass for $50

All UTA students can purchase the $50 all-sports pass through their MyMav account or send a check payable to UT Arlington Athletics. With their all-sports pass, students receive a free t-shirt and admission to all home athletic events. For more information, visit here.

For students who do not buy an all-sports pass, individual student tickets are priced at $3 apiece to all athletic events.

Association scholarship deadline approaching

The deadline for the fall scholarship application for the Maverick Parent & Family Association is September 28, 2012. Students can find the scholarship application here. As a reminder, the Parent & Family Center will be awarding two, $800 scholarships in the fall. One scholarship will be awarded to a freshman student and the other will be awarded to an upperclassman student.

Request disability accommodations

In order to receive academic accommodations in college, students must first register with the Office for Students with Disabilities. Visit this website for more information on registration and accommodation procedures.

If your student has already registered with this office, don't forget they must fill out a Request for Accommodation form at the beginning of each semester.

FERPA rights for students

According to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), once a student attains the age of 18 or attends an institution of higher education, regardless of age, FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the student. Under FERPA, parents have no inherent rights of access to their students' education records.

Students can give express written permission for their parents' access to their education record by downloading this form and submitting it with UTA identification to the Office of Admissions, Records and Registration, Room 129 Davis Hall. Please note that there is a separate release form for financial records, available in Bursar Services.

Intramural sports registration going on now

Is your student looking for a fun way to get involved on campus as well as make new friends? Intramural sports are a great way to stay active and meet new people.

Check out the intramural sports website for the schedule of team and individual sports available. Entries are due soon for many of the fall sports!

Don't forget to use your P&F Association ID card to take advantage of the Maverick Discount Program!

Follow Us!

Become a fan of the Parent & Family Center's Facebook page and follow us on Twitter!

Welcome Maverick Parents!

Welcome to the Maverick Parent & Family Association! We are excited to offer two newsletters this year: one for parents of freshman students and one for parents of upperclassman students. You are receiving this newsletter because you have a freshman student. If this is an error, please let me know and I will send you the correct newsletter.

As the new year begins, please don't forget to contact myself, Casey, or Vanessa with any questions or concerns. You can reach us at parents@uta.edu or 817-272-2128.

Welcome to UTA!

Sincerely,
Kendra Kliesen
Assistant Director, Parent & Family Center

University News

College Park District includes new student living, dining, and retail options

It's an exciting time to be on campus as College Park District opens this fall! Students have already moved into two new living spaces, Vandergriff Hall and The Lofts at College Park. Vandergriff Hall holds 500 students, while The Lofts at College Park serves another 100 students. In addition, the development includes three new parking garages.

Several of the retail spaces in the development have already been leased. Pie Five Pizza Co., a fast casual restaurant, opened Aug. 22. Other restaurants include Coolberry Frozen Yogurt, Digg's Taco Shop, GRIP Mediterranean Grill, Pho Xpress, and MAVS Sports Grill; these restaurants plan on opening throughout the fall semester.

A grand opening event for College Park District is planned for later this fall. Until then, you can learn more about the project here.

UT Arlington strengthens veterans resources

UT Arlington expects about 1,000 veterans to be enrolled this fall and is taking steps to help these students make a smooth transition into college life.

University College, a one-stop shop for advising, tutoring, and counseling, will host a Student Veterans Workshop Series from Sept. 5 to Nov. 14. Workshop topics include transitioning into college, time management, study strategies, information processing, writing cover letter and resumes, and test-taking strategies. The series is free and requires no advance registration.

University College presents the Success Series and specialized programming

All students are invited to participate in Success Series, workshops designed to improve academic performance and build important life skills. Various workshops are planned from September through November; check out the calendar of events for more information.

In addition to Success Series, University College also has specialized programming tracks to assist various populations and their specific circumstances. Specialized tracks include: FIRST for first-generation students, ADVANCE for sophomores, and FINISH for transfer students. Students who are interested in these specific tracks can sign up for more information.

Maverick Speakers Series announces 2012-2013 speaker lineup

The Maverick Speakers Series provides a dynamic forum for today's brightest minds to examine the people, ideas, actions, and solutions that impact the world around us. Featuring some of the leading voices of our time, the series is more than just speeches on current events or timely issues. These are thought-provoking conversations led by renowned innovators who make change happen.

The 2012-2013 speakers include:

-Frank Deford, sportswriter and commentator

September, 25, 2012, 7:30 pm, Texas Hall

*tickets available now!

-Cokie Roberts, political analyst

October 4, 2012, 7:30 pm, Texas Hall

-Seth Myers, actor and comedian

November 19, 2012, 7:30 pm, College Park Center

-Mark Kelly, astronaut

February 19, 2013, Texas Hall

-Jeff Corwin, television host and conservationist

March 27, 2013, 7:30 pm, College Park Center

Guests have two options for tickets: general admission is free or guests can purchase a premium reserved seat with the Preferred Package option. The Preferred Package is $25 and includes reserved seating and parking, among other benefits.

Six free hours of tutoring available for freshman

The Start Strong Freshman Tutoring Program, offered through University College, provides up to six hours of free tutoring for freshman students.

Students must register for and complete their first hour of tutoring by September 14, 2012. To register, students should visit University Tutorial and Supplemental Instruction in Ransom Hall, Suite 205. Upon completion of their first tutoring appointment, students will receive five hours of additional free tutoring to be used during the Spring 2013 semester.

Free tutoring is available for a variety of courses; the full list can be found here. If students wish to receive tutoring beyond the six free hours, or if they need tutoring in a course not listed on the free course list, tutoring is available for $6.50/hr.

University College offers advice and tips for first year students

Wondering what it takes to be academically successful in college? University College has several videos in which students and faculty members give freshman students tips and advice.

Video topics include the importance of going to class, study techniques, campus resources, and more. Visit the University College website to view these important videos and help your students start their college experience off right.

How to help students find their place on campus

As parents, you want your child to have a successful college experience. In order to help your student make a successful transition, there are various truths both of you need to accept about college life.

Some common truths:

-Not all roommates will get along

-Not all people on campus will be friends

-Not all students will get As

Once students (and parents) understand these truths, they can begin to form realistic expectations and find their place on campus. First, remember that it takes time to be comfortable in a new place; encourage your students to be patient. Finding their place also takes planning. Encourage your child to seek out organizations (such as academic, social, or spiritual groups) where they might find students with common interests. Lastly, remind your students of all the different people they can form relationships with, such as classmates, professors, staff members, and peer mentors.

Cohen, H. (2010). The happiest kid on campus: A parent's guide to the very best college experience (for you and your child). Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, Inc.

Resources available for commuter students

Did you know about 85% of UT Arlington students commute to campus each day? Off-Campus Mavericks is an office dedicated to helping commuter students navigate through the college experience.

Off-Campus Mavericks offers several programs and services for commuter students, including:

-The Off-Campus Mavericks Center, located within the Maverick Activities Center, has a computer lab, free coffee, and more

-The Off-Campus Mavericks blog, The Parking Lot

-A monthly newsletter

If your student lives off campus, here are some ways to encourage them to get involved and connected on campus:

-Treat going to campus like a workday - go to campus and stay there all day, not just for class

-Form study groups in class and get together outside of the classroom

-Get a job on campus

-Make getting involved in an organization as important as going to class

-Instead of working out alone, play an intramural sport

-Join a leadership group

-Eat on campus in the dining halls

-Live near campus

Cohen, H. (2010). The happiest kid on campus: A parent's guide to the very best college experience (for you and your child). Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, Inc.

How to be the perfect roommate

As another school year begins, students are always excited to once again live with their friends and roommates. However, it is important to learn how to be a good roommate so that the excitement (and good relationships) continues throughout the year.

Encourage your student to understand and practice the following behaviors:

- Have realistic expectations. Understand that a roommate does not always have to be a friend; the only requirement is that roommates respect each other's space and stuff.

-Talk about problems sooner rather than later. Don't avoid confrontation; discuss any problems within 24-48 hours of it happening.

-How parents can help when there's a problem:

-Listen

-Know there are two sides to every roommate story

-Give it 24 hours to resolve itself

-Has your child already confronted the problem on his/her own?

-Explore mediation services if the issue is still not resolved

-If you're at a loss or feel there is a safety issue, contact the residence life office if the student lives on campus, or the apartment office if the student lives off campus

Cohen, H. (2010). The happiest kid on campus: A parent's guide to the very best college experience (for you and your child). Naperville, IL: Sourcebooks, Inc.