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Parent Newsletter November December 2018 ONE SEMESTER DOWN The end of the Fall 2018 semester is upon us and your first time freshman is probably exhausted at the end of their first semester in college It is a big adjustment from high school as well as a lifestyle change They have endured a long 14 weeks of lectures quizzes assignments presentations and group projects and they still have finals When they return home they might be quite a different person than who they were just 4 months ago in August expect an exhausted student when they arrive home for their extended stay during the winter break They will need and appreciate sleep and want to be allowed to just relax for a couple of days Be sure to inform them of any family plans in advance so that no surprises interrupt their time to unwind Listen and communicate One of their critical needs at this point is care and comfort that can only be offered by family They might be reserved with telling you their stories and their experiences but ask them to share Be supportive and assuring As you know course grades will be submitted after finals week While some students may be ecstatic to receive their grades others may not be Sometimes changing their major may be necessary if your student is unhappy with where they are Finding their interests is part of the process that each college student goes through and choosing a major that they are passionate about is one of the keys to future success Enjoy your time with your student during the winter break INSIDE THIS ISSUE Final Exam 2 Academic Probation 3 Major 4 5 Financial Aid Money 6 Spring 2019 FYI s 7 Academic Reminders 8 Library Services 9 Freshmen Senators 10 1

Your student if at risk has already received their second Grade Check of the semester The next grade they receive will be the final grade that will count towards their GPA With just a few weeks left of the semester it is still important for your student to be diligent in their studies FINALS ARE SOON Final projects will be due many of which might make up a large portion of the grade for that class Final Exams are approaching quickly they are the last week of the semester Click here to see the Fall 2018 exam schedule After Thanksgiving break your student has only a week of classes left before Final Exams Encourage your student in these last few weeks to plan their time well and seek out assistance from both a tutor and their professors It is important for your student to spend their time studying In planning for Final Exams it is important for your student to remember to eat healthy exercise and get sleep Planning their time will enable your student to achieve a level of healthy stability during a stressful time Here are twelve tips to help your student get a handle on Final Exams Also keep in mind that the Academic Success Center offers individual tutoring study groups supplemental instruction and online tutoring to all students and that the best time to make use of their help is before students realize they need the help If you have noticed your student is struggling in some area please encourage him her to contact the Academic Success Center by phone at 337 482 6818 or by email at asc louisiana edu FALL SPRING CALENDAR November 22 23 Thanksgiving Break November 28 December 2 Dead Days November 30 Last Day of Fall Classes December 3 7 Final Exams December 7 Semester Ends December 14 Fall Commencement January 9 Deadline to Pay Tuition January 16 Classes Begin January 21 MLK Day Offices Closed January 23 Last Day to Add Drop Class March 4 6 Mardi Gras Break March 13 Majors Minors Fair March 18 29 Advising Session April 22 Last Day to Drop with a W April 15 April 19 Easter Spring Break May 1 May 5 Dead Days May 3 Last Day of Classes May 6 10 Final Exams May 10 Semester Ends 2 UL Events Calendar

ACADEMIC PROBATION WHAT DOES IT MEAN Academic Probation occurs when a student s ACADEMIC PROBATION cumulative grade point average GPA is below a 2 0 A student may attend the University while on academic probation but with the following stipulation they must earn a 2 0 semester or better GPA This means that a student who is placed on probation at the end of the Fall 2018 semester must earn a 2 0 GPA for the Spring 2019 semester If on academic probation your student will remain on probation until a cumulative grade point average of 2 0 or better is achieved When your student has earned a cumulative grade point average of 2 0 or better he she will be placed in academic good standing If your freshman student is on Academic Probation after this Fall semester they are required to enroll in the class ACSK 100 Fundamentals of College Learning If your student is put on academic probation they will be contacted by the University through their UL email For more information contact the Academic Success Center or email asc louisiana edu FERPA FAMILY EDUCATIONAL RIGHTS PRIVACY ACT The Family Educational Rights FERPA and Privacy Act of 1974 sometimes referred to as the Buckley Amendment was designed to protect the privacy of educational records and to establish the rights of students to inspect and review their educational records It also provided control over the release of educational record information The original intent of this legislation was to keep elementary and high school records private and to give parents access to their student s school records Once a student turns eighteen or attends school beyond secondary school the rights of access to the student s records transfer to the student This means that all academic information regarding your college student goes directly to the student unless the student has given specific written permission to release that information to someone else The exception to this law occurs if parents document in writing that the student is still claimed as a dependent for income tax purposes The college may require you to submit your most recent tax forms in order to support this claim What does FERPA mean for you as a college parent Generally FERPA rules mean that student academic information such as grades or academic standing GPA academic transcript academic warning academic probation or discipline records will be given to the student and not to the parents College students are considered responsible adults who may determine who will receive information about them College representatives are prohibited from discussing information about the student s academic record with parents Click here to read What FERPA Means for You and Your College Student UNIV 100 students toured the Hilliard University Art Museum in September 3

MAJOR QUICK TIPS FOR PARENTS OF UNDECIDED STUDENTS The career development process can be brand new to most UL Lafayette students when they arrive on campus and the options and pressure can be overwhelming As your student begins to explore and establish their major goals and career interests here are a few ways you can help and support your student to keep healthy in today s hectic world 1 2 3 Encourage them to visit the Major Career Exploration Center in Career Services that provides Career assessments Major career individual meetings Career planning guidance Majors fair Career fair Workshops and seminars Be there Talk to them about their interests skills and values Listen to what your student might be considering and try to be receptive to hearing what makes their considerations compelling Help them recognize their strengths and career possibilities without letting your personal biases carry much weight Foster connections If you know someone in a field related to their interests mutually facilitate an informational interview or shadow day Inspire them to investigate majors and careers based on their strengths CAREER SERVICES MAJOR CAREER EXPLORATION CENTER 337 482 1444 EXPLORE LOUISIANA EDU MAJORS OFFERED AT UL With over 70 undergraduate majors UL Lafayette provides as much educational diversity as possible in order to not only provide our students with the skills they need to enter the work force but the chance to follow their passions wherever they lead Majors by alphabetical order Majors by college Majors by interest 4 WHAT CAN I DO WITH MY MAJOR Whether your student is exploring multiple majors or searching for information about their chosen field this site will help them connect majors to careers Learn about the typical career areas and the types of employers that hire people with each major as well as strategies to help make students more marketable Encourage your student to research majors and careers Click here to see what your student can do with his her major

DOUBLE MAJOR OR ADD A MINOR One reason your student may decide to double major is because they are MAJOR having difficulty deciding on a single major in which they are interested or there may be difficulty in narrowing their choices down to one major Whether double majoring is a good choice or not depends on the student and their reasoning for double majoring Your student will want to be sure to gather all of their information before making a decision to double major Double majoring will require a lot of work coordination and time management Keep in mind that it is possible that completing two majors may add extra time to your student s college career It will probably also involve summer classes or winter intercession classes Your student will need to consider whether that extra time is worth it and whether it is financially feasible Because of the extra work involved in a double major and the potential sacrifices involved one should be completely committed to the decision Your student should speak with their academic advisor about all of the requirements involved in double majoring They should also discuss whether or not the same thing can be achieved with one major and one minor Your student also might talk to several professors in the chosen fields of study This will help the student to understand what the professionals in the field will be looking for in a college graduate or what graduate schools will want to see on a transcript Participating in some informational interviews with people working in their chosen field might also help your student in making the decision Weighing the advantages and disadvantages your student should consider their reasons carefully and honestly An informed decision requires knowing the reasons the pros and cons the implications and sacrifices and the potential benefits For more information read 4 Decisions to Make About a Double Major DOUBLE MAJOR DOUBLE TROUBLE To Double Major means your student will complete two majors in one baccalaureate program This means that when your student graduates they will have one bachelor degree but comprised of two fields of study To earn a degree as a Double Major the student is required to complete all requirements of their primary degree program In the secondary degree program the student is required to complete all major courses including all preand co requisites and other designated courses More information can be found in the UL Lafayette Online Catalog or via a representative in the Academic Success Center You may also see the student resources page for academic strategies and topics Read Does it Pay to Double Major by the Wallstreet Journal A MINOR The University offers students a wide variety of minors that enrich their course of study while completing their undergraduate degree Minors may expand a student s knowledge and skills in an area that increases preparation for a particular career Other students may choose to enroll in a minor simply to learn more about an area of personal interest One of the most popular minors offered by the university is a Leadership Studies minor The Leadership Studies minor became available in Spring 2014 and is available to students of any major The minor was student developed with the goal of creating well rounded students who can communicate effectively Freshmen wishing to declare a minor must go to Academic Success Center in Lee Hall room 115 Click here to see a full list of minors offered at UL Lafayette Freshmen students attended the UL Career Fair in September 5

PARENT ADVICE FROM PARENT TO PARENT Here is some advice from parents to parents to help you and your student get through the months of November and December The first semester will be a wake up call to students No one will make sure they get to class on time or tell them they need to study They will figure it out as they become more responsible and self confident It is difficult to let go but in the end it is worth it Students at UL get amazing support Don t hesitate to ask questions or contact UL Lafayette employees whether via phone email snail mail or personal visit Help your student de stress Don t add to their stress Give them opportunities over the break to do fun relaxing things with you Give them space listen let them talk and encourage encourage encourage FINANCIAL AID FOCUSING ON FINANCIAL AID Satisfactory Academic Progress SAP is the term used to denote a student s successful completion of coursework toward a degree Students who fail to achieve minimum standards for grade point average GPA and completion of classes could lose their eligibility for all types of federal and state aid includes grants work study Direct PLUS and Perkins loans For further information please visit the Office of Financial Aid website Click here to see how the SAP evaluation affects your student TOPS To maintain TOPS eligibility a student must earn a cumulative Fall GPA of a 2 0 and be registered as a full time student by the 15th class day of the Spring semester NEW FINANCIAL EDUCATION COURSES We re here to give your student a leg up on their financial education via an online program called Financial Avenue The idea is to provide your student with smart resources to help demystify the world of personal finance Trust us getting a handle on money doesn t have to feel overwhelming or restrictive With the Money Mascot the Knowl as your trusty guide your student will have access to ten short online finance courses with videos interactive tools and customized action plans at the end of each course COURSES College Money Debt Repayment Earning Money FAFSA Credit and Protecting Foundations of Money Future of Your Money Loan Guidance Psychology of Money Spending Borrowing Your student can get started by signing up your FREE private account at FinancialAvenue org Click the Login link at the top of the page to sign up as a student with their UL email address The access code to sign up is xg4d62 Follow the Knowel at MoneyKnowl and Knowl He ll be sure to make it worth your while by sharing tips resources and strategies to help your student become a Money Mastery Ninja 6

PARKING PERMITS If your student parks on campus via a parking permit whether SPRING 2019 FYI S residential or commuter access to purchasing all parking permits for the Spring 2019 semester will be made available through Ulink Students will purchase permits identical to those they purchased at the beginning of the Fall 2018 semester Should you have any questions regarding on campus or commuter parking please contact the Office of Transportation Services directly by phone at 337 482 6858 or by email at parking louisiana edu Click here to see the residential parking zone maps HOUSING APPLICATION The Housing Online Application is available for the Academic 2019 2020 school year The 2019 2020 Housing Application can be found on your student s ULINK account Specific instructions will be available through a portal guide available on the housing website Housing offers Roommate Groups which gives the student the flexibility to pick their roommates and select a room preference The sooner a student signs up for housing the better chances they will have of selecting their desired room type Please note that housing on campus requires entering a 10 month legally binding contract with UL Housing that runs continuously from August through May It is not required for students to move out over the Winter break DINING Meal plans for students who live on campus will auto default onto their fee bill for the Spring 2019 semester Commuter students who wish to purchase a meal plan may do so by logging into ULink and following the commuter meal plan links found in the Housing Portal Should you have any questions or concerns please contact Campus Food Services directly at 337 482 2871 or by email at campusfoodservices louisiana edu CAMPUS RESOURCES CAMPUS MAP Academic Success Center Lee Hall 115 337 482 6818 asc louisiana edu Office of Disability Services ODS Agnes Edwards 126 337 482 5252 ods louisiana edu The Writing Center H L Griffin Hall 107 108 337 482 6447 Student Support Services DeClouet Hall 106 337 482 6828 specialservices louisiana edu Counsesling Testing Center Saucier Wellness Center O K Allen Hall 337 482 6480 counseling louisiana edu Student Affairs Division Martin Hall 211 337 482 6266 studentsaffairs louisiana edu 7

CALCULATING GPA A grade point average is calculated every semester as well as cumulatively after a student has more than one semester of academic history To calculate a semester GPA first assign quality points to the course grade and then multiply the total quality points by the total graded credits Divide the new total by the total number of credits Quality points are assigned to grades as follows A 4 B 3 C 2 D 1 F 0 There is also a GPA calculator on ULink for students ACADEMIC REMINDERS Important Spring Dates Payment Deadline Wednesday January 9 Classes Begin Wednesday January 16 Last Day to Add Drop Class Wednesday January 23 ACADEMIC PROBATION CLASS ACSK 100 Foundation of College Learning The University of Louisiana at Lafayette will facilitate a 1 credit hour course focusing on essential academic techniques for all first time freshmen on probation in Spring 2019 We at the University believe that many first time freshmen on academic probation are capable of making minor changes that will have a big impact on their academic success The purpose behind this class will be to equip those students with new study strategies develop time management skills and check on their academic progress throughout the semester As per University policy probation status is defined as any student with a cumulative GPA below a 2 0 All first time freshmen on probation are required to enroll in ACSK 100 Foundation of College Learning for the Spring 2019 semester Students can check section availability via ULink and will be required to self register under Register for Classes If you have any questions regarding ACSK 100 and how your student can register please contact academicprobation louisiana edu WANT TO CHANGE YOUR MAJOR It is not uncommon for students to realize during their freshman year that they are in what feels like the wrong major Don t worry your student is not alone Freshmen can change their major in the Academic Success Center ASC in Lee Hall room 115 If your student is unsure they should visit ASC to schedule a meeting with an academic advisor to review possible options ACADEMIC STATUS Students are required to maintain a minimum overall GPA of 2 0 Students who earn less than a 2 0 overall GPA will be placed on academic probation While on academic probation students must maintain a 2 0 semester GPA to avoid being placed on suspension The complete policy is available in the 2018 2019 University Catalog COURSE SCHEDULE ADJUSTMENT PERIOD If your student is looking to make changes to their Spring 2019 schedule changes can still be made The Schedule Adjustment Period allows students to add and drop classes on their class schedule through the 5th day of class 3rd day for summer session After that time students may not drop or add classes through ULink Final tuition and fees owed will be based on the registered hours at the end of the Schedule Adjustment Period Students should always review eligibility requirements for their classes Course requirements are listed in the 2018 2019 University Catalog catalog louisiana edu 8 7

YOUR STUDENT IN NOVEMBER DECEMBER END OF SEMESTER STUDENT During the months of November and December students will be anticipating the holidays and may get caught up with excitement It is important to encourage your student to keep an eye on their academic finish line Academically students will begin to understand final exam expectations and they should begin finalizing final projects As parents here are a few things that you can do to help them 1 FINAL EXAM PLANNING Encourage your student to make a final exam and study schedule This will help them to plan ahead and avoid cramming at the last minute Time management is something that students especially freshmen struggle with encourage your student to know deadlines and final exam schedules for each scheduled class 2 PERSONAL HEALTH Encourage your student to take care of their personal needs Returning from Thanksgiving break brings the start of finals and they may lose sleep neglect nutrition needs and fail to exercise which does not lead to your student being productive Click here to read an article on how to help your student with their personal health 3 FAMILY TIME AGAIN Your student may go home for the holidays This could cause unexpected stress for you and your student as your student is used to being independent Keep this in mind over the holidays to allow your student to keep their new independence Click here to read an article with conversation starters for the Thanksgiving table UL LIBRARY If your student hasn t already found their perfect study spot encourage them to visit Edith Garland Library pictured above located right in the heart of campus on St Mary Street The library is bustling every day with thousands of students who go to take advantage of the many services Students can even request a tour of the library pictured above Library services include 8 Knowledgable librarians Computer labs Printers Large tables for groups Private study tables Free Wifi Jazzman s Coffee Shop Copy Machines Charging lockers stations Audio Video equipment Individual Group study rooms Extended library hours during finals Have a question Ask a librarian Learn more at https library louisiana edu 9

FRESHMAN SPOTLIGHT Freshmen Senators Student Government Association SGA of UL Lafayette has a main purpose to serve the needs of students SGA is made up of the Executive Branch the Legislative Branch and the Judicial Branch The organization functions as a typical governmental body and seeks to enhance the experience of students at UL Lafayette Each Fall and Spring semester elections are held to fill open positions This Fall there were four freshman who were newly elected as Freshman Senators and they have been chosen for the Freshman Spotlight From left to right in the photo above the Senators are Ashton Fremin Chemical Engineering Reed Broussard Public Relations Bethany Sistrunk Political Science Armani Mitchell Kinesiology Lee Hall 106 230 Hebrard Blvd M TH 7 30 5 F 7 30 12 30 8 8 firstyear louisiana edu ofye louisiana edu 337 482 6599