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Your student completed the first semester ofcollege. Congratulations! Second semester is anopportunity for a fresh start. Your student canbuild on their successes from last semester, butthey may also need to reevaluate and readjustbased upon lessons learned.UL LAFAYETTEJ A N U A R Y 1 9 , 2 0 2 2SECOND SEMESTER:FRESH STARTP A R E N T & F A M I L Y N E W S L E T T E RTHIS NEWSLETTER IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE OFFICE OF ORIENTATION AND THE OFFICE OF FIRST-YEAR EXPERIENCE.Returning to school for second semester is a verydifferent experience from going to college for thefirst time. Students bring their newly-acquiredwisdom and their mistakes along. There may be lessanxiety, since they know what to expect, or anxietymay be high...since they know what to expect!WHAT CAN I EXPECT AS MY STUDENTSTARTS A NEW SEMESTER?

...2There is less build-up and excitement than there wasin the fall, so returning to school may seem a bit of alet-down. Some of the novelty has worn off. Yourstudent understands the realities of college life, so theroad ahead may look longer and harder than it did inthe fall. This is a more thoughtful return to college.BE PREPARED FOR MIXED FEELINGS(Subject to change) January 19Last Day to Add/Drop Classes February 28- March 2Mardi Gras HolidayMarch 14-25Advising SessionMarch 31Last Day to Drop Class with "W"April 15-24Spring BreakApril 27 - May 1Dead DaysApril 29Last Day of ClassesMay 2-6Final ExamsMay 6 Semester EndsIf the first semester was less-than-hoped for, yourstudent may be concerned about how to make thisnext semester better. They may or may not be ableto express these worries.SPRING 2022ACADEMIC CALENDARYOUR STUDENT MAY BE WORRIEDABOUT THEIR ABILITY TO SUCCEEDYOUR STUDENT MAY HAVE CONFIDENCE THATWASN’T THERE IN THE FALLThey have confidence in their ability to make friends,navigate the college community, get to class, talk toprofessors, and do what needs to be done.YOUR STUDENT MAY BE OPTIMISTIC ABOUTTHIS NEW BEGINNINGJust as we are all encouraged by the possibilities of anew year in January, your student may be energizedat the prospect of a fresh start.START A CONVERSATIONReinforce the opportunities that a fresh start brings: new classes, new professors,perhaps new friends, and new activities. Encourage your student to take advantageof a new perspective.It can be difficult, as a parent or guardian, to know how to help. If you’re too involved, itfeels as though you are not respecting your student’s growth and allowing them toexperiment with newfound independence. But stepping back entirely may make youfeel as though you’re not doing your part to guide your student. Second semester is aperfect opportunity for conversations. Plant a few seeds, offer food for thought, andgently remind your student of your trust and support:...

...Attend to any unfinished business from fall semester. Is your studentcarrying over any incomplete grades? Is their spring schedule complete? Arethere outstanding financial issues?Create a budget for spring semester. Your student now has a better idea oftheir day-to-day living expenses. A budget provides a sense of control; they’llspend less time worrying about finances.Decide if they will work. Having completed a budget, your student canassess whether or not they need to work. If they intend to get (or continue) apart-time job, you can help them consider how many hours of work per weekwill be manageable given their other responsibilities as a college student.Commit to time management. Time management is one of the mostimportant life skills for student success. Encourage your student to takesome time now to set up a system (using a print calendar, planner, or an app)and start plugging in dates in order to be ready to go.List specific changes for the new semester. Whether or not fall semesterwas a good one, some changes can enhance the new term. Will your studenttry out some new activities — or drop one or two? Will they spend more timestudying, or sleeping? What’s the plan to make that happen?3Remind your student of how much they know now that they didn’t in the fall — bothabout college life and about themselves. Help them find areas of strength and buildupon confidence gained.Ask about your student’s goals for this semester. What do they hope the next fourmonths will bring? What will be required to accomplish those goals? Putting goals intowords makes them more tangible. Thinking about what will be required to reach thosegoals will provide your student with a plan of action.WHAT CAN MY STUDENT DO TO PREPAREFOR A GREAT SECOND SEMESTER?No matter what year your college student is, the new semester is a chance for a freshstart, and you can guide them in setting realistic expectations and goals. They’ll be onestep closer to maturity and independence. You will be more comfortable taking a stepback and watching them grow.Nelson, V. (2018, January 03). Second semester fresh start. Adapted from https://www.collegiateparent.com/academics/second-semester-fresh-start/?sharing=true

4UNIV 100 SHOWCASEThe Office of First-Year Experience presents the UNIV 100 Showcase, a display of thebest student projects from our Fall 2021 seminar courses! Students, families, and friendsare invited to view the projects online. This year’s topics include Tiny House Projects,Business Presence in Different Countries, and Life After the Hurricane, to name a few. When: January 10, 2022 – February 13, 2022 Where: Edith Garland Dupre Library corridor or Fall 2021 UNIV 100 Showcase Projectsweb page.Showcase projects may be viewed byvisiting the Office of First-YearExperience’s YouTube channel. TheUNIV 100 Showcase Ceremony* isscheduled to take place on Thursday,February 10, 2022 at 1:00pm inJazzman's Cafe. (*Subject to change) Counseling & Testing CenterSaucier Wellness CenterO.K. Allen Hall337-482-6480counseling@louisiana.eduThe Writing CenterH.L. Griffin Hall 107-108337-482-5224writingcenter@louisiana.eduStudent Health ServicesSaucier Wellness CenterO.K. Allen Hall337-482-1293shs@louisiana.eduOffice of Disability Services (ODS)Agnes Edwards 126337-482-5252ods@louisiana.eduDean of StudentsStudent Union, 168337-482-6276deanofstudents@louisiana.eduAcademic Success CenterLee Hall 115337-482-6818asc@louisiana.edu

5FINANCIAL AIDIt’s FAFSA time! Although many families completed the FAFSA last year, you need to beaware that it is an annual process that must be refiled every year that your student is incollege. Although the deadline is May 1st, most families try to have all the necessaryforms filed by March 1st. Click here for tips on completing the 2022-2023 FAFSA.Financial aid programs, including TOPS and Perkins loans, have academic indexes orbenchmarks that students must achieve and maintain in order to remain qualified.These requirements are referred to as Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) andstudents who fail to achieve the minimum standards for grade point average (GPA) andcompletion of classes could lose their eligibility for all types of federal and state aid.Listed below are the SAP requirements*:1. MINIMUM OVERALL GPA OF AT LEAST 2.0. 2. COMPLETION OF AT LEAST 67% OF ALL REGISTERED HOURS. 3. COMPLETION OF DEGREE IN A TIMELY MANNER (UNDERGRADUATESCANNOT RECEIVE AID BEYOND 180 HOURS).*For additional and most current details, visit the website.The Office of Student Financial Aid will review students’ academic progress eachsemester to verify eligibility. With questions or concerns, have your student contact theUL Lafayette Office of Financial Aid at finaid@louisiana.edu or 337-482-6506.DID YOU KNOW?You and your student can schedule a virtual appointment to speak with a financialaid counselor online! If you have questions for the Financial Aid Office regardingTOPS, loans, or other aid, one of the most efficient ways to get in touch with acounselor is by scheduling an online appointment.To schedule your appointment, have your student follow these 3 easy steps: Visit financialaid.louisiana.edu. In the main, center block of the page, click “schedule your appointment” and log in with your University email and password. Select your service, date, and time. Fill in your name, email, and ULID, and 1.2.3. click “Book.”

6Here are a few key facts regarding TOPS:IMPORTANT TOPS INFORMATIONStudents must pass and earn 24 credit hours each school year to maintain their TOPS.The school year is August-July and includes regular fall, spring, and summer semestersas well as intersessions. Advanced placement hours and high school dual enrollmentcredits do not apply to the 24 hours. Students receiving TOPS must maintain full-time enrollment, meaning that they arecontinuously enrolled as a full-time student (12 credit hours) each fall and springsemester. To continue receiving TOPS, students must maintain their required GPA. TOPSOpportunity: 2.3 first year, 2.5 each year after TOPS Performance/Honors: 3.0 each yearIf a student fails to meet the TOPS Performance/Honors GPA they will drop down to theTOPS Opportunity Award, if they earn the minimum GPA for that award. These studentscan never regain the financial stipend. For more information, please visit the LouisianaTOPS Program. To read the TOPS Rights and Responsibilities, click here. COVID-19 VACCINATIONS & TESTINGVaccinations, including booster shots, are strongly encouraged. Students may receive aCOVID-19 vaccine at Student Health Services by appointment only .The Moderna vaccine iscurrently being offered. Vaccinations will no longer be given in the former UniversityBookstore building at 210 E. St. Mary Blvd. To make an appointment, have your studentemail shs@louisiana.edu or call (337) 482-1293.The on-campus COVID-19 testing site will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays. Testingfor COVID-19 is available to students, faculty and staff members, and the public in theformer University Bookstore building at 210 E. St. Mary Blvd. Appointments are encouragedfor COVID-19 tests, but walk-ins are also accepted. Students can schedule a testingappointment here.Parking for the testing site is available in the E.K. Long parking lot at the corner of East St.Mary Boulevard and Girard Park Circle. The testing site is administered by members of theLouisiana National Guard in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Health and ULLafayette.COVID-19 VACCINATIONS TO BE OFFERED BY APPOINTMENT ONLYCOVID-19 TESTING SITE NOW REOPENED

7THE JANUARY STUDENTDuring the month of January, students often return from the holidays in one of two ways:feeling ready to take of the spring semester or still stuck in the holidays and not ready toreturn. It is important to encourage your student to start their semester off strong!Remind them to be prepared for the semester by doing the following:PARENT-TO-PARENT ADVICEHere's what former freshman parents and guardians have to say:"Be patient. It will all work out. UL Lafayette has an open door policy for students and theywill have a wealth of support. Take a deep breath because your student is in good hands""Relax. Your student will figure it out. Offer help or advice only when they seem to bestruggling.""Let them go and let them grow. This prepares them for the life ahead of them. Andread the newsletter, it also prepares parents for the life ahead.""Stay in touch with your student but let them learn on their own. They may not make the bestchoices sometimes, but they learn from their mistakes which help them to grow. "Paying attention to Syllabi - As your student enters their second semester, theymay think that the first day or week of class is just “syllabus time,” however, manyprofessors will jump right into their lectures. Encourage your student to read thesyllabi for their classes and to add the important dates into their planners now tohelp get ahead.Keeping up with coursework - Encourage your student to keep up with theircoursework. Many students find that falling behind early in the term is a majorcause of stress and failures later on in the term. Encourage effective timemanagement strategies so that academics and social activities are balanced; aswell as time for self-care.Seeking assistance - Students returning from the fall semester may be satisfiedwith their first semester grades; if they are, encourage them to keep up the goodwork! If your student is dissatisfied with their grades, encourage them to use ULLafayette’s on-campus resources such as The Learning Center to help themsucceed academicallyYOU R S T U DENT I N J ANUARY