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November-December 2017
Inside this Issue:
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Upcoming Calendar Dates
Dec 1
Dec 4-5
Dec 6
Dec 7-8
Jan 4
Jan 10
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Parent Newsletter
The end of the Fall 2017 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 it is your responsibility to 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.
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University of Louisiana at
Lafayette office hours:
HOLIDAY CLOSURE:
12:30 pm on Friday, December 15, 2017
RE-OPENS:
7:30 am on Wednesday, January 3, 2018
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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.
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.
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.
SPRING 2018
ACADEMIC CALENDAR
Jan 4: Deadline to pay
tuition
Jan 10: Classes Begin
Jan 15: Mar tin Luther King
Day (offices closed)
Jan 17: Last Day to Add or
Drop a Class
Feb 12-14: Mar di Gras
Break
Mar 1: Last Day to Dr op
with a “W”
Mar 12-23: Academic
Advising Period
Mar 30-Apr 8: Spr ing
Break/Easter Break
Apr 9: Class Resumes
Apr 25—29: Dead Days
Apr 27: Last Day of Classes
Apr 30-May 1: Final Exams
May 4: Semester Ends
Academic Probation occurs when a student’s cumulative grade point average 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 2017 semester
must earn a 2.0 GPA for the Spring 2018 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 University email. For more information contact the Academic
Success Center, or email asc@louisiana.edu.
RESOURCES ON
CAMPUS
Academic Success
Center
Lee Hall
Rm. 115
(337) 482-6818
asc@louisiana.edu
Writing Center
H.L. Griffin Hall,
Rm. 107-108
(337) 482-6447
Counseling & Testing
Center
Saucier Wellness Center
O.K. Allen Hall
(337) 482-6480
counseling@louisiana.edu
Office of Disability
Services (ODS)
Conference Center,
Rm. 126
(337) 482-5252
ods@louisiana.edu
Student Support
Services
DeClouet Hall
Rm. 106
(337) 482-6828
specialservices@louisiana.edu
STEP Computer Labs
on Campus
Student Affairs
Division
Martin Hall
Rm. 211
(337) 482-6266
studentaffairs@louisiana.edu
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The Family Educational Rights 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. For
more information please see here.
MAJORS OFFERED AT
UL LAFAYETTE
WHAT CAN STUDENTS
DO WITH A
PARTICULAR MAJOR?
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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:
1. Encourage them to visit the Major and Career Exploration Center in Career
Services. We provide:
Career Assessments
Major and Career Counseling
Career Planning Direction
Majors Fair
Career Fairs
Workshops and Seminars
2. 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.
3. 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
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One reason your student may decide to double major is because they are 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.
Adapted from www.collegeparents.org.
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 pre-and-
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.
The University offers students a wide variety of minors that enrich their course of study
while at the University. 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. To learn about the requirements for the Leadership minor click here. Students
wishing to declare a major must go to Academic Success Center in Lee Hall room 115.
ACADEMIC COLLEGES
AT UL LAFAYETTE
College of the Arts
College of Business
Administration
College of Education
College of Engineering
University College
College of Liberal Arts
College of Nursing &
Allied Health
College of Sciences
EXAMPLES OF
MINORS &
CONCENTRATIONS
OFFERED AT UL
LAFAYETTE
Accounting
Biology
Computer Science
Economics
Human Resources
Linguistics
Music
Political Science
Public Relations
Sociology
Click here to see the full list of
minors offered.
Here is some advice from parents to parents to help you and your student get
through the months of November and December.
- “Let go but be their safety net if they need you. Reassure them that you will
always be there for them and that this is a way of living on their own without
having to have all the responsibilities of a job and bills. This is a step toward
independence. Enjoy it while it lasts.”
- “It is difficult to let go, but in the end it is worth it. Students at UL get
amazing support!”
- “Give them space, listen (let them talk) and encourage, encourage,
encourage!”
- “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.
- “Be prepared for your student to distressed and overwhelmed at times. This
is natural in the new surroundings.”
- “Help your student de-stress. Don’t add to their stress. No matter how
disappointed you may think they are, your student is even more
disappointed.”
- “Don’t hesitate to ask questions or contact employees whether via phone,
email, snail mail, or personal visit.”
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HOLIDAY CLOSURES
FOR UL LAFAYETTE
CAMPUS OFFICES
Friday, December
15, 2017 at 12:30 pm
Wednesday,
January 3, 2018 at
7:30 am.
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 more further
information please visit the Office of Financial Aid website. To see how the
SAP evaluation affects your student click here.
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.
If your student parks on campus via a parking permit, whether residential or
commuter, access to purchasing all parking permits for the Spring 2018
semester will be made available through Ulink. Students will purchase permits
identical as those they purchased at the beginning of the Fall 2017 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. Here are the residential
Permit Zone Maps.
Students are reminded that they have signed a 10 month contract and do not
need to move out after the end of the Fall Semester. Students, unless they
request a room change will stay in their same assignment for the Spring 2018
semester. Spring 2018 housing and meal charges have already been placed onto
the student accounts and they need to pay their bill or sign up for the payment
plan by January 4th. For any questions or concerns regarding student contracts
or assignments, please contact the Office of University Housing by phone at 337
-482-6471 or by email at
oncampusliving@louisiana.edu.
Meal plans for students who live on campus will auto-default onto their fee bill
for the Spring 2018 semester. Any commuter students who wish to purchase a
meal plan, are more than welcome to do so at any time during the semester by
visiting Sodexo’s Dining Plan webpage. Should you have any questions or
concerns please contact Dining Services directly at 337-482-1087 or by email
at katelyn.leblanc@sodexo.com.
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HELPFUL QUICK
LINKS:
Spring 2018 Academic
Calendar
2017-2018 Academic
Catalog (course offerings
and course descriptions)
Office of Student
Involvement (info about
clubs and organizations on
campus)
Student Services
The Ragin’ Cajuns Store
You can support your son or
daughter and the University
of Louisiana at Lafayette by
wearing red each Friday!
Encourage your son or
daughter to wear red on
Fridays as well. It shows
support for our university.
Still need that Ragin’ Cajun
gear? Check out the wide
array of apparel available at
the University Bookstore.
Bookstore locations include
the Student Union, the Tent
on St. Mary Blvd, and the
Red Zone on Johnston
Street.
Thinking about Changing 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! Freshman change their major in
the Academic Success Center in Lee
Hall, room 115. Even if your student is
unsure, they can meet with an academic
advisor to review possible options.
How to Calculate a Grade Point Average/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.
Course Grade Hours Quality Points
UNIV 100 A 3 12
ENGL 101 B 3 9
HIST 101 A 3 12
MATH 105 C 3 6
12 39
Calculate Semester GPA average – 39/12 = 3.25
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
2017-2018 University Catalog.
Course Schedule Adjustment
Period
If your student is looking to make
changes to their Spring 2018 schedule,
changes can still be made. The Schedule
Adjustment Period allows students to
add and drop classes on their class
schedule through the 5
th
day of class
(3
rd
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
2017-2018 University Catalog
(catalog.louisiana.edu).
First-time Freshman Academic Probation Student
Requirement:
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 freshman on probation in Spring 2018. We, at the University,
believe that many first time freshman 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 freshman on
probation are required to enroll in ACSK 100: Foundation of
College Learning for the spring 2018 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 stu-
dent can register, please contact academicprobation@louisiana.edu.
Important Dates and Deadlines for Spring 2018
Payment Deadline 4:00 pm Tuesday, January 4
Classes Begin 7:30 am Wednesday, January 10
Last Day to Add Class 4:30 pm Wednesday, January 17
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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: Hailey Boutte, Kyle Dupre, Jessica Nolan, and Yancy
LeGrande.
Hailey Boutte is a freshman senator who is majoring in Public Relations.
Kyle Dupre is a freshman senator who is majoring in Business Marketing.
Jessica Nolan is a freshman senator and she is majoring in Music Business.
Yancy LeGrande is the SGA Freshman President, and he is majoring in Economics and Finance.
To be elected for Freshman Senate, each student needed to apply for the position, be in good standing with the
University, have a cumulative GPA of 2.25 out of 4.0, and have a minimum course load of nine credit hours.
On top of keeping up with their academic work, they also must be available to attend Senate and committee
meetings during throughout the semester. Congratulations to the newly elected Freshman Senators!
Contact Information
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Follow OFYE on
Social Media
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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. 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
freshman, struggle with—encourage your student to know deadlines and final exam schedules for
each scheduled class.
2. Encourage your student to take care of their personal needs. Returning from Thanksgiving break
brings the start of finals and they may lose sleep, nutrition needs, and 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.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!
Click here to see what freshman go through
during each month!