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Parent Newsletter April May 2019 Finishing Strong It s a big deal The first year of college can be a year of tumultuous change uncertainty and anxiety It can also be a year of unparalleled intellectual social and emotional growth The noted scholar Vincent Tinto identified three stages of development that occur during the first year of college The first stage is separation in which students physically and or emotionally move away from their former environment Second the transition stage is characterized by students feeling torn in their allegiances between their old environment and their new one Finally incorporation is the stage in which FRESHMAN Wednesday May 1 2019 2 30pm 5 00pm INFLATABLE CARNIVAL Located on Boucher Street and in the Rose Garden Celebrate the end of your Freshman year Tropical Slip Slide First 300 Freshmen students now feel like a full fledged member of their new environment In short the first year can be a roller coaster ride for both students and their families As this first year of college comes to a close take time to recognize what you and your student have accomplished Ragin Cajuns love a good celebration so now is the time to take a few moments to reflect and celebrate Here are some of the topics you may wish to discuss with your students in wrapping up the first year and preparing for the second Let your student know that you have recognized the changes that have occured Reinforce that completing the first year is an accomplishment This can help remind your student that education is important in your family s values Continued on page 2 INSIDE THIS ISSUE Final Exams 2 Summer Housing 2 Housing Check Out 3 Sophomore Year 3 April May Student 4 Fall Calendar 4 End of School Checklist 5 1

Continued from page 1 Talk with them about the classes they have taken this year What were their favorite courses What classes gave them trouble Help them to put this into the context of the greater issue of their future life s work How certain are they about their choice of major Changing majors after the first year can often be done without substantially increasing the length of time they will be in school Ask your student how he she feels about their level of engagement with UL Lafayette Have they found student clubs or activities in which they feel comfortable Have they discovered FINAL EXAMS student organizations that may help them to develop r sum building skills and experiences or to network Have they found a circle of friends If not encourage them to look at the UL Lafayette Get Involved website for a list of student groups and or attend activities such as Get on Board Day in the fall These and other celebrations and family discussions over the summer months may help your student to continue to feel connected to UL Lafayette and return for their sophomore year refreshed and focused ACING FINAL EXAMS Your student has now been in college for roughly nine months and you probably feel proud of him or her However the academic calendar is ten months not nine A tendency amongst all college students when returning from spring break is to check out until summer hits Passing finals is an important step in making it to summer One of the top things you can do to help prepare your student for finals is simply ask them when their finals are The last few weeks are filled with projects and paper deadlines so studying for finals tends to be pushed to the back burner Asking them about their final exam schedule makes them begin to think about it and plan out their study schedule The Spring 2019 final exam schedule can be located on the University Registrar s website Passing finals is one of the most important things your stu dent will have to do each year Help us give them the tools they need to succeed SUMMER HOUSING SUMMER HOUSING Summer housing will be available in Huger Hall Legacy Park Apartments and Agnes Edwards for all students Students do not need to be enrolled in summer classes to live on campus for the summer as long as your student is registered for classes for the upcoming fall semester and has contracted for housing for the upcoming academic year Students will not be considered for a reservation unless you submit a residence hall application and contract and all housing debts from any previous semesters sessions are paid in full Summer rooms do require a meal plan Summer housing room and meal rates are available on the housing website In addition due SPRING to occupancy expectancy for the summer no Summer Storage is available CALENDAR RESIDENCE HALL CHECK OUT Students moving off campus must properly check out by express check out or contact your Building s RA when you are ready to check out Your student must make plans to properly check out after their last final exam Students may check out any day prior to the deadline BUT EVERYONE MUST BE CHECKED OUT BY NOON ON SUNDAY MAY 12 2019 Unscheduled or late scheduled checkouts will be improper check out and will result in a 25 per hour fee being assessed to your student s account All residents were emailed on Monday April 19th stating what to do in preparation for move out In other words getting your room ready for inspection 2 May 1 May 5 Dead Days May 3 Last Day of Classes May 6 10 Final Exams May 10 Semester Ends May 17 Spring 2019 Commencement UL Events Calendar

EXPRESS CHECK OUT CLEAN UP Express Check Out is available to all students living on campus By choosing express check out students agree to pay all damages missing furniture cleaning charges etc and waive the right to dispute any charges under 500 Express Check Out is the process by which students are able to deposit their key enclosed within an express check out envelope into the express check out box located near the front desk of the residence hall P O Box keys are the responsibility of the student to return and may be turned to the Post Office located in the student union An express check out envelope can be retrieved from the front desk of their residence hall Students are required to remove all belongings from their rooms an item removal fee can be assessed if items are left at the hall Students are also required to remove command strips carefully any damaged caused by a command strip will result in a 75 repair charge for each damaged wall Your student must adequately clean their assigned room bathroom and common area to pass inspection at the time of check out floors must be swept tub and toilets scrubbed etc If these areas do not pass inspection a cleaning charge may be placed on their account All trash must be taken out and all belongings need to be removed If your student does not abide by these rules cleaning and disposal fees can be assessed on your student s account PARENT SURVEY Parents keep an eye out for a survey headed your way via email OFYE would love to hear your feedback on our monthly Parent Newsletters We have enjoyed this year with you and your students and we look forward to hearing from you RESOURCES FOR THE SOPHOMORE YEAR Many first year students spend the summer months away from SOPHOMORE YEAR academics working summer jobs or relaxing This is often a necessary break from the rigors of academia Come August encourage your student to reconnect and re engage right away by utilizing any of these campus resources 1 Career Counseling and Career Services If your student remains uncertain about his or her major there are plenty of resources available to help your student explore and decide For those who have made the decision Career Services can help identify internships or part time job opportunities in your student s field of study Networking This is the year to start attending on campus career fairs and networking events 2 Academic Advising Your student can meet with an advisor to ensure that he or she is on track to graduate on time 3 The Learning Center The place to go for tutoring or supplemental instruction For those with strong GPAs consider looking here for a position as a tutor 4 The Office of Student Engagement and Leadership Sophomore year is the time to take an active role in leadership and service opportunities These kinds of experiences lead to greater satisfaction while in college and better jobs upon graduation 33

YOUR STUDENT FALL 2019 TENTATIVE CALENDAR THE APRIL MAY STUDENT During the month of April students begin to feel the pressure and stress of final exams and final projects Finals week is Monday May 6 Friday May 10 The Spring semester concludes on Friday May 10 Summer plans summer jobs housing arrangements for Fall and dealing with course scheduling issues are all things that your student will be thinking about during the last weeks of school As parents here are a few things that you can do to help them Remind them to take care of themselves by eating healthy exercising drinking plenty of water and getting enough sleep Respect and appreciate who your student has become they will likely be more independent self reliant and mature so it is important to appreciate them If your student will be moving home for the summer months it is important to communicate your expectations to them ahead of time This will allow them to be respectful of your expectations when scheduling vacations social activities and summer jobs Encourage your student to manage their time wisely as the summer months go by quicker than expected and Fall classes begin soon Aug 14 Deadline to pay tuition Aug 26 Classes Begin Aug 30 Last day to drop add classes Sept 2 Holiday Labor Day Oct 3 4 Holiday Fall Break Nov 7 Last day to drop with a W Nov 28 29 Holiday Thanksgiving Break Dec 6 Last day of classes Dec 9 13 Final Exams Dec 13 Fall semester ends Dec 20 Fall Graduation Schedule subject to change Click here to view the PDF schedule IS YOUR STUDENT THINKING OF CHANGING THEIR MAJOR Click here to watch our Major and Career Exploration video CAMPUS RESOURCES 4 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

END OF SCHOOL CHECKLIST CHECKLIST It is imporant to finish the semester off well Here is your student s checklist Make a To Do list including due dates with everything that needs to be done so you don t forget to do it Make an appointment with your RA or get an express check out envelope from the front desk Study hard for final exams Make sure your classes are scheduled for next semester Finish final exams Pack up your belongings clothes books furniture etc Clear out your room Clean everything sweep mop vacuum floors scrub bathtub shower and toilet Dust and clean cabinets closets desks and countertops Return any rented textbooks or checkedout library books Look for summer jobs or internships Make sure summer housing is in order if applicable Sell textbooks back Enjoy summer 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