May 2008 Issue

Dear Witt Parents,
At Wittenberg, we value our relationship with the parents and guardians of our students – you are important members of our community.  The focus of this newsletter is to provide information about important deadlines and academic policies, tips for supporting your student, and information on programs and resources that will help you to coach your student to make the most of their Wittenberg experience.  We look forward to communicating with you via this medium and want you to know that we are only a phone call or e-mail away if you need access to resource information to support your son or daughter. 

Sincerely,

Congratulations Parents of Graduating Seniors 

Congratulations on all of your hard work and support that has led to your son or daughter’s graduation from Wittenberg.  This year’s commencement speaker is U.S. Congressman David L. Hobson (OH-7th District).  For more than 25 years, Congressman Hobson has worked to make life better for the people he has served in the Ohio Senate and in Congress.  On Saturday, May 10, Hobson will encourage 455 Wittenberg graduates to do the same in their own communities and around the globe when he presents the keynote address during the university's 163rd Commencement Exercises.

There are a number of events planned to honor our graduates and their families including a President’s Reception.  The schedule of events related to commencement is available on the commencement website.  Graduating Honor Society members have been invited to an Honors Luncheon on Friday, May 9th from 12:00 to 1:00pm.  If you are interested in attending with your student have them purchase tickets from Academic Services by April 30th.   For those of you planning on attending the Commencement Brunch on May 10th make sure you’ve submitted your reservation by April 30th.  In the event of inclement weather, the program will be held in the HPER Center, where tickets will be required.  Remind your student to obtain their indoor Commencement tickets. 

Student Success Tip 

Making the Best Use of Summer

Now is the time for students to be finalizing their plans for this summer.  One way students can stand out as a graduate college applicant or potential new employee is to be able to boast that they have attempted to prepare themselves academically, and also professionally by using school breaks (summer, fall, winter, and spring) to gain experience.  Students can explore areas of interest and potential careers through internships, job shadowing, volunteering, or paid employment.  In addition to career building basics, students can use the summer to diversify their experiences through community service and study abroad opportunities. Some students also stay over the summer to work on research or take summer classes at Wittenberg.  

In the future, remind students to start researching summer opportunities during the fall semester.  The application process can start early in the spring semester for internships, summer camps, study abroad trips, and competitive jobs.  Hopefully, your son or daughter already has plans for the summer.  If your student is still figuring out what they want to do this summer, here is how you can help.

• Ask your student what he or she is interested in. What does it mean to “have a worthwhile summer” in your student’s eyes?  Identifying what’s important to your son or daughter will help you help them reach their goals.
• Direct your student to WittPath Career Services. The staff in this office can support students through the process of finding summer jobs, internships and more. 
• Put out some feelers and help your student network.  It’s not your job to “fix” the summer plans issue for your student.  Yet, if your student asks, put out some feelers in town. Let community members know that your talented, hard-working student will be around and looking for work!
• Talk about academic opportunities available in the summer.  Do they want/need to take summer courses to get ahead or catch up academically?  Do they want to work with faculty on a research project?  Encourage your student to talk with their advisor about the opportunities available during Summer Session and the process of transferring credits from other schools. 

Important Academic Information
Summer Session and Transferring Credit

In order to transfer credits back to Wittenberg, students must complete a Request to Transfer Credit form and secure the required signatures prior to taking the courses.  Transfer credits are not valid without this form.  More detailed guidelines for transferring credits are available online.

Information about Summer Session is available online from the School of Community Education.  Registration is from April 14th to the start of each term.  Summer Session does not use an online procedure. Students can register in person at the School of Community Education office, 101 Shouvlin Center. 

Wittenberg Summer Sessions
May 13-June 28                                                  Summer Session Term I
June 30-July 30                                                  Summer Session Overlap Term
June 9 – July 24                                                 Summer Session Term II

Calendar - Dates to Know


April 30 May 2-3, 5-7 May 8 at Noon May 10 May 10 at 6pm June 13, 20, 23, 27 August 6-20 August 21-24 August 21 August 23 August 25

Classes End Final Exams Residence Halls close (YOU MUST BE APPROVED TO STAY PAST 5/8) Commencement Seniors and others participating in graduation may stay in Res Halls until 6pm (YOU MUST BE APPROVED TO STAY PAST 5/8) Pre-Orientation Summer College program for incoming first-year students New Student Days Residence Halls open for New Students Residence Halls open for Returning Students Classes Begin

For more on campus activities visit the Campus Calendar and the Current Student website.

Student Life Corner
Spring 2008 Update from Director of Greek Life

• At Mid-America Greek Conference our Greek community received the Gamma Sigma Alpha Scholarship Award for exceeding the All Campus GPA by the largest amount for campuses our size.  One of 6 campuses to win this award.  Wittenberg received an Honorable Mention in the Fall 2007 also.
• Panhellenic Council invited a team from the National Panhellenic Council to visit our campus and help us to assess our procedures, community and recruitment. Wittenberg Panhellenic received high praises overall and are now working to implement the suggestions for improving recruitment and PR.
• After two years of discussions with Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Inc. three young men were able to bring Xi Chi chapter back to Wittenberg after a three year absence.  They were met with great excitement and support from the entire campus community, especially the IFC which they have joined.  Plans are to take more members in the fall and spring of 2008-10, and annually after that.  Dr. John Marr and the Director of Greek Life will be advising them in partnership with members of the Columbus graduate chapter.
• 64 men and 97 women were pledged in Spring 2008, mostly freshmen.  Retention is up from past spring pledge classes with only 4 depledgings noted.
• In February, Greeks sponsored the third Crossing the Line hazing prevention program with participation from all Greek chapters.  A Witt Greek alumna, Mindy Sopher, facilitated the program.  Mindy is a Greek Life professional at NC State and winner of the AFA Distinguished Service award in 2007.
• Panhellenic (sorority council), Interfraternity Council and the Student Development Department held “ Irish night” to promote Irish culture and an alcohol free event for St. Patrick’s Day.  An Dochas, a Celtic band, and three Wittenberg student Irish dancers presented the program which was open to campus with about 75 attending and enjoying it.
• The first Wittenberg Up til Dawn program was held on February 23rd to celebrate our students raising $21, 435 for St. Jude’s Hospital.  This was organized and supported by former Panhellenic President, Jackie Flickinger, and every Greek chapter as well as other students.
• As a community our fraternities and sororities have raised more than $5000 this semester for charitable organizations like Make a Wish Foundation; Sight Loss Services; Prevent Child Abuse; Camp Joy and Ronald McDonald House.

A Note from the Parents’ Association
May Greetings to Wittenberg Parents,

May has arrived and with it the flurry of end-of-year activities with celebrations, banquets, and graduations.  For senior parents it is sometimes unimaginable that it has really been four years since we brought our children to campus laden with necessities and luxuries.  Looking back do you remember how hot and sweaty we kept the OAs as they made numerous round-trips ferrying the belongings from the car to the dorm room?  The day was filled with meeting roommates and parents, attending the opening convocation, talking with the advisor, and saying goodbye.  Commencement is a parallel occasion that shares many of the same activities and emotions:  excitement, gatherings, nostalgia, exhilaration, separation pangs, and joy fill the day.  This time we parents (without the help of the OAs) will be trekking back and forth from the living quarters to the car with what will seem twice the amount of boxes we had moving in.  We congratulate all graduate parents as your child embarks on this new adventure of life.  

Our students begin the final exam schedule with a reading day (no testing) on Thursday, May 1, 2008.  Exams begin on Friday, May 2nd, and end on Wednesday, May 7th with no exams scheduled for Sunday, May 4th.  The exam schedule is available on the Registrar’s website.

For returning parents we have dates to keep in mind for the Fall 2008 semester.  New students arrive on Thursday, August 21, 2008, and the first day of classes is set for Monday, August 25th.  Family Weekend is approximately six weeks into the first semester, and we will notify you of the exact date once the schedule is set.  You may always check for information on Wittenberg’s website under the parent section.  The campus calendar is listed under News and Events and provides current information.

Thank you for your interest and input as we continue to develop this year’s new project, The Parent Connection.  We hope that this communication provides you with increased awareness and information about campus life and events.  We will continue to send updates to you for the fall semester as we receive them.  

Enjoy a fun and relaxing summer!

Sincerely,
Pamela and Alan Stewart

Sincerely,
Pamela and Alan Stewart
Pam – s69.pstewart@wittenberg.edu
Alan – alanstewart1970@gmail.com 



 

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