Issue 8: March 2009
Greetings to Parents!
We are in the last stage of what has been an interesting winter including snow, ice, sleet, and a short period of really cold temperatures – perfect conditions for a number of outdoor activities. We find that the campus looks spectacular in any season, and we just cannot resist sending a photo of Myers Hall. We hope you enjoy this new component of our newsletter.
We are looking forward to spring break. Our son, Zach, will be traveling with the Wittenberg Choir, on the annual tour, and we are thrilled that the choir’s first stop is in our town of Vincennes, Indiana. The choir tours a different part of the country every four years so this group may be in your area at a future date. For a complete list of this year’s locations as well as for a sample of the program, go to the following link: http://www4.wittenberg.edu/academics/music/web/wittchoir.html
With many of us living a distance from campus, we are unable to celebrate special occasions with our student complete with their favorite treats from home. For these events Sodexho, Wittenberg’s food service company, offers a variety of choices. Catering options are also available to help you with food preparation for a graduation party or for a family picnic in Cliff Park. Sodexho’s website includes lots of good information about nutrition, meal plans, and menus. Check it out for fun to see the choices your child has daily in the CDR (Center Dining Room): http://www4.wittenberg.edu/administration/dining/gifts.html
We want to thank you for your response to our request for volunteers for a presentation for prospective parents during the winter visitation days for high school students. The sessions with parents sharing information and insight with fellow parents have been well received because they provide a unique aspect of the college experience in general and of our experience at Wittenberg in particular. We appreciate your enthusiasm with this project.
Future dates to remember are:
Thank you for your continued support.
Alan and Pamela Stewart
Alan – alanstewart1970@gmail.com
Pam – s69.pstewart@wittenberg.edu
Student Success Tip
Tips from the Authors of the Professors’ Guide to Getting Good Grades in College
Professors Lynn F. Jacobs and Jeremy S. Hyman decided to share their advice for college success in the book Professors' Guide to Getting Good Grades in College. In a column for U.S. News & World Reports they are sharing new tips for college students and their parents. Here are some of their tips for parents of new, and returning, college students:
Don't pick your child's courses. Many parents feel the need to help their kid select from among the thousands of choices. Don't. An important part of getting settled into college is finding the courses that best suit the student's interests and best satisfy the college requirements. Let the academic adviser do his or her job.
Help your kid develop his or her passion. The single most important thing in college is that your student develop a true interest that he or she can enjoy throughout life. Let your child grow into his or her passion. Do not pressure him or her to major too early or to pick a field solely for its job prospects. Let your kid spend the first two years of college exploring many possibilities, without undue direction from you.
Don't edit your child's papers. In many families, parents are used to "helping" with homework, especially when paper-writing time comes around. In college, students are supposed to be working on their own. 100 percent. Resist the temptation to pitch in and just look over a draft of the paper. You could be leading your kid astray.
Encourage the student to go see the professor. One of the hidden resources at every college is the professor's office hours. A required part of every professor's job, the three or four office hours each week are the time that professors are available for one-on-one conferences to help students with their papers and tests. Encourage your kid to avail him- or herself of this free service as often as appropriate. You've paid for it, why not use it?
Protect the last month of the semester. In many college courses, up to 70 percent of the course grade is awarded in the last month of the semester. Do not distract your child with winter vacation plans, worries about finances or what to major in, family events and celebrations, or other activities during the crucial November-December and April-May periods. These are "make or break" times for your child: Respect them.
Calendar - Dates to Know
Mar 6 Last day to remove a ‘I’ grade
Mar 6 1st half-semester courses end
Mar 9 Midterm grades due to Registrar by noon
Mar 9 - Mar 13 Spring Break
Mar 16 2nd half-semester courses begin
Mar 20 Last day to add a 2nd half-semester course
Mar 23-27 Academic Advising Week
Mar 26 Empty Bowls
Mar 27 Last day to DROP a full-semester course with a ‘W’
Mar 27 – 29 Lil’ Sibs Weekend (early registration deadline: March 10th)
Mar 30 – April 3 File PASS/FAIL option for 2nd half-semester courses
Mar 30 - April 9 Online registration
April 3 Last day to DROP a 2nd half-semester course without a 'W'
April 10 Good Friday (no classes)
April 17 Last day to DROP a 2nd half semester course with a 'W'
April 17 Honors Convocation
For more on campus activities visit the Campus Calendar and the Current Student website.
Important Academic Information
Midterm Grades and Last Day to Drop a Class
Every semester professors submit midterm grades for students who are earning a grade of C- or lower. Midterm grades for this semester are due on March 9th. Shortly after that date students receive notice of their midterm grade deficiencies by campus mail and email. If your son or daughter receives a midterm grade, encourage them to take the time to review their academic situation and talk with their professor(s) and their advisor. There is still time for students to improve their academic standing, and we hope they will explore every avenue to achieve this goal. If your son or daughter needs help connecting with campus resources or would like to discuss strategies for academic success have them contact Academic Services at 937-327-7924. We are interested in their academic success and are willing to provide assistance.
Discuss with them whether they believe they can achieve a passing grade in the course(s). If they believe they cannot achieve a passing grade in one or more of their courses they should speak with their professor(s) and their advisor before dropping the course(s). If it is determined that dropping the course(s) is the best solution, students must obtain an Add/Drop form from the Registrar's Office (room 21 Recitation Hall), have the professor and their advisor sign the form, and submit it to the Registrar's Office no later than 5 p.m. on Friday, March 27, 2009.
Academic Advising and Online Registration
Academic Advising Week (March 23-27) is when your son or daughter should be meeting with his or her advisor. Students should be prepared to discuss their future goals and their progress this year, and to evaluate their preferences of courses for next term. They should review the open course listings prior to their appointment and select at least 8 courses that they are interested in taking. Students must meet with their advisor before they will be eligible to register for the next term.
Students will be notified via an email from the Registrar about open course listings and registration. Online registration takes place from March 30th to April 9th. Students will soon be able to log-in to the WittLink Portal to look up their exact registration date and time and to check to see if they have any holds that might prevent their registration. We encourage students to register as close as possible to their assigned time so that they can get the best course selection possible.
Student Life
Greetings from Student Development
Parents, did you know that through the Office of Residence Life you can order a 9’’ cake or a 12’’ chocolate chip cookie to have delivered to your son or daughter for any special occasion? The cost is $16.00 and includes the cake or the cookie, a personalized note, and delivery. Delivery is for students living in residence halls only, and we ask that you order at least 7 days before the desired delivery date. This delicious treat is the perfect way to surprise your son or daughter for birthdays, holidays, exams, recitals, or just because. Contact Connie Manes in the Office of Student Development at 937-327-7800 to order yours today!
A Message from the 2012 Class Cabinet
Moms, Dads, Grandmas, Grandmas, Pa-Paws, Nanas and any other relevant relatives, consider something for a moment: You know that small box hidden in the closet of the guest bedroom filled with your Wittenberg student’s childhood books that you just couldn’t bear to part with? Well, some members of the class of 2012 have come up with a solution to cure your inexplicable nostalgia!
Read and Feed is a new community service initiative that will connect Wittenberg students to the less privileged children of Springfield, giving us a chance to pass on the Witt light, and providing the children with positive role models, a love of reading, and a nourishing meal. The program will allow students to complete their community service requirement, and we hope it will continue LONG AFTER the class of 2012 has gone. Though we just started brainstorming, we are awfully excited for this opportunity, but WE NEED YOUR HELP!
All we’re asking you to do is to get out that dusty little box full of books such as Arthur and The Berenstain Bears books, and send some back with your student when he/she returns from Spring Break! Not only will it be the perfect start to spring cleaning, it will help us out tremendously, and you’ll feel satisfied knowing you played a part in “passing it on”.
Boxes will be placed in general areas around campus including the Community Service Office, so students can easily find a convenient place to drop off the books (but don’t worry—we’ll make sure the books end up in the right place, though they will be pretty tempting reads for us kids-at-heart). Thank you in advance for your generosity.
2012 Class Cabinet
Highlighting an Academic Resource
An academic resource or program will be highlighted every month in the newsletter. Encourage your student to take advantage of these programs and services as it will help them build better academic skills and understanding.
The Peer Helper Program
For the past five years Wittenberg has had a team of students known at Peer Helpers to be compassionate listeners to students as they deal with life issues and challenges.
What types of issues do Peer Helpers address?
Who are Peer Helpers?
Students are nominated by faculty, staff and existing Peer Helpers. Qualities of students nominated to be Peer Helpers include: alert to needs of others, compassionate, empathic, respectful of others, open minded, encouraging, welcoming, and sensitive to spiritual issues. Students who are nominated may file an application, have an interview, have references checked and then selected. Every Peer Helper attends a three day training program before New Student Days and has monthly meetings where additional training is conducted. We have 34 Peer Helpers from a diverse group of majors, activities, ethnic backgrounds and interests. We hope to be as diverse as is Wittenberg University.
What do Peer Helpers do?
They listen…deeply listen. They are patient and ask questions. They also are trained to refer students to professionals when appropriate.
What do Peer Helpers not do?
They don’t fix people and they don’t tell people what to do.
What is the foundation of Peer Helpers?
It is the Good Samaritan story of the New Testament – someone who is caring and compassionate, who will get involved with another person without expectation of anything in return. The quote we use to describe the program is, “One friend, one person who is truly understanding, who takes the trouble to listen to us as we consider our problems, can change our whole outlook on the world.” Elton Mayo. Peer Helpers are trained to be deep listeners and are trained in how to help others make decisions.
How do Peer Helpers operate?
Two ways: first, in daily life with friends, classmates, teammates and students they meet. This is the informal contacts that happen daily. Our Peer Helpers are trained to be more alert to others. Annually our Peer Helpers have more than 2000 informal contacts with other students. Second, by formal assignment – we may learn of a concern from a professor, coach, administrator, friend, or parent. In that situation a Peer Helper is assigned by the director to make contact with the student and offer to listen as the student deals with their issue.
Who leads this?
Bob White, Director of Church Relations is the director and trainer of the Peer Helper program. Bob has more than 15 years experience in developing, training and operating Peer Ministry.
What is said about Peer Helpers?
The national director of Peer Ministry has called the Wittenberg Peer Helper program the, “preeminent peer ministry program in colleges in America”. Our Peer Helpers make a difference in the lives of Wittenberg Students.
Who do I contact if I have questions?
Bob White (rwhite@wittenberg.edu) or phone: 937-327-7494.
A Note from Academic Services
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,
Miguel Martinez-Saenz Melinda Finkle
Assistant Provost for First-Year Experience Academic Services Program Coordinator