It Must Be Finals Week! WVU Parent's Club Newsletter

Well it is the time of year again when libraries are packed with study groups, the computer labs are overflowing as last minute papers get written and students are anxiously studying as they anticipate the end of their fall classes. Ah yes, it must be final week! With Winter Break just around the corner, next week students will begin the journeys over the river and through the woods to their homes near and far. As some get ready to embark on their first week of finals, nearly 1,400 of graduating seniors will be celebrating as they take their very last exams and are then recognized during December Convocation to be held Sunday, December 14! For more all the details on this ceremony, go to: http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=964 and congratulations to all of our graduates as they join the ranks of the 170,000 plus Mountaineer Alumni!


This Parent E-Newsletter has a ton of information from across campus and various units so you, the parents, are aware of all the happenings, opportunities, and pertinent information to help you support your students. Details are included about residence hall closing and opening dates, job opportunities for graduates, meals plans for spring term, and what to expect after final grades come out - among other important items. So if you don't have time to peruse this article right now, hit print and read at your leisure! Also, as we wrap up one semester don't
forget to look ahead for important dates in the upcoming spring term at http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=965. As your students prepare to conclude their fall term on campus, here's to good luck on finals and wishes for a successful finish to the semester! In this edition:

CLOSING OUT '08:
- ONLINE JOB SEARCH RESOURCE NOW AVAILABLE FOR GRADUATING SENIORS
- HOLIDAY BUSSES FOR WINTER BREAK
- RESIDENCE HALL WINTER BREAK CLOSING/OPENING INFO
- OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING WINTER BREAK TIPS - BATTENING THE HATCHES

UPCOMING DEADLINES AND OPPORTUNITIES:
- NOW IS THE TIME TO APPLY TO LIVE IN WVU HOUSING FOR 2009 - 2010
- COMMUTER DINING PLANS AVAILABLE FOR SPRING TERM
- MOUNTAINEER ACADEMIC PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ACCEPTING
APPLICATIONS
- REMINDER: IMMUNIZATION FORMS REQUIRED

NOTICES:
- CREATIVE ARTS CENTER ANNUAL HOLIDAY POTTERY SALE - December 5-7
- *ONLY ONLINE* WINTER 2008 MOUNTAINEER PARENTS CLUB NEWSLETTER NOW
AVAILABLE
- ANOTHER GREEN INITIATIVE - MAGAZINE CONNECTS WITH WIND ENERGY

TIPS FROM THE TRENCHES:
- WRAPPING UP THE SEMESTER...ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
by Regan Bruni - Assistant Dean for Retention and Research


CLOSING UP '08:


ONLINE JOB SEARCH RESOURCE NOW AVAILABLE FOR GRADUATING SENIORS
Do you know a senior who will be graduating soon? The WVU Career Services Center through the Office of Student Affairs is now offering free access to CareerShift to all graduating seniors. CareerShift is the most comprehensive online resource available to help students in their
job search. Its set of tools and applications provides a unique opportunity to job hunters. While other Web services offer bits and pieces of the job hunt process, only CareerShift provides an easy-to-use approach for bringing all these parts together to crack the hidden job market and for managing the job hunt all in one place. Please encourage seniors to use this job search tool in addition to the Career Services Center’s MountaineerTRAK. Details and registration instructions are available online at http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=966, by phone at 293-2221 or e-mail at careerservices@mail.wvu.edu.


HOLIDAY BUSSES FOR WINTER BREAK
The end of the semester is almost here so be sure your student has a ride home for the semester break! The WVU Mountaineer Parents Club Holiday Bus Schedules are available online. Spaces are still available to Secaucus, NJ; Allentown, PA; Hagerstown, MD and Philadelphia, PA. For
more information, please log on to http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=967.

Three individual Parents Clubs - Long Island, Northern Virginia and Central Maryland - have also planned busses home for the holiday break, and spaces are still available. For more information and details on how to make these reservations, visit http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=967.

As a reminder, the daily Grey Line shuttle to the Pittsburgh Airport and Pittsburgh Greyhound Station will be running the normal 10:00 a.m. run all week. NOTE: There is no 4 p.m. run for Winter Break. For information on the daily schedule and details, or to make a reservation,
call 304-296-3869 or visit: http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=968.

PLEASE NOTE: The deadline for refunds for Winter Break busses was December 3rd and has now passed. Also, students who may be on academic probation should check the time of the returning bus because the earliest probation workshops (information to be sent once final grades are posted) will begin at 5 p.m. on Sunday, January 11, 2009.


RESIDENCE HALL WINTER BREAK CLOSING/OPENING INFO
The residence halls will officially close at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, December 13. All students must be out of their rooms by 5:00 p.m. This affects students in University-owned or supervised residence halls and apartments including parts of College Park - The Ridge. Students are
welcome to leave their belongings in their room over break. However, we encourage students to take any valuables home with them, along with items they will need over the break. During Winter Break, students will not be permitted in their rooms nor have access to their mailboxes. Be sure to remind your students to empty their trash cans, close windows, and lock their room doors as they leave.

University Housing will reopen at noon on Saturday, January 10. Dining Services for the Evansdale Residential Complex and Boreman Hall on the downtown campus will begin with dinner on Saturday, January 10, 2009. The rest of the dining facilities will begin service on the first day of classes, Monday, January 12, 2009. Again the complete list of all residence hall opening and closing dates and times for 2008-2009 can be found online at: http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=969.


OFF-CAMPUS HOUSING WINTER BREAK TIPS - BATTENING THE HATCHES
If your students live off campus, remind them to prepare their apartments for being away for this extended break. Unfortunately crime tends to increase around the holidays. Tips to pass along include putting lights on a timer, having their mail temporarily held by the US
Post Office to give their place the "someone's-home" look, or if they subscribe to a newspaper, contact their carrier to stop the delivery temporarily. It's a good idea to take out their trash and clean up before leaving as well as dirty apartments over a period of time can attract unwelcome visitors. They should also take valuable items with them when they leave town and because of the cold weather, although they may lower their heat they should not turn this off completely because pipes might freeze if temperatures drop. Of course the obvious reminder is to close and lock all windows and doors as they leave town. Here's to a safe and restful break!


UPCOMING DEADLINES AND OPPORTUNITIES:


NOW IS THE TIME TO APPLY TO LIVE IN WVU HOUSING FOR 2009 - 2010
If your student is a current WVU student interested in living on-campus next year, now is the time to complete a WVU housing application and submit the deposit. Remember, there is a limited number of housing applications from current students that will be accepted for the
2009-2010 academic year. As long as space is available, the deadline for current WVU students to submit the housing application and $225 deposit is Tuesday, January 20, 2009 at 11:59 p.m.

Applications and deposit payment can be made on-line through the STAR Information System accessible through MIX. Whether a student is currently living on-campus or off-campus, they are encouraged to go to this web site to for information about how to apply for University
housing: http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=970. Students should contact the Housing Assignments Office at 304-293-2811 if they have any questions.


COMMUTER DINING PLANS AVAILABLE FOR SPRING TERM
Looking for a holiday gift for your student? Give your commuting student one less thing to worry about by giving them a dining plan from WVU Dining Services. Benefits of most plans include:
- Access to our Staff Dietitian for advice and counsel
- Peace of mind: knowing you have set aside dollars specifically for
food and snacks.
- All-you-care-to-eat entrees (including vegan/vegetarian), vegetables,
fruit, salad, soup, dessert, hot dogs, hamburgers and pizza
- All-you-care-to-drink sodas, milk and juices
- Special Events featuring entrees such as Prime Rib and Grilled
Salmon
- Free samples of new products featured in our mini-food shows
- Convenient locations on three campuses
- Healthy "U": an award winning program designed to make eating
healthier both convenient and accessible
- Value-added (no charge) "Meals Plus Bonus Bucks" to spend at any
Dining Services location

Prior to the beginning of the spring semester, dining plans from WVU Dining Services are available by calling 304-293-2096 ext 4 or by visiting us on the Web at http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=971.
Commuting students may choose from both residential and commuter dining plan options. Just click on the contract link, print, complete, sign and mail the order form. For more details on billing, costs, and other details of these plans, please visit the web link above.


MOUNTAINEER ACADEMIC PROGRAM FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS
After a successful first semester, the Office of Disability Services under the Presidents Office of Social Justice is pleased to announce the continuation of the Mountaineer Academic Program (MAP) to assist students with disabilities. Newly created this term, MAP provides supplemental academic services for students with disabilities. These services included academic tutoring and coaching. Academic tutoring is provided to students on a one-on-one basis and provides tutoring in both specific content areas and in basic study skills. Academic coaching provides students with one-on-one support with an academic coach to assist in acquiring academic and time mnagement skills needed to be successful in the college environment. In order to best serve your student’s needs the MAP program has varying options and levels of service.

MAP is currently accepting applications for both the spring 2009 and the fall 2009 semesters. Space in this program is limited and students are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested in finding out about MAP services or how MAP services can help your
student please feel free to contact us at 304-293-7752 daily between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm.


REMINDER: IMMUNIZATION FORMS REQUIRED
Remember if your son/daughter has not submitted proof of immunization o the Office of Admissions and Records, he/she needs to do so as soon as possible. The immunization form can be found online at:
http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=972.


NOTICES:


CREATIVE ARTS CENTER ANNUAL HOLIDAY POTTERY SALE
The faculty, staff and students of the West Virginia University Ceramics Department cordially invite you and your students to the Annual Holiday Pottery Sale. This year’s sale will be held in the Douglas O. Blaney Lobby of the Creative Arts Center and will feature work from the
WVU-Jingdezhen Ceramics Institute in China. The remaining dates and times follow:
Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008 12:00 pm - 4:00 pm
If you have any questions about the sale you may contact Christopher
Brown at 304-293-2140 Ext.3208


*ONLY ONLINE* WINTER 2008 MOUNTAINEER PARENTS CLUB NEWSLETTER NOW
AVAILABLE
The Mountaineer Parents Club is happy to announce that the Winter 2008 newsletter can be found online! As part of the University-wide effort to "Go Green", this issue of the Mountaineer Parents Club Newsletter will be available on our website ONLY. Also, on our web site go to the
Question of the Month and let us know what you think of the new format.
Please go to http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=956 to read the newsletter.



ANOTHER GREEN INITIATIVE - MAGAZINE CONNECTS WITH WIND ENERGY
Eberly, the magazine showcasing the people and programs of the Eberly College of Arts and Sciences has undergone a complete redesign. It is printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) approved, recycled paper, using wind energy. It is the first fully FSC recycled publication at
WVU. Parents interested in receiving the biannual publication can send their names and addresses to rebecca.herod@mail.wvu.edu. The magazine is available online at http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=973. To learn more about the Forest Stewardship Council go to http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=974.


TIPS FROM THE TRENCHES:


WRAPPING UP THE SEMESTER...ACADEMICALLY SPEAKING
By: Regan Bruni - Assistant Dean of Retention and Research

As many of you know final exams are right around the corner. For many students the anticipation of grades will be the well-deserved reward for spending countless hours in the library, reviewing class notes on a nightly basis, or getting extra help from a tutor at the Academic Resource Center. For others it will be a reality check that study habits need to change or the realization of needing extra help. General information follows about the academic probation process if students feel this may be an impact. We know your students turn to you for
support, so we would like to share with you this information as well as some of WVU’s services and resources to help your students be even more academically successful:

Academic Resource Centers - These centers offer free, walk-in tutoring on many WVU subjects. The Academic Resource Centers will be open during Finals Week and we’re adding more days at our location in the Downtown Library. For more information about locations and hours visit:
http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=975.

Chemistry Learning Center - This Center offers free tutoring on general chemistry classes. This center is promoted during classes to all entry level Chemistry students. For more information visit http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=977.

Math Learning Center - Students can drop in for free help in a variety of math classes. For more information visit
http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=978 .

Term Paper Clinic - Need help with research papers? Check out this Clinic! For more information visit
http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=979.

Writing Center - The Writing Center focuses on helping students become better writers. For more information visit
http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=980.

Emotional Support - Carruth Center for Counseling and Psychological Services - Student can often feel overwhelmed or stressed when it comes to grades or other personal issues they may be encountering. The Carruth Center for Counseling offers individual counseling, group
sessions, and classes to support your student. They also offer daily walk-in hours. See the help your student can receive at http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=981 .

- Academic Probation
Students are placed on academic probation if their cumulative GPA falls below a 2.0. First-year students on academic probation will need to attend a workshop on Sunday, January 11th. During the workshop, students will learn more about WVU’s support services and classes to help get them back on track as well as the D/F Repeat Policy, Academic Suspension guidelines, and Financial Aid policies. If this applies to your student, more details will be mailed during the semester break. We encourage students on academic probation to take EDP 101 or MDS 293 to
help improve their study skills and repeat any courses in which a D or F was earned. For more information on WVU’s D/F Repeat Policy visit http://www.wvu.edu/Redirect/?id=982. The Office of Retention and Research also offers a workshop series throughout the spring semester on topics such as time management, study skills, career planning, and text anxiety.


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