Parents Association Newsletter - February 2010

ABOUT PARENTS ASSOCIATION WELCOME TO PARENTS ASSOCIATION NEWS! THANK YOU TO THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE PAID YOUR DUES. WE HAVE ESTABLISHED AN ACCOUNT WITH THE FOUNDATION THAT WILL ALLOW YOUR DUES TO BE TAX DEDUCTIBLE. PLEASE SEND YOURS IN IF YOU HAVE NOT ALREADY DONE SO. WE ARE EXCITED ABOUT YOUR INVOLVEMENT AND APPRECIATE YOUR SUPPORT AS WE WORK TOGETHER TO ENHANCE ALL ASPECTS OF YOUR STUDENT’S LIFE HERE AT

DELTA STATE. IN THIS WE

NEWSLETTER YOU WILL FIND HIGHLIGHTS FOR THIS MONTH AND SOME FUTURE EVENTS.

Student Life DSU Box 3202 Cleveland, MS 38733 662-846-4656 elervin@deltastate.edu

WELCOME YOUR FEEDBACK AND INVITE ALL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS TO BE SUBMITTED VIA THE CONTACT INFORMATION PROVIDED TO THE RIGHT UNDER SOON FOR A CAMPUS VISIT

“STUDENT LIFE”. WE HOPE TO SEE YOU

. ENJOY!

HAPPENING AROUND CAMPUS Career Services Mark your calendar for these upcoming events:

• • • •

Feb 3 – Business Career Fair, approximately 20 employers registered

VISITOR INFO

Mar 10 – Teacher Recruitment Day, 45 school districts already registered Apr 8 – Arts & Sciences Career Fair, 12 employers already registered Apr 13-15 - “Suit Yourself Sale” - Parents and DSU Supporters, come donate gently used clothing items that DSU students can purchase at rock-bottom prices for interviews and work. Items include: suits, slacks, ties, scarves, shirts. To donate items, please bring them to Union 300.

Bologna Performing Arts Center Don't miss "The Wedding Singer" live Saturday, February 6th at 7:30 pm. Also at the BPAC this month are the faculty recital on February 9th at 7:30 pm which is free to the public, a school-time matinee on February 25 of the group “Heartbeat Afrika”, and on February 28 Frankie Avalon will be performing at 2:00 pm. Tickets are available online at the BPAC website, www.bolognapac.com, or call 662-846-4626.

Miss DSU Pageant The Student Government Association’s 2010 Miss DSU Pageant is scheduled to take place at the BPAC Thursday, February 18, 2010. There will also be entertainment sessions throughout the pageant by numerous students. The winner of the annual Miss DSU Pageant receives various prizes, including the privilege to represent Delta State at the Miss Mississippi Pageant. For questions, contact Executive Pageant Coordinator Mrs. Linda H. Ross at 662-846-4666.

Flu Vaccine Flu Vaccinations are still available! These H1N1 vaccinations are free to all Delta State students, faculty, and staff. For more information, please contact the Student Health Center at 662-846-4630.

AREA HOTELS Hampton Inn 912 N. Davis Ave. (662) 846-2915 Cleveland, MS 38732 Holiday Inn Express 808 N. Davis Ave. (662) 843-9300 Cleveland, MS 38732 Comfort Inn 807 N. Davis Ave. (662) 846-1525 Cleveland, MS 38732 Econo Lodge 721 N. Davis Ave. (662) 843-4060 Cleveland, MS 38732

REMINDER ASSOCIATION DUES Please send your Parents’ Organization dues of $10 for 2009-10 to the Student Life address listed above. Make checks payable to Delta State University. Thank you!

NEWSLETTER CONTINUED Housing & Residence Life The Department of Housing & Residence Life is very excited about our new residence hall, which is currently under construction, and has a move in date of August 1, 2010. This new 362 bed residence hall is located on the southern border of our campus near the Dining Hall and the Aquatic Center. The design of this hall is new for DSU – it is a boomerang shaped building that will house men in one wing and women in the other wing.

They will share the common spaces. These common spaces will include lounges, lobbies, study rooms, computer labs, kitchens and laundry rooms. Each room is designed to accommodate two residents, with two individual closets and a private bath. The rooms have both tile and carpet and are outfitted with two bunkable, adjustable height beds; two three drawer chests; two desks, each with a two shelf hutch; two desk chairs; a waste can and window blinds. By mid February, we will have a fully furnished Mock Room ready to show our current and future students, faculty and staff and any parents who want to take a look as well. Everyone is looking forward to the Mock Room – it will be the first glimpse into the new hall.

We will begin Fall 2010 Room Sign Up in March. We will reserve a certain portion of each hall for the new residents (first-time freshmen and first-time transfers). During this time, current residents will have one week to reserve their same rooms or change to a new location. At the end of their week, we will begin making new student assignments. Once we have made these new student assignments they will be mailed to eagerly awaiting future residents.

Financial Aid for Fall 2010 Believe it or not, it is time to start preparing for the Fall 2010 semester. Did you know that students must reapply each year for federal financial aid? Students who would like to apply for federal grants, loans, or work study should apply now! If you have not yet filed your federal income tax return for 2009, please do so as soon as possible. This information is needed to complete your federal financial aid application. The 2010-2011 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) should be completed online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. Parents and students may e-sign using your federal PIN. If you need to apply for a federal PIN, you can access www.pin.ed.gov

Financial Aid for Summer 2010 Financial Aid applications for Summer 2010 will be available in the Financial Aid Office in late March. For the first time, students who received a pell grant in the Fall and Spring semesters will also be eligible for Pell Grant funds in the Summer. Students will receive additional information through their okra e-mail account later this semester.

Scholarships from the State of Mississippi Don’t forget that you must re-apply for the Mississippi Tuition Assistance Grant (MTAG) each year. Students can apply on-line at http://www.mississippi.edu/riseupms/financialaid-state.php

Tuition Payment Questions about your student’s payment of tuition and fees? Each student can access his/her private account information online. And as always, the office of Student Business Services is happy to help with any questions or concerns parents may have. Contact Teresa Houston or Marcie Lishman at 662-846-4698.

NEWSLETTER CONTINUED Dues for Parents Association Don’t forget your membership dues! Your financial support of the DSU Parents Association is greatly needed and appreciated. Remember...we now have an account at the DSU Foundation that makes this payment tax-deductible. Dues for this year are $10, which may be sent to the address for Student Life on page 1. Thank you!

Statesmen Athletic Events The Statesmen and Lady Statesmen Basketball Seasons are underway and going great! The 2010 DSU Baseball season will be here soon! The first home game is Feb. 16th at Ferriss Field. This year, Statesmen baseball will honor the 50th anniversary of Coach Dave “Boo” Ferriss’ first season at Delta State. Please come and visit the Ferriss Museum, open one hour prior to every Statesmen home game. Be sure to visit the official website for Delta State Athletics, www.gostatesmen.com, for news, information, or to listen to live broadcasts of select events. The Athletic Department is also available at 662-846-4300 for more information.

Calendar Sale Please support the Outdoor Recreation Program by ordering a 2010 calendar. Thirteen quality photos highlight Delta State University students on outdoor recreation trips. Proceeds will help offset student travel costs on outdoor education/recreation trips, many of which are class credit trips. Calendars are 8 ½ x 17 inches, $15 each, and can be ordered and paid for on delivery. To order, call or email Todd Davis at 662-846-4570 or tdavis@deltastate.edu.

Spring Intramurals Encourage your student to take part in Intramural athletics on campus, a fun way to get involved and stay healthy. Both individual and group sports are provided, and it’s free to participate! Your student can join in with a team from a campus organization, fraternity, sorority, or create his/her own team. For more information, contact Doug Pinkerton at 882-846-4569.

Don’t forget …

DSU Alumni Association Let us take this opportunity to remind you that as a parent of a Delta State University student, you are encouraged and welcomed to attend and participate in area alumni meetings that are scheduled throughout our state and the surrounding states. The Alumni office even has social gatherings for alumni in Atlanta and New York City! Please watch your local papers for announcements of meetings in your area. You will enjoy the social activity, but you will also get updates from the campus. Usually, Faculty, Staff, and Administration attend and bring you news from the university. Soon, you will be receiving the Alumni Association E-Newsletter at your email address. We want you to have as much information about “your” university as possible! For more about the Alumni Association, call 662-846-4660, or email Jeffrey Farris at jfarris@deltastate.edu.