Minefamily newsletter august

A message from the VP of Student Affairs/ Dean of Students

august 2013

Greetings from SDSM&T, The team members of the Student Affairs Division and I are honored that your student is attending the South Dakota School of Mines & Technology. We are dedicated to serving students and helping individuals grow and develop while they pursue their educational and career goals.

So that we can best correspond with you, please sign up to receive parent information at the following link: www.sdsmt.edu/Campus-Life/Parent-Resources/. The purpose of the Mines Family mailing and email list is to facilitate the distribution of information and services specific to the parents and families of South Dakota School of Mines & Technology current and future students. This information disseminated by campus and the SDSM&T Foundation includes but is not limited to: publications, campus news and events, available resources, and student activities. All email messages will be sent with instructions on how to remove yourself from the list if you wish to do so.

I would like to extend a special invitation for you to attend Mines Family Weekend, October 25-26. This is a great opportunity to touch base and spend time with your student! For more family weekend information: http://www. sdsmt.edu/Campus-Life/Parent-Resources/ Please let me know whenever you have any questions or concerns.

Patricia “Pat” Mahon, Ph.D. Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students South Dakota School of Mines & Technology 501 East St. Joseph Street, Rapid City, SD 57701-3995 Phone: (605) 394-2416

You might find the following two topics useful.

1. Health insurance: If your son or daughter is not covered by your health plan, please know that the South Dakota public higher education institutions currently utilize Avera Health as a provider for student health insurance.

Brochures, enrollment cards and rates are readily available on-line at https://myhealth.sdbor.edu/index.cfm this information is linked to the SDSM&T Student Life web page. If I can assist in helping you access information, please let me know.

2. “Financial Fitness”: One of the things that can cause concern for college students is how to manage finances while in school. Questions that I hear include: Do I need to take out a student loan? How much should I take out?

Should I have a credit card? How do I budget? What is a credit score? How do I save money? I share with students tips recommended in part by Bankrate.com including tracking where the money goes; planning a budget; using credit cards sparingly if at all; understanding federal financial aid awards; sharing expenses; and asking for advice on how to manage money prior to getting into debt.

As an added resource we have developed a web site of information available at: http://www.hpcnet.org/studentlife/ steps/financial_fitness

Letting Go: Transitioning to College Parents sometimes the first semester of school can be a hectic one. Counseling services has provided some tips and suggestions to help your student with this transition.

• Open Communication: Address concerns and invite questions from your child. Creating a supportive and caring environment for your child to engage them and encourage open lines of communication.

• Expecting Change: As your child goes to college, expect possible changes. There could be changes in views, ideas, attitudes, direction and even, appearance. Remember your child is figuring out who they are as an independent adult. Be supportive and understanding of your child during this journey.

• Staying in Touch: Remember to keep in touch with your child. With the age of technology, there are many lines of communication, such as phone calls, texts, or Skype.

But, college students also really enjoy and appreciate old-fashioned letters, cards, and of course, care packages.

All of these things remind your child that you are still thinking of them. But, be careful! Discuss with your child a good balance of communication. Discussing a plan as to how much communication is the right amount is very important. As a parent, you want to make sure you allow for independence at this time, but still let your child know you are only a phone call or Skype date away.

• Asking for Help: Always remember to remind your child that there is many resources and support services on campus. If you suspect that your child is feeling overwhelmed, stressed, anxious, or is in academic trouble, please encourage them to seek out help. There are counselors available free of cost in the SDSM&T counseling center on campus in the Surbeck Center.

Contact information is located below.

Jolie McCoy 605.394.1924 Jolie.Mccoy@sdsmt.edu Mark Urban 605.394.2533 Mark.Urban@sdsmt.edu Megan Reder 605.394.6988 Megan.Reder@sdsmt.edu

Foundation The SDSM&T Foundation exists solely to assist the University in providing exceptional intellectual, professional and personal development opportunities. We seek the required resources to enhance these opportunities to enrich and empower the individual’s attainment of outstanding educational experiences, professional accomplishments and lifetime learning experiences to address society’s needs through technology.

Priorities:

• Scholarships The need for a strong, consistent scholarship program at the School of Mines will always exist. As many School of Mines alumni will testify, receiving a scholarship can help a student pave the way to reaching his or her dreams and ambitions. Scholarship support not only assists deserving students, but is also essential to increasing general student enrollment at the School of Mines.

• Student Experience The college learning experience includes not only time spent in the classroom and laboratories but also the activities and experiences shared on and off campus. Funding for student experiences allows students to achieve their goals through: Unrestricted (Area of Greatest Need), Academic Department Support, Co-Curricular Programs and Competitions, Library Resource & Athletics • Faculty

Faculty Initiatives Fund: State funding is not currently available for new faculty start-up packages, lab purchases, or special projects. One of the most effective ways to help faculty succeed is to provide initial funding to fill this gap and allow them to thrive.

Endowed Chairs: An endowed chair is one of the highest honors bestowed upon an academic institution and its faculty. By providing salary, benefits, and operating support, the chair holder is able to focus on breakthroughs and discoveries in education and research.

Endowed Professorships: Faculty salaries are generally provided by the state.

The state, however, does not provide sufficient supplemental support for research and teaching projects. Professorships can make up this difference, empowering the School of Mines to remain competitive in attracting and retaining outstanding professors.

• Capital Improvements The institution’s physical environment impacts every aspect of campus performance. The campus continues to strive to provide the best possible environment through the investments of its many stakeholders: alumni, friends, companies, and city, state, and federal agencies. Upcoming projects include: Wellness & Recreation Center, MI Building, Research Center and Event Center

The Mines Legacy Fund is the backbone of the SDSM&T Foundation and will help to achieve the University’s mission. Gifts to the Mines Legacy Fund will support the Foundation’s efforts to provide student scholarships as well as faculty, department and co-curricular program support. A gift to the Mines Legacy Fund is an expression of your support to your student’s alma mater and will make an immediate impact on programs and student success.

Welcome “Hardrockers!”

Whether this is your first year on campus or you are a few classes from graduation, this year there are many opportunities for you to get involved.

We have numerous educational, entertaining, and recreational activities, programs, and events going on throughout the school year. Our Mines Advantage program is a great way for you to start developing your professionalism too!

Our events, clubs, and programs are as diverse as our student body of 2,500 students. We encourage you to get the most out of your time at the School of Mines by getting involved in the many opportunities offered at the school and in the Rapid City community. All of these activities are great ways to make friends, experience new things, and build professional skills.

As always, feel free to stop by the Student Activities & Leadership Center to find out about clubs and organizations on campus or to learn more about starting a new club.

Tips for college Starting college gives first year students an opportunity to redefine themselves. They get to decide if they will continue to be the person they were in high school or if they want to be someone else. College gives everyone a clean academic slate, independence, and responsibility. Truly, it is an exciting and nerve racking time.

Contact your roommate

Ask them what they’re bringing so you don’t end up with 2 TV’s and no refrigerator! Plus, it’s always a good idea to find out who is a morning person or a night owl. You can even coordinate moving in if you’re really organized. The School of Mines has a volunteer Move-in Crew to help carry the heavy stuff too!

Less is more when packing for college

You’re moving into a small space with very limited storage! Plus, you have to share it with at least one other person! Remember to bring only what is ABSOLUTELY necessary to get through the first part of the semester. You can bring more stuff later if you are able to visit home for a long weekend. Storage containers that fit under the bed and/or are stackable are always a good idea.

Get involved on campus

By getting involved on campus you’ll meet people. Joining organizations/clubs you’re interested in will help you meet people with similar interests. We have service, multicultural, athletic, academic/professional, media, government organizations, sororities and fraternities, and special interest groups at the School of Mines. Remember, being too involved can be harmful too. So, join some but not all organizations!

Stay on campus as much as possible

Staying on campus as much as possible is a great way to make you feel at home at school as soon as possible. It allows you to spend more time with new friends and become more familiar with campus. Whether its friends, family, a girlfriend/boyfriend, or a job try to fight that urge to go home.

Keep track of your money

Create a budget before you come to school. It is all too easy to spend more than you normally would when you’re surrounded by new people who might have different priorities for their money. Always look for ways to stretch your dollars. Hey, it’s not a bad idea to consider an on campus job to help defray some of your expenses.

Meet with your professors

As the semester progresses, it will be helpful to already be acquainted with your professors. Professors schedule office hours so they have specific time to meet with and help students. Make it a point, early in the semester, to introduce yourself to each of your professors. That way when you have trouble with the homework it will be easier to stop in and ask for help.

Get to know others in your residence hall

You’ll be in close contact with the people living near you. They’re going through the same things you are; missing friends and home, struggling with the homework, etc. So, just like you, they’ll be willing to help you out. Remember to meet the guys/girls down the hall too. One of them may just become a lifelong friend!

Find the Career and Professional Development Center

“Whether you are entering college with your entire future planned or as undeclared, the professionals at Career Services can be a wonderful resource” (Fun Enterprises, email, June 2013). They’ll help with career information, internships and job openings in addition to helping with your resume, cover letters, interview strategies, and get you involved with the Mines Advantage Professional Development Program.

Stay healthy and eat right Over indulging is easy to do when you can eat everything in the Hardrocker Dining Hall. Remember, burgers and fries are okay every once in a while. There are also healthy options offered at every meal. While eating healthy is one challenge, getting enough sleep is another. They say you have time for 3 things in college and 4 things are competing for it; 1) going to class, 2) studying, 3) eating, and 4) socializing.

But seriously, take care of yourself. Go to class, study afterwards, eat reasonably, take a vitamin, get some exercise, and have some fun, this is college for crying out loud!