Fall Newsletter2017 - NewStudent

Volume 11, Number 1 ▪ Fall 2017

DENT NEW STU EDITION Get Connected

Please remember that after this issue, the Illini Families Quarterly newsletter will no longer be mailed to you. Get connected to the Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office to learn all the latest information on campus as well as opportunities to get involved. union.illinois.edu/PFPO

In This Issue Inside Front Cover: Student Health Insurance Welcome from PFPO ....... 1-2 Welcome from UIPD ........ 2-3 New Student Financial To-Do List ........................... 3 Dads Weekend 2017........... 4 The Family Transition ....... 5-6 Move-In Checklist ............... 7 Scholarship Raffle Tickets on Sale ................................ 7

Welcome

Zuri White – Parent and Family Programs Manager On behalf of the Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office, I would like to extend a warm welcome to the Illinois family! I had the pleasure of meeting many of you during summer registration. I know that you have worked hard to support your student’s entrance into Illinois, and their success is not a coincidence. I realize how important a smooth transition can be for both parents and students alike, and my hope is that our office will be a valuable resource by partnering with you to continue supporting your student as you both transition into the Illinois community.

The Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office (PFPO) is committed to helping parent and families participate in their student’s collegiate experience.

We believe an informed and supportive family plays an integral role in a student’s educational success. When looking at our student’s support systems, we define “parent” as any caregiver or legal guardian who is actively involved in a student’s endeavor. By this definition, parents include, but are not limited to, mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, adoptive parents, step parents, etc. We welcome all families to engage and utilize our office, which is the “one

union.illinois.edu/PFPO

stop shop” for all of your Illinois questions, needs, and involvement. We offer resources for you to understand your student’s experience at different stages in his or her entire collegiate career here.

While you may not be able to join us on campus every day, you are all vital members of our campus community and critical to your student’s success and retention. We encourage you to stay connected to campus through volunteering, ongoing communication with our biweekly Eupdate, our social media accounts, and membership in the Moms and Dads Associations. All of this information can be found at our website: union.illinois. edu/PFPO. By signing up for our biweekly Eupdates, you will receive current information about university happenings and resources. We also publish an Illini Families quarterly newsletter in addition to the Illini Family Resource guide which you received during summer registration.

We encourage you to` be part of the Moms and Dads Associations where you can work many of the events during Moms and Dads Weekend or even apply to serve on the Board of Directors. These are all great opportunities for you to be continued on page 2

Web Addresses

continued from page 1 an active member of the University of Illinois community.

Illini Union

union.illinois.edu • Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office union.illinois.edu/PFPO • Illini Union Board iuboard.illinois.edu • Illini Union Office of Volunteer Programs union.illinois.edu/ovp

• Illinois Union Tech Zone union.illinois.edu/techzone • Illini Union Hotel union.illinois.edu/services/hotel • Illini Union Bookstore uofibookstore.illinois.edu

Student Affairs Campus Recreation campusrec.illinois.edu The Career Center careercenter.illinois.edu Counseling Center counselingcenter.illinois.edu Dean of Students odos.illinois.edu Disability Resources & Educational Services disability.illinois.edu Division of Public Safety - UI Police dps.illinois.edu Financial Aid osfa.illinois.edu Housing housing.illinois.edu Inclusion and Intercultural Relations oiir.illinois.edu • 0Asian American Cultural Center • 0African American Cultural Center • 0Diversity and Social Justice Education • 0La Casa Cultural Latina • Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Resource Center • Native American House • Women’s Resources Center McKinley Health Center mckinley.illinois.edu Study Abroad Office studyabroad.illinois.edu Student Affairs studentaffairs.illinois.edu Tenant Union tenantunion.illinois.edu

Finally, as a parent and /or family member, you are also going through a transition. This is what the Parent and Family Programs Office is here for. Over the next few years, we will share tips and strategies on how to make your own way through this journey through our vast

amount of communication resources.

Again, we welcome you to the Illini family! If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us by phone (217) 333-7063; email us at iuparentfamilyprograms@illinois.edu; or connect on Facebook or Twitter @illiniPFPO. We look forward to getting to know you over the next few years! Go Illini!

Welcome from UIPD

Patrick Wade – Communications Specialist, University of Illinois Police Department The University of Illinois Police Department (UIPD) welcomes new members of the Illinois family. Like any family member, student safety and success is the department’s foremost concern, and it is the duty of the UIPD and Division of Public Safety to promote a safe and secure environment where education, research, and public service can flourish.

However, the police cannot do it alone.

While Illinois. has a very safe campus, no community its size will ever be entirely crime-free. Students play the most important role in protecting themselves and our community, and the police provide an abundance of resources to assist with that.

Just like any other police department, the UIPD has fully-staffed patrol and investigative divisions, and 65 sworn police officers are dedicated to keeping the campus area safe. UIPD works very closely with other agencies in the surrounding area, including the Champaign Police, Urbana Police, Champaign County Sheriff ’s Office,

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and Illinois State Police. Those departments complement UIPD patrol units, making campus one of the most highly-patrolled areas in the region.

The department issues Campus Safety Notices and Illini-Alert messages when there are threats to the campus community such as significant crimes, fires, or severe weather emergencies.

Students and families can sign up to receive these alerts by visiting police. illinois.edu.

The department maintains and continues to grow a robust security camera system, with more than 1,600 cameras placed in strategic locations. These cameras are not monitored in real time, but they play a huge role in deterring and preventing crime as well as giving investigators the ability to identify and apprehend criminal offenders.

Still, no amount of police officers or security cameras can eliminate crime entirely. Our campus community members play the biggest role in looking out for themselves and each other.

Criminals look for the right opportunity to commit their crimes, and by taking some simple safety measures, students can eliminate those oppor-

tunities and reduce their likelihood of being targeted. We remind students not to walk alone at night, and to travel in high-traffic, well-lit areas. SafeWalks is a free, student-run service which provides walking escorts to students who must travel at night. Students can download the SafeWalks mobile app on their iOS or Android devices as a quick and convenient way to request a safety escort.

UIPD offers self-defense courses and other educational programs that can help build awareness and offer realistic responses to safety issues. Anyone interested can visit go.illinois.edu/PolicePrograms for more information.

Theft is the most common crime on college campuses everywhere, and the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign is no different. Campus community members can protect their items by locking them at all times and

not leaving them unattended.

Sexual assault is a focal point for the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, as it is for most college campuses across the country. National surveys estimate that one in five women and one in 16 men will experience sexual assault or attempted sexual assault during their undergraduate college years.

der the University’s Medical Amnesty and Good Samaritan procedures, which protect students from academic or legal action when they take the appropriate steps to protect their own safety or someone else’s. More on that policy can be found at go.illinois.edu/amnesty.

And it is important to remember that the police cannot help if they are unaware that a crime has occurred. The department asks that community members work with the police and report suspicious behavior. Even the smallest bit of information could help prevent another crime.

Student-driven efforts have aimed to change the culture that allows sexual assault to persist on college campuses, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign has devoted a wide spectrum of resources to sexual assault prevention and response. More inforMuch more information about all the mation on the available resources can be topics covered in this message may be found at wecare.illinois.edu. found by visiting police.illinois.edu.

Please follow UIPD on Twitter, FaceStudents often are wary of contacting book and Instagram for regular news the police or medical services for fear of and updates about campus safety issues. getting themselves in trouble, but agencies in Champaign County operate un-

New Student Financial To-Do List

By University Student Financial Services and Cashier Operations (USFSCO) Check out the USFSCO New Student To-Do List in the New Students section of our website at paymybill.uillinois.edu/ to learn all about your student account at the University of Illinois.

1. Have your student set you up as an Authorized Payer so you will have access to your student’s billing information, to make online payments, and to enroll in an optional Payment Plan.

2. Read up on the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

3. Have your student enroll in Direct Deposit for any student account refunds.

4. Write down the fall, spring, and summer payment due dates on your calendar. Tuition and fee charges for fall and

spring terms are due on the 28th of September, February, and June respectively.

5. If you don’t plan on paying tuition in full by the due date, enroll in an optional Payment Plan.

6. Put a reminder on your calendar to check your student’s account balance each month.

7. Have your student contact their financial aid counselor to make sure that their financial aid file is complete.

9. Register for an “Online Orientation Webinar” or watch our “Paying Your Bill” video series in the New Students section of our website.

10. Subscribe to our Student Money Management Center’s monthly e-newsletter (studentmoney.uillinois. edu/Contact) for tips and tricks to keep your finances on track.

11. And last, but not least, introduce yourself to us while on campus!

8. “Like” us on Facebook We love to meet the (facebook.com/UniversityOfIllinoisUScustomers we serve!

FSCO) and follow us on Twitter (twitter.com/USFSCO).

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Campus Phone Numbers (area code 217) Asian American Cultural Center................................. 333-9300 Bruce D Nesbitt African American Cultural Center.................. 333-2092 Billing................................... 333-2184 Career Center...................... 333-0820 CITES Help Desk................. 244-7000 CITES Help Desk........ (800) 531-2531 Counseling Center.............. 333-3704 Dial-A-Nurse........................ 333-2700 Disability Resources and Education Service ............. 333-1970 Emergency Dean................. 333-0050 Financial Aid........................ 333-0100 Health Insurance, Student... 333-0165 Housing Residence Halls................. 333-7111 Private Certified Housing.. 333-1420 University Apartments....... 333-5656 Illini Union............................ 333-4666 Illini Union Hotel............... 333-1241 La Casa Cultural Latina........ 333-4950 LGBT Resource Center........ 244-8863 Library.................................. 333-2290 McKinley Health Center...... 333-2700 MTD Safe Rides................... 265-7433 Parent and Family Programs.......................... 333-7063 Police, University................. 333-1216 Records Service Center....... 333-0210 Registration Assistance ....... 333-6565 Student Employment .......... 333-0600 Student Patrol/SafeWalks.... 333-1216 Student Programs and Activities............................ 333-3660 Study Abroad...................... 333-6322 Tenant Union....................... 333-0112 Women’s Resources Center.333-3137 University Directory............. 333-1000

Dads Weekend: November 10 -12, 2017 Tickets on Sale Now! Each fall, the Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office and the Dads Association co-sponsor the Dads Weekend events with a variety of programming for families. Major events for Dads Weekend 2017 include: • • • • • • •

Friday night Club Hockey game TBA Friday night basketball game TBA

Saturday pre-game BBQ at the ARC (limited tickets available)

Saturday football game vs. Indiana University and crowning of King Dad

Saturday evening concert: The Illini Dad’s Association and No Comment A Cappella Present: A Tribute to Dad Sunday morning Dads and Students Brunch at the Illini Union

And a large variety of University-approved events, such as men’s and women’s sports, campus events, theatrical productions, music concerts, and many others.

Dads Association event tickets are available on a first-come first-served basis and all events usually sell out. Please note that all attendees at events, regardless of age, must have a ticket to enter, including Illinois students and all children. Students with their own season or individual football tickets will need to purchase a new ticket if they wish to be seated in the Dads Association section.

Ticket Purchase: All tickets are to be purchased online. Tickets are on sale now.

Complete information about Dads Weekend and ticket purchasing is available online at union.illinois.edu/PFPO. Football Ticket Pick-Up: Tickets may be picked up during designated pick-up times that are yet to be announced. Be sure to check the Parent and Family Programs website for ticket pick-up information. Tickets WILL NOT be mailed in advance!

Deadline for purchasing tickets: October 7, 2017.

Ticket Prices

11/4 Hockey Game

$10 per person

11/5 Pre-game BBQ & Football ticket

$65 per person

11/4 Basketball Game

11/5 Single Game Ticket Only 11/5 Dads Weekend Concert 11/6 Dads Association Brunch

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$15 per person

$45 per person $10 per person

$20 per person

Parent and Family Events

The Family Transition The experience of sending a student off to college can be daunting. While it is certainly an exciting and joyous occasion, it can also be filled with anxiety and trepidation. That is why it is important for parents and family members to focus on their own transition as much as their students’.

With that in mind, here are some tips, hints, and suggestions to help parents and family members as they make their way through their own college transition.

pointed in them. You need to make them understand that every student experiences these difficulties and you will not be disappointed in them.

Rather, you will be there to support them and assist them through whatever struggle there are facing.

2. Create a Schedule to Communicate Most parents of the current generation of college students, known as Millennials, have been extremely close with and heavily involved in the lives of their children. Daily, face-toface interaction is very much a part of the way of life not just for students, but for their parents and family members as well. Losing that type of instant-access communication can be a bit of a shock to the system. Many parents and family members assume that with technology being what it is today (smart phones, Skype) they can immediately 1. Realize That at Some Point Your get in contact with their students Student is Going to Struggle when they so desire. However, that is Parents and family members often not always the case and when family fantasize about how well their student members are unable to get in contact is going to do at college. They believe with their students a sense of panic that by focusing on their studies and can result. working hard, their student will easily With this in mind, speak with your overcome any obstacle they face. This student before they arrive on campus could not be further from the truth. in order to set up a regular schedule of At some point, every student struggles. how and when you will get in contact Whether it be academically, emotionwith one another. Together, determine ally, socially, or psychologically, at not only the method, but also how ofsome point every student becomes ten you will check in with each other. overwhelmed to the point that getting Will you contact one another once a through the day-to-day of life seems week, once a month, every other day? a difficult task. It is important for By creating a set schedule you can parents and family members to realavoid the anxiety that might come ize this. It is even more important that when you are unable to get in touch they share this information with their with your student. students. Students often try to keep continued on page 6 their struggles away from their family for fear that the family will be disap-

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Dads Weekend

Make plans now for Dads Weekend, November 10-12, 2017.

Be sure to check the Parent and Family Programs Office website for complete information about Dads Association events and purchasing tickets.

Moms Weekend

Scheduled for April 13-15, 2018. Bring the whole family to campus for this fun-filled weekend celebrating mom! Check the Parent and Family Programs website for more info.

And don’t forget to book your hotel room today!

continued from page 5

3. Plan Visits Ahead of Time For many parents and family members, especially those that are sending a student to college for the first time, the idea of driving down to campus one weekend and surprising your student sounds enticing. More than likely you saw it on television or a movie. However, this can be a major inconvenience to your student.

student chooses not to share something with you, resist the temptation to pry and pressure them for the information. It will only result in your student choosing to keep even more from you.

5. Allow Your Student to Fail and Make Mistakes This is an especially alien concept to parents and family members who have spent their entire lives ensuring that their student knows nothing but success. While that is certainly a natural desire, adversity can be just as beneficial as achievement. Allow your student to occasionally fail and make mistakes.

Your student is creating a life on campus that does not involve you. They may have a group project that is due and they have set aside the weekend to meet with their group members. They may have a major exam coming up and need the time to study. Or they just might have other plans and your arrival would be a major bother. Speak with your student ahead of time and make sure a visit from you works with their schedule.

Failure can be a wonderful teaching tool for students. Think back to when you were your student’s age and remember some of the decisions and/or choices you made that may not have been the best. Yet, at the time you were able to learn something from it. So give your student the opportunity to have those same learning experiences by allowing them to make the occasional mistake.

6. Understand That Your Student is Going to Change Your student is coming to a global campus. They are going to be exposed to people, cultures, ideas, beliefs, and philosophies they have never before known about. As they learn more about these differences, they are going to ask questions. And much of what they question will be their own upbringing. This means they will question much, if not all, that you have taught them in regards to morals, ethics, beliefs, what’s right and what’s wrong.

Please do not view this as a grand conspiracy by the university to brainwash your child. Rather, it is a natural part of the developmental process that every student goes through. College is not just where a student learns a profession or trade. It is also where a student learns what kind of person they want to be and they will believe in and stand up for. This can sometimes lead to some awkward and uncomfortable conversations when students come home to visit. Understand that this process is how a student comes into their own. And remember that no matter what, they are still your student, and they will always need the love and support that only you as a parent and family member can provide.

4. Be Okay Not Knowing Everything About Your Student As mentioned earlier, your student is creating a life on campus that does not include you. As such, it should not come as a surprise if your student does not share everything with you about their new life. Be okay with this.

Your student is not trying to hide any deep, dark secrets from you. They are merely creating new boundaries in an effort to expand their privacy. As students become more independent this is a natural part of that process. If your

These are just a few tips that can help parents as they prepare to send their student off to college. If you have additional questions on how you can manage your own transition, feel free to contact the Parent and Family Programs Office at iuparentfamilyprograms@illinois.edu or (217) 333-7063.

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Move-In Checklist

Important Dates

from University Housing at Illinois As Move-In Day approaches, the biggest question students ask is, “What do I need to bring?” University Housing has created a list of items students should and should not bring. The following is a sampling of that list. For complete details, including a list of items to leave at home, be sure to download the Packing Checklist on the University Housing website at housing.illinois.edu/tools/move-in/checklist.

What to Bring...For Sleeping • Pillow, comforter or bedspread, blankets, mattress pad • A set of sheets measuring 36”x 80” or 99 cm x 203 cm for extra-long twin beds (or two for when one is in the laundry.)

What to Bring...For Your Wardrobe • Clothing for warm and cold weather (if you can, store your seasonal clothes at home until the weather changes.)

• Clothes hangers • Laundry basket/bag and high-efficiency laundry detergent (liquid, powder or pods) What to Bring...For Studying • Non-halogen desk, floor or bedside lamps (consider purchasing compact fluorescent or LED bulbs) • Two power strips with a 15-amp circuit breaker (they must be UL-approved with a heavy cord and three-prong grounding) • Computer, power cord accessories. If you are bringing a laptop, you should also bring a laptop cable lock.

• A 15’ or longer Ethernet cable What to Bring...For Washing • Small bucket or caddy for carrying toiletries • Towels and washcloths • Toiletries (soap, shampoo, shaving cream, hand lotion, toothbrush, etc.)

Scholarship Raffle Tickets on Sale

The Moms and Dads Associations are currently selling tickets for their annual scholarship raffle. Once again this year the raffle will be a 50/50 split. One winner will receive 50% of the net proceeds of the raffle, up to a maximum of $25,000. All proceeds benefits Moms and Dads Associations projects and scholarships and are strictly used to benefit students and families at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

Tickets are just $10 each, or $50 for six tickets. All tickets must be received by noon on Sunday, November 12, 2017. Winners will be announced no later than November 30, 2017. For a complete list of the official rules, visit the Moms Association website at illinimoms.com/tuition-raffle/. Raffle tickets are included in this newsletter and can be mailed, along with your payment, to the address on the ticket. You may also print out tickets from the Moms Association website. If you have any questions you can e-mail iuparentfamilyprograms@illinois.edu or call (217) 333-7063.

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Fall 2017

Welcome Week Begins Aug. 23 Move-In Day

Aug. 24

Instruction Begins

Aug. 28

Latenighter

Aug. 25

Labor Day (no classes) Sept. 4

Fall 2017 Tuition Due Sept. 28 Dads Weekend

Nov. 10 - 12

Thanksgiving Break Begins Nov. 18 Instruction Resumes

Nov. 27

Reading Day

Dec. 14

Instruction Ends Final Exams

Dec. 13

Dec. 15 - 21

Spring 2018

Moms/Dads Board Meetings

Jan. ??

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

Jan. 15 Instruction Begins

Jan. 16

Spring 2018 Tuition Due Feb. 28 Spring Break Begins

Mar. 17

Moms Weekend

Apr. 13 - 15

Instruction Resumes Instruction Ends Reading Day Final Exams

Commencement

Mar. 26 May 2 May 3

May 4 - 11

May 12-13

Illini Families Quarterly

NON-PROFIT ORG US POSTAGE PAID PERMIT # 75 CHAMPAIGN, IL

Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office 1401 W. Green Street 227 Illini Union Urbana, IL 61801

Jamie Singson Director, Illini Union singson@illinois.edu

Becki Salzman Assistant to the Director, Illini Union rsalzman@illinois.edu

Zuri White Manager, Illini Union Parent and Family Programs zuri@illinois.edu

Consider a Gift to the Parent Fund

Your unrestricted gift to the Parent Fund helps Student Affairs augment existing and new programs and supports the overall operation of the Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office. You can help provide the services and resources that are vital to the overall learning experience of our students.

To learn more on how you can give to the Parent Fund visit

uofiparentprograms.illinois.edu/Annual_Fund/Giving.html.