PFPO Winter 2019 Newsletter

IlliniFamily A publication of the Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office • union.illinois.edu/pfpo

Prepping for Spring Semester Inside This Issue Why Students Return to UI Housing in Fall 2018........... 2 Student Safety.................... 3 Experience Matters ........... 4 Student Employment ........ 5 Study Abroad..................... 6 Moms Weekend 2019..........8 King Dad 2018 ................... 8 50/50 Raffle Winner........... 9 Sibs Saturday 2019..............9

Tara Sohns – Parent and Family Programs Office-Student Employee Winter Break is over and your student is back on campus. Now what? It’s time for your student to make this spring semester their best one, and there’s plenty of ways they can. The University of Illinois offers many diverse things that will make your student’s time on campus full of excitement.

These are some of the ways they can make this semester their semester: Get involved in something new One way to get more involved on campus is finding something new. With over 1,800 registered student organizations (RSOs), and even the opportunity to make your own, there are plenty of ways for students to get involved. To find a list of RSOs or information on how to create their own, they can go to this website.

Try Something New Not only are there thousands of RSOs to get involved with, but there are many things to discover around campus. Campus Recreation offers public ice skating; details can be found on their website. In addition, Illinites is an alcohol free late-night program hosted by the Illini Union Board.

These happen once a month on Friday nights with fun events like karaoke, crafts, games, and free food.

King Dad celebration, Pg. 8

Discover Green Street Campus also has Green Street, which is

union.illinois.edu/PFPO

filled with all sorts of different restaurants for students to try. Not only are most places relatively affordable, they also offer a fun thing for your student and their friends to do. From rolled ice cream to bubble tea, there are plenty of places for your student to try out. To find different places and events, Visit Champaign County is a great resource to check out.

Take Classes They’re Excited About The University of Illinois provides over 5,000 courses throughout all three semesters (fall, spring, summer). There are 150+ programs of study for your student to choose from. Your student can find classes at the Course Explorer. If your student takes something they’re excited about, studying and effort will come naturally. Their general education years are the perfect time to take classes that they find fun and interesting.

The Office of the Registrar provides a list of key academic dates for each semester.

This list includes the dates for finals week, deadlines for dropping a course and adding a course, and registration for next semester. The full list of important dates can be found here.

Web Addresses Illini Union

union.illinois.edu • Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office union.illinois.edu/PFPO • Illini Union Board union.illinois.edu/iub • Illini Union Office of Volunteer Programs union.illinois.edu/ovp • Illinois Union Tech Zone union.illinois.edu/techzone • Illini Union Hotel union.illinois.edu/hotel • Illini Union Bookstore bookstore.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 UI Police police.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

Why Your Student Should Return to University Housing for Fall 2019

Kelly Skinner – University Housing

Looking to find somewhere with great value and affordable costs for your student to live next year?

Returning to University Housing for another year might be the best choice for them.

In fact, 29% of residents make the choice to live on campus for two years or more.

Convenient and accommodating, University Housing has room options all over campus including apartments, suites and singles, halls just for students who are sophomores and above, and halls with kitchens that don’t require a meal plan. Planning on studying abroad or student teaching? Students who live with us can be released from their housing contract after one semester without worrying about subletting an apartment.

Instead of worrying about grocery bills, monthly utilities, getting things fixed, or finding time to cook and clean, on-campus living means all the “adulting” is taken care of. You’ll find services such as 24/7 area offices, around-the-clock maintenance, access to computer labs, on-site libraries, and fitness rooms, and locations within walking distance from academic buildings. There’s always fresh, nutritious, and convenient food ready to go with no cleanup at multiple dining locations. Plus everything

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they need is included in one bill per semester that covers rent, food, utilities, internet, laundry, cleaning, and even toilet paper.

All this adds up to more time for your student to focus on what really matters. Living on campus makes it easier for them to work, participate in study groups, or be involved outside of class too.

Check out the University Housing website to learn why thousands of residents decide to return to live oncampus each year.

Housing Sign-Up is going on now through April 15. Housing.Illinois.

Edu/Signup

A Great Value Your student’s room and board covers a wide range of services and everything comes as part of one bill, so you won’t need to worry about additional costs. The cost of laundry, utilities, internet, and cable TV are all included in the contract price.

Student Safety

Patrick Wade – Communications Specialist, University of Illinois Police Department Student safety remains the top priority of the University of Illinois Police Department, and new Police Chief Craig Stone is rolling out changes that he hopes will enhance the department’s service to the campus community.

Chief Stone, who comes to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign after a stint as police chief at Ohio State University, took over in June as the permanent head of the department following a months-long national search. In just a few months, the department has made a number of changes that offer new opportunities for students to learn about their safety and new opportunities for the department to deter and respond to crime.

One of the most popular new programs during the fall semester was the department’s Community Police Academy, which is a 12-hour class over four weeks that showcases the department’s different functions and opens dialogue between police officers and campus community members about issues in public safety and policing. Participants were introduced to 911 dispatch, crime scene investigation, traffic stops, police dogs, the University of Illinois bomb squad and others.

“This academy is an opportunity for Illinois community members to learn about policing from the department that serves them,” Stone said. “It’s also an opportunity for our officers to inter-

act with the community members they serve and develop a sense of community around safety issues.”

The academy will be offered once per semester. More information is available at go.illinois. edu/CommPoliceAcademy.

The police department has also introduced a third K9 unit – Officer Darren Lewis and his K9 partner Bane completed training in the fall. K9 Bane is trained to help track suspects and sniff for explosives, which means that he will contribute to campus safety on routine patrols and by doing bomb sweeps in advance of events like football games and concerts.

The departments other two police dogs remain available to help as well.

With property crime remaining the most common crime on college campuses everywhere, the police department has continued to deploy “antitheft bikes,” which use GPS technology to track bicycle thieves. This effort has resulted in a number of arrests and an overall reduction of bicycle theft incidents on campus.

The police department encourages everyone to learn about these services and campus safety issues. These resources are in place to help students and parents alike stay up to date on their safety: • Illini-Alert: Students should sign up to receive text message alerts in case

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of a campus emergency. Students can register up to three phone numbers at emergency.illinois.edu.

• Campus Safety Tips: The police department has many tips and programs available for students to learn more about their safety. Students can review those resources at police.illinois.edu/ safety.

• Year In Review: The police department publishes an annual report detailing public safety initiatives and crime statistics during the previous year. That report is available at police.illinois. edu/YearInReview.

• Follow UIPD on social media: The police department issues regular safety updates and tips through Facebook (fb. com/uipolice), Twitter (@UIPD) and Instagram (@uipolice).

Campus Phone Numbers (area code 217)

Experience Matters

Monica Towner & Emma Andruczyk – Counseling Center

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

You may have heard that an internship is an essential part of your student’s college experience, but internships aren’t the only way for students to discover their career goals and build skills required for success. We surveyed Illinois students at graduation, and 88% reported having participated in one or more experiential learning activities. Experiential learning is valuable and supports the success of your student. Many students focus on internships, which, in the broadest sense, can be defined as any practical experience related to students’ career goals. They can be paid or unpaid, and sometimes, academic credit can be earned.

Experiential learning is meaningful and informs your student’s career decisions. This includes volunteering, student teaching, research, study abroad, clinical experience, as well as internships. These opportunities can be on-campus, in the community, at home, or even across the globe, and allow students to connect what they

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are learning at Illinois to the world outside of the classroom. These experiences allow students to explore and develop their career interests, professional network, and transferable skills such as communication, teamwork, and leadership.

The National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) surveyed students in 2018 and found that over 70% reported their competencies in oral/written communication, teamwork/collaboration, and professionalism/work ethic were “very” to “extremely” improved by their internship experience. These results are in line with the eight career readiness competencies employers are expecting from new college graduates. Working in a professional environment and as part of a team are crucial to your student’s learning, and enhances career readiness, regardless of what their goals may be.

When it comes to reaching career goals, experience matters! The Career Center is here to help guide your student along the way. For a full list of our services visit www.careercenter. illinois.edu/.

Persevering with Student Employment

Get Involved!

Tara Sohns – Parent and Family Programs Office-Student Employee An on-campus job is a great way for students to develop new skills, network, work on time management, and make new friends. These skills are some of the best ways to persevere through college and here’s why: Learning New Skills The skills a student learns with employment are valuable for the future.

Whether it is customer service or planning events, from retail to office jobs, there are endless skills your student will acquire. These skills will help them in both professional settings as well as daily life. Different skills like Microsoft Excel, helping customers on the phone, making copies, and much more become useful for both school and work. Your student learns how to work in a professional setting, along with being

able to apply it to class and interacting with professors. In addition, it definitely helps to have something else to add to your resume.

Networking With student employment, your student has the opportunity to meet a large network of faculty, staff, and many others on campus. Not only

can these relationships help when it comes to your student needing advice about class or life in general, it can also help open new doors and pathways for them. Your student will learn about all sorts of different organizations (both professional and recreational) through their employment at the university. In addition, it can also lead to great recommendation letters for your student if they choose to apply for a job or apply to graduate school following graduation.

Time Management With employment, time management becomes a very useful skill.

Balancing a work schedule with classes, social life, and other obligations, time management becomes a skill your student will need to develop. It helps your student plan their week and efficiently multitask throughout their day. This skill is applicable in all aspects of life.

Making New Friends Finally, student employment can lead to new friendships. Your student’s coworkers will most likely end up being some of the closest friends. They become people your student will come to value and present different perspectives.

Some opportunities for employment come from the Office of Student Financial Aid, the Illini Union, the Career Center, University Housing, and Campus Recreation. There are also many other opportunities on campus as well by looking at Handshake@Illinois.

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The Moms and Dads Associations are two separate, non-profit entitites who strive to serve all students at the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign.

There are many ways to get involved in the associations. The associations rely on vounteers for the success of their programs. Some volunteer opportunities include: Summer Registration, Moms or Dads Weekend, and Admitted Student Days.

If you’re looking to get even more involved, each association has a volunteer Board of Directors.You can find nomination forms for the respective boards on their individual websites illinimoms.com or illinidads.com.

For more information, email the Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office at iuparentfamilyprograms @illinois.edu, or call (217) 333-7063.

Debunking Study Abroad Cost Myths Alex Williamson – Illinois Study Abroad With the cost of tuition on the rise, it is becoming more difficult for students to afford college, let alone pay for a supplementary educational experience like studying abroad. In fact, one of the most pervading myths about international education is that only students with a high socioeconomic status can afford to partake in such a luxury, such as spending a semester overseas. But is the cost of studying abroad really that high? At Illinois, it does not have to be.

Study Abroad and Tuition One of the biggest myths about studying abroad is that students have to pay for the cost of the program on top of their cost of tuition on campus. This misconception is false. When a student studies abroad, they pay what is called range IV tuition, which are fees that students pay when they take zero credit hours on campus. By paying range IV tuition, they are able to maintain status as a full-time Illinois student while they are abroad, as well as access essential services related to health, safety, and security while they are abroad. Range IV tuition rates will vary based upon a student’s year and academic college, but currently does not exceed $1,500. Plus, range IV tuition is automatically calculated into the cost of the program, so there are no hidden tuition fees to study abroad.

Selecting a Cost-Effective Program In addition to being aware of the various fees associated with studying abroad, it is important students understand how to select a program that fits within their budget. One of the most efficient ways to explore programs with a lower cost

From left to right: Kamila Widalski, Department of English, studied at the University of York, England; Jamillah Gabriel, Library & Information Sciences, is pictured at the Wilbert Chagula Library in Tanzania; Rishi Debnath, Business Administration, studied gnomics in India.

is to search for exchange programs. An exchange program is often the most cost-effective program type, as they involve the reciprocal movement of students between Illinois and institutional partners abroad. This reciprocal exchange of students means that Illinois students do not have to pay tuition at their host university abroad. When doing a program search, students can type in the word “exchange” into the search bar and all exchange programs, regardless of the sponsoring unit, will appear.

Each program has an online page where they can find information on the costs of the program as well as an Unofficial Budget Sheet. These budget sheets are based upon estimates from past terms and will give students an accurate picture of the total cost of a program, including estimates for housing, airfare, meals, fees, etc.

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Financial Aid and Study Abroad Another myth about the cost of studying abroad is that a student’s financial aid package will not apply to their study abroad program. Again, this assumption is false. In fact, in most cases, much of a student’s financial aid package will apply to the cost of their study abroad program. Once a student has selected a program, it is encouraged that they take the Unofficial Budget Sheet associated with that program to the Office of Student Financial Aid, so that they can determine how much of that student’s financial aid package will apply to their selected program.

Study Abroad Scholarships Another way students can offset the cost oAnother way students can offset the cost of their study abroad program is through scholarships. Students can apply

Important Dates

“I had the most memorable and fulfilling opportunity participating in a 2-week veterinary service trip to Rhodes, Greece.” –Wing Suen Lau, Veterinary Medicine

One notable scholarship in which students should also consider applying is the Gilman Scholarship. The Gilman Scholarship is a national grant program sponsored by the Institute for International Education that enables students of limited financial means to study or intern abroad and offers awards up to $5,000. It is important to note that study abroad scholarship deadlines often fall before or at the same time as the program application deadline, so students should investigate and apply for scholarships early in their planning process.

The Real Cost of Studying Abroad The most common myths associfor nationally and internationally comated with studying abroad often relate to petitive scholarships, discipline-specific the perceived financial burden it would and location-specific scholarships, schol- impose upon the student. While Illinois arships through their program provider, offers programs that are more costly, 43% as well as Illinois-sponsored scholarships. of Illinois Abroad & Global Exchange In the 2017-18 school year, Illinois sup- (IAGE)-sponsored semester programs ported over 200 undergraduate students cost less than a semester of in-state who pursued a study abroad experience tuition at Illinois. With almost half of and awarded $385,000 in study abroad IAGE programs being comparable to a scholarships and international research semester at Illinois, the cost of studying fellowships. All eligible students should abroad for most students will be in the apply for are the Illinois for Illinois time they take to research programs, talk (I4I) and Illinois International Proto the Office of Student Financial Aid, grams (IIP) scholarships. Funding for and apply for scholarships. If students the I4I scholarship is provided by a utilize the financial resources available to student-initiated fee and is available for them and start planning as early in the all Illinois undergraduates. Funding for process as possible, the cost of studying the IIP scholarships are made possible by abroad becomes less of a barrier for those generous donations from Illinois alumni who recognize the value of integrating and friends and have more specific eligi- an international experience into their bility requirements related to each award. college career.

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Spring 2019 Spring 2019 Tuition Due Feb. 28 Spring Break Begins

Mar. 16

Moms Weekend

Apr. 5-7

Instruction Resumes Instruction Ends Reading Day Final Exams

Commencement

Mar. 25 May 1 May 2

May 3-10 May 11

Summer Session 1 Instruction begins Memorial Day

May 13 May 27

(no classes) Final examinations

June 7-8

Summer Session 2 Instruction begins

Independence Day

June 10 July 4

(no classes) Beginning of 2nd 4-week period of instruction

July 8

Reading Day

Aug. 1, 1 pm

Instruction ends

Final Exams

Aug. 1, Noon Aug. 2-3

Moms Weekend 2019 is coming soon!

It’s never too early to think about visiting campus. Moms Weekend 2019 will take place April 5-7. Favorite events for the weekend are the Illini Union Board Craft Fair, the Flower Show, the Moms Association Annual Meeting, Mom of the Year, the Medallion of Honor, the Moms Association Brunch, various campus tours, and more. Start making your plans today. This popular event is one you do not want to miss.

For more information about Moms Weekend events click here: union.illinois.edu/get-involved/illini-union-parentand-family-programs/copy-of-moms-weekend. Hotels are booking up fast (some are already full); so hurry and make reservations now. The Illini Union Hotel is a great choice, but if it’s already booked, be sure to visit the Champaign County Convention and Visitors Bureau at visitchampaigncounty.org to find information about other hotel options. Don’t forget to save the date for Moms Weekend 2020 on April 3-5. If you have questions, contact the Illini Union Parent and Family Programs Office by calling (217) 333-70633 or email us at iuparentfamilyprograms@illinois.edu.

Dads Association Crowns King Dad 2018 Morris Mosley (Urbana, IL) was named King Dad 2018 during the annual Dads Weekend in November. He was nominated by his daughter Maya Mosley, a sophomore studying Psychology. A copy of Maya’s winning essay can be found at union.illinois.edu/PFPO. The other King Dad nominees were: Thomas Liberto, Kirk Martin, Scott Hall, Ruben Barriga , Mario Jasinski, Arben Bytyqi, David Hagberg , Jack Zupan, Larry Simmons, Antonio Rios, Roger Owdom , Steve Peldiak , Kevin Dorsey , Harvey Mitchell , Terry Hackett, David Scott, Bob Replinger , Fernando Ayala Jr., Eric Perrin, and Timothy Fitzgerald.

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

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The Dads Association was established in 1922 and the Moms Association was established the following year in 1923. Both are believed to be two of the nation’s oldest parent organizations. The Associations support programs, services and activities that promote the health, safety and wellbeing of the University community and serve as a parent liaison to the campus.

This spring, the Parent and Family Programs Office will be hosting Sibs Saturday. On Saturday, IB March 9, we’re inviting siblings to share a day on campus with their Illinois student. There’s no better time for Sibs Saturday than during the weekend of the Engineering Open House.

Admission is free and many of the exhibits V are tailored towards elementary through high E I RS L school age kids. Engineering Open House showITY OF IL cases over 250 exhibits created by the Engineering department, primarily student constructed exhibits.

Exhibits from previous years include the Solar Car, the Tesla Coil Concert, and the Robobrawl.

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The winner of the inaugural 50/50 Scholarship Raffle, sponsored by the Moms and Dads Associations at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, was notified on Sunday, November 4, 2018. This year’s winner was Sara Schupp from Dunlap, Illinois, who will receive $2,440. All proceeds from the raffle benefits projects and programs sponsored by the Moms and Dads Associations.

Sibs Saturday Y

2018 Moms and Dads Association 50/50 Scholarship Raffle Winner Selected

Students and their guest will be able to attend the various exhibits and showcases across campus during the day on Saturday as well as attend fun activities at the Illini Union. There will be a Pancake Breakfast (limited seats available), Hypnotist show, movies, and bowling fun.More events across campus will be added as we get closer to the date.

We hope to see you in March. Details on events tailored for Sibs Saturday will continue to be updated and posted at go.illinois.edu/SibsSaturday.

Please be advised, overnight accommodations will not be provided.

Jamie Singson Director Illini Union jsingson@illinois.edu

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

Consider a Gift to the Parent Fund

Your unrestricted gift to the Parent Fund helps Student Affairs augment existing and new programs. 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