In This Issue:

Technology Eases Access to Grades
Taking Steps to Make Students’ Living Area Safe
So Many Questions, So Little Time...

Hi moms and dads,

Well, as predicted, the end of the semester got here before we knew it! I know it’s hard to believe that another semester has gone by so quickly. As I write, students are busily finishing projects, papers and all the last-minute things that seem to pile up at the end of the semester. Hopefully, when they turn it all in, they will continue the process of preparing for finals. That’s why our end-of-the-semester newsletter focuses on access to grades, safety over the holidays and, perhaps most importantly, how you might have that often difficult conversation about a semester that didn’t go as planned.

Our experts this month are Charlotte Fant, director of admissions and records and registrar. Additionally, she is part of the student affairs leadership team, serving as an assistant vice chancellor (read: she really knows what is going on!). She talks about how your students access their grades at the end of the semester. Lorinda Krhut, director of student housing and residence life, discusses keeping students’ valuables safe over the holidays. While geared to students living in the residence halls, the information is good for anyone who needs to lock up while he or she is away for the long break. Finally, many of you might remember Marc Showalter, our Counseling Center director, from orientation. He offers some very helpful suggestions on talking with your students about grades and their semester.

Those of you who have been receiving the newsletter since its inception will recognize that these articles are a revamped version of last year’s December e-news. But we all need reminding, and why mess with a good thing? We hope you get something positive out of the newsletter, and, remember, we are always looking for feedback. If you want us to address something, just let us know.

For me, December is a time to reflect, renew, rest, re-energize and remember that this is the season for giving, sharing with others, spending time with family and friends and, well, nesting as I prepare for our busy season, which starts next month. My hope for you and your family is that you can do some of the same. Have a wonderful time with your students, celebrating whatever season you and your family celebrate. I wish you peace as the year ends.

Whitman Smith
Director of Orientation and Parent Programs

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Technology Eases Access to Grades
Charlotte Fant, Ph.D.
Registrar and Director of Admissions

Well mom and dad, it’s time for those grades to come out. You may find that things have changed significantly in the last several years in terms of grade delivery. The University of Mississippi constantly seeks ways to provide enhanced student services. Gone are the days of waiting by the mailbox in anticipation or while praying. With technological advances in our student information system, we are pleased that student access to grades is secure, convenient and pretty much instantaneous. Since fall semester 2003, the university has allowed students to view their grades online. 

The online student services site has a lot of great features. Students may check their bills, modify their addresses, view their class schedules and evaluate their professors online. Viewing their grades is another part of the online student service functionality. Access to confidential student information is secure and available 24 hours per day.

Prior to the availability of these enhanced Web services, grade reports were mailed. Students were often anxiously awaiting receipt of their final grade report. The reports took several days to be delivered. Additionally, many times students would forget to update their grade mailing address or have their mail forwarded. Grade reports would be located in a post office box on campus, and the student would be home on vacation with his family. A call to the university would find us closed for the holiday.

Consequently, the registrar routinely received complaints from students who did not receive their grade report or who did receive a grade report that was difficult to read. Students now have immediate access to their grades and can print those grades at any time. Students need only have their WebID and password to access online services; therefore, students and their parents can review grades together. Your student can access grades at https://secure.olemiss.edu/services/

We hear from parents all the time that they want “access” to the grades because they’re footing the bill. While it is true that many parents have access to their students’ online information, the best way to find out about grades is still old-fashioned and time tested—simply ask.

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Taking Steps to Make Students’ Living Area Safe
Lorinda Krhut
Director of Student Housing and Residence Life

Most of our residence hall students have settled into a routine and know many of the other students who live on their floor. This is a great advantage of living on campus because, for most floors, a strong community has developed and new friendships have been made. Sometimes, however, students are so comfortable with their surroundings that they become complacent in protecting their belongings. Those of us who work in university housing are aware that comfort in surroundings sometimes promotes others to take advantage of the trust that has developed in the community. For this reason, we’d like to pass on some tried-and-true practices that can help protect your students as well as their personal items.

• Make sure the door is locked whenever the students are out of the room. This is basic to keeping items protected.
• Roommates should agree to the “rules of the room.” Students sometimes assume that their roommates feel the same way about sharing personal items with each other and other persons on the floor. It is important that roommates set up mutual expectations regarding the sharing or not sharing of personal items. This should include friends of roommates as well.
• If a key is misplaced or lost, the students should report the missing key immediately. The lock will be changed as quickly as possible in an attempt to protect both the students and their belongings.
• Students should not “hide” keys over door frames or other common areas for others to obtain. It doesn’t take long before this practice is known by the entire community.
• Laundry left in laundry rooms is an open target for theft. We recommend that students stay with their laundry throughout the entire wash/dry routine.
• Keep all valuables (wallets, rings, expensive jewelry) in a secure area. We recommend that heirlooms and very expensive jewelry be left at home. In addition, book bags or laptop computers left in lobbies of buildings, the recreation center, dining hall or library can disappear quickly.
• Only invited guests of students should enter the residence halls. Students should never let someone in the building without knowing who they are.
• If students observe unusual activity in the residence hall, they should contact a hall staff person immediately. This includes unfamiliar persons walking down a hallway unescorted by residents living on the floor.
• Create an itemized list of valuables in the room. Make sure serial numbers are recorded for electronic equipment. If at all possible, take photos of jewelry or any other item of value.
• The University Police Department offers an engraving service for everything from iPods to bicycles.
• Students should take all items of value home during semester breaks.
• Students should report thefts immediately to the hall staff and the University Police Department.

We appreciate you allowing your student to become part of our residence hall family. It has been a pleasure serving you and your student this past semester, and we look forward to a great spring. Please contact us if you have any questions at housing@olemiss.edu, and we wish you a wonderful holiday season.

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How would you grade this first semester?
Marc Showalter, Ph.D.
Director of the University Counseling Center
 
The first semester has come and gone. Some students and parents find that the time goes quickly, while others find it a long few months. When your children come home for the holidays, it’s a wonderful time to catch up and ask all those questions you’ve been wondering about. Parents see this as a great time to connect and share this wonderful experience with their son or daughter. Some students may see it as an extension of final exams or worse. Helping your students take a good look at their first semester of college can be useful for them and you. To keep this from being as much fun as the final exams they just completed or a trip to the dentist, here are a few suggestions you might consider when you have this talk:

*Look for the right time and place. The conversation probably will be more comfortable without siblings or other distractions around. Try to help put them at ease and keep it short, unless they seem to have a lot to tell you. 
 
*Keep the focus on your students as much as possible. Let them know your expectations and concerns, but try to give them room to tell you their impressions. After all, this is their college experience.  

*Try for a conversation and not a lecture. Parents can get in the mode of telling their children so many important things that it’s not uncommon to forget about the listening part. Ask some questions and then be silent. You may find out some things you didn’t expect. 

*Encourage and allow honesty from your students. Can your students tell you bad news? Do your students know what you’ll do if they tell you something you don’t want to hear? The more your students believe that they can tell you anything, the more likely they are to tell you everything that’s going on, even the stuff you’d rather not hear. 

*Keeping your emotions under control can help. Not so easy, particularly when you hear bad or unexpected news. You care so much about them and want so badly for them to do well that sometimes emotions can be overwhelming. If you show too much anger, frustration, sadness or disappointment, your students may attend more to your emotions than to the conversation. As best you can, try to keep your emotions under control.    

*Stay positive and supportive. Being on the same side of the fence with your students can help avoid those unpleasant confrontations that nobody likes and that can create barriers between parents and students. Look for successes they can build on for next semester. 

Helping your students evaluate themselves is an important tool for them to learn. Instead of you telling them where they went wrong and what to do, ask questions that will give them the chance to take a critical look at their choices and the consequences.
 
Here are a few questions you might want to consider:

• How well did this semester match up with what you had in mind? 
• Did you get what you wanted academically, socially, personally, spiritually?
• What do you think you did well with this semester? 
• Were you surprised by anything that happened? 
• What were the most important things you learned about yourself this semester? 
• What did you learn about getting along with other people? 
• What do you wish you had known before you started this fall? 
• What kept you from succeeding? 
• What grade would you give yourself this semester?
  
  

What’s next? After you and your students talk about the past semester, it can be a good time to talk about next semester. Helping them come up with a plan either to make some changes or to keep up the good work can be a great way to start the spring. Ask them some specifics about the upcoming semester.

• What’s your plan for next semester? 
• What do you need to keep doing and what do you need to change? 
• Does your schedule fit what you learned about yourself this semester? 
• Do you need to modify any of your study habits? 
• What about your social life? What were your good and bad choices?
• Do you need help to reach your goals? 
• How can we help?
• Do you know where to get help on campus?
  

Ask them if they know about the Career Center, Student Health and the Counseling Center. Have they gotten to know their RA and hall director? Did they meet their professors or make any other connections on campus? Knowing where to go for help can be a big part of any student’s success. 

Starting college is an exciting and challenging time for students and parents alike. Taking a look at the choices made and deciding how to do better are important skills for all students to develop. Parents who are able to convey to their students how much they love and believe in them can go a long way in helping them to be successful. Students are not in this by themselves, and lots of people on campus want to help them succeed.

Expect your next issue of Slice of Life in January 2008.

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