In This Issue:

Fall Break: Reality Check
Coordinator hired in Office of Orientation and Parent Programs
Study Abroad—Go Beyond the Grove
Student Housing and Residence Life offers free tutoring

Hi Mom and Dad,

Well, I know it’s hard to believe, but November is here and the end of the semester is near! Weren’t you just here for move in? And now, the final push is on. I know what you’re hearing because I’m hearing from you, and, if it’s any consolation, your student is normal. Being overwhelmed at this time of year, as projects, final papers and tests are all due, is the same whether you are a freshman or senior. So, we are getting into gear as well to help your students. To that end, we have information about tutoring in this issue. It’s not too late to get help, and your students should be preparing for finals now. You probably have told them that already. It’s time to let your students do what they have been telling you they can do. When their grades come in, you’ll know what has been happening and can talk with them about it.

We’ve had a radical change in our office, and it is certainly for the better. We’ve hired a coordinator of orientation and parent programs, and she is introduced in this issue. I hope that if you don’t already know her that you get to—she is dynamite and a wonderful coworker.

We’re also fortunate that we have top-level support from our vice chancellors, Larry Ridgeway and Leslie Banahan. Leslie is my direct supervisor, and you might remember her if you came through orientation this year. If you don’t know her, she has worked with and written extensively on and for parents during her career in higher education. She has some wonderful tips about that extended visit home you are all about to (hopefully) enjoy, and I encourage you to seek her out when you are on campus. She is a wonderful resource, great listener and an experienced college parent.

We are encouraging you to share information about the university’s dynamic study abroad programs with your student. Study abroad is available to all students, and I think you would be hard pressed to find anything more enriching in the college experience. The time for talking about it is now because applications are due at various times. Vanessa Cook provides the information you need in this issue.

Finally, I want to thank you all again for sending us your students. We’re trying to help them live up to their expectations of themselves and the ones you have for them. I appreciate those of you who have called to ask for help and advice, to express concerns or to pass along a compliment or complaint. You’re helping our university to improve. Since our next issue is a month away, Happy Thanksgiving from all of us, and call if you need us.

Whitman Smith
Director of Orientation and Parent Programs

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Fall Break: Reality Check

By Leslie Banahan, assistant vice chancellor for student life

First-year college students arrive home for fall break (check all that apply):   tired, sick, overwhelmed, confident, insecure, withdrawn, engaged, confused, happy, sad, hungry; the list is endless. Just about every student will be physically and emotionally tired, many will have colds, and almost all will feel overwhelmed facing their first college finals in just two short weeks. Parents, you will be eager to learn everything you can about your son’s or daughter’s life at Ole Miss, but don’t be surprised if your student is skimpy on details.

As a parent, I cleaned, shopped, cooked and planned for weeks in advance of my college student’s Thanksgiving visits. My husband thought royalty was coming to stay with us! I was usually disappointed with every visit, as my student arrived home, slept for 24 hours straight and then pretty much disappeared to spend time with her friends. The promise of a lucrative shopping trip would snag me a few hours of one-on-one time, but, other than that and the family Thanksgiving dinner (where she begrudgingly endured inane questions about college from her grandmother, aunts, uncles and younger cousins), time with my college student was short and always left me wanting more. I never gave up, and neither should you. 

Clean, cook, plan and hope, but don’t be too discouraged if your student prefers sleep and time with old friends to long talks with mom and dad. First-year students are wrestling with tempting freedoms and grown-up responsibilities, challenging course work, project and research paper deadlines, annoying and inconsiderate roommates and so much more. For most 18- and 19-year-olds, time management remains a mystery. So they’ve been going without sleep or doing their laundry or exercising or eating healthy meals. Your job is to cheer them on to the finish line (December 7, last day of exams). There’ll be plenty of time during the next holiday break to catch up on the details of your student’s college life. Fall break might not meet your expectations, but your son or daughter will be back soon for a long, long visit. And, that’s a different kind of challenge!

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Coordinator hired in Office of Orientation and Parent Programs

By Matt King, public relations intern for the Office of Orientation and Parent Programs

The staff at the Office of Orientation and Parent Programs has expanded with the hiring of Rebecca Bertrand as coordinator of orientation and parent programs. The Kingwood, Texas, native will be responsible for planning, developing, coordinating and evaluating parent and orientation programs.

“We were very lucky to be able to hire Rebecca,” says Whitman Smith, director of the Office of Orientation and Parent Programs. “Her experience working with orientation, her leadership qualities, ability to relate with students and parents, coupled with her positive attitude and tireless work ethic, make her the ideal person to work with new students and parents.  Her leadership experience will be a huge boost to our orientation leader training program, and I look forward to having her on our team.”

Bertrand graduated from Ole Miss in May 2006 with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science, and is currently working on a master’s degree in higher education. As a student, Bertrand served as Associated Student Body president, where she represented 15,000 students as a liaison between the university administration and the student body.

Before joining the orientation and parent programs office, Bertrand held internships with U.S. Sen. Trent Lott (R-Miss.), Houston City Council member Addie Wiseman and U.S. Rep. Ted Poe (R-Texas). Recently, she worked with UM’s Department of Leadership and Counselor Education and University Development.

“The University of Mississippi has provided me with many professional development opportunities,” says Bertrand. “I look forward to beginning my career in the Office of Orientation and Parent Programs and continuing my involvement in the National Orientation Directors Association.”

The Office of Orientation and Parent Programs coordinates all summer, fall and spring orientation programs. It also organizes activities for the Ole Miss Parent Association, including summer sendoffs and parent/family weekends.

“The coordination of events for the Ole Miss Parents Association, and involving families in the university community is something I look forward to the most,” Bertrand says.

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Go beyond the Grove

By Vanessa Cook, study abroad adviser

While you know college is a wise investment in your child’s life, you also might consider other opportunities available at The University of Mississippi that can add value to that investment.

One of these opportunities is study abroad. At Ole Miss, we have one of the largest and most diverse study abroad programs in the Southeastern Conference. With 43 exchange options for semester study, your student could spend a semester abroad in Europe, Asia, Africa or Latin America. We have sites available for every major, and most classes are taught in English. Students also receive UM credit for any courses taken abroad in an approved program, which means a semester abroad won’t put them behind academically.

Imagine your child digging at an archaeological site in Belize, learning how to paint watercolors in Italy, learning Spanish by living with a family in Chile, or learning about the primary education system in South Africa.
The University of Mississippi also sees the added value in a global campus, as evidenced by the large amount of scholarship money given out every year to help students fund their abroad experience. In particular, business administration and applied sciences students have the unique opportunity to receive full scholarships through the Study Abroad Office to fund their semester experiences. UM also has paired with our international partners to allow students to take courses abroad for the same tuition cost as on campus.

If you would like to learn more, you can visit our Web site at www.olemiss.edu/abroad or call our office at 662-915-1508. Students can also stop by 359 Martindale to learn about all the opportunities available to help them build a strong resume and personal focus.

And if you’re not ready to let them go for a whole semester, we have four-week courses available in the summer and two-week courses available during wintersession. Deadline for our winter 2008 programs is November 7. Our summer and semester lists are also available in our office to give students a head start on our March 19 deadline.

While at Ole Miss, encourage your child to go beyond the Grove.

Expect your next issue of Slice of Life on Monday, December 3rd.

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