Welcome. Fall Semester, 2008 is now half over. Your student should have just completed midterm exams and papers or may have some due when he/she returns from Fall Break. For our first year parents your student is well on his/her way!

The air is crisp, the leaves are beautiful, and the campus is alive with all sorts of activities. Hope you get a chance to experience one or two days of the splendor!

Happy Fall and GO APPS!

Best,
Susie

What's Been Going On

Sending Packages to Students

All residence halls are locked 24 hours per day. Because of this safety precaution, there is no one to receive or store UPS or FedEx packages at residence halls. The following are options for shipping packages:

1. United States Postal Service –Appalachian State University Post Office. Packages are stored, a slip placed in the student’s box, and packages distributed to the student with proper identification
2. FedEx or UPS or DHL. Packages must have a delivery address. Since there is NO ONE to receive these packages at the residence halls they may be sent to the following business in Boone. They will then contact the student. Remember to include your student’s name and telephone number. Service Fee: $3.00. The business name and address is as follows:
   
   GO Postal
   197 New Market Centre
   Boone, North Carolina 28607
   828-262-0027

If students live off campus, packages need to be sent to their apartment or housing address.

Housekeepers Care!!!

The relationship between the housekeeping staff (Department of Housing and Residence Life) and the students living in the residence halls has always been a very special and healthy relationship. It is obvious that the housekeepers work hard to keep the halls nice and clean and being in the halls every day they notice when a student is unhappy or having a bad day and are some of the first people to offer a warm smile or comforting hug.

Although housekeepers spend a lot of their time cleaning and making the halls nice, they also develop many lasting relationships with students. It is not uncommon to have a housekeeper bring a birthday cake for a student on his/her birthday or offer friendly advice to a distraught student. “Housekeepers not only clean, they care!” says Brad Smith, Housekeeping Administrator.

So, your student may not remember the name of their English teacher or academic advisor…but I bet they remember the name of their housekeeper!

Academic Advising for Spring 2009

It is a beautiful fall season here in the High Country and that means ASU FOOTBALL and REGISTRATION for SPRING CLASSES! At Appalachian, academic advising is viewed as one of our greatest responsibilities and priorities. We seek to assist every student with identifying academic and career interests, developing a realistic and successful academic program, and addressing academic areas of concern.

Early Registration for spring classes begins November 10 (for seniors) and ends November 21. Therefore, students should now be considering their courses for spring semester and developing a list of the classes they plan to take, based on core curriculum, major, and minor requirements. Students who have not declared their majors are advised in University College (UC) and those who are freshmen, new transfers, or who have less than a 2.0 cumulative GPA will be required to see their UC advisors before registering for spring classes. Students who are not required to be advised are certainly encouraged to meet with an advisor to stay on track. UC students can make an advising appointment on AppalNet or by calling the UC Academic Advising Center at (828) 262-2167.

Students who have declared their majors and moved from University College may have required advising in their Colleges or departments, as well. Students should contact their individual departments to learn about the advising process in their departments and Colleges. Please encourage your student to make an appointment with his or her academic advisor NOW!

Early Registration Calendar:

• Oct 6 – Nov 21, 2008. Students make and keep appointments with academic advisors (the earlier the better)
• Oct 27. Schedule of classes posted at www.registrar.appstate.edu
• Nov 10 – 21. Early Registration: students can register for spring term during this period.
• Dec 4 - 5. Schedule adjustment: Registration system reopens
• Jan 9-16, 2009. Drop/Add Period
  

ASU Blood Drive Breaks State Record for Most Amount of Blood Collected in One Day!

On Thursday, Sept 25th, ASU's 2nd Annual Homecoming Blood Drive not only met, but surpassed the 1,000 pint goal by collecting a total of 1,060 pints! A blood drive of this caliber is not a common occurrence and normally we would not have delayed in getting the word out this long. However, we were waiting for the official word from the American Red Cross that…on that Thursday, Appalachian collected the most amount of blood in one day in the history of the state of North Carolina!

This is an incredible point of pride for the students who organized the drive and everyone who participated. A huge thank you goes out to the volunteers, donors, campus offices, and local businesses that made such a monumental event possible. Witnessing the hundreds of donors waiting patiently to give, the American Red Cross staff from all over the state of NC (as far away as Wilmington!) agreeing to stay until everyone had given, and the countless volunteers who eagerly served in so many ways was a special and heart-warming experience that makes Appalachian State University a truly remarkable place to be!

“Party Smart” Programs in October

Parties and gatherings that include alcohol use are a common experience for college students. Much of the time, these events are managed safely and appropriately and most students have enjoyable experiences.

However, problems involving alcohol do sometimes occur. Without taking precautions, there is potential for crowd control issues, behavioral problems, or law enforcement intervention at party events.

This program will help students explore the legal and personal liability issues involved in “throwing a party”, and learn how to specifically plan for an enjoyable and safe outcome, as a host and as an individual.

The Party Smart Program will be offered Tuesday, October 21st and Tuesday, October 28th at 6:00 p.m. in the Table Rock Room of the Plemmons Student Union:

Sponsored by: Center for Student Involvement and Leadership
Student Wellness Center
828-262-6252 or 828-262-3184

Annual Crime Report

A copy of the Appalachian State University Annual Crime Report (Clery Act Report) is available. The report includes statistics from calendar years 2005, 2006 and 2007 concerning certain reported crimes to the University Police and Student Code of Conduct referrals for alcohol, drug and weapons violations. The report also includes university policies concerning campus security, such as policies for reporting crime, sexual assaults and other matters.

You can also request a paper copy of the entire report by calling 828-262-2150 or writing to: Appalachian State University Police Department, P.O. Box 32113, Boone, NC 28608.

CHECKLIST FOR FALL 2008

• Is your student going to class?
• Does your student need to drop a class? Last day to drop (WP-withdrawal passing) is Oct 30th at 5:00 p.m.
• Does your student want/need a flu shot? (www.healthservices.appstate.edu)
• What are your family plans for the upcoming holidays?
• Does your student know of another student who lives too far from home to travel over Thanksgiving Break? Is there room at your home, at your table, for one more?

TIP FROM THE DEAN OF STUDENTS

When your student returns to Appalachian from Fall Break he/she will get to experience the following:

• Many variations in temperature – early morning lows in the 30’s to afternoon highs in the 60’s – or not!
• Increased academic and social obligations. The freedom and options of the first few weeks of school will be but a memory.
• Advising and registration for Spring, 2009 classes
• Plans and concerns about exams being just around the corner.

This therefore is a time to listen with an extra “ear” to questions and concerns and to refer them to the offices that can best answer those questions. Many times the questions that go unasked and thus unanswered grow way out of proportion.

CONTACT FOR FUTURE INFORMATION/IDEAS

Susie L. Greene
Dean of Students
828-262-2060
greenesl@appstate.edu

Rita K. Wells
Assistant to the Dean of Students
828-262-2060
wellsrk@appstate.edu