Welcome. Spring officially arrived on March 20th. True to the statement “If you don’t like the weather in Boone just wait!!” Our weather has included rain (lots of rain!), snow, ice, temperatures in the 20’s, more snow, some sunshine (but not enough!), and more snow in the forecast. Your student has had many wardrobe opportunities in the last month. Shorts and flip flops, however, are the constant no matter the weather. Campus is very, very busy with the end of the semester in just a few days. Exams start on May 1st and end on May 7th (excluding Sunday). For many, your student will be home soon for the summer – working and enjoying the time to reconnect with family and friends. For the parents of approximately 2000 seniors, the ceremonies on May 9th and 10th will be a celebration and culmination of their students experiences at Appalachian. Please take time to congratulation yourselves on a job well done!! Best wishes as we conclude another successful academic year! What's Been Going OnAlternative Spring BreakThe ACT sponsored Alternative Spring Break (ASB) program was a great success this year as ASU students spent their spring break volunteering at various organizations around the country and abroad. Students involved with ASB reported back with great stories of the impact made on the community, meaningful reflection throughout their week, and most of all one of the most fun weeks of their lives! One student reported the best part of the trip was “the new friends I made and all the times they made me laugh. I have never laughed as much in one week as I did the week of our trip. I had a smile on my face literally all week and I would not trade that for anything. We became a family!” This year, there were 18 ASB trips in all! While each trip was different, all trips focus on a particular social issue such as homelessness, the environment, or youth. The organizations and locations for this year’s trips are: YMCA in New York City, Wilderness Works in Atlanta, Salem Family Success Center in New Jersey, Murphy-Harpst Children’s Home in Georgia, Hope and Healing in Memphis, Tidewater AIDS Taskforce in Norfolk, Kiptopeke State Park in Virginia, Farm Sanctuary in NY, Appalachian Voices in Wise County, VA and Washington DC, Florida Trails in Tallahassee, Florida, various organic farms in Georgia, Project Reclaim in Mississippi, Camp Sequonata in Jennerstown, PA, Orphanage Outreach in the Dominican Republic, Maya Mountain Research Farm in Belize, sustainable development issues in Panama, agroecological farming in Costa Rica, and educational outreach in the Czech Republic – our first trip to Europe! All ASB trips are created and led by trained student Peer Leaders and joined by a staff or faculty Learning Partner. Student participants sign up for each domestic trip through a lottery, held in late January. This year’s lottery had to turn away about 40 students because there were not enough spots for them! International ASB sign-ups fall in mid-November. For more information about the program and about how the process works, please visit the ASB site: www.act.appstate.edu/asb. Alternative Spring Break is a well-loved, popular program for the ACT Office. Students come back time after time and many become Peer Leaders because they had such a great experience. One student sums it up well: “I would do this again in a heartbeat. It was an incredible experience and I learned so much about myself and others.” Fall Family Weekend – September 25-27, 2009Mark your calendars now for Fall Family Weekend. The format is new and exciting!! Programs will include options for volunteering on a service project, working out at University Recreation, attending a breakfast hosted by Chancellor and Mrs. Peacock and the Parents Association Board of Directors, attending a convocation led by Chancellor Peacock and his administrative cabinet, opportunities for learning more about academic programs, attending cultural events – including the Steely Pan Band, and attending the Mountaineers versus McNeese State Football game at the ROCK. A complete schedule will be available on line in June at www.parents.appstate.edu as well as in the summer edition of Parent Connections Too. Big Smiles/Welcomes/Strong Backs NeededMove In Day for the Class of 2013 is Friday, August 21st. You are invited to join students, faculty, staff, community members, and other parents as we welcome our new students and their families. Volunteers are needed to welcome, to meet and greet, and to tote and carry. Basic Information is as follows:
Your reward:
Internship Advisory Council EstablishedAppalachian has established an Internship Advisory Council under the leadership of Sharon Jensen, Assistant Director for the Center for Career Development. The Council, whose membership consists of those who supervise undergraduate internship programs in colleges, academic departments and other areas, will facilitate the exchange of information pertinent to internship programs and recommend improvements in internship policies and procedures. This Council will serve an important function not only in the dissemination of information about internships, but also in the development of appropriate university-wide policies for maintaining the high quality of our internship programs. The Council will report to the office of the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education. With the university's increased emphasis on education both inside and outside the classroom, and students' growing realization of the importance of practical experience, it is appropriate that we have a university-wide body focusing its attention on this important part of our students' experience. Questions about the Internship Advisory Council should be directed to Sharon Jensen at jensensc@appstate.edu. (828) 262-7660 Appalachian’s Response to the Swine Influenza OutbreakAppalachian State University officials are monitoring the swine influenza outbreak that began in Mexico and has spread to other countries, including the United States. Five individuals associated with the university who recently returned from Mexico have been advised to contact Student Health Services on campus or the Appalachian District Health Department, if they begin exhibiting flu-like symptoms. In addition, there are approximately 20 students from Appalachian who are studying in Central Mexico this semester. Officials from Appalachian’s Office of International Education and Development are contacting these students and advising them to monitor Web sites maintained by the Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization for up-to-date information and guidance about the illness. Representatives from each of the University of North Carolina system campuses are also working to ensure that prudent, precautionary steps are taken now to ensure that each campus is prepared to respond appropriately in the event of an outbreak in North Carolina. More information is available in a news release posted online. Tip from the Dean of StudentsConsider your plans for the summer ahead with your family. Be sure to include some “one on one” time with your student to evaluate his/her experience at Appalachian and to determine his/her needs for the upcoming academic year. What worked? What changes are needed for Fall, 2009? Checklist
Contact for Future Information/IdeasTraci D. Royster Susie L. Greene Rita K. Wells |
|
|||||||||||