In this issue:

UA Bookstore south view

Important Dates for December 2006

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From the
Parents and Family Association Director

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From the
Parents and Family Association Co-Chairs

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UA Online Holiday Shopping Guide   

Not sure what to get your student? Perhaps you have other family members that want to join in the Wildcat Pride. Here is your online holiday shopping guide to the UA so that it can be a Wildcat holiday no matter where you live.

Holiday Shopping at the UA BookStores

You can make a difference with every purchase you make at your official on-campus UA BookStores. Only when you see our blue logo can you be assured that your dollars are being returned directly to campus to support faculty programs and student scholarships, events, clubs and organizations. We invite you to visit our flagship store in the hub of the Student Union Memorial Center. Or, visit us online to check out our Annual Catalog of officially-licensed clothing and gifts designed for all Wildcat fans:

http://www.uofabookstores.com/uaz/WildcatGear/AnnualCatalog.asp

“We do more than exchange product for money.”™

Give the Gift of UApresents!

UApresents is the UA’s professional performing arts presenter, bringing the world’s finest dance, classical, jazz, blues and world music events to Southern Arizona. Most performances are held in historic Centennial Hall on the UA campus. This holiday season, give the gift of UApresents to a family member, special someone, or friend. A gift certificate from UApresents, available in any denomination, is good for any of our events, including Academy of St. Martin in the Fields with Joshua Bell, PHONK! by Scrap Arts Music, Cirque Dreams "Jungle Fantasy" and Neil Berg's 100 Years of Broadway. Browse our season at uapresents.org. Call our Box Office at (520) 621-3341 for more details or to purchase your gift certificate.

Arizona Basketball Holiday Pack

With the holidays also comes… Arizona Basketball Season! Treat your family and friends to four of the best games on the Arizona Men’s Basketball home schedule this season with the 2006 Holiday Pack. Prices for the Holiday Pack start at $89 and can be purchased online at www.arizonaathletics.com or by calling (520) 621-CATS. Holiday Packs are currently on sale via this internet link:

GIVE THE GIFT OF LEGACY LANE

Hey Wildcat fans, do you want to be a part of the history and heritage of Arizona Athletics? By purchasing a paving stone on Legacy Lane you can leave a lasting message for all future Wildcats. Legacy Lane is a great place for you to honor a loved one with a fitting tribute that will last a lifetime. The history and heritage of the Wildcats is growing every year and this is a unique chance for you to leave your mark on Arizona Athletics.

A paving stone would also be a great gift idea for any graduate or Wildcat fan. For more information on Legacy Lane please call (520) 621-9272 or email frankie@arizona.edu for more information.

http://www.arizonaathletics.com/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=1600&KEY=&ATCLID=38545

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Taming the Finals Beast   

By Beth Harrison, Ph.D.
Director, University Learning Center

It’s that time of the semester: the specter of final exam week looms right before your student’s eyes. If your student is a freshman, final exams may loom very large indeed. Students who have been through exam week before know that they will survive, but they also know how intense an experience it is.

At the University Learning Center we give students 4 pieces of advice for finals week:

• Take care of yourself.
• Pace yourself.
• Think critically.
• Relax!

Take Care of Yourself physically as well as mentally. Students don’t always understand that they will do better on their exams if they are healthy and rested. This means getting enough sleep (especially the night before an exam), eating a healthy diet, and taking the time to socialize and get some exercise.

How does one do this in the middle of finals week? Create a study plan and pace yourself. Suggest that your student create a calendar of the two weeks leading up to the first and last final and fill it in with a study plan for each day. The 8-Day Study Plan found here is a great tool to help students structure their study time.

Encourage your student to think critically about each course, about what the instructor has said about the final, what kinds of materials and ideas students will need to master for the exam, and why each is important in the context of the course. Memorization without understanding and purpose can lead to fear of forgetting during the exam, whereas thoughtful studying helps students develop the thinking skills they will need to reason their way through an exam.

Relax! Test anxiety is one of the biggest problems we hear about from students, and final exams will bring it on in full force—especially for freshmen who haven’t been through the experience before. Help your student understand that he or she is not alone. Here are some tips for dealing with test anxiety:

• Use your anxiety to help you focus, like athletes do.

• Gather information about the exam so you know how to prepare. Talk with the instructor, other students in the class, students who have taken the class before.

• Manage your study time. (See “Create a study plan” above.

• Get enough rest before the exam. (See “Take Care of Yourself” above.)

• Before you look at the test, take a few slow, deep breaths and clear your mind.

• Read test directions carefully and take a few minutes to think about what you’re being asked to do. When you’re finished, check to see that you’ve done what you were asked.

• Trust yourself: If you have studied purposefully, you will be able to use reason rather than just memory to answer exam questions.

Need more help? Talk with staff at the University Learning Center for other ideas on how to prepare for and take exams successfully. Contact ULC at (520) 621-4548 or online at www.ulc.arizona.edu.

For specific issues that you don’t understand, try a visit to MASTR, the free tutoring program on campus. MASTR is open Sunday – Thursday 5:30-9:30 pm in ILC 119 for tutoring in basic Math and Sciences, Accounting, and Spanish. Check the MASTR web site for exam week schedules at www.tutoring.arizona.edu.

Dr. Beth Harrison can be contacted via email at eharriso@email.arizona.edu.

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From the Dean's Desk   

Dear Parents & Families,

As a parent of sixteen year old twin boys, I am always trying to remember that I am seeing their Gen Y world through my Baby Boomer eyes.

For instance, just think about this. For today’s entering college students:

• “Heeeere’s Johnny!” is a scary greeting from Jack Nicholson, not a warm welcome from Ed McMahon.

• The Energizer bunny has always been going, and going, and going.

• Baby Jessica could be a classmate.

• Harry has always known Sally.

In Student Affairs, it is important to keep in step with today’s students’ issues – from Face Book to alcohol use. However, it is also important to remain grounded in what has always been true about the college experience–college campuses are places which create a safe environment for students to grow, to take risks, to try new experiences, to learn skills that will last through their entire lives.

Our Student Affairs division provides these opportunities, through our world-class facilities, programs, partnerships, and activities. Everywhere you walk on campus you will encounter an area of Student Affairs, whether it’s our Student Union – one of the largest in the country, a quad Rugby game through our nationally-ranked Adaptive Athletics program, or our award-winning Career or SALT Centers. In our Faculty Fellows program, faculty mentor and interact with students on students’ turf – residence halls, Greek houses, cultural centers. University of Arizona Student Affairs programs are something that we can all be proud of.

As the new Vice Provost of Student Affairs, I look forward to continuing to develop a division that is on the cutting edge in our understanding of student development as well as to fostering a campus environment that recognizes the basics – a safe and comfortable place to live, eat, study and discover their potential as leaders, citizens and humans.

In the coming months, I am looking forward to highlighting some of our most successful programs. And as we continue to grow and change as a division, I look forward to hearing from your feedback.

From my family to yours, Happy Holidays!

Melissa M. Vito
Vice Provost for Student Affairs
and Dean of Students

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Sticking to the Student Budget   

By Tyler Kucera and Roberto Moreno,
undergraduate student members of Credit Wise Cats

One of the biggest struggles we face today as college students is accurately managing our money. Most students are living away from home or from their parent’s house for the first time. Sometimes they get so overwhelmed with the “moving out” process that they forget they will be on their own for the first time and will need to keep track of their spending. Sure, most students are aware of rent or maybe even their car payment. A lot of them, however, do not seem to realize that if they drive to school they need parking money, gasoline, food, oil changes, tire rotations, etc. There are also cell phone bills, internet bills, electric bills, groceries and so on. On top of all this a student must still be allowed to have some spending money to go on a date, to a movie, or maybe even an occasional outing. Every once in a while there is also the urge to go shopping. Students have to learn to manage their money, otherwise, they will spend too much on shopping, outings, movies, and they will not have enough to pay the important elements such as rent, car payments, and the other must haves.

When we run into a financial problem, a lot of us settle it by turning to our credit card. The most common mistake people make is that they consider their credit card as an extra source of income, when in reality they should consider a credit card as an emergency fund. We always recommend not going over 50% of the credit limit; that will free the other 50% for a “rainy day”. Making credit card payments on time is also very crucial. Even if a person has to make the minimum payment, he or she should never be late on payments. If you are only 31 days late with your payment, the credit card company considers it 60 days late. If you are 61 days late it is considered 90 days, and so on. Not making payments will harm your credit. Most students are just beginning to build a credit history, and this will haunt them until they fix it. Fixing past credit problems will take time and patience..

No doubt the mere title of this section conjures up images of mountains of receipts and no less confusion. Never fear. First, let’s discuss what I really mean by ‘tracking your spending’. A vast majority of students receive a lump sum of money (scholarships, stipends, paychecks) at various intervals during the semester. Regardless of the timing of the cash inflow, students often get to the end of the month/semester and discover that the funds they once had have evaporated and they are left asking, “where did all of my money go?” Tracking your spending is vital to answering this important question. The good news for students is that keeping receipts and writing down non-receipt expenditures only needs to be done for approximately 1-2 months. Every 2-4 weeks, students should go through their receipts and expense log and organize their expenses based on the categories in their budget. Spending habits should be adjusted to match the amounts that you have set as goals in your budget.

The ability to differentiate needs and wants is an important skill for any financially responsible student because it is part of responsible spending. Unfortunately, students are often hesitant to categorize something as a ‘want’ because society implies that they can only have something if it is a ‘need’. The truth however is that we must allow ourselves to have both needs and a select group of wants. Much like dieting, successful, responsible spending relies on feasibility. A diet only works if you will do what your plan says: the same goes for a responsible spending plan. Including both needs and wants into your plan will make it more ‘do-able’ and you will be more likely to stay with it.

It is very important that the money obtained from financial aid is used for its sole purpose: school. A lot of students will spend their financial aid on spring break, clothing stores, electronics, or anything other than school. Most people do not realize that a student loan can haunt you for the rest of your life if you don’t pay it off. Student loans are one of the only types of loans that have to be paid off, even if one declares bankruptcy. To learn more about student loans and financial aid, visit https://finaid.arizona.edu/.  Staff there can provide you with an explanation of the different forms of financial aid, estimated cost of attendance at UA, suggestions for applying for financial aid, and tips for reducing costs.

Another free campus resource for students is personal finance workshops conducted by trained paraprofessionals. We are part of a peer credit counseling team called Credit-Wise Cats. As current undergraduate college students, we recognize the discipline that it takes to manage one’s personal finances. The challenges we face every day in a consumer driven society is evident from credit card debt, misuse of student financial aid, failure to budget, and impulse shopping or over spending. The act of planning, budgeting, and saving are all behaviors that take practice and time to exercise. We encourage our peers to ask us questions and join us for our Credit-Wise Cats workshops. Additional Credit-Wise Facts are available on our website at http://www.ag.arizona.edu/fcs/clubs/cwc/.

Tyler Cucera can be contacted via email at tykucera@email.arizona.edu.
Roberto Moreno can be contacted via email at robertom@email.arizona.edu. 

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Welcoming your college student back into the family fold  

By Pamela Obando
Associate Director of Residence Life

As you look forward to the holidays and having your son or daughter home, you may be feeling a variety of emotions. You probably have been talking and emailing regularly these past months—but many of you may not have been able to see your student.

Should you expect the same person who left your home last August? Probably not! Hopefully, these first few months away from home have created a more independent, mature person…one who appreciates you as an individual – not just your cooking or your car! Students are now used to greater freedom—to sleep and eat whenever they want, stay out late with friends—and may not feel it necessary to share their schedules with you. It will be a balancing act between “what used to be and what is now.” You should expect your student to make lots of plans with their friends, many of whom have been far away at college too. Give them some space to compare notes and experiences with their friends. You may want to invite their friends for dinner at home or a restaurant--college students never refuse food!

What do students expect and look forward to when they go home to their families? We asked some for their thoughts. Some expressed concerns that their rooms were changed or given to siblings. One student said, “Make sure my room is just how I left it!”
Another said, “Even though I spend most of my year in a residence hall, my house is still my home.” One student said, “Going home almost seems like a new beginning. I can show people how much I have changed.” Another asked, “Will my parents be proud of the decisions I have made here at college?”

In summary, welcome your newly independent “grown-up” son or daughter, celebrate your family traditions, and most of all, just enjoy time together. One student said it best, “I am so excited to be with the ones I love the most.”

Pam Obando can be reached via email at Obando@life.arizona.edu.

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Short Bits  

The Parents and Family Association Holiday Wish List

As you are busy shopping for the perfect holiday gift this season, we hope you will consider a gift to the UA Parents & Family Association. Your Parents & Family Association operates 100% off of donations from parents, families, and other friends. Every gift is fully tax deductible and allows us to support critical campus programs and services like Safe Ride, Career Services, and student clubs and organizations.

Contributions can be mailed directly to:

UA Parents & Family Association
c/o Dean of Students Office
PO Box 210021
Old Main 202
Tucson, AZ 85721-0021

Please make your tax deductible check payable to “UAF/Parents Association”. Thank you for your support!

REFER A FUTURE WILDCAT!

Do you know a student who would be a perfect addition to the UA campus community? If you do, the UA Office of Admissions wants to know about them!

By clicking on the link below you will be directed to an online form where you can tell us about a future Wildcat. Tell us as much as you know about the student and we will send them an application and UA viewbook. Click here:

https://admissions.arizona.edu/referral

Nobody knows future students better than our parents and families! Thank you for referring future students to The University of Arizona!

Parents with Students in Residence Halls: An Invitation

Do you have a student who lives in a UA residence hall? If so, we would like your feedback on our strategic planning process because our mission, vision, values and policies all affect your student! We want to take your perspective, as a parent, into account as we strategize about how to move forward. We hope you will help us by participating in one of the two following parent focus groups:

Focus Group 1
When: Tuesday, December 19 from 6:30pm-7:30pm
Where: UA Residence Life offices
El Portal, 501 N. Highland Ave.(Highland and 6th)
Ocotillo Room
Parking: 6th Street Garage, on north side of street just west of Highland
Other: Refreshments will be served!

Focus Group 2: Online Chat
When: Wednesday, December 20 from 6:00pm-7:00pm
Where: from the convenience of your own home!
Online chat site: url to be determined

RSVP: To participate in either the “live” or online session, please contact Nicholle Zarkower at (520) 626-9698 or Zarkower@life.arizona.edu by Monday, December 11.

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From the Parents and Family Association Director  

Greetings Wildcat Parents & Families,

December is a busy month on the UA campus…students are busy writing term papers and studying for final exams….the McKale Center comes alive with basketball games and December Commencement…and the diversity of the student body is evident through many and varied holiday celebrations.

Once the fall semester is done, all quickly turn their attention to January and the start of the spring semester. A fresh semester brings new beginnings…and opportunity to improve on the performance of the previous semester and learn from mistakes made in the fall.

December and January are also special times for your Parents and Family Association. December marks the conclusion of our first semester as part of the Dean of Students Office and many new accomplishments. January will bring a renewed focus on improving programs and services for you…and you will begin to see them in print and online as the semester evolves.

We know for many that December and January are a time for family and celebration. It provides a time for you to welcome your students home and reconnect with family. On behalf of the Parents & Family Association Advisory Board and the entire Dean of Students Office team, I wish you and your families a happy and healthy holiday season. A special congratulations to those parents and families of our December graduates.

We look forward to being your advocates again in 2007.

With Wildcat Pride,

Keith B. Humphrey, Ph. D.
Interim Assistant Dean of Students
& Director, Parents & Family Association
(520) 621-0884
Uafamily@email.arizona.edu

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From the Parents and Family Association Co-Chairs  

Dear Fellow Parents and Families,

Lionel and Ellen Kier

In just a few weeks, our students will be home for the holidays and winter break. We hope the fall semester went well for them. Your Parent & Family Association has been very busy working with UA Enrollment Management to help host an east coast recruiting event in New York City on December 3 to capitalize on the UA basketball team playing in the “Jimmy V” Classic against Louisville. Invitations have been sent to prospective students and their families to meet and greet representatives from the University and our Association. We want to tell the story nationwide of the affordability of a UA education and of a place where the sun always seems to shine on the accomplishments of so many dedicated faculty and students.

Family Weekend in October was a huge success. Very productive meetings were held to strengthen our organization. Everyone with a student at UA is a member of the Association. Our parents and family members donated over $65,000 to support Safe Ride, student-faculty interaction programs, and the Career Center. Many programs could not be funded as demand exceeded our financial resources. In this holiday season, please remember to give what you can by writing a check directly to the UA Parent and Family Association. Your donation is tax deductible and will help support new programs.

Wishing you the best for the Holiday Season,

Ellen & Lionel Kier
Co-Chairs, UA Parent & Family Association

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