Greetings from the Parent Relations Coordinator
Binghamton University Welcomes Students Back
Seasonal Student Issues
Seven Ways to Support Your Student at College
Academic Organization
Important Changes to 2007-08 Academic Calendar
Campus Emergency Response Methods Enhanced
Family Weekend Fun
Welcome From the Binghamton Fund
Hillel Welcomes Parents and Students
Career Development Center - What's New for Parents?
Financial Aid Services
Get in the Zone
A "Stay Healthy" Tip from University Health Service
Dress Like a Bearcat
Greater Binghamton Welcomes You
Upcoming Calendar and Event Information
University Plaza Still Leasing for 2007-08 Academic Year
GREETINGS FROM THE PARENT RELATIONS COORDINATOR
Excitement is in the air! A new academic year presents thrilling new beginnings and possibilities for students, faculty, staff and parents alike!
With that in mind, this first Parents Online Newsletter is filled with advice on parenting your college student, information about valuable and helpful campus programs and services, and updated event and calendar information. Transitions can be difficult whether this is the first time you are sending a child to college or the last. This is a time of adjustment for you and your student. My goal is to provide you with information to assist you with these changes and to help keep you connected to Binghamton. Let me know how I’m doing.
You have my best wishes for a happy, stimulating and productive year!
Melinda Holicky, Parent Relations Coordinator
parents@binghamton.edu
BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY WELCOMES STUDENTS BACK
Binghamton University welcomed students and their families for move-in days, signifying the beginning of the fall semester and a new academic year. About 2,160 freshmen and 880 transfer students joined the Binghamton University community this year. The University received a record-high 28,000 applications from students who hoped to enroll this fall. This included 25,155 freshman applications (a 10 percent increase from the previous year) and 3,713 transfer applications (up three percent from a year ago). About 40 percent of freshmen were accepted; on average, only three percent of colleges nationwide accept fewer than 50 percent of their applicant pool. Click here for more information about our new and returning students.
There’s a seasonal ebb and flow when it comes to student issues. Here are a few things your student may be experiencing as the school year gets started:
• Getting adjusted to college life for the first time (or once again) – feelings of loneliness and homesickness.
• Worries about being able to handle academic pressures and schedule.
• Anxiety about perceived restrictions of campus policies.
• Roommate adjustments and conflicts.
• Money management struggles.
• Experimentation with drugs and alcohol.
• International students may feel confusion, vulnerability and lack of advocacy.
• Lack of social life and lots of questions about how to get involved in new activities.
SEVEN WAYS TO SUPPORT YOUR STUDENT AT COLLEGE
• Help Students Make Their Own Decisions. When you say, “Well, what do you think you should do?” during a phone conversation, you’re offering support, but, instead of jumping in with advice, you’re helping your student figure out her own answer.
• Trust Your Student and let him know that you do. He’ll likely feel more confident, supported and able to stand up for what he believes as a result.
• Communicate without Overcommunicating. Check in with each other a few times each week via email or phone. However, don’t feel you need to touch base every day; there needs to be some space so your student can gain a sense of independence.
• Don’t Solve Everything for Them. The tendency to jump in and “take care of things” is natural. Yet, students need to start learning to do these things for themselves. So, try not to fix things. Instead, ask questions such as “What steps have you taken so far?” to help your student take responsibility.
• Stay Involved. Just because your student goes off to college doesn’t mean she stops needing your input. Your involvement is essential to her success. Be interested and ask questions without prying too much and listen to what she has to say.
•Let Go a Bit. You can’t know where your student is every hour of the day, nor should you have to keep track of that. Instead of quizzing him about where he’s been, ask more general questions like “Have you gone anywhere interesting lately?” or “How have you been spending your free time?” so he can share without feeling put on the spot.
•Keep Them in the Loop. Even though your student is building a new life at college, it doesn’t mean she should be cut off from what’s happening back home. Share a balance of news to keep the connection strong and to make sure your student focuses on people besides just him or herself, too!
It’s a time for transition as you and your student determine how to stay connected. Keep the lines of communication open, let mistakes be made and encourage your student to make decisions for himself. It’s all part of the process, especially in this important first month.
It’s important for students to remember that their No. 1 priority is their academic life on campus. As they begin juggling pressures related to roommates, friends, classes, athletic commitments, family and more, a gentle reminder may help keep them on track. Once students get off track, they quickly find themselves in a place where they can no longer offer attention to anything other than their books. Getting and keeping themselves organized from the beginning will help them avoid academic crunches this year.
Encourage your student to:
• Make a Schedule: It may sound very basic, but completing a schedule grid will help your student map out weekly events and manage his time. Plus, it will help him keep track of academic obligations, while balancing them around other demands. Purchasing and maintaining a planner may also help your student stay organized.
• Designate a Study Space: Determining a study space early on will help your student develop positive study habits from the beginning. Encourage your student to select a comfortable space with proper lighting. The space, whether in your student’s room or elsewhere, should be free from distractions. Creating a “study sack” or something similar, where your student keeps all of his supplies in one place, might also help him stay organized.
• Set Boundaries: From the very beginning of the semester, your student should set boundaries between himself and his peers. Maintaining his personal space will ensure that he has enough uninterrupted time in his week to accomplish his studies.
Changes have been made to the University Calendar for the coming year; some will affect the fall 2007 semester.
• The fall 2007 semester will end one week before it was previously scheduled to end; the last day of final exams will now be Friday, Dec. 14.
• The winter 2008 session will begin on Monday, Jan. 7, and end on Friday, Jan. 25.
• In the spring 2008 semester, classes will be in session until 1 p.m. on Friday, April 18.
Minor changes have also been made to the 2008-09 University Calendar; view the updated calendar.
CAMPUS EMERGENCY RESPONSE METHODS ENHANCED
How Binghamton University will respond to emergency situations and communicate with students and the campus community has taken center stage in recent months, including sessions during Orientation dedicated to safety issues. David Hubeny, who is charged with coordinating all campus emergency operations, said there are a number of plans in place for emergency communications that are being enhanced with additional technologies.
“In a critical situation, we’re going to use a text-messaging service to any electronic device that can deliver roughly 18,000 messages per minute to get information out to people to tell them how to be safe,” he said. Students and parents can register their contact information on the Office of Telecommunications website.
Other means of quick communication include:
• The University’s website
• Toll-free phone lines
• Automatic re-direct to an information page for anyone accessing the Web from a University server when an emergency arises
Family Weekend 2007 will take place Oct. 20 and 21. Many new events are planned including a BU Family Food Favorites Recipe contest and Kaleidoscope luncheon, a dessert reception before the Absolutely A Cappella concert, a men’s soccer game in our new outdoor lighted stadium, Financial Aid and Science I Open Houses, a Division of Student Affairs sponsored Sunday Jazz Brunch and much more, including concerts, a theatre production, and campus tours. Most events are free or have a nominal cost to attend. The schedule is flexible. You can attend as many campus events as you like, explore the local area, including apple orchards and pumpkin farms or stop by the Broome County Ethnic Festival. Accommodations are still available at several area hotels and motels, but are going fast.
View the Weekend’s full schedule of activities. We hope to see you here!
The Binghamton Fund would like to welcome the parents of new students to the Binghamton University family, and extend a warm welcome back to the parents of our returning students.
JOIN US! As part of the University’s annual Family Weekend, the Binghamton Fund and Office of Alumni & Parent Relations will host a free Family Dessert Reception to provide parents and families with the opportunity to meet our staff, and learn more about the Foundation’s goals of supporting the University’s mission and enhancing your child’s experience at Binghamton. This special reception will be held Saturday, Oct. 20, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. in the Anderson Center Reception Room. If you wish to attend, please RSVP today by calling the Binghamton Fund office at 607-777-6209 or by e-mail. We hope to see you there!
Hillel at Binghamton provides a wide range of opportunities for your child. We offer a host of social, educational, religious and cultural programming, as well as a variety of leadership development and social justice opportunities. This year, for the first time, we have a full-time rabbi on our staff and will be offering both Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur services for students who will remain on campus during the holidays. We encourage parent involvement in our lay leadership board and would love to talk with you about the integral role that parents play in strengthening the Jewish community on campus. Please contact us at 607-777-3424 or by e-mail for more information. Don’t forget to ask about our new chicken soup express which can provide your child with hot chicken soup delivered to their door if they are sick; it might not be as good as yours, but it’s the next best thing!
CAREER DEVELOPMENT CENTER (CDC) - WHAT'S NEW FOR PARENTS?
Whether your student is an incoming freshman or entering their senior year, chances are you are interested in how the University can help with career planning. The CDC staff is pleased to announce that there is now a special section on their website just for PARENTS. Visit the site to learn about services offered, how you can help your student, how you can help the CDC, and much more.
There are many events coming up in September and October that your student won’t want to miss including the Job & Internship Fair, Graduate School Fair and Law Day! Find out more.
Encourage your student to log-in to their eRecruiting account, complete their profile, and begin using this great resource for internship, job and career information. Student Employment job listings are moving from the Student Financial Aid Office website to CDC's eRecruiting!
Check out Financial Aid Services’ new Parent Webpage to review information related to the financial aid process at Binghamton as well as other timely information. There is also a link provided at the bottom of the page for feedback.
We look forward to seeing you at our Open House during Family Weekend in October!
Maximizing Students' Academic and Wellness Potential
Binghamton University Health Service and Discovery are collaborating on a special program to help students achieve their wellness and academic potential through a street outreach approach, which entails face-to-face interactions. The “Get in the Zone” project embodies the notion that a person’s mental and physical state and his or her academic performance are not independent of one another. REACH peer educators and Discovery Assistants will help their fellow students to understand the positive and negative effects of stress, identify its sources and develop effective coping strategies. This ongoing project will help participants balance exemplary academic performance with a lifestyle that promotes and supports wellness. You can help too!
Get in the Zone Tips for Parents and Family Members:
• Encourage your student to have meaningful involvement. Understand the difference between quantity vs. quality of extracurricular commitments.
• Send letters, emails and care packages, particularly if you can surprise your student.
• Let them problem solve; help your student become empowered by asking questions, referring them to campus resources, and letting them find solutions to problems when appropriate.
• Visits – connect with your student ahead of time to discuss plans.
• Avoid the “these are the best years of your life” cliché.
For more information, contact Scott Bennett, coordinator of Discovery assistants/academic advisor or Bridget McCane Saunders, health education coordinator.
Entering college is a time of change, which can be very exciting, stressful and confusing. It is a time of transition as students move from adolescence into early adulthood with opportunities to participate in a variety of academic and social activities. Learning to balance these activities is a major challenge for students during their first year.
The mission of University Health Service is to promote and support student wellness through education, prevention and treatment in a caring atmosphere that respects the unique qualities of each individual. We like to think of ourselves as engaging in a partnering relationship with our students as they learn how to access health care and make independent health care decisions. You are part of that relationship as we all work towards a smooth transition and rich and rewarding experiences for our students. Read suggestions on ways that you can provide optimal support to your student. You can contact UHS by calling 607-777-2221.
Act now and get all your Binghamton University Athletic apparel at a great discount! Take advantage of the Athletic Department’s Back to School sale and receive 50 percent off all your favorite Bearcat merchandise. You can purchase a variety of short-sleeve and long-sleeve tees, crewneck and hooded sweatshirts, and sweatpants. Products are available for all our Division I sports.
GREATER BINGHAMTON WELCOMES YOU
The Greater Binghamton Convention & Visitors Bureau is pleased to welcome you! As your student builds experiences and memories of their college experience, we would like to invite you to come and visit and get to know about our wonderful community. From art galleries to concerts, from opera to AHL hockey, there is so much to see and do. Our area is safe, friendly and filled with activities year round. Call 1-800-836-6740.
UPCOMING CALENDAR AND EVENT INFORMATION
Sept. 7: Course drop/delete deadline
Sept. 7: Course add deadline
Sept. 10: Last day for seniors to submit an application for degree for Spring 2008
Sept. 12: Classes recess (Rosh Hashanah)
Sept. 17: Classes resume
Sept. 21: Classes recess 1 p.m. (Yom Kippur)
Sept. 24: Classes resume
Oct. 20-21: Family Weekend
Oct. 26: Course withdraw (with a “W”) deadline
Nov. 21: Classes recess 1 p.m. (Thanksgiving)
Nov. 25: Residence halls close 2 p.m.
Nov. 26: Classes resume
Dec. 7: Last day of classes
Dec. 8-9: Reading period
Dec. 9: Fall Commencement
Dec. 10-14: Final Examinations
Dec. 15: Residence halls close 11 a.m.
UNIVERSITY PLAZA STILL LEASING FOR 2007-08 ACADEMIC YEAR
It's not too late to start thinking about housing options for next year. University Plaza, the newest apartment complex in the area, is now leasing for the 2007-08 school year.
Each apartment is completely furnished, has a washer, dryer, and high-speed internet. Rent includes local phone service, water, electricity, HVAC, and cable television. The facility is monitored by security and has keycard access. University Plaza is located on the Vestal Parkway, just east of campus. Call (888) 775-4615 or click here. (PAID ADVERTISEMENT)
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