starting right at tu 2015

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Starting Right at TU Helping parents of new students prepare for the transition to university life.

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A helpful guide for parents and families of students who will be joining our campus community at The University of Tulsa. Contact us at 918.631.2707 or [email protected] with any questions or to learn more.

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Page 1: Starting right at TU 2015

Starting Right at TUHelping parents of new students prepare

for the transition to university life.

Page 2: Starting right at TU 2015

Helping parents help their students succeed

In this publication:• Welcome to the TU Family • Parents & Families Transition Too• A Semester At-a-Glance• Helping Students Succeed Academically • Five Questions for the 1st Semester• For Tulsa Area Parents• New to Tulsa

Success in college will depend on having experiences that inform, challenge, and inspire. TU contributes to those experiences by hiring outstanding faculty, maintaining beautiful facilities, and challenging students to apply their learning in service to others.

Students also determine success in college by embracing their studies, feeding their interests, and seeking new friendships. With those goals in mind, I encourage your student to get involved right away, using the momentum of New Student Orientation (StartTU) to join organizations and connect with fellow students.

Thank you for reviewing this information. On behalf of all of us on campus, I wish your family our best as you wrap up senior year and prepare for the next big and immensely rewarding chapter. Go, TU!

All best,

Steadman UphamPresident

Starting Right at TU is a publication of New Student Programs and the TU Parents & Family Organization. Find us on Facebook and the TU Webpage

Follow StartTU15 on Twitter for the latest news and details on orientation 2015

You can contact us 918.631.2707 or email us at [email protected] or [email protected] (for TUPFA).

New Student ProgramsThe University of Tulsa800 S. Tucker Blvd. Tulsa, OK 74104

Welcome to the TU Family!

Congratulations on your student’s admission to The University of Tulsa. The Class of 2019 is a distinguished and diverse group that is going to contribute enormously to our campus family. We are honored and grateful you have chosen TU.

This communication will help you transition into a successful first year. The links to the left will take you to articles of interest to parents and students alike.

Page 3: Starting right at TU 2015

Parents and Families Transition Too

Sitting in the parent meeting of the kindergarten classroom, you couldn’t have missed the message, over and over the teacher repeated it as a chorus she had rehearsed for years: “Get involved.” You, just like every other parent in that school, got the memo loud and clear – good parents get involved in their children’s education.

So you did what you could, whether that meant checking homework, going to meetings, filling out forms, waiting at a bus stop, even buying extra school supplies or volunteering at the school, you went the extra mile. You’ve been to more parent-teacher meetings than you ever remember your parents attending. You’ve checked grammar, reminded your student of practices, taken them the lunchbox they left at home and emailed back and forth with administrators.

Finally, your student is ready for college. They’ve passed the exams, done the paperwork, researched their options and they are headed to The University of Tulsa. As you already know, big changes are in store for your student. The changes they face going from high school to university life are considerable. And they’re not the only ones going through a change, a student going to college is also a significant transition for you and your family.

Like all the schools and teachers before us, we have a message to share with you as a parent of a TU student. But the message changes a little now, just as your student, your family and your daily life are changing.

Stay connected. Yes, your student is living outside the house. And yes, they will have a whole new group of friends, connections and relationships that you may end up only knowing a little about. And, you’re right, they’ll be studying a whole array of classes and topics that it takes a PhD to teach. Yes, the roles we as parents play may shift a bit during these years, but we are still committed to our students. We still want to be available to them as they make some of the biggest choices of their lives. And we as parents and families are willing to do the work to stay in touch during these critical years.

The biggest hurdle in all of this may be an emotional one. For years parents and families have been constantly in contact with their student, eating dinner together, going to school functions and having friends over to just hang out. Now, your student is settling into a new context with different people, walking through an entirely distinctive experience.

Don’t let the separation turn into isolation. Reach out with a text, a card, an email, a little care package or just a phone call. Remind your student of how proud you are of them, of your confidence in them and the wealth of opportunities and support available to them here at The University of Tulsa. Stay connected.[continues on the next page]

Page 4: Starting right at TU 2015

Suggestions for Staying Connected to Your TU Student: • Consider setting up a regular appointment for touching base. Some students talk about

texting their mom or calling home almost daily, but for other students a weekly appointment for checking-in works best.

• Texting works. Simply sending a “thinking of you” or “study hard” or a picture of the family pet helps your student still feel connected to everything at home.

• Ask open-ended questions. When you interact with your student ask questions, not necessarily as a problem-solver, but as someone who genuinely cares. Questions can be a great way to demonstrate care and compassion while also helping them know they’re being heard. (If you’d like to learn more, here’s a website with a quick comparison between open-ended and closed-ended questions.)

• Help your student ask questions. While today’s college students are as tech-savvy as any in history, they may still be inexperienced at how things get done in institutions. If they can’t find a quick answer through a Google search, they can sometimes be stumped for what to do next. Help your student make a phone call, talk with a professor or seek out support from a campus office. The University of Tulsa has hired some amazing professionals who are on campus for the sole purpose of helping students succeed, often just waiting to be asked how they can help.

• Offer support and encouragement. No one knows your student better than you and your family. Campus life is often very challenging – academically, socially and professionally. There is a convergence of focuses and an intensity in college like nowhere else in life. Students often wonder that if something is difficult or challenging for them that might mean they’re doing it wrong. You and your family can help build their confidence and help them press through challenges to new levels of academic and personal success.

• Remind your student this work is theirs. College is a bit of a crash course in independence. If they are going to get up on time, manage their schedule well, follow up on assignments, go to meetings, meet new people, eat healthy, start their own organization or study abroad, then all of that work is on them. The more they can walk onto campus ready to take charge of all the details, the easier the transition will be for them.

Want more practical suggestions on staying connected with your student? Consider visiting these articles for parents from Student Advisor and LendULink.

Want to know more about what’s going at TU?

Consider following these links to help you stay

informed about things happening on campus:

Visit the TU Webpage occasionally, including:

the calendarhttp://calendar.utulsa.edu/

And links provided for parentshttp://utulsa.edu/parents-

welcome/

Follow the Twitter feed for StartTU (New Student

Orientation)https://twitter.com/StartTU15

Join the TU Parent & Family organization on Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/tupfa

Page 5: Starting right at TU 2015

Your student is at The University of Tulsa because they, like you, are committed to great academics and a world-class education. Doing well in TU courses can be quite challenging. Research in institutions of higher education across the nation have continually highlighted a handful of behaviors that promote academic success. Encourage your student with reminders about these five best practices.

Attend Class RegularlyCollege students spend notably less hours in class each week than they did in high school. Sometimes, students might interpret this to mean class attendance is less important. But nothing could be further from the truth. As tempting as it may be to skip class on a cold, rainy Oklahoma morning, nothing replaces being physically (and mentally) present in the classroom every time that class meets. Remind your student that all kinds of important information and material is presented only in classroom lectures, discussion and projects and no one else’s notes are the same thing as being there yourself.

Build Relationships With ProfessorsAgain, college is not like high school. Professors want to get to know students. One of the noteworthy reasons members of the TU Faculty enjoy teaching here is because of the way the University maintains manageable class sizes and creates systems that give professors enough room in their schedules to build relationships with students. Faculty members maintain regular office hours, look for ways to engage students beyond the classroom and may have programs and research that students can join if they express interest. First-year students underestimate the value and reward for building a relationship, even a modest one, with their professors.

[continues on the next page]

Helping Students Succeed Academically

Page 6: Starting right at TU 2015

[5 best practices continued from “Helpings Students Succeed Academically”]

Get InvolvedShare with your student that years of research continue to demonstrate a positive correlation between their academic success and engagement in campus organizations and activities. That may sound a little counterintuitive (“If they’re busy they can’t study as much”). However, the out-of-class learning and networking students do in these co-curricular and extra-curricular environments provides powerful motivation, deeper engagement and intrinsic rewards for their continued and future success in the classroom.

Manage Time WellPossibly where your student might need a little more direct advice is in learning to plan and manage time effectively in college. There are 168 hours in each week and students will only spend, on average, 15 of those in class. If they can teach themselves to put in a 40-hour-workweek on their studies, they will have higher chances of academic success. Helping students see their college experience as a “full-time job” may sometimes be a useful lens: show up to work on time, every time; get to know the boss; build relationships and network around the office; put in the required hours.

Seek Help EarlyEncourage your student to sign up for tutors or set up study groups early. After midterms there will be plenty of students standing in line at the Center for Student Academic Support (CSAS) to sign up for a tutor. Those midterm grades are an eye-opener for lots of people. Listen for signs that your student is struggling with the homework or not completely understanding an assignment and encourage them to proactively reach out to CSAS. There are tutors, notes, teaching assistants, study skill workshops and group study sessions that can quickly make a difference.

The Center for Student Academic Support (CSAS) is here to help students succeed at TU. CSAS professionals can help students find tutors, assist with academic counseling, and help with academic accommodations. CSAS also facilitates workshops for students on topics that can bolster academic success of students. Encourage your student to visit the CSAS office in Lorton 210, or contact CSAS directly at [email protected] or 918.631.2315.

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Start Right at TU with StartTU2015, New Student Orientation

StartTU2015 will help your first-year student start their college experience with new friends, a faculty or staff mentor, a veteran student leader, lots of information about campus organizations and offices, a better feel for the campus and a fresh boost of confidence as they walk into their first classes. Encourage your student to sign-up for New Student Orientation today. There’s no additional cost, and they’ll be on their way to a great start at TU. They can log-in at https://cc.utulsa.edu/ and then look for “New Student Orientation.”

Orientation for ParentsAugust 17, 2015

There is a Parent Information Sessionon the first day of Orientation. Parents and families can visit with leaders from

various campus organizations and offices to ask questions and learn more

about life at TU.

Matriculation is the first taste of academic tradition and marks the

occasion of the incoming class officially joining the academic community. It is held in the evening of the first day of Orientation and is open to all parents

and family members.

The President’s Dinner wraps up the first day of Orientation and is a huge

meal welcoming all new students and their families to TU.

Page 8: Starting right at TU 2015

Five Questions for the First SemesterYou may be on the other side of town or the other side of the country. But that doesn’t mean you can’t have a conversation with your student about big events happening on the TU campus. Asking questions, starting a conversation, can be a great way to help your student think about their engagement on campus. Here’s a list of five things you can ask your student about during their first semester:

1. “Are you going to the Activity Fair?” – Each year on the first Thursday of the fall semester SA (Student Association – TU’s student-run government) hosts a campus-wide extravaganza where almost every student organization shows up to invite new students to learn more and participate. Students discover great organizations, co-curriculur clubs, volunteer groups, honor societies, faith-based organizations and more. Many of the presenters are giving away free materials and goodies. It’s a great way for new students to see just how much is going on campus and to start looking for ways to customize their educational experience.

2. “Have you put ImpactTU on your calendar?” – From the same people who put together Orientation, this 6-week lunch-time seminar helps new students successfully transition into the campus community and prepare for leadership on campus and beyond.Free lunches, engaging presenters, discussions led by Orientation Leaders and more make this a great opportunity for new students to bolster their confidence, identify early leadership opportunities, and make TU their home away from home. The first ImpactTUlunch will be Wednesday, September 16th.

3. “What’s been going on in your Residence Hall?”– Students who live on campus have a core team of student and professional leaders who are committed to their success. Between these staff members and hall governments there is continual programming aimed at empowering student learning, building community, helping students learn about support services and providing fun, meaningful experiences. Ask your student about ongoing programs in their residence hall or about the Hurricane Thursdays!

4. “What have you heard so far about Homecoming?” – Each fall the Student Association (SA) puts on a huge series of events to celebrate and involve students in the Homecoming festivities. There are events, programs and contests throughout the week that almost always include giveaways, food and lots of fun. Incidentally, our TU Parent and Family Organization also hosts an event that is tied to homecoming weekend. The Parent and Family Weekend creates a space for you and your family to visit campus and reconnect with your student. To learn more about Parent and Family weekend, call Diane at 918.631.2707.

5. “Who’s your favorite professor?” – Asking your student which of their professors is their favorite can be an easy conversation starter, and might very well help your student share a bit about their academic experience so far. And you, being the attentive,experienced parent know that by listening to what they say, and what they don’t say, may give you a little insight into any encouragement they need or issues they might want help with in the future.

Page 9: Starting right at TU 2015

A Semester At-A-Glance

This is one of the times that we as parents are used to taking over if anything is difficult or stressful. But, the more you can let your student handle the details of check-in and decisions about arranging their room or signing paperwork, the more you can communicate how confident you are in them about the new freedoms and responsibilities that lie ahead of them.

The First Weeks

The first 30 days on campus can be a roller coaster for your new student. They’ll meet hundreds of new people, discover how challenging their new classes can be, work out living arrangements with new roommates, be invited to join new organizations and discover they have more independence than they had imagined. These first weeks can include waves of excitement, anxiety, loneliness, homesickness and anticipation. And life at home will start to feel different as the reality of their absence sets in.

Communication with your student can be a helpful coping skill for both your student and your family. Your student may text frequently, call home, or send out an email that sounds a little distant or maybe a little frantic. It is not uncommon to see many of today’s students still developing their coping skills or conflict resolution skills, so they may turn to you to solve problems for them. Research suggests that whatever you can do to encourage your student to resolve issues without your involvement can pay dividends for both of you in the future. Asking questions, recommending campus resources and offering a listening ear can be helpful responses. And remember that very often, the issues and emotions your student is experiencing are normal and generally temporary.

It’s also fairly predictable that some students will become so engrossed in their studies, so involved in campus organizations and so engaged in new relationships that these early weeks are a whirlwind for them and parents hear little or nothing from their college student. If you don’t hear anything for a while, a quick “Hope things are going well” text can be both a positive encouragement and a reminder that they are in your thoughts.

[continues on the following page]

The academic schedule has its own ebb and flow. Parents and family members of TU students can better support their student if they are aware of the events and general timeline of a typical semester.

Move In

If your student will be living on campus, moving in can be a hectic and emotional experience. Parents and families can sometimes find this process filled with a host of emotions – excitement for this new chapter in their student’s life, challenging as everyone deals with unexpected questions, stressful as financial decisions get made and even sometimes a little awkward as everyone is constantly meeting new people in such a short amount of time. There will occasionally be a couple of long lines, and if there are any hiccups in the paper trail, maybe even a few extra things to do.

Page 10: Starting right at TU 2015

[Continued from “A Semester-At-A-Glance”]

The Middle of the Semester

Near the middle of the semester students often have a number of exams across many of their classes in a short period of time. Their performance on these exams may comprise a large portion of their final grade in the courses. And for some students, this can be a disquieting experience, both in theworkload and in the results. If your student has a difficult time preparing for their midterms, or is upset or surprised by their results, encourage them to reach out to the Center for Student Academic Support (CSAS) in Lorton Hall. This campus office can help students with tutors, study skills, special needs they have and more.

Around the same time, your student will also be meeting with advisors to enroll for the next semester’s classes. They have to juggle course prerequisites, weekly schedules, long-term goals and class availabilities. With all this happening in such a short amount of time, your student may express some anxiety or worry. It’s a demanding time, but can also funnel their energy, focus and talents in impressive ways.

Semester Breaks

Whether its Thanksgiving week or Spring Break, both semesters include a week-long break. Some students are eager to get back home, sleep in their old bed and reconnect with family and friends. Other students may be reluctant to leave either because of pressing assignments or new relationships they don’t want to separate from. Whatever a student is feeling, they sometimes approach breaks with different expectations from family members which may lead to confusion or tension. Additionally, college life is busy so students are often fairly exhausted. And finally, students have just spent weeks in an environment where there are no curfews or family rules and they can do almost anything they like with their time, so working back into family patterns can be difficult. It can be helpful for everyone to communicate expectations (before the break) and be willing to work together.

End of the Semester

Perhaps the most stressful time of the semester for your student will be at the end. Projects will be due, papers have to be turned in and final exams can be daunting. Students sometimes are pressing hard to make up for a missed assignment or for underachieving on earlier exams. During the final week there are lots of late nights, poor eating and minimal exercise. Provide encouragement as best you can and maybe even a care package from home!

http://www.trueblueneighbors.com/

Page 11: Starting right at TU 2015

We support you as you

support your student!

Parent & Family Weekend each fall is held in conjunction with Homecoming. We create an opportunity for parents and family

members to join their college student on campus.

Parent & Family Weekend is Friday, October 23rd

You can sign-up with this link.

Join the TU Parent and Family Association today!

Follow us on Facebookfor the most recent information and updates on events and information

related to campus life.

The TU Parent and Family Association (TUPFA) exists to help parents of TU students network together, share

resources, support one another and promote the mission of The University of Tulsa.

We work collaboratively with the office of New Student Programs in orientation and parent events as well as the

office of Admission.

Page 12: Starting right at TU 2015

Events to mark on your calendar

August 16th or 17th

Move-In Day

Monday, August 17th

[All these events take place in the Reynolds Arena –building 82 on this campus map]

2:22 pm – “Oh the Places You’ll Go”

3:00 pm – Parent Information SessionMeet and interact with staff members and campus

leaders from various offices and organizations

5:00 pm – Matriculation ExercisesOfficial ceremony celebrating the Class of 2019

joining our campus community.

6:00 pm – President’s DinnerDinner is free and open to all students & families

following Matriculation

Casual Meet & Greet for parents of new TU students

Sunday, August 16th 4:00 – 5:00 pmin Sharp Chapel

(building 35 on this campus map)

Social gathering for Tulsa-based Parents of TU Students

Thursday, September 24th 6:00 – 7:30 pmat the home of TUPFA President,

Susie Butterworth (details available soon)

Parent & Family Weekend (and Homecoming)Friday, October 23rd

Click here for information and a link to register for the weekend’s events

Page 13: Starting right at TU 2015

In addition to our world-class faculty, and our amazing student body from across the globe, The University of Tulsa includes a wealth of passionate, deeply committed staff members who work in offices and programs uniquely designed to welcome, empower, encourage andsupport students through the challenges of college life. These experts leverage years of education, professional training, and on-campus experience to help students succeed quickly and overcome obstacles. Here are just a few of the offices where first-year students will find resources, connections and encouragement for success.

Career Services

With a couple of big job fairs and internship interviews happening in September, one of the first campus offices our first-year students visit is Career Services. The career specialists in this office can help TU students prepare for their future career with résumé services, business cards, internship listings, practice for interviews and more. Career Services even has inventories and assessments that first-year students can take that will help with finalizing a decision about their major or career path. To learn more, reach out to Career Services at 918.631.2549 or [email protected].

“This is Why I Work Here”

Alexander Health Center

College life can be filled with a wide range of challenges and difficulties. The professionals who work in the Alexander Health Center provide a wide range of services to support student health – whether a student is struggling with a sinus infection, or wants to talk with one of our staff psychologists about some test anxiety they’ve experienced. Most services at the Alexander Health Center are provided free or at a minimal cost to students. Reach out to Stephanie Fell at 918.631.3590 or [email protected] to learn more about both the medical and psychological services available to students.

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[Continued from “This is Why I Work Here”]

Student Activities

The University of Tulsa believes deeply in student leadership. One place this is obvious is in our student government, SA (Student Association). SA includes both our student senate (elected student legislative body) and the SA cabinet, where student leaders plan campus-wide events and oversee the broad range of diverse student-led organizations on campus. These student orgs provide tremendous co-curricular opportunities and experiential education.

The Collins Fitness Center

TU students love our 67,129 square foot modern facility dedicated to student health, recreation and fitness. There are intramural sports, fitness classes, personal trainers, a café, and even employment opportunities. The Collins Fitness Center is a favorite way for students to sweat out a little stress or to maintain personal health through pick-up basketball games, personal workouts and intramural competitionsthroughout the academic year.

Activity Fair 2015 – Thursday, August 27th

Leaders Incorporated

Leaders Incorporated (LINC) is a peer mentoring program available to minority students that pairs experienced students with incoming students. LINC includes a fall retreat, workshops and ongoing mentorship throughout the year. One of our Orientation Leaders, Tendai, shared this entry about LINC on the Admission Blog! This is much more information online about LINC (including registration links) and other Multicultural Student Programs, or by contacting Director Laura Allen at [email protected] or 918.631.2966.

The Office of Student Affairs includes all of these offices, as well as Greek Life and New Student Programs & Services. Directed by the Dean of Students, Yolanda Taylor, the Office of Student Affairs is filled by knowledgeable, passionate professionals who are here to help your student succeed. Our Student Handbook and Policies are available online. If you would like to know more about these policies or the Office of Student Affairs, please contact Administrative Assistant Brenda Kemp at [email protected] or 918.631.2327.

Page 15: Starting right at TU 2015

Frequently requested on-campus phone numbersAcademic Advising

Arts & Sciences (918) 631-2244Business (918) 631-3297Engineering/Natural Sciences (918) 631-2223

Admission (918) 631-2307Athletics Ticket Office (918) 631-4688Bookstore (918) 631-2206Business Office (918) 631-2600Campus Security (918) 631-5555Career Services (918) 631-2549Center for Student Academic Support (918) 631-2315Center for Global Education (918) 631-3229Chaplain (918) 631-2546

Frequently requested on-campus phone numbersCounseling Center (918) 631-2241Disability Services (918) 631-2315Financial Aid (918) 631-2527Greek Life (918) 631-3516Health Center (918) 631-2241Housing & Dining (918) 631-2516ID/Parking Center (918) 631-3360International Student Services (918) 631-2329Mail Center (918) 631-2211Multicultural Student Services (918) 631-2966New Student Programs and Services (918) 631-2707Registration and Records (918) 631-2254Student Affairs / Dean of Students (918) 631-2327

Page 16: Starting right at TU 2015

We are excited to welcome you and your student to our hometown. If you’d like to learn more about Tulsa, we can point you to a few starting points of discovery:

The Tulsa Chamber of Commerce Site

Travel Oklahoma

Wikipedia (of course)

More about Tulsa from the utulsa webpage

Page 17: Starting right at TU 2015

Orientation – Our week-long new student orientation isn’t a “get to know Tulsa, Oklahoma” event. Instead, Orientation is a “succeed quickly at TU” event. Students build important relationships, connect with campus organizations, learn how to get ahead at TU and build self-efficacy they’ll need in the first semester on campus. Yes, you’ve lived here all your life, but you still want to be part of Orientation.

Visiting Home – There are plenty of students who live really close to campus and who visit home regularly, whether that’s weekly or a couple times a month. Other students get so busy with studies and campus life that checking in with family and friends happens less often. Talk with your student before the academic year starts about their plans, but also keep in mind that their schedule, expectations and needs may shift after classes begin.

Plan as if College is Far Away – Families and students who live near TU can sometimes underestimate the amount of planning and work required to be ready for the start of college. Both your student and your family will have busy routines as classes begin. Even if you live a few blocks away, there is still a lot of information to learn and a huge paradigm shift for your student when they start classes. Start planning earlier than you think you need to and organize more than it feels like you should.

Listen for Ways to Help – With so many new students coming to TU each fall, and many of them from other states or countries, there are plenty of times that a local family who knows how to get to Target or a little bit about the history of our town can add to a conversation, give directions or help an international student feel more at home.

Skip a Line during Move-In – Once a student is enrolled for the fall semester, they can get their Student ID at any time in the Parking and Card Services Office (located in building 43 on this map – bring a state-issued ID). A current Student ID is required to check-in for Orientation and for almost everything students do on campus once classes start. So, instead of waiting in this line during move-in, have your student drop by and get their ID before August!

For Tulsa Area Families

There’s something wonderful about having a world-class university in your hometown. Families in Tulsa and the surrounding communities know they can be on our campus have access to the exceptional faculty and unique TU experience as easily as they might have gone to a concert downtown last summer.

For those families, going to college in your own backyard brings some unique issues to consider:

Page 18: Starting right at TU 2015

Getting Ready for StartTU (New Student Orientation)If they haven’t done so yet, have your student get started working their way through the New Student Checklist, which helps organize all the steps for the start of their first semester on campus.

Your student will need to:1. Log-in to Campus Connection with their TUNetID & Password at https://cc.utulsa.edu/2. Then, click on the “Admitted Students” tab.3. Look in the center of the page for the link titled “New Student Checklist”

One of those steps includes registering for StartTU (orientation). The link in that step will send your student to ‘CaneLinkto register for our week-long program that helps them get ready to succeed quickly at TU. If they need a simple step-by-step guide for registering for StartTU, contact us at [email protected].