August 4, 2010

Online Parent & Student Chat

On Monday, August 9, 2010, the Parents Association will host an online chat for Parents Association members and their students from 5:30 to 7:30 PM (eastern time). Representatives from the Office of the Parents Association, the Bursar's Office, Campus Dining, University Housing, and Financial Aid will be on hand to answer questions online. This will be a great time for parents and/or students to ask questions about Family Weekend, fee payment, financial aid, meal plans, residence halls, Move-In Weekend, and much more. On Monday, August 9, click here to access the Undergraduate Admissions webpage to log on to the free chat. Information about the chat, including the link to login will be available under the News & Announcements Section.

Family Weekend Registration Begins Wednesday!

That's right, the day everyone has been waiting for is only a week away! Family Weekend registration begins on Wednesday, August 11, 2010! Family Weekend festivities will include the Silent Auction benefiting student scholarships through the Parents and Families Fund; Bowling, Billiards, and Table Tennis in the University Center Down Under; tours of the Haslam College of Business Complex; Lady Vols soccer matches on Friday and Sunday; a wine tasting and education session for parents; an historic walking tour of the University of Tennessee; the Big Orange BBQ in Circle Park prior to the football game between our beloved Vols and UAB, and so much more!

For a complete schedule of events and for more information about Family Weekend, click here. You won't want to miss this fun-filled weekend in "Big Orange Country" jam-packed with programming and events for the entire family. Please Note: You will need your email address and Parents Association Member ID Number in order to log in to the Family Weekend registration system. If you need assistance locating your Member ID number, please call the Parents Association office at (865) 974-4546 prior to online registration beginning Wednesday, August 11.

Big Orange Goodbye with Bruce Pearl

Parents, come say goodbye to your student while Coach Pearl welcomes the Class of 2014 to Big Orange Country! On Sunday, August 15th the Parents Association is partnering with the Office of Alumni Affairs and the Office of the Provost to host the 2nd Annual Big Orange Goodbye featuring Coach Bruce Pearl at 10:00 AM in Presidential Courtyard.

This event is free of charge for all parents, students and family members. Come get pumped up with your student for their freshman year from UT's vivacious head basketball coach as you bid your student farewell. Coach Pearl will be on hand for autographs immediately following the event. Click here for more information on the Big Orange Goodbye.

Family Weekend Silent Auction

The Parents Association and the Parents Council will be hosting the 2nd Annual Family Weekend Silent Auction during 2010 Fall Family Weekend. The Silent Auction directly supports the Parents & Families Fund, which provides scholarships to students and programs for parents and families. In 2009, the Family Weekend Silent Auction raised over $7,000 for the Parents & Families Fund.

The Parents Association is counting on support of Parents Association members just like YOU to make this year's Silent Auction a success! Items from the 2009 auction range from homemade gift baskets, to UT apparel, to vacation packages at hotels and vacation homes. We ask that you contact our office at either [log in to unmask] or (865) 974-4546 to let us know if you're willing to donate an item. Then, bring the item(s) with you to campus during move-in weekend August 14 and 15. Click here for more information on the 2010 Family Weekend Silent Auction.

Annual Member Assessment Now Available

Each year, we ask that all members of the Parents Association take a moment to participate in the Parents Association Member Assessment. The Parents Association depends on your feedback to ensure we are meeting your needs and expectations as members. Whether you have been a Parents Association member for four days or four years, your input is important and valued. This survey should take approximately 10 minutes to complete and will offer valuable feedback about our benefits and services. Click here to complete the 2010 Parents Association Annual Member Assessment today.

At the end of the survey, you can provide your email address to enter to win one of the following prizes:

• Family Weekend Registration packages for two adults valid on September 25th (valued at $70)
• Steak and Seafood Buffet dinner for two at the Knoxville Crowne Plaza Hotel (valued at $60)
• One night stay at the Four Points by Sheraton, Knoxville Cumberland House
• One night stay at the Hilton Knoxville Downtown

Reminder: Fall 2010 Fee Payment Deadline Approaching

The Fall 2010 Fee Payment and Confirmation of Attendance deadline is 4:30 PM on Wednesday, August 11, 2010. On July 13, the Bursar's Office notified students who priority registered via email that Fall 2010 VolXpress E-Statements were available. Your student can print a copy of his or her VolXpress E-Statement or forward the statement to you or a third party. If your student did not receive his or her E-Statement, he or she may click here to log in and view the statement online. For the most up to date information on your student's charges and fees, students can log in and view their VolXpress Statement on Circle Park Online by clicking here. Also, click here to visit the Bursar's Office website for more information on bill pay and student charges and fees.

Spring 2011 Graduation Application Deadline

All students who plan to graduate in Spring of 2011 must submit an application to do so. The form can be found here. The form must be returned to the Registrar's Office, located at 209 Student Services Building by Tuesday, August 10, 2010. For more information, feel free to call the Registrar's Office at (865) 974-2101.

Preparation In Case of Emergency

In the event of an emergency on or off campus, it is important that students have emergency contact information readily available. One way students can prepare themselves for a possible emergency situation is to simply program an emergency contact into their cell phone under the entry "ICE" ("ICE" stands for In Case of Emergency). This will be a fast way to facilitate communication in the event of an emergency.

The University of Tennessee has compiled an Online Campus Safety Guide for students containing 24-hour transportation information, personal safety tips, the campus emergency management plan, residence hall safety information and more. Click here for more information.

Campus Job Opportunities

Career Services is your student's first stop for all things career-related. They provide career counseling, career exploration classes, interest and personality assessments and resources to help your student choose a major and career. If your student seeks employment, Career Services can help them identify part-time jobs, internships and full-time positions through the HIRE-A-VOL system. Encourage your student to register with HIRE-A-VOL and gain access to job postings as well as updates about workshops, job fairs and employer visits. For more information, visit Career Services Online. Please take a few minutes to look around the site and familiarize yourself with all Career Services has to offer!

Section of Volunteer Boulevard Temporarily Closed

A section of Volunteer Boulevard on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, campus will be closed to through traffic from Tuesday, August 3 until Tuesday, August 10. The closure is due to underground utility work to support the construction of the Student Health Clinic. For more information, click here.

Princeton Review Lists UT Among ’373 Best Colleges’

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville, is a "very affordable" and "dynamic" university with "excellent research facilities" and "ample undergraduate research opportunities," according to The Princeton Review annual ratings released this week.

UT is among only 15 percent of the nation's four-year colleges and universities to be included in the new 2011 edition of "The Best 373 Colleges" and also was listed as one of the best colleges in the Southeast by The Princeton Review, one of the nation's top education service and evaluation companies. Click here for more information.

THE UNIVERSITY OF TENNESSEE OFFICE OF THE PARENTS ASSOCIATION
412 STUDENT SERVICES BUILDING, KNOXVILLE, TN 37996
http://parents.utk.edu  ::  [log in to unmask]

Important Dates

August 10: Full & Second Session Summer Classes End

August 10: Spring 2011 Graduation Application Deadline

August 11: Fall 2010 Payment & Schedule Confirmation Due at 4:30 PM

August 11: Fall Family Weekend Registration Begins

August 13: Minority Student Symposium

August 14: Summer Graduation Date

August 14: Sorority Recruitment Begins

August 14-15: University Housing Move-in Weekend

August 15: Parents Association Big Orange Goodbye Event

August 15: Torch Night, Freshman Picnic, and Night at Neyland Event

August 15-20: Welcome Week Activities

August 18: Fall 2010 Semester Classes Begin

August 23: Last Day to Add, Change Grading Options, or Drop Without a Grade of "W" (First Session Fall Courses)

August 23: Interfraternity Council Recruitment Begins

September 24-26: Fall Family Weekend

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Address or email change?

Please let us know if you have recently changed, or are planning to change your mailing and/or email address. Just email us at [log in to unmask].