August 25, 2010

Family Weekend Registration

Family Weekend is less than a month away! We have already registered over 2,200 people for Family Weekend September 24-26! You won't want to miss this fun-filled weekend in "Big Orange Country" jam-packed with programming and events for the entire family including the UT football game - and yes, there are still Family Weekend Packages and football tickets available! We also have a limited number of spots available in the optional Parent Wine Tasting Reception & Education Session on Friday evening in the UT Visitors Center. To register your family for Family Weekend, click here. For a complete schedule of events and for more information about Family Weekend, click here. If you have any questions or need assistance with registration, please contact our office at (865) 974-4546.

Fall Family Weekend Registration will close on Friday, September 10, 2010 so don't delay, register today!

Silent Auction

This year the Parents Association will have its 2nd annual Family Weekend Silent Auction. Proceeds from this auction will directly support the Parents & Families Fund which provides scholarships to students of Parents Association members and parent and student programming.

Parents Association members from across the state and country are working with us to compile items for the auction. If you would like to donate an item or service, please call our office anytime at (865) 974-4546 or email [log in to unmask]. We would like to have as many items as possible, so please think about what you might want to donate! All Auction items must be received by September 14.

Major Registration Deadline Approaching

Friday, August 27, 2010 is the last day to add, change the grading options, or drop without a "W" for full term courses for the fall semester. Click here for more information on adding or withdrawing from a course, as well as a complete explanation of possible course grades and marks.

Safety Day Promotes Campus Safety, Personal Awareness

The annual "Safety Day" will be held Wednesday, September 1. There will be tables available for students to visit with staff from across the University to learn about personal safety on campus. Tables will be located across campus in Presidential Courtyard; on Cumberland Avenue beside the Taylor Law Building; outside the 11th Street Parking Garage; on the Pedestrian Walkway beside Hodges Library; and at the corner of 16th Street and White Avenue, along the 16th Street Corridor. Safety Day is a program offered by the UT Personal Safety Committee. Encourage your student to drop by one of the tables to receive free give-a-ways and learn more about safety!

Alternative Fall Break Applications Available

TeamVOLS has held Alternative Break community service trips for UT students for over fifteen years. Team members are chosen through an application and interview process. During these trips, students give up their time to serve others in a new community. Applications for Fall Break are available at http://teamvols.utk.edu and are available through September 3, 2010.

SGA Opportunities for Students

Is your student looking to get inVOLved on campus? Student Government Association is an excellent way! Currently, both Student Services and Freshman Council are accepting applications for new members. The Student Services branch is comprised of nine committees that focus on the many facets of university life. Freshman Council works year round on legislative issues concerning the freshman class. Applications for Student Services and Freshman Council, as well as more information are found online here. The deadline to apply for Student Services is September 10 and the deadline to apply for Freshman Council is September 3. Encourage your student to apply today!

Part-time Job Opportunity for Students

ARAMARK/UT Dining is now hiring Skybox and Special Event servers to work all football and basketball games as well as special events on campus. They are looking for friendly, upbeat employees that are dedicated to great customer service. They need reliable, hardworking individuals who are looking for opportunities to enhance the University of Tennessee's standard of excellence. This is a great opportunity to make new contacts and promote the university. Encourage your student to contact UT Dining at 865-974-4111 to inquire, or click here to complete an application.

UT Athletics Student Rewards Program

Is your student signed up for the 2010-2011 Student Rewards Program? If not, encourage him or her to sign up today! Students can earn awesome prizes just by attending designated UT athletic events. The program is completely free and students can sign up online at here.

Student Football Tickets On Sale

Head Coach Derek Dooley and the Tennessee Volunteers are gearing up for the 2010 season with exciting match-ups against Oregon and SEC foes Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Kentucky. Students should go to http://bigorangetix.utk.edu for information on student football tickets. The claim period for the UT Martin game has begun. The Volunteers open up the home football season on Saturday, September 4 at 6:00 PM.

Meal Plan & Dining Dollars Versus the VolCard Account

We have been receiving a number of questions lately regarding meal plans and the difference between Dining Dollars and the VolCard Account (formerly AllStar). First, both accounts are housed on the VolCard, your student's ID card. Your student's VolCard does it all!

Dining Dollars are associated with meal plan, while the VolCard (AllStar) is not. Dining Dollars can be used in addition to meals at all Campus Dining locations. Purchases made with Dining Dollars are tax free. The VolCard Account (AllStar) acts as a debit account for students at Campus Dining locations and can be used for things like laundry in residence halls, printing on University printers, as well as purchases at campus vending machines and in the UT Bookstore and Technology Center. Deposits can be made to your student's VolCard Account anytime by clicking the Student Accounts link on the VolCard webpage.

Division of Student Affairs Welcomes New Faces

The Division of Student Affairs had a few new staff members welcoming students back for the fall semester. Jeff Cathey, Frank Cuevas, Melissa Shivers, and Angi Smith welcomed students back to UT Knoxville this year. Cathey came to UT during the spring semester as a new Associate Dean of Students. Having both arrived on campus over the summer, Cuevas is the new Executive Director of University Housing and Shivers is the Assistant Vice Chancellor for the Division of Student Affairs. Smith began her role also as a new Associate Dean of Students this summer. For more information, click here.

Safety at UT Series: Theft Prevention Part 2

In continuing the UT Police Department's series of brief articles to Parents Association members dedicated to keeping your child safe at UT, the following are areas we feel important to address with your son or daughter regarding theft prevention:

Always "secure" valuables! Make sure items of value are kept out of sight if possible or locked up with a quality lock. Consider using a small safe in residence hall rooms to store valuables.

Engrave your valuables! The UT Police Department offers a free engraving & registration program named 'Operation ID'. Also, many companies may offer to engrave your items for free or a nominal fee if you purchase from them. For example, Apple will engrave your iPod!

Bicycles Use a high security lock, such as a U-lock. Anchor the frame and both wheels to the bike rack.

Don't trust 'strangers' to watch valuables! Many times students will ask people they don't know to watch their valuables 'for a minute' and not surprisingly the stranger and the valuable are gone when the student returns.

For more information on campus safety, visit http://safety.utk.edu and www.utpolice.org.

Unscheduled Power Outage

On Monday, August 23, 2010 the University of Tennessee Campus experienced a brief power outage. The outage affected numerous buildings on campus including parts of Gibbs Residence Hall. Power was restored within hours to all campus buildings.

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 25: Career Services Part-time Job Fair

August 27: Last Day to Add, Change Grading Options, or Drop Without a Grade of "W" (Full Term Fall Courses)

August 27: Fall 2010 Late Registration Payment Due at 4:30 PM

September 1: Last Day to Adjust Hours for Financial Aid Awarding

September 6: Labor Day (No Classes)

September 14: Last Day to Change Fall Meal Plan Option

September 16: Last Day to Drop with a Grade of "W" (First Session Fall Courses)

September 24: Last Day to Drop with a Grade of "WP/WF" (First Session Fall Courses)

September 24-26: Fall Family Weekend

September 28: Career Services Annual Fall Job Fair

October 1: Fall 2010 Deferred Payment Due Date

October 6: First Session Fall Classes End

October 7-8: Fall Break (No Classes)

October 11: Second Session Fall Classes Begin

October 15: Last Day to Add, Change Grading Options, or Drop Without a Grade of "W" (Second Session Fall Courses)

October 19: Last Day to Drop with a Grade of "W" (Full Term Fall Courses)

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