March 9, 2011

Parents Association Online Chat on March 29

On Tuesday, March 29 the Parents Association will host an Online Chat for parents from 5:30-7:00 PM. The chat will offer more information and insight on subjects featured in articles in the spring 2011 edition of TENNESSEE Family. This chat will include staff from the Parents Association and UT Parents Council, Career Services, Student Health Service, University Housing, and Volunteer Dining. For more information about the Online Chat, click here.

Family Weekend Theme Ideas Due April 15

As our office staff plans and prepares for this year's events, we would like to introduce a theme to the festivities. It's your weekend, and this is your chance to tell us what you want! The Family Weekend Planning Committee will vote and select a theme from all entries submitted. If your theme is picked, your student will receive a $500 textbook credit to use at the UT Bookstore for the fall 2011 semester. E-mail your theme ideas and programming suggestions to [log in to unmask]. The deadline to submit themes is April 15, 2011. For more information, see page 5 of the spring edition of TENNESSEE Family.

University Housing Room Selection

Univeristy housing room selection for 2011-2012 is going on now. Students should have received their designated sign up time from their Resident Assistant during their floor meeting (held at the end of February). The final day for room selection is Friday, March 11. Encourage your student to click here for more information on how to reserve a room and complete the online selection process. Students may direct questions to their Resident Assistant or hall staff.

Spring Break

Spring Break will be March 14-18, 2010. No classes will be held during Spring Break, and campus residence halls will close at 12:00 noon on Saturday, March 12 and will reopen at 1:00 PM on Sunday, March 20. Also, the last day for Campus Dining meal plans before Spring Break is Friday, March 11; meal plan will resume on Monday, March 21. The university will be open during spring break with campus offices operating on a normal schedule.

On Tuesday, March 8, Vice Chanchellor for Student Affairs W. Timothy Rogers emailed all UT Knoxville students regarding "Spring Break Travel: Health and Safety Tips". To view the text of this email, click here.

Important Registration Deadline Approaching

Monday, March 21, is the deadline for students to drop full term courses with a "W". A "W" reflects a withdrawal of a course on a student's official academic transcript, but will not affect a student's GPA.

Study Abroad Scholarship Application Due Friday, March 11

The application deadline for the W.K. McClure Scholarship for the Study of World Affairs is 5:00 PM, Friday, March 11. The scholarship offers UT Knoxville students financial awards up to $5,000 to support study, research or creative projects abroad aimed at enhancing and promoting education for world responsibility. Click here for more information on the application process and selection criteria or email [log in to unmask].

Take Summer Classes at UT

Summer school isn't a typical semester at UT. Summer school provides a great way to finish up general education courses in less time while keeping your student on track to graduation. This summer, if your student takes a lower-division course (100 or 200 level), they will automatically receive a scholarship equivalent to 15% of the tuition for those classes. Registration for summer classes is going on now. Encourage your student to talk to his or her academic advisor about taking summer classes. For more information about summer school, click here.

Survey for All Freshmen and Senior Students

All freshmen and senior students received a survey via email from Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek regarding their opinions about their UT experience. Students who respond by March 23 will have the chance to win one of four $100 gift certificates to the UT Bookstore. These certificates may be used at any campus bookstore, including the Bookstore Technology Center. Encourage your student to complete the survey for a chance to win.

VolsTeach Offers Great Resources for Students

Are you interested in your UT student gaining an edge in the job market? VolsTeach is a new program that offers Math and Science majors the capability of earning a degree and a secondary teaching license in four years. One degree with two career paths will make your student more competitive in the job market after graduation. Fall class registration begins soon. For more information visit the program's website or contact the VolsTeach coach, Jada Johnson, at [log in to unmask].

Honors Symposium Presentation Applications Due Today

If your student is a member of the Chancellor's Honors Program, or a departmental or specialized honors program, encourage him or her to submit work at the Second Annual Honors Symposium on March 26. Presentations can be from their thesis (it can be a work in progress), an exemplary class project, or any independent research project. Applications are due TODAY, March 9 by 5:00 PM to the Chancellor's Honors Program Main Office in Melrose Hall. Click here to access the application. The form can also be emailed to [log in to unmask] as an attached PDF with "HONORS SYMPOSIUM" in the subject line.

Honors Ambassadors Applications due Friday, March 11

This is the last week to apply for the Honors Ambassadors program. Honors Ambassadors help recruit the top academic students to the UT Chancellor's Honors Program. Students who are rising honors sophomores can apply. Applications are available in the Melrose Honors Lounge and are due on Friday, March 11. Please make sure to sign up for the first round of interviews at that time. Email [log in to unmask] for more information.

Campus Updates for Spring Break

The Office of the Parents Association will not send out a weekly email next week due to students being on spring break. Parents Association weekly emails will resume on March 23.

Chancellor's Report

The 2010 Chancellor's Report was recently published in print and online. The publication focuses on UT's goal of becoming a Top 25 public research university within 10 years. It takes a closer look at our five priority areas, highlighting the great work and service of our faculty, staff and students. Click here to view the online version.

Emergency Notification Information - Blue Light Phones

The blue light phone public address system may be utilized in conjunction with UT Alerts to report a crime and request assistance from UT Police. Calls made from these telephones go directly to UT Police Department and identify your location. UT has the capability of disseminating short messages through the public address system of the blue light phones. If your student has an emergency, the red button will call 911 and the dispatcher will send a UTPD officer to assist you immediately. The black button will request the escort van service. The university has approximately 100 blue phones and over 40 of them are currently public address capable. The majority of the phones are scheduled to be replaced or upgraded to be public address capable during the next year.

UT Named a "Best Value" Public College by Princeton Review

As the economy remains in limbo and college costs go up, students and their families need to make every dollar count. UT Knoxville provides an academically strong education at an affordable price, according to The Princeton Review's "Best Value Colleges for 2011" list released this week, which ranked UT among the 50 best values in higher education.

UT College Reaches its $1 Million Goal to Help Future Educators

The College of Education, Health and Human Sciences has met the $1 million challenge issued about a year ago by an anonymous donor. On February 15, 2010, the anonymous donor offered to give $1 million in memory of the late J. Clayton Arnold if the college could bring in another $1 million in contributions by the end of 2010. The college met that goal on December 31.

New Dean of the University of Tennessee Libraries Named

Steven Escar Smith has been named the dean of the University of Tennessee Libraries. Smith, interim executive associate dean at Texas A&M Libraries in College Station, Texas, begins his new role on July 1. For more information, click here.

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

March 7-11: University Housing 2011-2012 Room Selection

March 9: Career Services Education Job Fair

March 11: Last Day for Campus Dining Meal Plans Before Spring Break

March 12: Residence Halls Close at 12:00 PM for Spring Break

March 14-18: Spring Break

March 20: Residence Halls Reopen at 1:00 PM

March 21: Last Day to drop with a "W" (Full Term Courses)

March 21: Campus Dining Meal Plans Resume

April 1: Last Day to drop with a "W" (Second Session Courses)

April 1: Parents Association Academic, Leadership, and Service Scholarships Applications Available

April 5: Last Day to drop with a "WP/WF" grade (Full Term Courses)

April 22: Spring Recess (No Classes)

April 29: Last Day of Spring 2011 Classes (Full and Second Session Courses)

April 29: Deadline for Total Withdraw from the University

April 29: Fall 2011 Undergraduate Graduation Application Deadline

May 2: Study Day (No Classes)

May 3-6, 9-10: Exams

May 11: Mini Session Begins

May 11-13: University College Commencement Ceremonies

May 12: Graduate Hooding

June 1: Summer Mini Session Ends

June 2: First and Full Summer Sessions Begin

July 6: First Summer Session Ends

July 7: Second Summer Session Begins

August 9: Second and Full Summer Sessions End