June 29, 2011

Upgrade to a Career Membership Today!

Current Annual Members, you can upgrade your membership to a Career Membership today! Career members enjoy many added benefits from their Parents Association membership including:

• Priority registration for events including Family Weekend
• Career Member Monthly Newsletter
• Campus and Volunteer Dining discounts

You save money in the long run! A career membership costs $2.60 per month, and an annual membership costs $3.33 per month. If you recently joined at new student orientation as an annual member, you can upgrade today for only $85. For questions about your membership, or to upgrade your membership, contact our office at (865) 974-4546.

Attend a Summer-Send Off in Your Area!

UT Summer Send-Off events are great ways for all students, especially incoming freshmen, to meet classmates and other students attending the University of Tennessee. Send-Off events are also a way to meet local alumni who can be a resource for students during and after college. Click here for a list of areas that are hosting a Summer Send-Off, and make plans to attend one in your area!

If you would like to volunteer at a Send-Off event, visit our website to find contact information for a host in your area, or simply email [log in to unmask].

Family Weekend Silent Auction

The Silent Auction, held during Family Weekend, is a fundraiser for the Parents and Families Fund, which provides student scholarships and grants for university programs that could benefit your student! If you have donation ideas for the Silent Auction, please email [log in to unmask] with your potential donation information. We look for all sorts of items to showcase in the Silent Auction. So far, more than 30 items have been donated! We need these items no later than move-in weekend, August 13-14.

Your 2011-12 Parent Handbook Starts Friday

Whether you received your 2011-2012 Parent Handbook in your tote bag at orientation, or are a returning member and will receive it in the coming days via US Mail, the calendar portion of the Handbook starts Friday, July 1. If you have not yet attended orientation, you will receive this publication during orientation check-in. This year, the handbook contains more campus dates and deadlines, along with additional detailed handbook information. This handbook will prove to be a useful resource throughout the year as the academic year progresses.

Changes to HOPE Scholarship

Beginning this fall, the Tennessee HOPE Scholarship will be capped at 120 credit hours. Seniors and students in programs that require more than 120 hours will be exempt from this limit. However, students can now use the scholarship during the summer months, beginning in 2012. The changes apply to students who began at UT in Fall 2009 or later. Click here for more information.

Bed Lofts for Residence Halls

Lofts for beds in residence halls are available for students living in Humes, South Carrick, North Carrick and Reese halls. University Housing has a partnership with Collegiate Concepts, Inc. to rent lofts for these four residence halls only. If your student would like to loft their bed, call 888-929-0806 for more information, or click here to visit their website. Feel free to contact University Housing for more information at (865) 974-2571.

Online Undergraduate Catalog

The Undergraduate Catalog is the official source of the university's undergraduate academic programs, courses, policies, and procedures. The catalog should be used as a guide in planning a course of study and in meeting requirements for graduation. The Catalog offers a number of features and search options to assist your student and is available online here.

Attention Out of Town Parents

One of the many benefits of being a Parents Association member is being eligible for exclusive hotel discounts. Whether you are coming to Knoxville for Move-in Weekend, Family Weekend, or just a visit, hotel discounts are a great way to save money. Members can enjoy exclusive discounts at several area hotels. Click here for a list of participating hotels.

Update on the Journey to the Top 25

Since embarking on its journey to become a Top 25 public research university, UT Knoxville has made progress in its five priority areas and retention and graduation rates have increased in the past year. Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek provided the UT Board of Trustees with an update on Top 25 progress in their meeting last week. Click here for more updates on UT Knoxville's journey to the Top 25.

UT Faculty Member Named to Most Influential List

Lead faculty member Kate Vitasek made World Trade magazine's prestigious list of people, places, and things influencing the world of trade. Vitasek is a lead faculty member and researcher at the Center for Executive Education in the UT Knoxville College of Business Administration; she teaches Vested Outsourcing and Performance-Based Logistics. Click here to view the rest of this article.

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

July 4: Independence Day Holiday, No Classes

July 6: First Session Summer 2011 Classes End

July 7: Second Session Summer 2011 Classes Begin

July 11: Last Day to Add, Change Grading Option, or Drop Without a "W" (Second Session Summer Courses)

July 11: Last Day to Drop with a "W" (Full Session Summer Courses)

July 22: Last Day to Drop with a "WP/WF" (Full Session Summer Courses)

July 25: Last Day to Drop with a "W" (Second Session Summer Courses)

August 1: Last Day to Drop with a "WP/WF" (Second Session Summer Courses)

August 1: Fall Family Weekend Registration Begins

August 2: Fall 2011 VolXpress E-statements Available Online

August 9: Second and Full Session Summer 2011 Classes End

August 9: Spring 2012 Graduation Application Deadline

August 13-14: University Housing Move-In Weekend

August 14: Big Orange Goodbye

August 15-20: Welcome Week Activities

August 17: Summer Graduation Date

August 17: Fall 2011 Classes Begin

September 9-11: Fall Family Weekend