July 18, 2012

Dear Parent,

We hope your family is preparing for a great year in Big Orange Country! Our office depends on you to let us know of any updates to your membership information. Please contact our office at [log in to unmask] anytime to make any changes!

Fall Family Weekend Registration is Approaching!

We are thrilled to invite all of our families to join us on campus for Fall Family Weekend on September 21-23! Your family can enjoy many events including the Street Fair, concert, tours of the newest campus buildings, the Big Orange Tailgate, and the UT vs. Akron Football game! Registration for all members begins August 1. Click here for more information on registration and tickets and here for answers to some of the most frequently asked questions.

Move-In Weekend Event

There is no better way to conclude Move-In Weekend than with the annual Big Orange Goodbye event for parents. This annual event is called Dinner with the Deans and will be held on Saturday, August 18 at 6:30 PM in the Presidential Court Cafe. Seating is limited to the first 850 people. Registration for this event will begin on August 1, as a part of Family Weekend Registration. Click here for more information.

$125,000 Fundraising Goal for 2012

The UT Parents Association and Parents Council have set forth a 2012 goal of raising $125,000 for the Parents & Families Fund. In 2012, parents have generously given $26,109. You can support the fund by giving a tax deductible donation anytime throughout the year. Click here for more information about the Parents & Families Fund. You may call our office at (865) 974-4546 or give online here. Thank you for your continued support of the Parents & Families Fund!

Eight Summer Send-Offs Left!

Summer Send-Offs are free events available to Parents Association member families, and are great ways for incoming UT students to meet other freshmen, and parents to meet other parents from their area. RSVP's are required to attend these events. Please click here for more information.

Fall 2012 VolXpress E-Statements Available Soon

Beginning Thursday, August 9, the Bursar's Office will notify students who priority registered that their Fall 2012 VolXpress E-Statement is available. Your student will receive an email containing the website where he or she may view the individual statement. If your student does not receive his or her E-Statement notification, he or she may log-in to MyUTK to view his or her statement online.

Since the VolXpress E-Statements are created on a particular date, the TOTAL DUE may or may not reflect your student's current balance - depending on whether or not transactions have taken place on the account since the statement was created. The most up-to-date balance will be reflected on MyUTK. Click here for more information.

Conversations to Have with Your Student:
Safety On Campus

Many of the initial questions parents often ask our staff concern campus safety. UT Knoxville has numerous safety measures in place to promote campus and personal safety.

Security Cameras - There are numerous cameras installed throughout campus, in various parking garages, and in all campus residence hall entrances and exits.

Blue Light Phones - More than 100 blue light phones are located throughout campus to provide students with quick access to UTPD in case of emergency, or connect students with the T:Link dispatcher for free transportation in the evenings.

UT Alert - Students can sign up to receive text messages informing them of any emerging situations affecting campus. At this time, parents are unable to sign up for UT Alert text messages to ensure the messages are distributed to students and staff in the most timely manner possible. These text messages are designed to improve communication during emergencies and ensure student safety on campus. Students can click here to sign up.

The ABC's of Packing for College

Move-In Weekend is a month away! Along with all of the excitement, parents and students often have questions about what they should pack. The Parents Association has compiled "The ABC's of Packing for College" to assist you and your student with the most important things that they will need to bring to campus in the Fall. Click here to view the 'The ABC'S of Packing for College".

Parents Council Restructuring Committees to Increase Support and Service to Parents

The Parents Council has recently restructured its existing three committees and has added an additional committee to better support Parents Association members and office staff. The communications, development, and outreach committees will continue to offer support and suggestions for their respective areas. In addition, the new Family Weekend committee will plan on and off campus activities during Family Weekend, as well as support the office staff in preparing for Family Weekend events. Click here for more information on the Parents Council.

Attention Out-of-Town Parents

The Parents Association partners with 13 local hotels to offer discounts to members anytime they visit campus or Knoxville. Now through July 31, the Hilton, Downtown is offering gift certificates for sale at a cost of $50 plus tax for a one night stay (for new reservations only and based on availability at the time of making a reservation). Contact Tracy O'Connor at [log in to unmask] for more information on this limited-time opportunity. Click here for more information about our hotel partners.

Single-Game Football Tickets on Sale Now

Single-game home and away football tickets (excluding the UT vs. Florida game and the UT vs. Alabama game) are now on sale. Mini plans (which include tickets to the Florida or Alabama games) are also on sale. Take advantage of this great opportunity to cheer on the Vols throughout the 2012 football season! Click here for more information.

Voting for Students

In this election year, our staff is beginning to receive questions from parents about voting options for students this fall. Students will need to vote by absentee ballot or participate in early voting. Click here for more information on how your student can obtain an absentee ballot. Students will need to click on their home state for information on receiving an absentee ballot. Click here for more information on early voting rules.

Football Season Opener in Atlanta

The 2012 football season is quickly approaching and we are ready to cheer on our Vols! The first game of the season will be August 31 against NC State in Atlanta, GA. Students can continue to purchase tickets for this game through August 10. Tickets are available at a discounted price of $35 for students. Upon purchase, students will receive a voucher through Big Orange Tix. Students will need to exchange the voucher for an actual ticket at the Central Ticket Office in the University Center in late August. Group seating is available for students who come to the Central Ticket Office together. The purchaser of the ticket(s) must come to the Central Ticket Office to pick up his/her ticket(s). Encourage your student to click here to reserve his or her ticket to the opening game. Click here to view the 2012 Football schedule.

Additionally, the Center for Leadership & Service is planning a half-day service event for students in Atlanta on the morning of August 31. Students who want to participate in this event can find more information here.

MAP Symposium

The Minority Achievement Program and the Office of Multicultural Student Life will host the annual Minority Student Symposium on August 17-19. This event is designed to support first-year students and introduce them to campus life at UT! The deadline for registration is July 31, at 5:00 PM and spots will fill quickly. To receive more information, contact the Office of Multicultural Student Life at (865) 974-6861. Click here to access the application.

Hire-A-VOL Update

Career Services provides students with Hire-A-VOL, an online database that allows them to search through job and internship opportunities. Hire-A-VOL has been updated so that students can now register for the database through MyUTK. The link to the Hire-A-VOL database can be found under 'UTK Student Academic Links - Hire-A-VOL eRecruitment'. Students (even those who were previously registered in Hire-A-VOL) will need to log in and complete the Profile section and upload a current resume to begin searching for job and internship opportunities. For more information on Hire-A-VOL click here.

Welcome Week Activities

Welcome Week is an exciting time for all students. It welcomes both incoming and returning students to the University by providing fun activities and events before the semester begins. Events range from the Big Day Out service event for all students, the Karibu Tena Welcome Back Celebration, First Day Free play hosted by the UC Down Under and a lot more. Some events are intended for incoming students and others are available all UT students. Click here to learn more and register for Welcome Week events.

The Rock Temporarily Fenced During Construction

The large boulder coined "the Rock" is located on the corner of Pat Head Summitt Street and Volunteer Blvd, and allows students to artistically exercise their freedom of speech. Painting the Rock has become a popular UT tradition that allows students to the opportunity to promote philanthropic and social events or simply encourage our athletics with a 'Go Vols' message. Currently, the Rock has been temporarily cordoned off due to construction of the Natalie Haslam Music Center. It expected to be re-opened for use by students in mid-August. Click here for more information.

Important Dates

August 1: Fall 2012 Fees Available on MyUTK

August 7: Full and Second Session Summer Classes End

August 7: Spring 2013 Graduation Application Deadline for Students

August 9: Fall 2012 VolXpress E-statements Available

August 15: Second and Full Session Summer Grades Available

August 17-19: Move-in Weekend

August 18: Big Orange Goodbye - Dinner with the Deans

August 18-26: Welcome Week Activities

August 22: Fall 2012 Classes Begin

September 3: Labor Day (No Classes)

September 21-23: Fall Family Weekend