July 11, 2012

New Parents Association Website

The Parents Association website is our way of providing you with convenient access to information from our office and campus. We have recently completed an entire redesign of the Parents Association website. Click here to visit the new site.

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. Registration for this event will begin on August 1, as a part of Family Weekend Registration. Click here for more information.

Fall Family Weekend Registration is Three Weeks Away

We are excited to welcome all of our families to join us on campus September 21-23 for Fall Family Weekend! Come visit your student on campus and enjoy a street fair, live concert, tours of the newest campus buildings, Silent Auction, the Big Orange Tailgate in Circle Park, and the UT vs. Akron Football game among other fun events and activities! Registration for Fall Family Weekend begins August 1, for all members. We encourage you to register early! Click here for more information.

Ten 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 about 2012 Summer Send-Offs.

FERPA and Online Privacy Releases

Our staff continues to receive questions from parents regarding the release of student information to third parties under the regulations outlined by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 or FERPA.

There are two main online forms which your student must complete in order to release information protected by FERPA: The FERPA online release for financial records (adding an Authorized User) and the FERPA online release for academic records. Both forms can be accessed by your student via his or her MyUTK Portal. The release for financial records can be found under the "View/Pay Fees" section of MyUTK. The release for academic records can be found under the "Academic Links" section. Both online forms must be completed by your student. Click here for more information.

Family Weekend Silent Auction

The Family Weekend Silent Auction is only two months away, and we need your help to make it the best it can be! Since 2009, the annual event has raised more than $35,000 to support the Parents & Families Fund! We depend on parents just like you to collect and donate items throughout the year to support the auction. These items can be anything from vacation getaways to themed baskets to jewelry and sports memorabilia. Nothing is too big or too small! For more information on the Silent Auction, please visit http://parents.utk.edu/weekend/auction. If you have any ideas or items for the auction, please simply reply to this email. Thank you for helping make the Silent Auction a huge success!

Tuition and Fees Updates

Many parents have contacted our office asking about the exact costs for the 2012-2013 academic year. Full-time in-state student tuition for this upcoming academic year (including student fees) is set for $4,546 per semester, out-of-state tuition and fees are $13,791 per semester. The cost may vary depending on your student's academic major. The Bursar's Office provides a summary of student fees here.

Housing fees also vary based on the residence hall that your student selects. Housing fees can range from $2,545 per semester for a room in Presidential Court to $5,498 per semester for a single room in Laurel Hall (which is limited to upperclassmen only). University Housing offers a list of the rates for all residence halls here.

There are a variety of meal plans that your student can choose from to best fit his/her eating habits. There are three different types of meals plans depending on whether your student lives in a residence hall or is a commuter. Rates for students living on campus range from $1,566 to $1,801 per semester. Visit www.utdining.com and click on "Meal Plans" for more information.

These charges, depending on your student's major and living/dining selections, will be reflected on your student's fall 2012 VOLXpress e-statement which will be available in August.

Conversations to Have with Your Student:
The Importance of Time Management

Time management can be a difficult skill to master! Encourage your student to plan ahead by using a day planner to keep up with all important dates and deadlines that he/she may receive via the course syllabus at the beginning of the semester. Also, encourage your student to not procrastinate. Procrastination can not only result in poor work quality, but it also adds unnecessary stress to an already vigorous workload. Finally, encourage your student to work at a pace they are comfortable with. This may include taking morning classes or not becoming overly involved in extracurricular activities - although involvement outside the classroom is a great way to help your student succeed!

Accessible Banking Options for Students

With the construction of the new Student Union, the ATMs that were outside of the University Center on the 'money wall' have been either relocated or temporarily displaced. There are several options on and near campus to provide students with convenient banking. Below is a list of banking options on campus.

• First Floor of the University Center: UT Federal Credit Union offers a full-service branch located in the University Center. Additionally, ATMs include Bank of America, First Tennessee Bank, SunTrust, and UT Federal Credit Union
• Outside of Volunteer Hall: unaffiliated ATM that will soon be operated by SunTrust
• Presidential Court Building: First Tennessee Bank ATM
• Agricultural Campus: UT Federal Credit Union ATM
• Thompson-Boling Arena: UT Federal Credit Union ATM
• UT Conference Center: UT Federal Credit Union ATM

There are also numerous banking options on Cumberland Avenue (the "Strip"), as well as in downtown Knoxville.

Lofts, Carpet, & Linens for Campus Residence Halls

Loft rentals for beds in residence halls are available for students living in Humes, South Carrick, North Carrick and Reese halls. If your student would like to loft his or her bed, call 888-929-0806 for more information, or click here to visit their website. Students can also purchase carpet and/or bed linens for their residence hall room. Click here for more information about carpet sales, and here for more information about linen sales. Please direct any questions to University Housing at (865) 974-2571.

2012-2013 Student Parking Permits

Parking permits are now available for UT students. This year, students can charge UT parking permits to their VOLXpress account. Click here to purchase a permit. Beginning August 6, students can purchase parking permits at the Parking & Transit Services offices located in the University Center and on Stephenson Drive. Click here for more information.

FYS 100: The Volunteer Connection and Life of the Mind Summer Update

With summer orientation sessions coming to a close, we are excited to welcome The Class of 2016 to the University of Tennessee this fall! Prior to arriving on campus, all first-year students participate in FYS 100, an online course that includes the Life of the Mind common reading program. The course requires students to read Eric Liu's The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker prior to the beginning of the fall semester, attend the author's lecture on August 21, participate in a small group discussion, and submit a creative response related to the themes presented in the book. Click here or call (865) 974-3523 for more information on First Year Studies 100 and the Life of the Mind Program.

Notes from the Chancellor

In the latest Notes from the Chancellor, Chancellor Jimmy G. Cheek announces the University's new tuition model 'Take 15, Graduate in 4' which will begin with students entering Fall 2013 to encourage students to graduate in 4 years. The Chancellor also mentions many of the upcoming projects and endeavors that UT students should anticipate. To view the July Notes from the Chancellor, click here.

Important Dates

July 11: First Session Summer Grades Available

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 22: Fall 2012 Classes Begin

September 3: Labor Day (No Classes)

September 21-23: Fall Family Weekend