A message from UTSA Vice President for Student Affairs - Dr. Gage E. Paine
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It’s official. The semester is over. This past weekend we graduated over 3,000 students in five commencement ceremonies. Campus is weirdly quiet this week. Next week, most offices will be closed, others will be open reduced hours and then in two short weeks, the spring semester begins. In the interim, ‘our’ UTSA students will once again be at home being ‘your kids.’ They’ll be looking forward to sleeping - a lot, to eating some of their favorite foods, seeing old friends, and living the same schedule they’ve gotten used to over the past few months. Of course, this schedule is not necessarily one that works for the rest of the family!
There often are adjustment issues for everyone during the semester break, especially if your student has been living on campus and is now home for an extended stay. If your student is past the freshman year, you have already experienced this, but it can be different each time. And for ‘freshman families,’ it can be particularly challenging, because parents and students often have very different expectations about behaviors. Even if your student is living at home, the changed rhythms of their schedule can be difficult.
Over the break, they really will want to sleep a lot. It has been a stressful time, especially the last few weeks. They will want to see old friends, perhaps more than family. You’ll expect them to follow family rules and they won’t understand why. All of these headaches are possible. In addition to the list of tips listed below, which all come down to communication and we all know we need to do more of that, I have another suggestion. Find time for storytelling.
While it’s true that some of these headaches are about varied expectations and failure to communicate, I think there is another, often overlooked, reason for the bumps and bruises. Your student’s life has changed significantly and living at home or living away for the first time, they have moved out into the world and family members haven’t been part of all of it. And students have missed out on some parts of the family life. So you need to catch up. You need to hear each other’s stories.
A colleague of mine has a method she uses for getting people to tell stories. Not only is it a tradition at her family dinner table, she asks these questions of groups of student or staff members. I think it’s a wonderful idea, so I’m sharing it with you. She asks everyone in the group to tell the High point of the day, the Low point of the day and the Aha! (something learned) of the day. So, instead of talking about grades first thing, perhaps you might ask your student to tell you about the High, the Low and the Aha! of the past semester. Instead of asking how it worked with the roommate, you might ask the best thing about having a roommate, the worst thing and about something learned from the roommate. You get the idea. And you do the same, because your stories are an important part of this conversation.
Sean Stewart wrote in Perfect Circle, “There are so many different ways lives work out, so many stories, and everyone of them is precious: full of joy and heartbreak, and a fair amount of situation comedy”. I know you want to hear it all. So whether you use this suggestion or find some other way to start the conversation, I encourage you all to find time to tell stories to each other during this semester break and revel in the richness of the experiences that your student has had these past few months.
Enjoy,
Gage Paine
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Beyond Sleeping In: Tips for Your Student on How to Spend the Holiday Break
For most UTSA freshmen, the next month will be their first extended stay home since stepping onto campus in August. They have spent the fall semester studying on their own schedule, setting their own curfews, and doing their own laundry (well, sometimes). Karen Coburn, author of Letting Go: A Parents Guide to Understanding the College Years, offers advice on how to address potential conflicts before they arise. Coburn's tips include:
- If there are siblings at home, the family has to reconfigure.
- Don't be surprised if time is a potentially explosive topic.
- Refrain from doing everything for your student.
To learn more about these and other tips, check out Neil Schoenherr's article, When college kids come home for the winter break, stress and tension can mount.
Sleeping in past noon is a top priority for many college students home for the holidays. And as important as sleep is, your student has so many other activities they can choose from that he or she might have kept on the back burner throughout the fall. Below are a few suggestions from Lisa Johns, Director of Learning Assistance and Assessment at the Tomás Rivera Center for Student Success at UTSA, to give your student over the next few weeks.
Read for fun Between classes, student organizations, and a part-time job, you might not have the time to dive into a book that is not assigned by a professor. So whether it is starting a book given to you as a gift or picking up your favorite Harry Potter installment for the third time, reading for pleasure will help students keep up a good habit while having fun.
Get organized...from the fall and for the spring Take the piles you've accumulated over the fall semester and sort it all out so you know exactly where everything is. Then, get ready for the spring by collecting course materials, a new planner if your's isn't on an academic year, and buying textbooks.
Volunteer in your community Reconnect with your community by volunteering in your hometown. The holidays are the perfect time of year to lend a hand by serving meals at a shelter, gift wrapping at a toy drive, or decorating at a retirement village. The boost to your resume, service hours, and community ties is an added bonus.
Find a seasonal job Bought a few too many cappucinos at the JPL and now a little low on cash? Many retailers hire seasonal staff for the holiday rush - a perfect fit for college students home for 3-4 weeks.
Do something you enjoy It might be odd to look at your student planner and see days lined up without one class or appointment. Capitalize on this phenomenon by spending time with family or friends, doing hobbies, or working out. These priorities need some time at the top of your list!
Rest up for the semester ahead SLEEP IN!!! Start the spring on the right foot by taking care of yourself and taking the time you need to feel recharged and refreshed for the new semester.
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Sports Illustrated Features Video on UTSA's Inaugural Football Season
Earlier this month, Sports Illustrated posted a video report on UTSA’s football team, documenting the process of starting a Division 1 football program in Texas from scratch. The interviews with players, coaches, and administrators provide great insight from the initial stages of development through the Roadrunner’s final game of their inaugural season, a 49-7 win over Minot State.
Sports Illustrated’s The Birth of a College Football Program
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Business Students Donate $1 million in Services to Small Businesses
Accounting students at The University of Texas at San Antonio College of Business spent the semester putting their accounting skills to practice while also serving the local small business community. The Accounting Practicum course, taught by Dr. Gary Bridges, allows students to gain hands-on experience in the accounting industry and focuses on the importance of service learning to the community.
Since the program’s inception in 2008, students have completed 10,000 hours of community serviceamounting to $1 million in services provided to small business clients.
"I’m glad to be able to be a part of this program,” said Judy Lopez, a senior majoring in accounting. “I know now that I want to continue to help small businesses with their financial needs. I am a strong believer of people helping other people.”
Lopez’ client, Oscar Garcia of Global Highway, a freight transportation brokerage, credits the program for helping his business survive rough economic times. “Their knowledge of accounting was so helpful for us. Judy was instrumental in improving our payroll processes and building spreadsheets. I’d recommend this for any small business,” Garcia said.
The Department of Accounting has over 600 students enrolled in bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral accounting programs. The department maintains separate accreditation by AACSB International, one of only 70 programs in the nation accredited through the doctoral level.
Read Wendy Frost’s article in its entirety on the College of Business Current News website.
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Family Association Updates
UTSA would like to thank Family Association members for their generous gifts to the Family Fund in 2011. Your donations, totaling nearly $25,000, go directly to programs and services that benefit your students. From community service during Alternative Spring Break to alcohol awareness at Rowdy Wing Fling to business suits for students at the Career Closet, the Roadrunner experience is enriched because of you!
Enjoy time with your student over the holiday break, and we look forward to seeing your students in the spring!
Jeff Mayo
Associate Director
Orientation and Family Programs
jeff.mayo@utsa.edu
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Upcoming Events & Volunteer Opportunities
Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday - January 16
Spring Semester Begins - January 17
Census Date - February 1
Last day to withdraw from a class without a “W” recorded on your transcript.
Spring 2012 All Majors Career Fair - February 9
Hosted by the University Career Center, this fair is designed for students of all majors and career goals to network and meet employers.
Flat Rock Mountain Biking - February 24
Join the Outdoor Pursuits team, and head to Comfort, TX to enjoy mountain biking at Flat Rock Ranch.