Parents & Family Resources
January 2006 Monthly Email
Happy January and Happy Sending Your Student Back to Colorado State University!
During the fall it always feels like Winter Break is never going to get here and yet, it is January already and I'm sure many of you now believe that four weeks is a bit too LONG for a semester break. You and your students made it through however, and we hope that there were some nice, relaxing times spent together laughing, talking, and making memories (we also acknowledge there may have been some other times spent not together, not talking, or making memories that you'd like to forget as well!).
This email brings news highlighting the Career Center, a reminder and information about filling out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), an attached brochure outlining the numerous tutoring services available on campus, and updates on other services to help your students be successful this spring semester.
- The first attachment is an article written by Whitney Eschenbaum, a senior student graduating in May with a double major in Creative Writing and Marketing, currently serving as a Career Peer Advisor at Colorado State. Whitney's involvement in the Career Center has certainly complimented her academic work in the classroom, as her article focuses on advice to parents and family members of first-year students. This should be required reading for all students and their families!
- Beginning in October through the end of May, I typically receive a number of phone calls and emails from parents and family members worried about their students' academic skills and inquiring about available tutoring and other academic resources. Each year, the Academic Advancement Center compiles all of these types of resources to publish a great brochure called the Directory of Tutoring Services, which is attached to this email. Your students also have access to this information, but I know that parents & families value this information in order to assist their students in finding appropriate help. We often repeat the statement that it isn't the dumb students who seek tutoring and academic support, it's the SMART students! They are the ones who understand that study groups and tutoring can greatly improve success in note-taking, studying, test-taking, essays, and other class work.
- You and your students have already had practice filling out the FAFSA from last year, but it is important to remember that this is a yearly task, usually completed between January-March. Until regulations change, most colleges and universities disburse financial aid on a first-come, first-served basis. Therefore, it is to your advantage to fill out your FAFSA soon. According to the U.S. Department of Education, "students who send in their FAFSA form before March are almost twice as likely to receive aid from their state and their institution" ("Your homework: Apply for FAFSA", Coloradoan, January, 2006). The FAFSA determines whether a student qualifies for federal aid, such as scholarships, grants and low-cost student loans. The deadline for the 2006-2007academic year is July 2, 2007. The FAFSA is available online at www.fafsa.ed.gov.
- The last attachment is a sheet with a variety of information focused on student services that may be particularly helpful to review during the month of January, including everything from housing for the next year to our Alternative Spring Break program, becoming a part of the Parent & Family Advisory Council to donating to the Parents Fund that supports ongoing initiatives that enrich the lives of our student community.
- Each month, the Campus of Character Council highlights two character traits in an effort to help students, faculty, staff, and community members on their journey of character development. This month we are celebrating the character traits of Responsibility and Reflectiveness, acknowledging that we all must take responsibility for our own actions as well as work toward eliminating racism, discrimination, and disrespectful actions against others and ourselves. We must reflect on our past in order to move on to the future, learning from our mistakes and honoring those who have come before us. Ask your students about these two traits and how they choose to engage in actions and thoughts to become better citizens of the world. Check out the Campus of Character Website at www.campusofcharacter.colostate.edu to learn more about this initiative and the monthly character traits celebrated by the Colorado State University community.
As always, I end with a sincere thank you for sharing your students with the communities of Colorado State University and Fort Collins. Your students help make this community a terrific place to study, live, and work.
Take care,
Jody Donovan, Director
Student Transitions and Parent & Family Programs
Colorado State University
201 Administration Building
Fort Collins, CO 80526
(970) 491-5312