Enjoy the 3-Day weekend but come back for.........Family Weekend!

We know that you are all excited to go home for the 3-day weekend but while you’re home, remind your family that they can come up next weekend for Family Weekend!

Who: You and your family! 

When: September 6-8 

Where: UNI

There are plenty of events going on throughout campus including but not limited to:

Breakfast with TC and TK
Family Feast Tailgate
Open Houses
Planetarium Shows
WRC Open for Families

And…..UNI Football vs. Drake at 4:00 p.m. in the UNIDome! Check out everything going on here!

From High School to College: Homework

High school teachers tend to assign daily homework and check on the progress of assignments - helping students stay accountable and on-top of their work.

College instructors expect that you know how to prioritize your time, knowing when and how to complete assignments. Instructors are available for questions, but they will not necessarily assign parts of a larger project or even tell you when you should begin your work. Professors expect you to read, save, and consult the course syllabus (outline) - the syllabus spells out exactly what is expected of you, when it is due, and how you will be graded.

Do your homework!  It is a great and easy way to build your understanding of the subject.  If you have difficulties, go ask for assistance from your instructor or use any of the academic success resources on campus.

Finally, know that extra-credit is rare in most college courses!  So wheather it is your homework, a project, or a test...try to do it right from the first.  Most professors will expect that you will pass or fail the course based solely on the stated requirements. You get what you earn!

From High School to College: Academic Expectations

 

Almost all students experience a significant jump in the academic expectations from high school classes to college courses. 

In high school... 

good grades can often be obtained with minimum effort. Especially for bright students who discover, many students can attend class, pay attention and earn high grades with out studying, preparing or doing reading assignments. 

In college...

academic expectations are high and minimum effort usually results in poor grades. Final grades are usually the result of a handful of tests, instead of the accumulation of many points across assignments, activities, quizzes, tests and extra credit.   

 

From High School to College: Contact with Faculty and Staff

In high school, teacher student contact is consistent as classes typically meet five times a week. Teachers tend to be accessible and close to the student experience.

In college, classes meet less often (typically a Monday, Wednesday, Friday class, a Tuesday, Thursday class, or a night class meeting once a week), so instructor-student contact is less frequent. Faculty members hold office hours throughout the week for students to utilize, but tend to be less accessible than in the high school setting.

Outside of the classroom, see your academic advisor with any questions or information needs that you have...and do so early in the semester!

Be assertive and proactive in your contact and connections with faculty and staff on campus.

 

Moving In: Unofficial Packing List

 

Top 25 things that are forgotten:

1. Power strip with surge protection

2. Internet cord / cable cord for the TV

3. Batteries – sizes AA and AAA are the most useful, check to see what is needed for remotes, alarm clocks and other electronics that you are bringing with you!

4. Earplugs – people can be loud on those long nights that you are cramming for that final after the library has already closed! Some campuses can also have construction project going on through that night that can get noisy!

5. Light bulbs

6. Social attire (think little black dresses and purple and gold ties)

7. Themed Attire – Many organizations can have themed fiestas, think 80’s, pirate, hippy, – don’t throw away those old Halloween costumes!

8. Rain boots / Umbrella

9. Shower shoes

10. Flashlights / Reading light– Those late nights that your roommate is sleeping and you are still up studying or reading a book light can come in handy!

11. Duct Tape

12. Tool Kit

13. Stapler

14. Air fresheners

15. Cleaning supplies – Think Windex, a carpet cleaner, goo-gone and paper towels! Not to mention your tide to go pens and bleach sticks for your laundry kit!

16. Vacuum/ Broom –keeping your room clean is important, it will keep you healthy all year long!

17. Coffee pot

18. Dishes / Silverware – sometimes for practicality you should buy paper plates and plastic silverware because you are probably not going to have a dish washer handy and you don’t want to let messy dishes pile up in your room!

19. Ziploc Bags

20. Rolls of quarters for the washer/dryers

21. Mattress Pad – the dorm room mattresses can be comfortable, don’t fool yourself and think that they will be ok to sleep on! Get a mattress pad to add comfort, the ticker, the better! Remember a good night sleep is the best thing before a big exam!

22. Chair Cushion – most of the desk chairs that you will get are wooden and very hard to sit in and study, bring a cushion that you can use when you will be sitting to keep your hiney from going numb!

23. Fan - Even if your dorm has air conditioning bringing a fan for noise at night can help to drown out other people making a racket while you are trying to sleep!

24. Games – Catch Phrase, Bananagrams, and playing cards are some favorites - just watch out for those English majors in Bananagrams!

From High School to College: Academic Responsibility

In high school, teachers utilize class time to tell students exactly what they need to do keep on track with their studies. For example, they will say "Read Chapter 3" or "Don't forget to study for our quiz tomorrow."

In college, you will be given a syllabus outlining topics, assignments grading and due dates for the entire semester. You are responsible for keeping up with the expectations and guidelines in the syllabus.

Consider these "traits" of a typcial college professor:

• Professors may not always check completed homework, but they will assume you can perform the same tasks on tests
• Professors may not remind you of due dates or incomplete work
• Professors are usually open and helpful, but most expect you to initiate contact if you need assistance.
• Professors expect and want you to attend their scheduled office hours.
• Professors expect you to get from classmates any notes from classes you missed.

If you have a problem, are falling behind, or have questions, it is your responsibility to get help. Do not delay! You will be further behind and at the end of the semester it is too late.

From High School to College: Personal Responsibility

Take personal responsibility to be both mentally and physically healthy and well:

• Eat Right - be sure you eat meals regularly and your diet is well balanced
• Get Plenty of Sleep - sleep needs vary by individual, but usually 7-8 hours is typical
• Exercise Regularly - the recommendation usually is to exercise at least 3 times a week for at least 20 minutes.
• Take Time to Relax - relieves the tension and stress.
• Learn to Manage Your Time - plan and follow a daily schedule that includes priority time for classes, studying and assignments, exam preparation, meals, exercise, a job, and social activities.
• Assert Yourself - Be proactive in your education, your involvement / activities, as well as with meeting others and making friends on campus.
• Create a Budget - your income must equal or exceed your expenses.
• Get Involved - participate in clubs and organizations, campus events, intramural, and religious groups.
• Learn and Practice Good Study Habits - such as setting goals; learning effective reading, note taking, and test taking strategies; attending classes, completing assignments on time; and organizing your study area.
• Learn About and Use Campus Resources That Can Help You - college counselors and advisors, health services, faculty, study skills assistance programs, tutors, local clergy, and other campus professionals.

(adapted from College Prep 101 at Oklahoma State University, http://frontpage.okstate.edu/coe/cp101/Personal%20Responsibility.htm)

From High School to College: Structure

In high school, many of you were involved in sports, extra curricular activities, or working/volunteering in the community. But these distractions from school work were often closely monitored by others. Things like curfews, practice hours, and daily schedules were set up in a structured way to help you succeed personally and academically.

College will have it's own opportunities and you should look to get involved, work a part-time job, or engage in volunteer work. However, you are free to choose what you want to do - and get as much or little as involved as you wish.

When it comes to time and schedule, consider these ideas about your college experience:

• You often have time between classes; scheduled class times vary throughout the day and evening
• You spend only 12 to 16 hours each week in class
• The academic year is divided into two separate 16-week semesters including a final exam week (not including summer school)
• You arrange your own schedule in consultation with your academic advisor. Schedules tend to look lighter than they really are.

Time management is a survival skill that is essential for being successful in college!  You want to have balance instead of finding that you have too much nor not enought free time!

From High School to College: Freedom

 

High school came with many boundaries set and enforced by teachers, counselors, parents and administration. Many students relied on their parents to provide for them and often make decisions for them.

College enlists new found freedom, both in the classroom and in personal life. You will need to learn to make responsible decision based on your own thinking.

College is a great place for you to learn the balance of independence - how to prioritize, manage your time and money, and deal with (and solve) new conflicts, problems and situations. You keep track of yourself!  Because of laws protecting your privacy (FERPA), parents will often not be contacted about your situation.  Many people and resources are available on campus for support - you have to take the initiative to seek them out.

 

College is also a place for your intellectual freedom!  You can pursue what you want to learn! You have so much knowledge and diversity of thought on campus. Your professors are paid to be intellectuals, so they encourage questions and freedom of thought.
 

College is full of freedoms and apportunities! It's an awesome feeling to graduate with the confidence knowing that you have taken every opportunity to learn as well as develop maturity and professional skills so you are ready to take on the next big step in life.  Just remember...with increased freedom comes increased responsiblity!

From High School to College - Introduction

As you are preparing yourself to come to campus in the fall, you may feel a bit overwhelmed and uneasy. Asking yourself What's it going to be like? What should I expect? Will I be able to do it? What are the classes going to be like? Who is going to help me?

After reminding yourself that your questions and emotions are the same as every other college freshman, you should begin to prepare yourself for the reality that college is and will be fundamentally different that high school. Just as elementary school was different from junior high, and junior high different than high school, college will place new and higher (but not out of reach) expectations on you.

To help you make your transition from high school to college successful and satisfying, this "From High School to College" series of posts over the coming weeks will help you understand and prepare for the changes...and adapt to the new culture, climate and living conditions you will encourage when you arrive at UNI.

And your favorite Advising Group picture from Summer 2013 is...

Picture 3 - Group B June 13 & 14, 2013!!

 

Congratulations to this advising group by earning 29% of the votes!

 

 

Also in contention for this honor....

 

Picture 5 - Group P June 20 & 21, 2013 with 17% of the votes.

 

Picture 9 - Group E July 11 & 12, 2013 and Picture 2 - Group K June 10 & 11, 2013 each with 14% share of the votes.