Parents & Families E-Newsletter - August 2012
Dear Parents and Families,
Campus is coming alive again as new and returning students arrive to
begin the academic year. The Purdue community is happy to welcome them; their enthusiasm and energy are inspiring.
As a parent myself, I understand what an exciting time of year this is for students and families, but it can also be a stressful time, with so much information to absorb and so many details to remember. This newsletter will provide you with valuable information and resources to make the transition easier.
We take student success very seriously at Purdue, and we work hard to provide activities and resources to make your student feel welcome on campus. I hope you will make the most of these.
You have great reason to be proud that your student has chosen Purdue - one of the top universities in the world - for his or her college career. This choice will impact so many things to come, and the opportunities that lay ahead are endless.
New and returning students will find many choices, new ideas and opportunities for personal growth here on campus. Your support as parents and family members will be an essential part of their success. With that in mind, we've included in this newsletter many of the exciting things happening around campus and resources available on our website, so that you can keep up with your student throughout the semester.
It is never easy to say goodbye, but you can rest assured your student will find a supportive, nurturing environment at Purdue. We'll be with them every step of the way, and we look forward to watching them grow into the scholars, thinkers and dreamers who will lead tomorrow.
Timothy D. Sands
Acting President
Administrative Announcements
Gov. Mitch Daniels appointed Purdue’s president, Tim Sands named acting
The Purdue Board of Trustees unanimously selected Indiana Gov. Mitchell E. Daniels Jr. to be the university's 12th president on June 21. Daniels will start in January at the conclusion of his second term as governor. To ensure continuity of leadership, Purdue's Provost Tim Sands is serving the University as acting president until Daniels takes the helm in January.
About Acting President Tim Sands
About President-elect Mitch Daniels
Administrators discuss policies in place to report suspected child and sexual abuse
The same day (July 23) that the NCAA released penalties imposed on Penn State due to its sexual abuse scandal and subsequent handling of the matter as detailed in the Freeh Report. Purdue administrators discussed with its employees the prevention provisions in place at the University. These include:
- An online training program that teaches how to identify, prevent and respond to sexual misconduct in various educational settings.
- Background checks on all new employees. A similar, interim process has been implemented for volunteers.
- A Whistleblower hotline (866-818-2620) where any potential criminal activity can be reported anonymously..
Acting President Timothy Sands has indicated that the University is reviewing the Freeh Report and its recommendations to learn from the Penn State incident. More info.
Financial aid undergoes changes for 2012-13
A number of changes to financial aid at both the state and federal levels are in effect for the 2012-13 academic year. A summary chart of these changes is available on Purdue’s Division of Financial Aid website.
Fall registration requires steps to complete
Students are being reminded of steps they need to complete for fall semester registration, including:
1. Confirm enrollment via myPurdue and check registration status at least 10 days prior to the first day of class. Note: Even students whose bill is covered in full with financial aid must confirm enrollment each semester.
Step-by-step instructions for STUDENTS to confirm registration.
- Log-in to their myPurdue account
- Select the "Financial" tab.
- Click on "Registration Status/Enrollment Confirmation."
- Review the output. If any items are in red, further action is required (make sure to pay by the due date
- Arrange for payment plans if needed for fall tuition/fees
2. Pay tuition and fees by Aug. 20. University tuition, fees and housing must be paid in full or enrolled in an installment plan by this date.
Family members making payments on behalf of students should check with their student to make sure they have signed them up as an authorized user for their myPurdue account. Authorized users receive University eBills and have access to review detailed account information, make payments and enroll in the installment plan options. Students can grant their parent/guardian access to review and pay their bills online through the MyPurdue portal. View the Step-by-step instructions for STUDENTS to provide authorization.
Students and/or authorized users may select an installment payment plan to ease the burden of making one large payment for tuition, fees and on-campus housing. The net balance due for tuition, fees and on-campus housing is divided into four payments, including the down payment, which is due by Aug. 20. A small monthly interest charge is added to the remaining balance, but is rebated upon early repayment. For more information, call 765-494-3257 or review this option with your student on their myPurdue account.
Note: Excess financial aid refunds will become available no earlier than one week prior to the start of classes. To ensure the earliest refund, students should:
- Complete all financial aid requirements listed on myPurdue
- Register for 12 or more credit hours (unless financial aid eligibility was modified for part-time enrollment)
- Confirm fall 2012 enrollment
Quick Tip:
Students can expedite refunds of excess financial aid by authorizing direct deposit. Simply select ‘Manage My Account’ under the ‘financial’ tab on the myPurdue portal, and follow the links to set up a refund profile.
Questions:
Contact the Bursar's Office by phone 765-494-7570 or by email askbursar@purdue.edu
University Residence Halls provides dates to remember
Be sure to mark your calendar with the following dates if you have a student living in University Residence Halls this year:- Saturday, August 11- Sunday, August 12: BGR Move-In
- Saturday, August 11- Thursday, August 16: Early arrival for returning students and students not attending BGR (additional housing fee/day; meals can be purchased at dining courts)
- Friday, August 17: Housing contract begins along with first contracted meal of breakfast
- Saturday, September 29: University Residences Parent Association FREE tailgate tent on the front lawn of Owen Hall
- Saturday, October 13: University Residences Parent Association FREE tailgate tent on the front lawn of Owen Hall
- Wednesday, November 21- Friday, November 23: Thanksgiving break (dining courts closed)
News and Events
Purdue launches spirit campaign for fall football
Boilermaker fans have countless ways to show their Purdue pride and support. The recently launched Boilermaker Depot website is a one-stop resource for all game-week activities and spirit initiatives, including:
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The community-wide SpiritMakers contest
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Raising of the Purdue flag: Boilermaker fans near and far will show their unity this fall by flying or displaying a Purdue flag through Sept. 1, and then on the Friday and Saturday of every home game weekend.
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Fan Experience Activities: Boilermaker Bridge Walks, Pep Rallies, StreetFest, Football Kickoff Luncheon, Tailgate Contests, etc.
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Other on-campus events, including arts and entertainment and distinguished guest speakers.
Visit www.boilermakerdepot.com to find out more about the activities and events you can take part in with your student.
Family Day slated for Sept. 29
Purdue faculty and staff (and students) hope to see families back on campus for the annual Family Day event Saturday, Sept. 29. The day starts with a hearty pancake breakfast. Families will then have the opportunity to meet faculty and staff from the students' college/school, cheer the Boilermaker football team to a victory over Marshall University, and enjoy a musical performance by local artists at the Boilermaker BBQ following the game. Union Rack and Roll will offer special rates for Xtreme bowling and billiards from 6-8 p.m.
For more information, visit the Purdue Student Union Board website and click on the Family Day 2012 banner image.
Boiler Bytes #25 available for viewing online
The Purdue Glee Club, nano science outreach, Big Ten champion long jumper Leah Eber and engineering in the theatre are the topics of the July 2012 edition of “Boiler Bytes,” which aired on the Big Ten network. All segments are now available for viewing on the Boiler Bytes website. Below is a description and link to each segment.
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Art and technology in the theatre:
Two Purdue engineering students serve up the fright in Purdue Theatre's ghostly production of the Noel Coward play "Blithe Spirit" as part of their spring semester studies. -
Exploring nano-scale science:
At Purdue's Discovery Park, students from around the state of Indiana learned all about the "science of the very small" during the park's annual NanoDays outreach celebration. -
100+ years of the Glee Club:
The Purdue Varsity Glee Club shares the many traditions that have bonded members throughout its history. -
Champion long jumper Leah Eber:
Purdue student-athlete Leah Eber leads both on the field and on the runway as a Big Ten champion long jumper and an apparel design and technology major.
RSC slated to open this fall with new name
The Recreational Sports Center’s renovation and expansion project is nearly complete, and the facility will open its doors for student workouts this fall. The 53-year-old facility underwent a two-year, $98 million improvement to re-invent the RSC as a contemporary student fitness and wellness center. In addition, Purdue's Board of Trustees recently approved the renaming of the building the France A. Córdova Recreational Sports Center in honor of the University's most recent president. To view the progress, visit the RSC Renovation website.
New center dedicated to student excellence, leadership
A new student-centered facility dedicated to encouraging student excellence and leadership is slated to open late 2013 or early 2014. Named the Center for Student Excellence and Leadership (CSEL), the facility will be constructed on Vawter Field at the corner of Jischke Drive and Third Street, just across the street from the Recreational Sports center.
A $10 million donation from an anonymous donor was announced this spring and will be used as a one-to-one match to generate a total of $20 million to construct and support the $30 million center. This match also will provide an incentive to invest an additional $8 million in deferred gifts toward an endowment to support the facility's long-term maintenance and operating costs.
Purdue Intercollegiate Athletics is a key partner in this project, contributing $12 million over six years through Big Ten Network revenue toward the facility's total cost. Features of the four-story building include:
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First floor, “The Main Street”
The public space will serve as a place between work and home for faculty, staff and students to meet and interact. Students will have access to an e-community where they can plug in and utilize a one-stop-shop for students seeking assistance in their academic or co-curricular activities. -
Second floor, “Student Organization Hub”
The second floor will provide individual office space and community work areas for student organizations. -
Third floor, “Student Organization Support Services”
The third floor will house services, such as Student Leadership Development, Boiler Volunteer Network, Student Activities and Organizations, and the business office for student organizations. - Fourth floor, “Academic Success Hallway”
The fourth floor will include office space for the Student Access, Transition and Success (SATS) and HORIZONS programs.
Student Support Services
Purdue Police offer campus safeguards for students
The Greater Lafayette and Purdue community is nationally recognized as a great place to live, work, and study. Yet, with 60,000+ residents, it is not immune to crime. Purdue is fortunate to have a nationally accredited campus police department staffed by 40 professional officers who are dedicated to serving and protecting the campus community. Purdue Police encourage students and families to visit the Purdue Police website prior to arrival on campus to learn more about the department, its services and its safeguards for students, including:
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Bicycle and laptop registration
In the event that these items are reported lost or stolen, a record of the items and description will already be on file. -
SafeWalk
Available 24/7, the student security patrol provides walking escorts from your student’s location to their desired destination. The telephone number is 494-SAFE (7233) and is printed on the back of your student’s identification card. - Emergency call boxes
There are more than 250 yellow lighted emergency call boxes on campus. Students are encouraged to use the boxes to contact the police department for emergency and non-emergency needs, such as getting lost, locking keys in a vehicle or just feeling distressed.
Purdue Police encourage families to contact the department with any concerns about student safety and welfare by telephone 765-494-8221 or by email police@purdue.edu.
MyMoney website promotes financial literacy
Whether it’s devising and following a budget or choosing the right investments, being able to manage your personal finances is an acquired skill. Purdue recently launched a financial literacy website called MyMoney to provide the University community with tools to wisely manage debt and increase knowledge and awareness of financial-related topics. Students as well as parents, faculty and staff can find relevant information on the site. For more information, visit http://www.purdue.edu/mymoney/
ITaP provides recommendations for computer purchases
Selecting a new computer for a college student can be a daunting task. Choosing between vendors, specifications and accessories can make the options seem endless. Whether buying a new computer or bringing one from home, Purdue’s Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP) has a few recommendations to guide families in the decision. To view the insights, visit the ITaP newsroom.
Fall semester is the time to seek next summer employment
Although summer isn’t officially over, it’s already time to be thinking about employment for next summer. Purdue’s Center for Career Opportunities offers many services to assist students with career exploration and employment.
Student Resources
- Fall career fairs
- Resume updates and critiques
- Register or update profile on CCO Express
- Interviewing techniques
- Prepare an “elevator pitch”
Parent Resources
Contact Information:
Center for Career Opportunities (CCO)
Stewart Center, Room 194
Appointments: call 765-494-3981
Website: www.cco.purdue.edu
Students gain international insights, friendships
Purdue is well known for its strong global dimension, which includes international research, academic partnerships and study abroad opportunities around the world. And with about 8,000 international students from 125 countries, Purdue students have the opportunity on campus to gain a global perspective on their subject areas and learn what it means to interact and communicate in the modern world.
Some of this learning takes place through special programs, such as the International Friendship Program that connects international students with local families; Boiler Out, a program that brings domestic and international students together in service to the community; and the inaugural staging of BGRi (Boiler Gold Rush International), a program that prepares new international undergraduates for life at Purdue and connects them with campus mentors and services.
Staff within Academic Advising, University Residences, Dean of Students, SATS and other areas have been specially trained to foster these cross-cultural experiences that are now so important when entering the workplace.
Encourage your student to take advantage of the many opportunities for cultural learning at Purdue. The friendships and learning experiences that students gain are openings to the larger world and offer lasting value.
"Get Involved” helps students become engaged in campus life, gain potential for good grades
Purdue students build strong leadership skills, gain closer ties to their classmates and potentially improve their grades through participation in student activities.
About 75 percent of Purdue’s undergraduate students participate in one or more of the 900+ student organizations, which help build a student's competencies — everything from financial and time management skills and goal setting to tolerance, conflict management and motivational techniques.
A recent study of Purdue student involvement in five co-curricular activities (Air Force, Army, and Navy ROTC; Band & Orchestras; and Purdue Musical Organizations) across six semesters from Fall 2008 through Spring 2011 showed that these students outperformed their peers. Among the findings was that while 36.8% of all students earn both 15 or more credits and a 3.0 or higher semester GPA, 51.8% of students who are involved in student activities earned both 15 or more credits and a 3.0 or higher semester GPA.
Students can learn about available clubs, how to start a club, and fall club callout information by visiting Purdue’s Get Involved website.
City Bus, Zipcars offer local transportation options
Greater Lafayette’s public transit system City Bus and now Zip Cars are two popular modes of transportation for students who don’t have vehicles or don’t want to use them while at Purdue.
CityBus transports Purdue students around campus and across town, free of charge through its agreement with Purdue. Note: Campus bus routes will reconvene on Monday, Aug. 20.
- Students can become acclimated to CityBus services online and through its personal rider program.
- A CityBus Facebook fan page also keeps riders abreast of news and updates.
- Students can access real-time information on their next ride using the CityBus MyRide features on their phone, Web-enabled mobile device, or computer.
Zipcar service is now available to all Purdue faculty, staff and students who are 18 years or older. Zipcars are parked on campus, and reservations can be made online or on a mobile device 24/7, or by phone. Hourly and daily rates include gas, insurance, and 180 miles per day. More info.
Purdue app, e-Board serve as campus life resources
Purdue online and mobile technologies are becoming key communication and resource tools for students.
Purdue’s iPhone/iPad app
Keeping abreast of campus news and events, navigating campus and finding out what’s for lunch today in the dining courts are just a few of the many things that can be accessed using Purdue’s iPhone/iPad app. Bus and computer lab schedules as well as the campus directory also are available. Explore all of its features and how to download by visiting www.purdue.edu/mobile.
Purdue Board
An online site called Purdue Board provides students with ongoing access to information about club callouts, student activities, campus events and student news. The system underwent improvements this summer to provide even better functionality and integration to Twitter, Facebook, Boiler TV and the University's calendar and digital signage systems, which will be launched August 13. Follow PurdueBoard on Facebook, Twitter and Google+
Common reading experience culminates at fall BGR orientation
All incoming undergraduate students this fall received a copy of William Kamkwamba’s book “The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind” as part of this year’s common reading experience. The book is about a boy whose inventiveness changed the lives of those in his community and was distributed free of charge during the Summer Transition, Advising and Registration (STAR) program. International students received an electronic version of the book.
Students are required to read the book before they start classes in the fall or by the start of the Boiler Gold Rush undergraduate orientation program. Last year more than 5,000 students participated in book discussions led by more than 600 Boiler Gold Rush team leaders and residence hall staff. At the end of Boiler Gold Rush (BGR), the author will speak to students at a forum on Aug. 19 from 3:00-4:30 p.m. in Elliott Hall of Music. More information is available on the Student Access, Transition and Success (SATS) website.
Ask a Librarian service expands to include texting
Purdue Libraries’ new Ask a Librarian website lets students choose several technologies for assistance, including texting, chat and email. Students can select texting for short answers, chat for conversational assistance and email for more comprehensive assistance. The text message reference service offered 24/7 by Purdue Libraries digital reference service will begin this fall. Texting provides quick, reliable and easily accessible answers to simple questions. Students can just text “Purduelib” at 765-496-6746 to get started.