Parents & Families E-Newsletter - March 2012
Dear Parents and Families,
Our students have returned from spring break and campus is busy again as we anticipate our favorite spring traditions and events.
I am so proud of our students who used their break to travel to southern Indiana in the wake of the devastating tornadoes that passed through earlier this month. Their commitments to helping others and to making a difference in the world are the very heart of Purdue’s land-grant mission. I applaud their generosity of spirit and time.
The next few weeks will give us more opportunities to give back and make a difference. Among these is the Purdue Center for Cancer Research 5k Challenge on April 14. Many of our students and their families take part in this event each year and I am proud to join them and the many faculty, staff and community members who also take part. I hope you will be among them!
Also ahead are two of our favorite spring celebrations on campus: Spring Fest on April 14-15 and Grand Prix on April 21. For the third year, the evGrand Prix also will be part of our spring festivities. Our students are helping develop technology that offers sustainable alternative energy solutions and they will highlight that technology with educational displays, an electric vehicle car show and an EV kart simulator for children during Spring Fest. These are all a preview of the actual evGrand Prix event, which will take place at the track on campus on April 28.
Purdue parents and families are our students’ most enthusiastic supporters. Your students are achieving great things and have so much ahead of them. I appreciate all that you do to help them succeed.
Hail Purdue!
Sincerely,
France A. Cordova
President
Administrative Announcements
Purdue students earned academic honors for fall 2011
About 13,000 Purdue students earned academic honors for the fall 2011 semester. To earn honors, students must have had at least a 3.5 semester or cumulative grade point average on a four-point scale. Purdue News Service offers media and interested families a method to look up names of students honored through a database-driven Web page. Notification of the Purdue honors and graduation lists via email is provided to newspapers with an expressed interest in carrying them. If a local newspaper is not publishing student names, Purdue families may contact the outlet to request placement and let them know that media notification is available from Purdue by sending an email topurduenews@purdue.edu
Commencement slated for May 11-13
Spring 2012 commencement information is available on the Office of the Registrar website: Below is the ceremony schedule for schools and colleges.
| Division I Friday, May 11, 8 p.m. |
Education, Engineering |
| Division II Saturday, May 12, 9:30 a.m. |
Liberal Arts, Technology |
| Division III Saturday, May 12, 2:30 p.m. |
Science, Management, Agriculture |
| Division IV Sunday, May 13, 9:30 a.m. |
Graduate School (all colleges), DVM, DP |
| Division V Sunday, May 13, 2:30 p.m. |
Health and Human Sciences, Pharmacy, Veterinary Medicine |
Four halls to remain open during 2012-13 semester break
First Street Towers, Hawkins, Hilltop and Wiley residence halls will remain open during the 2012-13 semester break. Students contracted to live in those halls for the 2012-13 school year will not be required to leave the residence hall during semester break. Continuing students have until March 31, 2012, to sign a housing contract for the 2012-13 school year.
New director of off-campus housing named
University Residences and Purdue's dean of students have teamed up to create a new position to help students navigate the world of off-campus housing. Ashley Darnell, who previously worked in a similar capacity at the University of Pennsylvania, started Jan. 3 as Purdue's new assistant director of off-campus student services. Read more.
Marriott offers new classroom and lab space and dining options
Opened in fall 2011, the new Marriott Hall provides flexible classrooms, offices, and industry-standard laboratory space for the hospitality and tourism management program. It also houses the newly renovated John Purdue Room and the new Boiler Bistro, both open to the public for most weeks of each semester.
Hours of operation
John Purdue Room
Mon.-Fri. 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., Tues-Fri 5:30-7:30 p.m. Reservations are strongly encouraged at 765-494-6845.
The Bistro
Mon.-Fri. 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
Purdue ranks in Princeton Review and U.S. News & World Report
Purdue is listed among the Princeton Review's 150 "best value" colleges for 2012, released Feb. 7. This is the second time this academic year that Purdue has been recognized for being a good value. In August, SmartMoney magazine ranked Purdue seventh nationally in its college "payback" survey, which quantified the long-term value of a college degree. Read more.
Purdue's graduate programs remain among the best in the nation in U.S. News & World Report's rankings of the top graduate schools released Tuesday (March 13). Read more.
Fall financial aid awards to be distributed mid-June
Fall 2012 financial aid awards will be distributed in mid-June for continuing students who are eligible for aid. Incoming freshmen will be notified in early April. Read more
Education tax credit forms available
In mid-January 2012, the Bursar's Office generated the IRS Form
1098-T to help students and families prepare their 2011 tax return. Students may access the IRS Form 1098-T form by logging intoMyPurdue and clicking on the "Financial" tab and the "1098-T Tax Information" option. Read more.
Campus Life
International students assist with tornado relief efforts
A group of about 100 Purdue students -- most international -- headed to
southern Indiana over spring break to help clean up after a series of tornadoes devastated the area on March 2. Students from China, India, Taiwan, Switzerland, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Malaysia, Kenya, Brazil and Costa Rica were involved in the trip.
HHS celebrates "Life Inspired" March 20-31
A family fitness fair, ethics panel, fashion show and lecture by the CEO of the American Cancer Society are some of the events to celebrate the Purdue's College of Health and Human Sciences on March 20-31, under the umbrella theme "Life Inspired."
Spring activities are abundant
The campus calendar is filled with many student activities during the month of April. Among them are:
Boiler Blast, April 7
More than 80 student teams have formed for this year's Boiler Blast, a.jpg)
one-day, campus-wide day of service. Student volunteers work on campus beautification or help perform spring chores for residents of West Lafayette.
Greek Week, April 9-12
Each spring, the Greek community comes together for events and community service activities. Some events celebrate the Greek community while others help the community around them. For more information visit the Purdue Greeks website.
Spring Fest, April 14-15
Spring Fest showcases the lighter side of higher education. Students of all ages can learn about animals, art, astronomy, and much more during two full days of free, hands-on activities.
Grand Prix and Grand Alternative, April 15-21
A tradition since 1958, the Purdue Grand Prix race begins trials March 31 with practice and culminates with the 160-lap race on April 21. Alongside the race, Grand Alternative sponsored by the Student Wellness Office, provides a week of substance-free fun (more than 50 events).
Battle of the Bands 2010 and Purdue After Dark, April 20
Purdue's best bands battle it out to see who will be number one on April 20 at Slayter Center. In conjunction with Battle of the Bands, the Carnival Night will include free food, games, and fun for students from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Purdue Convocations brings Avicii to campus April 25
Purdue Convocations recently announced an addition to its 2011-12 lineup with an appearance by Avicii on April 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Elliott Hall of Music
5 Students Who are Spirit Makers
Passionate. Wholehearted. On fire. Their enthusiasm for being Boilermakers is contagious. Meet 5 students who bleed gold and black in everything they do. It is who they are. They are Spirit Makers. The students featured are:
- Elizabeth Hudson, a junior in professional writing and American studies from Westfield, Ind.
- Jim Mlynarski, a second-year graduate student in aviation management from Palos Heights, Ill.
- Juan Crespo, a junior in atmospheric science from South Bend, Ind.
- Elizabeth Gerrity, a junior in economics from Lockport, Ill.
- Paul Branham, a senior in nuclear engineering from Keller, Texas.
View their profiles on the "5 Students Who.." website.
Purdue featured on Big Ten Network's "Impact the World" program
A new eight-week series debuted on Big Ten Network in January called" Impact the World." Hosted by Dennis Haysbert, the weekly program showcased some of the incredible Big Ten breakthroughs that are changing lives in the United States and around the world.
Purdue’s segments in "Impact the World" are available for viewing on YouTube.
- Gebisa Ejeta, Distinguished Professor of Agronomy and a 2009 World Food Prize laureate, has developed sorghum varieties resistant to drought and the parasitic weed Striga. The new varieties allow the grain to feed more people in Ejeta's native Ethiopia and other African countries. View segment
- NASA has brought to Purdue its Project Morpheus, whose mission is one day to send a lunar lander equipped with robots, a rover and a small lab to the moon to do research. Purdue aerospace engineering students are building an engine – a rocket thrust chamber – to land Morpheus on the moon’s surface. View segment.
Smith crowned Miss Purdue University 2012
For the past three years, women from Purdue Bands have reigned as Miss Purdue. On Feb.12, Brittany Smith, a Golduster and Irish dancer, was crowned Miss Purdue 2012. Brittany is a senior from Elmhurst, Ill. majoring in health and kinesiology within the College of Health and Human Sciences.
Read and view more:
Purdue Bands
"5 Students Who ..."
Video
Photo Credit: Purdue Exponent
Fall dates to keep in mind
The spring semester will be over in seven short weeks and thoughts will start to turn to next fall. Below is a list of key dates and activities to keep in mind for scheduling a return to campus.
Note: Fall 2013 classes begin Monday, Aug. 20.
Residence Halls move-in dates: First-year students participating in Boiler Gold Rush may move into residence halls on Saturday, Aug. 11 or Sunday, Aug. 12. All residents have the option to check in early (Aug. 11-16) for an additional fee. Regular check in begins at 8 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 17. Optional meal service will be available for an additional fee per day Aug 13-16. Regular meal service will begin with breakfast on Friday, Aug. 17. This is the first meal served under a student's housing contract.
Family Day: Cosponsored by the PMU Dining Services, Purdue Athletics, and University Development Office, Family Day kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 29 with a pancake breakfast in the Purdue Armory and a welcome from Purdue's president. The Boilermaker football team will play Marshall University at Ross-Ade Stadium. Following the game, families are invited to attend the Boilermaker Barbecue with live music and family-friendly activities on the Purdue Memorial Union front lawn. More information will be sent to families later this summer.
Tickets to Athletic Events: Season ticket sales for football and student VIP card sales are now open. The 2012 football schedule features seven home games, including Wisconsin for Homecoming and the Old Oaken Bucket game against Indiana.
- Student season tickets: Season tickets are $119 and include all seven regular-season home games. To be eligible for a student football season ticket, you must plan to be registered at Purdue for the Fall 2012 semester. A $10 processing and handling fee also will be added to your order.
- Student guest season ticket: New for 2012. Each eligible Purdue student may buy one additional season ticket for a guest at the student rate of $119. Seating for these tickets are general admission in the student sections, but a student ID is not required for entry into Ross-Ade Stadium. Student guest tickets can be ordered only by eligible Purdue students.
- VIP "All Sports" card: The best value for Purdue students, who really want to be a part of Boilermaker athletics, is the VIP "All Sports" Card. Intercollegiate Athletics offers a limited number (approximately 4,800) of student VIP card packages for each athletic year. VIP Cards are now available for 2012-13. The VIP card includes season tickets to football and men’s basketball, and the opportunity to receive free admission to all other Purdue athletic events if tickets are still available. Students just need to show their VIP card at the ticket window to receive a ticket to those events that are not sold out. Each student can purchase only one VIP card.
- Families: Coming off a winning season and thrilling bowl game victory, Purdue football is highlighting family-friendly pricing in is 2012 season-ticket packages. South end zone season tickets have decreased from $147 to $98, and north end zone tickets (sections 112-117) remain $175 but without the previous minimum purchase of four tickets.
For more information:
Student Support Services
Summer aid application opened March 19
Students seeking financial aid for the summer 2012 session may now apply online. Information about summer aid eligibility and instructions to estimate the amount of summer aid your student may qualify for are available on the Division of Financial Aid website.
Read more.
Network offers faster, denser, safer Wi-Fi
Students should experience fewer ‘dead’ or hard-to reach Wi-Fi spots in campus buildings with Purdue Air Link 3.0, the newest wireless network deployed as part of ITaP’s campus-wide initiative to offer faster, denser and safer Wi-Fi service to the University community. The transition also will minimize device compatibility issues for students who have had trouble in the past. More than half of the University’s buildings have been upgraded with new wireless access points for PAL 3.0, and the remaining buildings are expected to be upgraded by the end of 2012. Read more
More information:
PAL 3.0 on Gold Answers site
List of buildings with PAL 3.0 coverage
Graduation gifts available with a Purdue-negotiated discount
Families shopping for the perfect graduation gift may want to consider computers, accessories and electronics available through a students’ Purdue affiliation. Visit the ITaP newsroom for more information on student discounts.
Gold Answers available for IT questions
Becoming familiar with the many campus IT products and services can seem like a daunting task for students, but a searchable online knowledge database offers them answers through many informational documents. Gold Answers, a service provided and maintained by Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP), provides more than 3,000 Purdue-specific articles on topics including career account passwords, wireless connections, desktop support and many more. Also, students who enter their career account ID and password can access about 20,000 vendor-specific articles on a variety of subjects. Visit the ITaP newsroom for more information on Gold Answers or view a short videoabout the service.
Students making plans for summer and beyond
Now is the time for your student to make post-semester plans. Graduating seniors may be looking for employment or advanced studies. Continuing students may seek summer work, internships, study abroad or classes to take at home. Below are some links to Purdue resources.
- Graduate studies
- Employment and internships
- Study abroad
- Seeking transfer credit or by phone 765-494-6482
Several campus departments offer information online to students about employment opportunities:
- Purdue Memorial Union
- Information Technology at Purdue (ITaP)
- Housing and Food Services
- Division of Recreational Sports
Students support available for Finals Week preparation
Students may need some additional support in the last few weeks leading up to finals week. The following campus resources provide students with:
- Tactics for coping
The Academic Success Center Student Advisory Board will present a workshop, "Surviving Finals Week," on Wednesday, April 18 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at Beering Hall, Room 2290. - A surprise snack
Families can send students living in the residence halls a snack pack available through Housing and Food Services. - A quiet place to study
Purdue Libraries will extend hours of operation, including the UnderGrounds coffee shop. - Study and test-taking suggestions
Academic Resource Center has resources available on site and online. - Writing resources
Students who have questions about final writing assignments can contact the Purdue Online Writing Lab (OWL) - A doctor or a counselor
The Purdue University Student Health Center (PUSH) has physicians and mental health care providers on staff. Purdue's Student Wellness Office is a point of contact for a wide variety of student needs and offers many online, self-help resources.
Local storage companies provide option for summer transition
As students prepare to leave campus for the summer, many seek out storage units to house their large items and extra gear. There are a number of local storage companies that cater to students, including Box My Dorm and Guys and Dollies that even do pickups from the residence halls. For more information, search “Lafayette, IN storage companies" online. For recommendations on which options to choose, consider a post on the Purdue Parents and Families page.
Tuition calculator assists with budgeting for school expenses
Families who are trying to budget for next fall’s schooling expenses can use the tuition calculator on the Bursar Office website. To ease the burden of paying full tuition upfront, the University offers installment plans.
PurdueBoard provides eco-friendly way to spread news
Gone are the days of sidewalks littered with flyers and tape. PurdueBoard, an online messaging service provided by theOffice of the Vice President for Student Affairs, keeps students abreast of the latest student news and events and allows them to post their announcements, callouts, activities and special events to the PurdueBoard website. PurdueBoard then re-broadcasts those electronic flyers to Facebook, Twitter, BoilerTV in the residence halls, MyPurdue portal, mobile apps, digital signs around campus, email subscriptions and RSS feeds. Parents and families also can join the PurdueBoard community on Facebook or Twitter.