PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS
A Positive Attitude and Focus Important for Midterms

 

CAMPUS SPOTLIGHT
How Can the Center for Academic Success Help your Student?

 

CAMPUS NEWS
Career Services News for Parents
Southwestern is the New Home for Technology Think Tank: NITLE
National Survey Reveals Southwestern Students are Happy with Academics and Housing
Pirate Athletics Seasons in Full Swing
Influenza Update

 

UPCOMING EVENTS
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2009
The Sarofim School of Fine Arts Fall Calendar
Tobias Wolff to Serve as the 2009 Writer’s Voice Speaker

  

AROUND GEORGETOWN
Christmas Stroll on the Square

 

 

PARTNERING FOR SUCCESS
A Positive Attitude and Focus Important for Midterms
Partnering for Success focuses on common issues that students face during the various phases of the academic cycle, and how parents can assist their students during these times.

Issues Students May Currently Face
The first major test or assignment results of the semester will indicate successes
and challenges in each course. These results may be unfamiliar to students.
A rigorous academic schedule may begin to take a physical and mental toll on students.

Advice for Parents
Give students plenty of space during this stressful time of year.
Be supportive even if test results are lower than expected.
Remind students to seek assistance from student mentors and professors. 
Ask student about upcoming spring registration and setting advising appointments.
Encourage your student to visit Health and Counseling Services if needed.

 

CAMPUS SPOTLIGHT
How Can the Center for Academic Success Help your Student?
Mid-semester often brings stress, for new students and SU veterans alike. Struggling through new subjects, complex material and difficult assignments can be hallmarks of mid-October, although there are certainly ways to help your student mitigate these challenges.

For new students, mid-October brings about the end of First-Year Seminar and some new-found free time on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. The tendency for many students is to use this time for catching up on much needed sleep. However, this is precisely the time when students need to reexamine their time management techniques, and employ discipline to focus their time toward the end of the semester.

Additionally, students may be receiving Early Warning System notices from one or more of their professors. This warning is intended to alert students to a problem, and to give them time to resolve the situation with the faculty member while recovery is still possible. Any student flagged on the Early Warning System will be contacted by a member of the Center for Academic Success (CAS) staff; please encourage your students to take advantage of this opportunity to work through whatever issues may exist.

CAS can also offer practical strategies for any student at this transition point. In fact, there are a number of workshops intended to refocus energy for the second half of the semester; topics include “Salvage Your Semester” to talk about classroom recovery, “Charting a Course,” intended for new students to learn about pre-registration procedures and strategies, and a stress management workshop offered before final exams. The Peer Academic Mentors are busy working individually with students in a variety of situations, and would love to be of assistance if necessary.

If you feel that your student would benefit from a visit to CAS, please encourage them to make an appointment by e-mailing success@southwestern.edu, or by calling 512-863-1286. Many resources can also be found on the CAS Web page, at www.southwestern.edu/offices/success.

 

CAMPUS NEWS
Career Services News for Parents
If you are changing careers or just in the market for a new job, be sure to find out about ways Career Services resources available to students, such as special events and job fairs, can also benefit parents. For more information, visit www.southwestern.edu/offices/careers/parents.php.

Southwestern is the New Home for Technology Think Tank: NITLE
The National Institute for Technology and Liberal Education now calls the Southwestern campus home. This think tank for integrating technology in the liberal arts education has 130 universities in its membership. While Southwestern has had a close relationship with NITLE since 2004, this move will present Southwestern faculty, staff and students with new opportunities as a proving ground for these innovative best teaching practices. To read an article about NITLE written by President Jake B. Schrum, click here.

National Survey Reveals Southwestern Students are Happy with Academics and Housing
In a recent survey of students from 269 universities, Southwestern ranked first among similar institutions in the field of on-campus housing. Southwestern students also scored their academic experience to be in the top five of all 269 participating schools. To read more, click here.

Pirate Athletics Season in Full Swing
The volleyball team is currently ranked 14th in the nation and are on a 17 match winning streak. Their overall record is 19-3, but the women are undefeated in conference play. They head to Colorado Springs this weekend to take on Centre, Oglethorpe, DePauw and Austin to close out regular season conference action.

Women’s soccer had a tough weekend, going into overtime in both matches including a double overtime tie at Millsaps. The Pirates are 7-3-1 overall, 1-0-1 in SCAC conference action, and sit in third place in the conference. They have three home games this week, Hardin-Simmons Tuesday, Oct. 13, DePauw Friday, Oct. 16 and Centre Sunday, Oct. 18. 

The men’s soccer team dropped both contests over the weekend and are now 5-6 overall and 1-2 in the conference. Their contests at home this weekend are important as they face fourth place DePauw Friday, Oct. 16 and third place Centre Sunday, Oct. 18.

The cross country teams have been busy on the trails this fall. The men have finished in second place or higher in every race and are currently ranked ninth in the region. The women have finished in the top five in three races. Both teams will head to the Chile Pepper Cross Country Festival in Arkansas this weekend.

Men’s and women’s golf have been destroying the Division III competition recently! The women’s team took third place behind Lubbock Christian and Western Texas at the UMHB Fall Invitational while the men finished fifth behind Tyler Junior College, UT-Brownsville, Lubbock Christian and UMHB.

The tennis teams closed out their short fall season at the Intercollegiate Tennis Association Regional Tournament. The Pirates’ season was cut short due to a rain soaked fall. The tennis team will resume action Feb. 5, 2010 at the UMHB Invitational.

The men’s and women’s basketball teams will begin official practice this week Thursday, Oct. 15. The men have four seniors returning from the squad that advanced to the SCAC Conference Championship Finals last season. The women have three seniors returning from last year’s team and look to advance to the conference tournament this season.

The swim teams have been hard at work in the pool and will dive into their season at the 42nd Annual Hendrix Swimming Classic Oct. 30.

For the latest scores, news and photos, visit www.southwesternpirates.com.

Influenza Update
Since late August the Southwestern University Health Services staff has administered approximately 500 doses of the seasonal flu vaccine. For those students still needing the seasonal flu vaccine, a limited number of doses are still available through Health Services. Your student should call 512-863-1555 to inquire about availability. Southwestern University continues to encourage students, faculty and staff to practice good hygiene, self-isolate if ill and visit Health Services for testing and treatment. For more information visit www.southwestern.edu/flu.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend 2009
Southwestern University will celebrate the 100th anniversary of its first Homecoming in 1909 this year. Homecoming and Reunion Weekend will be held Nov. 6-8, 2009. The weekend will feature a musical performance by The Bob Schneider Band, a panoramic photo of all participants, the Homecoming Picnic, and special worship service and much more. SING!, a Southwestern Homecoming tradition, will feature student organizations performing entertaining original singing, dancing and theatrical acts. This is a sell-out show every year. SING! will be held Saturday, Nov. 7 at 8 p.m. in the Alma Thomas Theater. Parents are invited to attend these events along with our students, staff, faculty and alumni. Click here to see a full schedule of events and register to attend.  

The Sarofim School of Fine Arts Fall Arts Calendar
Oct. 23 - 25, 2009
THE FIFTH SUN
The spark for The Fifth Sun comes from the Aztec “Legend of the Five Suns.” The legend states that each sun is a period of time wherein there is peace and life on earth. When a sun dies, the world is absorbed in chaos as the gods destroy the world in order to renew it. The Aztecs believed there are only five suns and that we live in the era of the last sun. The Fifth Sun presents four characters facing a world plagued with death and destruction, but always hope for something better and wait for a new beginning.         
8 p.m.  Friday and Saturday, Oct. 23 and 24
3 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25
Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center, Heather Hall

Monday, Oct. 26, 2009, 7 - 9 p.m.
Faculty Recital: Hai Zheng, cello and Kiyoshi Tamagawa, piano
Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center, Alma Thomas Theater

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2009, 8 – 9:30 p.m.
Bartok and the Modernist Movement, lecture by Elliott Antokoletz
Professor of Musicology at the University of Texas at Austin, has held the Alice Mackie Scott Tacquard Endowed Centennial Chair (1983-4) and E.W. Doty Professorship in Fine Arts (1994-1995). He is the author of “The Music of Bela Bartok: A Study of Tonality and Progression in Twentieth-Century Music.”
Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center, Alma Thomas Theater

Friday, Oct. 30, 2009, 7 – 9 p.m.
Guest Artist: Michael Partington, guitar
Award-winning British guitarist praised by ‘Classical Guitar Magazine’ for his “lyricism, intensity and clear technical command.”
Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center, Alma Thomas Theater

Nov. 3 – 24, 2009
Chinese Facsimile Scrolls Exhibit
Southwestern University’s collection of Chinese Facsimile Scrolls
from the Taipei National Palace Museum
Opening Reception: Nov. 3, 2009, 5 –7 p.m.
Alma Thomas Fine Arts Center, Fine Arts Gallery
Hours are 1-5 p.m. daily
For tickets or more information about any of these Sarofim School of Fine Arts Events, click here.

Tobias Wolff to Visit Campus in 2009 Writer’s Voice Series
Fiction writer and memoirist Tobias Wolff will be the 2009 visiting author in the Writer’s Voice Series sponsored by the A. Frank Smith, Jr. Library Center. Wolff’s public lecture will be at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, in The Alma Thomas Theater. Tobias Wolff’s books include the memoirs This Boy’s Life and In Pharaoh’s Army; the short novel The Barracks Thief; and four collections of stories, including in 2008 Our Story Begins: New and Selected Stories. He also has published a novel, Old School, and has edited several anthologies. To request tickets visit the library’s Web site at www.southwestern.edu/library/writers-voice/Tobias_Wolff/index.html.

 

AROUND GEORGETOWN
Christmas Stroll on the Square
Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009, Noon-8 p.m.
This traditional Christmas festival has been a Georgetown favorite for almost 30 years. Street vendors with fine art and gifts line the downtown square. A parade, entertainment and shopping continue throughout the day. Visit the Downtown Georgetown Association for more information.

 

MARK YOUR CALENDAR
Homecoming and Reunion Weekend – Nov. 6-8
Writer’s Voice – Nov. 10
Thanksgiving Holiday (University Closed) – Nov. 25-29
Candlelight Service – Dec. 3
Final Exams – Dec. 7-11
Spring Tuition Due – Dec. 11
Recognition Ceremony for Prospective December Graduates – Dec. 13
Winter Break (Students) – Dec. 12, 2009 - Jan. 10, 2010
Winter Break (University Closed) – Dec. 24, 2009 - Jan. 3, 2010
Spring Term Begins – Jan. 11, 2010
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Student Holiday) – Jan. 18, 2010
Family Days – Feb. 19-21, 2010
For a full calendar of events, visit the University Calendar.