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January 2017 Newsletter
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New Year’s Resolution #1: Get Involved • A New Quarter, A Fresh Start – Health & Time Management • Academic Advising: The Key to Making the Grade & Getting Off Academic Probation • Career Services Is Here For Your Student, Before & After Graduation! • Is Your Student Considering a Change of Major? • Upcoming Events – January • Important Dates & Deadlines • Important Campus Phone Numbers
New Year’s Resolution #1: Get Involved
Does your student want to make some new friends or personal connections this quarter? Encourage them to join a club! Cal Poly students can get involved with more than 300 campus clubs and student organizations. Getting involved with an organization has numerous benefits, including learning outside of the classroom setting, creating positive connections with fellow students, developing leadership and professional experience, and making a tangible impact on this campus. If there aren’t any clubs that match your student’s interests or hobbies, they also have the opportunity to start a new one!
To check out all Cal Poly club information on ASI’s Club Services website, click here.
A New Quarter, A Fresh Start – Health & Time Management
Winter Quarter at Cal Poly marks an interesting and critical time for student development. A rejuvenating holiday at home and celebrations of the New Year often carry the sentiment of a fresh start for many students returning to campus. Now is the time when students have the opportunity to really settle back into college life, step into their own routine, and find a balance between their studies, health and time spent with friends. As your student enters a new quarter, encourage them to strive for balance, learning from any mistakes or hiccups they ran into last quarter and making some adjustments early on to increase their likelihood of success. For some students this might mean eating healthier and getting more rest; for others, staying on top of schoolwork and finding a tried-and-true, distraction-free study spot; and for others, scheduling more time to hang out with friends or joining a club to deepen and grow their social circle.
A focus on staying healthy during this time of year is especially important. This means encouraging your student to continue making healthy choices, including feeding their bodies well, finding a fun form of exercise, getting plenty of rest, and if they fall ill, going to the Health Center immediately. The Health Center has tons of resources for students, including flu shots, counseling services, and standard checkups.
As your student pursues balance amid busy schedules, time management is the key, not to mention a life skill they will continue developing well past college. While learning time management can be a struggle for some, simple recommendations like anticipating the workload for the week, planning out a detailed calendar, and making project lists can help them feel organized and ensure that no deadline falls through the cracks. Ask your student to share their own system for managing their time with you, and let them know that Student Academic Services is always here to help! For more information on time management, click here.
Academic Advising: The Key to Making the Grade & Getting Off Academic Probation
If your student didn’t perform as well as hoped this past quarter, he or she might be placed on Academic Probation. Students are placed on Academic Probation when their grade point average drops below a 2.0 (C); those who fall into this category will have received an email stating that they are on Academic Probation during the winter break. For more information on Academic Probation, click here.
While being on Academic Probation can be scary and frustrating for you and your student, there are manageable ways to help improve grades and be removed from Academic Probation. The best first step for your student is to visit the Mustang Success Center /or their college-specific Academic Advising Center. These campus advising resources can help point your student in the right direction to get back on track academically. For more information on Academic Probation support, CLICK HERE.
Career Services Is Here For Your Student, Before & After Graduation!
Did you know that unlike many universities, Cal Poly requires all companies recruiting at their Career Fairs to have at least one job position available for students to apply to? Cal Poly students are highly sought after by employers across industry and Career Services is here to help your student prepare for the opportunities that await them before and after graduation. With College Specialist Career Counselors serving students from each of the six colleges and a wide offering of over 50 workshops and events per quarter, Career Services provides professional growth opportunities for students, preparing them to navigate their job search and future career path. Also important to note - Cal Poly Career Services offers services to Cal Poly Alumni for life. For more details, click here.
To learn more about how you can support your student’s career development as a parent/supporter, click here.
Encourage your student to attend the Winter Career Fair!
Dates: Wednesday & Thursday, January 25 and 26, 2017
Location: Recreation Center Main Gym
Time: 9:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. (Networking Open Forum)
2:30 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. (Interviews)
Is Your Student Considering a Change of Major?
If your student is exploring a major change, it’s incredibly important as a parent/supporter to err on the side of understanding and support. It’s not uncommon for students to be admitted into a major they felt passionate about at age 17 or 18 only to discover a year or two (or even as early as a quarter) later that they are actually passionate about something entirely different. Changing majors at Cal Poly isn’t easy – it’s a multi-step process specialized to each major that involves guided reflection and conversations with advisors, including workshops that ensure students have done their research and ultimately found the major that is truly the best fit for them. Although change of major is not guaranteed at Cal Poly, it is only possible for those students who are willing to put the necessary time and effort into initiating and orchestrating a change.
For more information on Change of Major guidelines and policies, click here.
Upcoming Events – January
Tuesday, January 17 7:30-8:30pm in PAC Harman Hall (006-0101)
Rent
Wednesday, January 18 7-10pm in Mott Gym (042-0102)
Men’s Basketball v UC Irvine
Thursday, January 19 7-10pm in PAC Harman Hall (006-0101)
John Edward Live
Thursday, January 19 7-10pm in Mott Gym (042-0102)
Women’s Basketball v Hawaii
Friday, January 20 7-10pm in Mott Gym (042-0102)
Wrestling v Wyoming
Friday, January 20 8-10pm in Spanos Theatre (044-0227)
Orchesis Dance “Synergy”
Additional shows:
Saturday, January 21 2-4pm and 8-10pm
Thursday, January 26 2-4pm and 8-10pm
Friday, January 27 2-4pm and 8-10pm
Saturday, January 28 2-4pm and 8-10pm
Saturday, January 21 7-10pm in Mott Gym (042-0102)
Men’s Basketball v Long Beach State
Saturday, January 28 11am-5pm at Anderson Pool (042-000P)
Swimming and Diving v UCSB
Tuesday, January 31 7:30-8:30pm in in H.P. Davidson Music Center (045-0218)
Cal Poly Student Piano Recital
For Athletic event tickets, CLICK HERE. For Performing Art Center event tickets, CLICK HERE.
Important Dates & Deadlines
January 2 | 1st financial aid disbursement for Winter Quarter
January 3 | Financial aid deferred fees due for Winter Quarter
January 6 | 1st direct deposit refund for excess financial aid for Winter Quarter
January 9 | Winter Quarter classes begin
January 16 | Academic Holiday – Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Birthday observed
February 21 – March 28 | Spring Quarter Registration (REMINDER: Tuition fees are due at time of registration)
March 1-8 | On-campus housing application opens to current freshmen March 9 | On-campus housing application opens to all continuing students
March 16 | Fee due date for Spring Quarter (if not financial aid deferred)
March 20 – 24 | Winter Quarter Finals
March 25 – April 2 | Spring Break
March 27 | 1st financial aid disbursement
March 28 | Financial aid deferred fees due
March 31 | 1st direct deposit refund for excess financial aid
April 6 – 8 | Open House
April 19 – 20 | Spring Career Fair
For more important dates, deadlines, and calendars, CLICK HERE.
Important Campus Phone Numbers
Admissions | (805) 756-2311
Career Services | (805) 756-2501
Commencement | (805) 756-1600
Counseling Services | (805) 756-2511
Disability Resource Center | (805) 756-1395
Financial Aid Office | (805) 756-2927
Health Services | (805) 756-1211
Mustang Success Center | (805) 756-6211
Parent & Family Programs | (805) 756-6700
Student Accounts | (805) 756-1428
University Housing | (805) 756-1226
University Police Department | (805) 756-2281
