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OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2007
Volume 8, Number 2
From the
Director
On behalf of the Family Weekend Planning
Committee, I want to thank all those who participated
in Family Weekend on October 12-14, 2007. This was the
largest Family Weekend in the history of the university,
with more than 6,300 people in
attendance. We had high hopes for a wonderful weekend, as
we do every year, and the weekend far exceeded our
expectations. I am especially thankful for the kind
words of gratitude I've received over the past few
weeks. Family Weekend is an enormous undertaking and I
appreciate your recognition of this endeavor.
The months of October and November are busy and can be
quite stressful for your students. It's the time of year
when students hit what I call the "pot hole" period of
the semester; this time often serves as a wake-up call
for many students who may be struggling to stay ahead or
who may not have been working to their full potential.
Those students who have been focusing on non-academic
pursuits may experience a great deal of stress as they
attempt to catch up on work. Those who have been
focusing on academics may experience the added pressure
of maintaining a high level of performance.
You can help your student with these November stressors.
In addition to providing continued support and
encouragement for your student, please remind him or her
to take advantage of various university services (e.g.,
tutoring, writing assistance, counseling, etc.).
We've assembled a list of common student
issues/challenges along with information regarding the
appropriate university services related to these issues.
Click here
to view the Quick Reference Guide located on the Terp
Parent Web site.
It is also worth noting that, although students look
forward to the break, some perceive Thanksgiving
vacation as an added distraction to their busy lives at
the university. One suggestion is to avoid the
exhaustion of continuous and regimented activities
during Thanksgiving break. I know that you and many
other members of your family are excited about spending
time with your student, but be sure to provide him or
her with the time and space needed to sleep, relax and
study.
As always, if you are concerned about your student and you're not
sure where to turn for assistance, you are welcome to contact the
Office of Parent and Family Affairs via the Parent Helpline at
301.314.8429 or parents@umd.edu.
Kind Regards,
Brian L. Watkins
Director, Parent and Family Affairs
December Commencement
President Mote will confer all degrees during the campus-wide
Commencement in the Comcast Center on Wednesday, December 19. The
processional will begin promptly at 7:00 p.m. Graduation exercises for
individual colleges and schools will take place at various times and
locations on Thursday, December 20. Specific details are available on
the university's Commencement web site.
Click here for more
information.
What do you know about online piracy?
Be sure to read this month's feature
article on Terp Parent (www.terpparent.umd.edu)
about illegal file sharing and the dangers for college
students. The Recording Industry Association of America
(RIAA) is cracking down on illegal file sharing at
colleges and universities across the country, including
the University of Maryland.
Click here to learn more.
Congratulations to the 2007 Award Winners
On Saturday, October 13, the Maryland Parents Association presented
its annual awards as part of the Family Weekend celebration. The
Outstanding Faculty Educator and Outstanding Academic Advisor awards
recognize and honor individuals for demonstrating a deep commitment to
providing an exemplary educational experience for University of Maryland
students... read
more
In addition, the Office of Parent and Family Affairs
presented the Family Member of the Year Award. This
award
honors and recognizes a parent, guardian,
sibling, extended family member or friend whose presence, endeavors,
dedication, and care have contributed to the personal development,
academic success, and life achievement of his or her student...
read more
Erik B. Young, M.D.
International Travel-Study Awards
Is your student considering studying
abroad? Financial support is available through the Erik
B. Young, M.D. International Travel-Study Award program,
designed to give deserving undergraduate students the
opportunity to broaden their international horizons
while they hone their academic skills. Applications for
2008 summer travel or the 2008-2009 academic year are
now available.
Click here to learn more.
5th Annual Silent Auction
The Maryland Parents Association Silent Auction, held
during Family Weekend, raised more than $20,000 for the
Parents Association Student Scholarship Fund. This was
our most successful Silent Auction to date! Thank you to
everyone who donated prizes for the auction and to
everyone who participated in and purchased items for
this important fundraiser. Special thanks to Mary
Helfrich and Judi Casey, Silent Auction Co-Chairs, the
members of the Silent Auction Committee, and
to Jim Rychner and Zimri Diaz for
their commitment, exceptional work and tireless efforts.
October/November Parent Poll
How often do you
think your student drinks alcohol?
Click here
to take the Parent Poll (the poll is
located on the right side of the page).
Coming Soon
Photos from Family Weekend will be available within the
next few weeks and will be posted on the
Family
Weekend Web site. Please note: the date for
next year's Family Weekend will not be available until
February 2008. We will make a formal announcement once
the date has been set.
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