Happy New Year fellow parents! Most of your students are now in their second semester at Augusta State. What are some of the things you will see as your students close in on the end of their first year of college? These are some of the things I watched with my own student last spring:

• More confidence in his ability. (I don't think I heard “I can't do this and I’m just going to come home and get a job” but once all term.)
• Better handling of his checkbook. (He didn't bounce a check all term.)
• More involvement on campus. (Attended more campus events and actually enjoyed them-even those not related to sports.)
• Better balancing of time spent on studying versus playing. (Perhaps I should say realizing that there isn't a balance—there should always be more studying than playing.)
• Fewer calls home. (This was a good thing.)
• Fewer visits home. (This, also, was a good thing.)
• More pleasant tone when he did call or visit home. (There were fewer “Mommmmm….” comments.)
• More discussions that were larger parts conversation than about fixing some immediate problem. (He actually asked how the grandparents, the dogs and we were—not necessarily in that order.)

In general, I watched what you are watching now—a child growing up (sometimes in spite of himself), needing to know we are there but making good decisions on his own, and realizing that college is as much about personal growth and maturity as it is about memorizing formulas and writing grammatically correct essays. 

And just about the time I thought that child had been miraculously transformed into  a mature young adult he called to announce he had changed his  major….again! Yes, I remember that I went to great lengths at orientation last summer to explain to you all how the average time to graduation was now measured at six years and that most students change their major at least twice during the course of their college career. However, two semesters in college and four majors—you do the math! He quickly knew just how “there” I was for him. And those fewer “Mommmmm….” comments I mentioned…..let’s just say their demise was short lived.

Rebecca White (Standing in Center) and her Zeta Tau Alpha Sisters displaying the A sign they created for Homecoming 2007.

Learn how a student's support from her parents made a difference...

Let me start by telling you that I was like most of my classmates and I was not ready for my first year of college. Fresh out of high school, where everything is dictated for you down to the clothes you can wear to school, I approached my first day of college with a sense of hesitation and anxiety. However, I had to go. Both of my parents were very adamant that I attend and graduate from some institution of higher learning.

Looking back, I can see that one of the most difficult things to learn during my freshman year of college was how to push myself to study and how to do it on my own. No longer could my “mama” tell me to do my homework; I had to tell myself that I had a five-page paper due the next day, and watching TV wasn't going to get it done. After I spent a semester trying to figure it all out, I ended up with 2 B’s and 2 C’s. For a straight-A student, this seemed like the end of the world, and I dreaded telling my parents. But let’s face it; I didn't really have to study in high school. That was the hard part, learning how to study!

The best thing that my parents did during my freshman year was to help me understand that college meant being an adult, and being responsible for my education. Yes, they also had to treat me like an adult (and I am sure bite there tongue a few times in the process). They did not have the meltdown over my grades like I thought they would, but instead, they told me that I would just have to go back and do better the next semester.

Almost eight semesters and seven majors later, I have finally achieved “senior” status. Somehow I managed to make the Dean’s List, join four different student groups on campus and meet many different people who have taught me not just about my school material, but also about how to get the most out of my time in college.

One of the things I am most grateful for is that my parents are still there: still telling me that I can do whatever I put my mind to. They have seen me struggle over deciding what it is I want to do with my life, over research papers that never seemed to end, over College Algebra. I didn't realize until now that when I called my parents and told them about different things going on all I wanted to hear from them was “keep up the good work” and “good job.” Those things go a long way you know. They have also been there when I got the letter informing me that I had been named to the Dean’s List, my Dad was there to be my escort when I was running for Ms. ASU. They also celebrated with me when I finally finished all of my core classes and when I finally declared a major I could stick with.

Part of the driving force to get me to the place I am in now was having my parents be there for me: no matter what grades I brought home, or how many times I changed majors, or how many stupid things I did along the way. They realized that college is a learning experience.

While I wasn't very involved and didn't really like college my first year, it has grown on me and I now love ASU! It isn't just some institution of higher learning anymore. It is my college! It is my passion. It is a place that I wouldn't be at today, without the constant support from my parents.

Add money to your student's jag card today

The JagCard is the official identification card for ASU students, faculty and staff.  It can be used to gain free or reduced admission to university programs, to check out books at Reese Library, to check out equipment at the Media Center and ITS, and to obtain other services on campus. It provides secure access for students in University Village since the gate has a reader installed that scans the card upon entry. This secured access is also being used at several campus buildings after normal hours of operation.

The card is also similar to a bank debit card in that it may be used for purchases of services and products, once the user deposits funds into a JagCard account.  “It provides a certain amount of protection for users since they don’t have to carry cash,” says Pam Lightsey, JagCard manager. The card may be used to pay fines at the Library and Public Safety, as well as for printing services at the Copy Center and Media Services. Readers installed in the washers and dryers at University Village allow students to use their card there, as well as in some vending machines on campus.

Meal plans can only be used at the on campus food locations: Allgood Hall and the food court at the Jaguar Student Activity Center. Meal plans are valid from the first day of fall semester through the last day of spring semester of every year. Meal plans are non-transferable to JagCard cash.  There are three meal plans to choose from:
   Meal Plan A - $100.00 Receive $110.00 in purchasing power
   Meal Plan B - $200.00 Receive $225.00 in purchasing power
   Meal Plan C - $500.00 Receive $575.00 in purchasing power*
* Best Deal

Parents can add money to their students JagCard by visiting http://jagcard.aug.edu/.  Students can also check their JagCard balance by logging on to http://jagcard.aug.edu/. 

For more information, call the JagCard Office at 706-731-7080.

Academic Advising Is a Partnership

Good academic advising is an integral part of students’ college experiences and can help them stay on track for meeting specific degree requirements while avoiding costly (both time and financial) mistakes during their college careers.  Students who take advantage of this valuable resource frequently and consistently throughout their academic programs greatly enhance their ability to meet their academic goals successfully and in a timely manner.

Academic advisors, available in all departments, are the “experts” on issues such as academic policies, degree requirements, sequencing of courses, transfer of credit, and minimum grade requirements.  Students who take advantage of this expert knowledge are better equipped to make wiser academic decisions and experience more satisfactory outcomes.  Maintaining productive advising partnerships requires investments of time and commitment from both students and advisors throughout the college years; however, the rewards and benefits received at graduation far outweigh the costs.

Since both parties in this partnership have the same goals and objectives, successful collaborations between students and advisors provide stronger foundations on which to build academic blueprints.  Even if students feel confident in their decisions, they should review their proposed schedules with their advisors prior to the start of each term.  This will assure them that they have the most current information about any new courses, modifications of degree requirements, or other academic changes.

Although students sometimes view the advising process as an unnecessary and bothersome extra step in the registration process, the real advising partnership can only occur when students seek out advising before the scheduled registration periods. This ensures a smoother registration process and can give students greater confidence that the selected courses will help them move toward their long range goals.

A TIP TO ALL STUDENTS – NOT ONLY “KNOW THYSELF” BUT ALSO “KNOW THY ADVISOR”.