Family Connection https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?age... University of Florida September 2014 Gator Parent and Family Association Newsletter Dear Mickey, In This Issue Congratulations on being a part of the Gator Nation! Whether you are a new Meet the Team Gator or you have been a lifelong Gator, we are happy to have you join our community. While your student is transitioning to college, we recognize that Joining Healthy Student you, as a family member, are also experiencing a transition. Organizations UF Fall Fairs Maybe this is your first student to come to college and maybe it is your last student to leave the nest, but no matter where you are in the transition FYF Peer Leader Application process, there will be challenges and successes. My job is to assist with the challenges and celebrate the successes with you. September Events My hope is to create a community where families can support one another. Gator Parent and Family While sending a student off to college can sometimes feel isolating, please Association remember that there are many more Gator families doing the same and that you are not alone. U Matter, We Care There are so many resources at the University of Florida and I hope that you Staying Safe and your student both take advantage of all that we have to offer. If you need help finding or accessing any of these resources, please don't hesitate Jake Owen Concert to ask me. Jake Owen Concert Have a great day and Go Gators! Football Tickets Meet the Team Gator Parent and Family Association Dr. Jen Day Shaw Jaime Gresley Arie Gee Associate Vice President Associate Dean of Assistant Director, Students Family Programs and Dean of Students Engagement Director, New Student and Family Programs New Student and Family Programs The Gator Parent and Family Association is open to all family members of UF undergraduate Joining Healthy Student Organizations students. The Fall semester is such an exciting time Membership is free, but in order to of year for our Gator students! This is take full advantage of the benefits, when so many students make the great you do have to activate your decision to get involved in one or more account. You can do so by clicking clubs and organizations available to them here. at UF. There are so many benefits to this 1 of 5 9/2/2014 12:01 PM Family Connection https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?age... extracurricular involvement, including the As a member, you will receive a multitudes of skills and lessons that subscription to the Family students acquire and learn. However, it's Connection, our monthly electronic important to find a balance and make newsletter, access to family sure that the organizations our students resources on our website, and are choosing to become a part of are invitations to special events during providing these benefits, rather than keeping our students from being Family Weekend and throughout successful inside of the classroom. Once in a while a student finds him or the year. herself in over their head if they overly-commit themselves. Other times, students choose organizations that don't align as well with their individual U Matter, We Care goals or meet their expectations. Although students go through a number of normal changes and transitions during college, as a family member you might pick up on these signs before anyone else. The University of Florida has compiled a list of the Top 20 Tips to Joining a Healthy Organization, which is intended to help students identify the organizations that are healthy and most rewarding to them. You may find this list to be helpful, and we encourage you to discuss this with your student. The Top 20 list can be found here. The UF Community cares about one In addition, the University of Florida takes any allegation of hazing very another. U Matter, We Care extends seriously. We have found parents and family members to be great partners to UF's caring culture by educating our help us discourage and address this type of behavior. The following signs community about signs and might be an indication of possible hazing taking place: symptoms of distress and provides students in distress with the 1. The student's communication pattern changes drastically appropriate resources. 2. Changes in mood, sleeping and eating and exercise habits 3. Sudden decrease in academic performance U Matter, We Care is an umbrella 4. Overwhelmingly high time commitment to an organization, leaving for care-related programs and little free time resources for students. If your Source (Lipkins, Susan. Preventing Hazing; Jossey Bass; 2006) student or or one of their friends needs assistance during your time Please talk to your student about hazing before they commit to any at the University of Florida know organization. If you are concerned about the possibility of hazing taking place that there is always someone here within a group that your student has joined, please report this information to who cares and is able to help. All my office so that we can look further into the practices within that you have to do is call or email us at organization. For additional helpful information, click here. 352-294-CARE (352-294-2273) or by email at [email protected]. A special thank you to Laura Matthews who contributed this article. Laura is the Associate Director of Student Conduct and Conflict Resolution in the Dean Remember at UF you are a of Students Office. valued member of our community! Tradition Defined: Preview Staff 2015 Staying Safe There is no bigger honor than becoming a University of Florida Gator! UF students have countless opportunities to challenge themselves both academically and socially while engaging in a community of higher learning. In order to assist students with their transition, the University of Florida selects approximately 40 current students to serve as Orientation Leaders, better known as Preview Staffers. These students become experts in academic advising, student involvement, and community expectations. They take on the responsibility of representing the University of Florida and starting the tradition for over 6,000 new students and over 10,000 family members. Providing a safe learning environment for your student Preview Staff applications are now available and attending the University of Florida is are due September 19 by 4:30 p.m. to New a top priority. As part of continuous Student and Family Programs located in Peabody Hall. improvements to the university's existing comprehensive security If you or your student has any additional questions, please visit New Student measures, Student Government has and Family Programs recently invested in an effective personal security solution, turning 2 of 5 9/2/2014 12:01 PM Family Connection https://ui.constantcontact.com/visualeditor/visual_editor_preview.jsp?age... the students' smartphones into a mobile safety device. UF Fall Fairs The University of Florida Fall Fairs provides opportunities for new and Students can use smartphones to returning students to learn about the resources, university support services view local crime, submit tips to UF and leadership opportunities that await them at the University of Florida. Police or summon help from police in just one tap. Volunteer Organization Fair Wednesday, September 10 TapShield's Entourage feature lets 10:00am - 1:00 pm students share their route + ETA Reitz Union Breezeway with friends and family and For more information, please visit automatically notifies contacts and Center for Leadership and Service police if students don't make it to their destination. Involvement Fair Wednesday, September 10 Please urge your student to 11:00am - 2:00pm download TapShield onto their Reitz Union North Lawn smartphones and use it. The app is For more information, please visit Student Activities and Involvement free and easily found on iTunes or Google Play Store. Study Abroad Fair Wednesday, September 17 Click here to learn more about 10:00am - 3:00pm TapShield at UF! Plaza of the Americas For more information, please visit GatorNights: Always International Center Friday, Always Free Career Showcase September 30 - October 1 9:00am - 3:00pm O'Connell Center For more information, please visit Career Resource Center GatorNights is the leading late night program in the Southeast, taking place every Friday night during the Fall, Spring, Summer A and First Year Florida Peer Leader Application Summer B semesters. Students can gain admittance using their Gator 1 card and are allowed to bring one additional guest. GatorNights offers the latest blockbuster movies, bands, DJs, comedians, improv shows, arts and crafts, video game tournaments and more. Most importantly, there is FREE midnight munchies! The program is a great way to spend a First Year Florida is the first-year student's guide to academic success at the Friday night! University of Florida. This one-credit, one-hour per week course is packed with the tips, tricks, and tactics necessary for survival on this large, diverse Jake Owen: Days of Gold campus. Class discussions and projects focus on student skills, social diversity, career decisions, and financial management. Tour Each class is paired with a university official and undergraduate peer leader to help students develop the practical, social, emotional, and intellectual skills that are essential to a fulfilling four years at UF. Applications to become a peer leader will open September 2 and can be found on the Dean of Students website. To learn more about First Year Florida, the Peer Leader experience and the application/interview process, applicants are strongly encouraged to attend one of the FYF Information Sessions. These are on September 24 and October 6 at 6:00 p.m. in the Reitz Union Matthews Suite.