November 2016 Parent & Family eNewsletter
Volume 15, Issue 11
In this issue...
General News
- Thanksgiving and Semester Break Bus Trip Tickets on Sale
- Save the Date for Sibling Saturday 2017
- Parent Pulse Poll
- Get your student's car ready for holiday travel at the Free Car Clinic November 9th
- Student Rec Center offers massages, Battleship tournament, outdoor adventures
- University Career Center: People to People Non-Profit Fair
- Red Raider Orientation 2017 registration is open
- The 2016 Texas Tech Ornament
- Student Counseling Center Crisis Helpline
- For your complete Texas Tech news, visit Texas Tech Today
Financial Tips/Info
Scholarships/Job Opportunities
- Red Raider Orientation, Transfer Connection, and Red Raider Camp are hiring
- Searching for Scholarships
- Is your student looking for a job?
- Students planning to work on campus need original social security card
Academic
- Advance Registration for Spring and Summer 2017
- University Writing Center
- Residential Tutoring
- SOAR Learning Center empowers students in pursuits of success
Housing
- Residence Hall Mailing
- Living Off Campus - Common Pitfalls
- Consider renters insurance for your student whether they are living on or off campus
Graduation
Important Dates
- Thanksgiving Holiday
- Career Center Events
- Save the date for Carol of Lights: December 2nd
- This month's academic and event calendar
Extracurricular Activities
Texas Tech Parents Association
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Thanksgiving and Semester Break Bus Trip Tickets on Sale
Does your student need a ride home for Thanksgiving or the Semester Break? Parent and Family Relations is pleased to announce that Break Shuttle will provide bus trips to assist Texas Tech students in traveling home for Thanksgiving and Semester Break 2016.
Destinations include: Dallas/Fort Worth, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and El Paso (Thanksgiving only). This trip is organized to help students travel home at a lower cost who might not otherwise be able to make it home for Thanksgiving or the Semester Break.
Visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/parentrelations/bustrips.php for bus schedule, pricing, and to purchase tickets.
Save the Date for Sibling Saturday 2017: February 18th
Enjoy a day filled with fun, educational, and spirited events sure to get siblings of Texas Tech students excited about college and share in the traditions of Raiderland. Sibling Saturday invites Texas Tech students to spend time with their brothers or sisters in a day filled with great activities just for them. Siblings between the ages of 8 and 15 are invited to attend. Mark your calendars for Saturday, February 18, 2017!
Online registration and the full schedule will be available online at www.parent.ttu.edu in December.
Parent Pulse Poll
Each month, Parent & Family Relations will conduct a Parent & Family Pulse Poll—a brief poll about Texas Tech parent and family experiences. We will share our poll results each month online. Here is the link to this month's poll about spending money: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PVGWG5B
For past poll results visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/parentrelations/polls.php.
Get your student's car ready for holiday travel at the Free Car Clinic November 9th
Join Transportation and Parking Services Wednesday, November 9 from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the C16 parking lot in the northwest corner of Commuter West for the Free Car Clinic! Professional mechanics from Scott's Complete Car Care will look over vehicles and alert drivers to any issues they see and top off fluids. Attendees receive free food, drinks, and prizes. See http://www.facebook.com/TTUParking for more information!
Student Rec Center offers massages, Battleship tournament, outdoor adventures
Thanksgiving is right around the corner and that means tests, papers and finals are also closing in on your student. Did you know the Rec Center has licensed massage therapists? Massage Therapy not only relieves aches and pains but is also a very positive form of stress relief. You can purchase a gift card for your student by calling (806) 742-3828. Cost is $40 for an hour or $25 for a half hour. We will mail the gift card to your student who then calls to make an appointment.
Have you ever heard of Battleship? Imagine 4 folks in a canoe with buckets trying to sink other boats. Registration is open until November 7 and the Tournament is November 9. Get your student to enter a team. Here is a link with the details: http://www.imleagues.com/spa/sport/8f75a07bad1947e9b64f1ef31d59fc41/home
There are 2 Outdoor Pursuits Trips that still have spots available. Trip prices include transportation, gear, food, leaders and lots of fun. The Hueco Tanks Bouldering Trip is November 4-6. This is a climbing trip (near El Paso). Cost is $65. The Big Bend Canoe the Lower Canyons Trip is November 19-27 (Thanksgiving) and is a magnificent trip the Big Bend. Cost is $250. Have your student contact the Outdoor Pursuits Center. There will be lots of trips during the Spring semester, too. And we rent skis and snowboards, too!
All the information is available at http://www.depts.ttu.edu/recsports/
University Career Center: People to People Non-Profit Fair
Students interested in acquiring practicum experience, internships, shadowing experiences, or full-time employment in a Non-Profit organization will have the opportunity to talk with representatives and pick up valuable information about various organizations at the People to People Fair. Non-Profit organizations from Lubbock and the surrounding area will be in attendance. If your student is interested in these types of positions, but would like to find a position closer to home, many of the organizations are state-wide and representatives will be able to share contact information with attendees.
To prepare for this opportunity, as well as other job fairs, the University Career Center has counselors who can help students develop resumes, cover letters, and personal statements. Counselors can also perform mock interviews to help students gain confidence when interviewing for internship and jobs. When your student utilizes the services from the University Career Center, they will be prepared to present themselves and their experiences in a professional, marketable way.
A partial list of non-profit organizations that will be in attendance are:
- American Red Cross
- Big Brothers Big Sisters
- Catholic Charities
- Moonlight Musicals
- Ronald McDonald House
- Susan G. Komen
- Texas Boy's Ranch
- TTU Department of Political Science
- United Way
Please encourage your student to attend The People to People Fair, Wednesday, November 9th from 2:00 pm to 4:00 pm in the Student Union Ballroom. It will be a valuable experience and will help prepare them for their future careers.
For more information about the University Career Center visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/careercenter/.
Red Raider Orientation 2017 Registration is Open
Do you know students planning to enroll at Texas Tech University for Spring, Summer, or Fall 2017? Red Raider Orientation registration is now available! Please encourage them to reserve their spot now. Red Raider Camp registration will open in December 2016.
The 2016 Texas Tech Ornament
The 2016 Texas Tech Ornament is now available! This year's ornament features one of the most iconic symbols on campus, as it has a single Victory Bell surrounded by a tower of the Administration Building.
The bottom features a Double T with the words from the beloved Red Raider fight song "And the victory bells will ring out!" inscribed beside it.
Pricing for the 2016 ornament is $36 and includes shipping and sales tax.
Don't wait, these ornaments are sure to go fast. These make a great gift for that special Red Raider in your life, or turn your ordinary Christmas tree into a Texas Tech one! Purchase yours today.
Student Counseling Center Crisis Helpline
A new 24-hour telephone helpline service is available to assist Texas Tech students who are experiencing a mental health or interpersonal violence crisis. The TTU Crisis HelpLine number is (806) 742-5555. Students can call the helpline and speak immediately with a mental health counselor.
Parents who are helping a student in distress can also call the helpline for assistance. In addition to assisting with immediate crises, the helpline counselors will be familiar with Texas Tech and Lubbock community resources and will be able to direct the caller to the appropriate resource.
For your complete Texas Tech news, visit Texas Tech Today
Keep up-to-date about everything Texas Tech by visiting Texas Tech Today, a complete news source for Texas Tech University.
Student Business Services Important Dates
November 25th
- The Budget and Emergency payments plans both have installment payments due
For more information visit Student Business Services website.
FAFSA® Changes for 2017–18
Students will be able to submit a FAFSA® earlier. Students will be able to file a 2017–18 FAFSA as early as Oct. 1, 2016, rather than beginning on Jan. 1, 2017. The earlier submission date will be a permanent change, enabling students to complete and submit a FAFSA as early as October 1 every year. (There is NO CHANGE to the 2016–17 schedule. The FAFSA became available January 1 as in previous years.)
Students will use earlier income information. Beginning with the 2017–18 FAFSA, students will be required to report income information from an earlier tax year. For example, on the 2017–18 FAFSA, students (and parents, as appropriate) will report their 2015 income information, rather than their 2016 income information.
Learn More https://studentaid.ed.gov/sa/about/announcements/fafsa-changes
Red Raider Orientation, Transfer Connection, and Red Raider Camp are hiring
Red Raider Orientation, Transfer Connection, and Red Raider Camp are all in need of student employees for 2017. These are great opportunities to serve Texas Tech, develop leadership and communication skills, and make a little bit of money. More information about each program's employment opportunities can be found by clicking the links below:
Searching for Scholarships
The Scholarship Office recently developed a new search tool for external scholarships. Most of the scholarships listed are scholarships that students at Texas Tech have actually received.
Learn More http://www.depts.ttu.edu/scholarships/ExternalScholarships/ScholarshipSearch.php
Is your student looking for a job?
Encourage your student to visit Texas Tech Human Resources and University Career Center for on-campus and off-campus employment.
Students planning to work on campus need original social security card
Is your student planning to get a new job on campus? Students who work on campus must bring their original Social Security Cards for human resources processing due to federal I-9 requirements. Remind your student to keep his or her social security card in a safe place.
Advance Registration for Spring and Summer 2017
Advance registration for current Texas Tech students begins November 3, 2016. Please note: incoming students will register for classes when they attend Red Raider Orientation (dates vary).
For more information and the complete schedule for advance registration, visit https://www.depts.ttu.edu/officialpublications/class_schedule/spring_web_regis.php
University Writing Center
The University Writing Center offers undergraduates, graduate students, faculty, and staff 30-minute, one-on-one tutorials on any type of writing, including resumes, personal statements, research papers, and articles for publication. We believe that writing serves as one of the primary means for learning and communicating and that every good writer needs a good reader.
The UWC is open for the fall term. Our hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. We are located in RM.175 of the English/Philosophy Building.
To set up an appointment, call (806) 742-2476 or visit them online at http://uwc.ttu.edu/.
Residential Tutoring
The Residential Tutoring program is designed to provide academic services for students living in the residence halls at Texas Tech University. Residential Tutoring is a completely free service provided for all on-campus students during convenient hours and close to home.
Residential Tutors (RTs) provide peer tutoring in subjects that residence hall students struggle with the most frequently, according to campus data. These areas of study are:
- Chemistry (1307 and 1308)
- Math (1351 and 1352)
- Writing (in any subject area)
- Political Science (1301)
- History (2300 and 2301)
- Biology (1403)
- Physics (1403 and 1408)
For more information and Fall 2016 schedule visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/housing/tutoring/index.php
SOAR Learning Center empowers students in pursuits of success
The SOAR Learning Center's mission is to empower students in their pursuit towards academic success while providing an encouraging and safe learning environment. The Learning Center works to enhance the academic endeavors of all currently enrolled Texas Tech students by offering a variety of free services such as peer & online tutoring, academic mentoring, and supplemental instruction. Tutoring and academic mentoring is available Monday through Thursday from 8am-8pm and Friday 8am-5pm.
An additional resource available to students at the Learning Center is access to a licensed professional counselor with over 25 years in education. Stacy Elliot, M.Ed., LPC is a LEARNING SPECIALIST/SENIOR COUNSELOR available to work holistically with students striving to be successful in college. As a counselor, she works to help students resolve personal issues that may hinder their academic success. The Learning Specialist is available Monday through Friday 8am-5pm by appointments and accepts walk-ins.
The SOAR Learning Center is located in Holden Hall Room 80 and our office number is (806)742-3664. Visit us at www.lc.soar.ttu.edu.
Residence Hall Mailing Information
Should you need to send your student a letter or package during the school year be sure to have their residence hall name and number handy. Visit University Student Housing's website on how to address your letter or package.
You may also check out our How-To Video for more assistance.
Living Off Campus - Common Pitfalls
Is your student living off campus or considering living off campus? Be sure to read Common Pitfalls when it comes to living off campus.
Consider renters insurance for your student whether they are living on or off campus
Most landlords do not require the tenant to have renters insurance. All landlords deny liability for any damages to your personal property caused by water, smoke, or fire. Student Legal Services highly recommends any student, living off campus or on-campus, to obtain renters insurance. Renters insurance is a cost effective way to replace damaged property. Speak with your insurance representative to discuss your options.
If you or your student has any other questions about renters insurance please call 806-742-3289 or visit www.depts.ttu.edu/sls/.
College Renters Insurance offers coverage starting at $5,000 with a $100 deductible. Coverage for your personal property starts as low as $12 per month.
Visit www.CollegeRentersPlan.com/ttu to see all of the coverage options available or call (866) 572-1617.
Commencement Dates
If your student is graduating in December, congratulations! Below is the Fall Commencement schedule for Texas Tech University.
PLEASE NOTE: The colleges are listed below in alphabetical order and NOT necessarily in the order in which they will be recognized.
Friday, December 16, 2016
3:00 p.m.Arts and Sciences
7:00 p.m.
Graduate School
Saturday, December 17, 2016
9:00 a.m.
Architecture
Education
Engineering
Human Sciences
Visual & Performing Arts
1:30 p.m.
Agricultural Sciences & Natural Resources
Business Administration
Media and Communication
Honors College (EVHM and HAL Majors Only)
University Programs
Wind Energy
Texas Tech has a Commencement website, which is your one-stop-shop for all things related to Commencement, including the schedule for upcoming ceremonies, lists of hotels (which sell out quickly!), parking information, and information about ordering invitations and photos of the big day.
Bookmark this site for all of your Commencement needs:
https://www.depts.ttu.edu/provost/commencement/
Thanksgiving Holiday
The Thanksgiving Holiday for students begins Wednesday, November 23rd. Classes are in session Monday, November 21st - Tuesday, November 22nd. The University will be closed Thursday, November 24th - Friday, November 25th.
Career Center Events
Teacher Job Fair
November 2nd | 9 am – 12 pm
McKenzie-Merket Alumni Center
The People to People Non-Profit Fair
November 9th | 2 pm – 4 pm
SUB Ballroom
Resume Critique Day (walk-in resume critiques)
November 16th | 9 am – 4 pm
University Career Center | 150 Wiggins Complex (next to Sam's Place West)
Webinars
Webinars are 30-45 minute live informational sessions focused on career growth and
development. Topics include resume and cover letter writing, job fair preparation,
and industry insights! Visit the UCC website for a complete listing of upcoming webinars.
(http://www.depts.ttu.edu/careercenter/webinars/index.php ).
For a full list of upcoming events and webinars, please visit the University Career Center Events page.
Save the date for Carol of Lights: December 2nd
With the flip of a switch, more than 25,000 colored lights illuminate 18 buildings around Memorial Circle, the Engineering Key and the Broadway Entrance to the campus during Texas Tech University's Carol of Lights®. The 58th Annual Carol of Lights will be on Friday, December 2nd, 2016 at 7:00 p.m.
For more details visit http://www.depts.ttu.edu/housing/caroloflights/.
This month's academic and event calendar
November 4, Friday
- Last day for graduate degree candidates to submit to the ETD website the final PDF of thesis/dissertation.
- Last day for graduate degree candidates to submit the Oral Defense and Thesis-Dissertation Approval Form.
- Last day for M.M. and D.M.A. candidates to post the PDFs of recital programs to the ETD website and submit recordings of recitals to the Graduate School.
November 21, Monday
- Last day to remove grades of I, PR, or CR in the Graduate School. This does not apply to the PR/CR received on a previous thesis or dissertation enrollment.
- Official reports due to Graduate School on Interdisciplinary Portfolio for the master's degree (non-thesis students).
- Official reports due to Graduate School on results of final comprehensive examinations.
- Last day to inform the Graduate School of plans to graduate in absentia.
- Last day for graduate degree candidates to pay thesis-dissertation fee posted to Banner account.
- Last day of advance registration for spring and summer 2017.
November 22, Tuesday
- Open registration for spring and summer 2017 begins.
- Last day to transfer between colleges.
November 23 – 27, Wednesday – Sunday
- Thanksgiving holiday. No meals available at any Hospitality Services location November 24-27 (hospitality.ttu.edu). University employees will not be on duty November 24-25.
November 28, Monday
- Classes resume.
November 30, Wednesday
- Last day for undergraduate degree candidates to remove grades of I and PR.
Complete calendar information:
Have your student check out Orgsync for ways to get involved
Is your student involved in student organizations? If not, have him or her visit http://ttu.orgsync.com for a list of and contact information for all registered student organizations. It is especially important for students living on and off campus to get involved and stay connected to campus.
Student Union and Activities Calendar
Student Union and Activities always makes sure there is plenty for your Tech students to do! If your student complains that he or she can't find any fun activities or meet many people on campus, tell him or her about these exciting, FREE activities.
Click HERE for the complete Activities Calendar.
Looking for ways to get involved?
For more ways to get involved as a parent or family member of a Texas Tech student, join the Texas Tech Parents Association at www.texastechparents.org. Your membership dues support programs such as scholarships for Texas Tech students, the Road Raiders Safe Travel Network, and local chapters all over Texas.
You can also get involved in various chapter activities throughout the year. Come enjoy a fun time with other Texas Tech parents and family members. Click HERE to view community calendar of events.
Parent and Family Relations
-
Address
Drane Hall 2515 15th St., Box 45020, Lubbock, Texas 79409-5020 -
Phone
806.742.3630 -
Email
parent@ttu.edu