SEPTEMBER 2017, ISSUE NO. 9
Miami Family,

We are already three weeks into the fall semester! Students are likely close to their first round of exams, while at the same time starting to find student organizations and a group of friends. This is exciting for many students, but may be overwhelming for others. Sending an extra note of encouragement can help lower the stress associated with this time in the term.

This issue of Miami Family Focus contains information about early career exploration opportunities, academic support resources, dining at Miami, and a reminder of the many uses of your student's Miami ID card. Review previous issues on our Stay in Touch page.

Love and Honor,
Mark W. Pontious
Fall Career Fair and Early Career Exploration Series
Fall Career Fair
You may think that the first month of school is too early to visit a Career Fair. However, we encourage first-year students of all majors to participate in First-Year Friendly Tours at Career Fair. There is a specific table for first-year students to check in, where a career services assistant will take them on a tour of the fair and introduce them to employers who have distinguished themselves as First-Year Friendly companies. Tours are a great way for your student to understand what a career fair is like, without the pressure of having to secure a job. Tours run every 15 minutes on September 13, 1-5p.m. in Millett Hall. Students do not need to dress in formal business attire, but we do recommend business casual clothes. All a student needs to do is stop by this year's fall Career Fair!

Early Career Exploration Webinars
Finding a job or a career that "fits" can be a challenge. One must determine what careers are available, interests, and skills required. Numerous resources are available to help your student get a sense of their interests and skills, as well as gain employment experience and learn about employment opportunities. These webinars will cover all things related to "career exploration," such as LinkedIn, alumni networking, job shadowing, faculty relationships, mentors, industry research, informational interviewing, and much more! This webinar is highly encouraged prior to attending a career exploration panel (more below) to help your student fully understand and make sense of career exploration. Please review our Programs and Workshops page for webinar times and dates.

Early Career Exploration Panels

Is your student unsure of their choice of major? Did your student declare a major, but is unsure how they want to use it beyond Miami? Is your student interested in exploring careers in different industries? If you answered "Yes" to any of these questions, encourage your student to participate in the Early Career Exploration Series, offered by The Center for Career Exploration and Success (CCES). Each month the series will showcase careers in a specific industry that hires students across all Miami majors. Employers from that industry will be available to share their insights with students, and speak to skills and experiences employers are looking for in their interns and full-time employees. Regardless of your student's major, we hope you will encourage them to attend the monthly programs and learn more about available career opportunities. Students are most successful when they take a four year view to think about and prepare for their careers, rather than stepping into the process as a senior. Students can explore our Programs and Workshops page for more details and a listing of programs. Special newsletters will also be sent directly to students via email announcing the events. 

Academic Support Resources at Miami

Many new and continuing students experience difficulty managing their time, figuring out how to study complex course content, effectively preparing for and taking exams, maintaining motivation, and being the overall type of student they want to be. Miami provides numerous academic support opportunities to help students achieve their academic goals. 

The Rinella Learning Center, located on the 3rd floor of the Shriver Center, is the primary academic support center for the University. Rinella offers free academic support through academic counseling, academic coaching, tutoring, Supplemental Instruction, and a workshop series on various academic topics open to all Miami students. Tutoring appointments can be scheduled through Rinella’s website. Rinella also offers a study strategies course (EDT110) for students who need to develop different academic skills. The staff has also developed a planner designed to help students manage time, track assignments and grades, and prepare for final exams. This planner can be purchased in the main office of Rinella Learning Center. Rinella Learning Center is also home to the testing center for students who have testing accommodations through the Student Disability Services office.

Additional academic support resources on campus include:

  • Faculty office hours - Students can discuss topics such as course content, research interests, and career options in that faculty member's field
  • Howe Writing Center -  Supports students in all phases and types of writing, including all courses, graduate school applications, course presentations, group projects, and student organizations
  • Academic advisors - Assist students with understanding progress in their major, including scheduling courses for spring semester (which begins in late October)
  • Student Disability Services - Provides support services, accommodations, and resources to students with diagnosed disabilities to ensure equal access to education, employment, and University life

Students who do not know where to start with the academic support options should schedule an appointment with a learning specialist at the Rinella Learning Center: 513-529-8741. Remind your student to seek assistance early - before they are in real trouble in a course. We encourage students to be proactive about seeking help rather than reactive. And these resources are not just for students who are experiencing academic difficulties, but are also great for students looking to turn that B+ into an A! 

Dining On Campus at Miami
Dining Services is exciting to welcome you and your student to the Miami Family and are here to assist you and answer questions about eating at one of the many on-campus dining locations. Below are several questions that students and families commonly ask:

What dining locations are near my student's hall?” With 30+ dining locations on campus, there are a variety of options to satisfy your tastebuds. Use the dining map on our website to navigate to the nearest venue and view expansive descriptions of each location.

“What is being served today?” Use the MyTray feature on the Miami Dining website to view what is being served on campus during any meal period. You can see the current menu and up to 4 days in advance for any buffet or a la carte location. This is helpful when planning a meal with friends or seeking out a certain menu item (like Bang Bang Shrimp!). With MyTray, you can also select multiple menu items to see their combined calorie count and other nutritional information about the meal. 

“Where can I see what’s open?” Current hours of operation are posted outside of every dining location, the dining website, and on our social media platforms. You can follow us on Instagram and Twitter (@MiamiUDining) or find us on Facebook at MiamiU Dining.

“Where can I use declining balance meal plan dollars?” At a la carte or market locations, including:
  • Cafe Lux at Armstrong Student Center - A European-inspired dining location that serves deluxe coffee, pastries and sandwiches. Try this new location for a quick meal and caffeine pick-me-up.
  • The Toasted Bagel at Armstrong Student Center - This location will serve— you guessed it— bagels! The menu features bagel sandwiches, plain bagels, breakfast bagels, and the ever-popular Traders’ Greens salad bar. Their signature dessert, The Toasted Bagel, is a bagel toasted with butter, cinnamon and sugar then sprinkled with powdered sugar – Tuffy’s Toasted Roll style!
  • Red Zone at Armstrong Student Center - This casual dining eatery has pool tables, foosball, TVs, and a laid back environment to break up a typical eating routine. Students can try one of the many hot dog combinations or the delicious Smokehouse Mac & Cheese sandwich! 
  • Maple Grill at Maplestreet Station - Quick stop for quinoa bowls, quesadillas, burgers, etc. Break up the commons-style routine with a trip to Maple Grill. 
  • Western Express at Western Dining Hall - This is a quick and convenient stop for a snack on western campus. With a selection of sushi, egg sandwiches, muffins, hot or cold drinks, Western Express will surely have the variety so you can quickly get what you’re looking for.
“Where can I get a cup of coffee?For some, those early classes come with mornings that only can be accompanied by a good cup of coffee. There are 15+ locations on campus to get a favorite brew:
  • Starbucks at Maplestreet Station continues to be a campus favorite. 
  • Cafe Lux in Armstrong Student Center is the newest addition to campus. This is a good place for the days when students want to switch it up and try a specialty coffee. 
  • King Cafe located inside the King Library is the go to place to take a break from studying to grab a quick meal or recharge with caffeine. This location offers a quick and easy way to purchase food, coffee beverages, or smoothies. King Cafe also serves Starbucks coffee and offers drinks ranging from black coffee to frappuccinos.
“I want to make my own meals or pack a lunch” Not only do we have buffet style and a la carte options on campus, we also have seven on-campus markets where students are welcomed to a grocery-style shopping experience. 

“I have general questions about eating on campus” Your first stop should be the dining website. It is filled with information on the overall department as well as individual locations. Can’t find your answer? Let us know on Twitter and Instagram: @MiamiUDining or on Facebook: MiamiU Dining.

“I want to provide feedback” For longer responses, or for those without social media, give us your feedback through this online form.

“I have meal plan questions!” For more information about the details of your meal plan and what it will provide for you, please contact the HOME Office at 513.529.5000.
Sexual and Interpersonal Violence
In the midst of moving students to college for the first time or returning for another year, most parents are not thinking about sexual and interpersonal violence (SIV). Recent events and legislation have created a new call to action to stop SIV and change the campus culture at universities across the country. Miami is no exception and is taking a lead role in demonstrating our commitment to addressing this national issue by dedicating time, financial, and human personnel resources, and a clear message on standards of behavior.
The national campaign launched by the White House and personalized by colleges campuses is called "It's On Us -- to stop sexual and interpersonal violence". It's On Us sounds a clarion call to all of us - students, staff, faculty, all of us who have a vested interest and responsibility in the success of our University and the success of our students. On August 27, your students attended "It IS My Place," a theater production that emphasized positive bystander behavior, a sense of community, and a responsibility to live out the ideals of Love, Honor, and Respect in all we do and to encourage that in others.
 
What will students see that looks different? Every student should have access to a magnet with confidential resources and reporting resources which were distributed through the residence halls and off campus. Students will see a variety of It's On Us messages that explain the program and encourage to take the pledge to stop sexual and interpersonal violence. The It's On Us logo appears on program advertising events and activities that are designed with the intention to explore an aspect of an SIV topic and promote dialogue.
 
Several student organizations have a primary mission to address sexual and interpersonal violence. Encourage your student to explore involvement opportunities. Any student or group of students can help promote It's On Us by contacting the Office of Student Wellness.
 
The first person a victim/survivor generally discloses to is a friend or roommate. If your student or their friend finds they need support services, contact the Sexual Assault Response Coordinator, Becca Getson at 513-529-1870 or getsonra@MiamiOH.edu. They have the option of several confidential resources, in addition to reporting resources
 
It is important to talk with your student about these difficult topics. They continue to listen. Let's keep the conversation going, at home and at Miami. For more information regarding Title IX and Miami University's efforts, please see:

Your Student's Miami ID Card

The Miami University ID Card provides your student access to their residence hall exterior doors, their individual room doors, a MUlaa debit account, their meal plan, the Recreational Sports Center, campus events, and library resources.
We encourage students to become familiar with WebCardCenter, which is the online resource for managing their Miami ID Card. Students access WebCardCenter using their Miami UniqueID and password. By logging in to WebCardCenter, your student is able to:
  • Report a lost card 24 hours a day
  • Register your cell phone for notifications
  • View Meal Plan and MUlaa transactions and balance information
  • Find available washers/dryers in the laundry room of your residence hall
Another feature available for students is MobileID - an app that allows students to access their residence hall and individual room using their phone.* View details for downloading and using this app.

If a Miami ID is lost or stolen it should be reported immediately through WebCardCenter or by calling 513-529-5678. Once a card is reported lost, no one will be able to access the student's residence hall, meal plan dollars, or any account information using that card. If your student quickly finds their card, they should then report the card as found through WebCardCenter, which will allow use of the card to resume

If the Miami ID Card is permanently lost or is damaged, students need to get a replacement card by visiting the HOME Office (034 Campus Avenue Building, Monday-Friday, 8am-5pm). Lost ID replacements are $35, while damaged card replacements are $10, as long as the damaged card is turned in at the time of replacement. After a new card has been issued, the old card is permanently deactivated and can never be used again.

*Note that Mobile ID is a feature to be used as an alternate method only by the student with the privileges for the specific room/door. Using another student's credentials to access a room or hall through Mobile ID is a Dishonesty violation under the Code of Student Conduct, both on the part of the student who accessed the room and the student who provided the access. 

Thanksgiving Transportation

Even though the semester is just starting, many of you are already thinking about Thanksgiving and the logistics of getting your student home, whether to somewhere in Ohio, or much farther from Oxford. Thanksgiving Break officially begins at 10pm on Tuesday, November 21, residence halls close at noon on Wednesday, November 22, and halls reopen at 9am on Sunday, November 26. Most students will still have class on Tuesday, November 21, though some students already know that one or more of their Tuesday classes will not meet, while still others won't find out that a Tuesday class is not meeting until closer to the holiday. All students should plan to be in classes on Tuesday.
Regarding transportation during this break, there are many options to get your students home! If you students are flying home, the University offers BCRTA Airport Shuttles to the Cincinnati and Dayton airports for Thanksgiving, Winter, and Spring breaks. Tickets for these airport shuttles are currently available for purchase. For students who live in the Chicagoland or Akron/Cleveland areas, there is bus service available for these breaks. Other students use one of the many taxi or shared ride services that operate in Oxford. Visit the Transportation page to see a list of these companies and for information about the bus services. Still other students find shared rides either to the airport, to a city midway between Oxford and home (then you only have to drive halfway!), or all the way home. Many times, students sharing the ride will pay for the gas for the trip. There are multiple options to find a shared ride, including student's "Class of 2021" Facebook group, the unofficial Miami Univ (OH) Student Ride Share Facebook group, and the Ride Share board in myMiami, in addition to informally finding a ride through friends and classmates. 
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