DECEMBER 2017, ISSUE NO. 12
Miami Family,

Welcome to December and Final Exam Week! After completing this first round of final exams, along with the major life adjustment of starting college, students typically need a well-deserved rest and plenty of time with family and friends during the upcoming Winter Break (and Winter Term for many).

Please make time with your student for intentional reflection on fall semester. This issue focuses on that reflection, along with making the most of Winter Break and Winter Term, planning for spring semester, and an overview of second-year housing options at Miami. It may also be helpful to revisit expectations for being home, which were discussed in the November Miami Family Focus. Review all previous issues on our Stay in Touch page.

Love and Honor,
Mark W. Pontious
Reflecting on Fall and Looking Towards Spring
Right now, students may not think spring semester is anywhere near, since they are focused on final exams. However, spring semester will be here before they know it. This means a new class schedule, spring social and athletic events, and much more. The days of Winter Break and Winter Term are a great time to prepare for spring semester. 

Winter Break 101
  • Do a reality check: Take some time to discuss what your student thinks of college life and fall semester. Was the workload more than expected? How were the social pressures? What did your student miss most about being at home? Remember, the successes and disappointments that came in the fall are opportunities to learn strategies for future semesters. 
  • The color of winter: Many students see it in blue. Even those who are used to our frequently-gray weather may sing the blues during the icy days of January and February. You may want to check in on your student's overall mood regularly. Once they get back to campus, you can also send a care package as a reminder of home and loved ones. If things seem beyond the help of a cheerful phone call and some homebaked cookies, your student can meet with one of the many professionals in the Student Counseling Service
  • Who you know and where you go: Involved students get better grades and feel better about life at Miami. Spring semester is a great time for your student to join a student club/organization - we have more than 500 possibilities. Intramurals, club sports, community service and activism, and campus jobs are other great ways to branch out and connect with peers.
Make sure to check out the Marking the Most of Winter Break and Winter Term article in this issue for more suggestions of how to maximize the time your student has at home. 
First Grades are (Almost) In
Fall grades will be available through BannerWeb beginning the afternoon of Thursday, December 21. If you've been granted access by your student, then you can view grades at that time. College final exams are often an eye-opening experience for students used to doing well in high school. If grades do not match expectations, here are several questions to help students assess their performance: Did they attend every class? Were they on their laptop throughout class, instead of actively participating? Did they take advantage of office hours? Stay caught up on reading and homework? Seek out tutoring at the first sign of difficulty? If students can identify ways they could have done more, that serves as a guide for future semesters. No matter the GPA, encourage your student to take away the larger lesson of how to adjust study and work habits for spring semester

Low grades? Be proactive.
We expect all students to adjust to the academic demands of college, and provide assistance to those who have difficulty doing so. Any student who earns a GPA below a 2.0 during the first semester is placed on academic warning. We do not do this to scare students, but to trigger a proactive intervention process designed to enhance academic performance.

Students on academic warning are required to complete steps to fulfill the requirements of this process. Scheduling a visit with the Rinella Learning Center staff for assistance through academic coaching and tutoring will go a long way toward getting back on track. Exploring Rinella's self-help resources, which include topics such as time management, note taking, and study strategies, can start the process of doing better in classes before spring semester even begins. Many of these same topics were covered in the October webinar about Post-Midterms Academic Assistance. (Re)watching this session may also prove beneficial after students have the full picture of their academic performance during fall semester.
Making the Most of Winter Break and Winter Term
Winter Break and Winter Term are great opportunities for students to take advantage of opportunities not as easily accessible during fall and spring semesters. Options include shadowing professionals in a potential career field, volunteering, and taking a class, among others. All of these options can be done in their hometown, making the most of extended time in the community. Miami offers many online classes during Winter Term, assisting students in progressing toward their degree. Family and friends can connect students with people in careers of interest. Even a day of shadowing or an informational interview can be useful and enlightening. 

The Center for Career Exploration & Success (CCES) offers a wealth of career planning resources for students and parents, which are worth exploring in-depth over the break. These resources include overviews of dozens of career paths, information about preparing for a job search, and what careers are currently in demand. Additionally, students can continue to work through Phase 1 of the Career Planning Process by taking career assessments and completing "Mapping Your Miami Journey." 

CCES also offers multiple experiential learning programs during Winter Term. The CareerLEAP program provides students with the opportunity to travel to either San Francisco or Washington, D.C., tour organizations, and meet with alumni. Job Shadow Day is an opportunity for students to participate in job shadowing at a variety of organizations in both Cincinnati and Columbus. StartupCincy Day gives students a firsthand experience of what it is like to work in Cincinnati's statup community.

Visit the Winter Term FAQ page for additional information about Winter Term opportunities at Miami.
Housing Options for Second Year Students at Miami
Second year students have several living options at Miami. These include potentially returning to their first-year Living Learning Community or choosing a new one, creating their own Living Learning Community, living in Sorority Corridor Housing, and living in an approved fraternity house. The processes for the various options typically begin in early February. Visit the Room Selection page for more information and a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding on-campus options. Additional information regarding second year living options was discussed in the early November webinar on this topic. More specific information is sent to students via email and will be sent to you in January.

You may also find yourself in talking about plans for your student's third year at Miami. The pressure to sign off-campus leases for junior year commonly begins in earnest during spring semester of a student's first year. Your student may know peers who have already begun this process and may have also received initial questions about their plans. However, only about a third of Miami first-year students sign leases this far ahead for their third year. This decision may become problematic for students when the time comes to move into that residence, for reasons such as: 
  • Friend groups are still developing and may change drastically between now and then
  • Plans for studying abroad, internships, and on-campus leadership have not yet been finalized.
Each year, we see many students and families experience anxiety, frustration, and even financial loss when plans and friends change, forcing a scramble to find subleases or losing the security deposit. We can assure you that many housing options continue to be available in Oxford much closer to the beginning of the year. While the decision is ultimately up to you and your student, we recommend waiting a few more months before signing a 2019-2020 lease.

When discussing housing options for their third year at Miami, don't forget that on-campus housing is also an option. Many students choose to live on campus after their second year due to the benefits and conveniences that it provides, such as location, included utilities, card-access security, and no need to worry about finding a sublease if going abroad for a semester. Room selection for rising third and fourth year students typically begins in mid-October for the following year.

A Few Additional Tips from Off-Campus Outreach
  • Explore our Off-Campus Housing Service for a better understanding of the Oxford rental market. Current availability can give an idea of possible 2019-2020 availability at this point next year.
  • Encourage your student to attend the Off-Campus Housing Fair: Tuesday, February 6, 1-4 p.m., Armstrong East Wing Atrium.
  • Attend our webinar on February 1 about this process and supporting your student through it. 
  • When your student decides to sign, read this article of tips for reviewing a lease.
Twitter Facebook Pinterest
powered by emma
Subscribe to our email list.