The University of Memphis
Inside this issue:
CSA Update
2
ASA Update
2
Student Spotlight: Tatevik Minasyan
3
Board Member Spotlight: Margaret Scott
4
New ACSS Student Lounge
5
Special Areas of Interest: • Adult Scholarship Info • ACSS February Workshop Info • Pinnacle Info • Valentine’s Day • Black History Month Events • February Calendar
Volume 5, ISSUE 5
Adult & Commuter Connection February 2008
BLACK STUDENT ASSOCIATION HONORS MARK STANSBURY The Black Student Association will host its annual Black History Month Opening Reception on February 1, 2008, at 7 p.m. During the reception, Mark L. Stansbury will be presented with the Arthur S. Holmon Lifetime Achievement Award. This ceremony is the official kick-off for the University’s Black History Month events.
tion regarding diversity issues, the representative for the President at community function, and affiliated with the Hooks institute for Social Change. He joined the University of Memphis staff in 1989 as assistant to president Dr. Thomas Carpenter.
Stansbury has been a part of many organizations, including the NAACP, Leadership Memphis, the National Conference of Community and Justice, and the Memphis Race Relations and Diversity Institute. He also was Mr. Mark Stansbury Mark Stansbury currently the first person to receive the serves as Assistant to the President of the Campus Unity award. University of Memphis. He acts as a commuFor more Black History Month Events, nity and public relations intermediary for the please see page 6. President. He is also the source for informa-
Significant Black History Month Dates February 12, 1809: Birth of Abraham Lincoln. February 14, 1817: Date that Frederick Douglass claimed as his birthday. February 23, 1868: Birth of W.E.B. DuBois, civil rights leader and NAACP founder. February 3, 1870: 15th Amendment passes, granting blacks the right to vote.
February 25, 1870: Hiram R. Revels, first black U.S. senator, takes his oath of office. February 12, 1909: Founding of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). February 1, 1960: Group of Greensboro, NC, college students begin a sit-in at segregated Woolworth’s lunch counter.
Adult & Commuter Connection
COMMUTER STUDENT ASSOCIATION NEWS
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ADULT STUDENT ASSOCIATION UPDATE The Adult Student Association is planning several events that you’ll want to mark on your calendar. On Monday, February 4, the ASA will present a Resumé Writing workshop at 12:30 p.m. Dr. Barbara Bekis will discuss how to create a resumé that really stands out.
The Commuter Student Association has been hard at work in the past month preparing for its exciting February events.
The ASA will hold two other workshops this semester, one in March and one in April. Keep an eye out for more information on these events draw nearer.
Students and staff were in for a sweet treat when the CSA hosted a bake sale in the lobby of Wilder Tower on February 6. They will donate thirty-percent of the proceeds to Le Bonheur Children’s Medical Center.
An Adult Learning/ANTSHE Conference at MTSU will be held on February 29—March 2, and is open to anyone who would like to go. Please contact the ACSS office for more information.
The CSA appointed 4 new officers at its last executive meeting: Jerrico Elion—vice president, Katerina Ruaro—assistant treasurer, Nica Formantes—treasurer, Tori Jackson—secretary.
The ASA is a student organization dedicated to providing representation for non-traditional students on campus. It provides great opportunities for adult students to connect with others outside the classroom and let their voices be heard.
The Commuter Student Association represents students who live off campus. They meet on the second Friday of each month at 1 p.m. Come to the next meeting in the Panhellenic Building, Room 207, and find out what’s going on!
Volume 5, ISSUE 5
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STUDENT SPOTLIGHT: TATEVIK MINASYAN Tatevik Minasyan is a freshman majoring in biology. Her family is originally from Armenia; however, they moved to the United States eight years ago and currently reside in Cordova, TN. Tatevik hopes to one day be a doctor, so maintaining a balance between her academics and social life is important to her. Tell me a little about your course of study: I am a freshman majoring in biology. I hope to eventually minor in art or a language, either Russian or Spanish. What made you decide to study at the U of M? It’s a big school, so it offers a lot more opportunities than a smaller, private school. My family also lives near here, and that was important—to stay close to them. Also, I got scholarships, so that helped out. What do you hope to do after graduation? I want to be a doctor, but right now I’m clueless about what kind. Maybe family practice, but I don’t want to decide right now because my plans will probably change. And I’ll probably go to medical school here in Memphis. There are a lot of options here.
Where do you live? I live in Cordova, with my family. As a commuter student, do you feel it’s important to be involved in on-campus activities, and why or why not? Yes, definitely yes, because that way you get to meet so many new people. What are you involved in on campus? Right now, just ACSS. I didn’t want to do too much this year. This year is for academics. I would like to get involved with the International Students Association and maybe SAC eventually. What do you do with your time when not on campus? Art and music. Art is something I’ve done all my life. That’s why I’d like to minor in it, maybe. What’s your favorite aspect of art? I like all of it—everything except 3-D art! Do you have any helpful tips on balancing school and a social life? You should have both. Both are important. To me, it is school. This is an academic time. Before anything else, get school done. Has the ACSS played a significant role in your college life? Before joining here, I didn’t know that many people. Last semester, I was up here every day for, like, 5 hours. This office is like a little home. We like school because of it.
ADULT SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE The Adult Scholarship Program is designed to help adult students reach their educational goals. This renewable scholarship is $5,500 per year for fulltime students and $3,000 per year for part-time students. Applications are located online at www.memphis.edu/acss/news.htm or in the ACSS office on the 5th floor of Wilder Tower.
Eligibility Criteria: •
Be an undergraduate student (in-state or out-of-state)
•
Reach their 25th birthday by August 1, 2008
•
Be pursuing their first undergraduate degree
•
Maintain a 3.0 GPA
For more information, contact the ACSS office at 901-678-2995.
Don’t forget to fill out an application for an adult scholarship! The deadline is
March 3, 2008!
Adult & Commuter Connection
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ACSS STAFF SPOTLIGHT: MARGARET SCOTT, CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER MANAGER How long have you worked for the U of M? I will have been here six years this fall. What brought you here initially? I had retired after 22 years from a faith based program and thought I would enjoy having free time. But that was not the case. After giving my house a good cleaning, I found I had time on my hands. Most of all I missed being with children. I began to feel I should be doing more, so when I saw the ad in the newspaper about the opening here on campus I applied. Coming to work here at The University’s Child Development Center has given me a great opportunity to be with children, and I feel I am helping make a difference in not just the lives of the children, but their parents as well. Tell me a little about your job and its daily responsibilities: The University of Memphis Child Development is licensed for 30 children, but serves approximately 90 to 100 children each semester. We are able to serve this number because we enroll children by the hour and stay open until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday evening. We are a three-star center, the highest rating the State of Tennessee gives. We are also a nationally accredited center. My job is the safety and wellbeing of the children who attend the center. This means having a properly trained staff to teach and care for the children, making sure the bathrooms are cleaned daily, and everything in between. It would take a notebook to write a description of a childcare center director’s responsibilities. What is your favorite part of your job? I really enjoy my job and love what I do. If I had to say what part was my favorite, it would be when I arrive in the morning and the children are there to greet me. If they haven’t gotten involved in class I can expect to receive several hugs. That makes it all worthwhile. What are some things that you enjoy doing while not working? I love spending time with my two little grandsons. I like working in my yard in the spring and summer (I do not like cold weather). I enjoy decorating for special occasions and making flower arrangements for my church. I also like helping my daughter with the special events she plans for her church. How are you involved with the ACSS? I am a board member and try to help in any way needed. What drew you to the organization? It would only be natural to be drawn to ACSS, because this is the group of students we serve. If you could give a college student one significant piece of advice, what would it be? The one piece of advice I would give a student is if you haven’t started a family, wait until you have finished your degree. Many students have completed their degree after having a family, but it is more difficult. Your child, as it should, becomes your top priority and your education sometimes suffers.
ACSS WORKSHOP #1
Love and Relationships Wednesday, February 13, 2008 12:40 - 2:05 p.m. Panhellenic Building, Room 104
Presenter: Dr. Joseph Ventimiglia, Professor of Sociology Refreshments will be provided. Call (901) 678-2644 for more information or visit ACSS online at www.memphis.edu/acss/.
Volume 5, ISSUE 5
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NEW STUDENT LOUNGE OPEN! On January 23, the Adult & Commuter Student Services office held an Open House in its new student lounge at 208 Brister, officially opening it to the public. The lounge is designed for students to have a place to relax in between classes. The new space features cable TV, a microwave and mini-fridge, free coffee/ hot chocolate/apple cider, a table, and a comfy couch and chairs. The lounge’s hours are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Monday through Wednesday and 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Thursday and Friday. To find the new lounge, enter Brister (the building attached to the north end of Wilder Tower). After entering the front doors, go up the stairs and into the main hallway. Take the first hall on the right, walk all the way to the end (past the restrooms) and go through the door. The door on the left is the student lounge.
Students watch cable television in the new Commuter Student Lounge.
HARD WORK DESERVES RECOGNITION
VALENTINE’S DAY QUOTES: “If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?” ~ Anonymous
That’s why the Adult & Commuter Student Services office will soon be sending out invitation letters to students qualifying for
“Love is a fire. But whether it is going to warm your heart or burn down your house, you can never tell.” ~ Joan Rivers
“The course of true love never did run smooth.” ~ William Shakespeare “You really shouldn't say 'I love you' unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.” ~ Jessica (age 8)
membership in Pinnacle, a nationally recognized honor society for non-traditional students (aged twenty-five or older). Undergraduates must have attained senior status, earned at least ninety credit hours, and maintained a GPA of 3.0 or higher to be eligible to join. Graduate students must have completed twelve credit hours and earned a GPA of 3.75. All new members of Pinnacle will be inducted into the society in a ceremony held on April 12, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. in the Engineering auditorium. Members will receive certificates, lapel pins and honor cords.
W H AT ’ S H A P P E N I N G O N C A M P U S
FEBRUARY 2008
BLACK HISTORY MONTH EVENTS Friday, Feb. 1: Black History Month Opening Ceremony. 7 p.m. Rose Theatre. Thursday, Feb. 7: Black History Month Comedy Show. 7- p.m. Rose Theatre. For more information, contact Brandon Hill (901-378-2979).
02/01: Lady Tiger Basketball vs. Houston. 7 p.m., Elma Roane Fieldhouse. 02/02: Groundhog Day. 02/02: Tiger Basketball vs. UTEP. 12 p.m., FedEx Forum. 02/05: Mardi Gras! 02/06: Tiger Basketball vs. SMU. 8 p.m., FedEx Forum.
Saturday, Feb. 9: Black History Month Prayer Breakfast. 9 a.m. Panhellenic Building, 115. Friday, Feb. 15: Black History Month Gospel Explosion. 6 p.m. Rose Theatre. Sunday, Feb. 17: Delta’s After Dark. 7 p.m. Rose Theatre.
02/09: Tiger Basketball vs. UCF. 3 p.m., FedEx Forum. 02/13: Tiger Basketball vs. Houston. 8 p.m., FedEx Forum. 02/14: Valentine’s Day. 02/14: SAC Singles’ Day. 6:30 p.m., Panhellenic 101. 02/16: Tiger Watch Party. 8 p.m., Panhellenic Ballroom. 02/17: Lady Tiger Basketball vs. Tulsa. 2 p.m., Elma Roane Fieldhouse. 02/17: Random Acts of Kindness Day.
Monday, Feb. 18: Black History Month Racial Matters. 2 p.m. Panhellenic Ballroom.
02/18: President’s Day. 02/20: Education Career Fair. 8 a.m.– 5 p.m.,
Friday, Feb. 29: Black History Month Closing Ceremony. 1 p.m. Rose Theatre.
02/21: Porn Nation. 7 p.m., Rose Theatre. 02/23: Tiger Basketball vs. Tennessee. 8 p.m., FedEx Forum. 02/27: Tiger Basketball vs. Tulsa. 8 p.m., FedEx Forum.
For more information on these events, please contact Linda Hall at 901-678-2054.
Adult and Commuter Student Services Director: Joy Stout 500 Wilder Tower Memphis, TN 38152
02/29: Leap Day. Jump up and get down.
MISSION The mission of the Adult and Commuter Student Services office is to provide a supportive environment for non-traditional and commuter students that promotes intellectual, social and academic growth and development through services and programs that foster lifelong learning.
Phone: 901-678-2995 Fax: 901-678-4894 E-mail: acss@memphis.edu
Visit our website at:
www.memphis.edu/acss/
CONTACT AND GENERAL INFORMATION The Adult and Commuter Student Services office is located on The University of Memphis campus on the 5th floor of Wilder Tower. Our regular hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Thursday and from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday. If you need after hours help, please call us to make arrangements.
A Tennessee Board of Regents Institution An Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action University
We welcome comments, questions, or suggestions. We can be reached by phone at 901-678-2995 during our regular business hours or after hours leave us a message on voice mail. You may also reach us through e-mail at jstout@memphis.edu.