Adult & Commuter Student Services Newsletter

 LEASING AGRREMENT & TENANT RIGHTS WORKSHOP ................ 2

 BE COUNTED! CENSUS 2010 INFORMATION .... 3

 THINGS TO DO WHEN YOU FIRST MOVE IN AND ROOMATES ................ 5

THE UNIVERSITY OF MEMPHIS ADULT & COMMUTER STUDENT SERVICES

IS SU E 6

V OL UM E 7

M ARCH 2010

Adult & Commuter Connection FREE EVENT!!!

750 Patterson Tri-Plex Allison Arms Audubon Downs Campus View Colonnade at Germantown CORT Furniture Country Oaks Apartments Douglass Pointe Fielder Square Apartments Georgian Woods Jefferson Place Kirby Station Lincoln on the Green Madison At Cypress Lakes Memphis Light Gas & Water Memphis Medical Redevelopment Group Park Estate Southern Wood Stratum on Highland Apartments The Bristol on Union The Landings Apartments The Renaissance Apartments The Reserve at Dexter Lake The Venue Apartments The Villages at Harrison Creek Town House Apartments University Crossing Uptown Square Apartments

The department of Adult and Commuter Student Services will be hosting its annual Off-Campus Housing Information Fair on March 24, 2010 from 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Rose Theatre. This FREE event is open to all students, faculty, and staff who want to obtain information about various housing options in the community.

Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with representatives from local apartment leasing properties and other related service industries. If you’re looking for a place to live, this is a great way to save yourself some time and effort. Everything is gathered into one place!

Fine Arts Events: 5th Annual Art Education Alumni Juried Exhibition - “Green Art” March 1 through March 25th - Jones Hall Gallery

Freedom of Information Congress featuring Clarence Page Lecture - March 25th at 7p.m. - University Center Theater

Mid-South Flute Festival: March 19-20th - Admission is free on most events. Check Memphis.edu/ccfa for dates and times U of M Collegiate Choir Concert March 30th at 7:30 p.m. Harris Concert Hall. Admission is free.

H OME G AMES Go Tigers, Go! Baseball

March 5 Baseball

vs. Oakland 4:00 PM - FedExPark

vs. Tennessee Tech 6:30 PM - FedExPark March 20 Softball

Around Campus: Graduate School Fair March 16 at the Rose Theater from 1-5 p.m.

Free Lunch & Learn Workshop: March 17, 2010 - Get Set for Grad School: Are You Ready?

Ashlee Albart, University of Memphis Career Services March 31, 2010 - Community Leadership Cary Vaughn, Millington Area Chamber of Commerce Location: 400 Wilder Tower - Lunch Provided 12:30 pm — 1:30 pm

Men’s Basketball

vs. UTEP 1 & 3 PM - Memphis, Tenn.

vs. Tulsa 12:00 PM - FedExForum

Baseball

March 6

Baseball

vs. Oakland 2:00 PM - FedExPark

March 21

March 7

vs. Belmont 12:00 PM- Memphis, Tenn.

Baseball

vs. Oakland 1:00 PM - FedExPark March 8

Art Museum Exhibitions March 6 —April 17 Gallery A:

Art is My Natural World: Alison Weld Gallery B: From Seed to Soil: Sara Good ArtLab: Interrupted, Fragmented and Tangible: Sarah Wiseman

Join us to learn about communicating effectively with your landlord and to better understand the legal aspects of rental agreements.

Wednesday, March 17th 10:20am-11:45am UC Room 338

Men’s Tennis

Softball

vs. UTEP 12:00 PM - Memphis, Tenn.

Baseball

Baseball

vs. Portland 3:00 PM - FedExPark

vs. Tennessee Tech 1:00 PM - FedExPark

March 16

March 26 Baseball

Baseball

vs. South Alabama 6:30 PM - FedExPark

vs. Rice 6:30 PM - FedExPark March 27 Baseball

March 17 Baseball

vs. South Alabama 6:30 PM - FedExPark

Leasing Agreements & Tenant Rights

vs. Tennessee Tech 2:00 PM - FedExPark

vs. Rice 2:30 PM - FedExPark March 28 Baseball

March 18

vs. Rice 12:00 PM - FedExPark vs. Arkansas State 6:00 PM - Mike Rose Complex March 30 Softball March 19 vs. Mississippi Valley State Women’s Tennis 4 & 6 PM - Memphis, TN vs. Tennessee-Martin 2:00 PM - Memphis, Tenn.

March 31 Women’s Soccer

Men’s Tennis

Women’s Tennis

vs. Louisiana-LaFayette 2:00 PM - Memphis, TN

vs. Louisiana-Monroe 3:00 PM - Memphis, TN

Student Health Center Hours Wednesday-Mondays: 8am - 4:30pm Tuesdays from 9am - 4:30pm

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An Introduction to the 2010 Census Counting Everyone Once — and Only Once — and In the Right Place The foundation of our American democracy is dependent on fair and equitable representation in Congress. In order to achieve an accurate assessment of the number and location of the people living within the nation’s borders, the U.S. Constitution mandates a census of the population every 10 years.

The census population totals determine which states gain or lose representation in Congress. It also determines the amount of state and federal funding communities receive over the course of the decade. 2010 Census data will directly affect how more than $4 trillion is allocated to local, state and tribal governments over the next 10 years. In order for this funding allocation to be accomplished fairly and accurately, the goal of the decennial census is to count everybody, count them only once, and count them in the right place. The facts gathered in the census also help shape decisions for the rest of the decade about public health, neighborhood improvements, transportation, education, senior services and much more.

Reaching an Increasingly Diverse Population The goal of the 2010 Census is to count all residents living in the United States on April 1, 2010. The U.S. Census Bureau does not ask about the legal status of respondents in any of its surveys and census programs. To help ensure the nation’s increasingly diverse population can answer the questionnaire accurately and completely, about 13 million bilingual Spanish/English forms will be mailed to housing units in neighborhoods identified as requiring high levels of Spanish assistance. Additionally, questionnaires in Spanish, Chinese (Simplified), Korean, Vietnamese and Russian ⎯ as well as language guides in 59 languages ⎯ will be available on request.

Recruiting Census Workers By 2010, there will be an estimated 310 million people residing in the United States. Counting each person is one of the largest operations the federal government undertakes. For example, the Census Bureau will recruit nearly 3.8 million applicants for 2010 Census field operations. Of these applicants, the Census Bureau will hire about 1.4 million temporary employees. Some of these employees will be using GPS-equipped hand-held computers to update maps and ensure there is an accurate address list for the mailing of the census questionnaires.

10 Questions, 10 Minutes to Complete With one of the shortest questionnaires in history, the 2010 Census asks for name, gender, age, race, ethnicity, relationship, and whether you own or rent your home. It takes only about 10 minutes for the average household to complete. Questions about how we live as a nation ⎯ our diversity, education, housing, jobs and more ⎯ are now covered in the American Community Survey, which is conducted every year throughout the decade and replaces the Census 2000 long-form questionnaire. Responses to the 2010 Census questionnaire are required by law. All responses are used for statistical purposes only, and all are strictly confidential.

For more information, visit the 2010 Census Web site at http://www.census.gov/2010

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Things You Should Know About Renters Insurance Off-Campus living comes with a lot of responsibilities and decisions. Two of the most important concerns are your safety and the safety of your personal belongings. Accidents happen and renters insurance can protect your property against fire, vandalism and theft of valuables like your laptop and bike. It can also protect you in a case of a liability suit against you if you damage another person’s property or injure someone.

Don’t assume that your landlord’s insurance policy will cover you. Most likely, it only covers what happens to the building where you live and not your personal items. If you are not sure about what your landlord can hold you liable for and what protection they can offer for your property, talk to him or her about it.

Ask your car insurance company if they offer renters insurance.

Some companies offer a discount if you have more than one type of insurance policy with them. The depth of the coverage depends on how much you want to pay per month and the deductible (the amount of a loss that you have to pay out-of-pocket before reimbursement begins). With good guidance from your agent, you can find an inexpensive way to protect yourself from property mishaps.

Be a part of the Commuter Students Association (CSA) Visit us at: memphis.edu/commuterstudents

Join the Adult Student Association (ASA) Visit us at: memphis.edu/adultstudents

Source: http://www.statefarm.com/insurance/renters/renters.asp

director’s corner >>>

Housing Fair awareness of your rights as a tenant. Feel free to attend this seminar so that you can learn how to communicate effectively with your landlord and to better understand the legal I would like to invite you to our Annual OffCampus Housing Information Fair. The event is March 24, aspects of rental agreement. We hope that the information you will learn about ―renting smart‖ will serve as a re2010 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Michael D. Rose source to your even after you graduate.

Theatre. We have invited over 30 apartment managers from the local community to participate in the fair. The We look forward to seeing you at the Adult and participating vendors will offer deals and discounts to U of M students. I encourage you to attend the fair and be pre- Commuter Student Services Annual Off- Contact Information pared to ask questions, regarding, security, rental/deposit Campus Housing InJoy Rogers Stout fees, pets, and a time to inspect the property. Then you formation Fair.

Director, Adult and Commuter can compare properties, cost, location, and security factors Student Services before determining your preference. We want you to be The University of Memphis Sincerely, able to make an informed decision about where to live.

505 Wilder Tower Joy Stout Voice: (901) 678-2644 There is also a training seminar scheduled March E-mail: jstout@memphis.edu 17, 2010 from 10:20 a.m. to 11:15 entitled ―Leasing Agreements and Tenant Rights‖ designed to heighten your Dear students,

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Things to do when you first move in It is an understatement to say that moving can be hectic – and we’re not just talking about packing and unpacking. Here’s a list of important things to do to make the transition to a new place easier and to protect your rights as a renter: Contact the utility company at least a week in advance of moving. You may need to schedule a stop date for utilities at the old place if they were in your name and schedule for them to start at the new place. The same goes for your cable, internet, phone, etc.

Change your address for your bank accounts, credit cards and subscriptions and forward your mail by filling out a Change of Address form at the post office or online.

Before you move in to your new place, make sure that you walk through the exact apartment that you’re going to move into, NOT a model. If there are any things that are wrong with the apartment, make sure you tell the landlord what they are, and that you want them fixed, before you move in.

If, for any reason, these items are not fixed by the time that you move in, document the things that need to be repaired or replaced in writing and with photographs. Send a copy to your landlord and keep a copy for yourself. These things should include any chips in the walls, broken appliances and anything in the apartment that looks worn or deteriorated. In the event that your security deposit is held for any of

these items, you now have proof that they were in existence before you moved in.

Landlords MUST fix major problems in the unit. It is their responsibility to keep the apartment livable and in good condition. If you signed a lease for an apartment with air conditioning, the landlord must keep it working in the unit.

Depending on your lease, your landlord may or may not be responsible for minor problems like leaky faucets or problems with appliances. (Make sure you ask about this before you sign the lease.)

Make sure that the locks are changed before you move into your new apartment. Ask the landlord to tell you who has copies of the keys. Usually, the only other people that should have access to your apartment is the building management.

Purchase renters insurance. You might not think that you have a great deal of stuff to cover but when you start to add it all up it will probably amount to more that you thought.

Sources: brokegradstudent.com & http:// living.apartments.com

Living with Roommates One of the more daunting aspects of survival at a residential school is dealing with your roommate. Not that it's particularly difficult, but it often looms over the impending school year. We want to make sure you're armed with the tools and techniques to effectively communicate and get along with your roommate.

The prelims: getting to know your roommate.

You should always break the ice--it's hard, sometimes, but after you do, you'll be glad you did! Start with some easy questions like: What's your family background?

What are some of the activities you did during high school? What are some of your hobbies? What is your favorite subject in school? When you first get in touch with your roommate, introduce yourself and share a little about yourself (try using some of the questions above for starters). Ask some questions and find out what you have A&C

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in common. As time goes on, you and your roommate will figure each other out.

Yes, you will eventually learn what your roommate does and doesn't like, when he or she goes to bed and gets up in the morning, how loud he or she is when getting ready to go to class, how many guests he or she likes to have and how often, and so on.

It helps if you can think about how your react to things, so you can tell your roommate what to expect or watch for. If you're upset by something, you'll probably do __. You can be cheered up by__. Please just leave you alone when ___. You get tense and nervous when ___.

You get annoyed when ____. Any other ways you can help define yourself will only make it easier on you and your roommate.

Got feedback?

Source: Roomates4you.com E-mail us at: acss@memphis.edu

Dr. Shirley Raines will be the keynote speaker at Pinnacle Honor Society’s induction ceremony If you received an e-mail inviting you to join Pinnacle, congratulations! Don’t forget to turn in your registration by

Friday, March 12, 2010! Extended Deadline!

Connect: Visit us on Facebook: University of Memphis

All new members of Pinnacle will be inducted during a ceremony on April 10, 2010 featuring U of M’s President Shirley Raines as the keynote speaker.

Want more information? You can find it here: http://www.memphis. edu/acss/pinnacle.php

Adult & Commuter Student Services

Follow us: twitter.com/uofmemphis_acss

MISSION

CONTACT AND GENERAL INFORMATION

The mission of the Adult & Commuter Student Services office is to provide a supportive environment for nontraditional and commuter students that promotes intellectual, social and academic growth and development through services and programs that foster lifelong learning.

The Adult and Commuter Student Services office is located on The University of Memphis campus in the University Center, Room 243. 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.

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We welcome comments, questions, or suggestions. We can be reached by phone at 901-678-2644 during our regular business hours or after hours leave us a message on voice mail. You may also reach us through e-mail at acss@memphis.edu.