AU Family A publication for families of Aurora University undergraduate students
SUMMER 2015
Special issue for families of incoming freshmen
Welcome Weekend is coming soon! With AU4U over, the anticipation is building for Welcome Weekend. Students in the Class of 2019 will arrive to the university Thursday, August 27, for four days of getting settled and familiarized with campus. “The Welcome Weekend sessions capture the energy of AU4U and carry it right into a positive transition to college,” said Brandy Skierkiewicz, Director of Student Engagement. The activities begin with the Thursday opening session for all first-year residents and commuters. Students get reacquainted with their peer advisors, have some fun on the Quad and attend a nighttime social. On Friday, students will receive tips for academic success from AU faculty. Students will also learn about resources that will help ease their transition to college. “Welcome Weekend gave me another opportunity to meet more classmates, many of whom are still good friends,” said sophomore biology major Joseph “Sonny” Matusciello. “The weekend also allowed me to adjust to a new environment so I felt more comfortable when the first day of classes began.” Saturday focuses on growth and learning outside the classroom. Students hear tips from peer advisors who have already made a successful transition. Later, students will have a chance to learn about some AU traditions and end the day on a social note. “My Welcome Weekend experience was jam-packed with activity after activity,” said sophomore business administration major KaiLoni Moser. “I loved this because it kept all the students busy and engaged with each
other. I found that being nervous before school started was common, which actually helped students connect with one another.”
“Welcome Weekend gave me another opportunity to meet more classmates, many of whom are still good friends.” On Sunday, students will have time to relax and explore campus on their own. Returning residents will also be moving into the residence halls. The next day classes begin, marking the official start of the 2015–2016 academic year! For more information about Welcome Weekend, contact Shaun Neitzel, Dean of Student Life, at 630-844-6515 or sneitzel@aurora.edu.
Four-year plan to graduation Two important academic resources for students are the four-year plans they received at AU4U and the academic evaluations they will learn more about in the fall. The four-year plan lists the classes needed for chosen majors as well as other graduation requirements. It also outlines the recommended courses students need to take term by term to finish in four years. Many of the four-year plans are flexible, so students can create their own unique plans based on the courses they choose to take each year. All four-year plans are available at aurora.edu/fouryearplans.
Similar to the four-year plan, the academic evaluation outlines each student’s individual degree requirements, including general education and major coursework. This electronic plan updates as students complete coursework, allowing students to see exactly what they need to graduate. This becomes especially helpful as students transition to online registration in the sophomore year. If a student changes majors, an advisor in the Crouse Center can help make adjustments to a new four-year plan or update an academic evaluation.
Helping students find success at AU Several campus resources are available to help students succeed in and out of the classroom. Students are encouraged to visit the following offices when they are in need of additional support. Academic Support Center aurora.edu/academicsupport The center provides free professional and peer tutoring to all students at all levels across the curriculum, and offers skill development in studying and test taking. Career Services aurora.edu/career Preparing undergraduate students for a successful transition from student to professional, Career Services coordinates over 500 on-campus jobs for students each year and offers assistance with exploring various career and major options, writing resumes, preparing for interviews, and applying to jobs and internships.
Counseling Center aurora.edu/counseling The Counseling Center is a safe place for students to talk through personal matters with professionally licensed clinicians, including psychologists and social workers. Crouse Center for Student Success aurora.edu/crousecenter Crouse Center academic advisors guide and mentor students as they plan, build and complete bachelor’s degrees that reflect their talents and aspirations. Disability Resource Office aurora.edu/dro The Disability Resource Office assists disabled students and their faculty in problem-solving access issues. Phillips Library aurora.edu/library During most of the semester, the library is open seven days a week (102 hours) for researching, checking out books and media, studying and utilizing the computer lab. Reference librarians also are available by telephone, email, live chat instant messaging or texting. Wellness Center aurora.edu/wellness The Wellness Center provides nursing services and promotes health, wellness and preventive care for AU students so that they can achieve their academic, social and personal goals. All students receive free nursing care.
Providing a safe campus environment Student safety is one of the highest priorities at Aurora University. The university has incorporated several measures to maintain a safe, secure and supportive place for learning. Campus Public Safety Aurora University employs its own uniformed Campus Public Safety officers and dispatchers. The department is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The university reminds all students, faculty and staff to report suspicious or threatening objects, people or conditions to Campus Public Safety. In an emergency, call 630-844-5450 or 911 or on-campus extension 555; for non-emergencies, call 630-844-6140 or on-campus extension 6140. Classroom Security All classrooms and labs have a deadbolt lock installed in entry doors. Location maps are also located in each room on campus. These maps include the floor plan on which the room is located; the name and address of the building; emergency exits for the building; and safety zones in the case of severe weather. Code Blue Emergency Phone System Ten Code Blue emergency call boxes are located on campus. Calls go directly to Campus Public Safety Dispatch. Emergency Text Messaging Aurora University has an emergency text messaging system in the event of canceling classes or closing offices due to inclement weather or a critical situation on campus. Students are automatically enrolled. Family
members can subscribe to receive these messages at aurora.edu/alerts. If a cellular provider is not listed, email itshelp@aurora.edu or call 630-844-5790. Those who do not have the option of receiving text messages can check the AU website at aurora.edu for emergency announcements. Residence Life Staff Every residence hall has a director residing in the building. The directors are responsible for community development and assisting and acting as resources for residents. Each floor of a residence hall has a resident assistant, a trained student staff member who works under the direct supervision of the residence hall director. Resident assistants return to campus prior to the rest of the students to receive three weeks of intensive training. Safety Escort Under any condition, Campus Public Safety will escort students 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Call on-campus extension 6140.
Adjusting to college life For many, a residence hall provides the first opportunity to live away from home. With this new transition comes much responsibility, maturity and determination. The Office of Residence Life helps students with this transition by providing residents with excellent programming, activities and communitybuilding exercises to ensure that students are adjusting to college life.
success of a new student, encourage him or her to become involved and to navigate the campus to become comfortable with the surroundings. Know that every student faces hurdles, from acclimating to a new roommate to taking a challenging course. It may be tempting to rush in to help, but encouraging your student to work through the inevitable adjustments that occur is most often the best action.
Having a son or daughter go away to college is also a transition for parents. To help ensure the
For more information about housing and residence life, visit aurora.edu/residence.
Campus Resources and Academic Calendar CONTACTS
SPECIAL DATES
Campus Public Safety 630-844-6140 | csafety@aurora.edu Office of Financial Aid 630-844-6190 | finaid@aurora.edu Office of Residence Life 630-844-5446 | reslife@aurora.edu Office of Student Accounts 630-844-5470 | students.accts@aurora.edu
July 17 | Campus Connect August 27–30 | Welcome Weekend August 31 | Classes begin September 7 | Labor Day (no classes) October 23–25 | Fall Weekend (no traditional day classes) November 25–29 | Thanksgiving Holiday For a complete listing of all events on campus, visit aurora.edu/calendar.
Stay on top of the latest AU news and events: /aurorauniversity View photos featuring the latest campus happenings: @aurorauniversity Read daily news from the AU community: news.aurora.edu
Get instant news and athletic updates: @aurorau and @au_spartans
Follow: Lora de Lacey, Vice President for Student Life @LoradeLacey Sammy Spartan (AU mascot) @AUSammySpartan
Special issue for families of incoming freshmen
AU Family
A publication for families of Aurora University undergraduate students
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SUMMER 2015