2015 Parent Survival Guide by Niner Times

PARENT SURVIVAL GUIDE

2015

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Welcome to UNC Charlotte! JORDAN SNYDER Editor -In- Chief

Congratulations on raising your child to become one of the newest members of the 49er family. By getting to this point, it’s clear that you were doing something right. And by extension, you are now a part of this family, too. In only a couple of months, you’ll be moving your child into their dorm room and saying your teary-eyed goodbyes. It’s an emotional time for everyone. As soon as the door closes, reality sets in, so it’s important to be supportive of your son or daughter as they embark on this exciting but nerve-racking journey. This Survival Guide is meant

to give you tips and information on how to handle this new chapter of your life. But before you continue, here are a few tips of my own.

ACCEPT THEIR CHANGES These years will be some of the most transformative in your child’s life. The knowledge they’ll attain, the people they’ll meet and the organizations they’ll interact with will all have an impact. Some of the beliefs or values important to you – one’s that you’ve been instilling since they were born – might lose their hold on your child. That’s OK. Sooner or later, we all have to think about things for ourselves and

become our own person. Even if you don’t understand it, don’t just call it a phase. That’s denial rearing its ugly head.

LET THEM KNOW YOU CARE Although college students are at a point where they’re becoming significantly more independent, they haven’t outgrown parental support. Personally, it’s the little things that make me know how much my parents care. When I come home to visit, the refrigerator and pantry are stocked with my favorite foods – the kinds I’m reluctant to buy with my own debit card. My

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parents also plan to cook my favorite meals, and this will be especially important for your child who will likely grow tired of eating from the dining hall numerous times a week. A text or phone call asking how they’re doing also goes a long way. Sometimes my mom will call me, in her words, just to hear my voice. Communication is a two-way street, though, and I know I haven’t returned the favor nearly enough. If your child starts to lapse in communication, just understand that it’s not because they don’t care.

ENJOY YOURSELF This advice is especially aimed towards parents whose children are all out of the house, whether they’re in college or beyond. While your child will still be a huge financial drain for years to come, their newfound independence will give you more time for yourself. As soon as you get home from work, there will be no more, “Mom, I’m starving. What’s for dinner?” The laundry pile will be significantly diminished. Dishes won’t be carelessly left out for you to deal with. So, take this time and do something – do many things – for yourself. My parents waited until my brother and I were in college before buying new furniture and remodeling the kitchen. Now that we’re gone, they can finally have nice things. Take a romantic vacation out of the country. Walk around the house naked. Do whatever helps you unwind after being tied down for the past 18 years. But if you’ve still got a kid (or multiple kids) hanging out at home, enjoy that while it lasts.

STUDENT UNION GUIDE Take a thorough look at one of the most highly trafficked buildings on campus

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SEAN GRIER staff writer

You’ll later read all about the various dining options at UNC Charlotte, many of which are housed in the Student Union. But for now let’s take a look at what else the Student Union has to offer.

STUDENT ACTIVITIES The Student Union is homes to student activities as well as a host of other student organizations. One of the most notable departments is the Center for Leadership Development, which maintains the Emerging Leaders, Leadership Fellows, Programs in Leadership and Organization Training, LeaderShape, Learning Community and 49er Forum programs. On the second floor are the Multicultural Resources Center and Religious & Spiritual Life hub, which put on various Heritage Month celebrations, LGBTQIA educational programs and support, culturally based student organization support and educational programming on spirituality. The Student Involvement unit

supports Student Organizations, Student Government Association (SGA), Campus Activities Board (CAB), Homecoming and Niners on the Weekend.

ENTERTAINMENT There are a lot of venues for entertainment in the Student Union. Most notable is the oncampus movie theater, which shows movies Thursday through Sunday and is available for reservation by clubs and courses throughout the week. Most recently the movie theater has expanded to three movie options a day that rotate time slots each day. Movies typically start at 5:15 p.m., 8:15 p.m. and 11:15 p.m. and are free to students and $2 for all guests. The Student Union also provides students with an art gallery supported by students as well as national and international guests with yearly offerings from Sanskrit Literary-Arts Magazine. There’s a gaming space called Norm’s on the first floor, which comes complete with pool tables, seating areas for card games,

charging stations for phones and flat screen televisions for gaming, sports and special events. One of the more elegant areas of the union in terms of entertainment is the piano lounge. Unlocked and ready for any student, you can hear the baby grand piano being played from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. It’s a space for amateurs, professionals, clubs and visiting choirs.

RETAIL Outtakes is the on-campus grocery store that complements both dorm living and eating on the go. Outtakes sells easy to carry products like yogurt, fruit and salads that do not sacrifice nutrition for convenience. However, not all of Outtakes offerings are healthy. The store has a whole wall dedicated to the stereotypical college student – the one parents fear. Sections of the store are dedicated to snack foods, energy bars, breakfast and dinner. The Campus Salon is home to licensed professionals that are ready to complete a wash, rinse and dry or a perm. Staffed with

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friendly and professional stylists, the Campus Salon is ready for every student no matter their hair texture, density, length or color. The Student Union also houses the NinerTech Computer Store, which is the on-campus location for everything Apple, HewlettPackard, Dell and much more. The store offers special deals for students who wish to purchase a laptop, portable keyboard or printer. Union Station is an official U.S. Passport processing station that also offers a student discount and photo service, ensuring your photo “meets stringent Passport guidelines.” Union Station faxes documents for a flat fee, rents out mailboxes housed in the Union, handles graphics services and even sells balloons. Barnes & Noble operates UNC Charlotte’s on-campus bookstore for students, faculty and staff. It comes stocked with Niner apparel and memorabilia, snacks, cosmetics, non-fiction, fiction, magazines and textbooks.

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MANAGING MOVE-IN MADNESS Preparation is key to ensuring a smooth move-in process NICK CROPPER news editor

Although move-in day can be a stressful time, there are ways of making the experience much less painful. Moving all students into their respective residence halls is a several day process. Students are randomly put into groups, and each group will be given a day and time to move in. It is important to arrive early and be prepared for any delays or complications that might occur. There will be a system in place for families to pull their cars into the drop off areas,

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unload their things and take them inside. There will be volunteers to help carry belongings to rooms, and resident advisors will be there to help in any way they can. Before move-in day, UNC Charlotte students are told who they will be roommates with. Try to get in touch with this person through Facebook, Twitter or some other medium before move-in day. Get to know this person and coordinate who brings what. There is no point in having two microwaves. This will also give a good idea of whether it would be a good idea to request a change in roommates. There are two move-in days throughout the school year, one for the fall semester and another for the spring semester. Unless students request a new room at the end of the semester, that is where they will stay for the remainder of the year. Plan for the semester, not the entire year. When winter break comes around, students will have the opportunity to take home items and bring them back or just leave everything if they are not changing rooms. For the fall, bring jackets, sweats and anything necessary for surviving those brutal North Carolina winters. Over break, take some of those things home, and for the spring semester, bring back clothes that are better suited for warmer weather. This might seem obvious, but there are plenty of incoming students who overlook this. Also, for those who are able and live near UNC Charlotte, bring only the essentials on move-in day. This will drastically reduce the amount of time you spend moving in and the number of trips up and down the elevator. Bring in more things over the weekend. Many students return home for the weekend, so there should be no problem bringing in the last of your possessions throughout the next few weekends after move in. However, out of state students are out of luck and will simply have to endure bringing everything they need on move-in day. A slightly more exclusive option would be to have an early move-in day. Many UNC Charlotte clubs and organizations allow their members to settle into their residence

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nt file photo hall before the first official move-in day. This is because certain clubs and organizations require that their members be on campus for training or other beginning of the year activities. For students who plan on joining an organization, ask if they offer this service. It is a great advantage to any student who wants to avoid the hassle of moving in at the same time as hundreds of other students.

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DINING ON CAMPUS THERE’S NO SHORTAGE OF PLACES TO EAT AT UNC CHARLOTTE

NICK CROPPER news editor

For a new student, the sheer number of dining options on campus can be overwhelming. With all these options, it can be tempting to buy as much as possible. However, students who only eat at restaurants on campus could run out of their declining balance within a month and have to either add more money to their card or eat nothing but cafeteria food for the rest of the semester. It is important to choose a meal plan that is correct for your eating habits and to find a good mix of eating at restaurants and at dining halls. UNC Charlotte has two dining hall options: South Village Dining Hall (SoVi) and Crown Commons. SoVi is the newest dining addition to campus. It is located next to the freshman highrises and features several options for students. SoVi contains a more traditional cafeteria, which offers several food choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the menu’s theme changes daily. SoVi also has a Denny’s located inside called The Den. The Den is open until 2 a.m., making it one of UNC Charlotte’s few late night dining options. There is also a bakery with fresh baked goods for sale and a convenience store called SoVi2Go, which offers students prepared meals to take on the go. Crown Commons in located on the second floor of the Student Union. It is similar to SoVi in that it serves different selections for breakfast, lunch and dinner. However, Crown is slightly smaller than SoVi and has less 8

above: wendy’s in the student union is perfect for late night dining. NT file photo below: chick-fil-a in prospector is always in high demand during lunch hours. nt file photo

food stations because of its size. There are a few other dining options located in the Student Union, as well. There is a Wendy’s, which is another restaurant on campus open until 2 a.m., a Bojangles, which will be

opening this fall, and Bistro 49, which offers more of a luncheon experience and a unique seasonal menu. Einstein Bros. Bagels is another option in the Student Union for students who have

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early morning classes; however, the restaurant does close during the mid afternoon. Starbucks is also a popular place for students, and the line often stretches out the door in between classes. Prospector is another building with several dining options located inside and is home to UNC Charlotte’s most popular restaurant, Chick-fil-A. It can be a nightmare attempting to get food from Chick fil-A during the busier times of day, with a line that stretches all the way to the back wall. However, the line moves fast, and with enough patience, you can get your chicken sandwich. There is also a Feisty’s located next to Chick fil-A, a better option for students who are in a rush or prefer hot dogs. On the top floor of Prospector are more restaurants, including: Salsarita’s, offering fresh Mexican food; Mondo Subs, preparing sandwiches to order; a Mama Leone’s, serving pizza and pasta; and Za’tar, serving up Mediterranean cuisine. The Cone Center is located next to J. Murrey Atkins Library and has several fast food options. Main Street Market, located on the ground floor of Cone, has the majority of the building’s restaurants. There you’ll find a Subway, Au Bon Pain and Use Your Noodle. All of these restaurants tend to get pretty busy during typical eating hours. A Panda Express is also set to open there this fall. There are also cafes located in both Atkins Library and Fretwell. They offer snacks, sandwiches, juices, coffee and smoothies.

VISITOR PARKING GUIDELINES Learn where to park when visiting campus to avoid receiving a ticket JORDAN SNYDER Editor -In- Chief

Your child might have the luxury of a parking permit, but because parking on campus is heavily enforced – except after 10 p.m. Friday through 5 a.m. Monday – you will have to resort to other means whenever you want to visit your Niner. Luckily, Parking and Transportation Services (PaTS) at UNC Charlotte offers numerous options to make sure you have a place to park. Visitors can purchase a temporary parking permit at the PaTS office for $6 per day. UNC Charlotte has five visitor parking decks on campus: Cone Visitors (Deck 1 Level 3 and Deck 2 Level 2), Union Visitor Deck, East Deck 1, CRI Deck 1 and South Village Deck (Level 1). Parking deck fees are $1 per half hour with a maximum fee of $10 per visit. Visitors take a timed ticket at the entrance gate. It’s important to keep this ticket with you, as it will be used for validation at a pay-on-foot station when you leave. When you plan to leave but before returning to your car, insert the ticket into the pay station and pay the displayed amount either by cash or credit card. When exiting, insert the validated ticket into the

“exit verifier” and the gate will rise. Other options for shorter visits include metered and pay-by-space parking. There are metered parking spots throughout campus. The time limit and rate varies by location, but each meter’s specifications are labeled inside under the timer. Typically, the rate is 50 cents for 15 minutes, and the meters accept only nickels, dimes and quarters. Pay-by-space parking is available in Lot 4 (located in front of East Deck 3) and Lot 30 (time limited). After parking, immediately go to the pay station, input your space number and insert payment when prompted (pay-by-space stations accept coins and credit cards). Unless you pay to add more time to your visit, your receipt will indicate what time you must move your vehicle. Parking for visitors with disabilities is available at Lot 28 (pay-byspace), Lot 30 (time limited pay-by-space), East Deck 1, Union Deck, Cone Deck, CRI Deck and South Village deck.

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A VISUAL TOUR OF CAMPUS JERRY RICHARDSON STADIUM

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BELK TOWER 49ER GOLD MINER

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FAMILY SERVICES OFFICE Learn about all the resources and events available to parents and families JORDAN SNYDER Editor -In- Chief

As a part of the Division of Student Affairs, the UNC Charlotte Office of Parent and Family Services strives to help parents and families make a smoother transition and build a stronger relationship with the university. The office offers numerous resources and plans family events. One such resource is the Niner Nation Family program, which serves as an informative newsletter and a place to communicate with other Niner families who are sharing similar experiences. Parents and families can join while attending SOAR or by filling out the registration form on the office’s website. The office has three publications available to read online. The Dean of Students Office produces the Niner Nation Family magazine twice a year to provide a closer look at the university and profile the lives of some UNC Charlotte students. For instance, the Winter 2015 publication details UNC Charlotte’s seven colleges and spotlights notable work by individual students’ in each college.

Relatively Speaking is a monthly newsletter for parents and families to stay up to date on campus news, learn tips for supporting their student and more. The final publication is the Parent and Family Guide, which is updated for every school year. It contains information like family events, a campus map and an academic calendar. The office has already planned one event, Family Weekend 2015, for the fall semester. It will take place Sept. 25-27, and they will release more details closer to the start of the school year. Last year’s Family Weekend event included a “Vegas Night,” featuring live music and blackjack tables, and a Niner Nation Family tailgate before attending a Charlotte 49ers football game. The Office of Parent and Family Services is located in King 208 and is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, go to http://unccdso.orgsync.com/org/ parentandfamilyservices.

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GET TO KNOW THE CAMPUS MEAL PLANS Meal plan options have been remodeled to accommodate new student trends

LOUANN LAMB marketing director for business services, guest wrtier

THAT WAS THEN Back in the 1970’s, when all on-campus housing comprised four highrise residence buildings, the Residence Dining Hall (RDH) was the only place on campus for hot meals three times a day. Food was prepared “back of the house,” in a huge kitchen and dished out from pans lined up on a steam table. A meal plan took the form of circles printed on a vinyl sheet that was folded multiple times and affixed to the back of the UNC Charlotte ID. Students would unroll the sheet for the cashier to punch. Every hole represented a meal eaten, every skipped-over circle was a meal not used. It was a very simple, low-tech system. As the University grew, new residence halls were built with multiple living configurations like suites and apartments. Meal plans changed and expanded, too, as did dining options. Favorite national brands were established all over campus: Chick-fil-A, Salsarita’s, Bojangles’, Subway, Starbucks, Einstein Brothers Bagels, Papa John’s and Wendy’s all have presence at UNC Charlotte. Declining Balance (DB), by itself or as part of a traditional and block meal plan, provided easy, card-swipe access to all the retail choices.

THIS IS NOW Crown Commons opened in the Student Union as the new all-you-

Social meals with friends are now as likely to be for mid-morning coffee or a late evening burger but “traditional” meal plans were modeled on a breakfast, lunch and dinner standard.

TIME FOR A CHANGE, JUST IN TIME

above: students dine at rdh in 1973. photo courtesy of atkins library archives below: at crown commons, two students stop by the full salad bar. photo by wade bruton

UNC Charlotte Business Services in collaboration with dining services partner, Chartwells, spent two years studying meal plans and developing a new model. The goal was to retool meal plans so they would provide: simplicity in purchase, meal flexibility, greater value, financial sustainability, balanced facility use and shortened wait lines.

HOW 2015-16 MEAL PLANS MEASURE UP

care-to-eat dining hall in 2009. Its gas-fired pizza oven, madein-front-of-you cooking stations and ability to apply endless customization to numerous entrees made RDH appear as tired as the linoleum floor in

grandma’s kitchen. Equally dated and due for an upgrade were the meal plans UNC Charlotte offered. Plans needed to accommodate the fast-emerging trend of eating several smaller meals during the course of a day. nt file photo

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Simplicity. Plans are based on housing assignment and hours earned. Students living in “required housing,” which are residences without private kitchens, require selecting a meal plan as part of the housing contract. There are two meal plan choices for first-year resident students (freshmen/those with 29 or fewer credit hours). There are four meal plans available to sophomore residents, five for juniors residents and six for seniors. Commuter students may pick any offered plan, regardless of class status. All plans offer either unlimited 13

a chef at sovi dining hall cooks chicken on an evo grill. photo by patrick wisniewski meal swipes or are block plans that have a set number of swipes that may be used at anytime throughout the semester. All plans have either $200 or $300 attached Declining Balance (DB) funds that can be used at any dining facility, including all the national retail brands. Flexibility. Expanded dining options give more choices for students. Last January, after four decades of service, RDH closed and South Village Crossing opened with a new meal-plan dining room called SoVi. Its model, says Bill Bremer, resident district manager for Chartwells Dining Services, “serves students with a 22nd Century program.” SoVi embraces the latest culinary trends. Meals are prepared at action stations and are made in smaller batches, served tapasstyle on small plates. New unlimited plans (seven days or five weekdays) fit the modern “action station” dining model of SoVi and Crown Commons to a T. These plans allow students to eat smaller meals throughout the day on a frequent basis. No more having to load up on a full meal to get their money’sworth. Students can stop in for 14

cereal and juice before class, grab a sandwich for lunch, have a yogurt at midafternoon, eat some dinner and then get coffee and dessert later. Meal swipes are unlimited throughout service hours, and, at SoVi2Go, may be used for take-out meals. In addition to flexibility in when students eat, SoVi further expands the flexibility of what they eat. SoVi, like Crown Commons, is set up in multiple stations, with food preparation and action stations in the front of the house. “This gives us a real opportunity to improve choices, said Bremer. There are expanded menus for vegans/vegetarians and those with dietary restrictions (e.g., gluten and dairy sensitivity). And just about everything can be customized to individual preference.” Greater value. The design of the current meal plans is based specifically on data from meal plan use on the UNC Charlotte campus. “We know that students with plans that set a specific number of meals per week tend to lose meals,” says Bremer. “If a student has meal times fixed by their plan but a class schedule that’s all over the place, that student is going to miss meals. That’s why none

of UNC Charlotte’s meal plan offerings are set by per week. “Block plans are used more fully,” he explained, “because swipes can be used anytime throughout the semester. There’s no reason to lose meals.” Block plan choices have been refined based on how students historically use them (first-year students typically use more meal swipes per semester than upperclassmen). The new unlimited swipe plans may be the best value for many students, particularly first or second-year students who will take most of their meals and make most of their first social connections in the dining halls. Athletes and those who enjoy bigger meals as well as those who prefer to eat smaller portions several times a day will also benefit from an unlimited plan. Unlimited meal swipe and block meal plans also come with either $200 or $300 in DB. The amounts were chosen to be practical; dining habit data indicates these are amounts proven to be sufficient for most students. Financial sustainability. Meal plan sales provide a framework to ensure maintenance of existing dining facilities and expansion when needed. Business Services’ mission statement mandates providing “essential human, financial, facility and administrative support to the university…” Supplying wholesome food from properly equipped kitchens is most certainly essential! The last part of that mission statement, “…customer focused, results oriented, fiscally sound and integrity bound,” is equally important. Plans designed to give students the most value for the dining services they need and expect, falls fully in line with that mission. Balance facility use and wait lines. All restaurants experience peak times around meals, but dining venues on a

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college campus are subject to concentrated surges around class times. SoVi at South Village Crossing took pressure off Crown Commons by providing convenient premier dining for the thousands of students who live on the South side of campus. Unlimited meal swipes mean that quick meals and snacks can be had in the dining halls, too. And while a burger from Wendy’s and nuggets from Chick-fil-A will always be very popular, expanded healthy and customizable entrée options attract students who seek greater balance in their diet.

EXPERTISE IN THE KITCHEN The trend in dining halls now demands broader menus and greater opportunity to eat a balanced diet. Chartwells has a full team of campus chefs. And to underscore their commitment to good nutrition, Chartwells added a full-time Registered Dietitian (RD) to their staff. The chefs and the RD work together to plan menus that offer meal options for students with different palates and diverse dietary needs and preferences.

BREAKING BREAD, NOT JUST GETTING FED Updated Meal Plans and stateof-the-art facilities set the table for our dining model. Broad choices and good value are served in equal parts, too. But with all the improvements made here since the early 1970’s, here’s what remains as constant as salt-and pepper: UNC Charlotte campus dining provides an environment conducive to making connections and building friendships. Nothing adds to the pleasure of a meal more than that!

WANT TO KNOW MORE? Meal Plan specialists can answer questions and help you choose a plan. Call 704-687-7337 (M-F 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM) or write 49erCard@uncc.edu

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Q&A WITH CAMPUS POLICE CHIEF BAKER THE UNC CHARLOTTE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS DEDICATED TO MAINTAINING A CRIME-FREE CAMPUS

SARA CARSON staff writer

Founded in 1970, UNC Charlotte’s Department of Police and Public Safety wasn’t always what it is today. The department now has six different divisions: the patrol division, criminal investigation division, community policing coordinators, bicycle officers, cross-trained SWAT officers and administrative officers. Currently, the department has 50 sworn officers, six to 15 of which are on-duty during the academic year at any given time. UNC Charlotte’s officers, however, haven’t always had the same jurisdiction as county and state officers. It wasn’t until 1984 that officers in the department became state certified. What feature offered by the department do you think is most underutilized by students, and how can it be better utilized? By far, the newest addition to safety for our students is the LiveSafe App. This app provides our community with the ability to directly contact the UNC Charlotte Police Emergency Tele-Communicator by phone or text. It will also locate the caller offering our officers the exact location of a student needing help. There are many other fantastic options for safety provided by this unique app. We are hoping that the entire campus 16

community will download the safety app for their personal security. The UNC Charlotte Police & Public Safety is a state authorized police department focused on crime prevention, dedicated to protecting the welfare and safety of the university and committed to building strong campus and community partnerships that support and advance the research and educational goals of UNC Charlotte. The ongoing collaboration of our dedicated law enforcement officers and members of the campus community allows us to better respond to the needs of those we serve, and we encourage any input that will assist us in building a culture of safety. To maximize your academic experience, we encourage you to make choices that will ensure your personal protection. Please feel free to visit our website for more valuable safety tips. What do you think is the most common misconception students have about the department, and how can it be clarified? That’s a great question. I think the most common misconception is a belief that we are security guards and not sworn and state certified police officers. We are no different than the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department or any other police department

just a university.

“NINE OUT OF 10 THEFTS ON CAMPUS ARE CAUSED BY STUDENTS LEAVING VALUABLE ITEMS UNATTENDED.” POLICE CHIEF JEFF BAKER in the state. We share the same in-service training, the same state mandates and the same rules. What is the leading crime on campus, and how can students avoid this in their first year at UNC Charlotte? The leading crime on campus, hands down, is theft. Nine out of 10 thefts on campus are caused by students leaving valuable items unattended. No one should ever leave their smart phone, laptop, book bag or purse unattended. This is a problem everywhere and not relegated to

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What is some advice you can offer students to feel safe in their first year at the university? Students and people should minimize their personal risks in life. We have a very safe campus and our administration has invested a great deal of monetary resources to ensure individual safety. It’s critical to remember why you are attending a university. Be sure to download LiveSafe and keep your valuables secure. Avoid substance abuse; it’s no secret that alcohol and drugs negatively impact many life experiences. Many students are reluctant to report crimes they’ve either witnessed or endured themselves. What can you tell students to make them feel comfortable about reporting a crime? We are a highly skilled police department that focuses on success. We want to ensure that students are able to pursue their academic dreams in a safe environment. We will assist each and every student in an effort to resolve a situation they are faced with. We are also a very diverse police department and reflect our community.

PROMOTE ACADEMIC INTEGRITY

Stressing the importance of honest work will ensure your student’s overall success DIANE GROMELSKI copy editor

When completing assignments in college, there is nothing more important than adhering to the Code of Academic Integrity, but this can be difficult for students who are not familiar with what academic integrity means. However, students are responsible for adhering to the code whether they understand the meaning or not. Academic integrity in college often involves plagiarism, the submission of another’s work as one’s own including using another person’s words or ideas or submitting an entire paper written by another. Though plagiarism is the most wellknown version of academic integrity, there are a number of other offenses for which students can be punished. These include cheating on exams by copying another student’s test or using unapproved resources; fabricating or falsifying information; submitting substantial portions of the same work more than once; and aiding another student in an act of academic dishonesty, among other violations. Academic integrity is important not only because it can cause you to fail a course

or be kicked out of school, but also because it assures the value of every graduate’s degree; promotes academic discourse; and encourages pride in one’s work. Professors at UNC Charlotte often utilize resources like Turnitin to check the originality of students’ work, greatly increasing the likelihood that students will be caught. Turnitin is a website that can identify previously submitted work from papers turned into other academic institutions as well as information found on the Internet. If a professor suspects a student has violated the code, they will bring the student before the Academic Integrity Board (AIB). The board is composed of students and faculty who will determine whether the student is responsible and any relevant penalties. The consequences of violating the academic integrity code are based on a number of factors, but can include a formal warning, a reduced grade in the class, disciplinary suspension or expulsion from the university.

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Students can receive treatment on campus at the Health Center SEAN GRIER staff writer

TAKE A BREATHER The counseling center helps with conflict resolution, depression and more EDEN CREAMER guest writer

nt file photo Built in 2007, the University Health Center at nearly 32,000 square feet features 21 medical exam rooms, including two negative pressure rooms that are used to prevent the spread of infectious bacteria. The health center provides medical care, disease prevention, wellness promotion and a variety of educational resources and other health services to all registered UNC Charlotte students. They are staffed with experienced medical doctors, pharmacists, physician assistants, family nurse practitioners, a team of nurses and a psychiatrist. The Health Center offers a wide variety of vaccines for those that request, as well as a variety of disease testing to ensure a healthy campus environment. The center caters to the student body better than most students know. Students who are injured in a sport or simply require a surgery can go to physical therapy through our health center after a referral from a doctor, and there is an on-site 18

pharmacy for medication needs. The Health Centers services include physicals, gynecological services, birth control, STD and HIV screenings and the treatment of pain, asthma, pneumonia and other injuries. They are equipped with x-ray machines, and offices and professionals specifically for the nutrition, women’s health, wellness, sports and allergies or immunizations. There is no charge for students to see a physician, physician assistant, nurse, nurse practitioner, health education consultant or physical therapist. However, certain services listed on the center’s website will result in fees. Appointments that are nonemergency must be made in advance of arrival. Requests for appointments and prescription refills can be made online through the Health Centers website or in person. The Student Health Center is open Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The University Counseling Center provides free mental health services for students, designed to assist students in coping with personal, relationship and developmental issues or academic concerns. Counseling is available on a one-on-one basis or in a group setting. Every student at UNC Charlotte is allowed a maximum of 12 free individual sessions per academic year. Individual counseling can focus on coping with crisis, resolving conflicts, managing depression and addressing identity issues, among other concerns that counselors are trained to help students cope with. Students may also seek couple’s counseling if both partners are enrolled at UNC Charlotte. If a student requires treatment by a psychiatrist, the staff of the Counseling Center can provide a referral to the

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Student Health Center. Many group counseling sessions are offered every semester on a variety of topics, or as a general group therapy. Commonly offered topic groups include: meditation and relaxation, mood management, anxiety management and LGBTQ identity. Groups typically meet each week of the semester. Some groups may be attended without prior registration, while others that involve more sensitive topics require a pre-group interview, usually lasting about 30 minutes. Appointments can be made by calling the Counseling Center at 704 687 0311, or by dropping by the center in Atkins 158 during regular business hours. For more information, visit the center’s website: counselingcenter.uncc. edu.

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TEXTBOOK OPTIONS IT’S EASIER THAN EVER TO FIND THE BEST DEALS ON TEXTBOOKS SEAN GRIER staff writer

Registering for courses can be one of the best feelings at UNC Charlotte. Many things can ruin these feelings, like checking the ratings on Rate My Professor or, in more cases than one, textbooks. Textbooks can be a hassle, and many students do not want to take on the extra effort during a summer vacation to find the best and most affordable option. This is where we can help. After four years here, I have found many options that can assist you no matter your major, minor or concentration.

UNC CHARLOTTE BOOKSTORE UNC Charlotte’s official bookstore is operated by Barnes & Noble. The store has a special section dedicated to works published by university professors and even a section dedicated to classics. More important to students, though, is the basement, which houses the actual “bookstore” for textbooks. Here, you can pick up your textbooks, purchase blue books for exams and buy required materials for a course. Students can also purchase their textbooks through their NinerNet account, which simplifies the process tremendously. Some courses require special packages that the bookstore will be able to handle and order on your behalf.

Tons of 49er apparel and memorabilia is available at the official unc charlotte bookstore. nt file photo

GRAY’S COLLEGE BOOKSTORE Gray’s is located just off campus on University City Boulevard and offers new and used books much like the campus bookstore. Depending on the book, Gray’s might be a cheaper option for students. Some courses only have books available at Gray’s, which is within walking distance of campus, complete with sidewalks and crosswalks for students’ safety. You can also order your textbooks from Gray’s online. Both Gray’s and the campus bookstore offer UNC Charlotte apparel and souvenirs for students, alumni and faculty.

AMAZON Amazon offers a vast array of options for our students. Students can sign up for Amazon Student to get access to deals on shipping and handling, special pricing and promotions that can all reduce the cost and hassle of purchasing textbooks. For students 20

with a personal laptop or desktop, Amazon offers a Kindle app for buying and reading digital books. It might be more economical to buy a Kindle or download the app on an iPad to reduce the costs of textbooks over the course of the college career. With the Kindle app, students can choose to purchase, rent or download trial versions until funds come in from paychecks or refunds. Amazon allows you to “check out” Kindle and physical textbooks at the same time which streamlines the process. Amazon also provides great customer service and can refund your order within five to seven business days and launch investigations for missed or late packages.

CHEGG Another online option for ordering textbooks is Chegg. The website is mostly a hub for buying, renting and selling textbooks but it’s also expanded to a destination for

tutoring and homework help. If you buy from Chegg, you can get up to 90 percent of your money back if you sell it back to them.

PURCHASING OPTIONS There are many ways to obtain a textbook, the most popular with my friends is purchasing because at the end of the semester, it gives you the opportunity to sell your textbook back to the bookstore, your friends or another third party like Amazon, eBay or Textbook Brokers. You will have the option to buy new or used copies or rent textbooks. Depending on your finances or the quantity of textbooks required for the semester you will need to decide if buying is a better option than renting your textbook. No matter how you go about obtaining your textbooks, it is best to make a list from your trusted vendors and compare prices to determine what is best for you.

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA

The perfect guide to sending your college student a care package ALYSSA FRONK

Niner Nation Gold is the organization for die-hard sports fans

community editor

So, your kid is off to college. Sure, they are technically adults now, but you still want to be supportive as much as possible. Even though your child is a direct product of the tech-obsessed generation, where a text often suffices for standard communication, never underestimate the power of old school mail. Yes, I’m talking about care packages. And no, your college student isn’t too cool to receive one (whether they think so or not). Moving away from home or even just making that huge transition to higher education is intimidating for students. Some days will be long and very stressful, while others will be exhaustingly fun. Show your college student you are thinking of them with a letter or package. There is no better feeling than getting mail in from loved ones. I will never forget the first care package I received. It was actually from my grandparents and they killed it. Inside a large box I found one batch of chocolate chip cookies, one batch of brownies, a few packs of ramen noodles, two microwave-safe bowls, ChapStick, hand sanitizer, tissues, stamps, a lovely letter and $40. OK, it was slightly over the top, but I was so incredibly appreciative. It made me feel loved, missed and so lucky to have an awesome support group cheering me on to do my best in school. What should be in the care package? A care package does not have to be expensive or over the top. It can be as simple as a half

batch of homemade chocolate chip cookies and a card. No college kid will deny free food – especially mom’s cooking, which will be greatly missed. Only you know your kid and what they like best. Put your own creative and thoughtful spin on the contents. You can even call in advance to ask if they are in need of anything specific. To top it all off, don’t forget to throw a short and sweet note to remind him or her how proud you are. Encouragement is needed now more than ever. So how many care packages do you send, and when should you send them? You definitely don’t want to overdue sending care packages. Frequently mailing could be very costly or make you seem like an overbearing parent. Typically, sending a larger one within the first couple of months of the new school year is standard. After that, maybe smaller packages once every two to three months. Keep in mind that the beginning and ends of the semester will always be the most rigorous for your student. Showing them extra support during this time could really help push them through the more stressful times. No matter what, your college student will know you love, miss and support them every day. It’s the small gestures that will remain with them through the next demanding four years. Now, get their dorm address as soon as possible and start brainstorming your package. Have fun!

STEPHANY MCMILLIAN guest writer

niner nation gold students cheer on charlotte 49er basketball. nt file photo At soccer games, basketball games and even football games the Niner Nation Gold pride will be loud and proud. “FortyNiners! Forty-Niners! FortyNiners!” The cheering never stops and the adrenaline only rises. Niner Nation Gold (NNG) is an organization on UNC Charlotte’s campus that encourages students to support and promote all Charlotte athletic events. Joining the organization is a huge commitment and demonstrates the love your child has for fellow 49ers. Around campus the organization has gained a reputation of “die-hard” 49er fans that paint their body, wear green wigs and frequently come equipped with green and gold foam fingers. The organization not only supports 49er athletics while in school, but members are also educated on the importance of

PARENT SURVIVAL GUIDE

2015

giving back to the 49er club after graduation. 49er spirit lasts a lifetime. Membership fees are $20, but come with great perks. As a member of NNG your child will receive a NNG T-shirt; eight athletics loyalty points and priority points; invites to NNG cookouts, road trips and other social events. Other benefits include chances to interact with 49er coaches and athletes, as well as priority lower level student seating at men’s basketball games. NNG is the largest student run organization on UNC Charlotte’s campus and continues to strive for excellence in representing 49ers properly. For more information, visit http://ninernationgold.weebly. com.

Hire-A-Niner helps students find work JOHN LINEBERGER Lifestyle Editor

The university offers database website called Hire-A-Niner to help students find their way into paying jobs or internships. You can find Hire-A-Niner on the University Career Center website. The service uses the same NinerNet credentials that students use for everything else, such as email and 49er Express. This guide will help you navigate the website a little faster and give you an introduction to all of its uses.

RESUME CREATOR One of the first things students may want to do when exploring Hire-A-Niner is to create a resume to submit to potential employers. Once logged in, click the options on the bottom of the left side menu, “Create Resume using Resume Creator.” From there, Hire-A-Niner helps students by allowing them to choose between 12 potential resume templates. After the user selects a template, it opens a screen

where they can fill out all of the requested information, and Hire-A-Niner will generate the resume for the student.

for any particular form to fill out, they can most likely find it in the “Resources Library” tab on the side of the website.

JOB SEARCH

INTERVIEWING AND EVENTS

Across the bar at the top of the main page, students should click on an option called “Job & Internship Search.” This will pull up a list containing hundreds of the jobs, internships and co-ops offered by UNC Charlotte and sponsored companies around the country. Students can narrow their search for specific companies by typing into the keyword textbox at the top of the page. If a student is interested in seeing exactly what companies other than the school are offering work, they can click on “Employer Directory” at the top of the page to view a list of the over 13,000 companies. Most commonly, students can expect interested employers to contact them via their UNC Charlotte email address in the following weeks. If students are looking

Hire-A-Niner is kept up to date by the university on upcoming career events and interviews as well. You can find those links along the top bar of the page and they will take you to more lists of locations and times in which they will occur. Some students are not yet interested in taking on a job or internship but still want to learn more about the practice they are interested in. If this is the case, then Hire-A-Niner also offers job shadowing opportunities. By clicking “Job Shadowing” in the top bar, users are taken to a page that lists names of the professional workers and their companies, allowing students to visit and become more knowledgeable about that particular career.

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA

PARENT SURVIVAL GUIDE

2015

A PRODUCT OF STUDENT NINER MEDIA