PARENT & FA MILY NE WSLE T T E R
Volume XI, Issue O ne
Supporting Students in Finding their Passion
Armando Contreras, SSHA Academic Advisor
How do you prepare for success after graduation? This question is the cause for much anxiety and stress among the students we interact with in our advising office. This anxiety can lead to the desire to add a second major or even multiple minors, thereby perpetuating the myth that a student’s courses and choice of major must relate directly to a specific career or job after college. Recent data demonstrate that college graduates must be flexible and open to taking positions outside of their area of study. Branching out in unexpected directions is common after graduation. Although a college education does provide an advantage in the job market, it is the flexibility
and willingness to explore many options that will help your student identify career choices that fit his or her interests.
Although lists of “hot” majors for the job market are easy to find on the internet, a student’s major doesn’t create a direct path to a job
after college. According to recent national surveys of employers who hire college graduates, a job candidate’s demonstrated capacity to think critically, communicate clearly, and solve complex problems is more important than the undergraduate major (Grasz, J. 2013. One-Third of College-Educated Workers Do Not Work in Occupations Related to Their College Major; Hart Research Associates. 2013. It Takes More Than a Major: Employer Priorities for College Learning and Student Success. Hart Research Associates, Washington, DC). Employers also seek candidates who demonstrate capacity for continued learning, can work effectively with others, and demonstrate ethical judgment and integrity. All of these skills, knowledge, and values are important outcomes of college, regardless of what major a student chooses. If a student focuses only on his or her major and neglects these other outcomes, he or she is at a disadvantage in work and life after college. As academic advisors we find this same disconnect between students’ choices continued on page 4
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REACHING OUR ACADEMIC GOALS When I was a high school student, I became aware of the University in my hometown, and since then, it is a school that has been close to my heart. As a college freshman, I would interact with different students, faculty, and staff members, all while realizing that this University is a hidden gem. The atmosphere here is incredibly friendly, our faculty and staff are extremely helpful, and as a bonus, our campus is state-of-the-art with amazing facilities. I have had the pleasure of working for the Library’s Administration Department since the start of my freshman year and the experiences I have gained in over the past two years are those that I will use in my future, but they also have made me grateful to be a part of the UC Merced family. As a part of the Library team, I can definitely say that our student assistants and staff are dedicated to improving everyone’s experience here by answering a variety of questions and providing the best customer service around. Our Librarians are always happy to help students that need assistance with developing research questions and finding information. Recently, the Library welcomed Mr. Haipeng Li as University Librarian. His addition to the Library will ensure the Library grows as part of the campus’ 2020 Project. Additionally, the Library is the social hub on campus because it allows cohorts of college students to study, have meetings, and collaborate, all while being able to enjoy simple things like having a meal or socializing. UC Merced’s Library has allowed me and other students to reach our academic goals. Maria Higareda-Marquez
IN THE WORDS OF A BOBCAT
Dear Parents, When reflecting upon my college experience thus far having my parents as my support system has been important in helping me overcoming challenges I encountered along the way. My first year was especially challenging since in addition to my transition to the university I was also in the process of self-discovery. This was a time when I received my first failing grade as well as when I started reconsidering the dream career I had since I was young. I still remember being terrified about my parents’ response to these situations. Instead, they listened to me and when I was done sharing everything I was going through, they responded with encouraging and motivational words which I remember to this day. Moments such as those are unforgettable and will continue to push me until I graduate. My advice would be for you to continue to show love and support for your student as they may be facing the challenges that most other college students and I have encountered. Something as simple as a phone call, care package or a simple motivational talk can carry them through this new journey they are embarking on.
Mercy Maina
UC MERCED CLASS OF 2017
A BUSY YEAR OF STUDENT ENGAGEMENT FOR COUNSELING AND PSYCHOLOGICAL SERVICES
of National Depression Screening As the Fall semester kicked into gear, Day. Students were screened for CAPS welcomed Aron Katz, Psy.D depression and anxiety and scores were who recently completed his postreviewed by CAPS staff psychologists. doctoral internship at UC Davis. Participants received free “emoji” Students and parents can “get to cookies as well as a care know” the rest of our staff by package filled with various accessing our CAPS website items such as stress at counseling.ucmerced. balls, yoga passes, edu. Recognizing the mindfulness practices, role technology plays etc. The goal was to in our students’ lives, screen 300 students CAPs has launched within four hours both Facebook however the team met (www.facebook.com/ this goal within the first UCMercedCAPS) and Cookies from the “What’s your Emoji?” two hours (328 students twitter (@UCMerced event. were screened in total)! CAPS) accounts which As a result of this success, highlight various themes CAPS has hosted weekly workshops including Meditation (Monday), (led by different clinicians) which Talk About It (Tuesday), What’s educate students on coping skills for New (Wednesday), Think About It depression and anxiety. The response (Thursday) and Feel Good (Friday). has been positive as evidenced by So check us out! faculty support and consistent student This year CAPS has begun to endorse participation. the “Know the Warning Signs” campaign which promotes suicide awareness and prevention. CAPS launched this informational campaign in conjunction with several other events during Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 6th-12th). On October 8th CAPS co-hosted a “What’s Your Emoji?” event with the HEROES in honor
Saturday, May 14, 2 016 9:00 am South Bowl, UC Merced Campus
2 UC MERCED | PARTNERS IN SUCCESS
Tania Gonzalez, Assistant Director
COMMENCEMENT 2016 SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, HUMANITIES AND ARTS
Front and center, Mercy Maina sits with the team of Peer Academic Advisors for the Calvin E. Bright Success Center.
As a Wellness team, we are invested in the physical and emotional health of our UC Merced students and are proud of the individual efforts and innovations each team member brings in assisting students down their path to academic success.
SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING AND SCHOOL OF NATURAL SCIENCES
Sunday, May 15, 2016 9:00 am South Bowl, UC Merced Campus
There are a several opportunities for parents and family members to volunteer at Commencement. We hope that you will consider taking part in this exciting tradition! For more information, please visit: http://commencement.ucmerced.edu
2015
Women in Leadership Retreat
The Women in Leadership Retreat
is an opportunity to bring together those who identify as women who hold leadership positions across campus with the explicit goals of creating community and providing opportunities to gain additional leadership skills through their stories and experiences. We examine what it means to be a woman leader, how our experiences impact our leadership and practice ways to effectively lead.
identified multiple initiatives that they would like addressed on campus including but not limited to creating more opportunities for women leaders to collaborate, hold leadership positions across campus, provide more programs and workshops to address issues such as victim blaming and stigma towards women in specific fields of study, and intentionally developing additional support structures for women.
This inaugural retreat traveled to the National Chavez Monument in Keene, CA to spend a day and a half with other women identified leaders, where they focused their energies on developing a women’s leadership cohort for support. The leaders on this retreat found commonalities in struggles with leadership yet found inspiration from each other. Additionally, the women
The Women in Leadership Retreat successfully brought women identified leaders together, and created a community of support while advancing their leadership skills. Programs such as this one contribute to your student’s accomplishments by providing opportunities for practicing team building, effective networking and developing leadership skills, elements that will assist them when moving into their careers. Your student is making the most of their time at UC Merced, having opportunities that they may never have otherwise experienced. Please know how truly special, inspiring and courageous your student is! Thank you for encouraging them to be part of our UC Merced community. Angi Baxter, Coordinator of Women’s Programs & LGBTQ+ Initiatives in the Office of Student Life
HONORING ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT The UC Merced Chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars (NSCS) held its annual
induction ceremony on September 19, 2015. With thanks to this year’s event speaker Dr. Marjorie Zatz, Dean of the Graduate Division, it was a memorable and motivational experience for the inductees, family and friends alike. The NSCS exists to honor high academic achievement early in the college career, offering recognition to those who perform in the top 20% of their class in their first year of college. It provides a supportive and welcoming national network to connect these achievers to valuable opportunities
to promote further success. In fact, this organization awards its members more than one million dollars nationwide in scholarships annually for their studies conducted overseas, continued enrollment on their home campuses, and explorations of career opportunities. In addition, the NSCS invites its scholars to nominate influential staff and faculty members. This year, Dr. Marjorie Zatz, Dr. Jack Vevea of the faculty, and Ms. Connie McBride of the Office of Student Life were publicly honored with Distinguished Membership for their contributions
to supporting student success. UC Merced’s chapter has already achieved “Star Status” within the NSCS for its excellent achievements in leadership and for consistently engaging its members in community outreach activities as role models to local youth. The current UC Merced Chapter President, Breanne Orey, has worked hard to build up this year’s team of officers and year-long plans for events and programs. Our chapter is still young, but the members are making a name for themselves and for the UC Merced Chapter; the NSCS provides the perfect context for the Bobcat spirit of service and excellence to shine brightly. Elizabeth Boretz, NSCS Advisor
PARENT & FAMILY NEWSLETTER | FALL 2015 3
New Starts; NEW STARS This has been a wonderful year for the Degree Attainment for Returning and Transfer Scholars program. Join us as we welcome our newest DARTS staff members:
Brandon White
earned his Associates Degree from El Camino Compton Center before transferring to University of California, Santa Cruz where he received a Bachelor’s degree in Film & Digital Media. While at UC Santa Cruz Brandon was heavily involved in enrichment programs as well as the outreach effort to promote higher education to African American students. Brandon joined the DARTS team in October 2015. Since graduation, Brandon is still involved with community outreach working primarily with at risk students to promote the importance of education using theater arts as a platform. Brandon Supporting Students continued from front page
of college majors and the students’ interests and career aspirations. Students can be so focused on getting a job that they don’t take the time to figure out what their interests are and how those interests relate to careers they might pursue. To challenge this mindset, my philosophy has been to ask students what they are passionate about.
I make it a priority to ask what students enjoy doing in their spare time in addition to what courses ignite their passion to learn. Helping students to open up in this approach allows advisors to focus on career options tied directly to their passion. Here are the things your students should consider as they select their major: • Focus on quality versus quantity; additional majors or minors aren’t
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is located in the Bright Success Center (KL222) and welcomes guests who want to talk about their experience as a transfer or returning student.
Eva Lee joins
UC Merced and the DARTS program as the DARTS Career Specialist in the Center for Career and Professional Advancement. Eva holds a Master of Science degree in Counseling with a school specialization from California State University, Sacramento and a Bachelor of Science in Human Development, as well as a minor in Asian American Studies from University of California, Davis. Eva joined
necessary and can distract from achieving success in the major of interest. • Consider internship opportunities. Employers increasingly are looking for candidates who have used their coursework in real-world settings. • Take more courses that they love (use elective units wisely) • Join clubs or programs related to their interests • Talk to professors about their research interests • Visit their academic advisor to review academic plans In a recent survey of second-year students at UC Merced, 25% indicated they planned to participate in research, internships, or professional organizations as they developed their post-baccalaureate plans. By exploring their interests in conjunction with their major, students can relieve the stress of finding a specific career path. Successful students are those who enjoy learning and find a connection with their area of study, which can lead to the successful completion of their college
the DARTS team in September 2015. In her free time, she enjoys photography, networking, and exploring community engagements. All transfer and returning students are encouraged to go and meet with Eva to begin to prepare their for career or graduate school needs. In addition to new staff we have a new cohort of students in our program. DARTS has begun outreach to academically dismissed students in order to help them through the reinstatement process. In fall 2015, DARTS enrolled almost 60 students intending to return to the UC. This is the largest cohort of returning students the program has ever seen. This returning student cohort has been dubbed STARS (meaning they are strategically thinking about reinstatement success). If your student has had some academic difficulty but wants to return to the UC make sure they contact us at dartsprogram@ucmerced.edu. Krystal Miguel Coordinator of Degree Attainment for Returning and Transfer Students
degree and a career path driven by their passions. As academic advisors, our advice to parents and families is to take time (during breaks, vacations, etc.) to have an open dialogue with their students about what courses they are enjoying and what type of work they see themselves engaging in after they graduate. By removing the stress of finding a specific major that leads to a specific job after graduation, and focusing instead on identifying their interests and gaining hands-on experience, students can find the path that leads them to fulfill their potential. Armando is an Academic Advisor in the School of Social Sciences, Humanities, and Arts (SSHA). Aside from advising Management, Economics, and Management and Business Economics majors, his role also consists of coordinating the Student Success Program and Peer Mentor program. Special thanks to Vice Provost and Dean of Undergraduate Education, Elizabeth Whitt for her contribution to this piece.
Treats & Beats 2015: Alice in Wonderland
T
he Campus Activities Board, known as CAB, consists of various committees. Large Scale, as the name implies, plans the larger events on campus. On Friday, October 30th, CAB hosted Treats N Beats. Treats N Beats is our harvest carnival and concert. Last year, we hosted Sage the Gemini, J Holiday and over 2,500 students. CAB’s theme was Jack-OLantern, but this year’s theme was even more majestic as the board transported students to Wonderland. OFF WITH THEIR HEADS! We began by recreating the Mad Tea Party with blue, pink and green illuminated trees, colorful paper lanterns hanging overhead, fog sweeping the floor, eclectic chairs and a tea set, and of course the Cheshire cat. Students then experienced the Rabbit Hole, covered in randomized clocks the rabbit hole was lined with soft yellow lights. Students then entered the Red
Queen’s Garden, enhanced with fresh plants from a local nursery and enlarged playing cards. This replication from the movie stretched 12 feet high and 10 feet wide, serving as the grand entrance into Wonderland. To enhance the Wonderland theme we asked volunteers to dress in full makeup and costume, stroll around the event and take photos with the students. We offered a variety of food options for students within the venue, from funnel cakes to cotton candy to tacos to Thai.
Free energy drinks were provided by 51/50. We also provided free water for our students at the first Aid Station. The Carnival portion of the event consisted of three mechanical rides, five game booths, and an overflow of prizes. The Ferris wheel was by far the most popular, followed by the loop O’ Plane, and the Fun Slide. Our 16 by 20 foot stage was covered in black, white, and red balloon columns, strong bass and plenty of colorful lighting. Our entertainment for the evening consisted of three amazing student DJ’s, our first act DJ Felli Fel and our headliner Teeflii! With such a breathtaking setup, it is no surprise that this year’s attendance far exceeded that of last year, hosting 2,694 students! Stay tuned for our Spring Concert, COWCHELLA. Omar Herrera and Stephanie Ruiz
CONTINUING THE CONVERSATION:
Check out our new video, designed by student Roman Kolodzie, at tinyurl.com/ UCMCARE.
Creating a Safe Community
student safe, but here is how you can help us keep that learning happening yearround! CARE recently changed its name from the Violence Prevention Program and is now located in Kolligian Library, Suite 107
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Bring up our topics with your student when they are discussed in the news— use these conversations as a springboard to talk about how they can prevent sexual assault, dating/domestic violence, and stalking.
As the 2020 plan approaches, the CARE Office is committed to reaching every student with engaging in-person education programs for sexual and domestic violence prevention. With our expanding new student population, our office increased the number of “Step Up to Safety” programs offered to new students. This year we reached over 5% of incoming students before move-in!
Intervene and speak up when you see inappropriate behavior that can lead to violence. To help in these situations, think about our “3 D’s”—how you could be Direct, create a Distraction, or Delegate the situation to someone else. By practicing this behavior, you’re encouraging your student to do the same.
We know that if you attended orientation with your student, you already have heard a little from us on how to keep your
Realize that sexual violence starts with harmful practices in our culture —encourage your student to
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avoid using hurtful language and jokes. For example, think about if your student listens to music that blurs the lines of control and consent. Use movies and television shows to talk about the differences between healthy and unhealthy relationships.
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Be a role model for respectful behavior to those around you by avoiding victim-blaming statements— Remind your student that no one asks or deserves to be hurt by these crimes no matter what.
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Learn more about sexual violence and share information with your student. A great place to start would be checking out the CARE Programs website at Prevent-violence@ucmerced.edu. Taylor Fugere, CARE Office
PARENT & FAMILY NEWSLETTER | FALL 2015 5
STUDENT BUSINESS SERVICES:
Providing Optimal Customer Service
S
tudent Business Services continues to strive for effective ways to assist our students and parents and provide optimal customer service. Our office has seen a trend with students and parents having issues with making online payments via the ePay website. These issues include receiving payment error messages and payments being returned due to incorrect information entered into ePay. With that being said, we made some improvements to our website (sbs.ucmerced.edu) which include the addition of a new tutorials section. In this tutorials section, you can find a video link that has step by step
instructions on how to make an online payment using ePay. This resourceful video walks you through making a payment with a narrator showing the different screens in ePay. We encourage you and your student to view this new tutorial video and hope you find it useful. In the coming months, we plan to launch additional tutorial videos so stay tuned!
Student Business Services takes pride in the fact that UC Merced is regarded as one of the top environmentally friendly campuses in the UC system. We would like to share a major step forward we have made in helping with this effort. In the past, we relied primarily on distributing
student refunds by paper check. Students had the inconvenience of standing in long lines to pick up their check. To improve this outdated process, we implemented an online form on the ePay website where students can complete an Electronic Funds Transfer Authorization (EFT) and refunds could be deposited directly to their bank account. This eliminated paper forms and the reduction in paper refund checks. We are happy to announce that as of the fall 2015 semester 70% of our students are enrolled in EFT. We look forward to sharing other office accomplishments with you as they develop. Larry Rodriguez, Accounting Assistant
FAMILY WEEKEND 2015 The Office of Student Life hosted their annual Family Weekend October 16-18th. This is one of the largest events that OSL hosts every year. Planning for Family Weekend started back in August and the interns of Student Involvement and Transitional Programs, a sub-department within the Office of Student Life, were in charge of planning the event under the direction of the Student Involvement
and Transitional Programs Coordinator Enrique Guzman. Some of the programs/events that were held during Family Weekend included a movie night that was co-hosted with the Campus Activities Board, faculty presentations on student opportunities, catered dinner at Gateway Gardens, and a hypnotist show hosted by Sailesh the Hypnotist. In addition to Family Weekend, there were two
other events happening on campus on that same Saturday, Preview Day and Homecoming. Preview Day is an annual event that the Office of Admissions puts on every year that allows high school seniors that are interested in applying at UC Merced catch a glimpse of what the university has to offer for prospective students. Homecoming is put on by the Student Alumni Association that allows the alumni of UC Merced to come back and participate in events/programs. We thank all of the guests who made Family Weekend a success, and for all that you do to support your Bobcats. Dennison Ocampo Senior Student Involvement and Transitional Programs Intern for the Office of Student Life
6 UC MERCED | PARTNERS IN SUCCESS
CALLING ALL PARENTS! Tuesday, December 1, 2015 will mark the second annual Giving Tuesday UC Merced, a 24hour fundraising initiative focused solely on generating scholarship support for students in need. Once again this year, donors will have the opportunity to quadruple the value of their gift thanks to 3:1 matching gift challenges generously provided by Foster Poultry Farms and Wells Fargo. Last year, Giving Tuesday donors, combined with the 3:1 matching gift dollars, generated over $40,800 in new scholarship support. As a result of this effort, the UC Merced Alumni Association Endowed Scholarship Fund was created – the very first endowed scholarship fund created
Giving Tuesday UC Merced, A Day of Giving for Scholarships by UC Merced alumni! This year, the Student Alumni Association (SAA) would like to follow suit and endow their scholarship fund on December 1, 2015. In order to reach their goal to endow the fund, they will need to secure at least $500 in new gifts on Giving Tuesday. We kindly ask that parents of UC Merced students, and other family members and friends, consider making a gift to the Student Alumni Association Scholarship Fund on December 1, 2015. You may want to consider making a gift in the amount of an anticipated graduation year such as $20.16, which, when added to the 3:1 match of $60.48, would result in $80.64 in scholarship support for
the Student Alumni Association Scholarship Fund. Please join us on December 1, 2015 and help the SAA create an endowed scholarship fund that will provide much-needed scholarship support to UC Merced students for generations to come! In order to receive the 3:1 Match, all gifts must be made on December 1, 2015 and may be made online at: http://givetue.ucmerced. edu or, via telephone: 209.228.4438
If you have any questions, please contact Christopher Abrescy at: 209. 228.2586 or, Jessica “Jae Jae” Julian at 209.228.4107.
CIVIC LEADERSHIP:
Students Partnering with the Merced Community UC Merced students are AMAZING!
Every semester, in addition to their course work and studies, they find time to reach out to partner with schools, health related agencies, senior centers and other sites to help create positive change within our community! • Lift While You Lead Mentors meet with high school students every other week to discuss difficult and sensitive yet relevant topics. They seek to empower them to make their voice heard, to stand up for what is right, and to make positive choices for their lives. • Merced County Project 10% student presenters go out to every eighth grade
class in Merced County and speak to over 4000 middle school students. They share their own stories of challenges and choices and the positive outcome to encourage them to stay in school and motivate them to graduate from high school. • Students involved in the I CAN READ Literacy Initiative tutor k-3rd grade students in learning to read at a local elementary school. They are trained in basic reading intervention strategies then matched with an elementary school child and meet with them every Monday and Friday for the semester.
• Student club members spend mornings at the local “Adult Day Out” senior facility helping with crafts, reading to seniors who can no longer see to read, enjoying companionship through board games and conversation or providing entertainment through music and dance. These are just a few of the ways in which UC Merced students touch the community, and from my observations, both the community and our students benefit from the partnership! Vernette Doty, Civic Engagement
PARENT & FAMILY NEWSLETTER | FALL 2015 7
PRST STD U.S.POSTAGE
PAID
IMPORTANT DATES
DEAR BOBCAT PARENTS
CALVIN E. BRIGHT SUCCESS CENTER 5200 North Lake Road Merced, CA 95343
MERCED, CA PERMIT NO.1330
Holidays are approaching fast which means Finals Week is just around the corner, and what better way to show you care than to reserve a Care Package for your hard-working Bobcat! You can even add a note of encouragement and support onto your gift! Show your student your support by reserving any of our great Student Survival Kit options: SURVIVAL IN A CUP The Survival in a Cup boasts an assortment of necessities that will help your On-The-Go Bobcat tackle the challenges of university life! FINALS WEEK SURVIVAL KIT The Finals Week Survival Kit holds all of your student’s finals week necessities! From test-taking materials to mind-energizing snacks, your Bobcat is sure to have everything they need to tackle final’s week prep and exams! THINKING OF YOU There’s no better way to show your Bobcat you’re thinking of them
December 11 December 12-18 December 24-Jan 3 January 1-March 2 January 12 January 17 January 18 January 19 March 12 March 16 March 21-14 March 25 May 6 May 7-13 May 14&15
and cheering them on than the Thinking of You Kit! Your Bobcat will definitely feel the love and support with this gift box. Looking for something more? Want to add a t-shirt or hoodie? When purchasing any of our Student Survival Kits, you have the option to add on any additional items from our website. You can also have your gift sent directly to your student’s dorm! Just be sure to select the Housing Delivery
Fall Instruction Ends Final Examinations Winter Holiday – Administrative Offices Closed FAFSA Priority Filing Period Deadline to Enroll in Deferred Payment Plan Residence Halls Open for Spring Semester Martin Luther King Holiday – Offices Closed Spring Instruction Begins Fall 2016 Online Course Schedule is Live Mid-Semester Grades Posted Spring Recess Cesar Chavez Holiday – Offices Closed Instruction Ends Final Examinations Commencement
option. We want to make ordering easy and convenient for YOU! Visit our webstore at http:// bookstore.ucmerced.edu to place our orders! The UC Merced Campus Store team appreciates you, our Customers! We wish you all a wonderful holiday season. From our family to yours,
The UC Merced Campus Store Staff
THANKS TO THE CONTRIBUTORS Dulcemaria Anaya Dana Bautista Angi Baxter Armando Contreras Vernette Doty Lisa French Taylor Fugere Tania Gonzalez Omar Herrera
Maria Higareda-Marquez Mercy Maina Krystal Miguel Dennison Ocampo Larry Rodriguez Shannon Rogina Stephanie Ruiz Doug Zuidema
If you would like to comment or contribute writing to this publication, please contact the Editor, Dr. Elizabeth Boretz, at eboretz@ ucmerced.edu. We value your feedback and support!