UCM Family Newsletter

HELP YOUR STUDENT TO BE INFORMED!

Do you have trouble remembering all of those campus dates and deadlines?  Add "UCM MoInfo" to the Facebook pages that you "like" and you will receive updates from the Office of the Registrar.  These announcements will include information regarding course enrollment, graduation, refund dates and other important deadlines.  The Registrar's Office also tweets.  Check out their Twitter account at "UCMRegistrar".  If your student receives campus announcements via text, encourage them to join the 'UCM Registrar' message group.

MENTAL FITNESS WORKSHOPS IN COMING WEEKS

March 4 & 5 – Motivating Yourself
March 11 & 12 – Managing Difficult Emotions
March 25 & 26 – Better Sleep
April 1 & 2 - Healthy Relationships

Mondays and Tuesdays (same content both days)
3:30-4:45 p.m. – Rec Center Classroom

 

What’s happening with students in March:

• Students may be stressed as they take midterms and have papers or projects due.
• If they plan on taking summer classes, they will be registering for those classes.
• Students begin to think about summer plans, including jobs or internships.
• Students may also be concerned about how they will fit into the family and the family's expectations if they return home to live with their parents for the entire summer.
• Financial Aid documents for next year are being requested.

What parents can do:

• Keep the lines of communication open. As your student begins to prepare for summer plans and the upcoming fall term, he or she may seek your guidance and advice, or he or she may make decisions without your help. Recognize that either way, these decisions are part of growing up.
• Encourage your student to see an academic advisor before registering for or withdrawing from classes.
• Refer your student to Career Services for information about summer jobs and internships.
• Encourage your student to visit instructors regarding current grades and progress.
• Help your student understand important deadline dates.

UCM NEWS UCM Hires Expert in Student Support to Lead Student Success Initiatives Under Title III Strengthening Institutions Grant Certified Peer Educator Training Vital to UCM Meeting Student Retention, Success Goals UCM Lee's Summit Hosts Community Summit to Assist Organizations Supporting Those in Need Forum Led by Motivational Speaker Curtis Pitts Highlights Black History Month at UCM To track the latest news and events at UCM link to www.ucmo.edu/news/index.php.

 

COURSE SCHEDULE PLANNING MADE EASY!

Schedule Planner is available to students in MyCentral under the Student Services/Student Home tab. The application will provide all possible combinations of schedules based on the specific courses and break times (work, athletic practice, etc.) chosen. Use of Schedule Planner is optional. Learn more about Schedule Planner at www.ucmo.edu/current-students/ office-of-the-registrar-and- student-records/enrollment/ using-schedule-planner-to- search-for-classes/index.php and spread the word to your students about this great planning tool!

 

STUDENT PROGRESS REPORTS DISTRIBUTED

Beginning at noon Tuesday, February 26th students had access to their Student Progress Report grades. Students may access their grades in the MyCentral student portal. UCM offers several resources on campus to assist students with improving their grades:

• Schedule a meeting with the instructor(s): This is a great way to ask for additional explanation or help with the course materials.
• Schedule a meeting with their Success Advisor and/or Success Coach: he/she can help create a specific plan to get your student back on track. To do so, please have them stop by the Success Advising Center in Union 128 or call us at 660-543-4721 to schedule an appointment.
• Visit the Learning Commons to access free tutoring, study skills tutoring and test prep.
  
  

HAS YOUR STUDENT CONSIDERED TAKING UCM SUMMER COURSES?

Taking courses during the summer is a great way to stay on track and reduce time to graduation.

Central Missouri offers over 1,000 summer courses in varying lengths to meet the demands of students' busy schedules and to keep students on track for timely degree completion. Many courses are offered completely online, permitting students to spend the summer at home, while making additional progress towards their degree. Our online instructors are the same professors teaching on campus, so they bring the same high quality instruction to you on your computer as they bring to the students in their classrooms. Students can also complete traditional face-to-face courses in as little as six weeks. Approximately 4,500 students attend summer sessions to raise their GPA, graduate early or on time, retake a course previously withdrawn from or lessen a Fall or Spring course load. Summer sessions begin Monday, May 20. For more information, please visit www.ucmo.edu/offices/extended- studies/summer-session/index. php.

Details about financial assistance for the 2019 Summer Session are located at www.ucmo.edu/future-students/ tuition-costs-and-financial- aid/financing-your-education/ types-of-aid/index.php. The 2018-2019 FAFSA is used for Summer 2019 awarding.

IMPORTANT: Enrollment begins March 25th for both Summer and Fall semesters.

Students who are considering taking courses at OTHER institutions this summer to have this credit applied to their UCM degree should consider these items first:

• Students should run a Central Degree audit (available in MyCentral) to make sure that the course is a required part of their degree program.
• Students need to make sure that the course will transfer back to UCM as an equivalent course. Transfer course equivalencies can be found at www.ucmo.edu/corequiv/. After completion of the course students will need to have the transfer institution send an official transcript to the UCM Admissions Office in Ward Edwards 1400.
• Courses taken a two year colleges will not transfer to UCM for upper-level (3000/4000) credit.
• The last 12 hours toward a degree need to be taken at UCM.

PELL RECIPIENTS: EXTRA PELL GRANT AVAILABLE TO HELP PAY FOR SUMMER!

For the Summer 2019 term, if eligible, your student can receive an additional Pell Grant disbursement equal to a full semester amount (if enrolled in 12 credit hours) or half (if enrolled in 6 hours). If enrolled in less than 6 credit hours in the Summer, the student can only use his/her remaining eligibility (if any) from 2018-2019. The awarded amount will be based on either their 2018-19 FAFSA or 2019-20 FAFSA, whichever is greater. This additional Pell Grant disbursement will count against their lifetime limit of 600% (Or the equivalent of 6 years of full time Pell Grant).
 

HAVEN'T SUBMITTED THE FAFSA?

Be sure to file your 2019-2020 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) soon. To be considered for the most beneficial 'package' that includes the federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant (SEOG) and Federal Work-Study employment, you will need to file the 2019-20 FAFSA by the priority deadline of April 15. Apply online at studentaid.ed.gov/sa/fafsa and be sure to enter the University of Central Missouri's FAFSA code (002454).

If you have questions or need additional clarification about any aspect of applying for financial aid for the 2019-20 year, contact the UCM Office of Student Financial Services by telephone (660-543-8266) or in person (1100 Ward Edwards Bldg.). In addition, complete details about the financial aid application process may be reviewed at www.ucmo.edu/sfs/. 

IT IS TIME TO SIGN UP FOR ON-CAMPUS HOUSING!

As part of the Contract for Completion, this is a quick reminder that the UCM Board of Governor's has a two year on-campus residency policy. Students under the age of 21 or who have less than 60 UCM accepted credit hours are required to reside on campus for two years. Students are able to complete their online residence hall agreement or their apartment application via their MyCentral account. There are limited single rooms available for students in the residence halls and there are limited apartments available for sophomores. Those who complete the residence hall agreement will be afforded access to our online room assignment system and they will be able to pick their own bed space for next year. Those who submit an apartment application will be contacted should an apartment be offered to them.

PARENTS OF OPEN OPTION STUDENTS

It is important to encourage your student to keep moving forward in the process of deciding on an academic program that fits them.
A hold has been placed on all Open Option students' account. Action must be taken to remove the hold before enrolling in classes for next semester. The following options are available to assist your student in moving forward with making their major decision and removing the hold on their account:

• Declare their major. To do so, please have them stop by the Success Advising Center in Union 128 or call us at 660-543-4721 to schedule an appointment with an Academic Success Advisor.
• Engage the major exploration and decision-making process.  To do so, they will want to schedule an appointment with a Success Advisor/Career Counselor who is trained to facilitate this process. To schedule an appointment, stop by the Success Advising Center in Union 128 or call us at 660-543-4721. 

Call our office at 660-543-4721 with any questions.

The Success Advising Center staff looks forward to helping your student.

STRESS AND ANXIETY

Anxiety is a normal response to stressful situations. A certain amount of anxiety is essential for performing at our best. It is only when we have too much anxiety that it interferes with functioning.

The anxiety expresses itself through emotions, physical symptoms, thoughts, and behaviors. If your student is experiencing levels of anxiety that is causing significant distress or is interfering with functioning, encourage your student to seek help from the Counseling Center. Our services are free to UCM students. Call 660-543-4060 or visit our website at www.ucmo.edu/cc for more information.

EDUCATION AND HUMAN SERVICES CAREER EXPO

The Career Service Center will be hosting an Education Career Expo on Monday, March 11, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. in the Multipurpose Building Arena. This is a great time for students to network with school districts who are recruiting for full-time positions within the field of education for the 2019-20 school year. It is also a great opportunity for students to network with employers in the human services field, too. Students should dress professionally and bring multiple copies of their resumes. For more information regarding this event please visit our website at www.ucmo.edu/career/students/ events/placement.cfm.

Students can also attend Career Services Walk-in Hours Monday-Thursday from 1:00-3:00 p.m. to have the resume reviewed or to have any career related questions answered.

 

HOW TO HELP YOUR STUDENT LAND A JOB

Every student is encouraged to develop an individualized job search strategy that uses all of their available resources. While the Career Services Center should be considered as a major resource, it should not be seen as the only source. Your student will begin to develop a network of other sources such as faculty, alumni, fellow students, friends and their families, etc. These contacts can be vital links to successful employment. Students should visit with their Career Advisor (CA) to learn about the hiring process and time lines in the field that interests them. The CA can also lead students in finding resources to search for positions as well as create networking opportunities with professionals in the student's field of interest.

Parents and family members have a great wealth of knowledge to offer students related to careers. We would like to encourage you to partner with us in support of all the students at Central. Please consider sharing your time, career, and expertise and knowledge in a collaborative effort to expand Central students' knowledge regarding the many different career options available to them. You can accomplish this by providing students "Job Shadow" experiences, developing "Internship" programs and sharing your professional experiences by participating in "Career Panels".

Offering full-time job leads to Central students is an excellent way to increase the number of available opportunities for students while securing outstanding candidates within your organization. You can also visit www.ucmo.edu/offices/career- services-center/employers/ index.php for additional details and to discover the ways in which employers can utilize our office. The Career Services Center is dedicated to assist students in their preparation for success..

 

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