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Mountaineer Parent Newsletter
January 2008

From: Peg Layton, Dean of Students

 

It is always such an amazing transformation – those tired, cranky students who couldn’t wait for finals to be over to get out of here in December are back with big smiles on their faces and hugs all around. Of course, the faculty and staff have experienced some of that same transformative magic. We’re not quite as energetic, but then we have a few years on the students. It’s good to feel our community returning to its normal tempo.

I hope you will take special note of the information in this newsletter regarding our new Supplemental Instruction program. This could be a lifesaver for your student if he or she is enrolled in an entry level course in English, math or history.

From the President – Dr. Tim Summerlin
Schreiner parents:  One never knows when opportunity for learning may come along. After Christmas, Mary Ellen and I visited our younger daughter Beth and her husband Scott in North Carolina. Scott is in his second year of residency, and he was delighted to tell us about a gift he had received that provided a perfect way to relax after a long day—Guitar Hero.

I live a sheltered life and had never heard of Guitar Hero. But I learned. In case some of you are like me, I will note briefly that GH is a video game in which one or two persons strum on plastic guitars while fingering keys, seeking to match the color-coded notes that race by on the TV screen. Coaxed to join in on the “easy” level at rhythm guitar, I made so many mistakes the first few times that we were tossed off the screen. But ultimately I succeeded (always at the easy level) in playing well enough to get through several songs whose names I had never heard and which I have already forgotten. I told my daughter that in four days at her home, I had heard more rock music than in the rest of my previous life. Told you I have been sheltered.

So we return to Kerrville, and I learn from Dean Layton that Guitar Hero is all the rage among the young! Wow! Now I have legitimized myself. The next job is to find out once more the names of some of those tunes. Well, not tunes exactly…

Student Resources and Support Gordon Findlay, Director
It’s time for the spring term and students are getting back into the swing of things on campus. By now they realize that this is tougher than high school and there is a lot of work involved. Like last semester there are a number of basic things every student should be encouraged to do in order to have a successful semester. Stay in touch and ask a lot of questions about their progress. Are you going to class? Are you getting work in on time? How much time do you spend studying? Are you getting feedback from faculty? Have you told anyone that you are struggling in class? Have you asked for help? Are you attending Supplemental Instruction?

This semester Schreiner is initiating a program of Supplemental Instruction for several historically difficult courses – English 1301/1302, History 1301/1302 and Math 1310. Each instructor has an SI Leader assigned to their class. Leaders will be professional tutors with extensive experience in their assigned course; they will attend the class weekly and will hold supplemental instruction sessions in a classroom setting twice each week in the evenings at a time convenient to students. Sessions allow students to get together with other students in their class to compare notes, discuss important concepts, develop strategies for study and test themselves before the professor does so that when a test comes along, they will be ready.

In Fall 2007 Schreiner conducted a pilot program of supplemental instruction in History 1301. Every student participating in the SI program was successful in the course. None got less than a grade of C and 68% received at least a B. 62% of the participating students raised their score by a full letter grade from 4 weeks to final while the rest maintained their B average from start to finish.

Supplemental instruction works. Encourage your student to attend. Better grades are almost guaranteed.

If you or your student needs information I am here to assist in developing a plan for success. Contact me at: Gordon Findlay, Student Resources and Support, 830-792-7322 or gfindlay@schreiner.edu

Financial Aid Advice from Toni Bryant, Director of Financial Aid
This is not the year to wait to complete your financial aid package. Please complete the FAFSA soon-and if you anticipate borrowing for your child's education, you need to complete a credit check early on so that you can determine your options. Many lenders are heightening their credit requirements and may be strapped for cash this year. We want our parents to be educated and able to make the best choices for both student and family.

If you have questions, the Office of Financial Aid will be happy to advise you. Call 1-800-343-4919 or email tlbryant@schreiner.edu.

Health and Wellness…Just as the name suggests
The Health and Wellness Center in the Cailloux Campus Activities Center is not only a place for your student to visit when he/she is not feeling well, but as the name suggests, a great place to visit to learn about general health maintenance and a variety of wellness topics. As an added benefit, the Student Health 101 on-line magazine, which is distributed each month to students, parents and faculty of Schreiner University, covers health topics pertinent to your student’s health and wellness.

Dr. Thomas Noonan is in the clinic from 9:00 am until 3:00 pm on Tuesdays and Thursdays for assessment and treatment of students’ health concerns. Appointments can be made by calling 830-792-7279. Gloria Algeo is in the clinic from 9:00am until 4:00pm Monday through Friday for walk-in assessment and treatment of students’ health concerns.

The clinic has numerous resources available to all students and provides guidance for informed responsible self-care through direct contact with Gloria Algeo, R.N., Director of Health and Wellness as well as Dr. Noonan. Referrals to laboratories and specialists in the area are made as necessary.

The Health and Wellness Center also administers the Student Accident and Sickness Insurance plan for Schreiner University. This plan is open to ALL students. Residential and international students must prove health care coverage and waive out of the Schreiner program when initially entering Schreiner University, and then at the beginning of each academic year or they will be enrolled automatically.

All services of the Health and Wellness Center, including visits with Dr. Noonan, are free to all students registered at Schreiner and strict confidentiality is assured.

So when your Schreiner student is not feeling well, encourage a visit to the Health and Wellness Center. If there are questions regarding nutrition, stress management, fitness and other “wellness” related issues, Ms. Algeo and Dr. Noonan will be happy to offer information and advice. The clinic is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am until 4:00 pm.

MLK Observance and Black History Month Programs
In the next month and a half we will have several programs celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. and Black History Month. Here are just a few of those programs.

Student Activities Board will be hosting “The Human Race Machine” at Schreiner January 21-25, 2008. Over 100 colleges and universities in the U.S. and Canada have now used The Human Race Machine for diversity and awareness programming. This program has been televised on Oprah, written about in The Chronicle of Higher Education, Scientific American and The Washington Post. This machine will give students the opportunity to envision themselves as a different race. Modern science tells us that the DNA of any two humans is 99.97 percent identical and that there is no gene for race. A powerful, yet subtle diversity tool, the The Human Race Machine allows us to move beyond our appearance, and contemplate a deeper human connection. After all we are one race…

Several faculty on campus have made this special program a part of their curriculum and will be using it in classroom lectures, as well as have students write about their experience. We will also be showing the PBS documentary, Race: The Power of an Illusion.

In observance of the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, several events are taking place. On Sunday, January 20th at 7:00 pm students are invited to attend the Community MLK Worship Service at First Presbyterian Church. On Monday, January 21st, Campus Ministry and the Student Activities Board will be taking students into San Antonio to view the movie “The Great Debaters.” A drama based on the true story of Melvin B. Tolson, a professor at Wiley College Texas who, in 1935, inspired students to form the school's first all black debate team, which went on to challenge Harvard in the national championship. Two time Oscar winner Denzel Washington stars and directs the film.

On Wednesday, January 23rd, Campus Ministry's regular Chapel Service at 9 pm will focus on the connection between Faith and Justice, using various Scriptures passages and readings.

On January 24th, comedian Vargus Mason will be on campus performing. In 1996, Vargus Mason performed for former President Bill Clinton as part of a tribute to Martin Luther King.

On February 4th, Student Activities Board will be sponsoring a game show called Think Fast with Black History facts. A student could win up to $200 in cash!

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Jennifer Hudson Velazquez, Director of Student Activities & Greek Life at jmhudson@schreiner.edu.

Spring Break Work Trip to New Orleans
March 14th-19th, Campus Ministry will be sponsoring a Work Trip to New Orleans to help with rebuilding efforts there. There will be a meeting for all interested students at Noon on Friday, January 25th. The cost for the trip is $30, and scholarships are available. For more information please contact Rev. Gini Norris-Lane, Campus Minister, at 830-792-7284 or vanorrislane@schreiner.edu.

Interested in saving some money in 2008???
Pay in full by July 1, 2008 for the fall term and November 1, 2008 for the spring and receive a 2% reduction in the cost of tuition, room and board, less any gift aid. Contact Terri Danz in the Business Office for more information, 830-792-7363 or tdanz@schreiner.edu.

Schreiner SaturdayFebruary 23, 2008
Be sure to tell family and friends that may be exploring college choices about our campus visit program. For all the details send them to our website at:
http://www.schreiner.edu/admission/openhouse.html

Important 2008 Dates
January 16 - Spring Term classes begin
January 21 - Martin Luther King Holiday, no classes
January 25 - Last day to drop a course without a grade
March 13 - Mid-term grades due
March 17 – 24 - Spring Break and Easter Holiday
April 3 - Last day to drop a course
April 11 – 13 - Recall (Homecoming)
May 2 - Last day of classes
May 5 – 8 - Final exams
May 10 - Commencement

As always, please contact me if I may be of assistance.

Peg Layton, Dean of Students
CMB #6217
2100 Memorial Blvd.
Kerrville, Texas 78028-5697
830-792-7277 or 7278
palayton@schreiner.edu

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