Welcome parents and family members to your monthly Triton Family Connection e-newsletter. Included in this monthly newsletter you will find important information for you as a parent/family member, news from around campus, athletic event updates, opportunities to be involved and give feedback, and general announcements.
It is our hope that this newsletter will build a connection between you, your student's UC San Diego experience, and the UC San Diego campus community. If you would like to have your e-mail address changed or prefer not to receive Triton Family Connection, please e-mail parents@ucsd.edu.
Welcome to Parent & Family Programs from the Director
Thanksgiving Break Information
Important Academic Calendar Dates
Counseling & Psychological Services Online
The Guardian Newspaper Online
Emergency Contact Information
Emergency Notification System
Need Somewhere to Stay During Your Visit?
Human Rights & Citizenship Events
SAVE THE DATE: Eleanor Roosevelt College 20th Anniversary Events & Family Day
SAVE THE DATE: Warren Family Day, February 7, 2009
Muir, ERC, and Marshall Transfer Student Connect & Success Program
Revelle, Sixth, and Warren Transfer Student Coffee Talk
Nobel Prize Winner: Roger Tsien
La Jolla Playhouse Performances
This Week @ UCSD: Read the UCSD News Report on Family Weekend
UCSD International Education Week, November 17–21, 2008
Student Spotlight: Lisa Chen, Senior
Staff Spotlight: Jerry Phelps, Ph.D., Counseling Psychologist
Alumni Spotlight: T.J. Tallie, BA 2005, MA 2006
"Hand Me Down Dreams," by Mary H. Jacobsen
UC San Diego No. 1 in NCAA Division II
Basketball Ready to Tip Off
Consider a Gift to the UC San Diego Parent Fund
Chancellor Marye Anne Fox’s Picture Gallery
Parent & Family Programs Is Here to Help
I was so pleased to meet many of you during Family Weekend. For those I was not able to meet, I am Cara Appel-Silbaugh, Director, Parent Relations & Programs. While still relatively new to campus in my position, I am actually making a return to UC San Diego. I began my time at UC San Diego in 2002 as the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for Eleanor Roosevelt College, and then made the decision to leave the university and pursue my Ph.D. at the University of Maryland, College Park in College Student Personnel Administration. It is a pure delight to be back at UC San Diego — the campus community is vibrant and the students are some of the most talented and interesting I have ever encountered.
So, what is Parent Relations & Programs? My position is a new position for UC San Diego and is meant to increase parent and family engagement in the university experience. I am not affiliated with a specific College, rather I am housed in the Vice Chancellor – Student Affairs office. Think of my role as an additional level of assistance when you are in need of information, or if you do not know where to get help, start with me and I will direct you to the appropriate person or office. Also, the all-campus Family Weekend is only one example of the many all-campus events and opportunities I will be working on to foster a connection between you and UC San Diego. To access more information, visit http://parents.ucsd.edu, call the Parent Helpline, 858/534-7273, or e-mail me at parents@ucsd.edu.
I have worked in higher education for almost 15 years in a variety of positions and functional areas — working closely with parents and family members at every step. I started my career in higher education at my alma mater, the University of Pittsburgh, as an Admissions and Financial Aid Counselor. I assisted families in not only making the decision to come to Pitt but in making it affordable. I left Pitt to pursue my Masters degree in College Student Personnel at Bowling Green State University where I lived with 41 fraternity men as a House Director (ask me about that sometime!). After graduating from Bowling Green, I worked in a variety of positions with parent and student orientation, leadership development programs, service-learning programs, senior council, transfer and commuter students, student conduct, academic integrity, and civic engagement programs. What this means to you is that I have a breadth and depth of experience to help you navigate the university experience with your student. I can assist with understanding policy and navigating crisis. I am here to help and provide assistance as you determine necessary. Again, to contact me visit http://parents.ucsd.edu, call the Parent Helpline, 858/534-7273, or e-mail me at parents@ucsd.edu. I look forward to connecting with you during your student's experience at UC San Diego!
With the holiday break coming up quick, here are some informative Web sites to help you plan for this break and other breaks to come:
The quarter moves quickly. Be sure to keep up on upcoming stressful points of the quarter and breaks! See the Academic Calendar for information.
Student wellness is a top priority for UC San Diego Vice Chancellor – Student Affairs Penny Rue. The newly designed CAPS Web site provides resources for students and family members regarding individual therapy, group therapy, skill building, and overall wellness. As your student continues in their educational journey, look to this site for assistance. As many of you know, each College is staffed with a psychologist for students' needs; however, there is a full staff of psychologists and psychiatrists able to assist your student. If you hear warning signs from your student about their stress level, feelings of depression, or other conflicts causing them not to be themselves, contact CAPS directly at 858/534-3755.
Want to know the hot topics on campus? Read The Guardian student newspaper online. The Guardian is produced every Monday and Thursday, and provides not only campus news but also state and national news that will affect students. Take a look and keep up with UC San Diego headlines: http://www.ucsdguardian.org.
If there is an emergency at UC San Diego or in the San Diego area that might affect campus, this informative site will help you navigate who to call for information. If there is an emergency situation in the area, we will also update http://parents.ucsd.edu and the Parent Helpline voicemail (858/534-7273) with necessary information.
Information sent to parents and family members is generated from the data your student inputs as part of their TritonLink Address file. Therefore, it is recommended you ask your student what phone number and e-mail address he/she has listed for you in case of emergency. To assure on-time notices, work with your student to update the information listed.
Another way to be informed in case of an emergency is to consider registering your phone number(s) for voice and/or text message emergency notification. Participation in the UC San Diego Emergency Notification System is for all campus community members, extended campus community members, and is completely voluntary. If interested, register your phone(s) at the following Web site: http://www.mir3.com/ucsd.
A note from fellow parent, Linda Sheumann: "We are UCSD parents and have purchased a 'home away from home' in La Jolla Colony so we can visit our daughter in San Diego. We would like to offer our two-bedroom condo for rent to other UCSD parents when they visit La Jolla. The condo is newly remodeled and nicely furnished with all amenities, including free internet, cable TV, and laundry in unit. It is directly on the UCSD shuttle route and is less than two miles from campus. For information, photos and availability, send inquiry to SDParentHome@gmail.com."
Additional options for staying in the area (hotels) are available on our Web site, http://parents.ucsd.edu (right side of the page, under Visiting UCSD).
Thurgood Marshall and Eleanor Roosevelt Colleges are co-sponsoring a symposium to discuss Human Rights and Citizenship. Events include world-renowned speakers, films, performances, and discussions. If you are interested in attending or want to promote your student attending, see the symposium Web site, http://provost.ucsd.edu/humanrights, for more details.
Eleanor Roosevelt College is celebrating its 20th year anniversary as part of the UC San Diego community. A highlight for parents and family members is the ERC Family and Service Events, February 2–7, 2009. Be sure to SAVE THE DATE to attend Family Day, February 7, 2009. More information on the events taking place is available at http://roosevelt.ucsd.edu/families/twenty.shtml.
Warren College is celebrating Earl Warren Week, February 2–7, 2009, to highlight the achievements of the College’s namesake, who served as state attorney general, three-time governor, and Chief Justice of the United States Supreme Court. Parents, alumni, and family members should make special note of Earl Warren Family Day, February 7, 2009 — be sure to SAVE THE DATE to attend. More information on the events taking place is available at http://warren.ucsd.edu/parents/parents_day.php.
Is your student a transfer student and part of Muir, ERC, or Marshall College? The Transfer Connect & Success Program offers transfer students support by bringing faculty, staff, and other students together to discuss college resources and opportunities university-wide. The program occurs weekly on Mondays, 3:30–5 p.m. (October 6–November 17) in the Thurgood Marshall College Administration Building, Provost Conference Room. For more information about the program, contact Assistant Dean of Students at Muir College, Ann Hawthorne, ahawthorne@ucsd.edu.
For Revelle, Sixth, or Warren College transfer students, there are networking events with faculty, staff, alumni, and fellow students. The remaining date for the Fall Quarter version of Coffee Talk is November 19, 4–5 p.m. at The Loft, Price Center East. Encourage your transfer student to check it out! For more information about Coffee Talk, contact Liora Kian Gutierrez, liora@ucsd.edu.
As many parents and family members are aware, UC San Diego is once again home to a Nobel Prize winner. Meet Roger Tsien and learn about his research in Chemistry. If you scroll down to the bottom of the page, you can also learn about the other UC San Diego Nobel Laureates named over the years.
UC San Diego is home to the La Jolla Playhouse. With a long history of award-winning performances, the Playhouse partners with UC San Diego to provide an exciting artistic outlet for faculty, staff, students, and community members. If you live in the San Diego area or come for a visit, consider catching a performance. See the La Jolla Playhouse Web site for more information.
The University Communications Office at UC San Diego placed Family Weekend at the top of the list for important news for the campus community. Check out the story on the weekend. You can also get a free subscription to This Week @ UCSD as a parent/family member.
From the UCSD International Education Week Web site: "IEW is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. The week is dedicated to enhancing international awareness across the UCSD campus as well as to reinforcing the importance of the exchange of students and scholars across borders." Read more about the speakers, film presentations, and International Festival at http://iew.ucsd.edu.
Meet Lisa Chen, fourth year, International Studies and Political Science major at Eleanor Roosevelt College. Lisa is currently the Vice President of External Relations for Associated Students.
When I met Lisa, she described her life as "insanely hectic" — and it should be, as she and her peers at Associated Students registered 3,936 students on campus to vote. Lisa’s position with Associated Students enables her to sit on the University of California Student Association (UCSA) Board of Directors. The UCSA is the official voice of all University of California students (undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools). To assure the student voice is heard throughout the state, the UCSA and Lisa have worked hard to register students to vote, in an unpartisan manner.
After the election Lisa will be working on legislative matters and training students to be lobbyists with "Lobby Corps." Lisa and her group of peer lobbyists will be working on a long-term fee policy which will hold student fees at a certain rate, rather than increasing fees each year. Lisa described the fee increases as a type of "tax" on students, making the UC System less accessible and affordable to individuals across the state. Lisa said that "accessibility and affordability is becoming a crisis in California," and she would ask that parents and family members become more involved in this movement to halt student fee increases. A parent/family member can become knowledgeable and take action by not only talking to their student but also by becoming a UC Advocate.
When Lisa is not keeping a feverish pace, she enjoys her favorite spot on campus — a large, marble table at Muir College with inspiring quotes — to have some quiet time and study. Outside her major she has enjoyed courses in Anthropology and Ethnic Studies. Lisa will graduate this year and hopes to continue her activist interests by working for a non-profit organization for a few years before going on to graduate school.
Meet Jerold “Jerry” Phelps, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist based at Thurgood Marshall College. In addition to his responsibilities counseling students, Dr. Phelps is also the Interim Director of Student Wellness. Before coming to work at UC San Diego, Dr. Phelps completed his Bachelor’s degree in Psychology at the University of California, Berkeley and his Ph.D. at the University of Colorado at Boulder. His experiences range from behavioral medicine to family therapy to student wellness.
When we met, I asked Dr. Phelps to define "wellness" for me. He explained it is "not a goal, but a process aspiring to be healthy socially, intellectually, physically, emotionally, spiritually, and occupationally." The goal of the UC San Diego wellness initiative is to create a "culture of wellness" where students, staff and faculty will maintain a healthy lifestyle in mind, body, and spirit. The movement is a University of California-wide initiative — with all UC campuses participating in shifting policies, programming, and services to promote healthy living among staff, faculty, and students. Not only will programmatic shifts take place in the campus community, but there is also a plan to build a Wellness Center on the UC San Diego campus, a "well building" which will house space for recreation classes, testing rooms for personal wellness, a demonstration kitchen, and spaces for counseling and interdisciplinary wellness programs.
In our discussion Dr. Phelps cited statistics from the American College Health Association (ACHA) – National College Health Assessment (NCHA) survey conducted Spring 2008 at UC San Diego. In the survey 36% of UC San Diego students reported feeling so stressed that it affected their ability to excel academically. Therefore, to assist students in being the most successful at UC San Diego, here are some tips for parents/family members:
Encourage your student to get enough sleep, exercise, and get involved. Along with stress, 25% of UC San Diego students reported that sleep difficulties affected their academic achievement and less than half of UC San Diego students reported being physically active in a given week. Further, social activities can not only build communication and interpersonal skills but can also relieve stress and help a student to refocus on academics.
Listen. When your student comes home for holiday or quarter break, listen to what they are saying. How are they spending their free time and with whom? Are they attending events and programs?
Help first by problem solving. There is a normal period of transition for students. Allow your student to make mistakes. Instead of lots of advice, try to help them to work it out themselves. This will help increase their sense of personal effectiveness.
Your help is most effective when your student asks. There's an old joke: "How many psychologists does it take to change a light bulb? Only one, but the light bulb has to want to change." Offer your advice and counsel when your student asks for it. Sometimes you may even preface your statement with "Would you like my advice?" This defuses a potential struggle and allows for personal development.
Allow students to have time to themselves. Every family dynamic is different and at times students find it difficult to let go of what might be happening at home, whether it is a sick relative or economic issues affecting a family's stability. Therefore, it is important to be open and honest about what is happening at home, but not to use the student as a sounding board.
If you'd like to learn more, see the UC San Diego Wellness Center site at http://wellness.ucsd.edu.
Meet Tyrone “T.J.” Tallie, a two-time UC San Diego alumnus. T.J. graduated Magna Cum Laude from UC San Diego in 2005 with a Bachelor’s degree, double majoring in History and Study of Religion. He then remained at UC San Diego to complete his Master’s degree in History, graduating in 2006. T.J. is currently a Ph.D. student at the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
During his undergraduate experience T.J. was involved in numerous organizations and held several leadership positions in the university and in his college, Eleanor Roosevelt College. While an undergraduate T.J. was a Campus Ambassador (tour guide), Orientation Leader, Resident Advisor, Teaching Assistant, and a member of 8-10 student organizations at any one time. T.J. also excelled academically and felt very prepared for life after UC San Diego in his Master’s program and then as a teacher at a private high school in the San Diego area. In addition to his busy life on campus and in the classroom, T.J. found time to study abroad in South Africa. He reported that this time abroad shaped his perspective of himself and the world around him. His experience abroad also helped to shape his goals for the future and his current doctoral research.
T.J.’s involvement in the co-curricular elements at UC San Diego enabled him to gain communication and interpersonal skills that he has continued to find helpful in his daily experiences. As a teacher and now as a doctoral student, T.J. has used the communication and interpersonal skills he developed to relate to others and work toward common goals. T.J. described UC San Diego as "massive," however he was able to feel like an individual by building relationships with staff, faculty, and peers involved in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgendered, Women’s, and Cross Cultural Centers. While he expressed dismay over the lack of diversity on UC San Diego's campus, he found outlets to express himself and make connections that have lasted beyond his undergraduate experience.
I asked T.J. if he had any advice for parents and family members of current students as he looks back on his undergraduate experience. T.J. explained he was raised by a single mother in Los Angeles, and admitted it was rather difficult to make the transition from an "at home" student to a "far away" student. To assist in the transition, T.J. and his mom had to realize that it was not feasible for her to call every day. Instead of daily calls, T.J. and his mom found a communication style that worked for both of them. Enabling him to feel connected and her to stay in the loop of his life. T.J. said, "It was such a fantastic resource to have my mom so close, and a bit of an incentive to keep her in the loop, lest she drive down herself to see how I was!"
Andy Ceperley, Director of the Career Services Center, recommends a great book for family members who are involved in the career decisions of their students. "Hand Me Down Dreams: How Families Influence our Career Paths and How We Can Reclaim Them,” by Mary H. Jacobsen, provides insight into how families assist, influence, and maybe detract from their student making healthy and informed career choices. Check it out!
UC San Diego was ranked No. 1 in NCAA Division II and 20th overall in the National Collegiate Scouting Association’s (NCSA) sixth annual Collegiate Power Rankings. The NCSA’s ranking rates colleges and universities comprehensively, based on student-athlete graduation rates, academic strength and athletic prowess. UCSD has been first in Division II three of the past four years.
The start of the 2008–09 college basketball season is right around the corner. With a pair of first-year coaches at the helm, both Triton teams went to the NCAA Division II Playoffs last March and are focused on a return trip in 2009. Coach Charity Elliott’s women’s team won 25 games and finished second in the CCAA during her inaugural year. Three-time all-conference forward Michelle Osier will lead the charge. Meanwhile, Coach Chris Carlson’s team is coming off its first-ever CCAA Championship as well as its first trip to the post-season at the Division II level. Seniors Darryl Lawlor, Kelvin Kim, Alan Husted and Shane Poppen, as well as junior Jordan Lawley, the top returning scorer, will be players to watch. The women’s home opener is Sunday, November 16, 2008, against Dixie College and both teams will be in action on Friday, December 5, 2008, tipping off conference play against Humboldt State at RIMAC Arena. Tickets are required; see http://www.ucsdtritons.com for more information.
The UCSD Parent Fund was created to strengthen academic programs, enrich student life, and provide a pool of flexible dollars directly to your student's College. To guarantee a rich educational experience for all students, we invite you to partner with UC San Diego by donating to the UCSD Parent Fund. Read more about the Parent Fund or make your gift online at http://www.ucsdfund.ucsd.edu/parentsfund.
Have you seen the pictures from Family Weekend or other campus events? Check out Chancellor Marye Anne Fox’s Picture Gallery.
Parent & Family Programs is here to help. Please contact the office with any questions, concerns, or suggestions — call the Parent Helpline: 858/534-7273 or e-mail parents@ucsd.edu. If you would like unsubscribe from this list, please send a message to parents@ucsd.edu.