Parents' Corner >> January 10, 2008 Newsletter

January 10, 2008 Newsletter

Dear All:

Campus is quiet today but most offices are girding up for the return of our students. Some new students, spring freshmen and transfer students, will be on campus this Friday to go through a short orientation and registration program. The DGS advisors are preparing to meet with these new students but are also beginning to receive emails and phone calls from their existing students. The advisors will be on a walk-in basis from Jan14th through 18th and operate on a first come - first served basis. They do start taking appointments though on Tuesday Jan 22nd. Monday, January 21st is an all cmapus holiday in honor of Martin Luther King.

The new year marks the beginning of a new semester and provides an excellent opportunity for students to look ahead but also to reflect on the past semester. Many students can look back on their first semester here with a great sense of pride in their academic and personal accomplishments with their grades but also with their continued adjustment to life on campus. Some 920 of our students attained GPAs of 3.5 of higher. Many who received a 3.62 and higher will be nominated for "Dean's List" recognition. Well done them.

Some students did not do so well, however.

Students receive weaker grades for all sorts of reasons but each student has the responsibility to try and address the issues that lie behind poor grades; perhaps it was a result of adjustment problems, perhaps it was choosing the wrong courses, working towards a major goal that is not commensurate with abilities, perhaps there were external issues that impacted ability and progress. Whatever the reason it is important for the student not to assume that the difficulties experienced will simply disappear or not occur again in the subsequent semester. Our advisors can be tremendously helpful in working with a student to assess those difficulties and in helping the student develop ameliorative strategies. We have every confidence that when utilizing support programs and making solid course selections the student's well documented ability and previous academic success will enable all students to overcome any challenges they face.

Information you should know:

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act , commonly referred to as FERPA but also known as the Buckley Amendment, protects the academic records of students. Once a student enrolls at Illinois we consider them responsible adults and hold their academic records in confidence. So that means when a Mum or Dad calls wanting to know what grades their daughter received for Fall semester - we are prohibited by law from disclosing such information. Students can, as adults, determine who they will allow to access to certain academic information. But, before we can release any such information, we need the students to complete an official release form. If your student is still considered a dependent as defined by the IRS then you have the right to access some academic information but will have to sign a release form and provide evidence of dependency.

Please check back here throughout the semester. And, as always, if you have any comments, questions, or concerns please don't hesitate to contact me.


Cheers now,