Hello Parents and Family Members!
As our academic year comes to a close, we want to thank you for staying connected
to our office and to Winthrop. While this may be the final edition of the Eagle Family
Connection this academic year, we have some important information that you do not
want to miss. We are happy to introduce our new NSFP Director, Ms. Callie Smith! The
Office of Records and Registration has provided useful information about the upcoming
undergraduate Commencement ceremonies and the Summer Session at Winthrop. We have
also included an article highlighting the Campus Climate Survey. Dining Services is
excited to share their most recent news with our parents and family members. As move
out approaches, Residence Life wants to make sure that you are as informed as possible.
They have provided an article that outlines the move out process in this edition to
help you and your student prepare. Finally, Family Day 2017 is going to be here before
we know it. Please save the date, October 7, 2017, and we hope to see you all there! As always, the Office of New Student and Family Programs is here to keep you connected
and informed. Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns.
The Office of New Student and Family Programs
248 DiGiorgio Campus Center
803/323-2387
familyprograms@winthrop.edu
/familyprograms/
Winthrop University and the Office of New Student and Family Programs is excited to
introduce the new Director of the Office of New Student and Family Programs, Ms. Callie
Smith. Callie graduated from Winthrop with a bachelor's degree in English. At Winthrop,
she was heavily involved in the DiGiorgio Student Union (DSU) and as a Resident Assistant
in Margaret Nance Hall, among other things. She then completed her master's degree
in higher education administration at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama, while
working as a graduate assistant in the First Year Experience Office and an intern
in both Residence Life and Student Conduct. Since then, she has worked as a Residence
Hall Director at Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia.
Dear Eagle Parents and Family Members,
I was so thrilled to accept the role of Director for NSFP (New Student & Family Programs)
and to be back home at Winthrop. As an undergraduate student, I considered Winthrop
to be my home-away-from-home early on. I hope our students find the same comfort and
sense of welcome that so many alumni recall, while making the most of the academic,
social, and developmental opportunities that Winthrop has to offer.
Similarly, I hope that you as parents and family members feel as though your student
made the right decision in choosing WU and that you are welcomed into the Eagle Family
as well. A primary goal of Family Programs at Winthrop is to serve as a resource for
you while your student is at WU. I hope that you take advantage of all our office
has to offer, from asking questions to attending Family Day in the fall semester,
which is open to all Eagle families (regardless of student classification).
We look forward to partnering with you,
Callie Smith, Director
Winthrop University's May 2017 Undergraduate Commencement Ceremony exercises are scheduled
for Saturday, May 6, 2017 at the Winthrop Coliseum. Two Undergraduate Ceremonies will
be held to accommodate all of our graduates and guests.
At 10 a.m., degrees will be awarded to candidates from the: College of Visual and
Performing Arts and College of Arts and Sciences.
At 3 p.m. on May 6, degrees will be awarded to candidates from the College of Business
Administration and Richard W. Riley College of Education.
Degree candidates should report to the check-in area, located just inside the north
entrance of the Coliseum, in academic cap and gown an hour and a half prior to the
start of the ceremonies. Please note that all students must be in proper graduation
attire: black robes, black caps with garnet and gold tassel. (Ladies do not have to
wear the white collar which may come with the gown.) Caps may not be decorated. You
may purchase your cap, gown and tassel at the Winthrop Bookstore.
Family and guests of the degree candidates are invited to enter the Coliseum through
the upper concourse level and be seated 20 minutes prior to the start of the ceremony.
Parking for the ceremony is available on university property only. Those who park
off of university property may be towed. Guests are asked not to bring balloons into
the Coliseum. Balloons obstruct views and make it difficult to see the graduates.
The Commencement ceremonies will be video streamed on the web. There will be a link on the Winthrop University homepage on the day of Commencement with the link to the stream and instructions for optimal viewing.
For more information regarding the May 2017 Commencement Ceremonies please visit our website.
If you have any questions please contact:
OFFICE OF RECORDS & REGISTRATION
126 TILLMAN HALL
ROCK HILL, SC 29733, USA
803/323-2194
803/323-4600 (FAX)
RecandReg@winthrop.edu
Registration is underway for Summer Sessions. Students can take a wide variety of
coursework from Accounting to Writing. Here are some great reasons to take a summer
class:
1. Graduate Faster: Completing a pre-requisite in the summer for a fall course or
making progress on a change in major can speed up a student's path to completion.
2. Retain LIFE Scholarship: Doing well in a summer course - or a few summer courses
- can help students retain or regain their LIFE Scholarship
3. Improve your GPA: Students can put extra focus into the work of each course or
replace a grade by retaking a course to improve their cumulative GPAs.
4. Save Money: Summer tuition for in-state students, per credit hour/per course, is
reduced 25% from fall/spring tuition rates.
5. Be Flexible: Numerous 100% online summer offerings (currently 138) for students
going home or on vacation during the summer. Students residing on campus during the
summer enjoy campus amenities.
Advising is not required to take summer classes although communication with the advisor
is encouraged. For more information on summer school, visit the Summer Session website.
One of the university's highest priorities is to ensure that Winthrop students feel
safe on campus, particularly concerning issues of sexual harassment/assault. To benchmark
student safety and awareness of support services, the university is conducting a web-based
Campus Climate Survey through April 21, 2017, among the goals of which are to:
*Generate data on the nature and extent of sexual harassment/assault at Winthrop *Determine
perceptions about how well campus authorities and local law enforcement handle reports
of sexual harassment/assault *Identify campus constituencies in need of support *Determine
areas for improvement
This is a voluntary, confidential survey. The use of a 3rd party server will ensure
all data will be de-identified, so individual responses will never be revealed. All
students-undergraduate and graduate, residents and commuters, regardless of gender
and sexual orientation-are encouraged to participate.
For their participation, students will earn a chance to win one of 6 $25 Starbucks
gift cards. One lucky winner will receive a $375 Barnes & Noble gift card.
Please encourage your student to take the survey by April 21.
The end of the semester is quickly approaching, and we can't wait to share all of our exciting April events with your students!
Don't miss out on all the great things Dining Services has to offer! Our Eats + Rewards
Newsletter is a great way for students to stay informed on all things Dining! We encourage
both you and your student to sign up to receive these e-mails.
Towards the end of the semester, we start to notice students getting low on Café Cash.
From April 10 through the 27 we will be running a Café Cash Add-On Special available
for a limited time only. For every $100 of Café Cash you purchase we will credit your
student's account with an additional 10% for FREE. Café Cash can be used at any dining
services location on campus (including the Eagle Express convenience store). You can
easily add Café Cash with a credit card on our Winthrop dining services website. Please remember that you will need to set up a user name and log-in.
Please make sure you check out our Dining Services website, Twitter and Instagram to see all the exciting things we are doing in the dining
locations. You can find us on social media by searching for Winthrop Dining Services
(@winthropdining).
Before we all know it, your students will be packing up their belongings and moving
out of their Residence Hall space. Here is some information from the Department of
Residence Life to make this process easier, and to help your students avoid fines
at the end of the semester.
Residence Halls close for undergraduates and those not participating in graduation
(including band, marshals, etc.) on Wednesday, May 3 at 9 a.m. Students must be out
of their room by this time unless permission is granted to stay.
Residence Halls close for those participating in graduation Saturday, May 6 at 7
p.m.
All students must check-out of their room with an RA or go through the proper procedures
for an "Express Check-Out" (where permitted). Please note that students that choose
the Express Check-Out option do not have the option to appeal any damage/cleaning
charges.
Before a student checks out, all belongings must be removed from the room and hallway
and the room and bathroom (where applicable) must be cleaned. Note that cleaning supplies
are the student's responsibility, though some may be available at the hall office.
Dirty rooms/floors/bathrooms/trash cans/microfriges, etc. tends to be the #1 reason
students are charged at the end of the semester.
All buildings will host floor meetings and will post information regarding building
closure and how to properly check-out. Please encourage your student to attend this
meeting and read the information given as "not knowing" will not be an acceptable
excuse.
All students will turn in their key before they leave to avoid a lock re-core.
Students that choose a regular check-out and get fined will receive a letter via
mail or e-mail and will have an opportunity to appeal these charges. All appeals must
come in writing and must come from the student only.
Other notes:
We ask that any student not returning to Winthrop or the Residence Halls in the fall
to inform us immediately and fill out proper paperwork. Fall room cancellation fees
will begin May 15.
If students are interested in taking summer school classes and living on campus for
summer, please go to Residence Life immediately to secure your space!
If students often make weekend trips home, we encourage them to begin taking unnecessary
items home now, instead of stressing about getting everything at the end of the semester.
If you have any questions, you may contact the Residential Learning Coordinator of
your student's building or the Department of Residence Life at 803/323-2223. Students
are encouraged to ask questions of their RA, RLC, or Residence Life.
Save the date! Winthrop University and the Office of New Student and Family Programs is excited to invite you to attend Family Day 2017 on October 7, 2017. This event will provide you the opportunity to visit with your student and take part in numerous activities and experiences planned for your enjoyment. We hope you are able to attend, and we look forward to seeing you!
Wednesday, April 5
Early registration begins
Monday, April 24
Last day of classes
Tuesday, April 25
Study day
Wednesday, April 26 - Tuesday, May 2
Final exams
Thursday, May 4
Graduate Commencement
Saturday, May 6
Undergraduate Commencement
Monday, May 29
Memorial Day
