On Monday, February 27, interim (mid-term) grades will be made available for all current students to see via Wingspan. This provides a valuable resource for students hoping to get a better idea of their academic standing in their current classes. These initial grades often act as a good indicator of student performance and can therefore prompt changes in behavior or coursework as needed.
Evaluating interim grades can ultimately yield modifications to a student's course load, major choice, use of campus resources, and/or utilization of academic resources. Interim grades are reported prior to the course withdrawal deadline and the deadline to elect the S/U (Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory) option for a full semester course, both of which are on Wednesday, March 8. So, there is adequate time for students to meet with their professors and advisors to discuss their academic options. This also gives students time to meet with Financial Aid to discuss potential monetary implications. While interim grades do not affect a student's scholarship directly, they could be an indication that scholarship money is at risk if a student's final grades do not meet the minimum requirements at the time of renewal.
If your student receives interim grades that are lower than expected, there is no need to panic. While interim grades serve as a helpful indicator of overall academic performance, sometimes they do not show the whole picture. The grades may be based on only one or two assignments or tests and do not take into account class participation or improvement. Given that this is only mid-semester, there is still plenty of time left to make choices and implement changes that can positively impact a student's final grades.
For those students in need of some additional assistance after interim grades, the Academic Success Center (ASC) can help! All students, regardless of academic standing or major, can partake in a wide variety of free services aimed at helping students learn more effectively. The ASC's services include:
Please be aware that as your students have the opportunity to learn their standing in the coming weeks, they would benefit from your support in making any necessary changes that will set them on course for success. The ASC office is dedicated to offering services that "help underprepared students prepare, prepared students advance, and advanced students excel" (NADE). We are delighted to be a part of your student's journey towards greater achievement. For more information about the ASC, please visit our website.
The West Center offers students, faculty and staff the opportunity to work out in a safe, engaging environment while promoting healthy lifestyles. Open nearly 100 hours per week and free for all students, the West Center has 4 basketball courts that can also be used for volleyball and badminton, a 25 yard pool with 8 lanes, 4 racquetball courts, a 36 foot tall climbing wall, an 8,000 square foot weight room and over 60 pieces of cardio equipment.
Our Group Fitness program offers over 25 classes per week, in an array of styles that fit all fitness levels including Cardio Hip Hop, Yoga and Ab Attack, all free for students. If you are looking to set goals in a smaller one-on-one environment, Recreational Services also offers Personal Training; the trainers can meet with you to assess current levels and assist in setting personal fitness goals.
Another outlet for all students, faculty, and staff, Sport Programs aims to provide both competitive and recreational athletic opportunities to the Winthrop community each academic year. Sport Programs consists of the Intramural Sports and Club Sports programs.
Club Sports are registered student organizations who are financially supported by Recreational Services with the interest of partaking in a particular sport activity. Club Sports tend to be competitive or educational in nature, with many clubs traveling for competitions against other institutions throughout the southeast. Current clubs include Disc Golf, Fencing, Fishing, Horseback Riding, Kendo, Paintball, Quidditch, Skydiving, Men's Soccer, Women's Soccer, Women's Softball (Fastpitch), Taekwondo, Women's Volleyball (Indoor) and the Winthrop Outdoor Adventure Club (WOAC).
With "intramural" literally meaning "within the walls", it's fitting that Intramural
Sports consists of sport opportunities solely for students, faculty and staff within
the Winthrop community. Intramural Sports tends to be competitive or recreational
in nature. Current sport offerings include Basketball, Flag Football, Soccer, Volleyball,
Softball, Ultimate Frisbee, Racquetball, Table Tennis, Battleship and much, much more!
The West Center and Recreational Services is also one of the largest employers of
students on campus; there are over 10 positions in several different areas to give
students the opportunity to work on campus, gain valuable experience and develop as
employees, all while learning transferrable skills to prepare them for life after
Winthrop.
The number of flu cases is increasing in South Carolina and across the United States. Is your young adult well prepared to take care of himself or herself if sick? Has he or she had a flu vaccine? Does he or she know good practices to decrease the risk of getting sick?
Being on a college campus brings so much fun and adventure but closeness can also be a place where illness can spread. Cold weather, enclosed areas, and togetherness all promote the spread of germs. How can your student be prepared for the flu or other illness?
First of all prevention is key. The first step in prevention for the flu is to get your annual flu vaccine. The vaccine is recommended yearly for anyone over 6 months of age, and this is one of the most important steps in protecting yourself and others against the flu. For those individuals with other health issues such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease or pregnancy - it is especially important to get vaccinated because individuals with other health issues may have a higher risk of complications. Health Services carries Fluzone by Sanofi-Pastuer, which is a Quadrivalent Influenza Vaccin, that covers 4 strains of influenza. Students can walk in and get the vaccine, and the $25 fee is applied to their student account. Local pharmacies carry the flu vaccine and will bill to insurance if it is covered.
A second step in prevention is to try to maintain a healthy immune system and take measures to stop the spread of germs. With the fast paced life of college students, handwashing is often skipped. This is an extremely important step and hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water. If that is not available, an alcohol- based hand solution can be used. With all the objects we touch each day, it is imperative people wash their hands frequently. Also, if the student is sick with the flu or flu-like illness, he or she needs to avoid being around others. And the opposite is true, your healthy child does not need to be in someone's personal space who is sick. Winthrop follows CDC guidelines for influenza and flu-like illness. We recommend that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities. (Your fever should be gone without the use of a fever-reducing medicine.) Covering a cough or sneeze with a sleeve or tissue versus your hand can help prevent the spread of germs. If the student gets sick with the flu, it is important to get plenty of rest and drink plenty of fluids to stay well hydrated.
If someone has the flu, antivirals may be prescribed. Antivirals are not a must but can decrease the length of time the person is sick and make the symptoms milder. Antivirals should be taken within 48 hours of symptom onset.
Make sure your young adult knows the symptoms of the flu versus a cold. Influenza usually has a sudden onset of fever, cough, sore throat, body aches, chills, fatigue, and a stuffy nose. Some people will have these symptoms plus nausea and vomiting. Others may have the respiratory symptoms but not have a fever. Many say they feel as if they have been "hit by a truck".
A cold usually starts as a minor scratchy throat then some nasal congestion, runny
nose and may progress into development of a cough. The person may or may not have
a fever and the illness comes on more gradually.
If your student is sick, have them come into Health Services to be seen or to call
and be triaged over the phone by a Registered Nurse. The Nurse may make suggestions
of treatment or may have them come in to be seen by one of the Family Nurse Practitioners.
Here is to a Healthy 2017!
You have made it to the Spring Semester! We have lots of exciting things going on this semester! We have added new Eagle Meals options. These new options give students more of a variety of meals to choose from as well as helps them get the most out of their meal plan. It's a new semester and commuter students still have time to purchase a meal plan!
We still have 6 meal plans commuters may choose from — 2 being created specifically for commuters. To purchase, your student can log onto their Wingspan account and choose the Meal Plan of their choice — this will be charged to their student account. If you would like to pay it immediately, you can go to the Cashiers office and pay — otherwise it will be placed on your next bill from the university.
For more information please check our website and click on "Meal Plans" — if you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Dining Services at 803.323.2119. Hope to see you dining on campus this Spring!
Tuesday, February 7
Spring 2017 Study Abroad Fair from 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the DiGiorgio Campus Center
Lobby
Thursday, February 9
Create-a-Critter from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in the Richardson Ballroom
Tuesday, February 14
"Why Graduate Education Matters" from 11 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in Withers Plowdon Auditorium
Wednesday, February 15
Graduate School Open House and Academic Showcase from 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in the
Richardson Ballroom
Saturday, February 18
LIFT Conference
Tuesday, February 21
Career Showcase from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. in the DiGiorgio Campus Center Lobby and Richardson
Ballroom
