Save the date! Winthrop University and the Office of New Student and Family Programs is excited to invite you to attend Family Day 2015 on October 3, 2015. This weekend will provide you the opportunity to visit with your student and take part in numerous activities and events planned for your enjoyment. We hope you are able to attend, and we look forward to seeing you!
April will be here before you know it, and that means time to register for fall classes. If your student is a new freshman or transfer this semester, this will be a new experience: no sitting in a computer lab with 50 other new students, surrounded by Orientation personnel to help. So, what does he or she do?
The first step to a successful registration is to be advised. All degree-seeking
students must meet with their academic advisor in order to be cleared to register.
Advising begins March 25 and lasts for two weeks. Summer registration also starts
on this day, but does not require advisement. Your student should look through the
course offerings found in Wingspan and on the Records and Registration page to plan his or her fall schedule. Your student should also be prepared to discuss
his or her academic plan with his or her advisor. DegreeWorks, the online degree
progress system, clearly lays out your student's degree requirements with what he
or she has completed and what he or she has yet to complete.
Second, your student should make sure he or she has no "holds" on his or her account.
Are there any outstanding financial balances? Has your student provided the Center
for Student Wellness with appropriate immunization information? Students can view
all holds via their Wingspan account. Your student will be unable to register until
all registration holds are removed.
Third, your student should make note of his or her time assignment. Because Winthrop cannot register 6000 students at the same time, times are staggered
throughout a six-day period. Graduate students and seniors register first. Freshmen
are on the last day.
Finally, what does your student do if he or she cannot register for several of his
or her classes because they are already full? Students should always have alternate
classes picked out, but if that doesn't work, he or she can contact the department
chairperson to request an override. Your student should keep in mind that other students
change their schedules all the time and seats may become available later in the summer.
The Registrar will send an e-mail to all students and place an announcement on Wingspan
before registration begins that will outline all the items above. We understand that
the registration process can sometimes be a frustrating time for students, and the
Office of Records and Registration is available to assist your student with this.
Please make sure your student understands that he or she can call, e-mail, or come
by the office for any issues they may be having.
Gina G. Jones, Registrar
Winthrop University
Office of Records and Registration
Winthrop University's May 2015 Undergraduate Commencement exercises is scheduled for Saturday, May 9, 2015 at 11 a.m. at the Winthrop Coliseum. All May 2015 graduates are invited to participate! The procession will begin promptly at 10:50 a.m.
Degree candidates should report to the check-in area, located just inside the north
entrance of the Coliseum, in academic cap and gown between 9:15 and 10 a.m. 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 and only Winthrop-issued honor cords
may be worn. Sorority/fraternity stoles may not be worn over the gown during the
ceremony. 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 by 10:40 a.m. 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 ceremony 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 2015 Commencement Ceremony, please visit our
website.
If you have any questions, please e-mail or call the Office of Records and Registration at 803/323-2194.
Students enjoy many benefits through Winthrop's summer course offerings, beginning with the flexibility provided by the more than 60 fully online summer offerings that can be taken from anywhere. Many students also enjoy the benefits of residing on campus during the summer, taking advantage of Winthrop's campus amenities. Students on campus can take a combination of on-campus and online courses.
Completing a prerequisite in the summer for a fall course or making progress on a
change in major can speed up a student's path to completion, helping students to graduate
on time or graduate early!
Taking just a few courses during the summer enables students to put more time and
focus into each course. Some students use this opportunity to replace a grade by
retaking a course. In either case, good summer grades can positively improve a student's
cumulative GPA.
If these reasons were not enough, summer tuition for in-state students, per credit
hour/per course, is reduced from fall/spring tuition rates so that students can save
money during the summer session. Wednesday, March 25 is the first day students may
register for Winthrop summer courses.
Spring break is a great time to have fun and make lifelong memories. Most college
students will use spring break as a time to visit family and friends, work, study,
or catch up on school work. Some will help build communities by participating in
alternative spring break programs. Others will choose to use it as a well-deserved
vacation from the stressors of college life. The possibilities of how your student
will spend his or her spring break are nearly endless. No matter what your student
plans, you can help to ensure he or she remains healthy and safe while having fun
with the following tips.
Encourage your student to plan ahead. Your student should know where he or she will
be staying and have the directions or travel itinerary to the destination easily accessible.
If driving, your student's vehicle should be inspected before hitting the road. Minimally,
encourage your student to have the oil, tires, battery, fluids, and lights checked.
Talk with him or her about any additional maintenance or inspection that his or her
vehicle may require.
Most likely, your student will tell you about spring break plans. Ask your student
to share his or her travel information, names of his or her travel companions, and
your student's itinerary.
Your student may need identification during his or her travel. Whether it is a passport
(if traveling out of the country), driver's license, photo identification, or other
documentation, he or she should have it available when necessary and secure it appropriately
at all times. Most hotels have an in-room safe to store these and other valuables.
Advise your student to drink plenty of water while laying out or sitting in a hot
tub.
Sunburns are no fun! Encourage your student to wear sunglasses, a wide brim hat,
and a sunscreen of at least SPF 15 to protect his or her skin and eyes from the sun's
ultraviolet rays. Sunscreen is beneficial for all skin types and should be reapplied
often to the full body.
Encourage your student not to get into a vehicle with a stranger or someone he or
she has just met. Your student should excursion out as a group or with a buddy and
always keep an eye out for each other.
Social media is great for keeping us connected and sharing information quickly. However,
it should not impede our safety. Advise your student to check the privacy settings
on his or her account and to avoid posting his or her location.
When your student returns home safely, he or she may choose to post a photo of them
having a productive and valuable spring break using #LeadtheBreak #WinthropUniversity to Instagram no later than April 15, 2015 for a chance to win an Apple MacBook Air,
Apple iPad, or iPad Mini.
As a parent, you probably know your student best. If there are other concerns that
you believe is important for your student to know, you should talk with them openly
and honestly. Encourage your student to attend the Spring Fling event in the DIGS
Lobby on March 9, 2015 (10:30 a.m.-1 p.m.) to learn some safety tips they can utilize
during their break.
Your student has made it through another chilly month of spring semester! We have
had a lot of new things happening here with Winthrop University Dining Services.
We have a new station in the Thomson Caf. The Mongolian Grill at Thomson Caf is a
create-your-own stir fry option where you choose your vegetables, rice or noodles,
and sauce. Then we stir fry it for you right there. It's a perfect way to get a customized
meal.
Also, in order to better accommodate your student we have changed the hours of our
Eagle Express convenient store located in Thomson Hall. Eagle Express is now open
until 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday. These late night hours will give your student
a late night option to grab a study snack or any convenience items they should need.
Commuter students still have time to purchase a meal plan! We still have six meal
plans that commuters may choose from — two being created specifically for commuters.
To purchase, your student can log onto his or her Wingspan account and choose the
Meal Plan of his or her choice — this will be charged to his or her student account.
If your student would like to pay it immediately, he or she can go to the Cashiers
Office and pay — otherwise it will be placed on his or her next bill from the University.
As an extra incentive, students are able to purchase $300 Caf Cash for just $275!
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!
Do not forget to "Like" us on Facebook! Our Family Programs Facebook page keeps you updated on what is going on in our office. If you have a question, feel free to message us or comment on our page. Go Eagles!
Monday, March 2
Interim grades available
Wednesday, March 11
Last day to Withdraw from a Full semester class
Monday, March 16 - Sunday, March 22
Spring Break
Wednesday, March 25
Advising for Fall 2015 begins
Registration for Summer 2015 begins
