Parents and family members, Homecoming is right around the corner and we want you to be involved in this very important part of the spirit and tradition of the University. Homecoming Week will be November 10-15 and there are many events and activities planned throughout the week. We would love for you to come out and enjoy this special time with your student! If you are interested in attending any of the Homecoming events, check out our Homecoming page. For further information, contact the Student Homecoming Advisor, Deborah Allen.
November is just around the corner, and that means it will be time to register for spring 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 your student 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 October 22 and lasts for two weeks. Students should look through the course offerings (found in Wingspan and on the Records and Registration page to plan his or her spring schedule. The student should also be prepared to discuss his or her academic plan with their advisor. DegreeWorks, the online degree progress system, clearly lays out the student's degree requirements with what he or she has completed and what they have yet to complete.
Second, the student should make sure that there are no holds on his or her account. Are there any outstanding financial balances? Have they provided the Center for Student Wellness with appropriate immunization information? Students can view all holds via their Wingspan account. The student will be unable to register until all registration holds are removed.
Third, the student should make note of his or her time assignment found here. Because Winthrop cannot register 6,000 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 they 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 for the course to request an override. Students should keep in mind that other students change their schedules all the time and seats may become available later in the semester.
The Registrar has already sent an e-mail to all students and placed an announcement on Wingspan that outlined 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 her or she can call, e-mail, or come by the office for any issues they may be having.
Gina G. Jones, Registrar
Winthrop University
As with every extended break, residence halls will close for the Thanksgiving holiday
promptly at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 26 and will reopen at 2 p.m. on Sunday,
November 30. Students will not be allowed to enter their residence hall room after
the 9 a.m. closing.
As students depart, residence hall staff will check every room for general health
and safety. These inspections are plain view searches. Staff will be checking for
prohibited items including fire hazards (extension cords, candles, etc.) and will
also check the general cleanliness of the room and suite bathrooms. Residence hall
contracts state that health and safety inspections periodically occur.
Special arrangements for students to stay can be made for those students who are student
teachers, participating in an internship, athletes whose names have been submitted
by the Athletic Department, students with Rock Hill area jobs, and students that live
more than 300 miles from the Winthrop campus.
A Break Stay form, which is passed out to all students with more instructions, must
be returned to Residence Life. Students who are staying for the holiday break must
make their own arrangements to stay in Lee Wicker, Phelps, Richardson, Roddey or The
Courtyard, if not currently assigned. All other halls will be closed.
All approved students will receive a permission form that they must keep throughout
the break. Students are not allowed to have room guests during the break. Students
are able to call their Residential Learning Coordinator (RLC) or Residence Life at
803/323-2223 with further questions.
Basketball season is just around the corner and excitement is building for the Winthrop men's and women's teams who are aiming to cut down the nets when March Madness arrives.
The season opener is set for Saturday, November 15 with a Homecoming Day doubleheader as Coach Kevin Cook's women's squad will host Gallaudet University, the world's only all-deaf university, at 1 p.m. followed at 4 p.m. by Coach Pat Kelsey's men facing Pfeiffer University.
Coach Pat Kelsey's men's squad has been picked to finish fourth in the Big South Conference preseason poll while Coach Kevin Cook's women's team is predicted to finish third in the closest preseason poll in conference history. After reaching 20 wins last year, the men's season came up just one victory short of capturing the Big South title and earning the program's first postseason appearance since 2010. The women, on the other hand, made history as they won their first Big South Tournament title, set a school record for wins with a 24-9 record and earned their first trip to the NCAA Tournament.
Both teams return enough talent and experience from last year, and have added several skilled newcomers to achieve their championship goals.
The men's team returns four starters and 10 lettermen from last year. Leading the men will be preseason All-Big South second team selection Keon Moore, a 6-4 guard who led the Eagles in scoring last year with 14 points per game and earned Big South All-Tournament Team recognition. The Eagles will be loaded with outside firepower as senior guards Derrick Henry and Andre Smith along with sophomore Keon Johnson are back as well. That foursome gives Winthrop one of the best perimeter scoring threats in the conference. The Winthrop men finished 20-13 overall last year and tied for second in the South Division with a league mark of 10-6.
The Winthrop women's team also returns four starters, but will need to find a replacement for all-time leading scorer Dequesha McClanahan, who is now playing professionally in Finland after earning three-straight Big South Player of the Year Awards and setting 10 Winthrop career records. Cook can look to 5-10 sophomore forward Erica Williams and 6-3 junior center Schaquilla Nunn to lead the way. Williams, a Big South All-Freshman Team selection last year, has been picked on preseason All-Big South first team while Nunn is on the second team. Williams averaged 15.2 points per game and set a Winthrop freshman record for most points in a season with 500. Nunn averaged nearly a double-double with 11 points and 9.9 rebounds per contest and broke the school's career blocked shot record with 172 in only two years.
Winthrop also returns two valuable seniors in 5-8 guard Samiya Wright, who joined the 1,000 point club in her final game last year, and 5-11 forward Taylor Calvert, a defensive stopper and strong rebounder. Wright and Calvert have combined to play in 198 games heading into their final year.
Season tickets are still available by contacting the Winthrop Athletic Ticket Office at 803/323-2345 or by visiting the Winthrop Athletics website.
Winthrop University's December 2014 Undergraduate Commencement exercises is scheduled for Saturday, December 20, 2014 at 11 a.m.at the Winthrop Coliseum. All August 2014 and December 2014 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 by no later than 9:30 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 that 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 December 2014 Commencement Ceremony 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
Tuesday, November 4
Election Day- No classes; offices are open
Wednesday, November 5
Registration for Spring 2015 begins
Saturday, November 15
Homecoming
Wednesday-Sunday, November 26-30
Thanksgiving Holiday--Offices closed November 27-28
