Hello Parents and Family Members!
Fall is in full swing here at Winthrop! In this edition of the Eagle Family Connection we have important information regarding upcoming events and deadlines. Check out the Winthrop Homecoming article for more information about this year's Winthrop Homecoming and Reunion Weekend. In the Course Registration article from the Registrar's Office, you will find vital information about signing up for spring classes. Residence Life has outlined some policies regarding the closure of residence halls for the Thanksgiving holiday. Finally, in our Dining Services article you will find information about a Café Cash Add-On Special.
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
From the uniform-wearing Winthrop daughters to the more recent graduates of today's multicultural, multi-generational student body, Winthrop alumni share a unique bond. Homecoming and Reunion Weekend is one time each year that everyone comes back to campus to remember and relive those fun-filled and life-changing college days. Class reunions, campus tours, alumni awards, tailgating and basketball — all these activities and more make for an unforgettable gathering. Make plans to join us for the next Homecoming and Reunion Weekend, Nov. 17-18, 2017!
November is here, 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 do they 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 18 and lasts for two weeks. Students should look through the course offerings (found in Wingspan and on the Records and Registration page) to plan their spring schedule. The student should also be prepared to discuss their academic plan with their advisor. DegreeWorks, the online degree progress system, clearly lays out the student's degree requirements with what they have completed and what they have yet to complete.
Second, the student should make sure they have no "holds" on their 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 their time assignment found online. 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 they cannot register for several of their classes because they are already full? Students should always have alternate classes picked out, but if that doesn't work, they 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 will send an e-mail to all students and place an announcement on Wingspan that outlines 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 they understand they can call, e-mail, or come by the office for any issues they may be having.
As with every extended break, residence halls will close for the Thanksgiving holiday promptly at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, November 22 and will reopen at 2 p.m. on Sunday, November 26. 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 to remain on campus may be approved 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 who live more than 300 miles from the Winthrop campus. A Break Stay form, details of which are e-mailed to all students with additional instructions, must be submitted online via Wingspan and the Eaglesnest Housing link for review and approval. 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 be able to print a permission form that they must keep throughout the break. Students are not allowed to have room guests during the break.
Students should contact their Residential Learning Coordinator (RLC) or the Residence Life at 803/323-2223 with further questions.
It's getting colder here in the South! Wintertime is generally regarded as the time of year when you are destined to feel under the weather. We want to make sure your student continues to stay healthy during these winter months. Fruits, vegetables, complex carbohydrates, and protein give us the necessary fuel to feel well and energetic. It is vital your student also understands the importance of washing their hands. We have anti-bacterial stations at all dining locations on campus — please stress to your student the importance of using these stations before and after eating!
It is also important that your student stays healthy for finals! Don't forget the brain food. Make sure your student eats properly during finals week! A $100 Café Cash reload should get them through! You can add Café Cash immediately to their account by going to the dining website.
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). Our theme meals have been a hit and we are excited to offer more — you never know, you might just see your student in our pictures!
Happy Holidays from Dining Services!
The Parent Portal allows Winthrop students the ability to grant access to their information to parents, guardians, or another third party. Depending upon the level of access granted by the student, authorized users may view addresses, grades, unofficial transcripts, class schedules, and emergency contacts.
Only students can grant access or remove access at any time. This does NOT take the place of your signed Permission to Release Records form. That form is still needed to allow parents/guardians to talk with instructors or to obtain copies of academic records.
More information and instructions on how to set up a proxy are available online. There is also a quick-link to this page through the Office of Records and Registration website.
For your lodging needs please contact the Inn at Winthrop located in the heart of campus in Joynes Hall.
The Inn at Winthrop features twelve elegantly-appointed suites and is certified by the South Carolina Green Hospitality Alliance as a Two Palmetto facility for green practices that protect and preserve the environment.
Contact Kelly Shelton at 803/323-2300.
November 1: Early Registration Begins
November 13 - November 18: Homecoming and Reunion Weekend
November 22 - 26: Thanksgiving Break (offices closed November 23-24)
