TWU DE - September 06 Newsletter

The Connection, September 2006

Welcome back to a new semester at Texas Woman’s University. I hope this newsletter finds each of you settled into your classes and learning a lot. Please read through the following information that has been contributed by different offices on campus. The information could affect you not only as a TWU student but specifically as an eLearner. Have a great semester and enjoy the cool weather!

You are receiving this newsletter because you are enrolled in at least one course that has a televideo or internet component. These types of courses are called eLearning courses. If you feel that you have received this newsletter in error or if you have a topic you would like to see addressed, please let me know by contacting me at DL@mail.twu.edu.

Important Dates

Mark your calendars! The following dates are important and may affect you:

September 13	Deadline to apply for December graduation through Portal
September 21	Installment payment due; 5 p.m.
October 6	Last day to drop a class without academic penalty; 5 p.m.
October 26	Final installment payment due
November 2	Last day to drop a class or withdraw from the University; 5 p.m.

Check out the Academic Calendar for more important dates for drops, registration and payments.

Drop/Withdrawals

Drops and withdrawals are not the same and they are not handled by the same people. A drop is when you drop one or more classes but you are still enrolled in at least one course. A withdrawal is when you drop all your courses. If you need to drop an online course, you can contact Julie Brown in the Office of Lifelong Learning. She can be reached at (940) 898-3409 or jbrown3@twu.edu. If you need to withdrawal, you must contact Student Life at (940) 898-3635 or stulife@twu.edu. Please be aware of all important dates related to drops, withdrawals, and refunds as outlined in the Academic Calendar.

Career Services

The Career Services Department offers a variety of resources to assist distance learners in successfully meeting the challenges of an ever-changing world of work. If possible, we highly encourage you to make an appointment to come to the Career Services Department and meet with a staff member one-on-one. However, the following is a list of services provided for Distance Learners.

Cover letters, resumes, and graduate school admission essay critiques: Please email a draft of your cover letter, resume, or graduate school admission essay as a word attachment to careers@twu.edu. You will then receive an email response stating that your correspondence has been received, and your document will be critiqued within seven (7) business days of receipt of your email.
Job search preparation: Because the search for a full-time job can take, on average, six to nine months, it is recommended that you start your job search early. For assistance with your Job Search, send an email to Sherri Williams, Assistant Director of Career Services at swilliams@twu.edu. Include the following in your email: your major, career interest (specific type of job sought), geographic location in which you wish to work, and a current resume (attached as a word document). You will then receive an email response stating that your correspondence has been received; you will receive job search information within seven (7) business days of receipt of your email.
Mock interviews: Please call Career Services at 940-898-2950 to set up a telephone mock interview with one of our staff. The staff member will call you at the appointed time, and the telephone mock interview will last about thirty (30) minutes.
Internship/Co-op Program: Students who are interested in completing an internship/co-op should contact the Internship/Co-op Coordinator directly by email at mschneider@twu.edu. The Coordinator will discuss the program, offer a resume critique, and provide assistance with searching for internship positions.

Fall 2006 Career Days and Seminars

Part Time Job Fair	Wednesday, September 13 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.	Denton Student Center 2nd Floor
Fall Career Day	Thursday, September 28 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.	Denton Hubbard Hall
Nursing Career Day	Monday, October 2 11 a.m. – 2 pm.	Houston
Nursing Career Day	Monday, October 16 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.	Parkland
Teacher Career Day	Friday, November 3 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.	Denton Hubbard Hall
Ultimate Road Trip: from College to Career	Wednesday, September 6 6 p.m. - 7 p.m.	Denton MCL Auditorium
How to have a successful Career Day	Tuesday, September 19 2:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.	Denton Student Center 109
Developing an Effective Resume & Vita	Tuesday,October 24 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.	Denton ACT 501
Managing your Finances after Graduation	Wednesday, November 8 2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m.	Denton Student Center 109

Counseling Center

Welcome to another school year. The staff of the TWU Counseling Center has created web pages filled with helpful information for all students. Surfing over to the main Counseling Center web page www.twu.edu/o-sl/counseling - will allow you to access:

The Counseling Center Self-Help Handouts – all the information we provide at our outreach programs are available online. These include our most popular handouts like “Reducing Procrastination,” “52 Proven Stress Reducers,” and “Time Management.”
The Virtual Pamphlet Collection – a web site that organized informational handouts from university counseling centers around the country, by topic.
On-line Workshops – our most requested outreach programs are available to you online, anytime!
Self-Assessment – allows you to confidentially assess your own level of concern in six areas including anxiety, depression, eating, alcohol and drugs, bi-polar (mood) disorders, and post-traumatic stress.

Emergency Loans for eLearners

ELearners are eligible for emergency loans through the Financial Aid Office. However, please note that the process is a little different so you should apply as soon as you realize you need the assistance. The Office of Financial Aid recommends that eLearners start the emergency loan process 10 days in advance because an original signature is required. For more information about emergency loans, please contact Financial Aid. In order to have your money one week prior to the start of school, here are some priority deadlines to keep in mind:

Fall	April 1
Spring	September 1
Summer	March 1

Graduating in December?

If you are graduating in December please visit this link to review the Graduation Deadlines for December 2006 Degree Candidates. http://www.twu.edu/o%2Dgrad/deadlines.doc.
Best wishes on your future!

Just Ask I.T.

The Information Technology Help Desk has just launched Just Ask I.T., an interactive online knowledge base. Just Ask I.T. includes information for both TWU and non TWU related technology issues. Go to http://justaskit.twu.edu and give it a try. New questions and answers are added on a daily basis, so check back frequently. Or check out the ‘Top 10’; you might just learn the answer to a question you haven’t needed to ask yet.

Library Highlights

Start the new semester by registering or updating your Library account. A secure Registration Form is available at: https://www.twu.edu/library/dl/dlservices_form.htm

Your Portal user name and password is the key into the library databases. View collections from school, home, office or work.

If you are using your TexShare card and need a new one for the spring, please complete the registration form.

For assistance or more information about the Library, contact Stephany Compton, Distance Learning Librarian at scompton@twu.edu.

Non-Academic Emergency Loans

The Office of Student Life offers emergency loans to help pay for emergency situations. It is not intended to help pay tuition, fees, or books. The loans are given in the amount of $350 and students must provide documentation to defend why they need the loan. The maximum number of times a student can receive the loan is twice per academic year. For more information or to apply for a non-academic emergency loan, please visit the website at http://www.twu.edu/o-sl/StudentLifeOffice/EmergencyLoan.html.

TWU Athletics

Attention Pioneers! For all the latest news and information on TWU Athletics, visit www.twuathletics.com. You will find schedules, student-athlete bios, facility information and much, much more. Remember that all TWU students are admitted FREE to any athletics regular-season home event with a valid I.D.! We hope to see you in the stands soon!