.
December 2016
Featured Stories
Mental Wellness Taskforce- Feature of the Month- Overcoming Failure
“Mom, Calculus is a problem for me. I could fail.” FAIL? The word made me wince. But there it was, in all of its one-syllable glory, transmitted via cell phone through my college freshman’s trembling voice.
Like many of our children who pursue an academic experience at Purdue University, Juliette cruised through high school with straight As while simultaneously building a resume reflecting outstanding academic and extra-curricular leadership. So how did we come to this? More.
Purdue gift-giving ideas
Save time, avoid the lines and get the perfect gift for your Boilermaker by shopping the Purdue Holiday Gift Guide. AND support Purdue student scholarships. All of revenue that Purdue University receives from licensed product sales benefit student scholarships – more than $1 million each year.
Purdue Promise helps 21st Century Scholars
According to the recent briefing from the Office of Institutional Research, Assessment & Effectiveness (OIRAE), half of Purdue’s 21st Century Scholars will graduate within four years and 77 percent will graduate within six years, outperforming all other 21st Century Scholars at Indiana public universities and colleges. More.
Spring 2017 Important Billing & Payment Information
Reminder- tuition and fees are due by the first day of classes (Monday, Jan. 9) for the Spring 2017 semester. The due dates for the Spring installment plan and tax credit information for 2016 taxes can be found here.
Parents Fund Spotlight
THANK YOU to the many individuals who have so generously contributed to the Purdue Parents Fund since the Parent & Family Campaign kickoff on September 24. This initiative is a part of Ever True: The Campaign for Purdue University.
Since September 24, over $38,000 has been received to help sustain services that the Parent & Family Connections office provides, as well as the ACE campus food pantry, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), the Center for Career Opportunities and the Student Health Center. All Parents Fund programs foster student safety, health and well-being and ensure students have the most supportive "home away from home" possible to aid in their success.
For more information about the Purdue Parents Fund or to make a gift, visit purdue.edu/parentandfamily/give or please contact Colton Withers, Director of Development for Parent & Family Giving: CLWithers@prf.org, 765-496-1105.
Student Resources Insurance
Open enrollment for United Healthcare Student Resources begins December 12, 2016 and will be open through January 31, 2017 for coverage from January 1, 2017 to August 5, 2017. Students must be enrolled a minimum of 6 credit hours to be eligible for the insurance. The cost of the coverage is $706 and must be paid in full when enrolling. Additional information on the plan can be found on the Purdue University Student Health website.
Events
Holidays in the Union
One of Purdue's longest running traditions, Holidays at the Union will help usher in the holidays beginning around 12:30 p.m. on December 5 in the Great Hall of the Purdue Memorial Union. Holidays at the Union features one of the largest indoor Christmas trees in Indiana, this year it is a 25-foot dwarf variety of blue spruce donated by Barbara and Bruce Solomon of West Lafayette, along with a large gingerbread house created by Purdue Dining & Catering.
Performances by Purdue musical groups and community groups will take place from 11:00 am - 2:00 pm on December 6 and 7, with the tree lighting ceremony at noon on December 6. From 7:00 pm – 10:00 pm on Wednesday, December 7, Purdue Student Union Board will host Holidays Around the World, a celebration to represent various other cultural celebrations, in the North Ballroom of the Purdue Memorial Union.
From Tuesday, December 6 at 6:00 pm to Friday, December 9 at 2:00 pm Gingerbread creations by Purdue Dining & Catering students and staff will be on display in the lounge adjacent to the Great Hall. The 5th annual Gingerbread contest features a theme of this year of Toyland. Students, staff and guests will be able to cast a vote for their favorite on site or on the Purdue Dining & Catering Facebook page.
Celebrations will continue through Saturday, December 10th with Breakfast with Santa in the PMU Great Hall, Room 118 and South Ballroom. The tree will be available through Winter Commencement and will be removed Monday, December 19.
Watch Parent & Family Connections Facebook page for photos and videos of various events.
Host a Boiler
There is still time to sign-up to “Host-A-Boiler” for winter break. The Host a Boiler program provides the opportunity for students who will be in the local area during Thanksgiving and Winter breaks to be hosted for a meal or other activity by a community resident. If you are a parent or family living in the area and would like to host a student, or are a student interested in being a guest or a host, you can register on the International Programs website. The deadline to sign-up to host for Winter Break is Thursday, December 8.
Study Break Activities in Hicks
Purdue University Libraries are hosting several study break events in the Hicks Undergraduate Library starting on Tuesday, Dec. 6. Included among these events are visits with therapy animals, craft nights and other activities.
Prep Week
Dec. 6: Popcorn/Craft Night, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Dec. 7: Chair Massages, 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Dec. 8: Caring Paws, 6:45-7:45 p.m.
Dec. 9: Fabulous Friday with the LGBTQ Center, 3:00-4:00 p.m.
Finals Week
Dec. 12: Therapy Dogs International, 6:30-7:30 p.m.
Dec. 13: Chair Massages, 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Dec. 14: Caring Paws, 6:45-7:45 p.m.
Dec. 15: Popcorn/Craft Night, 6:30-8:00 p.m.
Commencement News
The Elliott Hall of Music will be open for guest seating 90 minutes prior to each ceremony. Once the academic procession begins entering the auditorium, no guests will be seated until the procession is concluded, so urge your family and friends to be in their seats early. As a courtesy to others in attendance, please ask that your guests remain in their seats until the conclusion of the exercise. All seating is general admission for the graduation ceremonies. Electronic guest tickets will have a system generated row and seat number; however, these are not your guests' assigned seats.
* Please keep in mind that anyone without a seat in Elliott Hall of Music will be welcome to watch the ceremony via a live broadcast in Fowler Hall located inside Stewart Center. A link to the live stream will also be available on the Commencement website for families unable to attend the ceremony.
Winter Recess
President Daniels has authorized a winter recess shut down again this year; with the recess and observed holiday closures, University offices will be closed from December 23 through January 2– communications to campus offices will be returned once offices resume activities on Tuesday, January 3.
2017 Family Weekend
Staff from Parent & Family Connections has received a number of requests for the dates of Family Weekend 2017. We are still working to determine a date and we will send families an email once we determine a date (mid-April), make an announcement on the Parent & Family Connections Facebook, and anticipate making a formal announcement in our May newsletter.
University Residences
Winter Break Housing
University Residences will be closed Monday, December 19 at noon–Wednesday, January 4 for Winter Break. Room only-interim housing is available to students wishing to stay during the break for an additional charge of $330, as room and board charges do not cover this scheduled vacation period (except for Purdue Village, Hilltop Apartments and year-round contracts in Harrison Hall). More.
Co-op and Study Abroad Students
Do you have a student who is currently away for a Co-op position or participating in a Study Abroad who will be living in University Residences for Fall 2017? If they haven’t already, they should contact the Central Assignments Office at Smalley Center at 765-494-1000 or email URContractHelp@purdue.edu to determine their eligibility to renew their contract for fall 2017.
#URSuccess Contest Underway
The start of University Residences Contract Renewal also brings forth the fourth annual #URSUCCESS contest. Contest Rules can be found on the University Residences at Purdue Facebook Page. Prizes will be announced in January.
2016 winner was Nicholas Sabatini from Shreve for his film "Shrevival". 2015 winner was Alex Hamlin from Shreve and 2014 winner was Matt Tornquist from Cary Quad. Photos and videos from past winners can be found on the ResLifeatPurdue blog.
Dates
Dec. 10, Classes end
Dec. 12-17, Final Exams
Dec. 17, Semester Ends
Dec. 18, Winter Commencement
Dec. 23-Jan. 2, University Offices Closed
Jan. 9, Spring Semester Begins
Jan. 16, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, No Classes
See the full 2016-2017 academic calendar