In this issue:
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Networking: a Key to Today’s Job Search
A Student’s Perspective: 5 Lessons from UNCW
Healthy Living: Staying Healthy During the
Holiday Season
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Healthy Living: Home for the Holidays
Traditions: Team Teal
We’ve Heard Your Voice: Campus Life and
Arts Programs
Spring 2011 Academic Calendar
By: Diane Reed, Career Center
Is your soon to be graduate looking for a job? One of the best ways to find a job, especially in today’s economy, is to network. Studies have shown that only about 5 to 10 percent of all new jobs are posted in the classified ads or on the Internet. The other positions are filled by word of mouth. So if your student is looking for a new job, networking is a vital tool for gathering information, talking to the right people and achieving goals.
Networking can be done anytime, anywhere -- at a job fair or in a social setting. So the most important first step in networking is to smile and be friendly. You never know with whom you might strike up an important conversation.
Here are some other tips for your student on how he/she can get the most out of networking:
• Know what you're looking for. Speak succinctly about your talents, skills and goals. This makes a strong impression on your networking contacts, and lets them know you are serious about your future.
• Use your time with new people wisely. You need to give the unshakeable impression that you are confident. Say what you want, using as many specifics as you can.
• Your most valuable tools: Keeping an up-to-date resume, as well as business cards with your contact information, will make it easy to give people access to your information. After you meet with new people and have gotten their contact information, follow up by making a call or sending an e-mail telling them how much you enjoyed your meeting. This will keep you at the front of their minds.
• Stick with it. Networking can be full-time work. The best networking produces contacts that can benefit you in the long term. So do not get discouraged if you are not immediately satisfied by your results. Instead, concentrate on new ways and places to network.
Students can get more information about networking and job searching from the Career Center, www.uncw.edu/career .
By: Elizabeth Manuel, Senior at UNCW
After registering for my last semester of classes as an UNCW student, I realized what I gained from my time here. As much as I learned from my classes and my professors, my experiences outside of the classroom taught me so much. I learned writing skills, study skills, and everything in between. But, I also learned what it means to be a college student and how to take those lessons with me, as I become a professional.
While completing my internship, maintaining my classes, and participating in many other organizations, I understand that diligence and time management are the essence of a college student.
Time management has not only been important for extracurricular activities and academics, but personally, as well. I learned it is important to take time for yourself. I want to make sure that I have time to attend every possible event that even remotely resembles a tradition. I still prioritize, but I

know when I graduate I will consider the things that I value most when writing out that to-do list and making my appointments as a professional. I hope to experience what I want in life, whether it is concerts or cookouts, and still take care of responsibilities.
Many times I thought about going that extra step in class, in a job, or in any of my responsibilities. These details: ironing a shirt, writing a thank you note, learning how to have a “good” handshake are inevitable in being successful out of college. Details can lead to an amazing opportunity. I have learned this lesson, repeatedly. My professors give specific formatting details for papers and those details might not affect the content of the paper, but it does affect the grade you receive. Details are those minor triumphs or flaws that people remember. Taking the time to write a thank you note has been an invaluable lesson that I learned in college. Although it might just be a caring gesture, it is a small detail that signifies what is important to you. Details are in essence what you value. I learned to take time with details.
Facebook will always take priority. To put it in perspective, almost every campus event is advertised on
Facebook, most campus offices and organizations have Facebook pages, and honestly more people read the Facebook Newsfeed than the newspaper. I found out about our new Athletic Director,
Chancellor DePaolo’s retirement, and how much rain fell in Wilmington through Facebook. Facebook is about the connections you make with the people you meet throughout college and beyond. It also leads to networking, an important aspect of the professional world, which can lead to potential job interviews and future connections. The connections I have gained in college with my peers, faculty, and staff at UNCW will allow me to excel in my professional career.
I am a professional card swiper with my One Card. In fact, I would like to know when they are coming out with gold and platinum editions for my One Card. Having access to so many things on a single card has been more than convenient; it taught me the importance of budgeting and utilizing those lifelines at the university. With so many different numbers on my One Card, I know it is critical to budget and track where my money is going. I am aware of what I spend and I keep my calendar marked for payday. A budget makes you appreciate what you do buy and what you save. Budgeting makes me thankful for what UNCW offers its students as part of our tuition and fees. Programs from the Career
Center, leadership workshops, and free food at a Residence Hall Association event all make you thankful for what your tuition and fees pay. I value this lesson of budgeting, because I know I will need it after graduation.
There is no doubt that college is time consuming, stressful, and an intense endeavor. It has taken me four years to take a step back and be thankful for all my experiences. It is easy to be stressed out and think I cannot do anything else, but all I need to do is laugh. I learned the small things in life, like when the Clock Tower plays holiday music, when Wag serves breakfast for dinner, and when it rains so much you can canoe on campus are all just part of the experience that is UNCWonderful. I dread my commencement ceremony because it is an end of my college experience, but I know there is more in my future. I cannot wait to laugh at crazy experiences as a professional and laugh myself out of stress.
Above all my time at UNCW has taught me what it means to “love the life you live, and live the life you love,” and for that I could not be more thankful for my time here.
by: Oriana Perez, Health Promotions
As the holidays approach many things come to mind. ‘Tis the season to think about food, presents, and family gatherings. After the semester is over, your student will want to enjoy their holiday break. To do that, they will need to maintain their health. Regardless of where the family is going or what specifically you have planned, these beneficial suggestions will help your student (and yourself) stay healthy.

Avoid over-indulging in holiday foods. It is important to remember that a lot of the holiday foods including cookies, pies, and other treats are high in sugar and low in nutritional value. When selecting meals, encourage your student to use the 80/20 rule; choosing healthy options 80% of the time and not-so-healthy options 20% of the time. Eating hearty vegetables and fruits over cookies and candy as snacks is a good way to start!
Fend off germs. Family gatherings, airports and travel stops, and shopping malls are all places germs like to mingle. To protect your student make sure they are taking care of themselves by getting the flu vaccine, washing their hands frequently and staying sick-free. Holiday gatherings can bring germs from all over the country. The holidays are all about sharing, but some things they will want to keep to themselves: silverware and drinking utensils.
Relax. The holidays can be stressful times. Having guests, getting presents, and pleasing other people can have an effect on people’s stress levels. Make sure that you and your student are stress-free by doing fun, relaxing activities, like sharing stories, playing games, or watching movies. Getting enough sleep, 7 to 9 hours every night, can also help lessen the levels of stress.
Keep up your exercise program. The holidays can be a time where stress can take over and it may seem like there is no time for exercise. Exercise will help your student feel more active and have more energy to get tasks done throughout the day. Encourage your student to hit the gym, go out for a walk, or pop in a workout DVD faor at least 30 minutes a day/3 times a week.
One of the top things to do for your student’s health (and your own) is to get out and enjoy yourself.
Forget about the stressful things for a while, and make sure you are eating healthy and exercising to protect your immune system from germs!
Laugh and have fun — the holidays only come once a year.
By Jim Dolan PhD, Counseling Center
Thoughts of heading home for the holidays and taking a much needed break can sustain students through the challenges of term papers and final exams. But along with the joy of reunions, it’s common for returning students and their family members to experience feelings of stress. Holiday breaks are often the first time families have been together for an extended period of time since students left for school. Some returning students will enjoy the familiarity of home, while others will assert their newfound independence. Taking some time to talk about expectations can help ease the changing relationship between parents and students, lessening the stress of adjustment for you both.
A common source of contention is differing expectations for what will take place over the holidays.
Here are a few things to think about:
Traditions like taking meals together and attending religious services are part of the holidays for many families. Parents expect that their students will spend a significant amount of time with the family, while students often plan to reconnect with friends. Some mutual compromises might be necessary.
Students have likely become used to leading their own lives. Parents have likely become used to having more time to themselves. Some of the old rules and routines may no longer apply.
Establishing new house rules that recognize changes in roles and responsibilities will lead to happier holidays.
Can I bring a friend home? A boyfriend or a girlfriend? Some students will asks and others will assume. Talking about this ahead of time will help avoid awkward situations.
Family matters may have changed while the student was away. Single parents may

have someone new in their life. Some parents decide it’s time to separate or divorce. Other factors like employment or the economy can change the family situation. Informing a returning student about family changes can lessen potential disruption.
The first semester of college is challenging for students. Your student’s grades may fall short of expectations – both yours and your student’s. Set aside a time to talk about grades so the topic doesn’t loom over the entire visit. Encourage your student to take advantage of the many support services available to them.
Experiencing stress during holidays and homecomings is normal. As in most difficult situations, communication is the key. Discussing differing expectations and preparing for mixed results will smooth the way to developing a healthy, life-long relationship with your student.
By: Christina Logan, Transition Programs
Team Teal is a fan rewards program at UNCW. Athletics rewards fans for going to various sporting events during each week of the semester. Joining the program is FREE and gives participants the opportunity to earn over $200 worth of prizes. The program only applies to UNCW home athletic events. Last year, the grand prize winner won a flat panel television. More information about Team
Teal is available online .
By: Nathan Lindsay, Jonathan Peterson, and Bryan Messina, Student Life Assessment
This is the eighth installment in the “We’ve Heard Your Voice” series from the Office of Student Life
Assessment in the Division of Student Affairs. The goal of “We’ve Heard Your Voice” has been to communicate how students’ and parents’ feedback has been used to improve activities, services, and programs in student affairs. This article will focus on the changes made in Campus Life Arts & Programs, formerly known as UNCW Presents.
Campus Life Arts & Programs is UNCW’s source for bringing entertainment and cultural programming to the university. The objective of Campus Life Arts & Programs is to promote cultural exposure, explore new ideas, make a difference on campus and in student life, and to provide fun and enjoyable experiences. They achieve these goals through places such as the Ann Flack Boseman Gallery, the
Association for Campus Entertainment, as well as numerous other programs, locations, and mediums.
Their ultimate goal is to provide thought provoking, culturally enriching and entertaining programming for the campus and community. Over the past few years, Campus Life Arts & Programs reviewed all of the recommendations and survey data that have been collected and found that several changes could be made to further their program goals and better meet the needs of students.
One of the major goals of Campus Life Arts & Programs is to provide a medium within which students may become more involved in the arts. Students who participated last year said that they wanted even more opportunities to get involved. In response, Campus Life Arts & Programs created student volunteer groups to develop programming initiatives and support behind-the-scenes work for the
Boseman Gallery, Arts in Action Series, and Leadership Lecture Series.
Campus Life Arts & Programs also received many comments about the operating times of Sharky’s Box
Office, the location where students may purchase tickets to the various events sponsored through campus. In response, they have extended the operating hours of Sharky’s Box Office, so that it is now open from noon until 8 p.m. This allows students a substantially larger window of opportunity to obtain tickets to various campus events.
Students also wanted to know if the games and concessions offered at Sharky’s could be expanded.
Sharky’s provides a number of entertainment options such as billiards, board games, table tennis, air hockey, and various video gaming equipment. Campus Life Arts & Programs has responded to this by

offering more games and concession items, and a new video game lounge is now available.
A final change that we will mention regards the cost of attending the numerous events offered through
Campus Life Arts & Programs. Students requested that the fees for attending these lectures or performance art shows be kept to a minimum. As a result of this request, Campus Life Programs & Arts continues to offer free to low cost events for students to attend. Events such as the Leadership Lecture
Series continue to be free to students, and programs such as the Arts in Action performances remain at low costs for attendance.
These significant enhancements made in these departments were due to the feedback that we receive from both students and parents. Thanks to this feedback, we have been able to enhance our ability to provide students with numerous opportunities to experience a diverse and eclectic sampling of various cultural opportunities. In summary, we feel that it is essential for students and parents to know that the time taken to complete surveys is worthwhile, and that we are using the information from the surveys to enhance their overall experience. We are grateful for your feedback, which helps us continually improve our services.
January 9, Sunday
January 10, Monday
On-campus housing opens 10 a.m.
Spring semester begins
January 10-11, Monday-Tuesday Orientation and advising
January 12, Wednesday
January 17, Monday
January 19, Wednesday
Classes begin
Martin Luther King State holiday; No classes
Last day for registration/Last day to drop (without a grade) or add a class. Tuition/fee payment after this date will be subject to a late payment charge. Last day to drop (without a grade) or add a class that meets Monday-only is January 25.
Last day to withdraw with W—undergraduate students
On-campus housing closes 10 a.m.
March 1, Tuesday
March 12, Saturday
March 12-20, Saturday-Sunday No classes
March 20, Sunday
March 21, Monday
April 6, Wednesday
April 14, Thursday
April 15, Friday
On-campus housing opens 10 a.m.
Classes resume 8 a.m.
Last day to withdraw with W—graduate students
Faculty Meeting
April 21, Thursday
April 22, Friday
April 25, Monday
May 2, Monday
Graduation application deadline—Summer 2011 and Fall 2011— undergraduate and graduate students
No classes
Good Friday State holiday; No classes
Classes resume 8 a.m.
Last day of classes
May 3, Tuesday Reading day
May 4-7, Wednesday-Saturday Final Examinations
May 9-10, Monday-Tuesday Final
May 10, Tuesday Spring semester ends
Commencement
Academic year ends
On-campus housing closes 10 a.m.
May 13-14, Friday-Saturday
May 14, Saturday
May 15, Sunday
Office of Transition Programs
601 South College Road
Wilmington, NC 28403-5997
Phone: 910-962-3089
Fax: 910-962-7151
E-mail: transitions@uncw.edu
www.uncw.edu/transitions