New students, many changes will bring energy to campus
Whether you spent the summer working, going to summer school or just relaxing I hope you are ready to begin the new school year. I know I am. This is my favorite time of the year-when students return to campus, full of energy and excitement. Students bring renewed vitality to the campus and remind us of why we are here.
If you have had a chance to visit the Taggart Student Center you will undoubtedly have noticed the many changes that have taken place in the TSC. The Cashier’s Office has been relocated and is now adjacent to the Registrar’s Office. Having both offices in the same location should help in providing better service to students. Students can now register and pay their tuition and fees in the same suite. Relocating the Cashier’s Office has allowed us (with the help of ASUSU) to turn the Juniper Lounge back into a student lounge. We hope students will find the lounge to be a place where they can relax, meet their friends, read, or just rest between classes.
The third floor of the TSC has also undergone remodeling. With the addition of the Central Advisement Center on the third floor, the Academic Resource Center’s tutoring room has been moved down the hall to where the Women’s Center used to be. The Women’s Center is now where the Statesman offices were located, and the Statesman has now been moved to the first floor of the Student Center where the billiards tables used to be. The billiards tables have been moved to the Nelson Fieldhouse. The Nelson Fieldhouse, in turn, is being renovated and will now have 60 percent more floor space for exercise machines for student use. I want to thank ASUSU for their help and support in making these changes possible. I believe that these changes will serve the students well.
My hope is that your association with USU is a very pleasant one and that you leave us with a degree in hand. Thus, I would be remiss if I didn’t make my annual suggestions to help students succeed academically:
* Do not fall behind in your classes. Keep up with the assigned readings, homework and other class assignments.
* Be aware of deadlines , such as the last day to withdraw from a class, payment deadlines, etc.
* Get involved in university activities and organizations. Students who withdraw from the university are often students who isolate themselves and do not become a part of the university community outside of class.
* Seek help as soon as you feel that you may be experiencing any kind of difficulty. The university has many programs to help students, including tutoring services, counseling services, a student health clinic, etc. Also most faculty are willing to spend extra time with you or suggest where you can go for help if you are having trouble in their classes. Take advantage of the faculty’s willingness to help.
* Challenge yourself to reach new heights that you may not have thought possible. Consider taking classes outside your “comfort zone” and make an effort to meet students who may have backgrounds different than yours.
* Most of all, have fun while learning. Several years from now you will remember your college years with many fond memories.
If you have any questions or if I can help in any way, please feel free to come see me in Room 220 of the Taggart Student Center or e-mail me at Juan.Franco@usu.edu. I hope you have a very enjoyable and productive semester.
Juan Franco is the vice president of student services at Utah State University.