December can be a very stressful for student as the semester comes to a close. If students need help, they should look to those who have experience with tests, be it their parents, brothers and sisters who have taken the same class, friends, or a tutor. The University has a dedicated staff of advisors who will do everything they can to help with scheduling, registration, and academic issues.

You and your student may feel excited and anxious.  It is important to remember that students keep their own schedule at school.  This may conflict with parental expectations about family activities, so it is helpful to discuss these expectations prior to your student returning home.

What parents can do...

• Send a "coping with finals" package with your student's favorite snacks or goodies.
• Remember that although we want our students to call home every day and tell us their triumphs and tribulations, there may be times when they need to sort through things themselves.
• Ask questions and offer advice, but avoid telling them what to do.
• Welcome your student home for winter break!

Calendar and Dates

To stay up to date on all upcoming dates and deadlines, please check out our UMparent calendar. 

December 9-15: Final Exams

December 16-January 11: Winter Break

December 17: University of Memphis 100th Commencement

January 6: Residence Hall Pre-Payment due

January 10-January 11: Spring Semester Residence Hall Check-In

January 12: First Day of Classes, Spring 2012

January 16: Martin Luther King, Jr. Holiday (University Closed)

General News

Commencement

Congratulations to all of our parents who have students graduating on December 17th!  We know that you are proud of your student and the hard work and dedication they have put in to receive their degree.  If you have any questions about the commencement ceremonies, please click here. 

  Holiday Safety:

The upcoming holiday season is a time when we may be especially vulnerable to theft and other crimes.  Please take a moment to read the following tips to help make your holidays safe and happy.

• Remember the three A’s of crime prevention:
  • Be Aware of your surroundings.
  • Be Alert to suspicious people and vehicles.
  • Avoid situations you perceive as dangerous.
• Be extra careful with purses and wallets, and avoid displaying large amounts of cash or other tempting targets, such as jewelry or expensive clothing.
• Never leave your personal property unattended, even for a few minutes.
• Use ATMs located inside buildings or other well-lit locations.
• If possible, try to avoid being alone outside at night.
• Park in well-lighted areas at night, whenever possible.
• Always lock your vehicle, making sure windows are closed and all valuables out of sight.
• When approaching your vehicle, have your keys out and be aware of your surroundings.  
• Trust your instincts.  If something doesn’t feel right or you suspect something is wrong, change directions, go back inside or to a well-lighted, active location.
• If you become a crime victim, go to a safe place as soon as possible and call the police.

In response to the recent incidents on or near our campus, Police Services is increasing patrols by uniformed officers both on and off the streets immediately adjacent to our campus. Beginning last week, there has been an increase is visibility in these areas after dark. In addition to our own officers, the University is working very closely with the Memphis Police Department.

While no one has been injured, Police Services urges all students, staff and faculty to be extremely cautious about their safety. With the holidays approaching, it is not uncommon for there to be a spike in crime.

Police Services suggests that students:

• Travel in groups at night and walk in well-lit, heavily traveled areas.
• Utilize the Tiger Escort Program by calling 901-678-4663/HOME in the evening and pre-dawn hours.
• Familiarize themselves with the location of campus emergency telephones, both indoor and outdoor.
• If students feels uncomfortable, they should go to an emergency phone or into a building.
• Program 901-678-4357/HELP into their cell phone.

The university will continue to issue important information about safety via TigerText and campus email. If your student has not signed up for TigerText, they may do so by clicking here.  Students can sign up two phones for this service.

Well-Being:

The holidays can be a stressful time for many students.  We want you to know that the Career and Psychological Counseling Center is available to students—even during the holidays.  If your student needs to speak to a counselor over the holidays, they can call 901-678-4357/HELP and one of our counselors will be available to speak with them.

Parent Giving:

For the past five years, the University of Memphis has engaged parents of current students in annual fundraising efforts to support University programs.  As a parent, you have likely received a call from a U of M student or a piece through the mail asking for a gift to the University Libraries, the Tiger Sculpture Fund, Student Affairs or an academic college.   

Gifts to these areas through the Parent and Family Fund are vital to the ongoing success of our University and our students.  For example, during our 2010-11 fiscal year, nearly 300 parents contributed over $50,000 to areas across the U of M, supplementing scholarships, technology, library materials and much more.

Fundraising efforts recently began for our 2011-12 Parent and Family Fund campaign, and – if you have not already – you will be receiving a phone call or mailing asking for your support.  We hope you will make a gift in honor of your student to a meaningful area of the University.  Your gifts provide increased opportunities for students and make our University greater, propelling us – and our entire U of M Community – to an ever brighter future! If you are interested in giving, please click here for more information.

The Tiger Leadership Institute

Administrator Spotlight: Peter Groenendyk

Peter Groenendyk is the Director of Residence Life and Dining Services.  Peter oversees all aspects of the residence life and housing program including staffing, programming, assignments and facilities.  In addition to housing, he helps to manage the dining program, with his department coordinating meal plans and dining options.  He has worked in higher education for more than 19 years and is in his 12th year at the University of Memphis.  He has an undergraduate degree in Education from York College of Pennsylvania and holds a Master’s Degree in Student Affairs in Higher Education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania.  Peter has been awarded the University’s Pyramid Award in 2006 for exemplary service to the University.  In 2007 he was awarded a Distinguished Alumni Award by the Student Affairs in Higher Education program at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, for his contributions to the field of Student Affairs in Higher Education.

Peter believes that living on campus for new students is not only a once in a life time opportunity, but one of the most important ways to prepare oneself for a successful college career.  He and his staff do more than 700 programs a year for students in residence halls which focus on academic success, community development and personal growth.  The Residence Life staff work hard to get students involved and connected to the University.  

“Its’ not enough to attend the University, students should breathe in the entire Tiger experience. This experience includes going to student events like concerts and comedians, attending athletic events like women’s soccer and men’s basketball, joining clubs, using the Campus Recreation center, eating with friends daily and working very hard at being an outstanding scholar.”

Student Spotlight: Laura Knote

Laura Knote is a junior Theater Performance major. This is her second year working on campus as the Resident Advisor for the first floor in Rawls Hall. As a Resident Advisor she is able to be creative by making two bulletin boards and hosting three programs a month. She believes the programs build community among her residents and provides a fun living environment. Laura is involved with the Recruitment and Recognition committee of the Residence Hall Council (RHC). As a member of this committee, Laura is designing RHC’s shirt for next semester. In her spare time, Laura works with Tiger Dining to create short commercials that air on the Residence Life Movie Channel.

 “I love the University of Memphis because it allows me to stay close to home while still living the college life. I am inspired by the diverse community of residents and students on campus. Also, I love rooting for the Tigers during Basketball season!”

Bursar Office

Registration for Spring ’12 is up and running! Fees are now available for viewing on TigerXpress. Invoices will be available online on TigerXpress beginning December 14, 2011.  Emails will be sent to students and authorized users notifying them when invoices are available. Students can enroll you as an Authorized User so that you can receive email notification when invoices are available.  You can also view and pay the outstanding balances on TigerXpress!

Students will be able to sign up for the installment payment plan for the Spring ’12 term, beginning December 1, 2011.

Please encourage your student to enroll in eRefunds (direct deposit) on TigerXpress for earliest refund of Spring excess financial aid and/or fee adjustment.  Students should sign up for direct deposit (http://bf.memphis.edu/ebursar) before January 7, 2012, in order for funds to be disbursed by direct deposit.

Students who have outstanding debts may have a hold on their student account, preventing them from registration or accessing grades. Students should check their accounts online on TigerXpress (through the Account$ tab on the myMemphis portal) to ensure that they do not have charges that would prevent them from registering

For important fee payment deadlines and other important information, please visit our website at http://bf.memphis.edu/finance/bursar/!  Students remain responsible for completing the fee payment process by the appropriate fee payment deadline, even if they do not receive or open the fee invoice.

  Residence Life

The University of Memphis residence halls will close for the Semester Break on Friday, December 16, 2011, at 3:00 pm.  All residents are required to leave the residence halls 24 hours after their final exam, unless they are involved in Commencement Exercises.

Residents of Carpenter Complex and the Living Learning Complex do not have to vacate their rooms during the Semester Break unless their Spring 2012 room assignment has been canceled.

Residents required to vacate their rooms during Semester Break will not be allowed to remain or be readmitted to the buildings during the Semester Break.  The residence hall staff will not be available to permit reentry into the buildings after closing.

Residents of Richardson Towers, Rawls, Smith, South, and Mynders are required to sign up for an appointment to check out and surrender their room keys to their resident advisors before they leave.  Residents of the Living Learning Complex and Carpenter Complex should sign up for a room inspection.

Students who are not returning to the residence halls in the Spring must officially check out of the room no later than 3:00 pm on December 16 and cancel in writing with the Residence Life and Dining Services Office in Richardson Towers.

Students who are returning for the Spring are not required to remove their belongings from their rooms during the break; however, they should take all valuables and possessions needed during this time period.

The buildings will reopen at 1:00 pm on January 10, 2012.

The $200 Spring Semester rental prepayment must be paid by January 6, 2012.  The remainder of the Spring 2012 rent must be paid by January 11, 2012, for the 2012 Spring Semester.  Payments may be paid in advance by mail to The University of Memphis, Bursar’s Office, P. O. Box 1000, Department 313, Memphis, TN  38148-0313 or may be paid in person in 115 Wilder Tower or online via Tiger Xpress.  If a resident is receiving financial aid or is unable to make payment in full, the resident may be placed on an installment plan.  There is an additional charge of $40.00 added to the student's account if they are placed on the installment plan.  If your student is receiving financial aid or scholarships for the Spring 2012 Semester, all aid will be applied toward any debts owed the University, such as rent.

Dining Services

Students can manage their Campus (ID) Card online 24/7 at https://www.memphis.edu/campuscard/online.php. 

• View balance(s)
• Add money to Tiger Funds or Dining Dollars
• View transaction history
• Add money for someone else
• Deactivate a lost/stolen card

Students may request a refund of their unused Dining Dollars online between December 1, 2011 to December 18, 2011. Visit our website at https://www.memphis.edu/campuscard/refund.php for detailed information.

  Athletics

For tickets to any University of Memphis sporting event, please click here to purchase.

Women's Soccer

For the first time in program history, the Lady Tigers Soccer team closed the season ranked!  Capping of a magical season, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America (NSCAA) has ranked the University of Memphis women's soccer team No. 9 in the final poll for the 2011 season.  Read more...

Football

The University of Memphis named Justin Fuente as the new head football coach for the Memphis Tigers on December 8, 2011.  Fuente will lead the Memphis Tigers in his first head coaching stint after serving the last five seasons on Gary Patterson’s staff at TCU. Read more...

Men's Basketball

For the full schedule of games, please click here.

Women's Basketball

 For the full schedule of games, please click here.

Fun Fact and Quote

Fun Fact: Maybelline Forbes, a senior biology major, was the first black Homecoming Queen in 1970. She was the only African American in a field of twelve candidates. Of the approximately four thousand votes, Forbes received six hundred more votes than the second place competitor.

Quote: Learning is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.  ~Chinese Proverb