FIRST YEAR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

AUGUST 30, 2005

Getting Off to a Good Start

Welcome to the first issue of First Year Weekly Newsletter. The First Year Weekly Newsletter provides you with information, tips, and strategies to help you be successful at Truman. Each Tuesday, you'll receive a copy of the newsletter. If you do not want to receive the newsletter, see the directions at the end of the newsletter on how to remove your name from the mailing list.

Study Skills Tip of the Week

  1. For each of your fall classes, carefully read over the syllabus. As you read the syllabus, make sure to identify

    2. :

    1. How to prepare for each class. (What should you read? What should you prepare?)

    2. When assignments are due during the semester.

    3. The dates of exams and quizzes.

    4. The instructor's attendance policy.

    5. Your instructor's name, office hours, and office location in case you need help outside of class.

      6.

  2. Meet students in each of your classes. Introduce yourself to those sitting around you. Your classmates are a great study resource so get to know them. Make sure to get names and phone numbers so you can contact them if you have questions.

  3. Become familiar with the books for each of your classes. Look over the Table of Contents. Make sure the course is right for you. If you think you're over prepared for a class or you're under prepared, talk to your Academic Advisor.

 

The Healthy Lives Tip of the Week

Are you feeling a little sad and anxious when you actually expected to be feeling really excited about being at Truman? Do you feel that perhaps you don't fit in since others around you seem to be happy? Do you want to attend Truman, but miss home? You might be a little homesick. Homesickness is natural. But guess what? Everybody experiences it!

 

Whether you're a new student, a new faculty member, or experiencing a new situation away from home, we all have a period of adjustment when we leave home. Experiencing new things and meeting different people can be exciting and stressful at the same time. Occasionally, the new experiences create a deep desire to return to the people and situations we know best.

 

The good news is there is a cure! Get involved. (Yes, it is usually that simple.) Truman offers many opportunities to meet new people and participate in lots of activities. Become involved in a student organization, faculty research project, theater performance, intramural team, or anything that is meaningful to you. If you are busy, you are less likely to think about what you miss, but more likely to be busy with scheduling activities and study time. Reach out to those around you--staff, faculty, your Student Advisor, and students you meet. We all understand and want to help.

 

You can learn about many opportunities for involvement at Truman at the Activities Fair on Wednesday, August 31 from noon to four on the quad. Come check it out!

 

If you want to read more about homesickness and learn more strategies for dealing with it, we suggest you go to http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/5-22-2005-70318.asp

 

Resource of the Week--Computers

Truman has over 400 personal computers available for your use across campus. You can use these computers to access your email, look up a class assignment on Blackboard, check your academic records on TruView, surf the net, or to complete a class assignment. For a complete listing of locations and hours, go to the ITS website at http://its.truman.edu/labs/

 

If you are still having difficulty connecting your own computer to the campus network, ITS can help you. Call the Help Desk at extension at 4544 with any of your computing questions.

Quote of the Week

"Enter to grow in wisdom. Depart, better to serve your country and thy kind."

--Charles W. Eliot (From the entrance to the campus Quad)