Parent Newsletter March 2009

NEWS

Budget Update
UNI President Benjamin Allen provides frequent budget updates to the campus community. To stay informed, visit www.uni.edu/president/budget/ frequently. 

Legislative Update 
The 2009 session of the Iowa General Assembly is in full swing. Learn more about UNI's legislative priorities and how you can help at weblogs.uni.edu/govrel/.

2008 Graduate Report
UNI Career Services has released its annual report, which includes the 2008 Graduate Report. The report details salaries, occupied rate and companies for interns and graduates.

IMSEP Reports Available Online
The Iowa Mathematics & Science Education Partnership (IMSEP) has completed three new reports. The "Six Month Progress Report," "Women and Minorities in STEM Programs at Iowa's Public Universities" and the "Iowa High Schools-To-Regent Universities Mathematics Transition Guide," are now online athttp://www.iowamathscience.org/media/reports. These reports provide UNI and Regent universities expertise in STEM education and showcase IMSEP initiatives and activities in Iowa.

2008-2009 UNI Fact Book Available
The 2008-2009 UNI Factbook is online in PDF format at www.uni.edu/pubrel/08-09Factbook.pdf.

Calling All Volunteers

Every year, UNIPA hosts a parent hospitality suite at freshman orientation during the summer and includes a "parents-only tent" and the very popular "somebody loves you" cards that parents fill out for delivery during the first week of school. Thank you to all the parents who volunteered to serve as hosts at last year's orientation sessions. We'll be doing it again this summer and need parent hosts on the first evening of each two-day orientation session. See the orientation dates below. If you'd like to volunteer, send an e-mail to jon.buse@uni.edu. Thank you in advance!

Summer Freshman Orientation Dates:

EVENTS 
For a complete list of UNI events, see access.uni.edu/acal/
  
Key dates:
March 16 - spring break begins
March 23 - instruction resumes
April 25 - UNIPA board meeting
May 4 - finals week begins
May 8 - semester ends
May 9 - Commencement, UNI-Dome

For more information on Commencement please visit www.uni.edu/infosys/commencement/.
   

TIPS 
Wondering What's Going On at UNI? Bookmark the UNI Parents Page
This Web page is designed specifically for you. It includes a list of parent and student resources and links to the UNI events calendar and academic calendar. See https://access.uni.edu/cgi-bin/parents/par_port.cgi.
 

RESOURCES 
Time to Reserve Rooms for Next Year 
One of the big advantages of being a current campus resident is the privilege of selecting a room for the next year before new-student assignments are made. Students living on campus have received the re-contracting schedule. See www.uni.edu/dor/contracting.shtml.
 
Free Computer Workshops 
Two series of workshops, Mastering Microsoft Office and Creating Web Pages, are available free to all full-time students. See http://www.uni.edu/its/services/technology-and-training for details and online registration links.

Academic Help for Students 
UNI's Academic Learning Center offers a variety of services: free courses in speed reading, effective study strategies, free tutoring and help with preparing for examinations. The Academic Learning Center is located at
007 ITTC (Innovative Teaching & Technology Center) www.uni.edu/unialc/.

Free Tax Preparation 
UNI accounting students will offer free tax return preparation services from 5 to 7 p.m., Mondays and Wednesdays, in CBB 223. Students and the public are welcome. For more information, call (319) 273-2394.

Students May Qualify For Double Tax Credit Because of Flood

Students attending UNI (and other colleges or universities located in the Midwestern disaster areas as defined by the IRS) may qualify for a double education tax credit when filing federal tax returns for calendar year 2008.

The definition of qualified education expenses for the education credits and the tuition and fees deduction is also expanded to include room and board for students in Midwestern disaster areas. For additional information, see www.vpaf.uni.edu/obo/student_accounts/documents/tax_credits_2008.pdf.

Taxpayers are advised to consult a tax adviser or see IRS Publication 970 "Tax Benefits for Education" (www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p970.pdf) for details. The IRS may also be reached by phone at 1-800-829-1040. UNI cannot provide tax advice.

Students Can File Income Taxes Fast, Free and Online

Electronic filing of income tax returns (eFile) is fast, easy and environmentally friendly. eFile is free for most students, including active military, those 25 or younger or anyone who earns less than $30,000. For more information, visit http://www.iowa.gov/tax/

Boost Those Standardized Test Scores!

It's not too late for students to sign up for PRAXIS/PPST- and GRE-preparation courses. New sections of these non-credit courses begin soon. PPST-Reading and GRE-Verbal classes are four weeks long, with new sections starting on March 23. Online registration is available at www.uni.edu/unialc/forms/freecoursesspring2009.html. PPST-Math and GRE-Quantitative sections run for six weeks. Register online for sections beginning March 2 www.uni.edu/unialc/forms/springmath/springmath.html.

Free Guidance Program for Students

Student Support Services is a federal program that offers free guidance services for undergraduate students. Services include tutoring, advice about majors and careers, assistance with financial aid and scholarship forms, study sessions and cultural events. Eligible students must meet at least one of three criteria:

1. first-generation college student (neither parent has a bachelor's degree)
2. family income below the federal low-income guidelines
3. student has a learning or physical disability

For more information, contact trio-sss@uni.edu.

UNI PARENTS ASSOCIATION
All parents/guardians of UNI students are automatically members of the parents association, which works as an advocacy group. Benefits include e-newsletters each semester and a parents' booth at orientation. Contact Jon Buse, UNIPA liaison at (319) 273-2897, or jon.buse@uni.edu with questions. The parents association also supports the Parents Fund, which supports student scholarships and activities on campus.