They're Back and so is Nacho Hour

Students enjoy chips, salsa, and reconnecting on Wednesday,

the first day of classes.

Dean of Students

Parents,

In December, Trinity University Police Department Chief Paul Chapa sent all students a link to a video about what to do in an active shooter scenario. That was re-publicized in the January class newsletters. It is password protected. Please encourage your students to view the video and even share their passwords with you so you can view it as well.

While being prepared is no guarantee of safety - having a proactive mindset is a good starting place. The video urges students to take sounds of shots seriously, to make quick decisions to shelter in place or evacuate, and to fight like heck if that is the last option.

The Crisis Management Team has been working through another active shooter scenario. Please remember that in any crisis our number one priority is the safety and care of our students. We will communicate with parents and others as quickly as possible but not to the detriment of action and communication on campus to first serve your sons and daughters. The haunting images of Newtown make that difficult to take. One of my jobs in a crisis is to help manage parent communication. Hopefully that will never be an issue. If it is, I will do my best to communicate accurate and timely information.
 

Sincerely,

 

Mr. David M. Tuttle
Associate Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Students

Dean of Students' Social Media

Counseling Services

Your First-Year’s Fall Semester Grades
Parents of first-years, I presume you now know the course grades from your student’s first semester. Some students and their parents have been shocked—or at least disappointed. First semester grades are often disappointing, especially compared to those of high school.

The academic transition from high school to Trinity challenges many first-year students. Reading assignments are more numerous and lengthy. Writing assignments are more challenging. Tests are fewer and farther between. Although paying attention in class and studying the night before an exam may have been sufficient for achieving A's and B's in high school, first-years discover that strategy no longer works. Add to the mix a great deal of unstructured time—with no parent present to ensure that homework gets done—and you have a recipe for academic disappointment.

Many first-years adjust their study strategies during the course of fall semester and are ready to tackle spring semester from the first week of classes. Some others have yet to discover an effective approach to academics at Trinity. Counseling Services offers assistance online with multiple links to resources designed to build academic skills as well as through one-on-one academic skills coaching. Please remind your son or daughter that these resources are available. To learn more about the varied services we offer, visit our website.

--Richard Reams, Ph.D., Associate Director
 

Career Services

Springing Into A Major
If your student is a Sophomore and has not officially declared a major (most have not) then this is the semester when most of them will reach the threshold for declaring. For some students this is not even an issue because they have known their intended major from the day they set foot on campus. For others though, making this decision can be challenging. At Trinity, students are often torn between studying what they have come to love, which may not be so practical in occupational terms, and sticking to a major that has a specific occupational outcome. The truth is that with a little planning, even those "non-vocational" majors can be turned into majors that lead directly to something specific.

Regardless of major, here is what's important -- being proactive and being intentional about experiences inside and outside the classroom. Exploring occupational choices early (right after declaring) is a good idea. And it does not have to be a single occupation, but maybe several that are of possible interest. From there, it is on to information gathering about the occupation and then getting some practical experience. This is the beauty of a liberal arts/Trinity education. There is room to pursue your passion and plan how that passion translates into the practical occupational choice. Career Services specializes in assisting students with this process and during the spring Sophomore College will have several programs addressing major. If your student needs help they can contact our office for an appointment (careerservices@trinity.edu or 210-999-8321).

- Brian Hirsch, Ph.D., director of Career Services

Major Declaration and Beyond
1/23/13, 7 - 8 p.m., Fiesta Room, CUC
Is your sophomore ready to declare a major? Career Services and Sophomore College will be holding this workshop to help prepare students for declaring a major. Special guests from the Office of the Registrar will be present to answer any questions students might have. Students can R.S.V.P. for this event via TigerJobs.

Junior Year: Career Kick-Off
1/30/13, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., Lightner Tea Room
Junior students should start thinking about their future now! This workshop will help students start preparing for life after graduation. Students can learn more and R.S.V.P. in TigerJobs.

Health Services

 
Student Health 101 - January Edition

Fraternity & Sorority Life

Overview of the Fraternity & Sorority Community at Trinity University

Fraternity & sorority life at Trinity is an important part of the campus life landscape. With the exception of the Pi Kappa Alpha national fraternity, the remaining four fraternities and five sororities are all local, meaning they are not affiliated with national Greek organizations. None of our Greek organizations have official housing on or off campus. As a result of being without formal housing, dues for our Greek organizations remain affordable with most organizations’ semester dues around $300. more>>

Dining Services

Congrats to our Fall 2012 Dining Survey winners. We appreciate your student’s

feedback as we work hard to better our services!

Announcements

Spring Student Involvement Fair
The Spring Student Involvement Fair takes place on Wednesday, January 23 from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on the Esplanade. Students who are looking for ways to get involved and meet other students can meet approximately 60 organizations and groups. Participants can enjoy the crisp January weather and SUPER nacho hour!

Parents of Seniors
Graduation is just around the corner. Good news: You still have time to congratulate your senior with ads in the yearbook and campus newspaper. More good news: Now, you can pay for your ad with a credit card through the University's processing system. Contact trinitonian-adv@trinity.edu.
 

Ring Sales

Wednesday, February 13 and Thursday, February 14 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

By having at least 73 credit hours students are eligible to participate in a Trinity Tradition - the Trinity Ring Ceremony being held during Spring Family Weekend on April 6. An official ring sales representative will be attending Countdown to Commencement in the Fiesta Room to assist with the ring selection, sizing and any additional questions.
 

Campus Spotlight

Source: University Communications
 

Student Communication

This section features e-mails that were sent to all students since the last TrinitE newsletter. These are shared with you for your information. By policy, students are responsible for information sent to them through e-mail, which serves as an official Trinity University communication tool -- because all students are assigned accounts. We want you to see what they have been sent.  (Click on each heading to read the full e-mail.)

Informational Announcements
Facilities Service - Service Center for Placing Service Requests
Moment of Silence for Sandy Hook Elementary School Victims
Campus Safety Message
2013 Distinguished Lecture Speaker - Gordon Brown
Alamo Stadium Parking Lot #3
San Antonio Symphony Young People's Concert
Student Recognition Opportunities
System Maintenance

San Antonio Symphony Young People's Concert

Schooldude is offline

Re: Schooldude is offline

MLK Jr. Lecture (Thursday) and March (Monday)
 

The Difference

The difference between… The Trinity Parent and Family newsletter is an electronic newsletter that is distributed to parents of new students in the summer. The TrinitE Parent and Family electronic newsletter is sent to subscribers about every three weeks during the academic year. ParentTalk is an interactive listserv available to parents and family members. Participants must subscribe to this list, which allows parents to respond to posts submitted by others. It is a valuable list to utilize to pose questions about local services, parental dilemmas, general concerns, and inquiries.
 

TrinitE Parent Updates

Next TrinitE Parent: 
February 8

Click on bold maroon type as these are links to more specific information.

Links

• Parents Page

• News & Events

• Calendars

• Athletics

• Academics

• Human Communication
  & Theatre

• Music

• Dean of Students

• Dean's Blog

• Emergencies