Last post is a giant thank you to our bloggers!

We'll leave the Great Beginnings blog up for a few more days. It's still getting close to 200 hits a day, but our last full day of posting was Friday, Sept. 9, 2011. By now, the new semester is upon us and the only thing left to do is SETTLE IN AND GET TO WORK, n'est pas!

Stats can be fun, though. Our back-to-campus blog was an experiment that earned its readership. We'll register 3,500 hits by the end of business. The most popular post was the introduction that explained our project. But the second most-popular post? A link to a story about how to decorate your dorm room with holiday lights. Apparently, news-you-can-use!

Being helpful was a major goal of this flash blog. To that end, a special thank you to Laura Volden of the Registrar's Office and Kristi Powell of the UAA Consortium Library.  Volden's tips on add/drop were in the top three posts for Friday, the day of the deadline. Powell's insider secrets to the library, especially the little-known services students can use, was so useful it earned a mention in Green & Gold.

Hats off to Nikkie Viotto who posted while traveling with the Seawolf Volleyball squad in Hawaii and California. They say if you need something done, ask a busy person. So true! And what fun to hear from the team, even if we couldn't sit in the bleachers and root for them!

The UAA Campus Bookstore offered tips from three seasoned students. Thanks to Joycelyn the magnificent,  Justin Hanson in TechZone and international student Gor Galstyan. IT Services offered a behind-the-scenes reality show of Spirit coding the new UAA homepage!

Personal stories were fun to read, too, from The Northern Light  columnist Kate Lindsley's apartment-hunting from Connecticut and UAA parking misadventures to Joseph Selmont's procrastination confessions. But then, there were always those tantalizing tips on caffeine remedies from Christina Grimsley, the best-known barista on UAA's whole campus. And given our coffee consumption, that says something!

We can't mention everyone who contributed or this post will be as long as our whole blog, with upwards of 85 posts during the first two weeks of school!

Thank you, bloggers! And thank you,  readers. All comments and suggestions for future improvement are welcome! Just hit the comment button and share.

Have a great semester!

Arena Celebration: As Spirit says, 'It's a Great Day to be a Seawolf!'

Right now, this very minute (5:23 p.m. Sept. 9), a large crowd is gathered in Wells Fargo Sports Center, on the same sports court where the Seawolf VB team will be practicing later tonight for their game against St. Martin's tomorrow night at 7 p.m. at WFSC.

Many friends of UAA are gathered there to celebrate the progress toward a brand new sports facility for UAA. Here's one of the schematics that was in the hallway so people could view it on their way to their seats.

Here's a shot of the stage with a 'line-up' of arena supporters that included Governor Sean Parnell,
Mayor Dan Sullivan, Chancellor Tom Case, UA Regent Kenneth Fisher, Senator Kevin Meyer and Rep. Bill Stoltz.  Good friend Arliss Sturgulewski

There's Nikkie, second from left!

AND, one of our fantastic Great Beginnings bloggers, VB team member Nikkie Viotto. She was escorted to the stage by none other than Spirit! Congratulations, Nikkie! You make us proud. Good luck in tonight's game!

One of the BEST things was a fun video about how Tom Case and Spirit found the right place to build the new arena. Missed it, or just wanna see it again? Here you go!

Chancellor's welcome, with a scoop of ice cream

One scoop or two?

Before our Fall 2011 Great Beginnings blog comes to a close, I just wanted to jump on and include my welcome to everyone — staff, faculty, students and their families. I’ve enjoyed all of our launching activities, from the inspiration of Freshman Convocation to the spirited fun of Kick-Off, where I had the delicious task of scooping the ice cream!

Now, as this beautiful September week comes to a close, it feels right to turn with purpose to the good work before us. I wish each and every one of  you a year of discovery and success. This is a great day — and a great year — to be a Seawolf!

Tom

The Latte 411 and a head's up on next week's specials

Have you ever wondered what exactly goes into that latte you just ordered? Let's say it's a 16 oz. Island Dream Latte.

For starters we steam milk of your choice to 160 degrees unless asked otherwise. We add the flavor of choice in the cup and in this case its the Island Dream. Island Dream flavor is a combination of coconut, raspberry and a hint of vanilla. The steamed milk is mixed together with the flavors and the shot of espresso, thus creating the latte you just ordered.

Lately at the coffee shop from 8 a.m.-1 p.m., we go through about six-eight gallons of whole milk and two-three gallons of fat free milk. We use up to five pounds of coffee grind for our house coffee and up to 10 pounds of whole beans a day. Myself, and my night shift barista, Marci, have a great time putting together all these drinks and making coffee life a little nicer.

As for me and my previous spot in the Student Union, I have been able to see some people from the SU, I guess they just can't go without getting their coffee from me. From 8 a.m. to 1 p.m., I am super busy and don't have a lot of time to talk to people and make new friends. However, from 1-3 p.m. are my management hours and I get to go around to the other coffee shops (Fireside and the Union Station) and see how everything is running, and see some familiar faces.

Besides being a full time barista, I am a student here at UAA. I am currently just taking two classes after work so that I can move toward my degree. My goal is to become a physical therapist with a sports injury focus. Having class and work can be a little stressful, but I'm getting better at it.

Heads up for next week's drink specials:

Monday: Cherry Jubilee Latte
Tuesday: Chocolate Covered Cherry Mocha
Wednesday: Strawberry and Cherry Smoothie
Thursday: Cherry Kiss White Chocolate Mocha
Friday: Cherry Limeade Italian Soda

Hope to see you at the coffee shop!
- Christina

Archives & Special Collections says 'welcome back, and come visit'

Archives & Special Collections on the third floor of the Consortium Library welcomes everyone back to school at UAA and invites you to come take a look at our collections!

Our archives hold unique, one-of-a-kind materials that are not typically published nor are available through other resources – all relating to the history of Alaska and especially Southcentral Alaska.  These include personal diaries and letters, thousands of photographs, moving image film, audio recordings, scrapbooks, and many other documents.

Our collections contain the papers of Alaskan politicians and legislators, public policy institutes, civic organizations, businesses, doctors, nurses, social workers, lawyers, anthropologists, military personnel, academics, dancers, artists, journalists, photographers, and sometimes just your average Alaska families.  If you browse through our complete collections list, you’ll see that our holdings represent the diversity that is Alaska.

We also have some materials relating to the history of UAA as it has grown through the years, and you also find the Library’s collection of rare books and student theses in the Archives.  

UAA Archives & Special Collections also posts digital images of our historical photographs and manuscripts on the Alaska’s Digital Archives website.  You can browse the website for thousands of archival documents and images from our collections at UAA, as well as from the archives at the Alaska & Polar Regions Collection at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, the Alaska State Library Historical Collections, the Anchorage Museum, and other Alaskan institutions.  It’s an amazing resource for finding primary source material for your classes – or just if you’re curious and want to look at photos of Alaska’s history!

Come visit us any time in the Archives.  We can help you find primary sources for your research for classes such as history, anthropology, geography and environmental studies, health and medicine, psychology, English, Alaska Native studies, journalism and many other subjects.

We’re open 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and you can reach us at archives@uaa.alaska.edu if you have any questions.  Our friendly archivists are waiting to help you dive into Alaska history!

Welcome back, UAA!

This post written and contributed by Megan Friedel, one of our Archivists here in the UAA/APU Consortium Library Archives & Special Collections department.

It's DEADLINE day: Last day to add/drop and pay your bill

From Associate Registrar Lora Volden comes this important reminder.:

Please do not wait until the last minute.  Classes can be dropped online until 11:59 p.m. but do so earlier.  There may be a reason that you won’t be able to drop.  Perhaps the course is not full-term or is taught at KPC or another school, or maybe you have a hold on your account.  Any of these things could prohibit you from dropping the class and after 5 p.m. you won’t be able to reach us.

You may also pay your bill online with a credit card; you do not need to come to the cashier’s window unless you choose to do so.  Our office will close at 5 p.m. so make sure you arrive in plenty of time to have your business complete.  Congratulations! We all survived the first two weeks -- it’s a great day to be a Seawolf!
 

Party celebrates new UAA sports arena Friday at 4:30 p.m.

Finally, UAA is about to begin its new sports arena facility. So come enjoy some cake and watch a GREAT
short video of Chancellor Tom Case and Seawolf, searching for just the right spot for the new arena.

The party is short, just an hour, followed by a Meet & Greet with all the UAA athletes, including hot dogs and soft drinks to boot. Come shake the hand of a Seawolf and share the vision for the new arena. Read about it in Green & Gold.

Go get 'em, Seawolves

Slam it, Nikkie!

Tonight, actually right this minute, the UAA VB team is taking on their first conference game, hosting Western Oregon at WFSC tonight. We  just have to share this great photo of Nikkie Viotto, one of our champ bloggers for the Great Beginnings blog welcoming the UAA community back to campus. Nikkie kept us posted as the team traveled first to Hawaii and then to California -- all in the first two weeks of school!

Keep up with this team as they move through their season. May it be a great one!

Friday at 5 p.m. is add/drop deadline

It is getting busier and busier at the University Center and historically we know that we will see many people tomorrow.

Remember: Tomorrow at 5 p.m. is the deadline for adding classes and paying your bill without late fees.  Assuming you don’t have holds you should be able to drop your classes online through 11:59 p.m.

Tomorrow from 1-5 p.m., I will have a separate add/drop line at the front kiosk.  No need to check in, just get in my line. To keep things moving make sure your form is signed and has your ID number and the CRN of the class you want to add and don’t forget your photo ID.

Humor
My highlight for today includes a great joke told to me by a young girl who came with one of our students:

“How do birds fly?”
“They wing it!” 

:) Thanks for the laughs!

Lighting your dorm room -- with Christmas lights?

OK, so let's just imagine this. The blogosphere is out there in full force getting you to spend some bucks on decorating your dorm room.

This post (and blog site) was ... a diversion. So what if you did stick a whole string of holiday lights into a glass jar, would be a nice addition to your room?

Here's a few more photos for your perusal. This room-decorating blog is listed on the most popular college blogs, so obviously a lot of people are figuring out what to do with their dorm rooms. Read, fantasize, have fun. It is YOUR room, after all.

Associate Registrar Lora Volden welcomes you to UAA

The truth is, Lora took a minute out to do this video before we kicked off the blog. But we just got around to posting it, and thought it would be great to put a face to the Registrar's Office and the whole serious business of registering for classes and getting your semester straight. She and her crew are here to help.

Thanks Lora and the folks at UC for getting us launched for Fall 2011.

Feeling overwhelmed by all your pending assignments? Seek help here.

For those who are feeling dizzy from all the upcoming work the semester has in store, fear no more.

The UAA/APU Consortium Library currently features a display of books to assist with your study needs. Visit the Great Room right now and you’ll walk right by a table of titles on various subjects including but not limited to: homework help, research, writing, citation, test preparation, study tips, reading comprehension, learning skills, information literacy, dorm life, surviving your first year of college, returning to college, and how to succeed in college.

A little help will go a long way toward your best semester yet!

What's in a Seawolf Latte, anyway?

We tracked Christina down just before Daily Grind re-opened to ask her what's in a Seawolf Latte. Here's a snippet of video on the recipe. Because we don't have the video captioned, here's her process: She mixes some coconut and vanilla syrups, steams them in a latte and adds some sprinkles of coconut on top. And that, my friends, makes a Seawolf Latte.

Voice of experience: Allow more than 15 minutes between classes

We are now officially onto week two of classes! I think I can speak for everyone when I say that I'm relieved that the first week is over. It's always the most hectic week here on campus. There's rarely a spot to park, there are lines everywhere, the traffic is horrible, and the list goes on and on. Now things are starting to settle down.

Here in the TechZone, things are starting the settle down as well. Before the semester actually started we got stocked up on things like printers, smartpens, headphones and earphones, and iPad  and Mac accessories. That first week of classes pretty much ate all of that for breakfast! But we're finally getting our stock back in place again as the semester starts to even out.

As far as personal experience goes, I have had a very hectic first week! If I'm not here at the TechZone (working), I'm running around from class to class! I'm not sure what I was thinking when I registered for classes.. but I decided that it would be a good idea to take three classes with a mere 15 minutes between each one. That's normally not that bad.. except when I have to start on one side of campus and then have to run to the other side for my next class!

If there is one tip I can give you for when you register for classes, it's that you should make a schedule that doesn't stress you out. If you're not a morning person, don't make your first class be at seven or eight in the morning. If you need time to skim that material you didn't read last night before your next class, don't sign up for classes that begin 15 minutes after the last one. As you might be able to tell, time management is not one of my strong points.

But in the great beginnings of the school year, working on weak points is one thing you can look forward to. You cannot have success without failure. We have just entered the tunnel (tunnel of learning, if you will) and already I can see the light that is winter break!

When 'you can't always get what you want....'

In all of the posts I’ve sent so far for this blog, the subject has been the great resources that the UAA/APU Consortium Library has to offer. However, we also realize that we can’t possibly hold everything that every student might need. But we do have some great suggestions for how to get around that, and how the library can STILL help you to get your hands on materials that we don’t actually own.

1. Interlibrary Loan (ILL) and Document Delivery: Located right here in our Circulation Department, ILL is part of an international library network that lends and borrows books, articles, reports, and other items from libraries around the world. This is a fee-based service to the general public, but is FREE to use for UAA students, faculty, and staff. All you need to do if visit the Interlibrary Loan/Document Delivery webpage, sign in with your UAA ID information, and request exactly what you need. Most articles will be scanned and emailed directly to your ILL account; you’ll be notified by email when books and other materials arrive in regular mail and are ready to be picked up at the Circulation Desk. If you have a major research project due at the end of the term, reserve your ILL materials as soon as possible – they can take up to 28 days to arrive. See ILL FAQs and Policies for more information.
    
2. Unfortunately, ILL cannot request course textbooks but you may be able to borrow one that has been provided by your instructor. Our Course Reserves service allows instructors to place any extra copies of textbooks and supplemental reading material on reserve specifically for use by anyone enrolled in their courses. How do you know if a book you need is currently on reserve? You can search our Online Course Reserves Catalog by your instructor’s last name or by the course number (ex: HIST 101). To pick up an item, just ask at the Circulation Desk where the Course Reserves items are kept. Note that the circulation rules for these are shorter than normal check-outs, and can be used only for a few hours to a few days per check out. Plan accordingly!
   Instructors: if you are interested in putting any items on reserve for a course, please visit the Course Reserves page for more information. A Course Reserves Request Form can be submitted electronically right from your desk.
    
3. Yes, we know that textbooks are expensive and almost every year are replaced with a new edition. Just remember that there is more than one way to get them. Lucky for you, a few wonderful library folks put together this awesome Resource Guide on Textbooks to highlight many options and help you sort through the confusion.

Free parking all day Tuesday

Since classes are not in session today, our parking lots are not crowded, and there is no parking enforcement. So come to the gym, the coffee shop, the library, or meet friends to study -- and park for free today.

Caffeine at the Cuddy: specials this week

The Cuddy Coffee House has been swamped as we are back into full swing. Thanks for being so patient with our coffee machine not working off and on for two days and the lines being so long, we are doing our best to make sure everyone gets their coffee as quickly as possible.

The Seawolf Latte seemed to be a hit and if you thought that was amazing, check out next week's specials:

• Wednesday: Tic Tac Chai
• Thursday: Symphony Bar White Chocolate Mocha
• Friday: Snickers Mocha

I am personally always at the coffee shop from 7:45 a.m.-1 p.m., sometimes a little after to help with the afternoon shift. Come by and see me and I will make a drink just for you.

Christina

Seawolf VB heads home from California; next week, conference play and Fairbanks

SEATTLE/TACOMA AIRPORT -- Hey everyone! Headed home today! Were in Seattle right now after waking up at 4 a.m. this morning to get to the airport on time. Thankfully we didn't have a full flight so many of us got to stretch out in the seats and get some sleep!



Yesterday afternoon we played Dominguez Hills and won in 3. We came out strong and were able to quickly take care of business.  We knew the 5 o'clock game would be the most difficult and naturally it was. We lost in 4 games.  It was a hard loss to take because we wanted it so badly, but we played well.



Now were finally headed home and going to stay there for the next two weeks!

Coming up this week we have our first two conference games against Western Oregon and St. Martins, then next Saturday we head to Fairbanks!

I can't wait to finally get home and spend some time in Anchorage!

Make sure to mark in your calendar that you'll be at our game this Thursday at 7 p.m. to cheer us on!



Nikkie


PS: Check out a photo album of their Chico State win Friday. 

Seawolf VB: two games down, two to go Saturday

Hey guys! Just finished both matches for the day and we're on our way back to the hotel! Went to the grocery store tonight to get some dinner because we got done so late.

We played Chico state this afternoon and won in 5! It was a great game and we really needed it to boost our confidence for our 7 p.m. match against San Bernardino.

We went out fired up and excited to play, but couldn't pull it off against the number 3 team in the nation. It's always fun playing a team like that because we get to go out swinging away and having a great time against good competition, while at the same time learning our capabilities, strengths and weaknesses.

Now it's back to the hotel to eat and catch some much needed Zzz's for tomorrows matches against Dominguez Hills and Cal State LA! Gotta love the life of a Volleyball player; sleep, eat and play!  Wish us luck! Let's get 'em Seawolves!

Follow the team's progress here.

Lora Volden: No lines now, and we're open Tuesday to help you

Congratulations on surviving Week ONE!

I read years ago that of all students who drop out of college 75% do so within the first two weeks.  Why?  It’s a big change and a large transition.  It’s difficult anytime you get thrown out of your comfort zone and have to relearn everything.  Hang in there, you’ve already taken a huge step towards your eventual college graduation.

Are you still trying to add classes? 
Starting next week you will need faculty approval for any class you want to add.  Faculty members can give this approval through UAOnline so that you can still register on the computer, or you can have them sign an add/drop form and come see me at the University Center.

If faculty members are giving you electronic approvals you will need to choose “Add/Drop Classes” through UAOnline and then enter the CRN (5 digit number that starts with ‘7’) in the box.

Please remember that a faculty signature only allows us to add you to a class that requires approval the second week and to override the capacity limit.  Faculty signature does not override prerequisites, co-requisites, time conflicts, etc.  If you get a prerequisite error you must resolve this with the department. We cannot override a prerequisite no matter what.

If you have a time conflict you will need to complete a time conflict form with signatures from both faculty members.  Forms related to registration can be found at our home page www.uaa.alaska.edu/records.

Have a form filled out that needs to be processed?  Still need to talk to someone regarding financial aid?  Wonder what’s happening with your admission?  Today is a great day to visit us at the University Center.  We’re all glad it’s Friday and many students have started the weekend early.  Take advantage of the shorter lines and wait times.

Enjoy your weekend!  Remember that while there are no classes on Tuesday, UAA is still open.

Lora Volden, Associate Registrar
UAA
(907) 786-1560

At the library, just ask

Here’s the sad and awful truth: Back when I was an undergrad, I visited the university library only a few times, usually to find a quiet place to study away from my dorm room. I do NOT remember ever asking a librarian for assistance. I DO remember pulling at least one all-night writing session every term, struggling to eke out a term paper or research project. My problems always boiled down to the fact that I had failed to find enough materials to support my assignment, and what I had found was never really great.

They WANT your questions.

The lesson here is this: DO NOT be afraid to come to the library to get help with that intimidating research assignment lurking on your course syllabus. We have an approachable Reference Desk  right in the middle of our beautiful Great Room, staffed by librarians who are waiting and eager to help you. Just walk on in - no appointment necessary.

If you do want some individual attention, you can request a personal research consultation at time that works for you. Every academic department at UAA has a Librarian Liaison  that you can contact directly for targeted subject expertise.

Even if you can’t physically be here, there other convenient ways to Ask A Librarian  for assistance – via phone, email, or chat. If you visit the UAA/APU Consortium Library website, you’ll find a link to Find Articles by Subject, which displays a helpful list of the many Research Guides  that have been created by our own librarians.

No more excuses or regrets: contact a librarian sooner rather than later and you’ll save yourself a lot of time, energy, and frustration. They are here to help you; ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS ASK!

My plan of attack for planning

Hi everyone,

Congratulations on surviving week one! President Buchholdt and I had a fantastic time meeting many of you at Campus Kick-Off and are available frequently in the USUAA Student Government office and hope to meet many more. Our first Assembly meeting is Friday, September 2nd at 3 PM in the Student Union.

By now you should have figured out where your classes are, maybe some key people and places on campus, and how early you need to be in order to get a decent parking spot and still have time to walk to whichever building you had hoped to park by. That is of course, unless you heed my advice.

USUAA Pres and VP at Campus Kick-Off

Tip #2: Go to class

If you've been here for a year or so you've probably figured out that by week 3 or 4, parking becomes less chaotic, and more spots magically appear. Some of that's due to people dropping classes, but the majority comes from the realization that some faculty don't require you to go to class. A change from high school, freshmen slowly catch on to the "You're the manager of your own time" mentality that ultimately lands them in a state of truancy.

It's easy to think that skipping a class here and there won't make a difference, and that you are perfectly capable of catching up on the reading on your own time. However, take it from me -- just because there's no attendance requirement, doesn't mean that attendance doesn't matter. Lecture material is often invaluable, and can't be learned from a textbook, and professors notice the familiar names and faces in their classroom everyday. That familiarity makes a difference in getting help on papers, when you need an extension or advice, and your credibility in general as a student.

Get on top of your schedule.

Not to mention, there's a good chance you may encounter that professor again in the next four years of your education. Besides, once you skip one class, it's easier to skip the next one, and before you know it, you'll have missed two, maybe three weeks of class until suddenly that midterm A or B is nothing more than a pipe dream and you're forced to withdraw from a course you really needed.

Tip #3: Use a planner

Time flies when you're having fun, and the mor e you get involved the easier it is to lose track of upcoming deadlines, tests, and meetings. Syllabi are your friend! Take some time, sit down, spread them out and pencil in all the major dates and deadlines.

That way, when you come to the Student Involvement Fair, September 7th from 11a.m. to 1 p.m. in the Student Union, you can sign up for events and clubs with schedules you know you can commit to without over-burdening yourself. Whether it's Google Calendar, a student Planner, or your smartphone that keeps you up to speed, planning is your friend. Plan time to study, to eat, and social time that is distinct from study time so you can succeed and get the most out of your busy, but rewarding, college experience.

Thursday night: Seawolf VB arrives in California for Coyote Classic

Hey everyone!

In California today! We got in extremely late last night after a mechanical problem with out second plane. Thankfully, we got to sleep in today and wake up to a delicious breakfast at Ihop! The rest of the day consisted of practice, dinner, and watching the San Bernardino vs Western Oregon game where we got a sneak preview of what we will encounter tomorrow afternoon!

On our way to watch San Bernardino vs Western Oregon

Friday we play Chico State and San Bernardino so I'm off to bed to get a good night of sleep. It will be a long day and I hope to be able to tell you we won both games tomorrow night!

Wish us luck!

PS: California is warm and beautiful!!

Seawolf XC victory at Kincaid Park

What a day at Kincaid!

I ran over to this beautiful park on a sunny first day of September and totally missed the women's slam-dunk victory! But have no fear, their tremendous performance was documented  at goseawolves.com.

Ruth Keino came in first for UAA.

Here's a shot of Ruth Keino, who won the 5k for the women with a 15-48 victory. Athletic Director Steve Cobb was beaming that the UAA women swept the race. Keino was followed in order by Susan Bick (18:46), Bryn Haebe (18:56), Miriam Kipng'eno (18:59) and Shoshanna Keegan (19:01). Stephanie Case was Slippery Rock's top performer, placing sixth in 19:02.

Way to go, Seawolves!

Micah Chelimo interviewed after his fine finish.

Micah Chelimo was the victor in the men's race over the same course in 15:09 to lead the UAA men to a 16-46 win. The men, ranked No. 12 nationally, went 1-2-3-4 in their win. Alfred Kangogo was second in 15:29, Yonatan Yilma was third in 15:34 and Dylan Anthony fourth in 15:41.

It was a hooowwwwwling good time!

Tips for successful textbook return, from Joy at the Bookstore

Good morning Seawolves and Happy September 1st. 

Alright so let's get down to the 411 of the bookstore.  If you need to return your textbooks that you just spent a billion dollars on remember two things.

• First:  Make sure you have your receipt!  If you do not have your receipt you can forget about a refund. 

• Second (and this is very important):  Your textbooks must be in the condition you bought them in.  So this means if your textbooks were wrapped in that clear plastic, your textbooks still need to be in that clear plastic in order for you to return them and get your money back.  September 12 is the last day to return your books for a full refund, so if you're going to add or drop a class, get on it!

Textbook buy back just wrapped up yesterday, so I hope each and every one of you who needed the buyback took advantage of it, and those of you who, like me, procrastinated and then forgot about it -- there will be another one on Nov. 21-22.

So, we got some pretty great new sweatpants in yesterday and they can be yours for $15, so hurry on down to your local bookstore. . . which is this one and get your shop on!

Until next time. . . have a great weekend!


 

Nikkie: Lessons from Dad and off to California

With the third day of school already underway I'm already beginning to feel the stress of juggling classes, volleyball, and traveling.  We head to California today to hopefully kick some butt and put in a good name for ourselves!

Although I'm already beginning to stress, I wouldn't trade it for the world.  I've been playing volleyball since I was about 10 years old.  My Dad jokes that I've been playing since before I was born because my mom used to come watch his games when she was still pregnant with me.  My Dad taught me everything he could about volleyball and his love for the sport quickly grew in me as well

Not only did he teach me to be the best I can be at just the basics of volleyball, but also to be mentally strong and determined when it came to achieving my goals as an athlete.  One of the most important things my Dad taught me that I will never forget is that everything in life is a choice.  Every situation in life that you are presented with, whether easy or difficult, you have a choice to make it better and excel if you have the will and the drive to do so.  If you make the decision you want to do something, there is nothing stopping you from achieving that goal.  That is what I live for everyday.  When it comes to class, volleyball, or just everyday situations it's important to make the best out of it and that's what gets me through all the stress and helps me to succeed.

Wish us luck in California! I'll keep you updated!

Social Media Frenzy (and a chance to win a Nook!)

Looking back at my posts about the UAA/APU Consortium Library so far this week, I realize that they are all about things that can be found inside the library. However, we know that you can’t always be here and the good library folks are constantly thinking of ways to reach out to be where you are. To that end, you should know that the library also has a presence on both Facebook and Twitter. We would LOVE for you to visit us in the virtual world - go ahead, send us a comment and let us know what’s on your mind. Also, if you decide to “Like” our Facebook page by September 30 your name will automatically be entered into a drawing to win a Nook! What’s not to like about that?

On Facebook at: http://www.facebook.com/ConsortiumLibrary

On Twitter at: http://twitter.com/ConsortiumLib

WOW!

Greetings from DSS

It is a busy start of the academic year. As the Director of Disability Support Services, my days are focused on facilitating accommodation. Our team at DSS helps students, faculty, and staff. We all work together to remove barriers that would otherwise prevent full participation of qualified UAA students. You could say that DSS is in the barrier removal business. The thing is that we would much rather prevent  barriers at the design stage than have to accommodate our way around them while the clock is ticking and people are waiting for equal access.


Accessibility Quick Tips
The first thing to know is that Accessibility starts at the source. We have a campus-wide commitment   which means that everyone needs to do their part. The second thing to know is that Accessibility benefits everyone. It’s often called Universal Design, and it is an approach that can be understood through the classic curb  cut example: while they are absolutely essential for people who use wheelchairs or scooters for mobility, they are also really helpful for people on bikes, or folks with wheeled bags or with strollers. A good design decision offers a more usable offering that benefits everybody.

There are lots of areas in which good choices at the front end will result in better experiences for end users down the line. UAA has a whole Accessibility Site focused on things we can do proactively.

Here are some top tips for all of us to keep in mind:

• Planning inclusive events
  Make sure to think about your advertising, if placing graphic posters, also include text based descriptions on the campus calendar, and/or event descriptions through social media. Remember that all campus events need to be accessible and include a notice that ASL Interpreters are available upon request.  Think about wheelchair access when laying out seat plans, choosing table heights, and setting up displays.

• Maintaining websites
  The UAA Web Publishing Standards and Design Project provides both the guidance that is needed, and the training that UAA content authors need. In addition, there are Accessibility Interns who can help with site evaluations and necessary changes.

• Creating accessible documents
  From handouts to flyers to uploads and more, we are almost all responsible for the design of documents of one sort or another. There are resources to learn how to create structured documents  that are easier to navigate and more flexible for different needs.

• Sharing video
  If searching out videos on YouTube the best thing to do is to search for captioned content. This can be done by entering the search term then a comma and the letters “cc” in the search box.  This will execute a search for the term entered, but will filter for only those results that are captioned. If you want to learn how to create accessible videos, there are tutorials and resources, or for a more thorough introduction there are academic courses to learn technical skills, and because these courses are also service learning opportunities, there is the potential for university and community partners to get their videos captioned for free by the students who are learning.

The last thing I wanted to mention is the new online community of practice called Alaska Accessibility Matters that is being designed now. We need students, staff, faculty and community members to give feedback and help us make this the best offering possible.

Getting into the parking groove. Or not.

The driving gods are not with me today. Three parking lots and not a spot to be found. I settled for a distant one, behind a building I have never heard of. I had a nice refreshing walk to contemplate this: Why is it so much more crowded than last year? Here's looking at you, admission statisticians. Are there more enrollees this semester?

Anyways, this year is awesome so far. Yesterday, I got a free candy bar from commuter services! My two online classes are fun with attentive professors. It surely is a great beginning (corny-factor intended).

Lastly, I retract my use of the word "draconian" in my last post. Poor choice of adjective to describe the bookstore. My English professor would not be pleased.

Just in from UC: NO LINES

11:19 a.m. Wednesday -- Currently there is no one in line at the UC.  It is much quieter (so far) today and the crowds seem to ebb and flow with the Seawolf Shuttle schedule.

Come on dowwwwwwwwn!

Student newspaper has some hefty goals for 2011; plus, survival tips from the editor

The staff at TNL is getting geared up times two this year.  We're all starting our classes and we're also getting ready to put our first issue of the semester out next Tuesday.

This semester the staff has decided on a couple of specific goals we'd like to share with our readers.  First, we're looking to cover more hard hitting news.  We're toning down the fluff and bringing you real news about your campus that you will hopefully find useful.

Part of this goal includes putting breaking news up online instead of waiting for the weekly issue to come out.  Like:  Did you know a bicyclist got hit at the UAA Drive crosswalk on the first day of school?  You can go to our website, thenorthernlight.org for more on that story.

Another goal we're looking forward to doing is working with Student Activities on a creative writing contest, you'll see more on that soon.  You'll also see a chance to take our reader survey and enter to win $100 cash soon.

Who's on staff?
Did you know the TNL is staff is not primarily made up of journalism majors?  We've got a hefty amount of English majors as well as some in philosophy, art and other majors.  And they're all pretty crazy.  Which is why you should be scared of our new T-shirt shooter.  We'll be out and about with it as much as possible, mostly because we're pretty die hard about it.

Featuring Taylor Hall on firing, Ashley Snyder on catching and Heather Hamilton on ducking!


And did you also know that several times a day people walk in our office looking for parking services?  We're confused since we've been in this office for at least five years.  Perhaps parking services is playing a joke on us?

 Survival tips:
To close I'll give you three tips I've learned now that I'm a Senior at UAA:

1. Avoid taking first term Professors.  They've got to get their kinks worked out and you should let them do so on other, less fortunate students.
2. Get here at 9 and do your homework.  You'll get a parking spot and you'll have some time to refresh before classes.  And you won't be late.
3. Follow UAAfreefood and watch green + gold student edition  for food tips and you can eat almost every meal for free around campus!

Keep in touch with us this year, we're really hoping to get you, the students, the best paper possible and we can only do that with your help!  Check us out on Facebook too!

Leaving...on a jet plane

So, with Labor Day Weekend closing in, you're thinking of what fun you'll have with some free extra time, the last taste of summer freedom. (Note to weather gods: Could you help out here a little?)

Well, let's just take a minute to acknowledge that Seawolf Volleyball will be headed to California for two games Friday and two games Saturday in the Coyote Labor Day Classic. Their Friday match ups are Chico State at 11 a.m. and California State San Bernardino at 6:30 p.m. Saturday is Cal State Domingues Hills at 11 a.m. and Cal State LA at 4 p.m.

Follow their progress here. Go Seawolves!

An image by Travis Rector featured today on Hubble website

Another of Travis Rector's deep-space images -- the Orion Complex -- is highlighted in a press release issued today from the Hubble Space Telescope.

Here's what the release says about the image:

This image from the Kitt Peak National Observatory (KPNO) 4-meter telescope shows a roughly one-half-degree-square region of the sky in the constellation Orion (about the same size as the diameter of the full Moon). This is a small part of the the Orion Molecular Cloud Complex, a giant region of gas and dust undergoing active star formation some 1,500 light-years (460 parsecs) away.

Numerous small knots known as Herbig-Haro (HH) objects, labeled in white on the illustration, are signatures of recently formed stars ejecting material into space. The three HH objects labeled in green have been the subjects of intense study by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope over several years, resulting in a better understanding of how the material ejected from stars interacts with the surrounding medium. A few of the brighter stars in the image are labeled in yellow.

The color image is a composite of data taken through filters sampling light emitted by sulfur (red), hydrogen (green), and oxygen (blue). Full-resolution images and additional information are available at:http://www.noao.edu/image_gallery/html/im1086.html.

From Rachel Waters in IT; visitor stats on UAA's website

On the first day the website saw 42,656 visits, 24,806 unique visitors.

Manage your UAA password here.

The Call Center received 663 calls.This is lower than in past years, most likely because of the self-serve me.uaa site that is now available.

Espresso machine hiccup at Daily Grind; fix within the hour

8:04 a.m. Wednesday -- Our espresso machine has been having some trouble lately, so please be patient with us as we try to fix it. We are still open and have many other options.

If caffeine is your need, we still have drip coffee, tea, fraps, as well as soda and water.

8:18 a.m. Ahhh! Our machine is currently being fixed; we should have espresso within the hour!

Important survival tip: Books on reserve at the Library

Thus far I have regaled you with tales of my procrastination habits and my lack of funds, but today I have a change of pace for you.

So. Of the three classes I've attended (my fourth is this afternoon and my fifth is Thursday evening), two of my professors have placed their books on reserve in the library. Oh happy day! For those of you who aren't familiar with the library's reserved books system, I'll fill you in. Professors receive copies of the texts they require their students to purchase. Some of these professors then take that text and hand it over to the library. The library then hides it on a special shelf behind the main desk, where a student can access it for up to 2 hours at a time. All the student has to do is ask, "Hey! Is professor so-and-so's book for class such-and-such available?" Bingo, bango, bongo.

Oh, and a friend of mine happened to have an old edition of the text for the third class I've attended. $10 vs. $80. Yes, please! Sure, the pages don't match up perfectly, but the text contains all the same readings. Glory, glory hallelujah!

And my grant money finally appeared in my bank account. Life is looking up. Time to study!

Kate Lindsley: Today, life is good

Money spent on textbooks so far: $8.25. Anatomy and Physiology Lab Manual. While there are still some things about the bookstore that are utterly draconian (my new English professor's frequently used adjective), all of the people waiting to assist you in finding your desired textbook are AWESOME. No more aimless wandering and awkward social floundering.

Today, I also scored a free T-shirt from The Northern Light and officially became a contract columnist. Very exciting! I already was thrilled yesterday when I read that my Anatomy & Physiology professor was ranked #3 overall on RMP (ratemyprofessors.com).

What a wealth of knowledge provided in the first issue of Fall 2011!

Associate Registrar Lora Volden answers, 'Where's my money?'

Things are hopping at the UC, helped a great deal by the fact that unbeknownst to us they began construction on our sidewalks again.  It may be faster, easier, and safer to park in the front parking lot (across from Lazy Boy & Peppercinis) and walk through the mall to get to us.

Most of the individuals coming in have questions regarding financial aid.  We have found that almost all questions can be answered through the fabulous financial aid website. Check out the FAQ link at the bottom of the page.  Below are the three biggest questions that we have seen over the past couple days:

My financial aid is more than my tuition bill, what happens to the extra money?
If the total of your financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans, etc.) is greater than the amount of your bill, you will receive a refund.  You may enroll to have your refunds sent to your bank account by setting up a direct deposit via UAOnline.  If you do not set up direct deposit, a refund check will be mailed to the address you have on file with UAA.  It is therefore very important to update your address via UAOnline if and when you move.

Just like excess financial aid can not sit in a student's account for use in a future semester, excess financial aid can not typically be used to pay for previous balances, per Federal Regulations, unless that balance occurs within the same award year.  If you owe an outstanding balance, contact the Office of Student Financial Assistance for the best advice on available options.

How do I know if my refund has been direct deposited?
You can check to see if your financial aid refund has been directly deposited via UAOnline.  To do so:
    •    Login to the secure side of UAOnline.
    •    Select the "Personal Information" Tab.  S
    •    Select "Financial Information"
    •    Select "Direct Deposit Services"
    •    Select "Review your direct deposits"
    •    Select the fiscal year from the drop down menu that you wish to view and then hit "Display"
    •    Each direct deposit that has been applied to your bank account will be listed.  The "Process Date" is the date the money was deposited.

Where's my refund? I was told my financial aid would disburse today but I don't have my check/direct deposit.
First of all, the disbursement date for financial aid is the date that UAA can request the money and apply it to your student account.  It is not the day that you should expect to receive a refund.  The earliest UAA can legally request a disbursement of your financial aid is ten days before the start of each semester.  UAA then has to process your financial aid and request a paper check be mailed or direct deposit be issued to your bank (if you've set up a direct deposit).  This processing generally takes between 5 and 7 business days.  Therefore, if you are confident your financial aid is in order before the scheduled and published disbursement date (ex. you have no outstanding paperwork to be completed, you are admitted, in good SAP, etc.), you should expect to see your refund NO EARLIER than the first day of class.
 

Secrets of the Library

No, we really don’t keep secrets here at the UAA/APU Consortium Library, but we do have some really cool stuff that you might not already know about:

Scanning at the scanner in the Library.

• Inside the Copy Room, next to the copiers and microfilm viewers, we have two Book Eye Scanners. These will let you digitally scan your materials and either save to a jump drive or email the electronic version to yourself. No paper copies necessary, no cost required

• Copy Room also has one of only four Value Transfer Stations on campus. This is the black box that you use to add WolfBucks to your WolfCard, which you can use for purchasing power in the library and all over campus.

• You can check out an Ipad at the Circulation Desk. Or a laptop computer. Or headphones. Our equipment is your equipment to use for up to two hours while you’re visiting the library.

• There is always free WiFi throughout the entire library building and you can configure your laptop for mobile printing. Or you have the option to use the many research computers and printers available to students on the first and second floor.

• We have a Media Room where you can listen to music or watch a DVD. Here you’ll also find a variety of popular movies, academic videos, and CDs available for borrowing.

This brief post only reveals a few of our resources - the library is full of cool tools so we invite you to come in and discover them for yourself.

First day of fall 2011

Today I had STAT 252 and Beverage Management.

I am excited to finish this semester! I will finally have my associate in culinary arts this December. I am still going for the bachelor's in hospitality and restaurant management. By the time I get my associate, I will have over 200 credits. Most of my credits were given to me for my Army training. I am an LPN in the Army Reserves now, and none of those credits count towards my current degree. I decided to use my GI Bill to change careers. I only have five months of it left, and am still trying to figure out what I will do after it runs out. A scary thought I'm sure a lot of Veterans have been facing.

As the President of the Student Veterans of UAA, I hope to answer questions about education benefits and other resources available to veterans and military service members. Please visit our website for more info!

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