The Enlightened Parent

October 2010

TRAVEL DISCOUNTS: Cheap deals for students travelling home for

Thanksgiving, p. 2

STUDENT BUDGETING: Where does the money

go?, p. 3

YES YOU CAN!: Carleton’s first student-run leadership

conference, p. 4

CARE KITS: How to send

them to your student, p. 5

Inside every issue…

Service Spotlight: Awards

Office

Parent Perspective

This month in Ottawa

carleton.ca/parents

The Enlightened Parent 2

On September 18, more than 100 Carleton students volunteered in the community for Carleton Serves.

Univers i ty Day at Car leton : October 8

Student Travel Discounts

Perfect for Thanksgiving trips home!

Travel Cuts - Third floor University Centre Carleton has its very own travel agent on campus! This location has many resources for students. Not only does Travel Cuts offer a discount on a variety of flights for students, but your student can also get his/her very own International Student Identity Card (ISIC) at the office, which offers significant savings worldwide.

Greyhound Canada If your student is interested in taking a Greyhound bus home for the holidays, he/she can receive up to a 50 per cent off discount simply by having their Carleton student card (Campus Card) while making their ticket purchase. Students can even buy tickets on campus at the Rideau River Residence Association (RRRA) office in Residence Commons. For more information and fares, visit greyhound.ca

VIA Rail For students to take advantage of the discount offered by VIA Rail, they must be the holder of an ISIC card, which is available through the Travel Cuts office. If your student wants to save even more, they should look into purchasing the VIA 6 pack, which saves students up to 50 per cent off when they are travelling within two cities (Ottawa and their hometown). For more information and fares, visit viarail.ca

Airfare Since every airline may offer different student discounts at different points in the school year, encourage your student to subscribe to seat sale notifications or frequently check the websites to not miss out on deals. Popular airlines include WestJet (westjet.com), Porter Airlines (flyporter.com) and Air Canada (aircanada.com).

Approximate Travel Costs

Destination: Toronto Greyhound: $47.30 (one way), 5.5 hours VIA Rail: $90-100.00 (one way, ISIC discount), 4.5 hours Airplane: $300

Destination: Montreal

Greyhound: $22.40 (one way), 2.5 hours VIA Rail: $35-40.00 (one-way, ISIC discount); 2 hours

Carpooling

For parents looking to make final Thanksgiving travel arrangements for their student, it is important to note that all undergraduate classes are suspended on the Friday before Thanksgiving weekend (October 8). During this time, the university will be holding a full-day open house for prospective students to tour and learn more about the Carleton experience. Please note that regular classes resume on Tuesday, Oct. 12.

Carpooling provides a cheap alternative for students looking to travel home. While the price may be more reasonable, students should ensure their arrangements are safe and trustworthy. Since there is no official Carleton website through which students can arrange carpools, students are encouraged to post their requests on bulletin boards in residence.

The Enlightened Parent 3

This January, Carleton is hosting its first student-run leadership conference, Yes You Can!

October Important Dates and Deadlines

October 5-6: Fall Career Expo October 7: Deadline to opt-out of CUSA health and dental plan (visit studentplans.ca) October 8: University Day, all undergraduate classes suspended; December examination schedule available online

October 11: Statutory holiday, university closed October 15: Deadline for residence meal plan changes to a plan with less meals (for a full fee adjustment) October 31: Applications for winter-term residence open

If your student has started calling home frantically asking for a little extra spending money, encourage them to take advantage of these five money saving tips. 1. Make a budget Budgets should keep track of all incoming and outgoing funds. Tell your student to write down all the essentials and divide his/her money among them. 2. Credit cards and OSAP are not free money If your student was approved for their first credit card for university, remind them that even if they have a high credit limit, they don't need to reach it. Also remind them that although OSAP may seem like a large sum of money in their account, these funds should only be used to cover tuition and living expenses and the funds will have to be repaid once the student graduates. 3. Take advantage of free events in the community and on campus There are many free concerts, art displays and festivals that students can attend, which are much cheaper than a night out partying. Several campus clubs also run free movie nights and coffee houses, which is perfect for an evening activity. 4. Cut back on the entertainment spending Rather than paying money to rent a movie or buy a

$tudent Budgeting

new magazine, suggest your student swap these things with their friends. Residence floors can become great swapping networks, and there is always guaranteed to be something new. 5. Make use of their meal plan All first-year students living in residence have a meal plan. If your student is not using up his/her meals every week, suggest that they get bagged lunches to take to class (these count as one meal), so they get the full value of their plan.

Three great student budget calculators:

globecampus.ca/money-finder/financial-calculators/student-budget

cibc.com/ca/education/articles/student-budget-calc.html

tdcanadatrust.com/student/stbud.jsp

The Enlightened Parent 4

All the residence buildings on campus are named after counties in the surrounding Ottawa area.

Featured Service: Awards Office

To the parents of many university

students, the Carleton Awards Office may be one of critical importance. The financial decisions that students make during their time at Carleton may directly impact their future.

Careful planning is necessary to

ensure that wise decisions are made.

The Awards Office, which is located in

202 Robertson Hall, offers many

services for students looking to find

alternate ways to pay for their

university education.

Scholarships

For those students who did not qualify for a renewable entrance scholarship based on their high school marks, the Awards Office offers in-course scholarships, which can be earned

with a GPA of 10.0 or higher (A-).

These scholarships range in value from $750-$1,000. For students

who excel within their academic

departments, there are also depart-mental scholarships. These awards are assessed through the individual departments. For a full listing of all

the scholarships available for your

student, visit carleton.ca/awards/scholarships/list-of-scholarships Bursaries Bursaries are granted to students who demonstrate they are in need of financial aid. The deadline for returning students to apply for

bursaries for next school year is

October 26, 2010. Students can find and submit the application online by visiting carleton.ca/awards/bursaries and click on the red button on the right side of the

page.

OSAP

The Awards Office also ad-ministers Carleton’s distribu-tion of OSAP to students. Through the Awards website, students can apply online for

funding as well as check their

eligibility for the program. For more information on OSAP visit carleton.ca/

awards/osap/

All other information on the services offered by the Awards Office can be found

at carleton.ca/awards

Students can now sign-up for the Yes You Can! Leadership Conference, taking place on Jan. 15, 2011. The conference is the first of its kind at Carleton and is organized by Carleton students. It will feature faculty and student speakers, as well as interactive workshops. Students can register in one of three streams:

Go green - environmental sustainability Be fierce and stand out - entrepreneurial activism Give back - philanthropy and volunteering

In addition to providing students the opportunity to hear from members of the Carleton community, they also have the chance to network and build their leadership skills. Students who participate in the conference can also add the event to their Co-Curricular Record!

Registration costs $25 plus HST and includes a lunch and reception during the day. Students can sign up either in person, by visiting the table in the Atrium, or online at yesyoucancu.com

Yes You Can! Registration is now open!

The Enlightened Parent 5

Students can apply to have their own radio show broadcast on CKCU-FM, the official campus radio station.

CU Parent Perspective

As spring fast approached, our parent-student discussions began to revolve around possible living arrangements for second year. On-campus or off-campus? - THAT WAS THE QUESTION! As it became apparent through a few telephone conversations that we and Cait-lin were not on the same page, Lionel (husband), Patrick (brother) and I dropped every-thing and drove up to Ottawa to discuss the issue in detail and make a mutually agreed-upon family decision. This trip was extremely valuable for our family. Caitlin, Lionel and I are each content with our family decision. With respect to part-time employment expectations, every family’s situation is different. As Caitlin’s chosen major is very competitive, she was far away from home for the first time and we were somehow

able “to swing it.” We advised her that we had no expectations for her to have a part-time job throughout her academic year. It was made clear to her, however that she was to secure summer employment to assist with the university expenses. As for the summer, following her first year at Carleton, Caitlin secured a job with the university and is enjoying every minute of it! Naturally, we miss her dearly but she is flourishing and that is all that we can hope for. Our summer family vacation plans have been changed from time together at “Nanna’s Cottage” to an extended weekend in ... I bet you can guess... OTTAWA! If I were to be asked how involved parents should be in their child’s first year at university, I would respond that there is no one correct answer. As a parent, I believe it is wise to spend time in consultation with your student to determine what will work best for both them and your family. Over the past several years, Caitlin has proven herself to be a very responsible, young adult who does not hesitate to come to Lionel and I when she feels the need. So, we choose to take her lead and whenever she wants or needs us, we are there

by telephone, by Skype and sometimes, if we can arrange it and it is necessary, in person. In closing, Lionel and I have found Carleton University to

be a very warm, welcoming and family-oriented community. The experience has been nothing short of AMAZING, not only for Caitlin, but also for our entire family. My advice to you and your student: take advantage of all that Carleton has to offer and make the transition from grade 12 to first year university a tremendously positive and memorable one. ENJOY!!! Caitlin has spread her wings and now Lionel and I are proud to report that we are watching her SOAR!

Wendy Teed Proud mother of

2009-2010

first-year Carleton

student

This is the fourth and final part of the feature written by Wendy Teed. To read the first

parts, please see the July, August and

September editions of The Enlightened Parent.

“As a parent, I believe it is wise to spend time in consultation with your student to determine what will work best for both

them and your family.”

Carleton Care Kits How to send your student a mid-term pick-me-up

By the time the end of October rolls around, your student will be right in the midst of midterm and final assignment season. With this stressful time period in mind, your student will be extra appreciative to receive from you a Care Kit, offered through Carleton Dining Services. You can order these kits online in a variety of themes, including “Happy Halloween,” “Exam Stress-Buster” and “Heart Healthy.” To find out more information about each of the kits and to order, visit carleton.ca/dining/care-kits.

This month in Student Health 101

The Enlightened Parent 6

This month’s edition of Student Health 101 covers a wide variety of topics that may be helpful to parents. To access the Student Health 101 newsletter, as well as the special parent’s edition, you can visit carleton.ca/parents/e-newsletters/student-health-101 Some of the topics covered in this month’s edition include: Dealing with Depression What depression is, the signs that you may be developing depression, and what to do about it. The Effects of Alcohol on the Student Body A look at the biochemical aspects of alcohol consumption including calories, impact on organs, and an understanding of blood alcohol levels. How to Catch Up When You're Falling Behind in Your Studies Warning signs for students who may be getting behind in their class work, and steps to take to get back on track to academic success.

Discover the Fitness Routine That's Right for You How personality plays a role in helping you figure out the key element in embracing a fitness routine. Hooking Up: A Look at Both Sides A look at casual sex on the college scene and how it is viewed by both men and women in order to bring insight to both sides. Includes interactive "What is Hooking Up?" quiz.

October in Ottawa

Saunders Farm October 1-31 Brave students can visit Saunders Farm at night to experience traditional Halloween terror. Activities include the farm’s famous Haunted Hayride, exploring the Barn of Terror, and more scary events. saundersfarm.com Fall Rhapsody in Gatineau Park October 8-15 Your student can celebrate the beauty of fall in Gatineau Park and take advantage of several free and exciting events, like a photo contest, guided tours and more! canadascapital.gc.ca

Ottawa International Animation Festival October 20-24 If your student is a fan of computer animation, then they’re in luck. For nearly a week, Ottawa becomes the centre of the animation universe. Students can participate in workshops, watch screenings and meet with the superstars of the animation world. animationfestival.ca Great Pumpkin Charity Ball October 30 This annual event brings together 600 people for a great night of live music, dancing and fun. Prizes are also awarded to guests with the best costumes. Tickets are only $20 and sell out quickly every year. greatpumpkinball.com

This past September, more than 2,000 first-year students participated in the Fall Orientation program at Carleton.

The Enlightened Parent

newsletter is a monthly

publication for parents of

current Carleton students. The newsletter is produced by the Student Experience

Office within the university.

Writer/Designer: Hilary Duff

Editor: Jan Patterson

Helpful Links

carleton.ca/parents

carleton.ca/safety

Facebook group: “Linking

Parents to Parents at

Carleton University”

Student Experience Office carleton.ca/seo Hours: 8:30-4:30

430 Tory Building seo@carleton.ca

613-520-7595

Staff:

Jan Patterson, Manager

Jeremy Brzozowski, Student Development

and First Year Coordinator

AA - Architecture

AC - Physical Recreation

AH - Alumni Hall

SP - Art Gallery

AP - Azrieli Pavilion

AT - Azrieli Theatre

CC - Colonel By Child Care

CO - Residence Commons

DH - Dundas House

DT - Dunton Tower

FH - Fieldhouse

GH - Glengarry House

GR - Grenville House

GY - Gymnasium

HP - Herzberg Laboratories

IH - Ice House

LA - Loeb Building

LE - Leeds House

LH - Lanark House

LS - Life Sciences Research

Building

MB - Maintenance Building

MC - Minto Centre

ME - Mackenzie Building

ML - MacOdrum Library

NB - Nesbitt Biology Building

NW - National Wildlife Re-

search Centre

PA - Paterson Hall

PG - Parking Garage

PH: Prescott House

RH - Renfrew House

RO - Robertson Hall

RU - Russell House

SA - Southam Hall

SC - Steacie Building

SH - Stormont House

SP - St. Patrick's Building

SR - Social Sciences Research

Building

TB - Tory Building

TC - Tennis Centre

TT - Technology and Training

Centre

UC - University Centre

The Enlightened Parent 7