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For Parents

This series of articles is intended for parents and families of LAS students, and is written by Karen Carney, Interim Associate Dean for LAS Student Academic Affairs. Sign up for our mailing list to receive these articles in the college’s monthly email newsletter (distributed from September through May).

May 2012

Our LAS Students: Making an Impression
This time of year I am fortunate to be able to talk with some of our prospective students and their families during their visits to campus to see the University of Illinois and the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, often for the very first time.

March 2012

Consider Summer Courses
Years ago, when I was in college, the idea of taking courses in the summer really never occurred to me. In fact, very few students I knew took summer classes, in part because there were only a few courses from which to choose. Today, of course, things are very different—many of the undergraduate students I know see summer courses as an integral part of their overall degree plan, and can choose from hundreds of courses offered here on campus.

January 2012

Some Advice on Academic Advising
I mentioned in a previous column (“Choosing the Right Course”) that academic advisors can help students in a variety of ways. Given that it’s both the start of a new calendar year, and the start of a new semester, I’d like to offer some New Year’s resolutions designed to help your student work most effectively with her or his advisor.

December 2011

Choosing the Right Course
In the past few weeks, we’ve seen lots of activity both online and in the LAS Student Academic Affairs office as our continuing students register for the classes they’ll take in the spring semester. Choosing which course to take can be difficult: Last year, in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences alone, there were more than 6,800 separate course sections offered!

November 2011

The Privacy of Student Educational Records
Here in the LAS Student Academic Affairs office, we sometimes hear from parents who want to talk with us about how their son or daughter is doing in school. When I receive one of these calls, it’s an opportunity for me to explain the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, or FERPA.

October 2011

Today’s Freshmen, Tomorrow’s Leaders
While it hasn’t even been two months since they arrived on campus, our new LAS freshman students are already off to an excellent start. Read about what they have been up to since moving in.

September 2011

Major Changes
It is not unusual for undergraduates to change their major. If your student indicates that she or he is thinking about a change in major, here are a few things to consider.

Parents