Mercer University New Student Programs | First-Year Families Newsletter | May 2013 Edition

Your bi-weekly report from Academic & Advising Services on Mercer academics, community, and orientation.

Congratulations, and Welcome to the Family!

Congratulations to your soon-to-be-graduate! Mercer University celebrates with your student and family during this exciting time! We are excited for the transition of your student from senior in high school to first-year student at Mercer University!

Want to stay connected with Mercer this summer? New Student Programs is here to help! Whether you’re seeking hotel arrangements for Move-In Day or making summer orientation plans, we can point you in the right direction. We can also guide you through the forms, academic information, and other resources you’ll want to review before Move-In Day on Saturday, August 17, 2o13. It’s our way of welcoming you to the Mercer family!

YOUR SUMMER ORIENTATION AT MERCER UNIVERSITY...In filling out the Online Academic Profile, your student selected one of four available dates to attend a new student summer orientation. Confirmation of date was sent to both the family and student e-mail address.

Family members are invited to attend summer orientation and learn more about the Mercer culture, student health and safety, financial aid process, and other services offered to students and their families.

New Student Programs also hosts a “Siblings Program” during each summer orientation to provide activities and supervision for young siblings (ages 6-12) while families and guests attend the morning events.

2013 summerorientation dates

Friday, June 14Monday, June 17Friday, June 21Monday, June 24

Orientation begins with check-in from

7:30-8:30 a.m. During summer orientation, students meet with an academic advisor and review their fall course schedule. Students also interact with current Mercer students and other members of the incoming class, tour campus, and meet with representatives from various campus departments to learn about their services and programs.

Academic and Advising Services(478) 301-2078 | orientation@mercer.edu

www.mercer.edu/aas/orientation

Dr. C. Jay Pendleton, Vice ProvostTony Kemp, Associate Director

Dr. Carol Bokros, Pre-Professional Program Coordinator

Amanda Carls, Coordinator of New Student ProgramsJudy Jones, Administrative Secretary

Important Upcoming DatesFri., June 14....................Summer Orientation Session 1Mon., June 17..................Summer Orientation Session 2Fri., June 21....................Summer Orientation Session 3Mon., June 24.................Summer Orientation Session 4Fri., July 26.........................Summer Reading Essay DueSat., Aug 17....................First-year Student Move-In DaySat., August 17-Mon., August 19.............Bear BeginningsTues., August 20..................................First Day of ClassMon., September 2......................No School (Labor Day)

Connect on FacebookLike ‘Mercer University New Student Orientation’

on Facebook to see updates from our office, photographs of summer orientation programs, and ongoing discussion boards!

Dr. Paul Lewis

Academic Dept: Christianity Number of years at Mercer University: 10+ (started in 2002) My undergraduate major: Psychology, because someone I thought was really cool had been a psych major. Also, at the time I was interested in ministry

as a profession and thought that a psych major would complement seminary well.

Dr. Carol Bokros Academic Dept: Office of

Academic & Advising Services, Coordinator of Pre-Professional Programs One fun fact about me: I was a 4-H’er in high school and showed Polled Hereford cattle. OnepieceofadviceforMercer’sfirst-

year class: Study hard and do well. Nothingwillboostyourselfconfidence like earning good grades you deserve!

Dr. Andy Digh Academic Dept: Computer Science One fun fact about me: I have visited 10 of the 11 Disney parks around the world. I’m saving up for Hong Kong. My undergraduate major: Mathematics, because my freshmen Calculus professor made math so much fun! One piece of advice for Mercer’s

first-year class: Always make time for two cups of coffee with a good friend.

Mercer University New Student Programs | First-Year Families Newsletter | May 2013 Edition

To view a schedule of your day at summer orientation,

click here.Please note: If students are unable to attend a summer

orientation session, they will meet with an academic advisor at Bear Beginnings in August to review and

finalize their fall course schedule.

Lodging and Local Accomodations in Macon, GAFor information regarding travel to Mercer and local accommodations, please visit our Directions to Orientation webpage.

The Hilton Garden Inn, conveniently located on campus, offers a special room rate for all incoming students and their families attending orientation. Click here for more information! Enter the appropriate Group Code when reserving your room at the Hilton Garden Inn:June 13-14, 2013: MO3June 16-17, 2013: MO4June 19-20, 2013: MO5June 23-24, 2013: MO6

THE WHISPER OF THE RIVERBY FERROL SAMS, MERCER ALUMNUS

All new students have the opportunity to continue a Mercer tradition by reading Ferrol Sams’ The Whisper of the River. This novel is a work of regional fiction based loosely on the author’s experience at Mercer University. The setting of Willingham University closely mirrors the Mercer University of the 1930s. Porter Osborne, Jr. leaves his rural Georgia home “to meet the world at Willingham University, armed with the knowledge that he had been ‘raised right’ in the best Baptist tradition.” Although the book is set more than seventy years ago, many of the issues are still relevant to students entering college in 2013.

First-year students are invited to submit an essay for the First-Year Student Summer Writing Award. This award recognizes a first-year student’s essay selected for its outstanding writing and reflection on Mercer’s summer reading, The Whisper of the River. A committee comprised of faculty and staff will select the winner. The winner will receive a gift card to the Mercer University Bookstore, as well as have his or her name added to a plaque of past recipients. The deadline for all entries is Friday, July 26, 2013. For more information the First-Year Student Summer Writing Award, click here.

First-year students take a seminar course called “The First Year Student Experience, University 101 (UNV 101).” First-year students enrolled in the Stetson School of Business and Economics take a business-specific section of this class called BUS 103. The UNV 101 or BUS 103 instructor also serves as the students’ first academic advisor. The UNV 101 or BUS 103 instructor remains the students’ academic advisor until an official major is declared and work begins with advisor in their specific program of study.

ADVISOR SPOTLIGHT