Important Business Office Dates for Spring Semester

When are spring fees due? When can I expect to get my excess financial aid deposited in my account? These are good questions. The Business Office has sent us this list of important dates for Spring semester at Vol State:

·         Spring Fees Due – January 8, 2013 (beginning 1/8/13, fees due on date of registration)

·         Purge daily process begins – January 9, 2013

·         Dual Enrollment Fees Due – January 8, 2013

·         Billing dates – all e-bills, December 7, 14, and 21 and January 4 (no mailed bills, except Dual)

·         E-bill reminder post cards mailed December 18, 2012 (this is the only mailed billing notification)

·         Priority deadline to set-up direct deposit January 9, 2013

·         Campus bookstore charges – January 10-14, 2013 (only for eligible students notified by F/A)

·         Official registration – January 15, 2013

·         Official start of semester – January 17, 2013

·         Late registration fee begins – January 17, 2013

·         College at Home Saturday – January 19, 2013

·         Last day to register through PRIDE Online for full term – January 22, 2013

·         Financial aid refund processing will begin once attendance requirements are met

·         First processing date for financial aid and first ACH disbursement – January 18, 2013

·         First day to mail financial aid refund checks – January 22, 2013

·         Refund processing for dropped classes will begin February 4, 2013

 

REFUND DATES FOR SPRING 2013:

 

Spring 2013
	Last Day for Refund of:
Session	100%	75%	25%
Full Term	January 16, 2013	January 30, 2013	February 11, 2013
RODP	January 16, 2013	January 30, 2013	February 13, 2013
RODP 7 Week	January 16, 2013	January 23, 2013	January 29, 2013
1st 5 Week	January 16, 2013	January 21, 2013	January 25, 2013
1st 7 Week	January 16, 2013	January 23, 2013	January 28, 2013
10 Week	February 20, 2013	March 1, 2013	March 10, 2013
2nd 5 Week	February 20, 2013	February 25, 2013	March 1, 2013
2nd 7 Week	March 6, 2013	March 13, 2013	March 18, 2013
3rd 5 Week	March 31, 2013	April 5, 2013	April 10, 2013

A New Christmas Story

Childhood memories are usually the things that make most individuals love the Christmas holiday. The overwhelming joy one feels when they awake and walk into a room full of gifts under the Christmas tree lasts forever.

What if you did not have those childhood memories of the Christmas holiday, would your feelings for Christmas be the same?

There were no visits to Santa Claus or gifts under the Christmas tree when Fenil Patel was a young child in India.

Patel is a Vol State student from Gujarati, a state in northern India. He's religion is Hindu, a religion that does not ordinarily celebrate Christmas. “Christmas is the best part of the year,” Patel said.

Patel said that where he is from they celebrate Christmas out of respect for the Christians. He described Christmas in his country like an ordinary Sunday because everyone received one day off from school or work, then you were back the next day.

He moved to the U.S. when he was about 9, and on his first Christmas he received a watch that he cherished. From then on, Christmas was his favorite holiday.  

"I feel like I'm more American now because I celebrate everything from Thanksgiving to Christmas," said Patel. 

Patel is headed to India this weekend to attend his brother's wedding. He is disappointed that he has to miss the Christmas holiday. 

"This is my last time missing Christmas," said Patel.

From Campus to the Red Carpet

Last night while you were watching the Grammy nominations live on CBS from the comfort of your sofa, Vol State student Jesse Walker, 19, was sitting in the pressroom backstage.

This is not Walker’s first time at a star-studded event. With the responsibility of being a full time-student, President’s Ambassador and working a part-time job, Walker is also an entrepreneur.

Walker, who is majoring in business administration, already owns his own companies.

One is Country Music Candles. Jesse himself makes candles in boot shaped glass in a different assortment of scents. 

The other company is Country Music Treehouse. This is a website where Walker interviews country music stars on the red carpet of events in the Nashville area.

The interview site was started in 2009.

“I just wanted to do something in the music business, but I didn’t want to wait until after college; I wanted to start then,” said Walker.

Walker has come a long way since his first interview.

“Looking back at my first interview, I was nervous and unprepared,” Walker said. “It was spur-of-the-moment.  I was waiting in line for a meet and greet with [country-pop singer] Jordyn Shellhart.”

When Walker is not working on an interview or going to school, he is making candles.

“It’s really cool to know that just a few months ago, it was an idea in my mind; now I have a product that I can hold and sell to someone, and it’s a good solid product,” Walker said.

With so much on his plate and finals around the corner, Walker is often asked how does he manage it all.

“Anytime I hear people use the excuse that they are too busy, I say, I have all these jobs and get things done… One day at a time,” Walker said. “You need to know your limit.”

Finish Line Straight Ahead

Ben Roberts studing over notes
before heading to class.

Final exams are like a marathon. In order to run a marathon, an individual needs to train for the event. Sure there are those individuals who can jump straight into the race and go for it. Although those individuals are able to finish the race, they more than likely don’t win.

Students here at Vol State have jobs, families and other responsibilities to worry about, so finding time to study can be difficult for some.

“Going to class [and] doing the homework helps prepare for test,” said student Erin Welch.

Welch is a non-traditional student who said she had troubles studying her first time in college, but now she has learned new study habits and the fact that instructors give review sheets has really helped.

“There is always room for improvement,” said Drew Owens, when asked about preparing for finals.

“If the teacher can give you a study guide or tell you what will be on the test, that makes it a lot easier,” said Owens.

Some instructors may give review sheets, while others let students know what to expect on the test.

“[Preparing for a test] starts at the beginning of the semester,” said Linda Brady, associate professor of English.

Brady said that students should work all semester toward midterms and finals so they will not need to cram before the rest.

Bethany Gregg, Brandi Gregg and Maggie Briley

sit in the cyber cafe to study for a test in A&P II.

Michelle Vandiver-Lawrence, assoicate professor of foreign languages, agrees with Brady that studying for exams begins at the beginning of the semester. Vandiver-Lawrence gives her classes review sheets.

“Students are a lot more comfortable when they go in knowing what the test will be like,” Vandiver-Lawrence said.

As exam week approaches, students should do their best to prepare.

“I’m focusing on one test at a time,” said Maggie Briley.

"I took the whole week off in order to study for finals," said Owens.

Whether you are taking it one day at a time, taking the whole week to study for everything or cramming it all in at the last minute, good luck out there!  

For the exam schedule, click here.