January 2007
The monthly e-newsletter for members of the UNCG Parent/Family Association

Happy New Year Spartan Families!


The University has begun the transition from using Social Security Numbers as identification numbers for students, faculty, and staff to a nine digit computer-generated number. Current students may look up their new identification number through UNCGenie or on the University ID Lookup web page, located at: https://its.uncg.edu/Accounts/University_ID/Lookup/default.aspx.

As of December 18th, the new ID number must be used for all transactions with the University instead of the student's Social Security Number. The one exception is UNCGenie, which will allow the use of both ID and Social Security numbers until mid-April. For more information on the transition process and a list of frequently asked questions, please visit: http://its.uncg.edu/Accounts/University_ID/FAQ/#change.




Beginning in the fall semester of 2007, students taking more than six credit hours will be required to show proof of insurance to enroll in classes. All students will be automatically enrolled in a student health insurance policy and will be billed for the coverage. In order to not be enrolled in the school's policy, students who are already covered by insurance will have to obtain a waiver from the University proving that they have other insurance. For further information on the health insurance requirement and a list of frequently asked questions, please visit: http://shs.dept.uncg.edu/studenthealthinsurance/.




UNCG Spartan Ricky Hickman was named the Southern Conference Men's Basketball Player of the Week on December 12. Hickman scored 29 points in UNCG's win against Furman. Be sure to check out Hickman and the rest of the Men's Basketball team at one of many remaining home basketball games this season. For a list of games and more information on UNCG sports teams, please visit: http://www.uncgspartans.com/ .





Severe winter weather can sometimes lead to class cancellations for your student. UNCG will remain open unless an announcement is made by Chancellor Sullivan. The announcements should be made between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. In most cases, if an announcement is not made by 6:30 a.m., students should expect that UNCG will open on its regular schedule. In the case of a modification to the schedule, UNCG has several information lines available as well as the University home page and the UNCG Police home page. Details will also be dispersed to the Triad's television stations. For further information on UNCG's adverse weather policies and information lines, please visit: http://www.uncg.edu/ure/news/stories/2006/Dec/BadWeather120406.htm.




Interested in becoming more involved on the UNCG campus? Apply to become a member of UNCG's Parent Family Advisory Council. PFAC serves as the board for the Parent/Family Association and meets bi-annually on campus to discuss current ideas and issues facing the UNCG community, as well as helping out with SOAR, Family Weekend, fundraising and other events. The deadline to apply is January 30. For more information on PFAC, please visit: http://ori.dept.uncg.edu/families/council/ or you can link directly to the application by visiting: http://ori.dept.uncg.edu/families/council/pfac.html .




January brings the beginning of a new year as well as a new tax season. Parents (or students, if no longer considered a dependent) may qualify for Hope Scholarship Credit or Lifetime Learning tax credits. If your student has educational expenses that qualify, UNCG will automatically issue a 1098T form IF your student has provided a social security number to the University. If you wish to have a 1098T form issued and your student has not supplied his or her social security number, please contact the Cashier's and Student Accounts Office at 336.334.5831. For further information, please visit: http://fsv.uncg.edu/cashiers_taxcredit.html .




Refunds will be available on the 2006 Federal Income Tax return for anyone who paid the long-distance excise tax on their phone bills from February 28, 2003 to August 1, 2006. This refund applies to landline, cell phone, or Voice over Internet Protocol Service (VolP). The IRS is offering a standard refund between $30 and $60, depending on the number of dependents claimed on your tax refund. If you opt not to take the standard option, you can provide phone bills for the period of time covered. For more information on the refund and a list of frequently asked questions, please visit: http://www.irs.gov/newsroom/article/0,,id=161506,00.html .




Think the Education Career Day is just for teachers? Think again. Representatives from over 100 North Carolina school districts will attend the event and will be looking for administrators, counselors, social workers, nurses, media specialists, speech pathologists, and dietitians, as well as PreK-12 teachers in all subject areas and grade levels. Education Career Day 2007 will be held on Tuesday, January 30 from 12:30pm to 4pm in the Cone Ballroom of UNCG's Elliott University Center. No pre-registration is required for current UNCG students. For more information, please visit: http://web.uncg.edu/hire/educationday/UNCGStudents.pdf .




UNCG's School of Music will host a six-part film and discussion series entitled "Looking at: Jazz, America's Art Form." The series will explore the history of jazz and its numerous forms. The series will be held on six consecutive Sundays beginning January 14th at the Weatherspoon Art Museum. The students from UNCG's Miles Davis Jazz Studies Program, pictured at left, will also perform at each event. The series is free and open to the public. For more information, please visit: http://www.uncg.edu/mus/eventsNews.html .




We'd like your help as we compile a list of advice for parents of college students. We are looking for several kinds of advice:
  - The best advice you've ever given your student
  - Advice that you WISH you had given your student
  - Advice you would offer other parents facing the transition to having a college student

Be sure to let us know into which category your advice falls. If you have some words of wisdom to pass on to other parents, please send your responses via email by January 30 to: families@uncg.edu . We look forward to hearing from you!




We are here to serve you, the parent and family members of UNCG students. If you have suggestions for future articles in Family Connections or any general suggestions, comments, or concerns, please email us at families@uncg.edu . We look forward to hearing from you!



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