WESTERN CONNECTIONS
Volume 1, Issue 1
Welcome to our Parent
Connections Newsletter
Are you interested in knowing what is happening on campus but feel
you aren’t always in the know of what is happening with your son or
daughter? The parent newsletter is meant to be an important link
between campus and your family.
We have contacted some key areas to provide information for families
of Western students. We hope you find this information helpful.
Important Links:
Student Guide 2010-2011: This guide is a definitive source of all
things “Western”
http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca/StudentGuide.html
Academic Calendar:
http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca/2010/index.html
As you may be aware, the Faculty Association and one of our staff
groups are approaching a strike deadline. For up to date information
on the negotiations please visit:
http://communications.uwo.ca/contract_negotiations/index.htm
INSIDE THIS ISSUE
1 Welcome
1 Parents Play a Powerful Role - Blake Fleischacker
2 Internship and Co-op Opportunities at Western
2 Student Wellness Information for Parents
3 Campus Events and Campus Involvement
4 Service Learning at Western
Connections 1
October 2010
Parents Play a Powerful Role
Some of you miss doing their laundry; others are glad that the
house no longer smells. Some of you enjoy the extra space at
home, others bought a pet just to fill the void. Whether I met
you or not, it was my pleasure to be one of the facilitators of
the Parent Program this past summer during Summer Academic
Orientation (SAO). I was the guy who introduced the session
by showing you my teddy bear and saying that we are not just
talking about grades and textbooks, rather, we are talking about
the success of human beings.
In my 4 years as a Western student and 3 years as a Residence
Manager, I was fortunate enough to cross paths with parents on
a frequent basis. You were the people carrying containers filled
with leftovers into the residence every Thanksgiving Monday
when students returned to campus. You were the people who
nudged your London-based child to get to school and
participate in events. You were the people who pretended you
weren’t crying on every move-in day (but some of you did,
because I saw you). Most importantly, you are the people on
the home front who indirectly place a university degree in the
hands of your child.
As every new student at Western shuffles through study notes,
crams inside cubicles and memorizes the methods of
Professorial minds, review your own notes and remember the
power of your parenting subtleties. Instill confidence in your child
by reminding them how proud you are of them for being part
of a truly unbelievable university community. Admire your
child for mastering the internet and having the ability to connect
with students on campus and around the planet. Acknowledge
the growth they have already made and the positive steps they
are taking to feel comfortable in their new setting. Keep planting
seeds of curiosity in their young minds so they continuously
thirst for more education, excitement and experience while they
indulge in life at Western.
Facilitating Parent Program was more than an info session. It
was an opportunity to cross paths with the mentors, guides and
heroes of the thousands of new students who are changing the
Western world. You are playing an integral role in the success
of your future Western grad. Thank you.
Blake Fleischacker,
Author, Professional Speaker, Former Residence Manager
Blake is the author of the new book “Campus Gets Wasted: The Life
That Exists Between The Books And The Bars.” He sends thanks to
the parents who have already purchased the book as a holiday gift and
is offering a special price of $10.00 + FREE shipping to the first 10
parents who email him at blake@blakefly.com interested in the book
(regularly priced at $15.00 + shipping). For information about Blake’s
speaking programs, visit his website at www.blakefly.com.
Internships and Co-op
Opportunities at Western
Internship and co-op work terms allow students to be
employed in settings that provide experiences that are
directly related to their academic degree programs and career
objectives. Students are discovering that applied learning,
such as co-ops and internships provide the necessary
practical experiences that are required to build their resumes.

Employers definitely see the benefits of hiring and training

students with several years of academic education, to take on
major projects and responsibilities. Both students and
employers may find that there is a good match of interests,
leading to a full time job offer after graduation. For
organizations, co-operative education work terms allow them
the opportunity to train their future workforce.

Internships and co-ops allow students to be experienced job

applicants when seeking employment after graduation. In
fact, many employers consider internship experience during
the hiring process, and often look to their own interns as the
best potential candidates for full-time positions. Many
students end their work term with an offer to return to the
organization, after they complete their studies. In some
cases, a degree-related internship can count toward
professional accreditation.
Depending on the academic program, internships and co-ops
can range from a minimum of 140 hours to a maximum of
16 months. Some employment can occur during the
academic term, while other opportunities allow for students
to participate in longer, full-time jobs, away from their
courses and studies. While many placements are paid, some
do not offer monetary compensation, but provide students
with valuable experience.
Co-operative education is recommended to those students
who do not have any work experience in their field. It is an
opportunity to “sample” a career path and obtain answers to
questions about a particular career field.
Internships and co-op programs have many advantages for
students.
gain practical experience in their chosen career field
potential to earn a salary during a work term
sample a career path and make decisions about job
compatibility
build their resume (experience, skills, contacts)
gain confidence in their abilities
Albert Einstein said…”The only source of knowledge is
experience”.
http://success.uwo.ca/index.cfm/experience/internships/
Student Wellness
Information for Parents
At Western, we recognize the challenges your student faces
as s/he makes the transition to university and independence.
We also recognize that, as parents, you have a continuing
interest in your child's progress and experience at university.
This time is a transition period for you as well, and
throughout this section, we've provided some suggestions on
how you can help your student succeed with a new life on
campus.
We’ve consulted a number of valuable resources and
combined them with our experience in understanding the
rhythm of the year, not only in terms of academics, but of
personal wellness issues as well. While every student is
different and has his or her own unique characteristics, there
are some common areas experienced by students overall that
we identify throughout the academic year, and address
through concentrated programming and support services in
residence.
For information on students’ particular needs and
challenges throughout the year, please click on any month in
the link provided below. In it, you’ll find a list of commonly
experienced issues, some of the programming responses we
conduct in residence, as well as ways that you as a parent can
help support your student as s/he responds to these
challenges.
We recognize that, even though your child is now living away
from home, your involvement in your student’s life
continues to be an important element to his or her wellbeing
and development.
LINK TO WELLNESS CALENDAR:
WWW.HAS.UWO.CA/HOUSING/RESIDENCE/
PARENTS/CALENDAR_INDEX.HTM

Connections 2
CAMPUS EVENTS
Here is a sample of some of the upcoming events and
information weeks happening on campus. For more events
see the Event Calendar at: http://events.uwo.ca/cgi-
bin/events.pl?Op=ShowIt&CalendarName=WesternEvents
and http://westerncalendar.uwo.ca/pdfs/calendarpages.pdf
IMPORTANT DATES
INTERNATIONAL EXCHANGE FAIR: NOV 12TH
UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY CENTRE – ATRIUM
TIME: 9:00AM-3:00PM
HIV/AIDS AWARENESS WEEK: NOV 22-26
UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY CENTRE
WHITE RIBBON CAMPAIGN: NOV 29-DEC3
UNIVERSITY COMMUNITY CENTRE
MID-YEAR EXAM PERIOD: DEC 10-21
FIRST DAY OF CLASSES (WINTER TERM): JAN 3
Campus Involvement
Here at Western we encourage all incoming students to get
involved. Whether they join a club, a council, a sports team, or
volunteer in the greater London community, participating in an
extra-curricular activity or two is a great way to meet new people
and reduce any stress brought on by the academic challenge.
While it is important to recognize that academics should take
precedence, a well-balanced lifestyle will enrich the first-year
experience and set the bar for years to come.
Western’s Clubs week will help students gain understanding of
some of the activities they can get involved in. Involvement can
be accomplished in many many ways. Students often just need to
discover their own niche! Here are some of the popular links:
University Student Council: http://usc.uwo.ca
Residence Involvement: speak with staff member in residence
Service Learning: www.westernserves.uwo.ca or
http://cslnetwork.uwo.ca
Alternative Spring Break: www.asb.uwo.ca
Leadership and Mentorship Program: http://lamp.uwo.ca
Society of Off Campus Students: http://socs.uwo.ca
Leadership Education: http://lep.uwo.ca/
Western’s Volunteer Program: http://wvp.uwo.ca
Student Development Centre: http://www.sdc.uwo.ca/
Student Emergency Response Team: http://www.sert.uwo.ca
Foot Patrol: http://www.uwo.ca/footpatrol
Gazette Newspaper: http://www.gazette.uwo.ca/volunteers.cfm
Campus Recreation: http://www.westernmustangs.ca/

OSAP PICK-UP: JAN 4-7 & 10-14

THE GREAT HALL, SOMERVILLE HOUSE
Below: Students on a trip to Mexico as part of the
TIME: 9:00AM-4:00PM
Alternative Spring Break Program.
*JAN 14 – TIME: 9:00AM-12:00PM

USC NOMINATIONS OPEN: JAN 13

MORE INFORMATION AT
HTTP://WWW.USC.UWO.CA/ELECTIONS/

CAREER WEEK: JAN 31-FEB 4

JOB FAIR: FEB 3

WESTERN STUDENT RECREATION CENTRE

MULTICULTURAL WEEK: FEB 14-18

UCC ATRIUM

READING WEEK: FEB 21-25

NO CLASSES THIS WEEK

Connections 3
 SERVICE-LEARNING –
What’s the hype?
While your child studies at Western, we want their resume to
be full of rich experiences, both within and outside the
classroom. Service-learning provides an opportunity for your
son or daughter to engage in meaningful community
development activities that connect with their academic
learning and encourage their personal growth. Increasingly,
Western faculty members are offering courses that include a
service placement in the London community. Students are
encouraged to relate their experience with a non-profit
agency to concepts explored in lectures and assigned
readings. This practical, hands-on experience helps students
to makes sense of class material, and feel like they are able to
make a difference.

Additionally, Western offers co-curricular service learning

programs in which all students can participate including
Western Serves, a one-day community service program on
September 25 that had faculty, staff and students
volunteering together at local agencies.

Stemming from Western Serves is a brand new initiative

called the Community Service Learning Network (CSLN).
Based on feedback from Western Serves, it became apparent
that Western students were interested in more long-term
volunteer opportunities. The CSLN provides these
opportunities and allows students to get more involved in
the greater London community on a yearlong basis. Upper-
year student volunteers, Service Learning Facilitators, are
paired with various community partners (e.g. The Boys and
Girls Club of London). Interested students are then given
the opportunity to sign up for the experience that most
appeals to them.

Alternative Spring Break is an annual program that sends 150

students around the world during Reading Week to
participate in service projects such as building homes with
Habitat for Humanity, providing medical clinics to under-
serviced communities in Nicaragua, or working with
orphaned and abandoned children in the Dominican
Republic.

Visit www.westernserves.uwo.ca , http://cslnetwork.uwo.ca ,

and, www.asb.uwo.ca to learn more about these exciting
programs!

No matter your child’s interest, he or she will be able to find

a service-learning program that fits. You can help encourage
your son or daughter to seek out these experiences as they
will undoubtedly add value to their Western degree, and
enhance the sense of belonging they feel to the London
community!

Connections 4