Winter 2010-11 IN THIS ISSUE Mom and Dad of the Year Promoting perspectives A letter from the Parents Association president Vote with your voice Getting involved Better with greek letters Reminders for parents Deadline to apply for campus housing fast approaching Iowa offers resources for off-campus living Horn for the holidays Important dates Important numbers University calendar

A letter from the Parents Association president

The start of a new year brings many opportunities for parents and students to reconnect. This is a good time of year to talk with your student about his or her academic progress, housing, and plans for the future.

Outstanding services are available to students and parents regarding educational goals and career planning. The Pomerantz Career Center has a web site, www.careers .uiowa.edu, to provide assistance in this area, and there are plenty of additional campus resources from professors to academic advisors and career counselors in the Pomerantz Center and in each of the colleges.

Directing your student to these resources can reduce or eliminate much of the frustration that students and parents experience during their years at Iowa.

By now, both parents and students should have received and hopefully reviewed a few U-bill statements. Review your U-bills carefully and ask questions as they arise. I had questions about our students' U-bills at the beginning of the year, and the issues were resolved one e-mail later. In these challenging economic times, staying on top of this information is critical. It also can serve as a conversation starter with our sons and daughters to help them understand and appreciate their college experience. The University Billing Office is online at www.uiowa.edu/ubill.

This issue of Parent Times features the Mom and Dad of the Year, who were honored at Family Weekend; their stories and their nominating students are truly inspirational. Speaking of Family Weekend, don't forget to make plans—and hotel reservations—for next year's event, which will be Nov. 11–13. It's a wonderful way to reconnect with your student and, if you are like our family, another opportunity to support the Iowa City/Coralville economy by shopping!

As always, please feel free to contact our campus liaison, Belinda Marner, at belinda-marner@uiowa.edu or 319-335-3557 should you have any questions or an interest in serving on our advisory board.

Best wishes for a happy and healthy 2011!

On, Iowa! Go, Hawks! Susan Beck Bates (BA '77)