IMPORTANT DATES TO NOTE - Tennessee Tech University
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
FALL 2020
E - NEWSLETTER
Scholarship Application is Now LIVE!
The university scholarship application for the 2021-2022 academic year is now available! Scholarships are awarded to students
based upon their academic performance, community service, residency and other criteria as defined by the guidelines/
requirements of each award. Encourage your student to fill out the scholarship application now at www.tntech.edu/scholarships!
To ensure your student is eligible for the Parent Association scholarships, which are awarded on a lottery basis, they must select
that their parent/guardian is a member of the Parent Association on the university scholarship application. The deadline to apply
is December 15, 2020.
Please note: If your student has already applied and forgot to select the Parent Association member box on their university scholarship application, please have them email
scholarships@tntech.edu. In their email, they need to include full name and Tech ID number and explain that they need to confirm they’re eligible for TTUPA scholarships.
I M P O R TA N T D AT E S T O N O T E
NOVEMBER DECEMBER
Nov 2 - 6 – Spring 2021 Advisement
Dec 1 – Last Day for Undergraduates to Apply for Summer 2021 Graduation
Nov 3 – Purple Career Readiness Workshop – Making Effective Presentations
(No Ceremony)
Nov 5 – Gold Career Readiness Workshop – Making a Great Impression at a Job Fair
Dec 4 – Last Day of Classes
Nov 6 – Last Day to Drop a Class with a “W” Grade
Dec 7 - Dec 10 – Final Exams
Nov 9 - 13 – Homecoming Week
Dec 12 – Non-Graduating Students Must Be Checked-Out of the Residence Halls
Nov 9 – Spring 2021 Course Selection Begins
by 6 p.m.
Nov 10 – Purple Career Readiness Workshop – Professionalizing My Resume
Dec 12 – Commencement
to be Employer Ready
Dec 14 – Fall 2020 Grades Due
Nov 17 – Purple Career Readiness Workshop – Am I Career Ready?
Dec 15 – University Scholarship Application Deadline
Nov 19 – Purple Career Readiness Workshop – Career Ready Semester End
Dec 24 – Jan 1 University Offices Closed
Nov 19 – Gold Career Readiness Workshop – Career Ready Semester End
Nov 25 – Thanksgiving Break (No Classes, Offices Open)
Nov 26-27 – Thanksgiving Break (No Classes, Offices Closed)
Note: Refer to the University Calendar for any updates, changes or
Nov 30 – Dec 4th Installment of Deferred Plan Due
cancellations to events or deadlines.
FALL 2020
E - NEWSLETTER
Interview with Dean Joseph C. Slater
Joseph C. Slater, Ph.D.
Joseph C. Slater is a professor and dean of He received his B.S. and M.S. degrees in
the College of Engineering at Tennessee Tech Aerospace Engineering and Ph.D. in Mechanical
University. Engineering from the Department of Mechanical
and Aerospace Engineering at the State
His research interests are dynamics, finite University of New York at Buffalo. He is a Fellow
element modeling, control, and model of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers
identification and validation. He has worked (ASME), Associate Fellow of the American
in the fields of un-piloted air vehicle control, Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA),
turbomachinery dynamics, fatigue, aeroelasticity, and a member Tau Beta Pi, Sigma Gamma Tau
spacecraft dynamics and control, and vibration and Phi Eta Sigma. He is a member of the AIAA
damping. Structural Dynamics Technical Committee and a
former member of the AIAA Gossamer Spacecraft
Program Committee.
Caitlin Finley: Please describe instead of inventing, engineers are mostly the students most importantly must
your role at the university. redesigning, improving and making things understand the principles and the process
Joseph Slater: I am the dean of the better. We use math as a tool – just like that led them to their answers. They have
College of Engineering which includes an artist will use a paintbrush – and to follow a process and trust that process
basic/general, mechanical, electrical, applications from science for solving to understand their answers. That’s a major
computer, chemical, civil and environmental societal problems. As engineers, we are intellectual transformation for students
engineering along with computer science charged with trying to solve various and I truly enjoy watching them grow.
and manufacturing engineering technology. problems in the world and create a CF: Could you tell us about any
These programs range from undergraduate solution. For example, we want cars that interesting projects taking place
to the Ph.D. level. Specifically, I am are safer, more efficient and more pleasant in the College of Engineering?
responsible for ensuring the highest quality to drive, so engineers are challenged to
decide what is pleasant and comfortable JS: One of my favorite things recently was
of academics for each program and to when our faculty and students served
manage the finances within the college while also discovering more efficient
ways for cars to burn fuel. I enjoy those the community during a time of crisis by
by making sure the resources and money making personal protection equipment
are used as effectively as possible. challenges and making things better.
for medical personnel and first responders
CF: What drew you to the engineering field? CF: What is your favorite course to teach? for COVID. We delivered hundreds and
JS: The unique thing about engineering is JS: I like engineering mechanics statics hundreds, beyond what was said on the
that you get to combine different subjects. because it’s the first class that engineering news, of protection equipment to local
Most people will think about math when students face where they must be police and firefighters, the Cookeville
it comes to engineering, but it’s also the structured and organized. This course Regional Medical Center and even to the
application of the sciences, and I enjoyed requires these students to apply the state. We worked on creating alcohol
both of those subjects. It’s often forgotten principles that they’ve learned instead for sterilization for medicinal use and a
that engineering is a creative field, but of just memorizing them. While both variety of other things. Each semester,
knowledge and application are important, students are working on various projects
FALL 2020
E - NEWSLETTER
Interview with Dean Slater Continued:
ranging from creating a concrete canoe getting knocked down and standing back schoolwork. That’s hard. Students can and
to automotive engineered vehicles. The up and fighting through. It’s the maturity should develop the ability to work harder
student organization, SEDS (Students of getting out of bed for an early morning and longer hours, and it’s worth it. Your
for the Exploration and Development of class and going to class no matter what, student has a short time in college, and they
Space), even builds and launches rockets. or deciding against playing video games should get everything they can out of it.
College-wide, we are currently designing the and instead completing their assignments. CF: What do you enjoy doing
new engineering building which is slated During college, students should be when you have free time?
to break ground in about a year. One of the treating their academic career with the
maturity of a job. If a student can instill JS: My hobbies tend to be playing video
coolest parts of this new building is that we games with my kids which is good parent-
are reenvisioning and altering the way that this discipline, it will pay off in spades. It
doesn’t take a genius to get through an child time, but not really a hobby. I do
we do all labs. Labs will no longer belong enjoy writing software. I write open-source
to the departments, but labs will belong to engineering program, but it does take
determination, resilience and a lot of hard software with Python. The open source
topics and be borrowed by departments for community is a very welcoming place when
class. This means that chemical engineering work. Intelligence certainly helps, but I
have rarely met a student who isn’t smart I want refuge from everything else. I just
students will see experiments that civil go there and try to help with various things
engineering students perform, and civil enough to complete an engineering degree.
from writing documentation to finding
engineering students will see experiments One of the biggest challenges that young bugs. It’s a team effort with no judgement
that mechanical engineering students people face is not knowing their personal and without titles, so when I’m working, I’m
perform and so on. In the work force, capacity, their limits or what they are no longer a dean. I’m just there to help.
engineers work on projects with other capable of. Encourage your student to seek
engineers of several diverse fields. As a advice from their advisor if they begin to CF: Where would you like to see Tennessee
result, each engineer needs to know how struggle; they’re not just there to help Tech’s College of Engineering in five years?
to work across disciplines. A great start to with making schedules. Also, professors, JS: Tennessee Tech has a solid reputation
that is allowing the students to see what teaching and graduate assistants are in Tennessee, but I would like to see our
other engineering students do and piquing there to help. I wish students would reach reputation grow outside Tennessee. We
their curiosity while they are undergraduate out to me more often by visiting during have some of the best students, our faculty
students. That’s going to be a new my office hours, sending emails and just is outstanding and we have a great culture.
paradigm shift for education at Tennessee communicating with me. Students need to Our students are doing amazing things.
Tech. We have faculty representing each lean on each other. Sometimes it’s good They’re launching companies, becoming
involved department to assist in these lab for students to just hang out with some CEOs, working for large companies – like
designs to serve multiple departments and friends and complain about that one class, NASA, Emerson and Nissan. Along with our
classes. We will be breaking down those and this allows them to see other students students getting these jobs, they’re also
barriers not just here but in the industry. are having similar struggles and know researching during their college careers.
CF: Engineering students, and other STEM they’re not alone. Many students will put Tech is an established research university
majors, have rigorous course loads. What on a tough face to make their peers think and by doing research, we’re continuing to
advice would you give those students they don’t struggle at all, but that’s all a progress and further education. Without
and their parents to ensure success? façade. Those students who do significantly it, we would stagnate. There are multiple
well in school don’t get credit for how hard new programs in the works which will
JS: There are many predictors that can they worked. Although people think that it bring so many amazing opportunities
indicate success in college, and one is comes naturally, in reality those students for Tech in the future. These new ideas
maturity or resilience. It’s the experience of worked 12+ hours a day studying and doing
FALL 2020
E - NEWSLETTER
will also really define how 21st century CF: Do you have any advice for not an ending; it’s a foundation that can be
engineers should be trained and taught. parents of college students? built on in the future. You don’t want this
In five years, I want Tennessee Tech to JS: I have one child in college and two in opportunity to be wasted, but there are
have a national reputation where even high school. The most important thing for many growing opportunities. Encourage
those in California will know our name parents to remember is to be supportive them to get involved in different clubs and
and know what we’re capable of. We also and ask good questions, but don’t stress find that sense of belonging. That’s one
owe this to our students, alumni and the them out. Not every student will have a of the critical ways to ensure success in
city of Cookeville. They all have put their 4.0, and they may not achieve what you college. I still talk to friends from college
faith and trust in us in various ways. When might have hoped, but make sure they band. Also, make sure you understand
I first came to Cookeville for my initial achieve and accomplish what they hope there’s a balance that your student is trying
interview, I was very interested, I loved how for. It’s still important to remind them to hold. Help them find their personal
supportive the community was of Tech and why they're in college and ask them about balance while also weighing against being
how tremendous this university was. The their progress. There are many paths to too involved. They do need to discover
people were wonderful, and the town was success – 4.0 isn’t the only one. I never had themselves, that’s why they’re here, but
resilient. I am still grateful for Tennessee a 4.0 in college, not a single semester, and we, as parents, should be there to help
Tech and couldn’t be happier here. I wasn’t a bad student. The reality is that them along the way and help them grow.
college is a foundation, a beginning. It’s
Spring 2019
FALL 2020
E - NEWSLETTER
The Importance of Sleep for College Students
The importance of sleep cannot be overstressed, especially to LIS T E N TO R E L A XIN G M USIC. Listening to some relaxing
college students. Sleep is critical for both physical and mental music before bed can help calm students and wind things down
health. If students do not get enough sleep, it can reduce for the evening. There are also many apps available that offer
their cognitive performance, memory capacity and social guided meditations to help your student drift into a deep sleep.
competence, all of which are crucial to their success while in E X E RCIS E. Physical health is important to a student’s mental
college. Check on your student and ensure they are getting health and their sleep schedule as well. Exercising sometime
enough sleep to perform at their best, and suggest they try throughout the day can help a student sleep better at night,
some of the following to implement a better sleep schedule although it is not recommended that exercise is done three
while at school! to four hours before bedtime, as it can make falling asleep
US E E A R PLUG S. With roommates who may be up late difficult.
studying, or living in the residence halls and hearing people AVOID C A FFEIN E IN T H E A F T E R N O O N. Caffeine is a
outside their room, it can be difficult to fall asleep when the great stimulant that can be used in the morning to help with
environment around your student is noisy. Earplugs are cheap, alertness and focus, but is not recommended to be consumed
and can drown out the surrounding noise if they are having after 4 p.m. Having caffeine in the late afternoon can cause
trouble falling asleep. wakefulness up to eight hours later, so water or other caffeine-
M A K E T H E RO O M DA R K. A dark room is one of the best free options are suggested to be consumed later in the day.
ways to fall asleep at night and to stay asleep. When there E AT H E A LT H Y. Maintaining a healthy diet is important to
is a street light shining through the window, sleep can be overall wellness of the body, including sleep. Encourage your
disrupted. Getting some black-out curtains is one of the best student to eat more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, rather
ways to ensure the room stays dark and your student gets the than energy drinks, fried foods and sweets.
best sleep through the night. In addition, blue light from digital
devices such as laptops, televisions, cell phones, e-readers, LOW E R S T R E SS. College is stressful for most students, and
etc. can disrupt your student’s circadian rhythm, causing their it can keep them up at night. Finishing a project or task for
body to think it is time to wake up, rather than wind down. the day can help a student feel accomplished and lower their
Encourage them to stop using all electronics at least one hour stress levels. It is also recommended that your student avoids
before bed. If that is not possible, consider purchasing some anything mentally stimulating right before bed. Reading a
blue light blocking glasses for them to wear at night. book, turning off electronics and meditating are great ways to
unwind in the evenings and put their body to rest.
FALL 2020
E - NEWSLETTER
Credit 101
Most college students may have at least have a large credit limit doesn’t mean that deposit if your student defaults on
one credit card in their wallet, but they it should all be spent, especially if that their account. An unsecured card is where
may not know how these accounts work amount is not available in their bank no money is put down and typically
or the best way to handle them. This can account when their monthly bill is due. requires higher qualification standards.
lead to overwhelming debt and cause Additional fees. Some cards require an Depending on the account, you can also
their credit score to plummet. Whether annual fee (the amount to keep a credit make your student an authorized user on
your student has a credit card or not, they card active). There are also penalty fees your account where that card will show up
should be familiar with how credit works for exceeding the credit limit and for on all cardholder’s credit reports but your
and the consequences, good and bad. You late payments. Encourage your student student will be liable for their payments.
can encourage healthy and successful to keep their limit in mind and put their How to apply. Review suitable credit
credit card habits with just a few lessons. payment deadline in their calendar. card options with your student and
Credit Line. Each card is assigned a Credit reports. Credit card issuers must help them prepare to apply. If under 21,
credit line (the present sum a cardholder report account activity to reporting agencies your student may need to complete a
may borrow). At the end of each billing (TransUnion, Equifax and Experian). They written application. There will be fields
cycle, the issuer (credit card company) will compile all credit reports which is for income source and amount, and the
sends the account owner a statement with a summary of the specific account and issuer may verify that information. Your
all transactions, total balance, minimum determine “creditworthiness.” Credit reports student can also include scholarships
amount due and payment due date outlined. are an important factor in decisions made and grants as economic support.
Understanding Payment Options. by lenders, landlords, car dealerships, etc. Managing the account. Like their
Each credit card is different, but there are Credit “GPA.” Building a credit score debit card or cash, remind your student
some instances where paying a portion of indicates “less lending risk.” It’s important to keep their card secured and monitor
the balance makes sense. If your student that your student build their credit the account often. If they monitor their
charged their credit card for a new laptop, score up and not knock it down. Remind account often, they can see a running
they may need to pay it off over a longer your student to pay on time, keep their total of their charges and decide if they
time frame. Just remind them about debt very low (if not at zero) and only need to scale back on spending.
the interest that adds up over time. You use a credit card when necessary. collegiateparent.com/finances/
could also teach them to treat their card credit-101-what-your-college-
like cash. You may want to advise your Choosing the right card. For a secured
card, money is put down as collateral student-needs-to-know-now/
student that just because their card may
which allows for the issuer to claim fromFALL 2020
E - NEWSLETTER
Parent Association Scholarship Update
For the 2020-2021 year, the Parent Association was proud to award 32 scholarships at a total amount of $20,000: 25 $500 scholarships to
sophomores/juniors, five $1,000 scholarships to seniors, the $1,000 Greer Carr Founding Member Scholarship to a senior and one $1,500
Legacy scholarship to a junior.
The Legacy memberships of the Parent Association allocate $100 to the association’s scholarship fund, and we would like to thank the
families listed below for their contribution to the Legacy Scholarship.
Alcock Brown-Quarles Eitzen Hawk Koon Meeks Shahay Turner
Allina Bryant Faircloth Hileman Lafever Meiers Shelby Tyler
Armbrust Bundy Filoteo Hillenbrandt Lamberth Mohr Sherrell Vaughan
Austin Burnett Fletcher Hitt Lawson Mollohan Shipley Wages
Ballinger Campbell Fowler Hooper Lemmon Montes Siedentop Wajler
Barber Carpenter Francisco Miguel Huber Leonard Peaslee Simmons Walker
Bartholomew Chase Frazier Hull Lindsey Perkins Sloan Walsh
Becker Church Fuqua Hunter Long Pierce Smallwood Wanamaker
Bentley Cook, C. Gannod Hurt Love-Baker Price Smithson Washington
Beverly Cook, M. Gaw Jennings Maffett Prosser Somerby Watson
Bischoff Cox Gildes Johnson Malone Ricci Stallworth Wharton
Boshears Cross Gove Johnson, A. Mark Richardson Stambaugh Whillock
Bowman Deel Greenhalgh Johnson, B. Martin Rollins Strickland Whitlow
Box Depriest Griffith Johnson, C. McCloud Rullan Strong Wieber
Brandon Dexter Hare Joyner, K. McCord Rutledge Tallent Wilkins
Brandt Dunn Harper Kelly McDonald Salunkhe Tennison Williams
Brown, B. Dunnings Harville King McGaha Santos Thompson Wood
Brown, M. Edwards Hatcher Kirkus McIntyre Schulmeister Toney Young
2020-2021 SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS
Jaya Carrick Sparta Rebecca Witherspoon Knoxville
Tyler Chittum Jonesborough Pierce Wooten Chattanooga
Gordon Clark Columbia John Skelton Waynesboro
James Dean Charleston Heidi Yancey Franklin
Juan Esparza Lebanon Kayla Brickey Kingsport
William Goodson Sparta Charles Coen Kingston
Noah Jones Knoxville Cody Gilmer Crossville
Morgane Brannon Elora Bailey Brown Crossville
Sarah Hood Mc Donald Caitlin Finley Santa Fe
Dalenna Horton Kelso Daniel Hines Mt Juliet
Walker Ogle Ten Mile Anarae Lambert Lebanon
Denavion Riley Huntsville Alex Tharpe Dyersburg
Connor Sweo Jackson Vittoria Conti Cookeville
Harlee Taylor Shelbyville Levi Cross Piney Flats
Makayla Underhill Woodbury Gabrielle Grove Johnson City
Bradly Vickers Woodbury Maggie Battilla CookevilleFALL 2020
E - NEWSLETTER
Book
Recommendations
Reading has a number of benefits to a student’s education and wellbeing. It enhances their concentration and reduces stress! During the
semester, your student’s reading list likely consisted of only textbooks, with no time to read for pleasure or special interest. With winter
break rapidly approaching and students having more time on their hands, we have compiled a list of books for you and your student to
enjoy. We encourage you to read some of them together and discuss for a great way to connect while learning helpful skills or escaping into
the storyline along the way!
Self Help – Listed below are some classics and some bestsellers. All present an opportunity to take steps toward improvement. Reading
one or all of these titles over the break may ignite in your student a desire to put changes in place that will help them thrive in the coming
semester.
• “Atomic Habits” - This book is a comprehensive and practical guide on how to create good habits, break bad ones and get 1%
better every day. A New York Times best seller and Amazon Charts topper, this book is a great resource on self-motivation and
improvement, for students and parents alike!
• “The Power of Positive Thinking” - In this international bestseller, the author reshapes the way that his readers view reality. By
using the techniques outlined in this book, you and your student will learn how to retrain initial negative gut reaction to reach
perspective goals.
• “What to Say When You Talk to Your Self” - This classic is great for improving all areas of life by learning how to talk to yourself
in new and different ways. Teach yourself to accomplish more, gain confidence and beat old habits to have better self-control and
to positively influence those around you!
• “How to Talk to Anyone” - Charisma is an often-envied personality trait, but did you know that the ability to make lasting
impressions on everyone you meet can actually be learned? Use Leil Lowndes’ simple 92 techniques to learn how to communicate
and climb the ladder of social and business success.
For Fun – After a semester of required reading, picking up one of these page turners could be just what you and your student need to
relax and be transported into the lives of these fictional characters.
• “If You Tell” - This book is based on a true story about the survival of three sisters who were raised by a barbarous mother, and
how they overcame grueling hardships at home. A passionate story about true crime and domestic suspense, it is sure to enthrall
any reader.
• “Let's Pretend This Never Happened” - A girl from Texas shares some awkward, yet hilarious, stories from her childhood and
beyond. This “mostly-true memoir” is sure to make you laugh, even through her more serious stories.
• “The Guest List” - This thrilling mystery highlights the story of a young, beautiful couple who planned the perfect wedding.
Despite how thorough the wedding planner was, someone on the guest list, or perhaps in the bridal party, had murderous plans.
• “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” - She’s awkward and honest to a fault: meet Eleanor Oliphant. Her life is anything but fine.
Follow her story as she gains two unlikely friends who complement each other and help Eleanor see the brighter side. Read this
novel before the major motion picture, produced by Reese Witherspoon, is released!You can also read
