Parent e-Newsletter Fall 2009
Newsletter 007 | December 2009
The Student Government Association has had an exciting and busy semester! With finals rolling in and a long break ahead we would like to give you an inside scoop of some of the things your student leaders have been working so hard to accomplish.
On October 14, 2009, SGA Senate approved Georgia College & State University's first official fight song which was debuted at Midnight Madness that evening by the GC Pep Band. Marcus Green and Paul Rossetti wrote the lyrics and the music was composed by TJ Brown. The song was created to bring about more school spirit and to provide students with a solid fight song to sing at games or anywhere around campus. We hope that this fight song will help show the pride we have in our University for years to come!
To create a better working relationship with the Milledgeville community, SGA now is building a City Relations Committee that will assume the role of working with people outside of the University. This committee was created not to only be reactive with issues but instead be proactive with the relationship between college students, faculty, staff, and community members. 
GC is constantly working to increase safety on campus and the surrounding area. The University is doing this through The Department of Public Safety's SNAP (Student Night Auxiliary Patrol) Program. This program is made possible by student volunteers who give countless hours providing golf cart rides to students to places around campus or back home at night. SGA has joined in this effort by allocating funds to SNAP to provide proper uniforms for their volunteers. SNAP has had a very successful year - since August, SNAP has provided 1,316 escorts to 2,770 people and continues to keep the campus safer!
February 2010 is right around the corner and that means Homecoming is on its way! This year we are working with alumni to decide on a common theme to keep past traditions alive and make new ones last. This year the Homecoming concert will be held indoors, which is a change from past years. A great band will grace the stage to provide an exciting evening for students. Traditions will continue through campus decorating and of course, the very popular parade followed by the Homecoming basketball game. We hope that you make a trip to Milledgeville to support your student's university, and of course, have a little fun yourself!
For more information, contact The Student Government Association at (478) 445-2795 or sga@gcsu.edu.
Seasonal Affective Disorder: "The Winter Blues"
Fortunately, due to the abundance of sunshine in Georgia, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is not as prevalent as in other states. For example, while about 1% of the Florida population suffers from SAD, approximately 10% of the New Hampshire population does. Overall, SAD affects approximately 5% of Americans. Wondering if this might be you? Your student? Here are some signs and symptoms to look for:
• Loss of interest in social life and activities that used to be enjoyable
• Carbohydrate cravings and weight gain
• Oversleeping, sometimes accompanied by persistent sleepiness and/or difficulty waking
• Less energy
• Irritability or apathy
• Persistent and notable downturn of mood
Since SAD is a form of clinical depression that only occurs during the winter months, a pattern of recurring winter depression must be established for diagnosis. SAD is thought to be caused by a biochemical imbalance which occurs with the shortening of daylight hours and lack of winter sunlight. This in turn, affects levels of melatonin (sleep), serotonin (mood), and vitamin D (cholecalciferol) in the brain. Light is the stimulant for production of cholecalciferol, which your body then transforms into vitamin D.
Other than living in a northern state, risk factors for developing SAD include being female, having a predisposition for depression, experiencing holiday stress, and working a job that involves limited light exposure (for example, working second or third shift, or working in a windowless office).
If you think that you or your student might have SAD, consult a health professional. This is especially important because some symptoms of SAD can be confused with other medical conditions such as mononucleosis and hypothyroidism. It is likely that your doctor will recommend a combination of medication, vitamins, psychotherapy, and/or light therapy (phototherapy). This involves exposure to a special light spectrum for a prescribed number of minutes per day during the winter months. Self-help for SAD includes exposing yourself to sunlight, keeping a regular sleep/wake schedule, and getting regular aerobic exercise.
If you think your student may be suffering from SAD, refer him or her to Counseling Services at 132 Lanier Hall. The staff of licensed and license-eligible mental health providers can provide your student with no-cost, short-term psychotherapy services and/or a psychiatric evaluation for medication. (478) 445-5331.
Sources: www.villanova.edu, www.sltbr.org
For more information, contact Jennifer Strole, Counseling Services at (478) 445-5331 or jennifer.strole@gcsu.edu.
University Advancement wants to...
THANK YOU for helping us to raise over $115,000 during Phonathon this Fall! Your support ensures that we continue to Connect What Matters!
Please consider supporting the university's mission of excellence through a gift to the Georgia College Foundation.
For more information, contact Mandy Peacock, Annual Fund Coordinator at (478) 445-6930 or mandy.peacock@gcsu.edu.
A Message from University Housing:
Each time University Housing communicates with you, we note that one of the key benefits of living in University Housing is that your student is fully connected to campus. It's our goal to not only to connect your student to what they need, but to connect you, their family, to the on-campus experience as well. To help us accomplish this goal, after the start of the new year we will be launching a new feature on our website – Parent Connection.
Parent Connection is an online resource that will help you keep up with the things going on in your student's life. We'll post copies of the marketing and informational pieces sent to your student, provide links to campus resources, and answer some of the most common questions parents have.
This new resource is a great way for you to be connected to your student and to Georgia College - one of the many benefits of living on campus in the residence halls or The Village Apartments. We will let you know as soon as the Parent Connection site is live.
For more information, contact University Housing at (478) 445-5160 or housing@gcsu.edu.
Spring 2010 Career Fair & Events Calendar
See events with details in Career Connection – Register at www.gcsu.edu/career
February 1 | Magnolia Ballroom | 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Nursing & Health Sciences Career Expo
February 18 | Augusta State Athletic Complex | 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Educator's Expo (in collaboration with ASU and TeachGeorgia)
March 10 | Magnolia Ballroom | 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
GCSU Career Expo
April 9 | Atkinson Hall |10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Backpack-to-Briefcase Conference, College of Business
Employer presentations on resumes, interviewing, and the job search.
April 13 | Cobb Galleria – Atlanta | Noon – 3 p.m.
College-to-Career Fair
Resumes and professional attire are required for these events.
Students should contact the University Career Center in 232 Lanier Hall or 478-445-5384 to make an appointment to review their resume and develop a job search strategy.
For more information, contact Mary Roberts, Director, at (478) 445-5384 or mary.roberts@gcsu.edu.
Financial Aid and Scholarships
Over the last 16 years, the HOPE Scholarship program has become a valuable resource for Georgia students. This lottery-funded program rewards students for achieving and maintaining a 3.0 GPA by funding tuition, some mandatory fees and a book allowance. The Georgia College Financial Aid staff recently created a list of common questions and answers (GCSU HOPE FAQ) regarding the eligibility criteria for this program.
For more information, contact the Financial Aid Office at 478-445-5149 or financialaid@gcsu.edu.
A Message from the Alumni Association……
We would like to extend a special invitation to alumni of current students to come back for Alumni Homecoming Weekend 2010.
Make plans now to come back and reconnect with fellow classmates, rediscover your alma mater, and visit with your student during Alumni Weekend.
A variety of activities are being planned for you to enjoy on your return to Georgia College. So it's the perfect time for you to relive your experience and share your memories with your student – the next generation of alumni.
Events being planned include:
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And much more!!!
For up to date information and to register, visit: www.gcsu.edu/alumni/events.
The 2008-2009 school year was another banner season for Georgia College Athletics, or perhaps a "trophy" season. The Bobcats won the school's first Peach Belt Conference (PBC) Commissioner's Cup, awarded to the school with the top averaged finishes in all conference sports. Nine of the 10 Georgia College athletic programs advanced to play in NCAA postseason competition last year.
In addition, student-athletes at Georgia College continued to perform at a high level in the classroom, putting 93 on the PBC Academic Honor Roll, the highest percentage of any university in the league.
Bobcat Tennis' head coach Steve Barsby added a special honor of his own, being named the Intercollegiate Tennis Association's (ITA) Division II National Men's Coach of the Year after leading his Bobcats to the first PBC Men's Championship in program history, and a trip to the NCAA Elite Eight.
The golf team was honored as a member of the inaugural Outstanding Academic Team Awards, as selected by the Golf Coaches Association of America (GCAA). The Bobcats were one of eight Division II programs to earn the honor and the only team from the PBC. The award recognizes teams that have a 3.0 GPA or higher.
The Fall 2009 season has recently wrapped up with more successes for Georgia College. The women's soccer program took third in the conference and picked up six slots on the All-Peach Belt teams, the most of any team in the league. In addition, the women's soccer team put nine on the PBC All-Academic Team, also the most of any program in the league.
Women's cross country added their best program finish in both the PBC Championship (2nd) as well as the NCAA Southeast Region Championship (4th). The Bobcats were led by All-PBC runner Virginia Balkcom and two-time PBC Runner of the Week Heather Raines. The men's cross country team battled injuries and illnesses the entire season, but still managed three top-five finishes as a team as well as taking 11th at the region meet.
It's easy to see why first year athletic director Wendell Staton was so excited to join the Georgia College Athletic Department. Announced as the sixth athletic director in school history at the end of August, Staton comes to Milledgeville from UNC Pembroke in Pembroke, N.C., where he served as Associate Vice Chancellor for Advancement since 2005. Staton got his start in the coaching ranks, including a stint as the first full-time men's basketball assistant coach at Georgia College from 1991-93, earning a Master of Education degree from our University in 1993.
Keep up with the continued successes of Georgia College Athletics at www.GCSUBobcats.com.
Published December 14, 2009 | Gina O. Peavy | Office of Student Affairs| student.affairs@gcsu.edu
