Here are November action items, campus resources, conversation starters for you and your student.

Spring semester registration

Most first-year students register for spring classes in mid-November. To ensure that your student is prepared, share with them the following tips:

• Find your registration time ticket (their window of access to the registration system) in BannerWeb and mark your calendar.
• If you have not already done so, contact your advisor as soon as possible to discuss your planned classes for Spring. This should really happen before November. When you meet with your advisor, come with a plan of potential classes, as well as any questions. Preparing for the appointment ahead of time is key.
• Explore your Degree Audit (DAR) and determine which courses must be taken in spring and which requirements you'd like to fulfill.
• Look at the course list to find multiple options for each requirement/course. Have at least 2-3 backups for each.

Direct your student to the Registration Tips page for more information.

Thanksgiving Break

Thanksgiving Break is a great time for your student to connect back to home and take a break from school work. Most students leave campus for the break (Tuesday at 10pm through Sunday). Points to consider so they have a successful journey home:

• How are you getting home? If transportation needs to be planned, start now and consult your class schedule.
• What do you need to bring home with you (chargers, laptop, etc.)?
• And possibly more important - what can you bring home to lessen the load in December?

Adjusting for their time at home

If your student comes home for Thanksgiving, the break is a good time to test boundaries with your student in preparation for Winter Break. Think about rules that were in place before they left for Miami- what may need adjusted and what may stay in place when they arrive back home in December? A good balance can be struck in your expectations by starting the conversation early.

Conversation starters and questions to ask:

• What has worked well for you, in terms of courses: times of day, stacking them all together or spacing them out? This can help them be successful next semester. Students must be flexible with their desired times (they will likely have to take an 8:30am class and have classes on Friday), especially as a first-year student.
• Are you considering making any other changes for spring semester, such as getting a job on campus? Now is a good time to start applying for open student positions.
• How will you balance family time, friend time, and taking a break for your health? What academic work can you complete before you leave campus?