When I enrolled at the University of Arizona last fall, I’d never been a distance student.  I’d never seen anything remotely like WebCT; I had no idea how to take a class in Tucson from my home in Tempe.  I hadn’t even been in school for over ten years!  I had so many questions:  how can I tell if I’ve been accepted to the school?  How do I register for classes?  How do I pay tuition?  How do I join a listserve (what IS a listserve, anyway?)?  How do I buy textbooks?  How do I use WebCT?  How do I use the library’s electronic reserve?  Why won’t my CAT card work online with SABIO?  Do any of these questions sound familiar?

Having survived fall semester and winter session, I felt I wanted to see if I could help other distance students with their concerns.  When I was given the chance to become LSO’s Distance Student Liaison, I believed it would be a great opportunity to make myself useful to other students.

The first thing I’ve done, so far, is to try to put together the beginnings of a newsletter for distance students.  I have a few ideas for items:

·          Upcoming Events in the Phoenix area

·          Questions:  you send them, I print them.  Other distance students will then be able to send in any answers and advice they can provide, which I will then place in…

·          Answers to your questions and concerns.  If you need a quick response, you could provide your U of A email address, so other students could contact you directly.  I would want to be copied on answers, so they could appear in the newsletter and benefit others.

·          Concerns:  you send them, I print them, people see them.  Good way to bring ideas to light.

I’m guessing there are more ideas out there.  I’m willing to put this newsletter together periodically (monthly?), but the bulk of its content needs to come from you.  Send your thoughts, questions, ideas, and concerns to me at the email address above, and we can try to get this newsletter going.  I’m looking forward to hearing from you!

-          Lori Nelson

Phoenix Area Happy Hour

As the mother of an eight-year-old and a ten-year-old, happy hour for me consists of the few minutes that occur between getting the children into their beds, and collapsing into mine.  Actually, this may be true for the rest of you as well…I heard that only three people attended the last Phoenix area social gathering.  So what can we do about it?

First of all, you can tell me what you want.  For those of you who might be interested in attending a social gathering in the Phoenix area, send along your views on the following questions…

·          How often would you like to meet?

·          When would you like to meet?  Weekdays?  Evenings?  Weekends?

·          Where would you like to meet?  At a restaurant?  A park?  Other locations?

·          What would you like to do when we meet?  Have a meal?  Watch a sport?  Play a sport?  Other ideas?

Send in your opinion!