guide magazine issue i
DESCRIPTION
The Guide Program at Appalachian State University provides additional resources to students transiting to this campus. We strive to create an environment where students can develop in the areas of Academic Excellence, Active Social Awareness, Civic Engagement, and Personal Growth. Through experience in these areas, Guide students will connect, succeed, and persist into their second year at Appalachian State University.TRANSCRIPT
EDITOR Rebecca Goldstein
ACUHO-I Intern
EDITOR Alicia Vest
Assistant Director of
Residence Life
828.262.7308
EDITOR Jason Timpson
Coordinator of Coltrane,
Gardner, & Justice Halls
828.262.8864
University Housing
ASU Box 32111,
Boone, NC 28608
Central Office
828.262.2160
housing.appstate.edu
Appalachian State University is committed to providing equal opportunity in education and employment to all applicants,
students, and employees. The university does not discriminate in access to its educational programs and activities, or with
respect to hiring or the terms and conditions of employment, on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed, sex,
gender identity and expression, political affiliation, age, disability, veteran status, or sexual orientation. The university actively
promotes diversity among students and employees.
Main Features Welcome to Guide 3
Living in the residence hall 6
Living with a roommate 10
Laundry 12
Finding a Major 16
Succeeding academically 17
Life beyond the classroom 18
Greetings!
I want to extend a warm welcome to all new and returning residents; rest assured, you have an amazing
year ahead of you!
You are here at Appalachian State University because you have proven yourself inside and outside of
the classroom. It is our hope that you will look back at your time here with fondness and admiration. We
know that the time spent outside of the classroom can be a monumental part of the collegiate experience
and we are striving to make your residential experience top notch.
We realize that for some, the notion of living away from home can be intimidating at first. Yet, we are
confident that each individual is capable of tackling the challenge. If, at any point, you are in need of
advice or assistance, please do not hesitate to contact your Resident Assistant (RA) and/or your
Residence Director or Coordinator.
Additionally, please note that in order to maintain a safe and healthy living environment, there are
residential policies that must be followed at all times:
Please do not remove any furniture from your room; any furniture that is missing at the end of the
year will be charged to the residents of that unit.
Please discard your personal trash in the large dumpster behind or next to the building.
Please be respectful of others by adhering to Quiet & Courtesy Hours
Sunday-Thursday 10pm-8am;
Friday & Saturday 12midnight-10am
Thank you for helping out with these matters!!
We encourage each resident to become active in our residential community. If there are any events or
activities that interest you or should you have any community concerns, please share those with you RA,
RD or Coordinator. Our staff is ALWAYS looking for useful suggestions and ways to make your
experience better.
We hope that you are as excited about your time here at Appalachian State University as we are.
Enjoy the journey,
Jason Timpson
Appalachian State University
Coordinator, University Housing
What is ?
The Guide Program at Appalachian State University provides
additional resources to students transiting to this campus. We
strive to create an environment where students can develop in
the areas of Academic Excellence, Active Social Awareness, Civic
Engagement, and Personal Growth. Through experience in these
areas, Guide students will connect, succeed, and persist into
their second year at Appalachian State University.
By Amanda , a third year RA
G UIDE is a wonderful
opportunity for any
first year student at
Appalachian State
University. GUIDE strives to provide
a well-rounded first year experience
for its students. This is done
through programs that encourage
civic engagement, personal growth
and development, academic
excellence, and active social
awareness. GUIDE provides a
variety of events, ideas, programs,
and
opportunities
that help first
year students
feel at home,
not only in their
residence hall,
but also across campus and
throughout the Boone community.
GUIDE is fun, yet practical, and
gives its residents a kick start into
their collegiate experience. I am
proud to be a part of it.
What will I do...
...in ?
You will get involved with the
Appalachian culture—cheering
at football games, being
involved with clubs, and
volunteering within the
community.
You will get involved with your
academic work with study sessions in
your building. You’ll receive extra help
to succeed academically and learn
successful study habits.
You will get out and explore
Boone and the High Country!
You will learn new skills, and
see all the beauty Western
Carolina has to offer.
Programs Ever heard the saying—”Learning is a
student’s job?” Well, in Guide we will pay
you with a study buck every time we see
you studying. Turn in your Study Bucks
(with your name) for a chance to win cool
prizes! Get Yosef Studying!
Student of
The Month
The RAs vote on one student in the
residence hall each month to be the
student of the month. This is an honor
that can be given for any reason, but most
common is for a student that is involved in
the hall. If there is a student you think
deserves this honor, let your RA know.
There is also an award given once a month
to a student for being a good citizen in
the hall. Students can receive this award
for many reasons, some common ones
include helping clean up, being there for a
fellow resident, and good citizenship or
volunteering outside the residence hall.
Don’t let anyone fool you. Living in the
Residence Hall may end up being one of the most
memorable experiences of your life. It may be
the first time you live with a roommate. It may
cause you to become a fan of a tv show you never
thought about or teach how to pick up your dirty
laundry (your mom will be so proud). There may
be a week were you try to survive on microwave
mac’n’cheese and pizza alone (don’t though…).
You may find the study partner of your dreams
who lives two floors above you, or another
person who is equally interested in Xtreme
Snowboarding. You may find out that you talk in
your sleep, or that you can sleep through
anything.
Living in the residence hall is a new
experience, and sometimes it gets tricky. You are
responsible for your laundry, your sleep schedule,
and you are sharing a tiny room and a bathroom.
The next couple pages are some tricks and hints
to make this year successful and avoid some
common pitfalls.
No matter what your experience—you will
do more in your Residence Hall than sleep. Your
RA (Resident Assistant) and your RD (Residence
Director) have been preparing to make this
experience as fun and interesting as possible.
Know they are always ready to help you when
things get tricky. So read on, and learn how to
live in the residence hall.
Living In The
Residence Hall
Your Roommate By now, you’ve probably met
your roommate. He might be your
best friend from Pre-K or she may be
someone you met online. Your
roommate could be someone who
you meet for the first time on move
in day. No matter how well you know
your roommate, it is still important to
talk about your expectations of living
together.
To do this you will need to talk
to your roommate about your needs.
Be honest and yet willing to
compromise during this discussion. If
you don’t tell your roommate what
you need now, how will she know
when she’s upsetting you? Even
worse, how will you know if you hurt
his feelings? Start your year off right
with your roommate, you’ll
appreciate the work you do up front
when you hit October!
Take some time now to get to
know your roommate. Whether you
end up being best friends or people
who just say “hey” at Central Dining,
this person will make a large impact
on your first year here at App!
We hold these truths to be self evident...that all students are created equal , and with this
in mind, we present...
The Roommate Bill of Rights
1) The right to study free from undue interference (noise, stereo, guests, etc.) in one’s room
2) The right to sleep without undue disturbance (noise, stereo, guests etc.) in one’s room
3) The right to expect that roommates will respect each others’ personal belongings
4) The right to a clean environment in which to live
5) The right to free access to one’s room and facilities without pressure from roommates
6) The right to personal privacy
7) The right to host guest at agreed upon times and have those guest respect the roommate
8) The right to expect that the roommate will not violate University and Residence Hall policies in the room
9) The right rot expect that all disagreements will be
discussed in an atmosphere of openness and mu-tual respect, and that it is acceptable to confront the roommate when they are not fulfilling mutual agreements
10) The right to be free from harassment and discrimi-nation
Adapted from Fitchburg State University
Doing Laundry The day has come. You woke up,
reached into your drawer and
found...you have no clean
clothes. That means it’s time to
do LAUNDRY.
So how does one do laundry any-
way? Look no further—we are
here to you through
the process. So grab your
quarters/app card, and head
downstairs!
Washing
1) Sort your clothes into piles ex. delicates, reds, whites, heavy clothes, light clothes. As you
go through, check the pockets. You may find enough spare cash for dinner out tonight.
2) Spray any heavily stained clothes with a stain remover. Place clothes in the washing
machine. Fill the machine about 3/4 of the way full.
3) Add appropriate amounts of detergent, bleach (only for whites), and fabric softener into
the slots in the washing machine.
4) Add quarters or slide your app card.
5) Hit the button that describes the load best. If you’re unsure, choose Bright Colors.
6) You now have approximately 35 minutes—go read for English class.
Drying
1) Take clothes out of the washer.
2) Place clothes in the dryer. One load of wash is one load of drying. If clothes are delicates,
you may just hang them in your room to dry (NEVER from a sprinkler head!).
3) Add quarters or slide your app card.
4) Hit the button that describes the load best. If you’re unsure, choose low heat.
5) You now have approximately 60 minutes—go work on Finite Math.
6) After clothes are dry, take them out, bring them back to your room, fold them/hang them
and put them away! This will keep your clothes looking nice until next laundry day.
5
Go to a floor/building program.
These programs are designed
by your RA or your Hall Council for
Having
fun in
your Hall
1 Create a floor inter-
mural team. Play
against other floors
in the building.
2
3 Have a
weekly tv
show
night with
popcorn
and pizza.
4 Go Microwave Gourmet!—Make a Mug Brownie
Start to finish: 3 minutes Servings: 1
4 tablespoons flour 4 tablespoons sugar
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder Dash of salt
2 tablespoons vegetable oil 2 tablespoons water
Mix flour, sugar, cocoa and salt together in your mug. Add oil and water and
briskly stir until free of lumps. Microwave mug for roughly one minute.
Depending on the wattage of your microwave, you may want to add another
10-20 seconds to your cook time. The brownie should be slightly wet in the
center. Allow brownie to cool for several minutes before enjoying. Try adding
a scoop of ice cream for an extra-indulgent experience.
Shower time = Karoke time! Play music (with respect to quiet hours) and sing your heart out!
You probably have a lot of questions
not related to living in the residence hall.
Don’t worry. is all about helping
you through your first year, and that includes
activities outside of the residence hall, too.
Your RA will be happy to help you with class
scheduling or finding a student organization.
They can also help you find resources if you
are struggling in class. They may have even
taken the class.
Besides your RA, you have plenty of
other resources too. The people in your hall
may know an organization for which you
would be a good fit. They may also be in the
same classes as you, and with them you may
be able to create your own study group. Your
professors, during their office hours, would
be more than happy to talk to you. There are
also centers and programs on campus
dedicated to helping you out with classes and
deciding where you want to go in life. You
are not in this alone!
The following pages introduce you to
some of the secrets of campus—campus
offices, tips for talking to a professor during
offices hours, how to choose a major and
switching, ways to get involved on and off
campus, and even ways to get a job. Read
on, and learn about getting out and about on
campus.
Getting out and
I don’t know what I to
major in. Biology?
Nursing? What if I switch?
Prof. Anderson is so
intimidating. I need to talk
to him about this class but
about on campus I’m bored. What else is
there besides class? I
know I heard about all
these organizations, but
I don’t know how to get
started.
Finding a Major Don’t know what to major in? Don’t worry, you're not alone. That’s why we have
The Peer Career Center: Guiding Students in Career & Major Decision Making. Peer Career,
located in Plemmons Student Union, Room 216, is here to help you find the major that best
suits your needs. Through the use of self-assessments and discussions, they will help you
narrow down the list of choices, so that you find the major that really suits your needs. Their
hours are: Monday-Thursday: 10:00-5:00 p.m. Friday: 10-12 p.m. Call 262-2029 to schedule
an appointment or feel free to drop in.
Considering Switching Majors? Don’t worry, you're not alone. Most college
students consider switching majors at some point during their four years, and many actually
do. DegreeWorks in an online program that you can access through AppalNet. DegreeWorks
will show you what classes you need to complete your major as well as what classes you
would need if you decided to switch majors. DegreeWorks also has a GPA calculator you can
use to find out what grades you need to earn to average a certain GPA (Grade Point Average).
Check it out online before you meet with your adviser.
Success Classes in college may be more difficult than you
are used to, but AppState has plenty of resources
in place to help you learn outside of class time. If
you want to do better, below are some tips of the
trade on how to succeed academically.
Tip 1: Office Hours If you look at your syllabus you will see that professors have
marked office hours. These are times when your professors are more than willing to talk with
you about class—and most professors enjoy talking to students (that’s why they teach).
Having a question ready when you go to their office makes it less scary. If your have classes
you want to learn more about, go see your professors and chat with them. Ask about their
research, current trends in the field or if you can get more involved in the department.
Tip 2: Learning Assistance Program Just because you never needed help with
your academics in high school, does not mean you won’t need help in college. In fact, many
students do. Just reading over your notes not doing it for you anymore? LAP will teach you
new study tricks and strategies for succeeding in class. They also have supplemental
instruction for some science and math courses. Finally, they have tutoring programs for most
1000 and 2000 level classes, which are FREE for all AppState Students. Take advantage of
what you have already paid for with your student tuition.
Tip 3: Writing Center Many college classes require writing papers. Lots of papers. The
best way to do well on a paper is start early (not an hour before it is due) and make an
appointment with the Writing Center, located in the Belk Library and Information Commons,
room 008. If you can’t make it to the actual writing center, there is the ability to do a
consultation online using a google account. The Writing Center will work with you one on
one during your 45 minute appointment to develop your writing skills and give you the ability
to become a better writer. This service is free for students and is a part of your student
tuition.
I’m involved in my Hall
Council, I am an
Emerging Leader, and I
am considering being an
RA next year.
I’m involved in my
Sorority, the Jazz
Ensemble and College
Democrats. I also have a
part time job to help pay
for school.
I’m a part of RUF (Reformed
United Ministries), I’m on the
Quidditch team, and I help with
Dance Marathon through ACT
(Appalachian Community
Together).
I am part of an intramural
soccer team, I love the
Zumba classes and I’m taking
a class on Snowboarding. I
also go camping with UREC.
Life Beyond Class
College is more than just your classes. Finding something that interest you makes college
more fun and is where most of your memories happen. Feeling unsure of how to get
involved? Below are some of the easiest ways that you start.
Get involved with your hall council. Hall Council creates fun events throughout the
building, such as tailgates and programs for Homecoming. You don’t have to be on the
Executive Board to be involved, but you may find being President is your cup of tea.
Check out the club directory and find out a club that sounds interesting to you.
https://clubconnect.appstate.edu/sdr/clubs . Go to the meeting and try it out. If it’s
not a perfect fit, go back and try another one.
Visit different offices on campus such as: The Multicultural Center, The LGBT Center,
the Women’s Center, ACT (Appalachian Community Together), Appalachian Popular
Programing Society (APPS) in the student union and others. Each office has groups that
are affiliated with it.
Interested in Fitness or the outdoors? Get involved with UREC (University Recreation).
You can join an intramural team, or even go on a sponsored trip in the mountains. Get
out and enjoy the High Country.
Find a job. On or off campus, many college students use a part time job to supplement
their income. Find a job that you would be interested in, with skills you can apply
in the future.
Go Greek! Being part of a Sorority or Fraternity is a great way to meet students on
campus and make strong friendships. Recruitment for Recruitment for Men begins
Aug. 28 –29. Women begins Sept. 11-12.
Tips and Tricks