The College of Liberal Arts is the largest community on campus with 600 faculty members and more than 12,000 students.  While the large size allows the college to offer a wide variety of programs and academic opportunities, it also creates the challenge of how best to communicate all the college has to offer to students and their families.  To address this need, Dean Randy Diehl has created the College of Liberal Arts Parents' League. 

The purpose of the League is to engage our parents in the life of the college, in the current undergraduate opportunities available to their children, as well as guidance for life after the Forty Acres.  Members will also provide input on the college’s communication efforts with parents, receive information on volunteer opportunities and attend special League events. 

Join today by filling out this quick online membership form.

For more information
Program Coordinator Beth Norris emnorris@mail.utexas.edu; (512) 471-6931.

From One Parent to Another:
A blog by a parent, for parents

Jeff Davis is the Chair of the Parents’ League Advisory Committee.  He is a partner at McGinnis, Lochridge & Kilgore in Houston and a father to three daughters. His youngest is in her second year in the College of Liberal Arts.

May 2009
Finals, Graduation, and the Job Market

Did it seem like the school year went by quickly? It did for me and I’m not even in college! Your students are now finishing up those last days of the spring semester. Yes, finals are here. It is time to buckle down and study hard. Of course, your students still have to have at little fun and deserve some reward for their hard work. So, don’t forget the late night Tiff’s Treats delivery, these are my favorite treats when I am in Austin.

Those graduates, who already have a job, should feel fortunate. Other graduates may be able to find a job soon but what about the rest? Some may take a trip abroad, or go to graduate school, but what do those new alumni do when they are coming up dry in the job market? The good news is that Liberal Arts alumni can still visit the Liberal Arts Career Services Office for one semester after they graduate free of charge. Dr. Katherine Brooks is the Director of the Career Services Office and she is one of the best career counselors in the country and has recently written a book about how to find your career entitled, You Majored in What: Mapping Your Path from Chaos to Career (Viking Press, 2009). Parents, you would be surprised to learn the multitude of careers your student can find out about with the help of the Career Services staff. This is a great place to start. Also, for new graduates, Dean Diehl purchases a one-year membership to the Texas Exes.  This membership entitles your student to all the career services offered with the Exes for one full year. To learn more about what the Exes have to offer, please visit the Texas Exes website. Also, in light of the current job market, The University of Texas at Austin recently released a piece aimed directly at helping our alumni identify on-campus resources to help them in their job search. You can read the story online.

Congratulations to all of the College of Liberal Arts graduates. Commencement is at Noon on May 22 at the Frank Erwin Center. Parents, this is a wonderful occasion and do not forget about the role you played in your students’ success. Whether they recognize it or not, they could not have done it without your love and encouragement. I wish you all a wonderful summer.  I will be taking a two-month break from my blog entries.  The League is working this summer to reach out to our new parents, and increase our membership. Although I will not be writing, please feel free to contact the League at any time with your questions or suggestions.

Hook‘em horns!

Jeff Davis will address a new topic of interest to parents on his blog every month.  If you would like to suggest a topic, please send your suggestions to emnorris@mail.utexas.edu.