This Week

Hooding and Pinning Ceremonies, May 4 On Friday, May 4, the School of Graduate Studies will hold its hooding ceremony at 5 p.m. in the Student Activities Center ballroom. Also on Friday, May 4, the School of Nursing will hold its pinning ceremony at 6:30 p.m. in the Athletics & Fitness Center. Clayton State University Commencement, May 5 Clayton State University’s annual Spring Commencement ceremonies will be held on Saturday, May 5. There will be two ceremonies, the first starting at 9 a.m., and the second starting at noon. Both ceremonies will be held in the Clayton State Athletics & Fitness Center, located at 2000 Clayton State Blvd., on the main campus in Morrow. The commencement speaker for both events will be former Atlanta mayor, Ambassador Andrew Young. The 9 a.m. ceremony will feature approximately 240 graduates from the College of Business, the College of Health, and the College of Information and Mathematical Sciences. The noon ceremony will include approximately 280 graduates from the College of Arts & Sciences.

Announcements

How to Avoid Financial Aid Mistakes… Come to Clayton State’s Annual FAFSA Day, May 12 Given the economic downturn dating back to the Bush Administration, it’s a fact that more college students than ever are relying on some form of financial aid to help them reach their educational goals. However, it’s also a fact that, as more students need financial aid, more students also find themselves without the help they need at fee payment deadline. Why is that? According to the Clayton State University Office of Financial Aid, it’s because students make costly, yet easy to correct, mistakes in the financial aid process. Mistakes like… Failing to complete the FAFSA each academic year Assuming that the FAFSA is all that is required Failing to electronically sign the FAFSA with your PIN Failing to sign your MPN or completing Entrance Counseling as instructed Assuming that financial aid will cover all costs Taking courses not required for graduation Borrowing more loan funds than you really need Not planning for summer semester expenses Not using the free scholarship search engines available Students wishing to avoid these, and other pitfalls, should mark Saturday, May 12 on their calendars. That’s the Third Annual FAFSA Day at Clayton State University… the biggest, most informative event of the year for the Clayton State Office of Financial Aid. FAFSA Day will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., in room UC327 of the James M. Baker University Center on the Clayton State main campus in Morrow. FAFSA Day is an opportunity to learn more about the financial aid process, the common mistakes made therein, and to have other questions, like “What FAFSA applications are less likely to be chosen for verification?” answered. The 2012/2013 Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form is the key document for anyone planning to attend college during the 2012/2013 academic year. Students must complete a FAFSA (or a renewal FAFSA) to receive aid for the 2012/2013 academic year which begins with fall semester 2012, even if they are currently receiving financial aid. Although there is often a great deal of trepidation among students regarding FAFSA, the helpful staff in Financial Aid can provide any and all guidance needed. Clayton State financial aid administrators will be available for FAFSA Day to help families complete and electronically submit their FAFSA forms for the 2012/2013 academic year. Representatives from the Clayton State Office of Recruitment and Admissions will also be available for campus tours and to assist students who wish to apply for admission to Clayton State University. Like FAFSA, this event is free and open to the public. Attendees for FAFSA Day should bring the following documents with them: * Social Security number for student and spouse if married and parent(s) if dependent * Driver’s license number of student (if any) and spouse * 2011 Federal Tax Form (1040, 1040A, 1040EZ, etc.) for student and spouse if married and parent(s) if dependent * 2011 W-2 Form(s) and other records of money earned for all tax filers * Parents date of birth and date of marital status if dependent * Amount of untaxed income including Veterans non-education benefits, child support, and worker’s compensation * Current balance in checking and/or savings accounts for student and spouse if married and parent(s) if dependent * Current worth of business and investments *Alien registration or permanent resident card (if you are not a U.S. citizen) In addition, the Department of Education strongly recommends that students use the IRS Data Retrieval option to download tax information directly to the FAFSA from the IRS. For more information on FAFSA Day, contact the Clayton State Financial Aid Office at FinancialAid@mail.clayton.edu. The Financial Aid Office also urges students and future students to check the Financial Aid website, located at; http://adminservices.clayton.edu/financialaid/, often for updates. Locker Clean Out at the SAC Fitness Center Dear SAC Fitness Center Patrons: For those who are renting lockers at the SAC Fitness Center, you have until May 6 to clean out your locker.  Any locks remaining after that date will be cut and the contents will be stored for 30 days. Unclaimed items will be donated to charity. Locker renewals are also currently underway. Please renew early for best selection. For more information, please contact Brandon Marshall at BrandonMarshall@clayton.edu or x 4976. Department of Recreation & Wellness Summer 2012 Group Exercise Schedule Boot Camp: Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. B.L.T. (Butts, Legs, & Thighs): Tuesdays at noon Cardio Funk: Mondays at 5:30 p.m. Core & More: Thursdays at noon; Wednesdays at 5:30 p.m. Hip-Hop Aerobics: Fridays at noon RIPPED: Wednesdays at noon Step & Sculpt: Mondays at noon Spin: Wednesdays at noon; Mondays at 5:30 p.m. Zumba: Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Classes start June 4, classes end, July 27. No classes on July 4. Auxiliary Operating Hours During Semester Break Loch Shop and LakerCard Center -          May 8-15

• Mon-Thurs:         8 a.m. –  5 p.m.
• Friday:                  8 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

Dining Services -          Semester break (May 8-18)

• Jazzman’s                           Mon-Thurs          8 a.m. –  4 p.m.; Friday 8 a.m. –  3 p.m.
• Pizza Hut                             Mon-Fri                10:30 a.m. –  2:30 p.m.
• Sub Connection                 Mon-Fri                10:30 a.m. –  2:30 p.m.
• Lakeside Dining Hall, Sandella’s, and SAC Café:  CLOSED

Dining Services for Summer 2012 The Lakeside Dining Hall will be closed during the summer semester.  Jazzman’s, Pizza Hut, and SubConnection will be open.  Please check our website for summer operating hours:  http://www.csudining.com/OPERATINGHOURS.htm. Dining Dollar Plans Available for Students for Summer 2012 Dining Dollar plans will be available for students to purchase during the summer semester for use at any retail location.  Dining Dollar plans can be purchased via the SWAN using Financial Aid May 16-23, or by cash or credit card anytime in the LakerCard Center.  Remember, Dining Dollar purchases will save you 7 percent sales tax!  Unused Dining Dollars from the summer will carry forward to fall 2012. Financial Aid Book Money Dates for Summer 2012 Financial Aid Book Money will be available in the Loch Shop May 16 – 23, 2012.  During this time, up to $1,000 of your unused Financial Aid will be available for use in the Loch Shop to purchase textbooks, course materials, and other any merchandise you might need. Dining Dollar Plans and Laptop Funds for Summer 2012 From May 16-23, 2012, you can purchase a Dining Dollar plan and/or request additional unused Financial Aid to purchase a laptop in the Loch Shop.  During these dates, log in to the SWAN and click on the Essentials tab. Find the appropriate channel and submit your request.  If Financial Aid funds are available, your request will be approved within about one business day.  You will be notified via email. Link to the Work/Home Life Balance Survey As noted in Monday’s Laker Lines, the University is evaluating factors related to work-life balance for different members of the campus community. The Child Care Task Force is specifically interested in understanding how the campus community balances parental responsibilities with work and/or school responsibilities. Please take a few minutes to complete the Work/Home Life Balance survey located at the link below. It will be available until May 21, but we encourage you to complete it as soon as possible. Your data will be confidential and will be used to help the University engage in planning activities that allow our campus to fully support students, staff, and faculty. Thanks in advance for your participation! https://claytonstate.qualtrics.com/SE/?SID=SV_6zdaps5e6giBeOE Child Care Task Force: Dr. Deborah Deckner Dr. Elaine Manglitz Dr. Susan Copeland Dr. Pinar Gurkas Dr. Erica Dotson Sundee Proctor Tina Hayes LakerCard Center Facebook Page Do you want to be in the loop to find out about meal plan promotions? Then “Like” the Clayton State University LakerCard Center Facebook Page. We will be utilizing this page to share information with faculty, staff, and students regarding our hours of operation, promotions, discount programs, and events. Student Meal Plans and Dining Dollars End May 7 All student meal plans and Dining Dollars end May 7. Meals expire at the end of lunch on May 7, and Dining Dollars expire at the end of the day. If you have a commuter meal plan, invite a friend to eat with you.  If you have Dining Dollars, don’t let them go to waste! Take a friend to Jazzman’s for coffee or a smoothie or maybe treat them to a pizza at Pizza Hut. Faculty/Staff and Department Meal Plans Carry Forward to Fall 2012 Faculty/staff meal plans, department meal plans, and Faculty/Staff Dining Dollars do NOT close out at the end of spring 2012.  They will carry forward for future semesters.  Dining Dollars may be used during the summer at retail locations, and meals may be used when the Dining Hall opens for fall 2012 (the Dining Hall will be closed during the summer).

Upcoming Events

The Lethal Luau Murder Mystery, May 11 The Center for Continuing Education at Clayton State University welcomes back Alliance Theatre Acting Program’s Sharon Foote on Friday, May 11. This time, Foote is directing “The Lethal Luau Murder Mystery.” Here’s the plot for The Lethal Luau Murder Mystery, scheduled for May 11, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., in room 101 of the Harry S. Downs Center on the Clayton State campus. The cost is $39 per person, to register, go to http://conted.clayton.edu/, or call (678) 466-5050. "It was a sunset luau on a Hawaiian beach to celebrate Chase Diamond's 33rd birthday. Chase, a private eye with his own Maui-based detective agency, was a man willing to take big risks to get results for his clients. Diamond had a reputation for romancing too many ladies at the same time. Chase, in a celebrating mood, raised his glass to toast the friends who had gathered for his party. He took one swallow and immediately fell to the ground... stone dead. It was not just a case of Chase having one too many drinks... his Mai Tai had been spiked with deadly poison. Each of the suspects had something to hide. Each had a motive to kill. Which one of them did it?" Individuals who fancy themselves a Sherlock Holmes, or just a regular detective, or a clairvoyant, or who just like a good luau, are invited to join Foote for an evening that begins with a murder and climaxes with clues and a dinner buffet. Clayton State Athletics to Host FAN-Raiser Golf Tournament May 14 What has become an annual event for the Clayton State Athletic Department is on the horizon with the FAN-Raiser Golf Tournament. The 2012 FAN-Raiser Golf returns to the Lake Spivey Golf Club on Monday, May 14. Lunch will be served at 11 a.m., followed by the start of the tournament at noon. All proceeds from this event go towards the Clayton State Athletic Department. This marks the 17^th year that Clayton State Athletics has hosted the FAN-Raiser Tournament at Lake Spivey. Golfers can sign up as individuals or as a team. The individual registration is $100 prior to May 4, and $125 from May 5 up until the day of the tournament. Teams can register for $380 prior to May 4, and for $450 from May 5 up until the day of the tournament. In addition, hole sponsorships are $150, and individuals and businesses can donate prizes or gifts for all the participants. The athletic department accepts both checks and credit card payments (VISA and MasterCard) for registration. Make all checks payable to the “CSU Foundation.” For more information, call (678) 466-4679. SDBC Bringing Popular Starting a Business Class to Clayton State – East, May 23 The Clayton State University Small Business Development Center (SBDC) will be bringing its popular Starting a Business class close to home this month. After offering the class in Fayette, Henry and Spalding counties, SBDC is returning home, that is, just east of the main campus of Clayton State. The next Starting a Business class will be held at Clayton State – East, on Trammell Road in Morrow, on Wednesday, May 23, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Please see the link below to register. The cost of the class is $69. http://www.georgiasbdc.org/subpage.aspx?page_name=description&product=111129&referrer=view_classes&city=Morrow&cart=a30ccf35-230f-4e34-a16f-e2621169d1e2. Current Clayton State students and staff will receive a 50 percent discount, and should contact SDBC’s Heather Chaney for the discount code before registering. Atlanta Export Symposium, May 23 Through his capacity as president of World Trade Center Atlanta, Clayton State Director of the Office of International Programs John Parkerson has arranged free attendance for any College of Business students or faculty who might wish to attend the Atlanta Export Symposium on May 23, at the World Trade Center. This is an ambitious program, with outstanding sponsors and program panelists. It should provide excellent substantive content and networking opportunities for students who are interested in international business, international marketing and supply chain. Any individuals who wish to attend should contact Parkerson at johnparkerson@clayton.edu or (678) 466-4091.