Issue #6

November 7, 2007

Welcome to the sixth issue of the First Year Weekly Newsletter. The First Year Weekly Newsletter provides you with information, tips, and strategies to help you be successful at Cal Poly. Each Wednesday, you'll receive a copy of the newsletter. If you do not want to receive the newsletter, please send a reply to the email your received with "Please remove me from this list - along with your first initial and last name" as your reply message.

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Study Skills Tip of the Week: Academic Integrity and Avoiding Plagiarism

 

When you put your name on your work, you are implicitly saying, "this is my work." When you steal the ideas of others without giving them credit and call those ideas your own, you diminish the value of your name.

The Student Conduct Code defines plagiarism as "representing the words or ideas of another as one's own in any academic exercise. The term 'plagiarism' includes, but is not limited to…

1. the use, by paraphrase or direct quotation, of the published or unpublished work or sections of a work of another person without full and clear acknowledgement.
2. the unacknowledged use of materials prepared by another person or agency engaged in the selling of term papers or other academic materials, including material taken from or ordered through the Internet
3. the unacknowledged use of original work/material that has been produced through collaboration with others without release in writing from collaborators."

Plagiarism, whether intentional or unintentional, is a serious academic offense. Hence, you need to know how to recognize and avoid plagiarism. The Reference Librarians suggest that you consult the following web resources:

• Citing Sources --- Selected guides to help you cite sources correctly in APA Chicago/ Turabian, and MLA styles.
• Avoiding Plagiarism --- From the Purdue University Writing Center.

Make sure you know your instructors' policies and expectations regarding plagiarism. Consult class syllabi for statements regarding plagiarism and academic integrity. If you have questions about plagiarism, ask your instructor. When in doubt, cite!

 

Healthy Living Tip of the Week: Credit Card

 

As a college student, you will receive numerous credit card offers. Without a doubt, credit cards are extremely useful. They provide protection for your purchases, the ability to buy online, and a cushion for emergencies. Credit cards, however, are not free cash. They are loans. In addition to annual membership fees, interest rates can be as high as 20% per year. If you're not careful, you might be paying for those CDs you purchased today five years from now.

Some basic rules regarding credit card use:

• Know the terms of your credit cards. Many cards do not charge interest if you pay off your balance in full each month. 
• Avoid using credit cards to pay for anything that you eat, wear, or listen to unless you plan to pay off your balance in full each month.
• Before you charge an item, know how you will pay for it. When you use your credit card, you are taking out a loan. When you take out a loan, you should always have a repayment plan in mind.
• Pay your bill on time. Most cards have substantial penalties for late payments. Why pay an extra $30 in late fees? Late payments, moreover, become a part of your credit history. A good credit history is important when you go to rent an apartment or finance a large purchase such as a house or car.

For more information on choosing credit cards, using credit responsibly, and understanding credit terms, consult:

• The Federal Trade Commission
• The College Board's advice on credit for college students

Resource of the Week: Cal Poly Homecoming

 

100 Years of Homecoming Tradition

November 8-11, 2008

Cal Poly’s Homecoming tradition dates back 100 years. In 1907, the first event was a June banquet that also served as the initiation ceremony for new alumni. Each year, Homecoming is a chance for alumni, parents, football fans and friends to see progress on the Spanos Stadium. The former Mustang Stadium is currently being renovated to hold thousands of fans, with a new press box and skyboxes.

 

Homecoming 2007 Weekend Schedule

Friday, November 9
5:30 p.m.	Honored Alumni Wine & Hors d'Oeuvre Reception, Chumash Auditorium Order Tickets
6:30 p.m.	Honored Alumni Awards Banquet, Chumash Auditorium Order Tickets

 

Saturday, November 10
1:00 p.m	CPAA 12th Annual Wine Tasting (at the Tailgate BBQ) Alumni and Friends Order Tickets -SOLD OUT Parents' Weekend Order Tickets - SOLD OUT
1:00 - 3:30 p.m.	Mustang Corral Tailgate BBQ Featuring music by the Cal Poly University Jazz Band Alumni and Friends Order Tickets Parents' Weekend Order Tickets - SOLD OUT Grand Reunion Order Tickets
4:00 p.m.	Cal Poly vs. North Dakota State Homecoming Football Game Alumni and Friends Order Tickets - SOLD OUT Parents' Weekend Order Tickets -SOLD OUT

 

 

Quote of the Week:

 

It takes a lot of courage
to release the familiar and seemingly secure,
to embrace the new.
But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful.
There is more security in the adventurous and exciting,
for in movement there is life, and
in change there is power.
-Alan Cohen