If they haven't already, students should speak to their advisers as soon as possible about what classes to take next semester.

Registration is under way now through mid-November for spring semester 2007 classes.

Once they have met with their advisers, students can register online at Cyberbear.

Have your students complained about slow Internet access? As the use of Internet technologies has soared, so too has demand on UM’s computer network, resulting in sometimes frustrating slowdowns.

The University has announced a plan to address the situation, said Ray Ford, associate vice president for Information Technology.

The plan involves separating on-campus from Residence Life traffic, assigning each to their own external network links; increasing net bandwidth to campus by 50 percent -- from 90MB to 135MB; and dedicating a newly purchased “filtering box” -- which reduces extraneous network traffic -- to the campus load.

“By operating dangerously close to saturation on both our external network links, even minor ‘glitches’ cause network performance to drop rapidly to unacceptable levels,” Ford said. “In order to provide a better safety margin, IT will move ahead as soon as possible to implement this plan.”

Mark your calendars and make your motel reservations for Family Weekend 2007, which will be held Friday-Sunday, Oct. 19-21.

The Montana Grizzlies will play Northern Colorado that weekend, and tickets will go on sale in mid-July.

We’ll let you know the exact date for ticket sales, as well as the Family Weekend ticket code, through this newsletter as the time draws nearer. Stay tuned for more details.

Plan ahead for fall 2007. Now is the time to apply for on-campus housing for next academic year.

Early applicants are able to hand-pick their rooms. By semester break, a great deal of the popular areas will be reserved. Applications are available online.

Please note the residence hall application must be accompanied by $220, with $200 being a prepayment on room rent. If the room reservations are canceled before June 1, $200 will be returned. If the cancellation is received before Aug. 1, $100 will be returned.

The importance of international education to America and the world will be the focus of International Education Week Nov. 13-18 at UM.

The theme of the week, celebrated worldwide, is “International Education: Engaging in Global Partnerships and Opportunities.” The week is sponsored nationally by the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education. UM events are sponsored by the University’s Office of International Programs.

International Education Week offers time to celebrate the rich history, cultures, music and artistic traditions of the world and a chance to learn about opportunities to work and study abroad.

The Opening Ceremony takes place from noon to 1 p.m. Monday, Nov. 13, in the University Center Atrium. Speakers will be Mehrdad Kia, director of the UM Office of International Programs; Effie Koehn, director of UM’s Foreign Student and Scholar Services; and Kofi Abaidoo, president of the University’s International Student Association. The Saudi Cultural Group also will perform at the ceremony.

For a complete schedule of events, visit the Web site.

It’s the ninth-oldest football rivalry in the nation among small colleges, and one of the most anticipated events of the year in Montana.

The 106th meeting of the Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State Bobcats will be Saturday, Nov. 18, at Washington-Grizzly Stadium, and chances are it’s coming to a satellite party near you.

Thanks to the UM Alumni Association, the game is televised at sports bars across the nation for Griz fans. Montanans can watch the game in the comfort of their own living rooms on Montana Television Network stations statewide.

Students who want to see the Griz-Cat game in person should be in line to buy tickets early Monday, Nov. 13. They will sell out even faster than the Homecoming game.

No matter what kind of season either team is having, both the Griz and Bobcats play their best game of the year against each other. But this year promises to be a great grudge match. Both teams are nationally ranked -- Montana at No. 2 and MSU at No. 18. The Griz lead the Big Sky Conference with an undefeated season, but the 'Cats are a close second.

When your student comes home for winter break, you might want to ask if he or she brought the UM General Scholarship application. The application is available now in hard copy at the Financial Aid Office counter and will be available soon on the Financial Aid Web site.

Since we have such a long winter break, working on the scholarship essay would be an ideal way for your student to stay sharp and not lose those hard-earned study skills. Remember that UM students are eligible for scholarships each year during their undergraduate career based on their work at UM. The application deadline for continuing students’ scholarships is Feb. 1.

February also is the priority deadline for filing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). So gather that financial information and get the FAFSA filed by Feb. 15 for consideration for all possible financial aid.

Students can take the stress out of finals week by baking cookies to help those in need during the annual Great UM Christmas Cookie Cook-Off.

The event will take place from 2 to 6 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 14, in the Food Zoo. Students, staff and faculty members are invited to bake cookies for their friends and families, and more important, those in need. This year’s theme is “The Bear That Cares,” and Monte will make an appearance, as well as Santa Claus.

Last year nearly 280-dozen cookies were donated to 13 local charities. Supplies are provided by University Dining Services and donors.

UM was chosen to appear as one of 247 colleges and universities in the ninth edition of Barron’s “Best Buys in College Education.”

Inclusion in the volume is based on various criteria, including tuition rates and the results of questionnaires filled out by students and the dean of students.

President George Dennison indicated his gratification about UM’s inclusion. “We try hard to earn the ‘best buy’ billing by emphasizing affordability and quality,” he said.