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Keep informed of what's going on at UM between issues of Transcripts. The UM News and Events Facebook page is the best place to see cool photos of campus and learn about upcoming events and Family Weekend updates.

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You are invited to join your student and UM for Family Weekend 2012 on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 12-13.

Family Weekend tickets will go on sale at 10 a.m. Mountain time Tuesday, Aug. 28, on GrizTix. You will receive the promo code needed to purchase tickets via this newsletter on Monday, Aug. 27. Tickets are sold first-come, first-served and must be purchased online. Six hundred football game tickets are available for Family Weekend attendees this year.

Football game tickets will be sold in packages that cost $57 (plus applicable Web fees) each. A package ticket includes one football game ticket in the Family Weekend seating section and one ticket to the pregame omelet bar and continental breakfast. The pregame omelet bar and breakfast will feature spirited Grizzly game-day entertainment and a chance to hear from UM President Royce C. Engstrom.

We invite those not attending the football game to join us for a football-game viewing party to watch the Grizzlies on the big screen at the UC Theater and enjoy a free nacho bar and prize raffle. Registration for the viewing party and other Family Weekend events is free and available here.

All Family Weekend participants are invited to attend the free pregame tailgate hosted by the Grizzly Scholarship Association. Get ready to cheer on the Grizzlies in the festive game-day atmosphere. There will be opportunities to get decked-out in maroon and silver, win prizes and mingle with other Griz fans. Barbecue will be available for purchase, and anyone with a Family Weekend badge will be eligible for a discount.

For more information, a tentative schedule of events and hotel information, visit the Family Weekend website. For the latest updates, like UM News and Events on Facebook.

UM President Royce C. Engstrom will outline UM's institutional priorities for the upcoming academic year Friday, Aug. 24, during his State of the University Address.

The public is invited to the 10 a.m. event, which takes place in the Montana Theatre of UM's Performing Arts and Radio/Television Center. Refreshments will be available starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Montana Theatre foyer.

UM administrators, faculty and staff also will welcome students to the new academic year during the Academic Convocation, which begins at 8:30 p.m., Wednesday, Aug. 29, on the Oval.

The Residence Halls will open for autumn semester at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 25. Students may begin to arrive early with no prior arrangements beginning 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, and will be charged $17 per night until the halls officially open on Aug. 25. All charges for early arrival housing will be placed on student accounts during the first week of school. 

Employers and student workers will have an opportunity to connect at the fall Student Job Fair, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 30, at the University Center Ballroom.

The fair, hosted by UM's Office of Career Services, showcases businesses, organizations and departments that need college students for part-time jobs, internships or volunteer opportunities. Hundreds of students and dozens of employers participate each year in the job fair.

For more information, call Janay Whishman, student employment coordinator, at 406-243-5627 or email studentjobs@umontana.edu.  

Avoid the rush, order textbooks early online

Students can avoid delays in getting their textbooks by ordering course materials for autumn semester through The Bookstore at UM website.

The service allows students to narrow their search by course, section and faculty for both the mountain campus and Missoula College UM (formerly the College of Technology).

More textbooks are added daily as shipments come in, so students should check back if their materials aren't yet available.

• Sunday, Aug. 26: GO Day - UM will host GO Day for all new incoming students on Sunday, Aug. 26. Games on the Oval will begin at 9 a.m. with the residence halls facing off in their first competition of the year. MPact Educational Sessions will be available in the afternoon, and more games will occur in the University Center beginning at 6 p.m. More information will be available during move-in at the residence hall front desks. 
• Thursday, Aug. 30: Movie on the Oval - The UC will host a free screening of "The Avengers" on the Oval starting at 9 p.m.
• Friday, Aug. 31: WelcomeFeast - UM invites all students, faculty and staff to "Get Your Griz On" at WelcomeFeast at 11:30 a.m. Friday, Aug. 31, on the Oval. Participants can enjoy free food, live music, open volleyball, win prizes and explore campus life opportunities.

Is your son or daughter planning on living off-campus this year? For many students, the transition into the wonderful world of renting isn't always an easy one. Luckily, the ASUM Off-Campus Renter Center can help.

Visit the Renter Center's website for a step-by-step guide to finding housing in Missoula, roommate agreement templates, dispute resolution resources and even a list of property management company complaints. The center also provides one-on-one counseling appointments to help students with renters rights issues.

If your son or daughter has yet to find housing, visit our Housing Finder Website for a list of available rentals, a UM student-only roommate finder and more.

Explore UM Greek Life Sept. 3-8 

UM students interested in joining a fraternity or sorority can meet current Greeks and learn about the chapters on campus during fall recruitment Monday through Saturday, Sept. 3-8.

Joining a fraternity or sorority gives students a chance to enhance their college experience by developing leadership skills, engaging in community services and philanthropy, and participating in academic and social programming while forming bonds that last a lifetime.

Greek Life also will host a barbecue at 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 23, at the Sigma Alpha Epsilon chapter house at 1120 Gerald Ave. Current members will be on hand to answer questions about recruitment and the Greek system.

Chapters also will have booths set up in several residence halls, the University Center, the Emma B. Lommasson Center, the Davidson Honors College and on the Oval the week of Aug. 27-31 to answer questions and sign students up for recruitment.

Fall recruitment registration information is available here.

• Saturday, Aug. 18: Residence halls open for early arrival. $17 per night through Aug. 25.
• Thursday-Friday, Aug. 23-24: New Student Orientation
• Saturday, Aug. 25: Residence halls open
• Monday, Aug. 27: Autumn semester 2012 begins
• Monday, Sept. 3: Labor Day, no classes, UM offices closed
• Friday-Saturday, Oct. 12-13: Family Weekend
• Tuesday, Nov. 6: Election Day, no classes, UM offices closed
• Monday, Nov. 12: Veterans Day holiday, no classes, UM offices closed
• Wednesday, Nov. 21: Student Travel Day, no classes
• Thursday-Friday, Nov. 22-23: Thanksgiving Break, no classes, UM offices closed
• Friday, Dec. 7: Last day of regular classes
• Monday-Friday, Dec. 10-14: Final exams
• Friday, Dec. 14: Residence halls close at 5 p.m.