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Get to Know the First Year Center
The First Year Center supports new students through their transition into the community of Washington University in St. Louis to assure that they build and sustain their academic and personal goals. The center brings together people, programs and resources to provide an undergraduate experience of exceptional quality where all students are known by name and story and where they prepare themselves for lives of purpose and meaning. Bear Beginnings: New Student Orientation, Parent & Family Weekend, and a host of other programs for students throughout the year are run out of the First Year Center.

Please visit the First Year Center websiteAlso, please feel free to contact us at firstyearcenter@wustl.edu or 314.935.5040.
From the Desk of Dean Wild
Dear parents and families:
 
Congratulations as your student completes their first year at WashU. My colleagues and I have very much appreciated getting to know your student this year. As you reflect on your student's experience since August, we hope you are able to see and appreciate their growth and development as we have. 

While you and your students are by now experts of everything related to Washington University, here are some talking points for you so you can help your student finish the year strong:
  1. On April 26th, spring semester classes will be over and finals will begin. Cornerstone: The Learning Center provides resources for students needing additional support navigating course content, creating effective study skills, and preparing for final exams. 
  2. As finals approach, many students experience increased stress levels. The Habif Health & Wellness Center offers free counseling services to all undergraduate students. These sessions are designed to help students cope with the daily pressures and academic rigor of university life. 
  3. By now, some of your students might have solidified their summer plans, while others are still looking for summer opportunities. As a reminder, the Career Center offers a variety of resources, including infographics and advice on ways to make the most out of summer break. All of these resources can be found on the Career Center website, and during walk-in and on-on-one advising meetings.
  4. By this time next year, your student will have declared a major. Some of your students might already have an exact idea of what their academic path is, while others may still be unsure. In either case, there are resources available to help with this process of choosing a major, including the annual Major Minor Fair, which will take place in the fall. Encourage your students to start looking into these opportunities, and to keep their minds open for new possibilities that might arise from their academic interests. 
Please let us know if you have questions. I read all my email, so if you have a question you'd like to ask me, please don't hesitate to write me at  rob.wild@wustl.edu
 
Robert (Rob) M. Wild
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Dean of Students
First Year Finale
Encourage your student to attend First Year Finale on Monday, April 15 at 5:30PM! They can celebrate their first year at WashU with snacks, t-shirts, and photos with friends. They can end the night by thanking the people who have made their first year great during the awards ceremony. 
Closing Information
Spring 2019 Procedures
Need to know the important dates?  
Important dates for students to know are:
  • Sunday, April 28th: 24-hour quiet hours begin. Violations could result in fines.  
  • Monday, April 29th: Late stay form due.  
  • Monday, April 29th: Last day to sign up for in-person check-out via individual RCD process. 
  • Thursday, May 9th: Halls close/meal points deactivate at 5:00 PM for non-graduating students. 
Want to understand more about Damages and Trash?  
Residents will be charged a minimum of $50 each for damages and trash as part of the check-out process. Here is a partial list of charges:   
  • Not taking trash to pick-up site 
  • Leaving unassembled furniture in the room or bed still raised 
  • Holes in the walls 
  • Not removing stickers, tape, and decorations from walls, doors, and/or ceiling 
  • Damage above normal wear and tear that requires painting each wall 
  • Leaving non-university property in room,  including personal belongings
Looking for Storage Services?  
University Trucking (UTrucking) is the ONLY certified Storage Company  WashU  endorses. No other storage vendor is allowed on campus.   
  • University Trucking will provide summer storage and shipping services for students' belongings.   
  • Pick-up begins April 27 through May 18. University Trucking employees will have white shirts displaying the company name. UTrucking provides shipping and storage for the duration of the summer. Short-term storage is available for students interning or taking summer classes in St. Louis.  
  • Contact UTrucking at (314) 266-8878 or info@utrucking.com to learn more. 
More information can be found   here  on the Residential Life website about Move Out procedures and Late Stay requests. 
Help Welcome First Year Families
APAP Parent to Parent Calling Program
Join other WashU parents in helping to reach out to parents of enrolling students this summer! Parent volunteers call each enrolling family to congratulate and welcome them to the WashU community. Enrolling parents appreciate being able to connect with a fellow parent and ask questions about the university and St. Louis. 
 
"These parents truly appreciated that WashU parents were reaching out and welcoming them. All were impressed by the genuine sense of community."
-Current WashU parent volunteer from Chicago, IL
 
"This is such an enjoyable experience. I think this phone call effort is exceptional. All the parents I spoke with were most grateful. Thanks for organizing the effort."
-Former WashU parent volunteer from Houston, TX
 
Please visit the  Alumni and Parents Admission Program's website to learn more and  sign up
Career Center Tips For Your Student to Make the Most of Summer Break
Career Center tips for your student to make the most of Summer Break:
  1. If your student has not already done so, encourage him or her to meet with a Career Adviser to start planning. During an appointment, advisers talk with students about their story - their likes, dislikes , values, interests, and passions. Students can use online scheduling to set up an appointment.
  2. Have a student who is not sure what they want to do? Encourage them to check out Success Stories, where they can learn from other WashU students' experiences. Search for examples of internship and research positions, along with information about the company, the position duties, and how they found the opportunity.
  3. Over the summer, your student can find ample learning opportunities through job shadowing, volunteering, informational interviewing , a part-time job, or a combination of these avenues. Promote meaningful connections and experiences for your student that will help him or her make choices that 'fit' for the future. If they need a little help, direct them to the free Resources & Tools available on our website.
  4. For those students who have found a summer opportunity, the Career Center offers congratulations! Students should let us know their summer plans at careercenter.wustl.edu/plans.
To find out more about the Career Center and other ways we can help your student, visit  https://careercenter.wustl.edu/.
Registration Is Open For Summer 2019
Summer is the perfect time for students to get ahead with their degrees or focus on particularly difficult classes without the pressure of other distractions.
  • Pre-health courses like Introduction to Psychology and Anatomy & Physiology I & II; 
  • Pre-Engineering courses like Calculus I, II, & III and Differential Equations;
  • Completing one year of lab sciences in just 10 weeks (Biology, Chemistry, Physics);
  • Accelerating a major by fulfilling requirements.
Summer-only institutes include:
Summer extends beyond classes as the campus comes alive with film screenings, concerts, BBQs, sports, and moonlit yoga. Parents and students can follow us on  Facebook Twitter , and  Instagram  for the latest information.

Visit the Summer School  website   for more details. Registration is open - view the course options now and  enroll today !
WashU Track & Field Takes 2nd & 5th at Indoor Nationals
Washington University in St. Louis had a record breaking time at the NCAA Division III Indoor Track & Field National Championships, with the women finishing a close runner-up and the men's team finishing in a program record fifth place at the Reggie Lewis Center in Boston on March 9. More information can be found  here.

First Year Center | Washington University in St. Louis
Umrath House, lower level, suite 0925 | One Brookings Drive, Campus Box 1136 | St. Louis, MO 63130
firstyear.wustl.edu | Office: 314.935.5040 | Fax: 314.935.8516 | firstyearcenter@wustl.edu