Please continue to share any comments and ideas with us about content for upcoming issues by contacting us at
FamilyTies@wustl.edu.
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click here to join the Family Ties mailing list now.
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Get to Know the First Year Center
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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.
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From the Desk of Dr. Lori S. White
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Dear parents and families:
As we near the end of the year, I want to reach out to share some thoughts about wrapping up the fall semester and next steps. For many students, completing the first semester yields a sense of relief, pride and excitement, but may also create concerns and pressure to keep up their best work.
Winter break is a great time for families and students to catch up, share their experiences so far and consider future plans. When touching base with your student, here are some important topics you may want to cover:
- The end of the semester can be a hectic, and sometimes, stressful time. If needed, WashU offers several resources to cope, including counseling at the Habif Health & Wellness Center, a drop-in mental health and counseling service (Let's Talk), and an interactive therapy program (TAO). These services and programs are free and available to all WashU students.
- Ask about your students' final exams schedule. Finals week is Wednesday, December 11 through Wednesday, December 18. The period between the last day of classes and the start of finals is called "reading days," where students are given time to study and prepare. Depending on their schedule, some students may complete their exams within a few days, while others may have more time throughout the week. Knowing which days your student has exams and offering support, can be a big help.
- Winter break is a great time to start discussing plans for what's next. There are many new opportunities in the spring semester for students to get more involved on campus. Sorority and fraternity recruitment begins, and the selection process for various student leadership positions (such as WUSA and BEAR Leaders) takes place. For those interested in exploring other ways to get involved, the spring Activities Fair is a great resource. Although the summer seems far off now, the break is a good time to start making initial summer plans, as well. The Career Center hosts an internship fair every spring and provides many resources, both online and during walk-in hours, to help in your students' search.
We are pleased to be partners with you on your student's journey and look forward to the spring semester ahead. If you have questions please don't hesitate to reach out.
With warm regards,
Dr. Lori S. White
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
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Academic Dates and Deadlines
Mark Your Calendars for Fall 2019
- November 27 - December 1: Thanksgiving Break
- December 6: Last Day of Classes
- December 9-18: Reading Week and Final Exams
- January 13: First day of SP2020 classes
Important Academic Deadlines
- Monday, November 11: Course Registration Day for the Class of 2021
- Friday, November 15: Last day to drop a class with a W (withdrawal) on your student's transcript or change grade option on course to "C" (letter grade). If your student is planning to take a W, we suggest that they meet with their academic adviser beforehand.
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What to Talk to Your Student About
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Joining Fraternity and Sorority Life
About 2,400 Washington University students are members of a
sorority or fraternity
, making up approximately 35 percent of the undergraduate student population. We currently have 25 recognized chapters: the Alpha Psi Lambda co-ed Latinx Fraternity, 11 Interfraternity Council (IFC) chapters, one campus-based and three city-wide National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) chapters, and nine Women's Panhellenic Association (WPA) chapters. The formal recruitment processes for IFC and WPA begin January 2020.
Housing Registration
Does your student want or need to stay with us over the Winter Break?
Is your student returning from studying abroad?
Spring 2020 applications for those returning opened on Friday, November 1st. The application can be found via WashU Housing Portal through
WebSTAC
Is your student graduating (Fall 2019) or going abroad (Spring 2020)?
Students graduating or going abroad must completely move out and
check-out
by Thursday, December 19th at 5:00 p.m.
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What is Happening on Campus?
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Parent & Family Weekend 2020
We hope you'll join for us Parent & Family Weekend next year, taking place October 23-25, 2020.
Family Webinar Series
The remaining webinars and their corresponding dates in our Fall Webinar Series have been released! You can learn more and register for the webinars below.
A Conversation About Fraternity/Sorority Life
Date: Thursday, November 21st
Time: 5:30 p.m. CST
Description:
Learn more about the FSL community at WashU, recruit/intake eligibility requirements, important dates and logistics, and tips for how to support a student going through a recruitment or intake process.
Thanksgiving Break Airport Shuttles
If your student is going home for Thanksgiving Break, have them consider taking a U-Shuttle to the airport for $10. Pickup is at the Clocktower on Tuesday, November 26th from 11:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Wednesday, November 27th from 6:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. CST.
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Please encourage your student to consider taking MGT200A: Business Fundamentals & Professional Competencies for Non-Business Students. This class prepares students for future work experiences through a combination of lectures, exercises, projects, and cases.
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