Please continue to share any comments and ideas with us about content for upcoming issues by contacting us at
[email protected].
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If you were forwarded this email,
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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June 2019- In This Issue:
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From the Desk of Dean Wild
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Dear parents and families:
Welcome to Washington University in St. Louis! I am the Dean of Students at WashU, which means I work with many of the people and programs that will support your student while they are learning here on campus. We are glad you and your student have chosen Washington University and on behalf of my colleagues, we are all looking forward to welcoming you and your student in August!
We believe that regular communication with parents and families is critical to the success of our students.
Below, you will find the June edition of
Family Ties, the quarterly newsletter written specifically for the parents and families of undergraduate students. This quarterly publication is edited by the
First Year Center and sent throughout the year directly to your inbox.
The key to successful transition is preparation. I have highlighted below some action items you can help your student accomplish now to get started on the right track.
- The First Year Center (FYC) will serve as a resource for you during your student's entire undergraduate experience. The FYC also coordinates communications, programs, and resources to support new students. All first-year students will participate in Bear Beginnings: New Student Fall Orientation. FYC staff also provide regular and important information to parents and families throughout the summer and the academic year.
- Please be on the lookout for communication from the First Year Center throughout the summer. Visit the What to Expect Over the Summer timeline for the full list of summer communication pieces heading your way. Specifically, please review the June Before You Arrive Checklist with your student throughout the month. You can always visit the First Year Center website to learn more about the First Year Center and the many ways we can support both you and your student.
- I hope you'll become our partner in supporting your student's WashU experience. Preparation for college is a busy time for every family. My colleagues on campus will help connect students to resources, but we will also push them to be more independent, to work to develop faculty relationships, to connect with important services like the Career Center, and to get involved in campus activities. We do want to hear from you if there is a serious family or personal matter that will affect your student or if you have questions in coaching your student to utilize the resources at WashU. We appreciate your help in encouraging your student to self-advocate and look forward to supporting both your student and your family in the transition to college.
While the next few months can be full of excitement and anticipation, we know many of you will continue to have questions and concerns. We invite you to connect with us at toll free 844-935-5040 and/or [email protected] to get these questions addressed. Additionally, if you are looking for helpful information, we recommend you visit the
Division of Student Affairs Parent & Family website.
We look forward to seeing you soon!
Robert (Rob) M. Wild
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Engagement and Transition & Dean of Students
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This summer, we are introducing the Family Webinar Series to get the Class of 2023 ready for the fall! We know you are integral to the success of your student, so we designed this webinar series around the questions we know you are, or will be, asking. We have a great lineup of webinars scheduled throughout to provide valuable information to help you prepare, so make sure to stay tuned!
The first webinar in the series will be an introduction to Habif Health & Wellness Center. To make sure you get your questions answered, please email [email protected] by Thursday, June 13th at Noon CST.
A Conversation with Habif Health & Wellness Center
Date
: Monday, June 17th
Time
: 5:30 PM
Description
: The Habif Health & Wellness Center offers a range of services from medical checkups and mental health services to wellness support and health education. Aaron Daughtery, Associate Director of Administration, will present on the following topics:
- Habif Services and Resources
- Health Forms
- Insurance
- Immunizations
Register here!
Upcoming Webinars
Three additional webinars are currently scheduled for later this summer. Read the July edition of Family Ties for more information, including the registration link!
- A Conversation with Student Financial Services- Monday, July 17th at 5:30 PM
- A Conversation about Housing & Dining- To Be Decided
- A Conversation about Bear Beginnings & Move-In Day- Thursday, August 1st at 5:0 PM
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What To Expect This Month
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Your student will be receiving several items in the mail from us this month:
1.)
Welcome Letter from Katharine Pei, Director of the First Year Center
- This checklist will contain key information that should be completed in June (e.g. activating WUSTL Key for course registration).
3.)
Common Reading Program Book and Guide
- A copy of the Common Reading Program book, Hate:
Why We Should Resist It with Free Speech, Not Censorship,
by Nadine Strossen, should arrive soon.
- Your student will also receive a Guide that will highlight the details of the book, required writing assignment, and context.
- Bear Facts will serve as your student's guide to their first year at Washington University in St. Louis. This guide was written and designed by students who were in your student's shoes not too long ago and answers many of the questions they may already be asking themselves.
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Important Information from Habif Health & Wellness Center
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Welcome to WashU from Habif Health & Wellness Center! We are an AAAHC accredited, integrated health center offering medial, mental health, and health education and promotion services. As you prepare for your student's first at Washington University, there are several health requirements that must be met.
Your student will need:
- 2 MMR (Measles, Mumps, Rubella) immunizations after the age of 12 months.
- A Meningitis immunization after the age of 16 years (if they received the meningitis vaccine before the age of 16, a booster dose is required after age 16 to protect them throughout their four years here. The Meningitis B vaccine is not required, but we recommend it.
- A tuberculosis test (PPD skin test or blood test such as T-spot or Quantiferon gold) in the past six months for students at high risk of tuberculosis. High risk for tuberculosis includes: foreign born from a high-prevalence country; or travel for more than two months to a high-prevalence country.
- Your student can send this information to us by logging into the Patient Portal through the Habif Health and Wellness Website, using their WUSTL Key. A Health Information Form is also required to be filled out on the patient portal.
- Please gather the information needed prior to logging in, this will make the task quick and easy.
- Students are required to have health insurance. All students are enrolled in the student health insurance plan through United Health Student Resources. To waive this insurance, your family insurance must meet certain criteria found on our website. The waiver process will open on July 1, 2019.
Mental Health Services
- Mental Health Services (MHS) strives to provide short-term treatment in order to facilitate adjustment, improve functioning, achieve resolution of problems, and address acute symptoms impairing personal functioning as soon as possible. More information can be found on the MHS website.
- If your student needs help transferring their mental health care outside of what can be provided at Habif Health and Wellness, our Care Manager is available to assist them. We encourage your student to reach out now to begin this process. They can call (314) 935-6695 or send an email to [email protected].
More information can also be found on the
Habif Health & Wellness Center website.
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Registration for Fall 2019 courses will take place between July 9-11, 2019 during your student's assigned registration time.
Your student's adviser will reach out to them soon. They
must
have their WUSTL key and email established to have access to course listings and be able to communicate with their adviser. Remind your student to check their WUSTL email several times a week to have the most up-to-date information from their adviser!
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