JWU Family e-Newsletter
December 2019
FALL TERM DEAN'S LIST

After the close of each term, we proudly announce our Providence Campus  dean's list . Find the list for Fall 2019 here . In recognition of scholastic achievement, full-time undergraduate students (carrying a minimum of 12 credit hours) who have achieved a term GPA of 3.40 or above receive dean’s list commendation.
 
JWU provides press releases announcing dean’s list students' achievements, by request. To request an announcement be sent to your hometown paper, please complete a request form here .
 
Congratulations to all Fall 2019 Dean's List honorees.
GRAPHIC DESIGN STUDENTS COMPETE

STYLEWEEK Northeast, New England's premier fashion week, will feature the work of a JWU student in 2020 – its 10th anniversary year – thanks to a contest and partnership with our College of Engineering & Design.

Five Graphic Design students (all seniors) were invited to create commemorative logos for the event. They included Jonathan Hemingway, from New York; Katie Vidal, from Connecticut; Nathan Spinetti, from Massachusetts; Steven Silverman, from Massachusetts; and Kaitlyn Mowrey, from New Hampshire.

The contest concluded with a special on-campus event late last month, where each participant presented their ideas, logos and talent to STYLEWEEK's CEO and founder. Silverman was announced the winner. In addition to bragging rights, his winning logo earned him a $500 scholarship. Read more about this fantastic opportunity in this blog .
IMPORTANT INFO ON INTERNSHIP REGISTRATION & THE SEMESTER CONVERSION

Experiential Education & Career Services (EE&CS) urges parents and families to speak with students about registering for internship for the 2020-21 academic year. Internship is for academic credit and students must register for it just as they do for classes. With the conversion to semesters, it’s important to plan for internship now.
 
Internship registration will open on February 3 and close on March 2. Students who do not plan ahead risk not being able to complete their internship in the semester of their first choice, as spots do fill quickly!
 
Students can get more information by contacting EE&CS by email or phone: 401-598-1070 (Downcity) or 401-598-4611 (Harborside).
WINTER BREAK ANNOUNCEMENTS

Winter break is the only time in the academic year when most JWU operations shut down. Please make note of these announcements.

Residence halls close at noon on Friday, December 20. Students should plan to vacate their rooms by that time and have all important belongings with them. They will not be able to access their rooms again until halls open at noon on Sunday, January 5.

All Campus Dining locations are shut down during the winter break. Operations resume on January 5. See Campus Dining social media accounts for more information.
All JWU offices are closed as of 4:30 pm on December 20 and throughout the break. Operations resume on on Monday, January 6, at 8:30 am.

On-campus mail delivery is suspended throughout the break. Packages from couriers like UPS and FedEx will not be accepted, so plan accordingly.

Campus Safety & Security will be staffed throughout the break. If you need to reach this office in the event of an emergency, dial 401-598-1103.

Wishing all of our Wildcat families the best this holiday season!
INCLEMENT WEATHER POLICY

Students enjoyed a snow day on December 3, just the second day of winter term. The university’s first consideration when determining the cancellation, delay or early release of classes and/or campus activities is safety. In the event of a cancellation, the university notifies the campus community using a variety of official resources. These include JWU email and jwuLink. Essential services like Campus Dining, Campus Safety & Security, etc., remain operational, although some schedules may be adjusted.

Find complete information on JWU's inclement weather policy and procedures on the JWU Providence Alerts website.
THE POWER OF LISTENING

This month's Counseling Services tip comes from Justin Donovan, PsyD. You may find the subject to be pertinent as you prepare to spend more time with your student over the upcoming break.

A growing child needs guidance and instruction, but a college student has something to say. It can be easy to follow old habits of telling your child what we believe is best for them, including advice that is just a suggestion. This often remains true once children grow into young adults, but there are many other needs that advice does not meet. Sometimes your student may benefit more from comfort, compassion, validation, new perspectives and understanding, or simply somebody to listen to them without additional input. Consider asking your student what sort of conversation they would benefit from. Their answer may surprise you and help you better support them.  
PARENT & FAMILY SOCIAL MEDIA: LOVE IT OR LOSE IT?

JWU offers two social media options specifically for parents and family members of enrolled students. Both utilize the Facebook platform. Our JWU Parents & Families Providence Campus page, managed by the Parent & Family Relations office, features timely announcements, links to our Wildcat Family Support Series videos, interactive posts, plus more. The Wildcat Parents & Families closed group serves as a forum by and for families. Members interact with each other by asking/answering questions, celebrating student achievements, sharing concerns – anything that's on their minds. JWU staff rarely interact in the group, although we reserve the right to do so.

Parent/family Facebook groups are a hot topic at college campuses across the U.S. This piece from the New York Times is an interesting read on their "blessing and curse" aspect. Based on feedback we've received at JWU, some family members love being in the closed group while others quickly decide to opt out.

If you have a Facebook account, be sure to follow JWU Parents & Families Providence Campus. Plus, if you are interested in forming your own opinion on the value of membership in a parent/family closed group, join Wildcat Parents & Families.
SURVEY FOR OFF-CAMPUS RESIDENTS
 
Each year, Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS) asks off-campus residents to complete a survey. Questions focus on landlord attentiveness, rent (reasonable or overpriced?), cleanliness of the apartment/area, etc. Information gathered is used to assist other students who are considering the move to off-campus living.
 
If your Wildcat lives off campus, please ask them to complete the OCSS annual survey . Their input helps OCSS understand the needs of commuters and improve services.
STUDENTS VISIT THE BIG APPLE

On December 13, more than 100 Wildcats experienced a day in New York City, complete with shopping, sight seeing and more. This annual outing, sponsored by JWU's University Involvement Board (UIB), allows students to enjoy New York during the heart of the holiday season. A great time was had by all!

Tell your student to be on the lookout for upcoming UIB events, including the popular One-Ton Sundae on January 23 and Snoball on January 25.
JWU ECO PAYS IT FORWARD

In the fall term, JWU ECO students, along with staff from the warehouse team, collaborated with the Pawtucket School District to donate school desks, chairs and other office furniture. These items were no longer being used by the university after upgrades to classrooms and office areas. In an effort to reduce waste and reuse the furniture that was still in good condition, we proudly donated these items to a local RI school district in need.
Mark Your Calendars
LIVE CHATS CONTINUING IN THE NEW YEAR

The Wildcat Family Support Series launched with five videos and four live chats this fall. More programs are planned after the New Year, including three additional live chats:

January 13 – Campus Dining
January 27 – Residential Life
February 3 – Off-Campus Student Services

In each segment, staff members from the respective areas will log on through Parent & Family Relations' Facebook account to answer questions and address any concerns. The chats begin at 7 pm and last approximately 30 minutes. Plan to join us!
FAMILIES OF GRADUATES: DON'T MISS THE PRESIDENT'S RECEPTION

Providence Campus President Marie Bernardo-Sousa, LP.D., ’92 welcomes all graduating students, their families and friends to a special Commencement Eve reception where we will toast the Class of 2020. Enjoy fine desserts and a live jazz band while celebrating your student's achievement with faculty, staff, other graduates and their families. Alumni representatives will be present as well to offer advice and answer questions about leveraging the Wildcat network and staying connected to JWU after graduation.

Friday, May 22
3:30 - 5:30 pm

The reception will be held outside the Wildcat Center in the greenspace adjacent to the Wildcat Statue. Campus parking lots will be open for complimentary parking. (In the event of inclement weather, the reception will be moved indoors).

The cost is $10 per ticket (limit of six tickets per graduate).
Important Dates
12/20 - 1/5: Holiday break
1/5: Residence halls reopen @ noon
1/6: Classes resume
1/20: MLK Jr. Day:  No classes

 Visit the official University calendar for additional dates.
Health & Wellness
CAMPUS WELL

Keep up with feature articles, exercise tips, recipes and more in Campus Well . This electronic publication reaches students and families from colleges across the U.S. We encourage you to have open discussions about important topics that are updated monthly.
JWU Parent & Family Community
PARENT & FAMILY ADVISORY BOARD PERSPECTIVES:
HOW ONE STUDENT DEMONSTRATES LEADERSHIP

Being a leader takes courage. You have to be willing to devise a plan that will hopefully guide you along a path until you are able to cross the finish line to your goal. Sometimes you become a leader unintentionally. When my son, Spencer, was in first grade, he wanted to have a bake sale and donate the money raised to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP). Hearing this, I knew I had to let him try. His friends, teachers and neighbors placed orders and he got to work baking cookies. That first year, Spencer earned $352 for CHOP and "Spencer Levy’s Cookies for Kids" was born.

For the next eleven years, Cookies for Kids grew exponentially. Spencer managed to juggle all of his schoolwork, after school activities, and his enjoyment in the kitchen. The people at CHOP didn’t overlook his dedication to his annual fundraiser. In fact, Spencer’s efforts were acknowledged when CHOP dedicated a room to Cookies for Kids in their new building. His perseverance allowed him to continue Cookies for Kids, even as the schoolwork increased and his after school obligations grew. His passion for baking coupled with his interest in giving back to his community and helping those in need are qualities of a born leader. Spencer raised over $21,000 for CHOP by the time he graduated from high school. He was able to lead by setting an example of what can happen if you take the initiative to help others.

Now that Spencer is settled in at JWU, time will tell if Cookies for Kids will make a pop up appearance during his breaks. Over the summer, Spencer planned a last-minute pop up Cookies for Kids bake sale instead of taking orders. He sold out of more than 500 cookies before he was officially open for business. While Spencer opted to pursue the Culinary track at JWU, he still thoroughly enjoys baking sweet treats and paying it forward by helping others.  

- The Levy family, from New Jersey, joined the JWU community this year. Pictured above, Julie is a member of our Parent & Family Advisory Board and Spencer is a first-year student in the College of Culinary Arts.
FAMILY QUESTION OF THE MONTH

What do you think your Wildcat is most looking forward to over the holiday break?

November family question & results:

Our November question was inspired by the NYT piece referenced in the social media article above (see it here, if you missed it). We wanted to see how JWU families obtain information and get their questions answered. Results appear below. One thing is for certain – when it comes to social media platforms used by our family population, Facebook is king!
Providence Happenings
If you're planning a trip to Providence and need ideas for fun in the city, look no further than GoProvidence ! This website, sponsored by the Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, is packed with info including a calendar of events, dining options, and lots more! Here are a couple of current highlights.
Bumper Cars on Ice

The Alex and Ani City Center, which is only a short walk from JWU's Downcity campus, is one of three places in the country featuring bumper cars that operate on ice. Each ride lasts 15 minutes and costs $12. The bumper cars run at the same time as regular ice skating, so don't worry about not being able to skate at the rink. You can find out more about this fun on-ice experience here .
PROVIDENCE RESTAURANT WEEKS
 
Providence is one of the nation’s hottest culinary destinations. Find out what the fuss is all about during Providence Restaurant Weeks, January 12 - 25. Nearly 100 restaurants participate. Find more details here .
Families Supporting Wildcats
Thank you for your continued support of JWU Family Giving and all our Wildcat students.
We Want To Hear From You!
JWU Parent & Family Relations serves as a liaison to parents and family members of incoming and current students through communication and programs. This monthly e-Newsletter helps you stay connected to your student as you journey with them through their JWU experience.