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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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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September 2019- In This Issue:
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From the Desk of Dean Wild
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Dear parents and families:
Happy September! The beginning of a new academic year is always an exciting time for our campus community. Students are enjoying rekindling friendships, sharing the academic and professional adventures from this past summer, and gearing up for another semester of classes. However, the transition into a new academic year, with more challenging courses and academic milestones approaching, can be difficult for some. As classes get underway, I would like to remind you of some ways in which you can support your student during this time of transition.
- Familiarize yourselves with the academic resources that are available on campus. One of the most utilized academic resources is The Learning Center (formerly known as Cornerstone). Through The Learning Center, there are several academic tutoring and peer mentoring sessions available, ranging in many academic subjects, as well as skills training workshops, such as time management and note-taking.
- Be a coach. If your student lets you know that they are struggling in their classes or are facing personal issues, listen to their problems and work together with them to seek solutions. Communicate with your student about their courses by asking about their course materials and assignments, syllabus, and faculty interaction rather than focusing on the grades. Encourage your student to reach out to different resources available on campus, such as their academic advisers, professors, or student health services available at Habif Health & Wellness. Follow up by asking what you can do to best support your student.
- Encourage your student to visit the Career Center as they consider internship, research, and professional opportunities. Our team in the Career Center is dedicated to helping your student maximize their experiences as they navigate these important searches.
We hope to see you during
Parent and Family Weekend
, occurring November 1-3, 2019. Tickets sales will go live today, September 4th at 3:00 PM CST!
And always, 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 Engagement and Transition & Dean of Students
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From the First Year Center
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Campus Support
We want to remind you that the First Year Center supports families throughout all four years of a student's undergraduate career. We want to hear from you if there is a serious family or personal matter that affects 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 your family through the rest of your student's time at WashU.
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Registration for Parent & Family Weekend Opening Today at 3:00 PM CST!
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Parent & Family Weekend at Washington University in St. Louis is an opportunity for student and family members to reconnect on campus. Throughout the weekend, you will be able to spend time with your student, meet other Washington University families, meet and learn from outstanding faculty, attend performances, explore the City of St. Louis, and much more.
Highlighted events
- Voices & Sounds A Cappella Concert
- Family Tailgate
- Meet the Deans
- Tours of St. Louis
Many of the ticketed St. Louis tours have limited capacity, so register early to ensure your seat! However, as these tours reach capacity, keep in mind that there are 50+ non-ticketed events families can attend, including faculty lectures, open houses, information sessions, as well as some ticketed and non-ticketed performances and free athletic events.
Non-ticketed events may be found online at the
Parent & Family Weekend schedule of events. All events listed aside from those noted as ticketed events are open for parents and family members to attend conference-style.
Edison Theat
re tickets may be purchased online or by phone for the performance of
Legally Blonde, presented by the Performing Arts Department; current WashU student tickets are free for Edison Theatre productions and may be reserved online or by phone as well.
Many
WashU Athletics events over Parent & Family Weekend are free to students and families. Cheer on the WashU Bears in volleyball and men's and women's soccer. Only the football game requires a ticket, available for purchase on the
Parent & Family Weekend ticket site or at the Francis Field entrance gate.
Plan your visit
Associate Vice Chancellor and Director of the Career Center Mark Smith has shared his family favorites in St. Louis. Visit the Career Center's
St. Louis recommendations for great places to eat, areas of the city to explore, and family-friendly attractions.
Family Discounts
Drury Hotels has special
Parent & Family Weekend rates available for Washington University families. Stay with Drury Hotels for discounted rates from Thursday, October 31st through Sunday, November 3rd. To reserve a hotel room within the special rate, reserve on or before Sunday, September 23rd.
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December and May Graduations
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Eight students standing in front of the WashU Commencement photo backdrop wearing their regalia.
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December Recognition Ceremony | Saturday, December 14, 2019
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Graduates, families, and guests will gather to celebrate the accomplishments of students graduating this December. Share in the excitement using the hashtag #WashU19 on social media and hear remarks by Dr. James C. Carrington, President of the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center, via
livestream
. Don't forget to download the WashUevents app and select the Chancellor's Recognition Ceremony guide for information on the go!
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Commencement | May 12-15, 2020
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The 159th Commencement is right around the corner. Sign up for updates on the
commencement website
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It's Time to Order Your Brick
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Deadline: February 14, 2019
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Celebrate your WashU senior with a commemorative brick permanently installed around the Hourani Clock Tower on the South 40 (
view map
). Bricks can be inscribed with your student's name and class year in addition to personalized information such as their sorority/fraternity, sport, or school.
To ensure installation prior to Commencement 2020, don't delay in
ordering your brick
today or before February 14th.
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Important Information from University Libraries
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Your student may take 4-6 classes a semester, and depending upon the subject, they may have to purchase 20 books or more.
The University Libraries have access to over
2 billion
print book titles through its catalogs, in addition to
2 million eBooks
in its collections. These books are
free
to access and borrow. While you may not find all of your student's textbooks, if you are able to get 50% of their books, you can save some money.
Encourage your students to consider the following tips to minimize their costs for textbooks:
- Access University Libraries' Textbook Affordability Resource Guide to search for the books that you need. Make sure that all the information about the book matches the book required for the class, i.e. author, title, date, edition, publisher, ISBN, etc. It is important that the book is the exact book required by the instructor.
- Discover if your book is listed in the University Libraries' Course Reserves system.
- Request / recommend the library purchase a required book for a course. (Allow enough time so that the book is available when classes begin.)
- Ask a librarian for help!
Using the University Libraries collections, services, and resources will help your student to get textbooks at little or no cost. It is best to start this process at least a month in advance, prior to classes starting because it is important for your student to have their textbooks on the first day of classes. This will give your student a great start to their first year of college.
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As of August 1, the university has implemented a new campus mail system. The change only impacts the mailbox identifier within your student's on-campus address. Campus Box numbers (CB_ _ _ _) have been replaced by MSC numbers. These numbers are between 4 and 6 digits and look like (MSC _ _ _ _ _). Please see below an example of this new change:
Student's living in the South 40
Student's Name
MSC XXXXX
6515 Wydown Blvd.
St. Louis, MO 63105-2215
Student's on the North Side
Studen's Name
MSC XXXXX
6985 Snow Way
St. Louis, MO 63130-4400
All students should have received their new MSC number on August 1st. Please see below instructions for how your student can access their new MSC number.
Your student can assess their MSC number by:
2.) Select "login"
3.) Enter your WUSTLKey and Password
4.) Along the top horizontal bar, click the red text that says "Housing"
5.) From the drop-down menu options, select "WashU Housing Portal"
6.) Click "Assignment" which will send you to you a new page that says "Fall 2019 - Spring 2020"
7.) Click "View Details"
6.) Mailbox Number and Pin will be displayed near the middle of the page under the heading that says "Mailing Address"
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