Volume 2, Issue 4 • February 1, 2023
This newsletter is published by the Division of Student Affairs as a communication tool for our parents and families to stay informed.
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Pictured above: Student leaders joined Slandie Dieujuste for the annual Pop-Up Pick-Me-Up at Dunkin’ leading into the fall semester finals. Pictured from left to right: Doug Wydom, Mason Preble, Slandie Dieujuste, Tina Riordan, Lily Gould.
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Greetings from the Vice President for Student Affairs
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Dear Parents and Families:
Happy New Year! We hope you had a chance to spend time and connect with your student during the winter break. The spring semester always seems to go by fast, especially for seniors who are getting ready to cross the commencement stage. I am excited about the new opportunities this new year will bring for our students, and the learning that will take place inside and outside of the classroom.
As always, we are only a phone call and email away:
Sincerely,
Slandie Dieujuste, PhD
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You may have noticed that your relationship with your student has changed since they came to college. The same is true for their relationships with their friends—both those at college and at home—and any romantic partnerships. In February, we are highlighting all forms of healthy relationships for students! We want to support them in developing great relationships with friends and partners during “Love Better” week (Feb 6), but also in developing a better relationship with themself during “Love Your Body” week (Feb 20). You can encourage your student to spend some time focusing on their relationships, as we know that strong friendships help students be successful in college. They can learn more about these, and all our other events, by following our Instagram @sc_healthpromotion.
As for your relationship with your student, keep your lines of communication open—even if they seem to text you all night long or not enough—and let them talk when they are ready. If you ask the important questions and give them space to answer, you might be surprised with what they are willing to share about their lives.
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Free Access to Springfield Museums
Did you know that your student can receive free admission to any of the Springfield Museums? Students simply need to show their Springfield College ID card and they can gain admission to any one of the five museums, including The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum, Springfield Science Museum, Smith Art Museum, and the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts. As the weather turns colder and students are looking for indoor activities, or to explore their home-away-from-home, encourage them to visit the Springfield Museums.
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The semester may have just started, but it's already time to start thinking about housing selection for the 2023-24 academic year. As a reminder, Springfield College has a three-year residency requirement and students are required to live on campus for at least six academic semesters. Living on campus is a great way to stay close to all the action, maintain a short commute to classes and other campus resources, and stay connected with peers and the campus community. All of this with the added support of Residence Life student leaders and professional staff should your student need some extra assistance!
In order to participate in the housing selection process, all students need to electronically sign their housing contract through their “My Housing” tab on PrideNET starting on February 1. Once they have completed the contract, they will be able to group and participate in their eligible selection processes through the "My Housing" tab on PrideNET. Groups will be assigned a time based on average earned credit hours of group members and average GPA of group members. All eligible and completely matched groups will receive a selection time for the opportunity to pick an available space.
Please encourage your student to check their Springfield College email regularly throughout the process. We will send students more detailed information, including their individual or group selection date and time for which they are eligible. As always, please contact our office with any questions at (413) 748-3102 or via email at reslife@springfield.edu.
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New Year, New Opportunities to Get Involved on Campus
There are several ways for students to get involved with clubs and organizations, whether that's joining a club, or participating in different events and activities throughout the spring semester. The Office of Student Activities will be hosting a Club Fair on Tuesday, February 7 in the Flynn Campus Union during the common hour.
What are the benefits of joining a club, you ask? Getting involved is a great way to develop life-long friendships, learn time-management and leadership skills, and club involvement always looks great on a resume! At this fair, students will be able to talk to current student leaders to learn more about how to join their club. Check out a full list of current active clubs on campus, plus contact information!
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Calling All Athletes
Campus Recreation offers about 10-12 intramural sports per semester. Spring offerings include cornhole, flag football, tennis, soccer, basketball, volleyball, bowling, futsal, dodgeball, handball, and softball. If your student is interested in a particular sport(s), but does not have a team, they can register as a free agent. All participants can register through IMLeagues.com using their Springfield College email address. For more information or assistance, you can email us at intramurals@springfield.edu.
Pictured above: The winners of the 3-on-3 basketball league celebrate their victory and their free shirt (from left to right:) Danny George, Simao Cabral, Peyton Ryan, Jenna Hicks, and Charlie Ouellette.
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Food Insecurity Resources
The Pride Pantry supports students, faculty, and staff who may be experiencing food insecurity. It is located on the first floor of the Campus Union across from the Career Center and is open weekly for in-person shopping on Mondays from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Tuesdays from 4-8 p.m., and Fridays from 1-4 p.m. There is also an online ordering option and curbside pickup is available. The pantry has just added an exchange area for the Springfield College community to drop off and/or pick up clothing, textbooks, and small household items. Another resource available to students is the Swipe Out Hunger program which allows students with meal plans to donate meals to students who either do not have a meal plan or have a limited meal plan. Meals can be donated through the Get App and meals can be requested by clicking on the Swipe Out Hunger button on PrideNET.
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As caregivers, there are so many topics you can discuss with your student as they navigate the ups and downs of collegiate life. There are practical things to consider, like what to bring to campus for the year, loans, classes, debt, and career planning. While your student probably does need help in these areas, there are other impactful aspects of campus life. One area that is challenging is talking with your student about healthy relationships. There are a myriad of relationship representations in the media that are not always realistic or attainable. Talking openly about expectations in relationships, your own experiences, and providing a safe space for your student to share about their struggles, can be vital to supporting them. It can be helpful to stay curious with your student about their experiences, give them room to talk, and encourage the conversation to be ongoing. When you open the door for this kind of communication, they are more likely to feel like you are a safe person with whom to share details of their relationships. Additionally, encouraging your student to do their own research and education about the reality of relationships and finding outside support can be a solid way to demonstrate compassion and understanding without becoming overly involved. |
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About the Division of Student Affairs
The Division of Student Affairs aims to foster an engaging and inclusive co-curricular learning environment where students grow as leaders while exploring, understanding, and living the Humanics philosophy. The Division is comprised of the following offices and programs: Spiritual Life, Community Standards, Health Promotion, Dean of Students, Office of Non-discrimination Initiatives, Title IX, Undergraduate Student Orientation Programs, Career Center, Counseling Center, Housing and Residence Life, Student Activities and Campus Union, Campus Recreation, Center for Service and Leadership, Veterans and Military Services Center, and the Health Center.
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