From the Desk of Dr. Anna Gonzalez | | |
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Dear parents and families,
Happy June! As we transition to the summer, I hope you and your students are taking time to connect — August will be here before we know it!
While we hope summer is a time of fun and relaxation for your students, we realize it can be a time that causes unease as the first day of class nears. In order to best meet your student's needs and assist with their arrival preparation, we have a Before You Arrive Checklist. Please encourage your student to utilize this as a guide. If your student has a U.S. address, a postcard version of this monthly checklist will be mailed in June, July, and August. This will go to the home mailing address your student has listed in WebSTAC.
Additional resources that you and your student may find helpful, include:
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The parents and families website. This site is a wonderful source that is updated regularly and reflects our most up-to-date information.
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We are launching two new innovations for students in fall 2024 - Dialogue Across Difference (DxD) and a new first-year course L43 1100. More information will be shared with your student on how they can participate in these courses over the coming months.
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TimelyCare is a telehealth service available 24/7 to students in all 50 states that offers a range of services, including health coaching, on-demand medical care, and on-demand mental health support. Using their WashU email address, we encourage them to register for TimelyCare now, before they arrive to campus. This ensures their account is created and available should your student wish to utilize this resource.
Finally, if you need additional information, I invite you to connect with us at [email protected], or by calling 314-935-5040 or toll-free at 844-935-5040. We are here to support your student!
Warmly,
Anna "Dr. G" Gonzalez
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
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Important Dates / Deadlines | | |
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Summer 2023
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July 18-20: Course registration
Fall 2023
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August 18 and 19*: Class of 2027 Move-In Day
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August 19-26: Fall Welcome for Class of 2027
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August 23: Transfer Student Move-In
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August 23-25: Transfer Student Welcome
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August 28: First day of classes
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September 4: Labor Day (No classes)
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October 7-10: Fall Break (No classes)
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November 22-26: Thanksgiving Break (No classes)
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December 8: Last day of classes
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December 11-20: Reading period and finals
*International students and fall varsity athletes have different arrival dates. Please have your student check with the Office for International Students and Scholars or their head coach for more information.
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Parent & Family Orientation RSVP | | |
Bear Beginnings: Fall Welcome for Class of 2027 | | |
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Move-In Day will occur on Friday, August 18 and Saturday, August 19, 2023*. Details about move-in will be available on the Residential Life website in early July after housing assignments are released. Fall Welcome will take place Saturday, August 19 to Saturday, August 26, 2023. During Fall Welcome, your student will meet with a small peer group, engage in academic experiences, and participate in a long-standing university tradition - Convocation. You can preview the Fall Welcome schedule for first-year students on the new students website.
*International students and fall varsity athletes have different arrival dates. Please check with the Office for International Students and Scholars or your head coach for more information.
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We're excited to welcome transfer students to campus in August. Move-In Day will be on Wednesday, August 23* for transfer students living in Residential Life-managed housing.
Bear Beginnings: Transfer & Exchange Fall Welcome will take place Wednesday, August 23 through Saturday, August 26.
*Fall varsity athletes have different arrival dates. Please check with your head coach for more information.
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What to Expect this Month | | |
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If your student has a U.S. address, they will receive the following items in the mail from us this month:
1) Bear Essentials for Students
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Bear Essentials for Students is a publication that helps first-year students prepare for their first year by providing a glimpse into different aspects of WashU.
2) June Before You Arrive Checklist
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The June Before You Arrive Checklist contains action items that should be completed by your student this month. Please encourage your student to complete these to-do items!
If you have a U.S. address, you, as a parent or family member, will receive the following items in the mail from us this month:
1) Bear Essentials for Families
2) Parent & Family Habif Health and Well-being Guide
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Course Registration
Registration for fall 2023 courses will take place between July 18-20 during your student's assigned registration time.
Your student's academic adviser will reach out to them in mid-June. Your student must have their WUSTL Key and WashU email established to have access to course listings and be able to communicate with their academic adviser. Remind your student to check their WashU email several times a week to have the most up-to-date information from their academic adviser!
Dialogue Across Difference (DxD)
Dialogue across Difference (DxD) are one-credit, eight-week courses teaching students how to dialogue across difficult topics such as politics, religion, race, and gender identity in a positive and productive way. Hear from students who have taken the class and learn more about the program.
First-Year Course L43 1100
This one-credit, seven-week course is designed to help new students make a successful transition to WashU, both academically and personally. This course sets students on a path in which they will engage with academic readings, interactive activities, and empirically based strategies centered on the five core anchors of Student Affairs: Healthy Excellence; Leadership; Career Development; Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion; and Student Engagement & Belonging. The course also introduces the students to key academic success and learning strategies resources and support staff that will optimize their experiences at the university.
Students interested in taking L43 1100 should speak with their academic adviser when discussing their fall 2023 course schedule. McKelvey students should consider taking ENGR 120 First Year Foundations.
Placement Exams
Students interested in taking math, language classes, College Writing, or general chemistry at WashU may be required to take placement exams. Most of these exams are taken online during the summer.
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Your student must complete the following health and wellness requirements:
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The upcoming webinars for the Summer Webinar Series edition of our Family Webinar Series can be found below! This series was designed to help your student succeed, by answering all of their and your WashU questions. A recording of the first webinar in the Summer Webinar Series, A Conversation About Housing and Dining, can be viewed on our Family Webinar Series page. The information for our upcoming webinar and its registration link are below.
A Conversation about Habif Health and Wellness: June 13 at 5:30 PM CDT
- Habif Health & Wellness offers a range of services including primary and urgent medical care, mental health services, wellness support, and health education. Cheri LeBlanc, MD, Executive Director for Habif Health and Wellness and Tom Brounk, PhD, Director for Mental Health Services join us for a conversation on Habif services and resources, health forms, immunizations, and mental health services.
A Conversation about Combined Studies: June 27 at 5:30 PM CDT
- For all first-year students interested in learning more about a second degree, a second major, or a minor in a different undergraduate division on campus, there will be a general information meeting followed by breakout sessions with presentations by each of the five undergraduate schools.
A Conversation about Student Financial Services: July 11 at 5:30 PM CDT
- Student Financial Services (SFS) provides support to students in multiple ways. SFS counselors are available to assist with a financial emergency, a family crisis, or just with understanding how aid works. Students can also get assistance with finding on-campus jobs, how to navigate the billing process, and with budget planning. Andrea Stewart-Douglas, Associate Director of Student and Family Engagement for Student Financial Services, will join us for a conversation on paying your student’s bill, financial assistance, student employment, and payment and financing options.
A Conversation about Disability Resources: July 25 at 5:30 PM CDT
- Disability Resources (DR) is the official resource for students on the Danforth Campus who have disabilities or suspected disabilities. DR is dedicated to ensuring that every student with a disability will have equal access to our campus and academic programs. Chris Stone, Director of Disability Resources, will join us to discuss the challenges, opportunities, and responsibilities of transitioning to higher education for incoming students with disabilities or suspected disabilities.
A Conversation about Move-In and Fall Welcome: August 1 at 5:30 PM CDT
- As students gear up for the fall 2023 semester, we want to provide students and families the opportunity to learn more about Move-In Day and Bear Beginnings: Fall Welcome. Katharine Pei, Director of Student Transitions & Family Programs, and Evan Keil, Associate Director of Housing Operations, join us to discuss what students and families need to know leading up to Move-In Day, Bear Beginnings: Fall Welcome, and Parent & Family Orientation.
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Update Your Contact Information | | |
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We encourage you to work with your student to check that your contact information is correct in their WebSTAC account. This will ensure that you, as a family member, are receiving all relevant information including future editions of Family Ties. This includes cell phone number, email address, and emergency contact information.
Your student can confirm, and make changes to, your information in WebSTAC.
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For a springboard to help you determine the best answer to your questions, please email [email protected] or call 314.935.5040 or reach us toll free at 844.935.5040. | |
Student Transitions & Family Programs | Washington University in St. Louis
Umrath House, lower level, suite 0925 | One Brookings Drive, MSC 1136-0332-LL | St. Louis, MO 63130
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