JWU Family e-Newsletter
September 2020
A START LIKE NO OTHER

The 2020-21 academic year at JWU Providence is underway. We are thrilled to have so many first-year students and upperclass lab students on campus, and we recognize the tremendous work being done by Wildcats studying remotely this semester.
 
Kelly Dunn, Ed.D., JWU's director of student engagement, reminds families of the complexities involved with starting college in any year, let alone one accompanied by a global pandemic. "It's completely normal for new students to feel overwhelmed and question their decision. It takes time to adjust to their new normal, make social connections and feel like they belong. This year more than ever, students need to work hard at making connections."
 
There are things your student can do to get involved and stay connected.
  • Give virtual activities a try! Students who participate often return for more and they are making connections – even with staff and faculty.
  • Gather in small groups (currently up to 15 allowed in RI), while wearing a mask and practicing physical distancing (6 ft. apart). Go for a walk outside; have a meal together; spread out in a space like the Wildcat Center Lounge.
  • Start conversations with classmates or fellow residents in the halls; exchange contact info and connect via social media.
  • Explore the Involvement Network on jwuLink; find a club or organization that interests you and join!
  • Be on the lookout for small group activities happening on campus and participate. Note that registration may be required.
 
"I am amazed by the enthusiasm displayed by so many new students during orientation this summer, and I'm grateful for the optimism demonstrated by our returning Wildcats," says Dunn. We enter this year with hope for the best, dedication to helping all our students succeed, and appreciation for our families' support. Find helpful information on resources available to assist your student throughout this newsletter.
RESIDENTIAL LIFE WELCOMES STUDENTS "HOME"

Residential Life is excited to have your students be a part of our thriving on-campus community and we cannot wait for them to get involved, progress in their classes, and enjoy their time at JWU.

This summer, we reimagined what we do in the halls to make sure our residents stay safe. We worked on virtual engagement opportunities and looked at how we engage with residents while observing physical distance requirements. Things definitely look a little different. Physically, some of our spaces have plexiglass at the front desks and we have more hand sanitizer stations in our buildings. Some of our meetings or engagement has moved from in-person to Zoom.

All of our halls have advertisements in the lobbies, on bulletin boards or at the front desks for things that are happening on campus, in the halls and virtually. Our department Instagram (@jwupvdreslife) also is a great resource for info on what's happening.
 
Our incredible in-hall teams have been trained to help support students in their time on campus. The area coordinators, graduate assistants, resident assistants, front desk managers and desk assistants are ready to help answer questions or direct students to the correct resource.

Our overall goal in Residential Life is to help students succeed in the following areas: social responsibility, interpersonal interaction and personal development. We want students to communicate well with others across areas of difference, understand how to advocate for their needs, and take initiative and ownership over their learning. In short, we want to help students succeed in all aspects of their college experience and we work to accomplish these goals from the moment they step foot on campus.

Our best advice to students: get involved and attend small live events (and Zoom too), develop a (small) group of friends, study well, and contribute to their community. We are confident that JWU will feel like home soon. As always, have your students reach out should they need anything at all.
THE DEN IS OPEN AND READY TO WELCOME COMMUTERS

The Den is a commuter student lounge located on the Downcity Campus at 35 Richmond Street. It is a vibrant space with couches, tables and chairs, refrigerator, microwave, toaster oven, and a computer and printer for commuter use.

The Den is open from 10 am to 5 pm, Monday through Thursday. To keep the space safe for all who visit, students should note the following:
  1. Capacity is limited to 15 students at one time.
  2. Visits are limited to 20 minutes.
  3. Students must observe 6 feet of physical distancing.
  4. Only one guest may occupy the kitchenette and computer area at a time.
  5. Masks are required upon entering the space and throughout the duration of your visit, except when eating or drinking.
  6. One entrance and exit point and a one-way traffic pattern are in place.

Please know that the space will be cleaned and sanitized every 15-20 minutes, and hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes are available for students to use. We look forward to seeing your Wildcat in The Den this semester.

Note that commuters may take advantage of other available spaces on campus if needed. These include: DOWNCITY – Yena Library, CBCSI 1st floor lounge, E-sports Center, Bowen Center open spaces, BRIDGE; HARBORSIDE – Friedman Library, Friedman Center 2nd floor lounge areas, Wildcat Center Lounge, Culinary Arts Museum
CAMPUS DINING OPEN FOR BUSINESS

This spring, Campus Dining was quick to adapt to changes our world faced. We had the opportunity to serve a small population of students over the summer and focus on steps needed to keep our community safe.

Every Campus Dining employee must complete a check-in process prior to entering the building. Employees and students are also required to wear face coverings while in the dining halls, unless they are seated and eating. We have removed all self-serve stations and reduced the number of seats, while also keeping tables spread apart. We have floor markers to help maintain physical distance and installed contactless card readers at all payment areas. Plexiglass barriers are at ordering and pick-up windows and we have contactless pick-up locations in the dining halls for online ordering.

We were so excited to see students, faculty and staff return for the fall. We set up tents and brought food trucks out to serve students who had to quarantine. For the first time since spring, we were able to reconnect with our students and rebuild our community! Watch this video to see how we safely fed students who needed to quarantine.

Returning students will notice another change on the Harborside Campus: Harborside Café has taken over what used to be Red Sauce. It's got some of the same Red Sauce favorite dishes, and we’ve expanded the menu to include sushi, grab & go options and a sauté station. It also offers breakfast!

Throughout campus we have seven different dining locations and each one accepts meal swipes, flex, cash or credit. For students with meal plans, the GET app is the best resource to track weekly swipe balances and flex for the semester. You can even add funds directly through the app. With all of our grab & go options, students are welcome to use multiple swipes to take additional meals back to their rooms.

We're looking forward to a great year in Campus Dining. Don’t forget to follow us on social media: Facebook: JWU Providence Campus Dining and Instagram: @jwupvdcampusdining
GET A JOB

Turning employment possibilities into reality takes a lot of work, perseverance and intent. It doesn’t just happen. When it comes to exploring, preparing for and pursuing career options, the Experiential Education & Career Services (EE&CS) team is ready to help your Wildcat.

All fall 2020 recruiting events will take place virtually. EE&CS will host three virtual career fairs through Handshake, a platform that gives students access to employers via chat or video. In the past, students who came prepared often walked away with jobs and/or internships from leading companies.

It is crucial that students recognize the competitive edge they gain by preparing early for career events. EE&CS can help students with application-ready resume reviews, mock interviews and more.
 
Please guide your Wildcat to utilize EE&CS and our services from the very beginning. Active engagement and planning will help increase your Wildcat’s chances of being successful in today’s highly competitive job market. Encourage them to plan their career event attendance and meet with a career advisor to prepare. All events and job and internship opportunities are posted on jwuLink under jobs & internships > career events.
KEEPING WILDCATS ENGAGED

JWU's Student Engagement team is dedicated to helping Wildcats explore and discover interests outside of the classroom, connect with their peers and develop as leaders. Restrictions associated with COVID inspired us to find new ways to bring some fun to your student's JWU experience.

This summer, more than 1,370 new students completed a virtual orientation program. They made valuable connections with peers and faculty through OTEAM and academic meetings conducted via Zoom. And since arriving to campus, they've been invited to pickup the ever-popular orientation lanyards and t-shirts.

We hit the ground running with virtual engagement activities this summer and extended our offerings this fall. In fact, new students Jack (Fargo, N.D.), Chrislyn (Washington, D.C.), and Nashawn (Long Island, N.Y.) who carried the ceremonial flags for Ignite the Night were regulars at this summer's virtual bingo. On Sept. 4, more than 65 clubs and organizations greeted students at virtual Involvement Fest (a snippet is shown in the photo above). If your student missed it, they can still get involved with clubs and orgs via the Involvement Network on jwuLink. Clubs like our University Involvement Board, the JWU Players, and lots more are always welcoming new members.

Find information on upcoming engagement opportunities here. Many are virtual, and in-person opportunities are offered whenever possible (group sizes limited). Be sure to follow @jwupvdinvolved on social media and encourage your student to do the same.
VIRTUAL KIOSKS MAKE VISITS TO SAFS SAFE & EASY

Does your student need to speak with an academic counselor or a financial planner? Are they having trouble getting an appointment, or are they not on campus? No problem! New to Student Academic and Financial Services (SAFS) this fall semester is the availability of a virtual kiosk for remote "walk-ins." Find more information and see how your student can add themselves to the waitlist here.

SAFS offers virtual or in-person walks-ins and appointments daily, Monday - Friday. Your student can check their academic counselor’s or financial planner's walk-in and appointment availability via “My Success Network” in uSucceed.
STUDENTS HELPED BY THE ACADEMIC SUCCESS CENTER

Academic tutoring, success coaching, the Writing Lab – these services and more are provided by JWU's Academic Success Center. To accommodate students studying in various time zones and into the evening, the Center's extended remote hours (EST) are Monday - Thursday, 9 am - 9 pm; Friday, 9 am - 6 pm; and Sunday, noon - 9 pm.

Learn more about the Academic Success Center in this short video. Questions? Call 401-598-1485 or have students visit their uSucceed calendar to make an appointment. (Photo above was taken pre-COVID.)
COFFEE & CURRENT EVENTS WITH THE BRIDGE

The BRIDGE hosts informal discussions about everything that is happening in the world, every Thursday from 11 am - noon. Encourage your Wildcats to make a cup of coffee or tea and join us to share any topics they would like to talk about. Not into coffee or tea? No problem! Everyone is welcome.

Coffee & Current Events conversations are happening virtually for now. The link to join via Zoom can be found on Facebook and Instagram @jwuBRIDGE.
INTRODUCING THE MARY & GERTRUDE SOCIETY

The Mary & Gertrude Society was established to honor JWU's founders, Gertrude Johnson and Mary T. Wales. We are proud to celebrate them by honoring loyal donors to the university, including alumni, parents and family members, faculty and staff, and friends whose gifts support JWU students.

Among the 415 inaugural members are 190 current faculty and staff members. Their commitment to our Wildcats extends far beyond the classroom, as evidenced by their annual gifts for three or more consecutive years.

Mary & Gertrude Society member John Melia ’75 attended JWU as a Vietnam Veteran and a 34-year-old father of 3. He fondly recalls, “JWU welcomed me with open arms. Because I was able to obtain a degree, our lives changed.”

We thank all Mary & Gertrude Society members for their steadfast support of all of our Wildcats as they build their futures.
Mark Your Calendars
HOMECOMING & FAMILY WEEKEND: EXTENDED AND VIRTUAL

While COVID limits our ability to gather on campus this fall, we are excited to celebrate JWU students and families nonetheless. Our virtual Homecoming & Family Weekend – extended this year to cover a 5-day period, Oct. 14 - 18 – is coming soon. Whether your student is home with you, living on campus or somewhere else, we hope you will join in the family fun.

More information is available on our website and will be updated by September 14 – the date registration opens. Any questions can be directed to family.pvd@jwu.edu.
JWU CALENDAR

Visit the official University calendar for important dates. Students should also pay attention to class-specific announcements shared by their faculty.
Health & Wellness
COUNSELING SERVICES OFFERS VIRTUAL SUPPORT GROUP

Transitioning to college is often difficult for most and JWU's Counseling Services team recognizes that doing so in the midst of a pandemic is even more challenging. Seeking connection and social support is crucial for navigating these circumstances.

We are pleased to offer an online support group for college students who are experiencing loss, anxiety and frustration due to our current crisis. Students will join a group of peers to support each other in adjusting to the new normal at JWU. Sessions will include some guided discussions with a focus on making connections and providing peer support while talking through struggles and shared experiences.

This is a weekly drop-in group for students of all ages and requires no multiple-week commitment. If you think your student would benefit, please encourage them to participate. Here are details for the first session:

Wednesday, Sept. 9 @ 3 pm
Zoom ID: 8598902614 Password: JWU

Questions can be directed to Counseling Services at 401-598-1016.
HEALTH SERVICES UPDATE

Any students experiencing health concerns should contact JWU's Health Services office. Because of the COVID pandemic and Health Services' commitment to screening students prior to entry, students should call the office at 401-598-1104 (Downcity) or 401-598-1151 (Harborside) before their visit.

Soon, flu shots will be available on campus. The dates are October 5, Downcity at Pepsi Forum, and October 13, Harborside at the Culinary Arts Museum. Hours are 10 am to 2 pm at each location. Students with the JWU Student Health Insurance Plan may receive the flu shot at no cost; others must present a $25 payment.
JWU Parent & Family Community
ONE MOM'S EFFORT TO INSPIRE JWU FAMILIES

Members of JWU’s Wildcat Parents & Family Facebook group likely recognize the name Jen Potter. A Wildcat mom and member of the group herself, Jen has shared inspirational Wildcat Wednesday posts every week since last March. Noticing this trend a couple of months ago, we reached out to Jen to learn more about her, her family’s JWU story, and the driving force behind her Wildcat spirit.
 
Jen’s son Garrett, a junior who has his sights set on a career in event management, made a last-minute decision to attend JWU in late-August of 2018. Having missed the opportunity to connect with families at Orientation, Jen found the Facebook “message board” to be tremendously helpful. “There were so many good people on the board when my son started, and every parent deserves that same support,” she says.

When JWU closed in March because of COVID, Jen felt that “people needed something happy as opposed to all the stress.” That’s when her Wildcat Wednesday posts commenced. Since then, her 24 weekly entries garnered 869 reactions (likes & loves) and 247 comments.
 
Her advice to families interacting with the group, especially those who are new to JWU: “Recognize that for every good, there’s a bad, and vice versa.” People post for lots of reasons, according to Jen. “Some are scared,” she says. “Listen to your student and have faith that things can and will work out.”

Thank you, Jen, for your optimism and your support of JWU families. We appreciate your Wildcat Wednesday posts and wish you, Garrett and the rest of your family all the best.
PFAB PERSPECTIVES
Each month, a member of our Parent & Family Advisory Board (PFAB) reflects on a relevant topic for most college families. Give them a read and see if you can relate.
COVID & COLLEGE

It's hard to believe that we are at the start of a new school year and as we all know, this is no ordinary year. There is so much uncertainty as we help our students navigate this strange and sometimes scary time. School supplies now include face masks and hand sanitizer. Taking temperatures and paying closer attention to any symptoms are part of the daily routine.

There have been several variables to deal with. Many students have been on campus since the summer, making up last year's spring term. Some students are returning to campus for labs which involve wearing masks for at least six hours per day. We have first-year students who may feel isolated being on campus, and students at home may feel like they are missing out on the college experience. There are seniors who are facing uncertainty regarding internships, and how COVID-19 will impact their careers once they graduate. Those in between are dealing with similar issues as well, and everyone is adjusting to a new academic schedule.

As parents and families, we are often full of worry. We want them to enjoy school, fit in, study, and of course be safe and healthy. I was very nervous about sending my Wildcat back for her sophomore year, but I feel JWU has done a spectacular job communicating with us, and I am confident they are taking measures to ensure our students returning to campus remain safe.

Whether our Wildcats are on campus or online at home, it is essential for us to check in with them to be sure they are doing well emotionally and academically. We need to remind them that they are not alone. They are strong and they can do this! This will not last forever, and hopefully we will be able to return to normal soon. I am confident our students will continue to persevere, and keep up their JWU spirit. Keep your chins up everyone and stay well!

- Michelle Willey, from Burlington, Conn., is the 2020-21 PFAB Secretary. She is pictured with her daughter Michaela, a sophomore Baking & Pastry Arts major.
FAMILY SURVEY OF THE MONTH

Look for a family survey in most monthly e-newsletters and make your opinion count. The questions are short and your anonymous response can be shared in seconds. This month we seek to find out more about who's reading the newsletter, plus we invite you to share a movie recommendation. We appreciate your input!
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.