Volume 1, Issue 8 • April 28, 2022
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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Vice President for Student Affairs Slandie Dieujuste (second from left) celebrates with soon-to-be-alumni (from left, Evelyn Aguilar-Duarte, Jennifer Charlera, and Tiffany Yago) at the recent 50 Days to Graduation celebration. |
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Greetings from the Vice President for Student Affairs
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Dear Parents and Families:
It’s another year in the books! What a wonderful journey it has been with your student. I join you in being incredibly proud that they have made it to the end of a successful year despite the anxiety and uncertainties surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. For those of you with graduating seniors—we wish you the best. For those of you with returning students, we look forward to welcoming them back soon.
Although the next issue of Springfield College Connect will not be published until the fall semester, please do feel free to reach out in the meantime if we can be of assistance. Have a wonderful summer.
Sincerely,
Slandie Dieujuste, PhD
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While we have loved having your student live with us this year, we know you are excited to have them back with you for the summer. Here is some important information we’re sharing with you in the event your student (or you) has questions.
Quiet Hours and Finals: “24-hour Quiet Hours” begin on Tuesday, May 3 at 10 p.m. and continue throughout finals until residence halls close on Tuesday, May 10. Best of success to all our students taking their finals and writing their papers!
Hall Closing Information: Residence halls close at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, May 10, for non-graduating students. Graduating students who are participating in Senior Week 2022, and have purchased the events package, will be able to stay in their hall until Sunday, May 15 at 4 p.m.
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Please share the following checklist with your student.
Closing checklist
- Open all window blinds.
- Close and lock all windows.
- If you have a thermostat, set it to 70 degrees.
- Close and lock your bedroom/suite door.
- Defrost and unplug micro-chill refrigerator (if applicable).
- Remove all garbage/recycling from room to outside dumpsters.
- Remove all opened food.
- Turn off all lights.
- Remove all personal items and decorations from room.
- Return your room/suite keys via completed express check out envelope and deposit in the office lockbox. If a resident would like to check out and have their room inspected during business hours, please make an appointment with the community director.
- There is no summer storage. Items left after checkout will be considered abandoned property and disposed of during the room cleaning process.
Summer Housing Information: Summer housing will be located in Senior Suites at a cost of $200 per week. If a student needs to stay on campus during any part of the summer for classes or campus work, please have them submit a summer housing application via their PrideNET account (under “Access My Housing”). Priority deadline is Friday, May 6, but applications will be accepted on a rolling basis after this date. Assignments will be made on a first-come, first-served basis as space allows.
If you or your student has any questions, feel free to give us a call at (413) 748-3102 or email us at reslife@springfield.edu if we can be of service. We are open weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
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Hours of Operation for Finals Week and Beyond
With the end of the semester comes changes to hours of operation for many facilities on campus. Check the latest information on when select buildings and services are open and available during finals and beyond. Starting on May 16, the College will shift to our summer hours of operation and offices will be open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; regular hours will resume Aug. 8 as we prepare to welcome students back to campus.
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Staff of the Center for Service and Leadership will conduct a drive at the end of the semester to collect items that students no longer want or need. In each residence hall, there will be boxes designated for food, clothing, and textbooks. In the halls that have apartment-style housing, there will also be a designated area in the main lobby or lounge for smaller household items like dishes, pots and pans, lamps, etc. For bigger items, a local nonprofit agency will provide a truck to collect furniture and larger household items for donation.
Boxes/bins will be placed in residence halls by May 4. The donation truck will be on campus a day or two prior to Commencement. Flyers and announcements will be posted with exact days and times by May 2. Items will be donated to other Springfield College students through the Pride Pantry and to a local nonprofit to benefit low-income people in Springfield.
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Health Center
As your students return home for the summer or move on to their next phase of life upon graduating, it is important that they are prepared to navigate their health care needs. Here are some helpful hints for them:
- Starting a new job or going to graduate school? The Health Center is offering appointments for all graduating students through May 13 to have a free physical and obtain a copy of their immunization records.
- Currently receiving prescription medications through the Health Center? Students should schedule an appointment at the Health Center to get an adequate supply of medication or refills for the summer months. Prescriptions can also be transferred to a pharmacy closer to home or your student’s location for the summer.
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The summer months are a great time to reconnect with your primary care provider. Plan ahead and book an appointment now as it can take weeks (or months) for an appointment.
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Need your Health Center records? Students may come to the Health Center to request a copy of their medical records or submit a signed authorization form. The medical record release form is available on the Health Center Web page.
If you or your student have other questions, the Health Center will be open all summer weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. to answer your student’s questions. We can be reached by phone at (413) 748-3175, email at healthcenter@springfield.edu or fax at (413) 748-3444.
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Students check out the information table during the Career Center Refer-a-Peer event.
Career Connection
As the 2021-22 academic year closes, the Career Center team enjoyed another great year engaging with all of our students during their appointments, our workshops, and our events. Thank you to all of the families of our talented students who referred them our way. Whether students will be graduating in May and embarking on an exciting career path, attending graduate school in September, or returning to Springfield College in the fall to continue their academic studies, we want you to know that the Career Center is open during the summer, weekdays from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments (in-person, phone, or Zoom) can be scheduled by calling (413) 748-3222 or emailing career@springfield.edu. Summer is an ideal time for students to explore areas of interest in their intended career industry by networking with employers, scheduling informational interviews, and potentially ascertaining summer employment in a field closely aligned with their future full-time career path. The summer is also a great time for students to update their resume.
We hope you and your student will stay in touch with the Career Center staff via social media:
The Career Center staff wishes everyone a happy and exciting summer ahead.
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Upcoming Events, Activities, and Athletic Competitions
While the end of the semester is drawing near, there are still events and activities happening on campus. If your student is looking for a break from studying, encourage them to visit the athletic calendar and the programming calendar for ideas.
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Soon your college students will most likely be returning home for the summer. How you get along during this time can set the tone for future visits or for a time when many may move back for a more permanent stay. With every semester, college students are learning more about themselves, their peers, and the world around them. Things may be shifting or shifted at home, too, so it can take a bit to find the rhythm in your home again.
When your student arrives, it is key to remember that “parenting” is also shifting. The fact is they are now adults, even if it doesn’t always feel like it, to you or them. This new frontier demands forming a collaborative relationship with your adult child. It can take some getting used to for all involved. Realizing that your student is less likely to respond to demands than they are to a request, less intrusiveness and less judgment are keys to keeping communication positive.
All parents have thoughts and opinions on their emerging adult’s life choices and habits or plans. The rules you had when your student was in high school may not work now. Revisit and revise the ones most important to you.
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COVID Updates
The College will be wrapping up this academic year’s free, optional COVID testing program on Monday, May 9. While testing provides a “snapshot” in time, we hope this information helps students feel more confident they are doing all they can to protect their family, friends, and community, especially as they return home for the summer. All testing will take place in our testing center (239 Wilbraham Ave.).
- Mondays: 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
- Wednesdays: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
- Thursdays: 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Results should be available 24-36 hours following the test. As a reminder, if your student is feeling ill, please encourage them to not go to class and engage in activities. Have them consult the Health Center staff or their primary care provider.
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We’re excited to share with you the wonderful work that students and staff within the Division of Student Affairs are doing. |
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On Monday, April 25, Springfield College hosted the annual Student Leadership Awards presentation. These awards recognize students who have made outstanding leadership contributions to our campus community and the local Springfield community. We hope you join us in congratulating all the nominees and the award winners.
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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, Alcohol and Other Drug Education, Dean of Students, 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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