Volume 2, Issue 1 • September 15, 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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Greetings from the Vice President for Student Affairs
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Dear Parents and Families:
The 2022-23 academic year is off to a great start! We are thrilled to serve your students and support their academic endeavors. This monthly e-newsletter is one way that we remain connected with you while sharing the happenings on campus. Our hope is that you become familiar with the available resources and are empowered to refer students to them and to us. As always, we are a phone call or email away: [email protected] or (413) 748-3100
Sincerely,
Slandie Dieujuste, PhD
Photo: Vice President for Student Affairs Slandie Dieujuste, PhD, is entering her second year at Springfield College.
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We are very excited to have welcomed you and your student to the Springfield College campus this fall! As we begin the semester, you’ll find that your student will have the opportunity to engage in valuable learning about themselves and others, as well as finding friends, discovering their academic and career passion, and having fun! Our on-campus environment will allow students to learn useful skills, such as how to live with a roommate and share living space, how to compromise, and how to respect one another’s needs. Our Housing and Residence Life staff of community directors and resident assistants are ready and eager to serve as mentors and support for residents in their respective buildings.
Housing and Residence Life has several student leadership opportunities available. Students can reach out to their resident assistant or community director if they would like more information on joining our team as a resident assistant, a desk assistant, or on how to participate in their Residence Hall Council Leadership board.
Our office is located in the lower level of Alumni Hall. Students can use their ID during business hours to access the door located at the Campus Union end of the building. We can be reached via email at [email protected] or phone (413) 748-3102 weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Again, we are glad to have welcomed your student back to Springfield College!
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Family Weekend Festivities
We are very excited to welcome you to Family Weekend, scheduled for Sept. 23-24, 2022. Online registration closes on Sept. 19. If you happen to miss the deadline, you can always join us, but please note that some activities may be sold out.
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As your student gets accustomed to life on campus, experiencing stress, anxiety, loneliness, and the struggles that come with new environments and academics is very common. We are excited that the Pride Cares program, which launched last spring, will be continuing this fall. Pride Cares trains students to provide peer-to-peer support to listen, understand, and connect students to services on campus. If your student is looking for someone to talk to, they can identify our Pride Cares-trained students by their green bag tags, laptop stickers, and door hangers (all which have the words “Pride Cares” on them). If your student is looking for a way to help others, they can apply for the next Pride Cares cohort by emailing us at [email protected].
Our peer health education team—the Student Advocates for Wellness—will have a strong presence on campus this semester as well. Follow along on their Instagram @sc_studentadvocates.
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Upcoming Events, Activities, and Athletic Competitions
As your student settles into their fall routine, we hope they find time to get involved on campus and spend time with new and old friends. If your student is looking for something to do, encourage them to visit the athletic calendar and the programming calendar for ideas.
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Vaccination Clinics
Get protected! One of the best ways for your student to protect themselves and others from the flu and COVID-19 is to get vaccinated. The Health Center, in collaboration with Behavioral Health Network, will be offering two COVID-19 and influenza vaccine clinics. The clinics will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 27 and Wednesday, Oct. 12 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the PE Annex (239 Wilbraham Ave). The clinics will be open to all students, staff, and faculty. More information, including a sign-up link, will be sent to students via their Springfield College email in the coming weeks.
The Health Center staff is available to answer any questions or concerns:
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Food Insecurity
The Pride Food Pantry, located in the Flynn Campus Union, opened Sept. 6 for online ordering with in-person hours starting the week of Sept. 19. The pantry supports all undergraduate and graduate students who may be experiencing food insecurity. The Swipe Out Hunger program also supports students by providing meals which can be used in the dining hall throughout the semester. These meals are donated by students on meal plans who may not be utilizing all of the meals within their plans. Students can donate meals through the Get App and can request meals on PrideNET by clicking on the Swipe Out Hunger button. More detailed information about these programs will be provided to students through the Center for Service and Leadership.
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As a parent or guardian of a student at Springfield College, you may have concerns about your student's well-being this year. If those concerns involve their mental health, the Counseling Center staff is here to provide your student with a variety of services and support. Our staff consists of experienced professionals who are dedicated to aiding students in navigating the excitement and challenges of adjusting to their “home away from home.” All our services are confidential and we take pride in the compassion we have for students at Springfield College.
The transition from home to campus can bring up feelings of homesickness, loneliness, anxiety, and stress. Campus life can present new and unique situations for students no matter if this is their first time at Springfield College or they are a returning student. If your student is expressing any of these feelings, or has shared other issues they are facing, we want you to know that we are here to help. Sometimes a solution can be as easy as having someone in your corner to listen to what is going on and provide a safe place to talk.
Our office can be reached by phone at (413) 748-3345 or via email at [email protected].
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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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Student Government Association
The Student Government Association (SGA) promotes the interests and welfare of the student body and guides and finances more than 42 registered student organizations. Managed by elected students, SGA approves funding for active student organizations, adopts policies affecting students, and serves as a liaison between students and the College administration. This year, they are led by Douglas Wydom (at left), SGA president, and Mason Preble (at right), SGA vice president for student affairs.
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Student Speech Language Hearing Association Recognized
The National Student Speech Language Hearing Association (National NSSLHA) awarded the NSSLHA Chapter at Springfield College with 2022 Silver Chapter Honors. The chapter was recognized for their increase in membership, continued advocacy, and ongoing service to the community.
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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, 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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Join the Springfield community online.
Get an inside look at what life is really like at Springfield College.
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Springfield College is a smoke free/tobacco free campus.
Copyright © 2022 Springfield College. All rights reserved.
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