May 2023
Dear Tulane Parents,

We are so pleased to have your new first year student join us for fall 2023. As the Director of Family Programs and External Relations, I'm happy to welcome you into our Tulane community. At Tulane we consider families to be partners with us in supporting your students' education and growth during their university experience. To that end, Family Programs offers publications, webinars, tutorials, events, and other resources to assist you in supporting your student.
 
One of those resources is this Tulane Family Newsletter. We send this communication to families of incoming new students every twice a month now through mid-August with information to help you navigate your student's high school-to-college transition and preparation for beginning the fall semester. Once the academic year begins, you will hear from us once a month from September through May. Each issue will feature university resources and offer practical recommendations, reminders of deadlines, and preparation for upcoming procedures. There is also a convenient list of Quick Links at the bottom of each e-newsletter, but if you remember to use families.tulane.edu/info, you can find most of the information you'll ever need.

Please keep in mind that this e-newsletter and the families.tulane.edu website are the official Tulane Family Programs communication mechanisms. (While there are few unofficial parent groups on social media, they are not managed or monitored by Tulane staff.) Make sure you’re looking to Tulane Family Programs tools, emails directly from Tulane departments, and Tulane University websites for correct information on university policies and current guidance on procedures and resources.

This first newsletter issue is longer than usual to share a lot of helpful information to get you started:
  • Summer Preparation for the First Year: New Student Checklist and Modules
  • Family Programs Webinars
  • Move-In and Housing for First-Year Students
  • Move-In Travel Discounts – Southwest Airlines and Tulane Travel Portal
  • Advice for Purchasing Room Supplies
  • Fall Semester 2023 Important Dates and Deadlines

Again, welcome to the Tulane community!

Warm regards,
Penny Wyatt, Director
Family Programs and External Relations
Division of Student Affairs
phone: 1-877-887-9283

P.S.
If you need to correct your contact information, please use the "Update Profile" link at the very bottom of this message. If your spouse or partner didn't receive the e-newsletter, recommend they check their spam folder first, then use this link to subscribe, if needed.
Summer Preparation for the First Year: New Student Checklist & Modules
To help your student prepare to matriculate for fall semester, the Newcomb-Tulane College First-Year Experience Office publishes a comprehensive New Student Checklist. Using this tool will help keep your student on track for everything from submitting immunization and health insurance information to setting up parents' access to the tuition and fees bill.

We do expect students to complete the checklist, but understand that at this stage in students' transition to college, parents' assistance may be needed with several items. Review the whole checklist with your student now and then check it together once a week so your student won't miss any deadlines. While you can print out a PDF of the checklist for an at-a-glance reference, use the online version to complete the steps since it has links to relevant details, submission forms, and instructions.

The First-Year Experience Office also sends all first-year students a series of "Navigator" e-newsletters to their Tulane e-mail addresses. The first issue was sent on May 8 and continues on the 1st and 15th of the month through the summer and through their first academic year. Please help us by reminding your student to keep up with their Tulane email and read those important messages. If you would like to follow along, you can read the Navigator issues online here.
Another essential part of new students' preparation is the collection of required online New Student Modules, designed by First-Year Experience to help students navigate the transition to college life, gain a better understanding of academic expectations, and learn about campus resources. Working through the modules will help students feel more prepared, confident, and connected as they begin their journey at Tulane.

The New Student Modules are located in Canvas, Tulane's online learning management system which students will use for all their future courses. Students' May 8 Navigator e-newsletter explained in detail how the modules work. Briefly, students log in with their Tulane email and password, find the module on the Canvas Dashboard, and have until the last day of the month to complete the REQUIRED monthly modules.

The May module focuses on Academics, including College Advising, Campus Services, and the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility. Completing this module by May 31 is essential preparation for students' advising appointment in June to select their fall semester courses.

The New Student Module topics for subsequent months will address:
  • June - Belonging
  • July - Community
  • August - What to Expect

Email any questions to firstyear@tulane.edu.
Family Programs Webinars
New students have Modules to guide their preparation. For families we have these newsletters and a special summer series of webinars and tutorials. Some topics will align with the content in the Modules. Don't worry, you won't have required responses to submit like your students do!

We're kicking off our Summer 2023 series of Family Programs webinars for parents of new students with two topics especially relevant for this stage of your student's preparation for their future at Tulane.
 
Register by clicking on the title of the webinar below. You'll receive a confirmation email after registering and a Zoom join link the day of the event. All Family Programs webinars will be recorded and posted a few days after the event in the Family Programs Webinar Archive at https://families.tulane.edu/webinars-tutorials.

6 p.m. CST, Tuesday, May 30, 2023
Designed especially for parents of new first-year students, this parent webinar will provide tips and tricks to help you support your student as they prepare for the fall 2023 course registration process beginning in June. Leaders from the Newcomb-Tulane College Advising Services team will review the structure of academics, advising and other support services at Tulane. The presenters will explain how your student can maximize thoughtful academic planning and thorough preparation for registration. The presenters will share advice for supporting your student as they become responsible for their academic planning and progress at Tulane.
 
6 p.m. CST, Wednesday, May 31, 2023

The Goldman Center for Student Accessibility works to support students with disability-related accommodation needs, including academic, housing, dietary and other needs. Dario A. Bayardo, Director of the Goldman Center for Student Accessibility, will provide an overview of Tulane's accommodation request process and explain some differences to expect at the post-secondary level. He will also describe the Goldman Center Orientation, which will be offered a few times during the Move-In Days before formal orientation programming begins.

You can read the descriptions and register for webinars scheduled in June and July:

In June and July we'll also post Family Programs pre-recorded tutorials on Health Insurance Requirements, Immunization Compliance Requirements, Move-In Mail Services and Shipping Procedures and more.
Move-In and Housing for First-Year Students
Move-In for first-year students will be August 13 - 15, 2023. Please do not make travel arrangements until your student has been assigned their move-in time slot as explained below. Housing & Residence Life will e-mail new students their assigned 30-minute Move-In time slot to their Tulane email addresses. By assigning Move-In arrival times, Tulane spreads out the number of students and families on campus at one time and provides students some flexibility in planning their arrival. If a student has an unavoidable conflict during their time slot, there will be a time period when they may cancel their time slot and select a new one from available options in the Housing Portal. More details will be included in the time slot assignment email messages.

Scheduling your travel for Move-In
Most families arrive the night before their student’s assigned Move-In Day. The activities for parents include a Family Resource Station 1 - 4 p.m. and a special Family Welcome from senior university leaders 5 - 5:45 p.m. on each Move-In Day.

Families should plan to leave campus by 7:45 p.m. on their student’s move-in day since students have required orientation activities that evening and the following days.
  • If you wish to spend time in New Orleans as a family, it’s best to schedule that before Move-In.
  • Don't miss the next article about travel discounts available for your visit!
 
Roommate preference and room assignments procedures
Beginning June 2 through June 14, students may begin submitting roommate preferences through the Housing Portal. More information about the roommate preference process will be emailed to students who complete a Housing Application by June 1. Students will be notified of their housing assignment via their Tulane email by mid-July. 
 
Consult the website and stay tuned for more details . . .
More information about Move-In, other housing information, and specific instructions for mailing/shipping students' belongings to campus will be announced later in the summer and will be featured in an upcoming Family Programs tutorial. Once students receive their housing assignment, they can find community and general room details on the Residence Halls webpage.
Move-In Travel Discounts – Southwest Airlines and Tulane Travel Portal
Southwest Airlines Discounts for 2023 Move-In and Family Weekend Travel
Southwest Airlines is proud to provide Tulane travelers with added benefits for Move-In and Family Weekend travel this fall. Book your flights through SWABIZ.com using ID# 99579701 to get discounted airfare on qualifying flights as well as 15% additional Rapid Rewards points when you include your Rapid Rewards number. Remember, when flying Southwest your first two bags fly free, there’s no change or cancellation fees, and now flight credits don’t expire!

Move-In travel: Book your orientation travel between June 1st and August 10th for travel between August 10 - 22 to receive additional benefits.
Family Weekend travel: Book your homecoming travel between June 1st and October 17th for travel between October 17 - 23 to receive additional benefits. (Family Weekend programming runs Thursday evening, October 19, 2023, through Sunday, October 22, 2023.)

Tulane Travel Portal for Lodging in New Orleans
When making plans to visit Tulane we recommend that you use our Tulane Travel Portal to find the most advantageous rates at New Orleans hotels or bed & breakfast inns. The “Visit Tulane” link on the portal opens to show several local and national partners that will assist you in arranging your stay in New Orleans. Locations in the Uptown, Carrollton, and Garden District neighborhoods are the closest to campus, however, staying in the French Quarter, Central Business District, Warehouse/Arts District, and Mid-City neighborhoods offer added culture to your trip as well.
Advice for Purchasing Room Supplies
Here's some helpful advice if you are purchasing items--or your student is planning to use graduation gifts--to outfit your student’s residence hall room.
 
Keep in mind it might be more cost effective and efficient to wait until later in the summer to order from retailers so your student’s items can be shipped directly to Tulane. This will save you having to ship them again from your home to campus. No items should arrive at Tulane prior to July 12, 2023, or they will be returned to the vendor. Our Mail Services staff advise that when ordering items, you don’t have much control when the vendor sends them. Vendors may promise a later delivery, but to recognize the sale, they must ship when you make the purchase. So, it’s better to make those orders closer to July 12.
 
Also, be aware that Tulane partners with University Student Services (USS) on a special residence hall supplies program for linens and décor called DORMIFY. Complete details will be sent later. Unless you want purchases shipped to your home first, items should not be ordered until after Tulane Mail Services sends your student their mailing address and detailed shipping information later in the summer. No items will be accepted prior to July 12.
 
You can wait until Move-In to buy gently used residence hall supplies during the annual Trash to Treasure sale. The Trash to Treasure student organization sells items donated by students at spring move-out and donates sale profits to local New Orleans service organizations. Items vary each year, but typical treasures include plastic storage drawers, desk lamps, mirrors, hangers, shower caddies, hampers, rugs, pillows, shelves, clothes, and more!
Fall Semester 2023 Important Dates and Deadlines
In addition to the deadlines from the New Student Checklist and your student's specific Move-In Day described above, here are other important dates to add to your calendar:
 
August 21, 2023 Classes begin
September 1, 2023 Last day to register/add classes **We recommend waiting until this date before scheduling your student's end of semester travel home, since changes to their class schedule may change their final exam dates.
September 4, 2023 Labor Day Holiday
October 5 - 8, 2023 Fall Break
October 19 - 22, 2023 Family Weekend **You may want to arrive on the evening of Thursday, October 19 so you can attend as many parent/family-specific Friday, October 20 events as possible. More detailed information about our Wave'23 - Homecoming/Reunion/Family Weekend will be shared soon!
November 20 - 26, 2023 Thanksgiving Break
December 8, 2023 Last Day of Classes
December 11 - 16, 2023 Exams
 
The only break for which the residence halls close is the Winter Break between the fall and spring semesters. The residence halls remain open and staffed for Labor Day, Fall Break, and Thanksgiving Break during the fall semester.

You can find the university holidays, students' breaks, and Tulane's Religious Observance Policy on the Office of the Registrar's Academic Calendar. Use the buttons and drop-down list to find the correct year and term (semester).
Topics in Our Next Issue
Whew! That was a lot of information, but hopefully it was not too overwhelming. The goal for subsequent issues this summer is to guide inform you and guide your student's preparation in manageable steps. Future topics:
  • Ordering Procedures for Books and Other Course Materials
  • Technology Device Recommendations and Accommodations
  • Student Billing Procedures
  • More on Family Webinars
  • Wave '23 - Homecoming/Reunion/Family Weekend news
Quick Links
This convenient list of Quick Links to university resources will be in every issue of the newsletter. You can also use families.tulane.edu/info to find more of the links parents and families use the most, email families@tulane.edu, or call 877-TUP-WAVE (877-887-9283). 
To update your email address, use the "Update Profile" link below.