StThomasPARENT
Division of Student Affairs of the University of St. Thomas
February 15, 2012
A Word from Vice President Canney
Career Corner
Relationships
Financial Aid: FAFSA Season in Full Swing
Free Legal Advice Available for UST Students
Take a Tommie to Lunch
Parent Network
Dates to Remember
A Word from Vice President Canney
Dear Parents, Guardians and Families,
We are delighted to see your sons and daughters enjoying the Anderson Student Center. The building is alive with activity, complementing the time they spend in the classroom and the library.
Please be aware that this is the time of year when many students have a difficult time with mid-winter blues. Sometimes students experience the gray days and may feel gloomy, finding it hard to be motivated or feeling interested in things. If this is the case with your son or daughter, support them emotionally and focus on the positives. Encourage them to talk about their concerns with you and if they do not feel significant improvement, suggest that they visit Counseling and Psychological Services or Health Services. Students can make appointments at Counseling and Psychological Services by calling 651-962-6780 or at Health Services at 651- 962-6750 (St. Paul clinic) or 651-962-4750 (Minneapolis clinic).
Please know how much we appreciate the opportunity to share this important time in the life of your students as they move through their academic career. The University of St. Thomas community is honored to contribute to this journey for your student and you.
Sincerely,
Jane Canney
Vice President for Student Affairs
Career Corner
www.stthomas.edu/careerdevelopment
651-962-6761
The Career Development Center offers services for students looking for part-time, full-time or summer work, as well as internship experiences. It also provides assistance for students thinking of pursuing additional education.
The On-Campus Interviewing continues with employers interviewing for full-time and internship positions. Students need to register for one of the orientation seminars if they haven’t previously attended.
Remind your student to check the seminar/events schedule on our website for monthly offerings on résumé writing, interviewing skills and other career-related topics. Upcoming special seminars and events:
• Minnesota Education Job Fair Orientation sessions- various days and times
• Major Field Day for First-Year Students and Sophomores - February 16
• Pathways: Careers in Communications - March 27
Alumni Sharing Knowledge (ASK)
We have created an online group for students to network with alumni. Networking opportunities and alumni support are more important than ever in this rapidly changing job market. With the growing popularity of LinkedIn, it is a great platform for students to make connections with professionals in the field and gain information about a particular career or area of interest. If you are an alumnus of the University of St. Thomas, please log on and become a mentor! Thank you in advance for all the information you provide to the students. If you are already a member on LinkedIn, join the University of St. Thomas Career Development Center ASK group!
Parents are Employers Too!
If you know that your employer hires interns or has entry-level professional positions available, please share that information with us. Contact Employer Relations Specialist, Jennifer Rogers, at 651-962-6761.
Relationships
Valentine’s Day often triggers a focus on romantic relationships for students: Are they in relationship? Is it good? Do they want to be in one? Are they not in a relationship and are unhappy?
Unless your student is in a happy, healthy relationship, he or she will probably be asking these questions this month. The Counseling Center at the University of Texas highlights these steps to a healthy college relationship:
Basic Steps to Maintaining a Good Relationship
• Be aware of what you and your partner want for yourselves and what you want from the relationship.
• Let one another know what your needs are.
• Realize that your partner will not be able to meet all your needs. Some of these needs will have to be met outside of the relationship.
• Be willing to negotiate and compromise on the things you want from one another.
• Do not demand that a partner change to meet all your expectations. Work to accept the differences between your ideal mate and the real person you are dating.
• Try to see things from the other's point of view. This doesn't mean that you must agree with one another all the time, but rather that both of you can understand and respect each other's differences, points of view and separate needs.
• Where critical differences do exist in your expectations, needs or opinions, try to work honestly and sincerely to negotiate. Seek professional help early rather than waiting until the situation becomes critical.
• Do your best to treat your partner in a way that says, "I love you and trust you, and I want to work this out."
If you think your student could use support in working through their relationship questions, have them contact Counseling and Psychological Services, 651- 962-6780.
Financial Aid: FAFSA Season is in Full Swing
The UST priority filing date for the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is April 1, 2012. If your student has not yet filed a 2012-2013 FAFSA, please help them do so as soon as your federal taxes have been filed. The Financial Aid Office will still accept your student’s FAFSA after April 1, but some financial aid funds may no longer be available at that time. Go to www.fafsa.gov when you are ready to file and make sure the UST federal school code (002345) is included on the application.
Beginning this month, the Financial Aid Office will send electronic requests for information to any student whose FAFSA has been received but is currently incomplete. These electronic notices will be sent to your student’s UST email account and will provide instructions regarding how students can view any outstanding requirements using Murphy Online. Usually, the documentation needed will include the parents’ federal income tax return transcript.
Please ask your student about the status of their financial aid file. If students don't know their status, they can find the information on Murphy Online or contact their financial aid counselor.
If you have any questions regarding the FAFSA, please contact the Financial Aid Office at 651-962-6550 or 800-328-6819, Ext. 2-6550 or financialaid@stthomas.edu.
FREE legal advice available for UST students
Does your student have questions about signing a lease, tenant rights and responsibilities, or other legal issues? We've got the solution! An attorney from Moore, Costello and Hart is available in Off-Campus Student Services (ASC 253) for free legal advice for students during the spring semester.
Dates and times for Free Legal Advice are listed below; appointments are on a walk-in first-come, first-serve basis.
Wednesdays, 11 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• February 29
• March 14 and 28
• April 11 and 25
• May 9
Take a Tommie to Lunch
This program offers students an opportunity to meet with an alumnus or alumna for a one-time lunch meeting during spring semester. Participants have the opportunity to ask questions about networking, job searching, starting a career and balancing their professional and personal lives. Registrations for the 2012 Take a Tommie to Lunch program are due by February 17.
Here is how your student can register for this and other opportunities to GET INVOLVED:
1. Visit http://alumni.stthomas.edu . Click on Take a Tommie to Lunch under the “Connect” column.
2. Students will need to create a guest log-in if you haven’t previously used the Alumni Association website.
3. Start thinking about the future and how the powerful network of UST alumni can help!
Questions? Contact Katie Spangler in the Alumni Association at katie.spangler@stthomas.edu.
Parents get involved with the Parent Network!
The St. Thomas Parent Network provides a link to the university for families. Think about joining the committee or volunteer for one of the activities that takes place throughout the year. If you are interested in active involvement, visit the Parent Network website, or contact Amy Fistler at 651-962-6941 or acfistler@stthomas.edu for further details.
Dates to Remember
March 19-23 Mid-term Break
April 6-9 Easter Break
May 10 Anderson Student Center Dedication
May 11 Classes end
May 14 Study Day
May 15-18 Final Exams
May 19 Commencement
May 23 Summer Session classes begin
For further information
Sr. Sharon Howell, CSJ, Assistant Dean of Students and Parent Liaison
Dean of Students Office
651-962-6050
800-328-6819 ext. 2-6050
parentmail@stthomas.edu
http://www.stthomas.edu/parents
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