StThomasPARENT

Division of Student Affairs of the University of St. Thomas

 

 

 

August 28, 2012

 

 

A Word from Vice President Canney
Update for First-Year Student Families

The First SIX weeks of the Fall Semester

Career Corner

Financial Aid Update

UST Health Service

Annual Neighborhood Walkthrough Program
Reading Suggestions

Dates to Remember

If Your Student Graduated: Unsubscribe 

 

 

A Word from Vice President Canney

Dear Families, Guardians and Friends,

We are delighted your students will be joining us on campus for the 2012-2013 academic year. This is an exciting time at the University of St. Thomas.  We are welcoming some of the 'best and brightest students ever'. 

 

This fall we open the newly renovated Murray-Herrick Campus Center which features the Card Office, Business Office, Registrar's Office, Transfer Admissions and Financial Aid, Academic Counseling and Support, Career Development Center, Counseling and Psychological Services, Service Learning and CILCE in a one-stop campus location, along with several new classrooms.  Murray Hall continues to be a residence hall for women.  We know these changes will enhance your student's experience offering many services in one location along with the beautiful new classrooms.

 

If you are dropping off your student on Saturday, September 1, please feel free to join us at the Family Place at Move-in between 11:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. on Campus Way, second floor Anderson Student Center. We will offer refreshments as well as shiatsu and massage treatments.  There will be staff to answer your questions as well as an information fair. In addition, we will offer a free Taco Feast for the entire family between 11:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. in The View, second floor Anderson Student Center.

 

Please mark your calendars for October 5-7 for Family Weekend. We hope you can join us for many wonderful activities for you and your students.

 

Thank you for the opportunity to work with your students as they pursue their hopes, visions and dreams.  We also look forward to working with you as partners in this very exciting time in your students' lives.

 

Sincerely,

 

Jane Canney, Ed.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs

 

Update for First-Year Student Families

Thank you for participating in Orientation & Registration.  For those of you who could not attend or would like to refresh yourself on some of the information presented, we invite you to review materials that were presented during Orientation & Registration. Our online materials include presentations by Financial Aid, the Business Office, Residence Life, and Academic Affairs. These materials serve as a guide to assist you as you prepare to send your student off to college. These presentations and more can be viewed by visiting the Orientation & Registration website at: www.stthomas.edu/studentorientation/freshman/schedule. 

 

For those families of first-year students who are commuting to campus, we invite you to the First-Year Commuter Barbeque on August, 29, 2012 at 6:00 p.m. on the John P. Monahan Plaza.  This event serves as both a social gathering and as an opportunity for students to meet with their commuter adviser.  Staff from the Dean of Students Office will be present at the event to answer any questions you may have.  The UST Bookstore and Parking Services will be open until 6:00 p.m. on August 29th to accommodate students who would like to purchase textbooks and/or parking permits.  In addition, the Card Office will also be open to assist students with meal plans, ID cards, or eXpress accounts.  If you have any questions about the First-Year Commuter Barbeque, please contact Josh Hengemuhle, Area Manager of Off-Campus Student Services at 651-962-6659 or jahengemuhle@stthomas.edu.

 

For families of residential students, move-in day, Saturday, September 1, 2012, is fast approaching. Father Dease’s Move-in Crew is waiting to assist you and your students as you arrive on campus. During move-in weekend your student will meet peers during many campus  events including a campus-wide electronic scavenger hunt, residence hall programming, and Breaking Ice Theatre Productions.  For more information on move-in, please visit: http://www.stthomas.edu/residencelife/. 

On Tuesday, September 4, 2012, all new students will meet with their faculty advisor for the first time, take part in the March Through the Arches, participate in an ecumenical prayer service with the president of the university, Reverend Dennis Dease, presiding and attend a campus-wide picnic.


The First SIX Weeks of the Fall Semester

Full of opportunity to get involved and have some fun for ALL students.  Fun fact:  all the activities are listed in the Campus Life 'Welcome Activities Brochure' encourage your student to check it out.

 

Career Corner

Career Development Center, 123 Murray-Herrick Campus Center
651-962-6761
www.stthomas.edu/careerdevelopment

 

Like or follow us: on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to be informed!


First-year parents
Congratulations on making it through orientation.  Thanks to those of you who attended our session at orientation. For those who weren’t able to attend, or if you want further information, here is a link to the parent information on our website including the slides and a video of our presentation.  Encourage your student to register to be a part of the “I Explore” program through our office. 

Declaring a Major
Choosing a college major does not need to take place the first semester or even during the first year. When a student has reached 48 credits (generally the spring of their sophomore year) they will be required to select a major field/minor to pursue.  Engaging in activities that educate your son or daughter on college major options, career field choices and occupational titles is a good strategy.  Students should be intentional about gaining further information about themselves and the world of work as they pursue their college career path.   Ideas for your student to explore majors and career fields of interest:

  • Join a student club/organization related to a major/career field of interest.  They can attend the Activities Fair, Tuesday, September 18th, 12-1 p.m. on the John P. Monahan Plaza.
  • Schedule an appointment with a career counselor to discuss career planning and take assessments to learn more about their interests, personality, values and skills.
  • Meet with an Academic Counselor or Faculty Advisor to plan coursework.
  • Visit the web pages of Career Development Center (CDC) to explore majors, career fields and occupations.
  • Students might also gain better insight into career options by meeting with professionals in a field of interest to conduct occupational interviews or job shadowing.  The CDC provides “how-to” information and alumni willing to meet with students.

Internship and Job Search
The fall semester offers a 'jump start' for Juniors and Seniors pursuing internships and jobs.  Employers participating in the On-Campus Interviewing (OCI) program will be selecting students as early as mid-September for interviews that will occur mid-September into October.  The internships and jobs offered will be for spring and/or summer 2013.  To be considered for OCI students need to attend an orientation session and have a resume prepared.

 

Financial Aid Update

All UST students were sent an eBilling statement last week, August 19, for the upcoming fall semester. This eBill notification was sent to their UST email account. If you are not already an authorized user on your student’s account, we encourage you to have your student authorize you so that you can review monthly eBilling statements and make payments online. The first payment is due September 19, 2012.


Please note: Federal and private educational loans will not be disbursed to student accounts until September  17th for fall semester. Loan funds will appear on your student’s first eBill as “pending financial aid”. Aid that is pending will credit to your student’s account before the first payment due date as long as any loan requirements have been completed by that time.


If you need help estimating what your student’s total remaining costs will be after loans have been disbursed, please use the interactive UST Cost Estimator. This tool can also help you plan for future terms.   If you need additional financing to help pay your remaining expenses, please visit www.stthomas.edu/financialaid/undergraduate/loans/alternative/. Private loan applications may take as much as four weeks to fully process. Please apply soon if you would like to have funding applied prior to the first payment due date for fall semester.

 

For more information, watch our video tutorials or contact the Business Office at (651) 962-6600.

 Bookmark these links:

 “video tutorials” to http://www.stthomas.edu/businessoffice/ebilling/ 
“UST Cost Estimator” to http://www.stthomas.edu/financialaid/undergraduate/cost/estimator/default.html

 

News from UST Health Service

My Health Portal
Health Services is excited to introduce My Health Portal, a new online feature for students that is designed to assist students in managing their health care needs. My Health Portal allows students to click on the link from the Health Services website, log in using their UST ID and password, then schedule an appointment, cancel an appointment, complete health forms, enter or print immunizations, and communicate with their health care providers using secure messaging.

Students continue to have the option to call Health Services (651-962-6750) to schedule an appointment especially if online times or appointment types do not meet their needs. St. Paul Health Services clinic is open from 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.  Minneapolis Health Services is open from 2:00-6:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Same-day or walk-in appointments may be available, however, we encourage scheduling ahead whenever possible. UST Health Services is committed to providing students with exceptional care.


Student Health Insurance

A reminder that the University of St. Thomas requires all degree-seeking undergraduate students taking 12 or more credits to complete the health insurance verification process in Murphy Online before September 18, 2012, or the student will automatically be enrolled in and billed for the annual Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan.
 

Students who are not covered by other policies have the option to purchase the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan.  The coverage is from August 15, 2012 through August 14, 2013 with an annual premium of $2129.  The premium will be billed to the student’s account  in two payments per semester or once at the beginning of each semester per your preference. To determine if this Aetna Plan meets your needs, you may review the insurance coverage details on our website.

For students who already have coverage under your plan or another health plan, we encourage you to review the plan to make comparisons that are most beneficial to you.
 

If you have questions regarding the mandatory insurance requirements or the Aetna Student Health Insurance Plan, please contact the UST Student Health Insurance Office at stuhealthins@stthomas.edu or 651- 962-6752 or 800- 328-6819, Ext. 2-6752.

 

Annual Neighborhood Walkthrough Program

The beginning of the school year brings with it a great deal of energy and excitement. While the Labor Day weekend is focused on residential students moving onto campus; Thursday, September 6th is all about our returning and new students moving into our neighborhood around campus.

St. Thomas is honored to be a part of the residential community in St. Paul and wants to ensure that our students who live within it understand the rights and responsibilities that come with being a member of that community. To facilitate this, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) and Off-Campus Student Services work together to conduct our annual Neighborhood Walkthrough program. This program involves students going out into the neighborhood around St. Thomas, distributing materials about living in the community and having conversations with their peers about the challenges and privileges that brings. It is expected that over 200 properties will be visited. There will also a follow-up mailing to all students living within the community.

If you or your student have any questions about the program or about living in the neighborhood, visit the website Off-Campus Student Services or contact us at offcampus@stthomas.edu or 651-962-6138. If your student lives in the neighborhood and did not receive the materials, they can be picked up in Off-Campus Student Services (OCSS), Anderson Student Center 253.

Reading Suggestions

If you have some time, these books are excellent resources for parents and families with students in college; from the summer before first year through senior year.  Enjoy!

 

You're On Your Own (but I'm here if you need me) by Marjorie Savage.
A reality check on the process of students leaving home; with practical tips for supporting your student in the process through the college years. Ms. Savage is the leading national expert in Parents on Campus programs in higher education.

 

Don’t Tell Me What To Do, Just Send Money: the Essential Parenting Guide to the College Years  by  Helen E. Johnson and Christine Schelhas-Miller.
When children leave for college, many parents feel uncertain about their shifting roles.  By emphasizing the importance of being a mentor to your college student, Don’t Tell Me What To Do, Just Send Money shows parents how to influence their college student while still supporting their independence.

 

Dates to Remember

Aug. 29  First-year Commuter Barbeque, 6:00 p.m., John P. Monahan Plaza

Sept. 1  First-year Residential students move in with the Father Dease Move-in Crew

Sept. 2 Returning students move in to residence halls

Sept. 3 All First-year students participate in Labor Day activities
Sept. 4  All new undergraduate students March Through the Arches, 10:30 a.m.
Sept. 5  Fall semester classes begin

Sept. 6  Neighborhood Walkthrough Program

Sept. 18  Clubs and Organizations Activities Fair, 12 - 1 p.m., John P. Monahan Plaza

Sept. 29-30  Campus Ministry's First-year Student Retreat at Gainey Center (registration required)

Oct. 1 Deadline for applications for study abroad for January term and Spring 2013
Oct. 5-7 Family Weekend
Oct. 13  Homecoming
Oct. 26 Mid-Term Break
Nov. 22-25 Thanksgiving Break


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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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