Hawktoberfest and Family Weekend is October 14-15
We hope you’ll join St. Mary’s College of Maryland for the most anticipated event of the season! After a three-year hiatus, we expect over 1,000 visitors to campus for our combined homecoming and family weekend. This event is open to families and friends, students and alumni, faculty and staff – anyone who loves St. Mary’s College of Maryland is encouraged to attend. Registration is open so sign up today!
COVID-19 update (masks in classrooms)
Based on the current community transmission level (number of new cases and positivity of testing) of HIGH and current community level (number of new cases, hospitalizations, and hospital capacity) of MEDIUM, the College will reinstate classroom masking protocols, effective August 12, 2022 until further notice. Stay apprised of the latest at https://www.smcm.edu/covid-19/
Important Tax Information
Comptroller Peter Franchot urges eligible Marylanders to act fast and apply for the Student Loan Debt Relief Tax Credit Program for Tax Year 2022. Applications must be submitted by September 15. The program, which is administered by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), provides an income tax credit for Maryland residents making eligible undergraduate and/or graduate education payments on loans from an accredited college or university.
It’s Official: Fall Semester Has Begun
New students wrap up their orientation this weekend. Thursday’s Twilight Celebration at the JLR Stadium was a fun-filled start to the semester. Opening Convocation today marked the kickoff of the academic year. Saturday’s signing of the President’s Book by all new students denotes the official start to their journey through St. Mary’s College.
On Labor Day there are no classes. On September 9, students are invited for snacks and conversation, on the Montgomery Hall “pillow” from 12 noon - 2:00 p.m. hosted by President Tuajuanda C. Jordan.
Grand Opening Celebration of the Performing Arts Center and Learning Commons
You and your student are invited to all public events of our Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, September 24, where we’ll cut the ribbon on our new Performing Arts Center and Learning Commons facilities. Stay for the inaugural performance in the Performing Arts Center auditorium of “Carmina Burana” directed by Professor of Music Larry Vote. The evening concert with Average White Band is sold out! See the schedule of all Grand Opening events. If you’re the family of a first-year student, know that special programming for Friday, September 23 has been shared with your student.
Save the Dates!
Watch the College’s events calendar(LINK) for details on two important events coming in October. The Gwen Ifill Lecture Series debuts on October 4 at 7 p.m. featuring award-winning journalist Maria Hinojosa.
On October 7 at 7 p.m. the Presidential Lecture Series presents “Inalienable Rights in the 21st Century,” during which a distinguished national panel will examine the question, “Can the inalienable rights referenced by the fathers of the Constitution exist for all Americans in the 21st century?” Moderated by Jessica Yellin, former Chief White House and Chief Domestic Affairs Correspondent for CNN and founder of "News Not Noise," the panel will feature Jelani Cobb, award-winning writer, author and thoughtful voice in progressive politics; Mara Liasson, a national political correspondent for NPR and frequent Fox News Channel contributor; and Bill Kristol, a dyed-in-the-wool conservative and founder of influential publications such as “The Weekly Standard” and “The Bulwark.” This will be a free ticketed event, open to the public.
Sending A Child Off to College by Kathleen Langan Pusecker, Executive Director of Student Success
In this newsletter, I would like to share some of what I learned from the various experiences I had sending each of my three girls off to college. Each of my children have different personalities and I love each for their uniqueness. Consequently, saying goodbye to each was based upon what they needed and our relationship in the moment. I hope that this newsletter will help you and your family transition to SMCM.
Daughter #1, The “Socialite": We arrived on move-in day, volunteers grabbed her luggage and her many dorm decorations. Think Christmas lights!! She was so busy making new friends that we just stopped and waited to see what she wanted us to do. After she made the rounds, she returned to tell us that we could help unpack and then leave. The leaving part was a quick kiss and she was off. Even though we lived close, it felt really strange to leave my first born. I was sad and happy at the same time. We kept her room the same and it was immaculate when she left. She did keep in touch with me regularly and because I worked on the campus, she made sure to stop in to say hello or ask if I would like to take her to lunch.
Daughter #2, The “Activist": We moved in and had almost no volunteers to help us on a muggy day in D.C. We traveled up many flights of stairs and almost collapsed on her bed. We met the parents of her roommate and she asked us to help her unpack. It was her dream to be in D.C. and work for the federal government. We said goodbye with a quick hug. She left for her first academic meeting and we drove home, pretty much in silence and exhaustion. She was so happy and that brought contentment. We returned home and began cleaning up her very messy room. It felt good to have a piece of our home clean and knowing she was so secure in her decision.
Daughter #3, The “Last to Go": This one had lots of choices and wasn’t sure that she chose well for her college. She was a little more nervous about leaving and there were many tears and a few, “I hate yous!”, along the way. I was crushed. Moving in for her was easier because the oldest had graduated already and her boyfriend assisted with his truck. I have never seen so much stuff for one dorm room and somehow, she made it all fit. When it came time to say goodbye, there were more tears and we were strongly told, “Leave now, and don’t contact me! I will contact you when I am ready.” Her face was very red, my eyes burned, and it felt like my heart was ripping out of my chest. We went home again in silence with tears streaming down. She called that night saying she missed us and that she didn’t want to make a fool of herself. We vacuumed her room and closed the door. We didn’t look in as it felt like a void.
As I reflect back, these are some things we could have done differently:
- I should have talked with them about how they wanted to say goodbye and followed their lead.
- I could have asked them about how to handle their room at home. It felt disrespectful to go in without their permission.
- I might have given myself permission to be emotional. It is happy and sad, and yes, we are allowed tears.
- I could have celebrated more because sending my child to college was a happy parenting win and a win for them.
- I could have asked them earlier about how and when to communicate. Not having the discussion at times created stress for each of us.
- When my girls made mistakes, I could have recognized that they were their mistakes to be made, and did not reflect on me.
The Office of Student Success Services - OS3 is here to help you support your student’s success. We have the Seahawk Family Liaison who can be reached at 240-895-4388. We can connect you and your student to all of the SMCM resources as well as local resources.
What parents of college students should do!
- Allow your student to choose their major based upon their interests. If they are searching, suggest that they participate in internships, volunteering and to talk to the Career Center experts to find their strengths and passions.
- Do encourage them to try opportunities that scare you. Let them explore Study Abroad experiences or taking experiential courses like scuba diving. It’s their chance to grow.
- Support their new ideas. They are emerging adults and this week they might want to be a poet and next a lawyer. This is a time to figure it out. If they are meeting regularly with their academic advisor, we can make sure that they can try on these new ideas and still graduate on time.
- Require that they speak for themselves. Give them their voice and the opportunity to advocate for themselves. I also teach and if you contact me about your student’s grade or assignment, I will politely tell you to have your student speak with me. It’s their grade. You want them to be adults, make their own doctor’s appointments, discuss their bills, and speak up politely when things are not going well.
- Do let them fall, and even fail. FAIL- First Attempt In Learning! This does make them stronger and they can recover.
Check out our new family page: https://inside.smcm.edu/families
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