Dear Parents & Families,
As we enter this season of thanks (and giving) we have much big news to share about thanks (and giving), namely, the largest gift commitment in the College’s history and the biggest giving day of the year. We truly hope you and your students have a restful Thanksgiving break, wherever that may be.
Largest Gift Commitment in College History Announced
On Thursday, November 16, the College announced that alumnus R. Scott Raspa, class of 1986, generously included the College in his estate plans. He and his spouse, John M. Staples, designated a total of $4 million between the endowment and the R. Scott Raspa and John M. Staples Scholarship Endowed Fund.
This tremendous commitment will offer vital support to the College’s endowment, which provides financial stability for the College’s future in an evolving landscape of higher education. It also bolsters the College’s $20 million Taking the LEAD Campaign, which was publicly launched on September 22, 2023
You can learn more about the campaign by visiting the Taking the LEAD website, which contains information about our strategic plan, the case for support and impact stories from those who give.
Watch Scott's Giving Testimonial
Giving Tuesday Coming Up!
Giving Tuesday has become one of the College’s biggest fundraising events, and this year marks the tenth year of coordinated activities and challenges in support of giving to the College. After a record-setting 2,892 donors last year, we have a goal to break the 3,000-donor mark in 2023. Donations can be directed in support of the Learning through Experiential and Applied Discovery (LEAD) Fund or to another fund of personal significance, and all donations count toward the Taking the LEAD campaign.
Students are encouraged to participate in many ways, and not just through monetary donations. To encourage student participation, alum Allan Wagaman ‘06 has again issued the Allan Challenge that gives students a chance to “win” $2,500 for their favorite SMCM fund by:
- Dropping off a non-perishable item for Solomon’s Shoppe, the campus’ newly-reopened food pantry;
- Signing 25 thank you postcards for Giving Tuesday donors;
- Making a donation of $10 or more
You can help your student participate by sending them back to campus with a non-perishable food item for the collection. Parents are also encouraged to participate and donate to the LEAD Fund in support of student internship experiences or any other fund that is important to your student.
Communicating with the College: Why, How, and When?
Joanne Goldwater, Associate Dean for Retention & Student Success / Seahawk Family Liaison
Office of Student Success Services (OS3)
Congratulations! You have an emerging adult on your hands. Woo hoo!
Giving your student their “wings” is an important step for parents and families. As young adults, they need to learn to take care of themselves, speak up for what they need and want, ask for help, and manage their lives (after all, you don’t want to be paying their credit card bill when they’re 35, right?). But, just because your student goes off to college does not mean that they no longer need or want your advice, support, and sometimes, your assistance. So, why, how, and when should you contact the college and when should you stand by and allow your student to handle their challenges?
Click here to learn more about why, how, and when you should and should not communicate with the College.
We want to partner with you to provide the highest level of support possible. At the same time, you want to avoid becoming the “helicopter” (hovering), “Blackhawk” (shooting down), “snowplow” (plowing over), “lawnmower” (cutting down everything in your path) parent. When you allow your student to face challenges by limiting your involvement, you give them a chance to mature, learn important skills, learn how to be responsible and accountable, gain confidence, and help them with “Adulting 101.”
Helping Your Student with Mental Health Self-Care
Jess Jolly, Director of Counseling
College breaks (Thanksgiving and Winter) are upon us! This time of year college students make their way back home for an extended visit. Perhaps your student has been visiting during the semester or this upcoming break is the first time that you’ve seen them since drop-offs back in August. If either situation applies to you, it may be helpful to check in with your student - not only in regards to their academic progress, but also their mental health. Click here to get some tips for checking in on your student’s wellness.
The Wellness Center provides mental health assistance including walk-in counseling hours, peer support, short term counseling, and psychiatric medication management services.
To access our 24/7 helpline students may dial 240-895-4200. For more information please visit our website at www.smcm.edu/wellness
The Wellness Center has a full list of local off-campus referrals. Please visit: https://www.smcm.edu/wellness/off-campus-resources/mental-health-referral-list-2023-2/
We wish you happy holidays and hope you enjoy having your student at home.
News & Events
President Jordan
President Tuajuanda C. Jordan has been on the road in support of the Taking the LEAD Campaign, meeting with alumni in Maryland at regional chapter events - the first such meetings since the pandemic. Stops so far have included Annapolis and Bethesda, with additional meetings planned for Baltimore, Frederick and Columbia.
Board of Trustees
The Board presented the College’s highest honor, the Order of the Ark and Dove, to distinguished alumna Dallas Dean ’60, during its fall meeting on Friday, October 13..
A 1960 graduate of St. Mary’s Seminary Junior College, as St. Mary’s College of Maryland was then known, Dallas Plugge Dean went on to obtain her Bachelor of Arts degree from American University in Washington, DC before embarking on a distinguished career as an educator. She has been a lifelong champion of education, establishing the Dallas P. Dean Master of Arts in Teaching Scholarship at the College in 2002. Her support has both helped meet emergency expenses for the educational studies department as well as provided scholarships to support increased access to the MAT program. Her support, advocacy, and mentoring for SMCM students pursuing educational studies spans decades, predating the establishment of the MAT program.