Dear Parents & Families,
It has been an eventful summer at SMCM, starting with the May Board of Trustees meeting and Commencement for the Class of 2024 and continuing through June and July. Now that we’re nearing the approach of another school year, we thought we would catch you up on all the news you may have missed before providing some important reminders and tips for the fall.
President Jordan Announces Retirement in 2025
President Tuajuanda Jordan, president of St. Mary’s College of Maryland since 2014, announced her intention to retire effective June 30, 2025.
President Jordan announced her retirement at the Board of Trustees meeting on Friday, May 10.
“I am immensely proud of our shared accomplishments including the increasing diversity of our student body, steady enrollment growth, curricular and co-curricular innovations, the focus on an expanding campus culture where everyone can thrive, and deeper partnerships with the broader community,” said President Jordan.
The Board has announced plans to conduct a nationwide search for President Jordan’s successor, led by a campus-wide search committee. Read the full story.
Board of Trustees Continues to Hold the Line on Tuition & Approves Budget
With actions taken at the May and June Board of Trustees meetings, the Board maintained a fifth consecutive year with no increase in tuition. A fiscal year 2025 budget of just over $93 million reflected modest increases in state support, tuition revenue due to enrollment growth and auxiliary enterprise revenues. The new budget supports newly required expenditures, salary and wage increases for faculty and staff and operational budget changes due to strategic initiatives.
New Board Chair Appointed
Also at the May Board meeting, John Bell, a member of the SMCM Class of 1995, was elected to serve as chair of the College’s Board of Trustees. Bell became the first alumnus to serve in this role when he officially assumed office on June 1, succeeding Susan L. Dyer, whose three-year term had expired.
Bell majored in public policy at SMCM. Prior to being appointed to the Board of Trustees in June 2017, he served as vice president of the SMCM Foundation.
Read the full story.
Class of 2024 Graduates
356 students were presented with Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Master of Arts in Teaching degrees on Saturday, May 11, outdoors on the campus’ Townhouse Green.
Maryland’s longest-serving member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD 5th) delivered the keynote address. President Tuajuanda C. Jordan, accompanied by Board of Trustees Chair Susan Dyer, presented an honorary degree to national higher education leader Lynn Pasquerella.
The College’s newest alumni heard from one of the five class valedictorians. The valedictorians were: Sabrina Kuhn, Laura McCarty, Margaret Neuman, Angelie Roche and Ben Springer. Kuhn was selected to address the class via lottery.
President Jordan recognized six faculty who retired this year: Karen Crawford, professor of biology; David Ellsworth, associate professor of film and media studies; Rachel Myerowitz, professor of biology; Elizabeth Osborn, professor of sociology; Larry Vote, professor of music; and Christine Wooley, professor of English. Collectively, these retirees represent 161 years of teaching.
Read the full story.
How High Can We Fly?
Taking the LEAD, the College’s five-year fundraising campaign, surpassed its $20 million goal one year ahead of schedule. To maintain the campaign’s momentum and maximize the vision and initiatives of outgoing President Tuajuanda C. Jordan, the campaign will now transition to the “How High Can We Fly?” phase for the final year, concluding in June 2025.
Read the full story.
FALL REMINDERS
Orientation Milestones
Opening Convocation, Friday, August 23, 9:30 a.m., Townhouse Green - First year students are officially welcomed to the College.
President’s Book Signing, Friday, August 23, 3:30 p.m., Concert Hall, Nancy R. & Norton T. Dodge Performing Arts Center - A decades-long tradition as new students sign their names to the “President’s Book.”
Look for photos from these and other events on the College’s Flickr account.
Office of Student Financial Assistance (OSFA): Please be sure to log in to your portal and take action on any aid that is available.
- Schedule adjustment period Monday, August 26th - Friday, September 9th: The first two weeks of each semester is designated as a “schedule-adjustment period.” During this time, students may change their class schedule by presenting completed “add-drop” form to the Glendening Hall student service desk. These changes are free of charge 8/26 - 9/3, and cost $25 9/4 - 9/9.
- Graduating seniors need to declare their intent to graduate ASAP as it triggers some necessary actions within the senior's academic program. Please help your graduating senior remember this important task!
- Registration for the spring semester will start Thursday, Oct 31 and continue through Friday, Nov 8.
- Thanksgiving break doesn't start until Tuesday evening so please help your students to understand they can't leave for home until their Tuesday classes have completed.
- Winterim: There are a limited number of online classes available during winter break. Check them out when they are posted around the first of October.
- Finals week is Monday, Dec 9 - Friday, Dec 13. Please plan family trips to start after these dates.
Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS): After what we hope was a relaxing summer for our students, SMCM’s Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) team prepares to welcome them back to campus. We are gearing up to resume our individual counseling services, therapy groups, medication management, campus events targeting mental health well-being, and our Peer Health Educator program. As a reminder, CAPS services are available Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. with limited evening and Saturday availability by appointment only. We see students on a short-term basis and offer biweekly counseling sessions. CAPS also offers daily weekday walk-ins with no appointment needed from 1:00 p.m.-3:00 p.m. (last walk in at 2:30 p.m.). Appointments can be made to initiate services by calling us at 240.895.4289 or stopping by our office located at Ethel Chance Hall at 47655 Margaret Brent Way. In addition, 24/7 crisis hotline support is provided by our partnership with Protocall and can be accessed at 240.895.2400 or 855.826.1869.
While your student may be excited to return, they may also experience stress about the new semester and workload, transitioning to a different living dynamic with a new roommate or roommates, or leaving friends, family or significant others from home. As a family member, you may also be experiencing a mix of emotions as your student gets ready to reintegrate back into college life. It may be helpful to be aware of what the possible signs are of mental health trouble. According to The Jed Foundation, if you notice any of the following you may want to engage your student in a conversation about them:
- Changes in mood or affect
- Odd speech patterns (speaking faster or slower than usual or incoherent)
- Changes in their communication pattern with you
- Changes in self-care (not showering, change in dress)
- Noted or reported changes in sleep patterns
- Frequently expressing feeling stressed, hopeless, frustrated or sad
- Sudden change in grades or interest in classes
- Isolation from friends or family
The CAPS team works in close collaboration with campus partners to ensure SMCM students are informed of and have access to mental health services and supports both on and off campus. We look forward to another great year!
Office of Residence Life: Check the reminders below for returning students.
- Returning Student Check-in: August 24th and 25th between 10am-5pm
- Hall Closing for Thanksgiving Break: Tuesday, November 26th by 9pm; Residences reopen on Sunday, December 1 at 2pm
- Hall Closing for Winter Break: Friday, December 13th at 12noon
- Student Check-in for Spring 2025: January 11th and 12th between 10am-5pm
- Housing Contracts for Fall 2025: Due end of February
- Hall Closing for Spring Break: Friday, March 5th at 5pm; Residences reopen on Sunday, March 16 at 2pm
- Hall Closing for the Summer (for non-graduates): Tuesday, May 6th at 12noon
- Hall Closing for the Summer (Graduates): Saturday, May 10th following the commencement ceremony
Office of Student Success Services (OS3): Welcome back parents and family members of our students. We are eager to share some updates with you.
Seahawk Family Liaison (SFL)
When (not if!) you have questions regarding your student, the College, policies, etc., please feel free to contact Joanne Goldwater, the seahawk family liaison and the associate dean for retention and student success. You can reach Joanne at 240-895-4388 or families@smcm.edu. If we have a signed FERPA (Family Education Rights and Privacy Act) form from your student, she will be able to discuss specifics with you. If not, she will happily answer general policy questions for you. You can also share confidential info with Joanne if you believe it will help us to help your student.
Virtual Student Success Center
SMCM created the Seahawk Success Center, a one-stop shop for students and family members to get information on services provided by various student support offices as well as academic and student life information. Check it out: https://www.smcm.edu/seahawk-success-center/
Parent & Families Guide 2024
The SMCM Parents and Families Guide was designed to provide you with useful information.
We hope that you will keep this information handy and refer to it often when you have questions about parenting a college student, and about College policies and procedures. If you are unable to find the answer to your question, we have included contact names and phone numbers for many of the offices and departments on campus, as well as a list of whom to contact if you have questions on specific areas not covered here. Please go to the OS3 website and then to Parent & Family Resource: (https://www.smcm.edu/office-student-success-services/parent-family-resources/)
We look forward to working with you and your student during the coming school year!