39 minute read
Signature Weekends
HOMECOMING
October 21-23, 2021
Homecoming Weekend is a celebration of our alma mater, Benedictine College! We welcome back our alumni, students, families, and friends of the college. The beds will be racing, the teams will be marching to victory, and the residence halls will compete for the Raven Cup, the coveted Homecoming championship trophy. Join us!
What to expect: Families wishing to experience this long-standing Benedictine tradition may want to plan to arrive on campus in time for the Friday and Saturday festivities, which typically begin around 4 p.m. on Friday. Past events have included banner judging, bed races, a barbecue, Mass, a parade, sporting events, the Hall of Fame Banquet, and more. Sunday events are limited, allowing students and families to spend time together on their own.
MOTHER-SON/FATHER-DAUGHTER BANQUET AND DANCE
February 12, 2022
Benedictine invites young men to bring their mothers and young women to bring their fathers for a dinner and dance on campus. This formal event brings the community together for a festive and memorable night.
What to expect: Reservations are required for this very special Saturday evening event, which begins with a vigil Mass, followed by a cocktail hour, dinner, and dancing. Due to limited space, the cocktail hour and dinner are open to mother-son and father-daughter couples only. Be aware that past banquets have sold out. Families should note that the dance is open to all, free of charge, beginning at 8:00 p.m. Because the scheduled events don’t begin until 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, parents and students are invited to take advantage of free time throughout the weekend together. Meet your student’s friends and roommates, explore Atchison together, go on an excursion to Kansas City or Topeka, ask your student to give you a walking tour of campus, take your student shopping for necessities, etc. Ask your student how he or she would like to spend this special weekend with you!
April 1-3, 2022
The Raven family extends beyond Benedictine College students, faculty, staff, and alumni; it also includes our students’ family members! The Benedictine College Campus Activities Board invites the siblings of Benedictine students to enjoy a weekend at the college.
What to expect: Activities for Lil’ Sibs Weekend are geared toward students and their siblings. Events begin Friday evening with Mass, dinner, and family-friendly entertainment and activities, such as a comedian, roller rink, and swing dancing. Saturday events in past years have included laser tag, arcade games, and more. Sunday events are limited, allowing students and families to spend time together on their own.
In order for a sibling to stay in the Residence Hall they must:
• be between the ages of 7 and 24 years old • be the same gender as their older sibling • stay with their own sibling (students may not host another student’s little siblings overnight)
Prior to the weekend, students who wish to host their siblings must make their Residence Hall Director aware of their siblings’ overnight plans.
OTHER COLLEGE EVENTS FAMILIES WILL ENJOY:
Lessons and Carols Early December
Since 1986, Benedictine College’s Music Department has presented this evening of readings and music in preparation for Christ’s birth. The concert features the Chamber Singers, St. Scholastica Singers, St. Benedict Singers, Schola Corvorum, and Liturgical Choir.
Scholarship Ball February 26, 2022
The College’s premier fundraising event was initiated in 1972. This black-tie-optional event is typically held in Kansas City. It opens with Mass and features the awarding of the Cross of the Order of St. Benedict.
Discovery Day April 6, 2022
Through Discovery Day, which began in 1996, students experience the excitement of presenting (orally) and displaying (visually) their year’s intellectual ventures, which have become an integral part of their learning experience.
LEAVING THE NEST
There’s no question that the transition from family life to college life can be challenging. It’s reassuring to know that we’re equipped to help, and that you have an important role to play in supporting your student’s successful transition as well.
YOUR ROLE IN SUPPORTING YOUR STUDENT’S SUCCESS
The college search has ended. The dorm room necessities have been packed and unpacked. The goodbyes have been said (a few times). You are officially the parent of a college student. Now what?
College is a significant time in the life of your student, filled with opportunities and excitement. The transition of becoming a college student is an important developmental step toward adulthood and you play a significant role in helping your student transition well to college. You will experience an array of emotions during this time of change. This is a natural response for you as a parent, your student, and for the rest of your family.
Like most new things, your student will face challenges that come with transition. Responsibilities and problems will arise, which students will have to learn to negotiate on their own. This transition from adolescence to emerging adulthood is called “individuation,” becoming a person in one’s own right. During this stage, your student will strive to become more able to support himself or herself emotionally, physically, and socially. This is done through experiencing challenges and responding to them. When we do this, particular skills sets are grown, such as communication skills, decision-making skills, and problem-solving skills. We are not born with these skills sets; they are developed through the modeling of others and personal experiences. The next four years of college play a very important role in developing these skills and preparing for life as an adult. This can be a time of uncertainty, questioning, and vulnerability. This is normal and essential for the transition into adulthood.
Remember that you will be making some adjustments, too. Your job as a parent is not over; it is just evolving. You are entering the Launching Phase of parenting. As your student enters into adulthood, it is important to begin taking on the roles of coach and adviser. Remember, even the most positive life changes can bring about some anxiety.
HOW TO APPROACH THE TRANSITION INTO COLLEGE:
Find Balance
Negotiate what communication and involvement will look like in this stage of life. It is important to stay connected, but not too connected. Decide together how often you will speak on the phone, visit each other, or send e-mails. Come to an agreement on how much and what information is to be shared regarding college life experiences. It is important that you be available to talk to your student about his or her college experience but also not be the only outlet for support and stress management.
Expect Growing Pains
Adjusting to roommates, feeling homesick, getting to know people, handling daily living responsibilities, all while managing the academic demands of college, will feel overwhelming at some point. This adjustment period will be temporary, and will grow life skills in the process.
Allow Space
It is important as your student enters into adulthood to encourage an appropriate level of responsibility and independence. Let the student use his or her own judgment to decide what is best and trust him or her to make good decisions. Help problem-solve by asking questions to guide decisions, instead of intervening or attempting to fix the problem yourself.
Encourage Resourcefulness
Expect a time to come when your student will have a need that he or she cannot meet on his or her own. Encourage your student to find support. Benedictine College offers many academic, residential, health, and social services. In helping your student transition to college, teach him or her to know when to get help and how to find it.
Instill Resilience
Resilience is the capacity to recover from a difficult situation. To be resilient is to know how to cope in spite of setbacks and discover how to overcome obstacles. This takes emotional intelligence and is a learned skill that is extremely important to grow for adulthood. In helping your student transition to college, you have the opportunity to teach him or her about resilience. Every time he or she faces and overcomes an obstacle, from a roommate conflict to a lost student ID or a failing grade on a paper, your student is becoming more resilient.
Be Realistic
There is a period of transition for many students who excelled academically in high school, in which they may struggle in their college courses. As they work to strengthen time management skills, study skills and organizational skills, their academic achievement will usually improve. During this time, it can help to ask your student to discuss class projects and papers instead of focusing on grades.
Stay Calm
It is normal, particularly in the first semester of college, for students to make an emotional phone call (or a few) to family during difficult times. While this may be challenging or heartbreaking to experience, it is also a sign of the strong relationship of trust that you have built. Try not to be overly reactive. When you model calm reactions, it shows that the situation can be resolved and that it will not ruin your student’s college experience.
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WAYS TO HELP YOUR STUDENT ADJUST TO COLLEGE LIFE
1. Recognize that moving away to college is a stressful
activity that requires many adjustments during the first year.
2. Encourage your son or daughter to take initiative with his or her college experience and utilize the existing help services on campus as needed:
• Academics: Academic and Disability Services (Katie Campbell), Student Success Center (Janet Wilcox), academic advisor, or campus tutors • Spiritual: Campus Ministry (Megan Ryan) • Residential: Resident Assistants, Residence Hall Directors, Student Life personnel (Dr. Linda Henry, Dr. Joe Wurtz, Dr. Sean Mulcahy) • Personal: Student Health Services (Janet Adrian, RN), Counseling Center (Grace Mulcahy, LSCSW)
3. Expect your son or daughter
to change. This is a normal and necessary developmental step for transition into adulthood.
4. Roommate tension is
normal. Sharing a room, sharing a bathroom, making rules for common spaces, and living in a residence hall can be difficult adjustments. We encourage you to have a conversation with your student prior to their arrival about these topics. It will be helpful for them to know these experiences are a normal part of the transition to college.
5. Many students go through at least one bout of
homesickness. It is normal to miss the familiarity of home and the strong friendships left behind.
If your student calls you and wants to come home, set a wait period for at least the first semester before revisiting the idea of leaving. It’s amazing how much can change in a three-month period of time.
6. Anticipate Disillusionment.
As the adjustment process is unfolding, most first-year students experience tension academically and socially. Initial friendships often shift to other groups. Some may experience loneliness as they work to find their niche in the community. It can also feel overwhelming to take care of daily personal responsibilities without parental direction or support, such as waking up for class, doing laundry, and caring for one’s own health. Recognize and support the growing pains that come with achieving independence.
7. Encourage responsibility.
Growing in responsibility takes trial and error. Take on the role of coach and advisor. Instead of providing immediate solutions to a problem, have your son or daughter work through problem themselves, then encourage them to move forward with one of their solutions.
8. Expect stress to exacerbate physical and mental health
conditions. In times of transition, stress levels will rise. Many students with a previously diagnosed mental or physical health condition may experience an increase in their symptoms. This is normal and temporary. The Student Health
Center is available as needed to help with this adjustment. If incoming students have taken medications for anxiety, depression, or attention deficit problems prior to entering college, their first semester at college is not the time to begin altering dosage levels or discontinuing such medications.
If there is a desire to discontinue or decrease the medications, please wait until at least second semester.
9. Your son or daughter will fail
at something; that is OK. It will take time to grow the study skills, time management skills, and organizational skills your student will need to be successful in college. It also takes time to learn how to balance the college workload with a social life.
Understanding the pace of academics while managing the challenges that come with more freedom can create difficulties. Give your student the freedom to experience failure and encourage the practice of taking on challenges, even if there is the potential to fail. Learning how to cope with adversity stimulates growth and builds character.
10. Two Homes. By Christmas, students who have settled in well will often use the word “home” when they mean returning to campus. Allow them to have “two homes.”
11. Support. Be available to listen. Ask questions around their thoughts and feelings of the college experience.
Remind them of their goals, values, and gifts. Let them know that you have confidence in their abilities.
12. Remember that you will be making some adjustments, too.
Your job as a parent is not over, it is just changing. You are now taking on the new roles of coach and advisor, and although you may think that you’ll enjoy the peace and quiet with them away at school, you just may discover that you miss them. It can help to seek out resources and information on the first-year experience and share your feelings with other parents in the same stage of life.
13. Ask for Help. If you have questions or concerns, feel free to call Student
Life 913.360.7500, the Counseling
Center 913.360.7621, or Student
Health Services 913.360.7117.
ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR PARENTS
. . And So We Pray: Guidance for Moms With College-Aged Young Adults
by Maribeth Harper
Don't Tell Me What to Do, Just Send Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to the College Years
by Helen E. Johnson, et al.
Letting Go: A Parents' Guide to Understanding the College Years
by Karen Levin Coburn, Madge Lawrence Treeger
When Your Kid Goes to College; A Parent's Survival Guide
by Carol Barkin
Almost Grown: Launching Your Child from High School to College
by Patricia Pasick
Empty Nest, Full Heart: The Journey from Home to College
by Andrea Van Steenhouse, Johanna Parker
Doors Open From Both
Sides by Steffany Bane, Margo E. Bane Woodacre
The Launching Years: Strategies for Parenting from Senior to College Life
by Laura Kastner, Jennifer Fugett Wyatt
THE COUNSELING CENTER
1201 N. Second St. / 913.360.7621 / Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Counseling Center supports students in their psychological, personal, and social well-being, and is staffed by licensed mental health professionals. Services are free to students and are strictly confidential. Personal counseling through the Counseling Center is intended generally to assist students and staff in solving concerns of a short-term nature. Referrals to other community practitioners may be made for intensive and/or long-term psychological assistance.
Complete a Counseling Request Form Benedictine.edu/student-life/health/counseling-center
TRANSITION SERVICES PROVIDED BY THE COUNSELING CENTER
Individual Counseling Licensed mental health professionals are trained in the social, emotional, and mental challenges that can occur during the transition to college and are available as a support resource.
Student Drop-In Support Group This group is offered weekly by one of our counseling staff and offers helpful tools and reources for transition support. Students are also given the opportunity to share with and support other incoming students through this time of newness and change.
Peer Mentoring This program is available for those students who desire more ongoing support from a peer who has “been there.” This mentoring program provides a weekly opportunity for students to meet with an upperclassman to engage in discussion, ask questions, get advice, and learn about campus resources to help with the challenges of college life.
“What to Expect in the First Year” Fall Transition Program
The Counseling Center, together with Residence Life, provides a fall semester program on the transition to college. Students receive tools, resources, and information, as well as hear testimonies of transition experiences from fellow Benedictine students.
HOME SWEET (CAMPUS) HOME
One of the most rewarding aspects of going to college is learning to call a new place "home." By living in residence halls, your student is being formed to become a responsible community member beyond the Benedictine campus.
We weren’t bluffin’ when we said campus has great views. That is the Ferrell Academic Center peaking over the treetops on the bluff! Amelia Earhart Memorial Bridge is named after the aviatrix herself. It’s a natural gateway to the city, and even glows at night with an ever-changing light display.
The Missouri River The Mighty Mo is the longest river in North America, flowing east to west 2,341 miles.
YOUR NEW HOME
THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME.
Some call it flyover territory; we think it’s the perfect launch pad. Atchison sits on the bluffs of the Missouri River only 45 minutes north of Kansas City. Our river town is the ideal crossroads of Victorian-era charm and a tight-knit community. On a weekend you can grab fresh produce from the Atchison Farmer’s Market, pick up your favorite espresso from a local shop, adventure around Kansas City, and be back by sunset.
And not to brag, but our sunsets are second to none. Amelia Earhart herself watched the glow of the same sun over the river while learning to ride her bike just blocks from campus. 333 acres of clean, green parks and facilities throughout the community
6 museums & art galleries
The famous Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe Railroad Sixteen railroad lines operate more than 8,000 miles of track in Kansas. More than a third of the track belongs to the Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad.
Atchison Highlights
20+ local restaurants
50+ small local businesses
2 ways to enjoy theatre locally: The Fox Theatre (movies) and Theatre Atchison (live shows)
Atchison, KS Kansas City, MO
Weston, MO
Atchison, KS Bean Lake, MO
Lawrence, KS
Regional Highlights
The Kansas City Metro and Northeast Kansas have a lot to offer. The more than two million people who live in the metro area agree!
Professional Sports
• Kansas City Royals • Kansas City Chiefs • Sporting Kansas City • Kansas Speedway
Regional Museums
• National World War I Museum & Memorial
• College Basketball Experience • Union Station/Science City • Harry S. Truman Presidential
Library & Museum • Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art • American Jazz Museum • Negro Leagues Baseball Museum • National Museum of Toys & Miniatures
Regional Festivals
• Amelia Earhart Festival/Lakefest
Atchison, KS • AppleFest
Weston, MO • Plaza Art Fair
Kansas City, MO • Pumpkinfest
St. Joseph, MO • Renaissance Festival
Bonner Springs, KS ATCHISON RESOURCES Bean Lake Families and students often have questions about lodging, automotive vendors (tires, parts, repairs), dining, banking, churches, pharmacies, storage options, and area tourist sites and events. For this information – and more! – check out the following helpful websites:
• VisitAtchison.com
This site, managed by the Atchison
Chamber of Commerce, includes all the information you’ll need about planning a visit to Atchison, including trolley tours, points of interest, Atchison’s Bike Share, maps, camping, featured events, and more.
• AtchisonKansas.net
Sign up for the Chamber Chatter e-newsletter on the Chamber of
Commerce website.
• CityofAtchison.com
This site, managed by the City of Atchison, features a New
Residents Guide, which may be of interest to your student, along with information about Atchison’s history, parks and facilities, and recreation opportunities.
• AtchisonCountyKS.org
Managed by Atchison County, this website includes information about local law enforcement, public safety resources, recycling, the outdoor siren system, and how to sign up for alerts, notifications, and weather warnings.
• GrowAtchison.com
Celebrate small, local businesses that are at the heart of the Atchison economy. This site includes a full business directory and a communitywide job board.
• AtchisonTogether.com
This is a link to the Atchison
County Community Agency
Directory, which is a listing of institutions and agencies that work together to serve the general
Atchison community.
FOR NOW, YOUR STUDENT MAY NEED A MAP TO NAVIGATE CAMPUS.
In a short time, however, this new place will become familiar, and your student will have found special places and people that help this new place feel like home.
MOST VISITED
St. Benedict’s Abbey St. John Paul II Student Center Ferrell Academic Center Haverty Center Dining Hall Mary’s Grotto
ATHLETICS
Larry Wilcox Stadium Ralph Nolan Gymnasium Amino Center John Casey Soccer Center Asher Sports Complex
ACADEMIC
Library St. Benedict Hall Ferrell Academic Center Westerman Hall Bishop Fink Hall Cray Seaberg Hall Mother Teresa Nursing Center Daglen Observatory
RESIDENCE HALLS/HOUSES
St. Martin's Memorial Hall Courtney S. Turner Hall McDonald Hall Newman Hall Elizabeth Hall St. Joseph Hall Kremmeter Hall Legacy Hall Wolf Hall Lemke Hall St. Michael Hall Cray Seaberg Hall Hartman House Schirmer House Guadalupe Hall
CAMPUS SERVICES
Murphy Recreation Center Student Health Center Student Success Center/Guadalupe Hall IT/Operations
3RD STREET
COUNSELING CENTER
M STREET
3RD STREET L STREET
UNITY ST.
CHECK OUT OUR INTERACTIVE CAMPUS MAP
www.benedictine.edu
ASHER SPORTS COMPLEX (LAUGHLIN FIELD, SOFTBALL FIELD)
TENNIS COURTS
PRESIDENT'S HOME
LEGACY FIELD
RAVEN MEMORIAL PARK
MURPHY RECREATION CENTER
VISITOR PARKING
THE RETURN THE TO NAZARETH LOOKOUT PRAYER GARDEN
VISITOR PARKING
RIVER ROAD
MISSOURI RIVER
W N
PACKING CHECKLIST
Personal
¨ Clothing ¨ Light Jacket and Winter Coat ¨ Umbrella/Rain Gear ¨ Hangers ¨ Toiletries ¨ Shower Caddy/Shoes (St. Martin’s Memorial, Turner, and St. Scholastica Halls only) ¨ Bathrobe ¨ Medication ¨ Sunscreen ¨ Cleaning supplies ¨ Paper towels ¨ Hand Sanitizer/Wipes ¨ Face masks
School Supplies
¨ Computer ¨ Computer Power Cord ¨ Ethernet Cord ¨ Headphones ¨ Pens and Pencils ¨ Notebooks/Paper ¨ Stapler and Staples ¨ Scissors ¨ Post-it Notes ¨ 3-Hole Punch ¨ 3-Ring Binder(s) ¨ Envelopes and Stamps
Room
¨ Desk Lamp ¨ TV ¨ Extension Cords ¨ Tension Rod/Curtain Rod for
Closet opening (St. Scholastica Hall and Guadalupe Hall only) ¨ Shower Curtain/Curtains for
Closet opening (St. Scholastica Hall and Guadalupe Hall only) ¨ Trash Can ¨ Trash Bags ¨ Adhesive (3M strips for St. Martin’s Memorial, Newman and Turner Halls; Thumbtacks for St. Scholastica and Guadalupe Halls) ¨ Rug ¨ Microwave ¨ Mini-Fridge ¨ Room Decor ¨ Hanging Storage Solutions ¨ Hand Towel ¨ Shower Mat (Newman Hall and Guadalupe
Hall only) ¨ Shower Curtain for Shower (Guadalupe Hall only) ¨ Laundry Basket/Detergent ¨ Drying Rack
Miscellaneous
¨ Cell Phone ¨ Phone Charger ¨ Water bottle ¨ Wallet ¨ ATM Card ¨ Driver’s License ¨ Insurance Card ¨ Mini First Aid kit (including thermometer and fever-reducing medications) ¨ Lock Box ¨ Combination Lock for Safe (St. Martin’s Memorial and Turner Halls only)
Linens
¨ Bed Sheets (Twin XL) ¨ Blankets/Comforter ¨ Mattress Pad ¨ Pillows ¨ Pillowcases ¨ Towels and Washcloths
Arriving and Unloading*
Plan to arrive during the timeframe specified for your move-in day (See below.) You’ll be greeted upon arrival with helpful instructions for parking, checking in, and unloading belongings. Don’t worry, you will experience warm Benedictine hospitality as teams of students, faculty, and staff help carry your belongings to your residence hall room.
2021 MOVE-IN DAYS
Move-in Day #1
• Transfer student-athletes and returning student-athletes in
Football, Men's and Women’s Soccer, and Volleyball
Move-In Day #2 • Freshman Fall Athletes (Football, Men & Women's Soccer, Volleyball, Cheer, Dance, Cross Country, Band) and Honors Program • Returning Fall Athletes in Cheer, Dance, Cross Country, and Band
Move-In Day #3 • All other new students: Freshmen and Transfers
Move-In Day #4 • All Returning Students Lunch, Mass, and Goodbyes*
After moving in, you and your family are invited to cool off at a complimentary barbecue (provided by the Benedictine College Parent Association) in the Murphy Recreation Center. There will be time to shop for last-minute necessities before you attend a very special Family Send-Off Mass at 4:00 p.m. Finally, around 5:15 p.m., you’ll say your goodbyes outside St. Benedict’s Abbey Church before you join your fellow classmates for dinner in the Dining Hall.
*These expectations are for Move-In Day #2 and #3
Tuesday, August 10
Arrival and check in: 9 a.m. - Noon
Saturday, August 14
Arrival and check in: 9 a.m. - Noon Family Send-Off Mass: 4 p.m.
Saturday, August 21
Arrival and check in: 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Family Send-Off Mass: 4 p.m.
Sunday, August 22
Arrival and check in: Noon - 2 p.m.
RESIDENCE HALL FAQS
What furnishings are in my student's room?
Rooms are furnished so each student has a computer desk, chair, dresser, closet, and extra-long twin-size bed and mattress. Students provide their own linens to accommodate the extra-long twin-size mattresses. Furniture may not be removed from the room.
What window treatments are provided?
Window treatments include mini-blinds. The wall paint is a neutral color. Paint, nails, tacks, or adhesives that damage walls, woodwork, or furniture are prohibited. Command Brand Hanging Strips, a 3M product, is the college’s recommended adhesive for hanging posters and hooks on walls in most residence halls. Command Adhesive is not allowed in St. Scholastica Hall and Our Lady of Guadalupe Hall. Students in these halls should use thumbtacks or blue painter’s tape.
Are students required to live on campus?
Benedictine College is a four-year residential institution. All traditional undergraduate students are required to live on campus for four years and are able to select their on-campus housing through the Residence Life Office each year.
Where can I find sample photos of the rooms?
Please visit the residence life website at www.benedictine. edu/residential for additional information and photos of each residence hall.
Are the beds bunked or unbunked?
All beds will be bunked in the freshman residence halls on move-in day. A railing for the top bunk will be provided by the college.
Can beds be unbunked? Yes, we allow our beds to be un-bunked. There are two options:
• Option 1: College un-bunks the bed. Students who wish to have their beds un-bunked by the college may submit a request to their RA or RD. • Option 2: Student un-bunks the bed. Students are permitted to un-bunk their beds, but do so at their own risk and should exercise caution to avoid personal injury and/or damage to the furniture or the room. In order to un-bunk the bed, remove the top mattress first for easier lifting, then lift off the top bed frame and remove the four metal pins that had secured the top bed. Students should return the metal pins to the RD.
I hope you are excited as your student prepares for life at Benedictine College! One of the most exciting moments during this preparation is receiving the housing letter from Student Life, which includes the name and contact information of your student's roommate. Your student's college roommates are an important and memorable part of college life. The Student Life Office puts a tremendous amount of work into identifying a roommate who is highly compatible with your student. Even with this effort, it is important to understand that conflict is a natural aspect of sharing a room with another person. The good news is that when roommate conflict is handled in a respectful and positive manner, it provides a tremendous opportunity for personal growth and a strengthening of the roommate relationship. The following are some tips for success when it comes to roommate conflict:
Understand That Roommate Conflict Will Happen: As stated before, conflict between roommates is inevitable. This understanding will benefit your student in two significant ways. First, it will prevent your student from over-thinking that the conflict means the particular roommate situation is distinctively worse than those of his or her peers. Secondly, when conflict occurs, your student will be prepared for it; use the tips below to help you and your student prepare.
Set Realistic Expectations: It is helpful for your student and the roommate to set realistic expectations for their relationship. There are times when roommates will become best friends, but this is not the norm and should not be how a successful roommate relationship is defined. Your student should expect the roommate to be courteous and respectful. Both roommates are responsible for ensuring that their room is comfortable and conducive to each other’s success at college.
Fill Out the Roommate Agreement Form: Your student’s residence hall staff will provide Roommate Agreement Forms at move-in. This form identifies the most common areas of roommate conflict, such as studying, sleeping, guests, and use/ borrowing of personal items. Each roommate will first write out his or her preferences on these topics and then discuss them with each other. Through the discussion, roommates will make an agreement on how they will approach these areas. This agreement really can mitigate the occurrence of conflict in your student’s room. Encourage your student to take it seriously and fill it out!
Do Not Ignore Conflict: The worst thing that your student can do is ignore conflict. This is often tempting as the cause of the conflict usually seems small and not worth mentioning. It is so much easier for your student to talk with the roommate about a small issue as soon as it happens, rather than waiting until it becomes a larger issue. Students should present what is bothering them with honesty and respect. It is also important for your student to do so in person and avoid engaging in conflict through text or social media.
Trust the Mediation Process: If your student has tried to have a conversation with the roommate about the cause of conflict without success, please encourage your student to alert the Resident Assistant (RA) or Resident Director (RD). These staff members are trained in mediating conflict and will help the roommates engage in conflict in a respectful manner, establish points of agreement and compromise, and ensure they are both comfortable in their room once again.
Finally, the greatest approach to assist your student in minimizing or overcoming roommate conflict is to embrace our Benedictine Value of Hospitality. Students should make it a priority to be a roommate who engages in care, concern, and respect for the roommate’s well-being.
I hope these strategies will help your student to have a positive and successful residence life experience.
Sincerely,
About the Author Sean Mulcahy, Ed.D. | Associate Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life
Sean has worked in higher education administration for the past 19 years. He holds a doctorate in Higher Education Administration from the University of Kansas along with a Master’s degree in Education from Whitworth University and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Carroll College.
YOUR STUDENT'S NEW HOME COMES WITH A TRAINED SUPPORT TEAM, READY TO ASSIST IN THE TRANSITION TO COLLEGE.
It’s important to know that the residence hall staff is committed to making your student's first few weeks (and beyond!) as welcoming and successful as possible.
Residence Directors (RD)
An RD is a live-in professional staff member who guides the community of each hall.
Resident Assistants (RA)
RAs are current undergraduate student leaders who aid the RD as a member of the hall staff. RAs live on each floor and are available to assist students as they mature through college. RDs and RAs take special interest in the growth of students and coordinate programs in the hall that support the mission of the College.
Office of Residence Life
Sean Mulcahy, Ed.D.
Associate Dean of Students Director of Residence Life smulcahy@benedictine.edu 913.360.7500
Michael Rolling
Assistant Director of Residence Life mrolling@benedictine.edu 913.360.7500
FRESHMAN HALLS
(Transfer students will be housed in one of our residence halls for upperclassmen and upperclasswomen.)
Women’s Halls
Our Lady of Guadalupe Hall
opened in fall 2014. It houses 120 female students. The building features 12 stars to represent Mary’s crown described in the Book of Revelation. Each floor has a Marian theme.
St. Martin’s Memorial Hall
is home for 90 freshmen women. This residence hall is named in honor of St. Martin of Tours, the patron saint of soldiers, and each of the rooms has the name of an alumnus who was lost in World War II.
St. Scholastica Hall
opened in fall 2005. The name honors St. Scholastica, twin sister of St. Benedict, as well as the graduates of one of the college’s founding institutions, Mount St. Scholastica College. The facility houses 141 freshmen women.
Newman Hall
houses 140 freshman and sophomore men. This hall was completed in 1967 in honor of St. John Henry Cardinal Newman of Oxford, England. Each suite consists of two rooms connected by a shared bathroom.
Courtney S. Turner Hall
is a freshmen residence hall built in 1957 and was renovated in 2005. It houses 140 men. There is one main lounge, the St. Augustine Lounge, located on the Ground Floor of Turner Hall.
Men’s Halls
From June 1 to August 1, please direct all residence hall-related questions to the Student Life Office at 913.360.7500.
STUDENT SERVICES FAQS
What is the meal plan?
Freshmen and other students without kitchens may choose the Unlimited Meal Plan with either $700 or $400 annual Dining Dollars. “Unlimited” means students may enter the Dining Hall as often as they wish throughout the day. Dining Dollars must be used by the end of each semester and are needed at all food service locations aside from the Dining Hall. Students with kitchens may select an Unlimited Meal Plan or the Weekly 11 (11 meal swipes per week with $400 annual Dining Dollars) or Weekly 7 (7 meals swipes per week with $350 annual Dining Dollars).
What are Raven Bucks and how are they used?
Raven Bucks work like a convenient debit system, using your Benedictine student ID card. At any time you may deposit funds onto the card (a minimum of $5 will start your account) and students can use use their Raven Bucks by swiping their ID card at many locations across campus. There are no fees to use Raven Bucks, and they don’t expire. Students may add Raven Bucks online before arriving on campus, using a credit card through a secure link on the Benedictine website. Once funds are deposited into the student’s Raven Bucks account, the student may use his or her Benedictine ID in many ways: at all dining locations across campus, at Rocky’s Copies or at WEPA printing kiosks, select vending machines, and the Raven Store.
How and when do students purchase textbooks?
Students may view their required textbooks after July 15 by logging into RavenZone. Click “Virtual Bookstore” in the Quick Links. Students may opt to purchase books within the Virtual Bookstore or through another vendor. Some required books may not be available for purchase through other vendors. Be sure to use the required book’s ISBN # and edition when searching with alternate vendors. Textbooks are not available for purchase in the Raven Store.
What laundry, vending, and recreational services are available?
All residence halls are equipped with washing machines and dryers. The washing machines and dryers are free for residential students. Vending machines are in most hall lounges, along with a TV, and a kitchenette with a stove, oven, refrigerator, microwave, and sink. Other recreational areas on campus include outdoor grills, a hammocking area, sand volleyball, racquetball, ping-pong, pool tables, track, tennis, basketball, a weight room, and a recreation center.
What monetary transaction services are there on or near campus?
Atchison has several banks that offer financial services, including “student-priced” checking accounts. We highly recommend you visit with the banks and consider establishing an account; some community businesses will more quickly accept checks from students when the checks are drawn from a local bank account. A UMB Bank ATM machine is located on campus in the St. John Paul II Student Center and several others are located throughout the City of Atchison. The College Business Office issues student account bills as well as work-study payroll checks. Direct deposit of payroll checks has replaced issuance of paper checks. Direct deposit is available to both local and non-local banks and is highly encouraged for its overall convenience and security. The Business Office will cash personal checks for students in amounts under $50. For more information, call the Business Office at 913.360.7403.
What computer technology is available?
IT support for students consists of virus protection, Internet connectivity, email support, Blackboard Tech Support, Ravenzone Tech Support as well as login and password issues. The campus network provides connectivity for all offices, residence hall rooms, and computer labs. The oncampus help desk service provides assistance and answers for all Benedictine-owned computers, network problems, and questions. The help desk assists students as time permits and only provides limited repair and support options. Access to Internet service is available in all residence halls through either an Ethernet connection or WiFi connection. Benedictine College provides wireless network access inside all residence halls and academic buildings. Internet access is available to all students from the computer labs located in the Library, Westerman Hall, and Cray Seaberg Hall.
Do my student's devices need to be registered?
All devices that connect to the Benedictine College network must be registered in order to access the internet. Device registration cannot be completed until a student arrives on campus. The first time you open an internet browser, a registration page will pop up. A student’s RavenZone username and password will be needed to register the device. If a new student is not automatically routed to the registration page, please visit https://bcbns.benedictine.edu/registration.
St. John Paul II Student Center 913.360.7500 Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Office of Student Activities oversees extracurricular organizations and events, including the Campus Activities Board (CAB), Student Government Association (SGA), International Student Ambassadors (ISA), and Orientation programs.
The office also organizes Family Weekend, Homecoming, HER Weekend, Mother-Son/FatherDaughter Banquet, Springfest, Lil’ Sibs Weekend, and oversees more than 50 clubs and organizations.
Learn more: Benedictine.edu/student-life
STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER
Located adjacent to the Dining Hall / 913.360.7576 Monday–Thursday: 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 p.m., Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
The Student Success Center is designed to provide a central location for support and enrichment to help students reach their academic and professional goals. Contact us for information about free peer tutoring, learning accommodations for students with special needs, internships, résumé writing, interviewing, career exploration, graduate school preparation, premier scholarship opportunities, and much more.
Learn more: Benedictine.edu/academics/success
COLLEGE MINISTRY
St. John Paul II Student Union / 913.360.7655 / Monday - Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
College Ministry forms students, faculty, and staff in the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the sacraments, Scripture, spiritual formation, and the social mission of the Catholic Church. We offer opportunities to attend Mass, Confession, Eucharistic adoration, retreats, mission trips, pilgrimages, outreach, non-Catholic services, sacramental preparation, and vocation discernment.
Mass (Abbey Church)
Sunday
10:00 a.m. 8:00 p.m.
Weekdays
12:10 p.m. Mon-Fri 5:30 p.m. Mon, Wed, Fri 9:00 p.m. Tues, Thurs
Saturday
12:10 p.m. 4:00 p.m. Vigil for Sunday Confession (Abbey Church)
Sunday
9:00-9:50 a.m. 7:00-7:50 p.m.
Weekdays
11:00-11:40 a.m. 4:00-4:50 p.m.
Saturday
11:00-11:40 a.m. 3:00-3:50 p.m.
Adoration Weekdays
1:00-9:00 p.m. St. Martin’s Chapel
Saturday
7:00-8:00 p.m. Abbey Church
Perpetual
St. Benedict’s Parish Church on campus
1301 N. 3rd Street / 913.360.7117 / Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
A registered nurse and a nurse practitioner staff the Student Health Center on a part-time basis to assist students with health needs. All student health services are free to students and are strictly confidential. Services include:
• Diagnosis and treatment of minor illnesses and injuries • Health education and counseling • Referrals • Maintenance allergy injections during provider clinics • Tuberculosis skin testing • Blood pressure checks • Blood sugar checks • Removal of stitches • Peak-flow testing • Tobacco cessation assistance • Student Health Services also offers crutches for loan, over-the-counter medications, first aid supplies, and educational materials. • Instant care packages are offered when your student needs some hydration • Packages include chicken noodle soup,
Sprite, crackers, and icy pops.
Student Health Form Reminder All new students are required to complete health forms prior to arriving
on campus. Health form information for New Student-Athletes and all other New Students is available at Benedictine.edu/student-life/health/policies.
• New Student-Athletes complete their athlete-specific health forms online and bring immunization records to move-in. • All other New Students download and complete their health forms (including immunization records) and submit them via email to Janet
Adrian (jadrian@benedictine.edu) or via mail to: Student Health Services,
Janet Adrian, RN, BSN, 1020 N. 2nd Street, Atchison, KS 66002
Health Services Tips
• Benedictine does not have a set of medical insurance requirements for students. Families are encouraged to check with their medical insurance provider to be sure that their student’s medical insurance plan provides adequate coverage in the State of Kansas. • Students are encouraged to use their phone to take a photo of the front and back of their insurance card and their immunization record so that they have ready access to these documents if needed. • It is helpful to send your student to college with a thermometer and a simple first aid kit with over-the-counter medications your student has used at home.
If your student needs additional care beyond what can be provided on campus, check the following resources:
Amberwell Health (www.amberwellhealth.org/service/walk-in-care) – Use the convenient chart to determine what kind of care is right for your student: Emergency Room Care, Walk-In Care, or Primary Care Appointment. Atchison Community Health Clinic (www.achc-ks.org) – Learn more about the medical, dental, behavioral health, and urgent care services provided by the Atchison Community Health Clinic, which accepts patients with private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid, and patients with no insurance. The clinic is located within easy walking distance from campus.
First Floor of the Haverty Center / 913.360.7448 Monday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Thursday: 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
The Raven Store is your official supplier of Benedictine College spirit gear, school supplies, faith merchandise, and more. Shop 24/7 online at benedictineravenstore. com. Students will find some necessities at the Raven Store, including Blue Books (required by some professors), greeting cards, devotional items, gifts, and essentials, such as office supplies and some basic over-the-counter medications.
Follow The Raven Store on social media
@bendictineravenstore @theravenstore
COMMUNICATING WITH YOUR STUDENT ON CAMPUS
Your Student’s New Email Address
Your student will be assigned a new email address with the @ravens.benedictine.edu domain as early as June 1. It is extremely important that your student check this email inbox daily throughout the year, between semesters, and over the summer. Students are expected to communicate with faculty, staff, and other students via this email address. It is imperative that students understand that the majority of information will be communicated to them via their college-assigned email account while they are students. Students have the option of forwarding their Benedictine email to their personal email account if they prefer.
Your Student’s New Mailing Address
Your student’s mailing address will remain the same while a resident on campus. New students receive a specific mailbox number (not a P. O. Box number). Once assigned a number, please always include this box number when mailing to your student, using the following format:
Student Name (First &Last) Box ____ 1020 N 2nd St. Atchison, KS 66002
Mailboxes/Packages
Student mailboxes are located in the St. John Paul II Student Center. You may ship or have items shipped to Benedictine College on your student’s behalf. Note that packages are not shipped to residence hall rooms; students are responsible for picking up all packages at Rocky’s Copies, located in the lower level of the Library.
