2017 parent newsletter fall final

FALL 2017

PARENT NEWSLETTER

www.FranklinCollege.edu

Greetings from Franklin College!

Dear Parents: I hope you find the information in this newsletter helpful as your student is now well into the second half of the fall semester. Mid-term grades are posted on Tuesday, Oct. 17 and many students will have papers due and projects to present in advance of the exams at the end of the semester. Be there for them as best you can – offer your support, understanding and encouragement. This can be a challenging time academically, so let your student know you care.

Best wishes for the rest of the fall. Let me know if I can be of assistance to you.

E. F. Hall III Vice President of Student Affairs & Dean of Students ehall@FranklinCollege.edu

Residence Life HOLIDAY CLOSURE INFORMATION The residence halls and campus homes close for Thanksgiving break at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 21 and remain closed until 2 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 26 to give college employees an opportunity to celebrate the holiday. During this time, students need to plan to stay elsewhere. Student ID cards will be deactivated to prevent unauthorized access to the residence halls so students need to pack all essentials when they leave campus!

If there are special circumstances in which a student needs to be on campus during a break, he or she needs permission from the director of residence life. It is each student’s responsibility to make arrangements to leave campus or request permission to stay during break periods. Student-athletes with official athletic obligations (e.g. a game during the break) and students with academic obligations can stay for free if they are approved. All other students will be charged to reside on campus during the break. Any questions about housing during the break should be directed to the director of residence life, Jacob Knight, at jknight@FranklinCollege.edu.

LIVING WITH ROOMMATES For many students, sharing a living space with someone else is a new experience, and the residence life staff encourages using this opportunity to develop skills in communication, relationship building and conflict management. While it is ideal for students to form an instant bond, it takes effort. Every roommate pairing has the potential for conflict and an opportunity to grow into a lifelong friendship.

If your student is experiencing conflict with a roommate, encourage following these steps: 1.

If the issue just occurred, take some time to cool off before talking about it.

2.

Meet with everyone involved in the conflict, and take turns talking about each other’s concerns and listening to each other’s perspective.

3.

Avoid making it personal by using “I” statements instead of “you” statements. “I feel like our room is always messy” is going to be better received than saying, “You’re a messy person.”

4.

Talk about actions which can fix the situation. (Remember, we cannot change personalities overnight but we can adjust our behaviors.)

5.

Come to an agreement or compromise and make a plan to fix the situation.

6.

Follow up with each other to make sure the new agreement is still working.

If your student cannot resolve the roommate issue independently, suggest getting help from a resident assistant (RA), assistant residence hall coordinator (ARHC) or residence hall coordinator (RHC). These individuals are trained in conflict resolution and can offer additional resources and support.

COMMUNITY DAMAGES At times, residents cause damage to the residence hall facilities beyond normal wear and tear or cleaning. These situations are dealt with in accordance with the Common Areas and Damages Policies in The Key: A Guide to Campus Life. In most instances, a notice is posted to give residents a chance to report the student responsible or to correct the situation (students will not be able to correct the violation if it involves bodily fluids or poses a safety risk to the community). If the violation is not corrected or the person responsible is not reported, the cost of repair or cleaning is split between all residents in the community. Community damage charges are emailed to all students during the middle and end of each semester and at the end of Winter Term. The business office deducts these charges from the $100 housing deposit each student paid when they enrolled. If charges exceed $100, charges will be added to students’ bills.

TEMPERATURES IN RESIDENCE HALLS In fall and spring, the residence life staff tends to receive the most complaints about room temperatures. The residence halls use commercial-grade heating and cooling, which is very different than what most people have at home. For example, if the temperature is below 50 degrees outside, the building’s chillers will not activate so students may need to open a window to cool their own room. Students are encouraged to adjust the heating and cooling controls, but every room may vary depending on the weather, setup of the building’s system, control options in the room, room location in the building and amount of external wall surface space.

If your student is having trouble adjusting the unit, encourage speaking with the RA, ARHC or RHC. If the unit appears to be broken (i.e. The temperature and fan settings are at the highest, but the room is only 55 degrees), a work order will need to be submitted through the college intranet, MyFC. Please remember, space heaters, open flames and personal air conditioner units are not allowed!

Franklin College Parent Newsletter | 3

Campus Safety SAFETY TIPS It’s always a good time to be reminded about safety on campus. Please help us remind your student about these important tips: •

Always lock doors to residence-hall rooms.

•

Don’t walk alone at night. Either walk in a group or contact security for an escort.

•

Always lock vehicles when parked on campus.

•

If something seems suspicious, report it right away.

The security office is accessible by phone around the clock, seven days a week, 317.738.8888.

EMERGENCY NOTIFICATION SERVICE There are times when the campus community needs to receive emergency information in a timely fashion. As part of Franklin College’s emergency management plan, sending out text messages has proven to be an effective way to get information to students quickly. All students are encouraged to sign up for the texting service, and we’re very happy that nearly 72 percent of students have opted in so far. We’d like to get the remaining students signed up as well. Please ask your student if he or she is enrolled in the emergency texting service. If your student hasn’t, have them contact the security department to learn how.

The security department wants to keep students safe and help them make the most out of their Franklin College experience. As always, if you ever have questions or concerns, you may contact the security officer on duty at 317.738.8888 or email the director of security, Steve Leonard, at sleonard@FranklinCollege.edu.

Campus Programs and Services DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION The Power of Diversity Lecture Series was established in 2017 to provide Franklin College and the greater Indianapolis community with opportunities to engage in learning and dialogue around issues of diversity and inclusion. The series aims to inspire campus dialogue, community engagement and civic education. The speakers include scholars, community leaders and diversity professionals whose scholarship, leadership and advocacy enhance the college’s efforts to present diverse viewpoints, ideas and perspectives. The series aims to inspire greater understanding and appreciation for inclusive excellence. The series is free and open to the public. For additional information, please contact diversity@FranklinCollege.edu.

Join us for the next free presentation in the Power of Diversity Lecture Series: “ARE YOUR FILTERS CLOGGED?” Lecturer Ontay Johnson, executive director of 100 Black Men of Indianapolis Nov. 28, 2017 | 6:30 p.m. Richardson Chapel Find a full description of this lecture on the college website, www.FranklinCollege.edu.

4 | Franklin College Parent Newsletter

HEALTH MATTERS Flu vaccine is available to students in Student Health Services during regular hours (Monday through Thursday 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. and Friday 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.). The cost is $20, payable by cash, check, credit card or by billing a student account. Students are welcome to call or email for an appointment or can stop by the health services center on the second floor of the Napolitan Student Center at their convenience.

Influenza is a serious disease that can lead to hospitalization and sometimes even death. Every flu season is different, and influenza infection can affect people differently. Even healthy people can get very sick from the flu and spread it to others. The “seasonal flu season” in the United States can begin as early as October and last as late as May. During this time, flu viruses are circulating in the population. An annual seasonal flu vaccine is the best way to reduce the chances of getting the flu and lessen the chance that you will spread it to others. When more people get vaccinated against the flu, less flu can spread through that community.

CHAPLAINCY AND OUTREACH Franklin College is excited to have Rev. Dr. Hannah Adams Ingram as the new director of religious life and college chaplain, but what is it that a college chaplain does? Adams Ingram is an ordained Christian minister whose primary role is to support students of all religious backgrounds (including non-affiliated) in their pursuit of spiritual meaning. Sometimes this is very specifically connected to religious practice, but other times it involves supporting students broadly as they make sense of the world and their place in it. Students often visit the chaplain in search of dialogue about personal and community ethics, personal vocation and career discernment, and comfort or support during stressful life events such as loss, breakups, illness, etc.

The college chaplain works on two fronts. She leads a team of students who put on religious programming for all. Ecumenical Christian chapel services are on Sunday and Tuesday at 11 a.m., and the interreligious Dinner and Faith Series is on Thursdays at 5 p.m. Additionally, there are interreligious Spirituality Sunday events.

At the same time, the college chaplain is available for one-on-one meetings with interested students, faculty and staff. She is also available as an advocate for students’ specific religious needs, such as dining or holiday concerns.

The college chaplain strives to be highly visible around campus, as a way to meet students at events, athletic matches and in the dining hall. She may be reached at hadamsingram@FranklinCollege.edu.

PARENT/FAMILY HELPLINE Franklin College offers a helpline for parents and family members of Franklin College students. If you have a question or concern about your student’s college experience, the helpline is your avenue for assistance. Please call: 317.738.8181 A Franklin College staff member is available to speak to parents and family members every Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. and from 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Fridays (Eastern Time Zone).

CAREER SERVICES PROVIDES TOOL TO HELP STUDENTS WITH JOB SEARCH With the academic year underway, it is important to remind your student to set up an account or log on to GRIZJOBS. With this system, students are able to fill out their professional and academic profile, search for jobs and internships and post their résumé and other job search documents. Students also can apply for jobs posted online and link to other sites, such as www.internships.com and www.indeed.com, to look for jobs that have been posted outside the GRIZJOBS system.

Through GRIZJOBS, students also can view announcements about upcoming Career Services events and find a variety of job search tools within the system.

Franklin College Parent Newsletter | 5

Would you or your employer consider hiring students for internships or part-time positions? If so, job postings can be emailed to the career services office, and the staff post them in the system or you or the employer may open a GRIZJOB account and post directly in the system. You or the employer also can view student résumés and contact students directly about job openings through the system.

If you are in the position to hire graduates or students as interns, please consider setting up an account as an employer to post your openings and search for student candidates. Start at https://www.myinterfase.com/ franklin/employer/. This link may be shared with the human resources department where you work or with others who coordinate the hiring of new talent.

CAREER AND INTERNSHIP FAIR OPPORTUNITIES On Oct. 31, the College Career Center Consortium, of which Franklin College is a member, will be hosting its annual Indiana Means Business Career Fair. This career fair is designed for students from any major with an interest in working for or doing an internship in a business setting.

This event is NOT just for business majors. Most of the colleges and universities in the consortium are liberal arts institutions. Given that, students from a variety of majors from English to sociology to health sciences might have an interest in going into sales, marketing or human resources. Likewise, most businesses have a need for students with a public relations or communications background to market their products and services, and they have a need for students with a background in computer sciences to run the information technology side of their organization. For a list of participating companies and organizations, please go to http://cccc-in.org/event-2609280.

Please encourage your student to attend this event. Currently, there are more than 85 organizations registered, and they will be recruiting students for both full-time and internship positions. If your student is a senior, it is imperative that he or she start job searching this semester or at least start networking with potential employers so that positions can be applied for in the spring. Typically, it takes students four to six months to land a full-time job after they start their job search. If students hope to start a full-time job immediately after graduation, they need to start that search now!

Why Internships Are Important at Franklin College: •

Internships serve as exploratory tools. They allow students to “test drive” a career option. Students are able to get a real-life feel for what a career is like. In some cases, internships help affirm that a student is on the right professional track and reinforces a career choice. In other cases, students realize that the career is not what they thought it would be, and they are able to shift focus or even change their major to something that is a better fit.

•

Internships provide the experience that employers are seeking. After an internship, a student will have experience working on projects and will have a tableau of other experiences to discuss with interviewers when seeking a post-graduation job.

•

Internships are wonderful networking opportunities. While at the internship site, students should develop relationships with employees who might serve as a reference or who might be in a position to hire in the future. Students also should try to connect with others in the industry who may not be at their internship site. Networking is so important because the old adage is true, “Sometimes it’s not what you know, but who you know that will get you the job.”

•

If you are in the position to hire or you know of others who can hire new graduates or interns for the summer, please contact director of career services Kirk Bixler at 317.738.8801 or email him at kbixler@FranklinCollege.edu.

6 | Franklin College Parent Newsletter

Are they feeling the pressure?

ORDER YOUR STUDENT A FINAL EXAM SURVIVAL KIT TODAY! Number of Kits

Type of Kit

Cost per Kit

Total

_______________ Midnight Munchies $10 _______ _______________

Health Kick

$10

_______

Choose from the following kits: MIDNIGHT MUNCHIES

Filled with high-energy snacks and healthy, little extras that every student will enjoy during those endless study sessions.

HEALTH KICK Nourish your hard-working student with wholesome treats that will satisfy even hungriest of late-night cravings.

Students may pick up Final Exam Survival Kits December 4 - 6 (during the last week of regular classes). They will receive an email and a text message with pick-up details.

Orders must be received by Monday, Nov. 27, 2017. Make your check payable to Franklin College and enclose it with this completed form.

MAIL TO: Bonnie Mason Franklin College Survival Kits 1821 Sandalwood Drive Greencastle, IN 46135 THANK YOU FOR ORDERING A SURVIVAL KIT FOR YOUR STUDENT! Student’s Name: ___________________________________________________________________________ Student’s Telephone Number: _______________________________________________________________ Message Encouragement: __________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________________________ This project is sponsored by the Franklin College Parent Association. Please contact association member Bonnie Mason at bonniemsn33@gmail.com or 765.653.3325 or 765.721.5811 with questions.

Franklin College Parent Newsletter | 7

Important Dates to Remember Oct. 17

Midterm Grades Posted

Oct. 19-20

Fall Break

Oct. 26

New Students Register for Winter Term

Oct. 30

Registration for Winter Term and Spring Semester Begins

Oct. 31

Indiana Means Business Job Fair

Nov. 4

Parent Advisory Council Meeting

Nov. 7

State of the College Address

Nov. 11

Bell Game - Football at Hanover College

Nov. 22– 26

Thanksgiving Break

Nov. 27

Classes Resume

Dec. 8

Last Day of Fall Semester Classes

Dec. 11-14

Final Exam Period

Dec. 14

Holiday Break Begins – Residence Halls Close at 5 p.m.

Dec. 18

Final Grades Posted on Internet by Noon

Dec. 25 – Jan. 1

College Offices Closed

Jan. 2

Residence Halls Open at 2 p.m.

Jan. 3

Winter Term Classes Begin

8 | Franklin College Parent Newsletter

Student Affairs Directory VICE PRESIDENT & DEAN OF STUDENTS Ellis Hall

ehall@FranklinCollege.edu

317.738.8080

ASST. DEAN OF STUDENTS & DIR. CAREER SERVICES Kirk Bixler

kbixler@FranklinCollege.edu 317.738.8801

ASST. DEAN OF STUDENTS FOR STUDENT INVOLVEMENT Keri Ellington

kellington@FranklinCollege.edu

317.738.8096

EXECUTIVE SECRETARY Marti Schrock DIR. CAMPUS MINISTRY

mschrock@FranklinCollege.edu

317.738.8080

hingram@FranklinCollege.edu

317.738.8140

Hannah Adams Ingram DIR. COUNSELING SERVICES John R. Shafer

jshafer@FranklinCollege.edu 317.738.8080

COUNSELOR Sara Kinder

skinder1@FranklinCollege.edu

317.738.8080

COORD. STUDENT HEALTH CENTER Cathe DeCleene

cdecleene@FranklinCollege.edu

317.738.8090

DIR. DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Terri Roberts.Leonard

troberts@FranklinCollege.edu

317.738.8119

DIR. RESIDENCE LIFE Jacob Knight

jknight@FranklinCollege.edu 317.738.8080

JOHNSON/DIETZ . HOOVER/CLINE HALL COORDINATOR Michael Rivera

mrivera@FranklinCollege.edu

317.738.8079

COORD. NEW STUDENT PROGRAMS Jenna Martin

jmartin@FranklinCollege.edu 317.738.8137

DIETZ HALL COORDINATOR Jacob Knight

jknight@FranklinCollege.edu 317.738.8080

ELSEY HALL COORDINATOR J. Russell Norris

jnorris@FranklinCollege.edu 317.738.8474

DIR. SECURITY Steve Leonard

sleonard@FranklinCollege.edu

317.738.8317

COORD. GREEK LIFE & STUDENT ACTIVITIES Taylor Dwyer

tdwyer@FranklinCollege.edu 317.738.8091

DIR. DINING SERVICES Les Petroff

lpetroff@FranklinCollege.edu 317.738.8108

ASST. TO STUDENT ACTIVITIES & CAREER SERVICES Judy Yarnell

jyarnell@FranklinCollege.edu 317.738.8096

317.738.8801 ASST. FOR RETENTION PROGRAMS Natalie Dilbone

ndilbone@FranklinCollege.edu

317.738.8080

Franklin College Parent Newsletter | 9