Parent & Family Calendar
Greetings from Gonzaga’s New Student & Family Programs!
We are excited that you are part of the Gonzaga Family and we look forward to sharing in your student’s college experience at GU! We’re here to assist you and your student during this important transition in your lives. It will surely be a time of great discovery and growth.
New Student & Family Programs is here, especially for you. Studies show that parent and family involvement improves and enhances the college experience for students, and our office is committed to providing the guidance and support you need to help your student be successful.
We understand the integral role parents and families play in making this new phase of your student’s educational journey a positive one and we have created several resources to keep you involved and informed. The Parent and Family eNewsletter, Family Essentials, and our website at gonzaga.edu/parents are all full of helpful tips and information.
Our intent is to make the Gonzaga campus a “home away from home” for all Zags by offering you a full range of information and resources that will enable you to best support and empower your student. We are available to answer your questions, big or small. If we don’t have an answer, we will certainly find one for you! Please feel free to call or email our office any time, or stop by if you’re in Spokane.
We sincerely hope that this journey, for you and your student, will be fulfilling and successful. Welcome to our Gonzaga Family!
Nicola Mannetter
Director, New Student & Family Programs mannettern@gonzaga.edu (509) 313-5399
GO ZAGS!
Mid-Semester grades due in
Discuss academic goals and expectations ahead of time.
Many first year students do not do as well academically in their first semester as they did in high school, and many reconsider their proposed course of study. Ask your student what they hope to accomplish during their first year and help them take ownership of their education. Remember, though, grades are not the only indication of learning.
† St. Francis Xavier
† St. Edmund Campion
† Third Sunday of Advent † Our Lady of Guadalupe
Eve Last week of the semester (D ec. 12-15) † Second Sunday of Advent † First Sunday of Advent † St. Nicholas
Grades due in the R egistrar’s Office
† Christmas Day † Kwanzaa begins † Hanukkah ends † Hanukkah begins Christmas break begins † Fourth Sunday of Advent
† St. Peter Canisius
† Immaculate Conception o f the Blessed Virgin Mary
† St. Juan Diego
Reading/Study days (D ec. 9-11)
Don’t over schedule.
Tell your student ahead of time about family plans, especially over the holidays, so that they can make plans accordingly.
St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Residence Halls open Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – no classes Classes begin
Encourage your student to visit their professors.
Every professor sets aside three or four hours per week for office hours. This time is meant for one-on-one conferences to help students with papers, test prep, and answer other questions. Encourage your student to take advantage of this opportunity as often as possible.
Saving Time begins
Acknowledge that college today is different.
Although century-old buildings look untouched by time, college life today is very different from the campus scene 25 or 30 years ago. Think twice before beginning a sentence with, “When I was your age...”
Easter Monday -no classes
Last day to withdraw from a course Tax Day † P assover begins (Apr. 22-30)
†
Academic Honors Convocation
Talk to your student about how, and how often, you’ll keep in touch.
Do you want a planned time to talk or are you more spontaneous? A cell phone can be a wonderful way to connect, or it can be, as one student described, an “electronic leash.” Encourage your student to use it with discretion. Email and social media are also great ways to stay connected. Just don’t count on a reply to every message!
Yom Hashoah (May 5-6)
Undergraduate Commencement
Mother’s Day
† Yom Haatzmaut (May 13-14)
First summer session begins Last week of the se mester (May 7-10)
Grades due in the R egistrar’s office
† Ascension Reading/study
(M ay 4-6) † Commencement Mass Graduate School Commencement
Trinity Sunday
Memorial Day
Renegotiate expectations.
When your Zag visits home, remember they’ve been making decisions on how to spend their time. You, however, may have strong feelings when they come home late at night, sleep in, or arrive late for dinner. Most students respond well if you treat them with respect. Start the conversation by being flexible and seeking common ground and solutions that will work for both of you.
Lag BaO mer (May 25-26)
(Jun. 11-13)
Second summer session begins Canada Day
Ask questions - but not too many.
First year students can resent interference with their new-found lifestyles. Still, most desire the security of knowing that someone is interested. Parental curiosity might seem obnoxious, or it could offer relief and support depending on the attitudes of the people involved. Avoid questions tinged with ulterior motives in favor of honest inquiries and discussion.
Independence Day
New Student and Family Programs
502 E. Boone Avenue – MSC 2464
Spokane, WA 99258-2464
(509) 313-5399
gonzaga.edu/nsfp