NEWSLETTER
PARENTS CONNECTION FALL 2014
Parents Connection Newsletter
Fall 2014
CONTENTS P3 WHAT DO I DO IF MY COLLEGE STUDENT IS HOMESICK?
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FALL 2014 IMPORTANT DATES
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PARENT AND FAMILY WEEKEND SCHEDULE
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VISUAL PERFORMING ART COMMUNITY
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OREDIGGER LEADERSHIP
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ELM HALL
COVER PHOTO CREDIT : DOUGLAS L. VAN BOSSUYT, PH.D.
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CONTACTS
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WHAT DO I DO IF MY COLLEGE STUDENT IS HOMESICK? Of course, not all college students will get homesick when they go away to college. Many students adjust well, settle in, and have a wonderful experience. Some students may experience some homesickness, but their parents will never know about it. It may last a few days or a few weeks, the student will adjust and move on. But for some parents, the fear becomes reality. Their college student is homesick, miserable, and perhaps asking to come home. What is a parent to do? Students may experience homesickness to varying degrees, although most probably have at least some of those feelings of longing for home. It is helpful for parents, and students, to understand that a certain amount of homesickness is completely normal. Students are dealing with unfamiliar situations, possible lack of routine and structure, loss of close friends, and readjustments of expectations. Some factors may increase the likelihood that your child may experience some degree of homesickness: no previous experiences away from home, difficulty making transitions to new situations, roommate issues, leaving a boyfriend or girlfriend at home, possible concerns about family members at home, or academic difficulties. One Dutch study, conducted in 2007, suggested that students with more involved parents tend to experience more homesickness; however, they may also have more effective coping strategies. While recognizing that your college student may not be experiencing homesickness, parents may want to watch for signs. Your college student may tell you outright that
Photo Credit : CollegeDegrees360
she is homesick (girls are more apt to articulate these feelings than boys). Your student may call home more often or ask to visit home more than you expected. Your student may express dissatisfaction with everything and everyone at the school. Students may be especially worried about classes, especially anxious, have difficulty making decisions, or withdraw from social activities. Parents need to watch closely for any signs of serious adjustment difficulties or depression: excessive use of alcohol or food, excessive TV, internet or video game use. (Remember that all of these activities are normal, it is excessive use that may be concerning.)
Although homesickness may occur immediately, during the first few days or weeks of college; it may also occur around mid-semester. Don’t assume that your student won’t ever be homesick just because he does not experience it at the beginning of the semester. For some students, it may take until several weeks into the term before the novelty of the college experience begins to wear off, and the reality of studying and trying to find balance, begins to sink in. Midterm exams may exacerbate underlying feelings. In some areas of the country, the coming cold and gray of November weather may be a factor. Cont. P10
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One Dutch study, conducted in 2007, suggested that students with more involved parents tend to experience more homesickness; however, they may also have more effective coping strategies.
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Parents Connection Newsletter
So if your college student does experience some degree of homesickness, at some point in the semester, is there anything that you, as a parent can do? Absolutely. Although you may feel helpless at times, here are a few suggestions to help you help your college student through this time.
• Be willing to listen to your student’s feelings and validate that they are real. Sometimes just being able to express her feelings may be what your student needs. She may not need your suggestions, just your understanding ear. Don’t trivialize or dismiss her feelings.
• Recognize that colleges work at, and are often quite good at,
identifying and dealing with students who are experiencing homesickness. Orientation Leaders, Resident Assistants, counselors, and other college personnel are trained to help students adjust to college. Suggest to your student that he talk with someone on campus about his feelings.
• Remind yourself that increased independence is one of the goals for your college student. Going through this difficult phase may be part of the necessary process of emerging adulthood. Give her support, but know that she needs to deal with this situation.
• Although you want to let your child know that you miss him, don’t
dwell on how empty the house seems without him. Let him know that you are also adjusting to changes.
• Encourage your student to stay on campus rather than making
frequent visits home. It is difficult to adjust to college if you are not there – especially on the weekends, when more of the social activity may occur.
• Continue to make positive comments about the college and the
college experience. Don’t buy into negativity expressed by your student.
• Let your student know that you believe that she can handle this situation and make adjustments. You believe in her abilities.
• Suggest that your student take some time to make herself more
familiar with the campus. Study a campus map, take some walks around campus, find some new and interesting places. The more familiar she becomes with her new home the more quickly she will feel comfortable.
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• Suggest that your student pick some small goals – for the next day or week – to do something to take action and not be a victim of her feelings. Doing some small thing – attending a club meeting, having dinner with a new friend from class, talking to a professor, attending an athletic event – will help her to feel in control.
• Suggest that your student get involved on campus:
attend a club meeting, join an intramural sport, volunteer to help somewhere. Students who are more involved are happier – and better – students.
• Help him think about whether some extra academic support may help with classes and schoolwork. Perhaps he is feeling overwhelmed and could use some help studying. Perhaps a study group would help – not only academically, but also socially.
As parents, we want our children to be healthy and happy – or at least well adjusted. When we sense that they are homesick or unhappy, our first tendency may be to rush to their aid and help them. As they work to adjust to college – and to a new form of adulthood – we may need to rethink how we support them. They still need us to be parents, to be there for them, but the form of that parenting may change. Homesickness usually gets better with time. Help your college student know that you are there, that you believe that she can and will adjust, and that she can take action to make things better. Source : College Parents of America
Parents Connection Newsletter
JUST OPENED MINES REC CENTER (NEXT TO SUBWAY)
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FALL 2014 IMPORTANT DATES FALL BREAK:
OCTOBER 13TH
PARENT & FAMILY WEEKEND:
OCTOBER 24TH
REGISTRATION FOR SPRING CLASSES: THANKSGIVING BREAK:
• http://inside.mines.edu/parents-weekend
NOVEMBER 10TH NOVEMBER 26TH & 28TH
• No classes 26th • Campus closed 27th • Residence Halls stay open with limited staff
FINAL EXAMS: COMMENCEMENT:
DECEMBER 6TH, 8TH -11TH DECEMBER 12TH
• Residence Halls officially close at noon. • Residents are required to “check out” with their RA 24 hours after final exams
WINTER BREAK: RESIDENCE HALLS RE-OPEN
DECEMBER 15TH
• More info in the Winter Newsletter
JANUARY 5TH (2015)
• Residence halls will be re-opened at 8 am after winter break.
SPRING SEMESTER:
JANUARY 7TH
• Classes start
For more important housing dates, please visit http://inside.mines.edu/Important-Housing-Dates
PARENTS AND FAMILY WEEKEND 2014 >
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“ PARENTS AND FAMILY WEEKEND 2014 ” Friday October 24th, 2014 05:00 PM 07:00 PM 08:00 PM
Registration Table Opens (Student Center Atrium) Women’s Volleyball vs. Regis University (Lockridge Gymnasium) First 50 parents in attendance will receive a free Mines Volleyball T-Shirt Art of the Brix (Student Center Ballrooms)
SATURDAY October 25th, 2014 08:00 AM 11:00 PM
Breakfast and Classroom Experience (TBA)
05:00 PM
Women’s Volleyball vs. UC-Colorado Springs (Lockridge Gymnasium) First 50 parents in attendance will receive a free Mines Volleyball T-Shirt
07:30 PM
Mines Little Theater Performance of “Angel Street (Gaslight)” (Green Center, Bunker Auditorium)
Tailgate and Football vs. CSU-Peublo Kickoff at 12:00 pm at the North Area Athletic Complex)
SUNDAY October 26th, 2014 08:00 AM
“Oredigger Classic” Triathlon (Student Recreation Center)
12:00 PM 02:30 PM 03:00 PM
Men’s Soccer vs. Regis University (CSM Soccer Stadium) Women’s Soccer vs. Western State Colorado University (CSM Soccer Stadium) Mines Little Theater Performs “Treasure Island” (Green Center, Bunker Auditorium)
Registration : http://goo.gl/yvsAoP All Athletic Events are Free for Students Tickets for Athletic and other events may be purchased in advance at the Registration link above until 10/10/14
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September 7th, 2014: Maple Hall 2nd South taking a group picture after an absolutely wonderful day tubing down Clear Creek! Man was it cold, but so worth it! RA Brittany Rathsburg (The one taking the picture) took her floor down to Clear Creek on a pleasant Sunday afternoon to distress from a week’s worth of homework and exams. After hiking up Clear Creek for a mile, Brittany and her floor cruised down the creek for a few hours all the way back into Downtown Golden! “It’s a lot like the lazy river at Water World… but more legit!” Everyone had a blast!
VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS COMMUNITY : Students involved with the Visual and Performing Arts Community will engage the right side of their brain through a variety of art based programs. They will partner with the Creative Arts Club, the yearly High Grade art publication, and the Anonymous Right Brains Club, including attending local performances or workshops, and performing 2013 - 2014 Visual Performing Art Community Group
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or creating for their own communities. This engagement will not only broaden students’ horizons regarding the arts, but will also enhance the Mines community by providing additional opportunities for all Mines students to become engaged in the arts as well. This community welcomes artists of all art forms or patrons of the arts. Possible activities include: Performances at Denver Center for Performing Arts; On-campus performers or speakers; Student Art & Musical Showcases; Miner’s Alley Playhouse; Art, Creative Writing, & Poetry Workshops
Pot luck dinner with the past 3 years of VPA members in the weaver courtyard
OREDIGGER LEADERSHIP VOLUNTEERS AT LOCAL WOMEN’S SHELTER SHANNON’S HOPE
Shannon’s Hope Maternity Home
Oredigger Leadership is one of the themed living communities on the Mines campus. The community focuses on five pillars of leadership: Mentorship, Wellbeing, Knowledge, Communication, and Service. The first OLC program focused on the service pillar. During move-in, the OLC collected used boxes from residents that were finished unpacking. About a week later, the OLC brought the boxes to Shannon’s Hope, a local nonprofit women’s shelter that takes in displaced women with children and pregnant women. Shannon’s Hope is currently in the process of relocating, and Mines students were invaluable help packing, moving, and getting the house ready for the transition. We hope to revisit Shannon’s Hope and help them get settled into their new home, as well as become involved in the education of the young women currently living there.
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Parents Connection Newsletter
ELM HALL A MESSAGE FROM BRENT WALLER (DIRECTOR OF RESIDENCE LIFE) We would also like to take a moment to let you know the move-in for Elm Residence Hall for assigned students took place on Saturday, September 20. We took many steps to ensure the day was smooth for the 200 students making the move. The affected students had been notified of the move and our process via email and an information meeting. Additionally, we hired a professional moving company to assist with the move, as well as brought back our infamous move-in volunteers. Please note, Mines Market (new Dining Hall) will continue to be under construction until January 2015. We have appreciated everyone’s support and understanding of our challenging situation and hope to have our residence hall communities engaging across campus and enjoying all of the spaces we have to offer for our students. We sent some photos out on our Facebook and Twitter pages during the weekend to show you what was happening during the move-in process and how the building looks!
TWITTER : @MINESRESLIFE
http://goo.gl/mdV56l
FACEBOOK : COLORADO SCHOOL OF MINES RESIDENCE LIFE
http://goo.gl/LWQS01
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RESIDENCE LIFE STAFF
CONTACTS ELM HALL & WEAVER TOWERS 1811 ELM ST. GOLDEN, CO 80401 Erik Buol ebuol@mines.edu (303) 273-3994
MAPLE HALL & ASPEN HALL 1733 MAPLE ST. GOLDEN, CO 80401 Briceland Bleem bbleem@mines.edu (303) 273-3995
BRADFORD HALL, MORGAN HALL, THOMAS HALL, & RANDALL HALL 1222 W CAMPUS RD GOLDEN, CO 80401 Lisa Latronica llatroni@mines.edu (303) 273-3276
MINES PARK APARTMENTS
DIRECTOR OF RESIDENCE LIFE
Brent Waller, bwaller@mines.edu
ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF RESIDENCE LIFE
Mary Elliott mfelliot@mines.edu
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF HOUSING OPERATIONS
Katie Schmalzel kschmalz@mines.edu
HOUSING OFFICE
housing@mines.edu (303) 273-3351
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Kevin Caputo kcaputo@mines.edu (303) 273-3922
HOUSING ASSIGNMENTS SPECIALIST Jackie Garramone jgarramo@mines.edu (303) 273-3928
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR/ PARENT RELATIONS Debi Pretz dpretz@mines.edu (303) 384-2576
ADMINISTRATIVE COORDINATOR Maryann Kozar mkozar@mines.edu (303) 273-3181
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Dear Parents – We’d love your feedback! Please take a moment to fill out a short survey about your move-in experience. Click on the link below and share with us how preparations for and your actual check-in day went. We take our “partnership with our parents” very seriously, always striving to improve, and working diligently and collaboratively on setting your student up for success while living on campus and beyond. Thank you for assisting us with completing the survey by Tuesday, September 30th. Survey : http://goo.gl/UVUn5b
PHOTO CREDIT : : WALLY GOBETZ