ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY
FEBRUARY 2017
FAMILY Connections A HISTORIC TIME AT RMU What an exciting time to be a Colonial! The university recently announced plans to build the UPMC Events Center, featuring Peoples Court, the centerpiece of a $50 million campus construction project. The UPMC Events Center will be the new home to our NCAA Division I basketball and volleyball teams. The facility will take the place of the Sewall Center, which for more than 30 years has been the home of several of RMU Division I athletics. The campus has outgrown this facility, which also serves as our conference center. The UPMC Events Center will also be the new home of our commencement and convocation ceremonies, and it will feature 11,000 square feet of conference and meeting space for other campus events and outside organizations. The Sewall Center is set to close at the end of June of this year, and the UPMC Events Center is scheduled to open in January 2019. You can learn more about the UPMC Events Center at rmu.edu/eventscenter.
This capital project also includes a student recreation and fitness center at the campus’s North Athletic Complex, which is set to open in time for the Fall 2017 semester. This state-of-the-art facility will provide students with new recreational and fitness opportunities, expanded wellness programs, and enhanced intramural sports offerings. The fully equipped center is comprised of approximately 40,000 square feet of programming and exercise space and will replace the current fitness center located on the top floor of the Jefferson Center. At $50 million, this is the largest capital project in RMU history, and it will be underwritten by the largest sponsorship agreements in our history as well. In addition to UPMC and Peoples, other contributors include Eat n’ Park Hospitality Group, PJ Dick, and PNC. The project has also received funding through the Pennsylvania Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program.
Family Connections is a publication designed for the parents and families of Robert Morris University students. It is compiled by the Office of Student Life and printed in cooperation with the Office of Public Relations and Marketing. Editions are printed in the fall, winter, and spring of each academic year. We are interested in your feedback about this publication. Email your comments and suggestions to studentlife@rmu.edu.
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PARENT SATISFACTION INVENTORY PROVIDES OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE FEEDBACK WITH RMU In March 2017, our undergraduate students will be invited to complete the Student Satisfaction Inventory. This inventory, a national survey tool compiled by the Noel-Levitz organization, allows students to share information with us about their college experience, both their level of satisfaction and level of importance of particular items such as programs, services, and resources. A counterpart to the student survey is the Parent Satisfaction Inventory.
During the same time period in March, parents that subscribe to Family Connections electronically will receive an invitation and instructions for the online survey. Similarly, you can provide responses that will indicate both the level of importance of an item and your level of satisfaction. The combination of feedback from both students and parents helps RMU provide better experiences for our students. We look forward to hearing your perspective on your student’s experience.
RMU PARENT FUND This special fund is supported by dedicated parents and family members of RMU students. When you choose to give to this all-encompassing fund you directly contribute to your student’s success and show that you support the core values of Robert Morris. Your gift contributes to scholarships, strengthens financial aid, puts technology in classrooms across campus, provides
support for programming, and a multitude of other causes. Each and every student has been touched by these contributions. The RMU Parent Fund gives every student the opportunity to experience all that RMU has to offer. Visit rmu.edu/parents to learn more.
WINTER FAMILY WEEKEND: FEBRUARY 24 - 26 Beat the winter blues! Come on over and see us! In conjunction with our Little Siblings Weekend, we invite all parents and families to come visit campus on February 24 – 26. View our schedule of events at rmu.edu/familyweekend.
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RMU ISLAND SPORTS CENTER The Robert Morris University Island Sports Center (ISC) is a premier sports and family entertainment center located on Neville Island, just off Interstate I-79 and a short distance from downtown Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh International Airport. This 32 acre complex is home to four ice and inline skating rinks, a multi-purpose sports dome, an indoor golf driving range with a putting green & sand bunker, an outdoor track & field complex, and a majestic 18-hole mini-golf course. The ISC also has a large banquet room with catering service for special parties, corporate meetings, wedding receptions, graduation parties, baby showers, and other special events.
The facilities give an extensive array of programs that include golf lessons by some of the leading professional instructors in the area, learn to skate and learn to play hockey programs, figure skating and synchronized skating programs. Other programs include in-house ice & inline hockey, hockey instructional clinics, youth and adult ice & inline hockey leagues, public skating sessions, birthday parties and much more. To learn more about what the RMU Island Sports Center offers, visit rmuislandsports.org or call 412-397-3335.
NEW PROGRAM PROVIDES STUDENTS WITH CAREER-RELATED INFORMATION, NETWORKING, & LUNCH! Part of the Career and Professional Development Center’s (CPDC) mission is to provide opportunities for students to learn from and connect with professionals in their fields of interest. In September 2016, the CPDC launched a new Lunch & Learn series. In consideration of students’ busy schedules, sessions were held from noon – 12:50 p.m. in the CPDC classroom and provided students with an educational presentation as well as a light lunch. During the fall, six Lunch & Learn sessions were held, including presentations from the following local employer partners: AIReS, Express Employment Professionals, FedEx, Gatesman+Dave, Mastech Inc., and SDLC
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS
Partners, L.P. The presentations addressed the following topics: • • • • • • •
Resume Writing Internship Opportunities Interviewing Personal Branding Standing Out & Being Noticed Leveraging Your Personal & Collegiate Skills Surviving the First 90 Days in the Workplace
The sessions were successful in providing excellent information as well as networking opportunities for students. To view a list of upcoming Lunch & Learn programs as well as other events, please refer to the CPDC calendar at rmu.edu/careercenter.
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RMU DECLARATION OF INTEGRITY Students at Robert Morris University believe in a set of ideals and standards that can help guide their behavior toward one another and all members of the university community. This is their Declaration of Integrity, which was created by a committee of students and endorsed by the university in Fall 2015. New students entering into RMU each fall are introduced to the Declaration during our annual Matriculation Ceremony and in their First-Year Experience Course. The document is shared often with all students as a reminder of the principals we value in our campus community. Hand in hand we proclaim, with one voice, the following declarations: • I will promote a professional environment and strive to achieve my greatest academic potential. • I will do this while also working towards becoming a productive and active member of the Robert Morris University community and society in general. • I will devote myself to becoming an upstanding member of this institution by making decisions that maintain the academic integrity of the Robert Morris University community. • I will conduct myself in a manner that upholds the University’s core values.
Therefore: o I vow to respect the power of technology and never use it to promote discord or gain an unfair advantage. o I promise to use technology as a resource to aid in the creation of original student work, and not to use it as a means of plagiarism or other forms of academic dishonesty. • I will foster an environment of respect and compassion where students, faculty, and staff of all nations, races, beliefs, sexual orientations, and genders can coexist and develop in a diverse global community. • I recognize that the resources provided by the University belong to everyone in the Robert Morris University community and will respect these valuable assets. • I acknowledge that my status as a member of the Robert Morris family does not end upon my departure, but rather continues to reflect upon me throughout life. We recognize that this is a living document intended to evolve over time. We encourage members of the Robert Morris University community to heed these declarations and abide by them with morality and respect.
• I recognize that technology is a powerful tool and a pivotal part of the learning experience.
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BECOME A LEADER AND BUILD YOUR RESUME! “Life’s most urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Does your student have the potential to be leader – at school, in the workplace, or in the community? While not every person is a naturalborn leader, leadership skills can be taught, learned and developed. At RMU, undergraduates of all majors are invited to grow into servant leaders through the Nonprofit Leadership Association (NLA) certificate program, which along with their degree programs, prepares students for careers in the nonprofit sector. The nonprofit sector makes up a very significant portion of the national economy. In 2012, there were 11.4 million jobs in not-for-profit organizations, making up more than 10% of the nation’s workforce. In the first 10 years of the 21st century, the number of jobs in nonprofits grew by 18% - faster than the overall economy*. There are wonderful career opportunities available for RMU graduates at nonprofits focusing on education, healthcare, community and economic development, the arts – the list goes on and on. In recent decades the nonprofit sector has become increasingly professionalized with most top leaders even in small organizations holding advanced degrees.
RMU students can develop their leadership skills and explore professional careers through the NLA certificate program, which is co-sponsored by RMU’s Office of Student Civic Engagement (OSCE) and RMU’s nationally recognized Bayer Center for Nonprofit Management (BCNM). Students take a series of three noncredit workshops that cover all aspects of nonprofit leadership. They also complete a 150-hour internship at a not-for-profit organization of their choosing. No tuition or fees are charged for this program and students work on the requirements at their own pace, receiving mentoring from professional staff. Upon successful completion of the program your student can list it on his/her resume and it can appear on his/her Student Engagement Transcript. If you think the NLA certificate program might be a good fit for your student, encourage him/her to contact Donna Anderson, director of Student Civic Engagement by emailing andersond@rmu.edu or stopping in Nicholson 267 inside the Student Life suite. Donna will gladly meet with your student to discuss his/her career interests and the program’s requirements. Two of the workshops are being offered during the second eight weeks of the 2017 spring term and it is not too late to register. Talk with your student today!
*independentsector.org/economic_role
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INTRODUCING THE PROFESSIONAL SUCCESS AWARD The Class of 2016 is proud to announce the Professional Success Award as their class gift to Robert Morris University. The Professional Success Award will help alleviate costs for students who have opportunities for an unpaid summer internship. Each year, one RMU student will receive a one-time award of $2,500. The $2,500 award may be used by the student recipient to cover expenses such as the following: • • • • • •
Transportation (gas, flights, public transit, etc.) Summer Housing Tuition Professional Attire Meals General Living Expenses
Requirements: • Recipient must be an undergraduate student in good standing. • Recipient must provide an offer letter from the internship site employer. • Recipient must have completed at least one full semester at Robert Morris University.
• Recipient must have earned 60 credits by the end of the spring term. • Recipient must be enrolled as an undergraduate student at RMU in the fall semester following the pre-professional experience. Graduating seniors are not eligible for the award. • Recipient must have a minimum 3.0 GPA. • Preference will be given to students whose internship is outside a 120 mile radius of the recipient’s permanent address and RMU’s Moon Township campus. • Preference will be given to students receiving credit for the internship. The Professional Success Award is a one-time gift made possible by the RMU Class of 2016, friends and alumni. Students interested in applying for the award should contact the Career and Professional Development Center. Applications must be submitted by April 17, 2017. The recipient of the Professional Success Award will be selected by a university committee.
LIVING ON CAMPUS IN 2017- 2018 It’s that time of year again to start preparing your student’s housing for the 2017-18 academic year. Students should submit their housing contract and $250 deposit by Wednesday March 15, 2017. Please note that the submission of the contract and deposit does not guarantee a student a particular space on campus. All students must be registered
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for fall 2017 classes to participate in the room selection process and receive a housing assignment. For any questions, please contact the Office of Residence Life at 412-397-5252 or by email at reslife@rmu.edu. We look forward to your student joining us for another year. Go Colonials!
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NEW YEAR. NEW GRADES: STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE Slogans like, “New year; New YOU” drive a sense of energy around creating resolutions. Unfortunately, many resolutions fall by the wayside after several months of well-meaning effort, only to leave the individual wearing feelings of failure. The same is often true of a student’s academic performance. Maybe your student had a difficult fall semester and has made the resolution to do better this semester. If your student has made this resolution, here are three tips you can share with him/her to stay on track and meet their academic goals: BE INTENTIONAL Great grades are rarely achieved without intentional steps practiced regularly. Your student should put together a weekly study/homework plan and make it a priority. Encourage your student to carve out time for studying in the same manner that they carve out time for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Research also suggests that sitting in the front of the class and building a relationship with the professor improves the student's engagement and learning.
comfortable places to learn and by being in these spaces, there is a sense of accountability. Rarely does a student go to the library or the Center for Student Success to watch Netflix. Finally, you can support your student's accountability by simply asking if they meet their study goals for the week and to share something they learned. PROGRESS TO PERFECTION If you notice your student sticking to a regular study schedule, or describing accountability they have for themselves, offer praise. The counselors in the Center for Student Success are cheering for each small victory because we know that great grades are the combined result of being intentional and accountable on a daily and weekly basis. So whether your student has made a resolution to get in physical shape or to shape up his/her grades, the steps are the same. Your student must be intentional about the coursework, be accountable to their goals, and celebrate the progress to perfection.
ACCOUNTABILITY One of the greatest contributors to procrastination is the lack of accountability. A student may think, "I know this is my time to study, but I've got all week. I'll get to it later." Often, successful students come to the Center for Student Success or go to the library to complete homework assignments. These are
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Robert Morris University 6001 University Boulevard Moon Township, PA 15108
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JOIN US ON FACEBOOK We invite to you to join our RMU Parents and Families online community. We hope to provide a new way to connect with you on social media. Search RMU Parents and Families on Facebook and you will find us!
FAMILY Connections CALENDAR OF EVENTS Visit rmu.edu for the university’s full calendar of events. FEBRUARY BLACK HISTORY MONTH
APRIL
15 24-26
Little Siblings Weekend (reservations required)
SEXUAL ASSAULT AWARENESS MONTH ASIAN AMERICAN & PACIFIC ISLANDER HERITAGE MONTH IRISH AMERICAN HERITAGE MONTH
24-26
Winter Family Weekend (various events)
1-7
Greek Week (various events scheduled)
28
Black History Month luncheon, Noon, Sewall Center
10
Registration begins for Fall 2017
(reservations required). RMU students free. Faculty, staff and guests $10.
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Spring Blood Drive, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m., Gus Krop Gym, John Jay Center
14-15
Good Friday Holiday. No classes. Administrative offices closed.
Pittsburgh Speakers Series Presents Gen. Martin Dempsey 8 p.m., Heinz Hall
MARCH WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH 6-10
Undergraduate Spring Break
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Registration begins for Summer 2017
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Carnegie Museum Trip - bus departs campus at noon (Reservations required). $20 includes bus transportation and museum entry
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Women’s History Month Luncheon – Noon – Sewall Center RMU students free. Faculty, staff and guests $10. (reservations required)
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Pittsburgh Speakers Series presents Ted Koppel – 8 p.m. – Heinz Hall