Family Connection Newsletter - October Edition


Greetings Monarch Families! Check out the newest edition of the Monarch Family Connection Newsletter! This edition contains a letter from Dean of Students, Dr. Vicki Williams, a Monarch Family Pride Week recap, important dates, and more! 
 

Letter from Dean of Students, Dr. Vicki Williams

It is hard to believe your student is approaching the mid-point of their first semester. Below are some strategies to help your first-year student with academic success:

  • Encourage your student to communicate with their instructor – If your student expresses they are having difficulty in their course – one of the first questions to ask is if they are taking advantage of their instructor’s office hours, or, if they have actively communicated their difficulties to their instructor. Many times, the instructor has insight into active ways students can improve their learning strategies within the course
  • Remind your student of academic resources – From 1:1 tutoring, academic coaching, Math/Science Learning Center, and the Writing Center – there are numerous academic support resources for students. Many times, the hardest part for students is simply ‘where to begin’. If your student needs assistance getting connected to these resources, encourage them to visit this website, or simply email learningcenter@odu.edu with their name, UIN, and academic resource they are interested in.
  • Encourage your student to advocate for themselves – If your student is facing difficulties in their classes due to personal or medical concerns, remind them it’s okay to ask for help. The Dean of Students Office is a prime support for students facing extenuating circumstances. Encourage your student to email oducares@odu.edu with their name, UIN, and nature of their concern. They can also easily make an appointment by clicking here.
  • Celebrate the small wins – If your student hasn’t missed a class, or simply got a passing grade on their paper – celebrate them in your own way. Keeping your student motivated and encouraged can help them become a more confident learner.

Important Dates

October 1: The 2022-2023 FAFSA is available now. Students are encouraged to file their FAFSA as soon as possible. The FAFSA can be found at fafsa.gov. 

October 1: Students are encouraged to contact their academic advisor as soon as possible to schedule an appointment to register for Spring 2022 courses. Students can locate their academic advisor in their MyODU portal. Pre-registration for Spring 2022 begins in early November. Students can view their time ticket for registration in their MyODU portal. 

October 9-12: Fall Holiday (no classes)

October 12-16: Homecoming week. Students can view the list of events on Monarch Groups.

October 23: Last day to apply for Fall 2021 graduation and be listed in the Commencement book

November 2: Election Day Holiday (no classes)

November 1-5: Spring/Summer 2022 (including "Winter Term") pre-registration for currently registered degree-seeking students (time ticket required)

November 6: Spring/Summer 2022 (including "Winter Term") open registration begins, NO time ticket required

View the full Academic Calendar.






 

- Dr. Vicki Williams
(@dean_dr.b on Instagram)


Monarch Family Pride Week Recap!

Thank you to all the families who participated in our various Monarch Family Pride Week events! We enjoyed learning about Monarch families through their participation in the week’s Monarch Moments such as family recipes and family traditions. Special shoutout to our Family Connection Bingo winners, Brandy Austin and Mattie Jones! 

Check out these photos from virtual paint night and the Monarch Family Tailgate! 


Submitted by Kassidy Hill who said “I had a wonderful time. Let’s do it again. Great activity to share with my daughter”.


Academic Advising Overview

Did you know that all first-year students are assigned an academic advisor that they are required to meet with during their first semester ODU? An advisor serves as a representative of the academic college where your student’s major is housed and is knowledgeable on a variety of academic policies and procedures. Advisors also serve as connection points for students to assist them in finding appropriate campus resources, services, and co-curricular activities to ensure their personal and academic success.

Too often students think of their advisor as a person who simply lifts a hold for course registration, but advisors have much more to offer. In addition to the aforementioned items, advisors can assist with connections to internships or on-campus employment opportunities, mapping out a 4-year graduation plan, writing recommendation letters, recommending possible scholarships, and so much more.

Encourage your student to meet with their advisor sooner opposed to later to develop a strong rapport and begin exploring all the services ODU has to offer.

To promote student success and growth, professors are highly encouraged to submit progress grades by the end of the sixth week of the semester. These progress grades provide advisors and other ODU staff with a snapshot of your student’s academic progress. Students earning below a ‘C’ in one or more courses will receive targeted messages with information about using tutoring, academic coaching, meeting with professors during office hours, and accessing other support systems. In addition to reviewing progress grades, we recommend students track their academic progress in each course, and consult their professor regularly, so they know the grade they are earning throughout the entire semester.

Students in need of assistance are always welcome to stop by the Office of First Year Success in the Student Success Center or reach out through the advisor hotline at advisor@odu.edu.   

Living On Campus: Resolving Roommate Conflicts

Housing & Residence Life (HRL) is excited to have students back on campus and looks forward to a great on-campus living experience! We strive to provide an inclusive residential experience in safe, well-maintained communities which support academic excellence, fosters personal development and promotes student success. There are many benefits to living on campus – proximity to classes, sense of belonging, living-learning & themed communities, onsite laundry facilities, cable TV, Wi-Fi and more! 

We realize, though, that sometimes adjusting to college life and new living arrangements can be hard. While most roommates get along well, it is natural to have issues arise during the course of a year. It is not necessary for a roommate to be a best friend; it is necessary that every student respect one another. 

Prior to move in and when filling out the housing application in the portal, students have the opportunity to answer questions on behavioral traits such as sleep patterns, tolerance for noise, and visitors.  This helps us partner students with similar roommates.

Apply to Living-Learning or Themed communities to engage with groups of like-minded students.

Did you know?

Residential students complete a Living Agreement with their Resident Assistant (RA) at the beginning of each semester that outlines student-led feedback around expectations for behavior regarding in areas such as tidiness, cleaning duties, phone use, guests, sleeping and studying conditions, etc. 

 

HRL encourages students to resolve issues on their own in a direct, respectful, and courteous manner. If the first attempt at resolving the conflict among roommates is unsuccessful, it is important to engage the RA in the process to serve as a facilitator. This will be a scheduled discussion to facilitate a mutually agreeable solution. 

The Guide to Living on Campus provides tools and tips students can use when dealing with roommate conflict. RAs are always great resources as staff in each residence hall is dedicated to creating a community-oriented atmosphere.

We want all students to be comfortable with their living arrangements and will work hard to assist in resolving conflict should issues arise. Ultimately, our goal is ensuring students Love Where They Live!

For housing questions, please contact us at housing@odu.edu or phone 757-683-4283. 


On-Campus Mailing

 

Looking to send mail to your student? Below, you will be able to find the mailing address of each on-campus residence and how to address packages or mail to your student.
 


Introduction to TRiO Student Support Services

There’s a hidden corridor that runs along the back of the Perry Library Learning Commons which leads to the Student Success Center. This is the building where TRiO Student Support Services (SSS) is located on the 2nd floor. SSS is a program that is unfamiliar to some, yet instrumental to the success of over 200+ students annually. Our program provides comprehensive support services to eligible participants. 

TRiO Student Support Services (SSS), is a federally-funded program by the U.S. Department of Education which has been on ODU’s campus since 1981. For the last 40 years, TRIO SSS has catered to college students who are first-generation, meet limited income criteria, or have a disability. Our goals are to help participants excel academically and to ultimately graduate by providing comprehensive academic support. SSS provides degree planning, individual weekly tutoring, financial literacy, guidance, and so much more for our participants. 

Emily Harmon, the Academic Counselor for SSS considers SSS “a one-stop shop for all things related to academic success, careers, financial, and graduate school. On campus students may have to go to multiple offices to get these needs addressed, but as a participant in SSS, students can often make one-stop to get the support they need.” 
Faith Williams, the Academic Skills Advisor who handles the mentoring and tutoring programs in SSS says that, “We have found a lot of new students are having a harder time navigating campus and our program is assisting in that adjustment to make sure they know what they need to know.” Williams, a graduate of ODU and a former participant in the TRiO program explains, “SSS is one big family and can support most student concerns, whether it's finding a building on campus, seeking assistance with registration, or just looking for someone to talk with. Our office really does go the extra mile to assist. 

The TRiO Student Support Services program was created by the Department of Education in the 1960’s, designed to improve college retention and graduation rates of eligible students though individualized support services. Passion Studivant, the SSS Director says that “We have always met our program objectives by using a student-centered approach to help our participants meet their graduation goals.”

How to Use a Federal Work Study or LEAP Award

 
Monarch Family Connection | Student Transition and Family Programs
familyconnection@odu.edu