Dear Parents,
Experiencing the first-year of college along with your son or
daughter can be an extremely rewarding and sometimes challenging
endeavor! Here at the Freshman
Center, we realize that you want to provide your son or
daughter with best possible support and our goal is to help you
along the way. As we mentioned at our Parent Orientation
presentation, we are committed to ensuring a smooth transition to
college life based on the individual needs of your son or
daughter.
At this time of the academic year, all first-year students
should be making an appointment to meet their Freshman Center
advisor. This introductory meeting is crucial to developing
an effective student/advisor relationship. Freshman Center
advisors are available any time a student has a question or
concern. Assistance is readily available in person or via
e-mail or telephone.
In addition to providing academic and personal advisement, the
University Freshman Center offers the following services to all
first-year students:
- Presidential Scholar and Honors Program Support
- Academic programming in the Residence Village
- Programs and special events to help students explore
majors
- Community building activities
- Relationship building with faculty members and on campus
Liaison to on-campus resources such as the Career Center,
Counseling Center, Health Services, Study Abroad, Writing, Tutoring
and Math Centers among others.
On October 21 on the Queens campus and October 23 on the Staten
Island Campus, the Career Center and the University Freshman Center
will co-host the annual Majors Fair. This event provides
students with the opportunity to explore the many majors which the
University offers. Faculty from every school and college of
the University are present to answer student inquiries.
Please remind your son or daughter about the myriad of services
that we provide. Important dates, events and
requests will be e-mailed directly to your son or daughter’s St.
John’s University e-mail account. Students should be
encouraged to check their St. John’s e-mail at least once per
day. This will greatly assist them in receiving and acting
upon important information.
On a final note, the midterm exam period for the fall 2008
semester is October 14-20. First-year students will receive
midterm grades, which provide an assessment of their course
progress to date. Your son or daughter may view their midterm
grades online. Their Freshman Center advisor will also
receive copies of the grades and if necessary, reach out and
provide necessary support. Communication at this point in
time is particularly beneficial.
As always, please feel free to contact the Freshman Center for
more information or with any questions. We look forward to
being an instrumental part of a productive, exciting and fun
first-year at St. John’s University!
Sincerely,
The Staff of the University Freshman Center