Hello Ole Miss parents and families,
 
Summer is rapidly approaching! While this school year has been unlike any other, we’ve still had a year’s worth of Ole Miss memories that we hope your student will cherish, like riding the mechanical shark at the Student Union (see the fun photo at the end of this letter!), Homecoming, cheering for the football team, snow week 2021, baseball games at Swayze and finally, sending off our Ole Miss graduates with Commencement celebrations. We can’t wait to start a new school year!
This will be the last issue of the COVID-19-focused Family Connection newsletter. We know that you and your student may still have questions about how the summer and fall semesters will look, and we will be sure to communicate any updates as soon as they’re finalized. In the meantime, please read through this issue for information about how we will finish the 2020-21 school year.
Commencement speakers for the classes of 2020 and 2021
We’re excited to welcome two fantastic Commencement speakers to campus in May! Former Ole Miss football player and College Football Hall of Famer Patrick Willis will deliver the 2020 Commencement address on May 8, and Habitat for Humanity International CEO Jonathan T. M. Reckford will speak to the class of 2021 on May 1. Both will deliver their remarks in Vaught-Hemingway Stadium.
 
We like to think of Commencement as the “bookend” to a student’s academic career and we know this is an incredible milestone for your family. More information about both Commencement ceremonies is on the Commencement website, including an overview of how the ceremonies will proceed under public health guidance.
How to use the UM Career Center
Whether your student is graduating this year or still has time before entering the job market, it’s not too early for them to begin preparing for their job search. A combination of changing industries, technologies and expectations means the job search process may look very different, even from year to year. The UM Career Center can help your student prepare for their job search and beyond with an array of services, from salary negotiation tips, to how to find interview attire, to how to continue networking even after they land a job. For more information, visit career.olemiss.edu.
 
Students preparing to enter the job market should:
●      Make sure they have fulfilled their graduation requirements (they can check with their advisor if they’re unsure)
●      Schedule a mock interview with a Career Center counselor
●      Attend Career Center workshops about job searching
●      Meet with a Career Center counselor to learn how to network and secure interviews
●      Check job listings from the Career Center or on Handshake
●      Let the Career Center know when they land a job or an interview!
 
Career Center services for all students
●      Resume and cover letter critique
●      Mock interviews
●      Career counseling and assessments
●      Internship and part-time local job search assistance
●      Graduate school assistance
●      LinkedIn headshots
Chancellor’s Wellness Challenge
The Chancellor’s Wellness Challenge continues through April 23 with opportunities for students to win prizes (like scholarships!) for taking care of their wellbeing. See more about this campaign in Chancellor Boyce’s video below and at the Chancellor’s Wellness Challenge webpage.
Link to YouTube video with the Chancellor
Giving Day 2021
Ole Miss Giving Day 2021 raised nearly $2.5M from more than 1,500 gifts and is still going strong! We’re so excited and proud of how the Ole Miss community gave so generously to enhance student experiences, academics and athletic programs.
Vaccination update
In an abundance of caution and following guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), the university suspended its administration of the Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine on campus this week. All appointments involving the J&J vaccine scheduled for this week were canceled. Those with canceled appointments were offered a spot on the waiting list for a first dose of the university’s remaining supply of the Pfizer vaccine.
 
As of April 12, 6.8 million doses of the J&J vaccine have been administered in the United States. The CDC and FDA are reviewing data involving six reported U.S. cases of a rare and severe type of blood clot in individuals after receiving the vaccine. Right now, these adverse events appear to be extremely rare. If your student has specific concerns they would like to discuss, they may call Student Health at 662-915-7274 or their primary healthcare provider.
 
Students may find appointments for off-campus vaccinations by visiting UM’s vaccination webpage. For questions, please call the COVID-19 Vaccine Call Center at 877-978-6453 or 601-965-4071. You may also email the university’s COVID-19 information contact, c19@olemiss.edu. 
News you can use
  • Chancellor’s Wellness Challenge Encourages, Rewards Holistic Health
  • University Offers On-Campus and Online Summer Camp Options for K-12
  • Student Housing Announces Strategic Plan
Asymptomatic testing
The university will continue to offer free asymptomatic testing during the final two weeks of April. If your student has not been vaccinated, please encourage them to sign up here for an asymptomatic test before returning home.
Events and looking ahead
Student events in The Forum continue through the end of the semester. If you’re planning on visiting Oxford this spring or summer, don’t forget to check the events in downtown Oxford before you come!
 
April 16: Flagship Friday: Movie in the Grove feat. Soul
April 22: Earth Day Clean-up
April 24: Grove Bowl
April 26-30: Finals
April 29-May 2: 2021 Commencement
May 6-8: 2020 Commencement
 
Upcoming home matches — Hotty Toddy!
Baseball
Tuesday, Apr. 20, 6:30 p.m. vs. Little Rock
Thursday, Apr. 22, 7 p.m. vs. LSU
Friday, Apr. 23, 6:30 p.m. vs. LSU
Saturday, Apr. 24, 12 noon vs. LSU
Friday, Apr. 30, 6:30 p.m. vs. South Carolina
Saturday, May 1, 6 p.m. vs. South Carolina
Sunday, May 2, 12 noon vs. South Carolina
 
Softball
Wednesday, Apr. 21, 5 p.m. vs. UT Martin
Friday, Apr. 23, 5 p.m. vs. Auburn
Saturday, Apr. 24, 7 p.m. vs. Auburn
Sunday, Apr. 25, 1 p.m. vs. Auburn
Friday, Apr. 30, 6 p.m. vs. Central Florida
Saturday, May 1, 4 p.m. vs. Central Florida
Sunday, May 2, 1 p.m. vs. Central Florida
 
And if your student is looking for a place to study during finals, here are the Library hours:
 
April 18, 12 noon-12 midnight  
April 19-22, 7:30 a.m.-12 midnight  
April 23, 7:30 a.m.-10 midnight  
April 24, 12 noon-10 midnight  
April 25, 12 noon-12 midnight  
April 26-29, 7:30 a.m.-12 midnight  
April 30, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Our goal with this newsletter has been to keep parents and families informed of the rapidly changing health information, university protocols and necessary adjustments brought on by COVID-19. With the steady increase in the number of fully vaccinated people, we look forward to shifting away from COVID communications and back to sharing the excitement of a fully in-person school year.
 
As always, we invite you to reach out to us with any questions. Thank you for your continued support throughout your student’s Ole Miss journey.
Best,

Merrill Magruder
Coordinator of Family Programs
Ole Miss Family Association
Editor of the Ole Miss Family Association newsletter

Sydney DuPriest
Associate Director of Campus Communication and Engagement
Office of Marketing and Communications
Editor of the UM student newsletter, The Powder Blue
Around campus...
Students akes a fall while riding a mechanical shark
Brandon Kriplean takes a fall while riding a mechanical shark on the Union Plaza as part of SAA's Landshark Week. Be sure to check out more scenes from around campus in "This week in photos."
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