TUFTS PARENTS AND FAMILIES (TPF) NEWSLETTER | September 18, 2024

Dear Parents and Families,

While we've had summer-like weather for the start of the term, the return of students and the energy they bring to campus signals the fall season is underway! If you didn't get a chance to watch it, a recording of the Matriculation ceremony is available online. This official welcoming of new students—with remarks from President Kumar and student a cappella performances—is a nice way to kick off the semester. 

In this edition: meet Chris Campbell who heads up the FIRST Resource Center, review Career Center resources and events for students this fall, and catch up on timely news and events, including Parents and Family Weekend (Oct. 18-19).

Best wishes to you and your Jumbo in the year ahead, 

Carole McFall
Family Engagement, AS&E 
carole.mcfall@tufts.edu
Direct: 617-627-2797

Since January 2023, Chris Campbell has led the FIRST Resource Center at Tufts, developing programs, raising awareness, and collaborating with campus partners to ensure first-generation students have the resources they need to succeed. He and his team create spaces where students feel empowered and loved to reach their full potential.  

Campbell grew up in Jamaica before moving to the U.S. and was the first in his family to attend college. As an immigrant from an impoverished family, he says the work they do in the FIRST Center is very personal for him. “College can be overwhelming for any student. For first-generation students, some may not have a family member to help them navigate the experience. We advise students, and encourage them to build connections early with peers, academic advisors, and others on campus,” he said. 

Two of the Center’s signature programs include BLAST – Bridge to Liberal Arts Success at Tufts for students coming from under-resourced high schools and the pre-orientation program BEAST – Building Engagement and Access for Students at Tufts. This year, Campbell's excited for a new partnership with Derby Entrepreneurship Center to offer workshops that will equip first-generation students with skills and some seed money to bring their business ideas into fruition. The semester-long pilot program—Small Business and Side Hustles 101—has 15 spaces to start, which were quickly filled.

Campbell enjoys connecting with parents and families during move-in for the BLAST and BEAST programs and letting them know about resources for their students that can help with some of the associated costs that come with going to college. He also encourages parents to reach out to him directly if they would like to meet one-on-one.  

Recently, Campbell was teaching a first-year seminar alongside peer leaders who were using a lot of acronyms, and a student raised their hand to ask for clarification. “I was really excited to see that. We want students to ask questions and to seek help when they need it,” he said. “If we don’t have the answer or resource a student needs, we can redirect them to our campus partners who do. The important thing is for them to have a sense of inclusion and belonging—to feel comfortable raising their hand.”  

Chris Campbell holds a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont and a bachelor’s degree in Religious Studies with a concentration in Africana Studies from the College of the Holy Cross. 

The Career Center offers extensive resources to help your student explore career options, gain skills and experience, build a professional network, and develop strategies for pursuing goals. Here are a few of the resources and opportunities available for Fall 2024:

We look forward to supporting and encouraging your student.

Dates to Remember

Sept. 24 – First session courses only: Last time for AS&E students to drop classes without record of enrollment

Sept. 27 – Career Fair

Oct. 14 – Indigenous Peoples' Day (University Holiday); no classes 

Oct. 18, 19 – Parents and Family Weekend

Tufts Now 

A Modern Upgrade for Historic Engineering Hub—Renovations to Halligan Hall, completed this summer, advance electrical and computer engineering teaching and research at Tufts

Events and Opportunities for Families

We hope you can join us for Parents and Family Weekend, Oct. 18 - 19. 

Lifelong Learning at Tufts

Connect, learn, and stay curious with Osher Lifelong Learning Institute (OLLI) courses. 

Resources for your Student

There are a wide variety of support services available for students in Arts & Sciences, Engineering, and SMFA at Tufts.

Communications Archive

Emails and other communications to parents, families, and students are archived online. 

TuftsAlert

Enroll in the TuftsAlert system to be notified directly by text, phone, and/or email in case of significant emergencies affecting the Tufts University community.

Family Engagement