TUFTS PARENTS AND FAMILIES (TPF) NEWSLETTER | March 20, 2024 

Dear Parents and Families,

Spring break is underway. Whether your student is home, traveling, or stayed on campus, it can be a good time to check in with them before the end of the semester.

In this edition, Career Corner answers your frequently asked questions, Environmental Studies at Tufts celebrates its 40th anniversary and launches a new Climate Action course, and don't miss the featured feel-good Tufts Now story about Tufts' Greek organizations fostering community and giving back.

For those of you whose student will be graduating this May, I hope you'll attend the Commencement 101 webinar on Tuesday, March 26 at 6 p.m. ET. Members of the Commencement Office team and campus partners will cover everything you need to know to plan for the graduation ceremony on May 19 and related activities. Please register and submit questions in advance. 

Best wishes to you this spring,

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

Celebrating 40 years of training the next generation of environmental leaders, the Environmental Studies Program at Tufts is known for its interdisciplinary and hands-on approach. Today, alumni are working as environmental practitioners and advocates in myriad fields, including public health, medicine, law, finance, government, and education.

Since 1984, Environmental Studies has been offered as a co-major (and more recently, a stand-alone major as well) for School of Arts and Sciences and School of Engineering students. “It’s a popular major for students who have a passion for the environment, and who want to gain skills in critical thinking, communication, and qualitative and quantitative methods required to be effective leaders,” said Colin Orians, Director of Environmental Studies. Students can also minor in Food Systems and Nutrition, and a minor in Environmental Science and Policy is available for Engineering students.

This year, timed with its milestone anniversary, Environmental Studies is offering a new collaborative course: Climate Action (ENV 12). While it is geared toward first-year students, it is open to all undergraduates for Fall 2024 registration. The course draws from several disciplines, providing early exposure to Tufts’ strengths in food systems, renewable energy, climate diplomacy, materials engineering, and sustainability planning. It includes guest lectures from Tufts faculty experts in these five areas of application to inspire students to further study in multiple departments. A series of interactive worksheets and role-playing exercises offers practice in (a) quantitative planning subject to a science-based carbon budget, recognizing tradeoffs across environmental, economic, and social objectives and (b) persuasive communication with diverse audiences.

“The Climate Action course is very unique because it will bring together many environmental leading experts across the university, giving incoming students a front seat to current cutting-edge environmental research being conducted at Tufts. We hope this course will spark students’ curiosity to explore one or more of the many environmental curricular and co-curricular opportunities available to them on campus” said Sara Gomez, Environmental Studies Associate Director.

Additionally, for first-year students, Intro to Environmental Studies (ENV 1) is recommended for students interested in learning more about the field and potentially pursuing an Environmental Studies major. Other exploration courses include the Environmental Studies Lecture Series (ENV 5), offered both semesters, and Sustainability in Action (ENV 100) in the spring. The Department of Earth and Climate Sciences offers intro-level courses including Dynamic Earth (ECS-1) in the fall and Introduction to Climate Science (ECS-3) in the spring. Students are also encouraged to explore some of the environmental student programming and opportunities offered through the Office of Sustainability.

Pictured above: Environmental Studies is located in Bromfield-Pearson Hall in Medford—Tufts' environmental hub—alongside the Department of Earth and Climate Sciences, the Office of Sustainability, and the Department of Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning.

Our Answers to Frequently Asked Parent Questions
You ask, we answer! We’ve compiled more than a dozen of our most popular parent questions in an FAQ resource, featuring plenty of links to additional information. Here are a handful of the questions (along with expert answers!) that you’ll find:

On Friday, May 17, join your Jumbo family for Alumni Engagement's longest-running tradition, Tufts Night at the Pops. Alumni, students, and their families are invited to Symphony Hall in Boston for a special concert by the world-renowned Boston Pops Orchestra. This year's theme will be the music of George Gershwin. Tickets are on sale now. We hope to see you there!

Tufts Now
Sororities and fraternities on campus are finding meaningful ways to bring people together, deepen community connections, and be of service to others.

Summer Courses -- currently enrolling
Summer can be a good time for students to advance their degree, catch up on credits, or tackle a challenging course. In-person or virtual options available. 

Summer Programs for High School Students -- applications are open
Taught by Tufts renowned faculty, pre-college programs range from one to six weeks and offer high school students a chance to explore their passions and preview the college experience. 

EVENT: Webinar for parents/families of graduating students
On Tuesday, March 26 at 6 p.m. ET, join the Commencement 101 webinar for details to help you plan for graduation on May 19 and related activities. Registration is required and questions can be submitted in advance.

Dates to Remember
March 25 – Advising Period begins for Fall 2024 class registration (Read about changes to the registration process based on student and faculty feedback.)

March 25 – Spring Recess ends; classes resume

If your student is studying abroad this fall, sign-ups for required pre-departure meetings are available on the Student Life calendars.

Class of 2024 Parents:
Senior Memory Book
Order the 2024 Senior Memory Book at yearbookforever.com (enter Tufts University in “school name”). The book will include senior portraits and highlights from this past year. Ordered books will be mailed in late July 2024.

Summer Move Out Details
To help you plan ahead, information about timing, shipping, and storage is on the Residential Life website. 

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.

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