Learn about Health Service, buy Sink vouchers and 2022 Senior Memory Book
Learn about Health Service, buy Sink vouchers and 2022 Senior Memory Book
Tufts Student Life
PARENTs and Families NEWSLETTER
December 20, 2021
Dear Parents and Families,
Congratulations to you and your students on completing the Fall 2021 semester! Out of an abundance of caution, all remaining final exams are virtual, and we are asking students who live on campus or whose off-campus housing is not their permanent residence to head to their winter break destinations as early as possible. We wish you a wonderful, restful holiday season and winter break and hope that you stay safe and healthy. In this issue, we highlight the efforts and offerings of Health Service.

Learn About Health Service

We talked to some members of the Health Service team to learn about the work that they have been doing and the services they offer. Health Service is available to students on the Medford/Somerville campus, as well as SMFA students. They offer primary care, acute care for injury or illness, sexual health services, labwork, travel/pre-entrance vaccinations, and gender-affirming health care, and they have a dietitian, chiropractor, and acupuncturist available. They offer both in-person and telehealth services, as well as an after-hours service.
Students can schedule appointments or ask questions through the online patient portal. If they are acutely ill, they can call.
"We encourage students to be involved in their own health care. We try to help them advocate for themselves and learn to navigate the health care system," said Marie Caggiano, MD, MPH, Medical Director. Health Service can talk to parents and families if the student gives permission, but the staff members want to hear from students and encourage them to get in touch directly about any issues.
Health Service has a respiratory unit for illnesses ranging from colds and flu to COVID-19. They manage the care for every student who tests positive for COVID at Tufts.
Marianne Coscia, BSN, is the Senior Nurse Manager/Clinical Manager who supervises the day-to-day operations of the clinic. When the pandemic began, she took on the role of managing all of the students in quarantine and isolation. For her extraordinary efforts during a challenging year, Marianne was awarded the 2021 Louise Gazzara Award. Named after a former Tufts nurse, the award honors a college nurse who has made outstanding contributions to their college or university, the profession, and/or the New England College Health Association (NECHA).
Dr. Caggiano began at Tufts on April 1, 2020. "The landscape of health care and what I had understood I was going to be doing in this job became very different very quickly, but it has been an opportunity for us to collaborate more closely with some other departments across the University like the Dean of Student Affairs office and Residential Life," she said.
Health Service strongly recommends that all students get a flu vaccine, and COVID booster shots are now required for all members of the Tufts community; students can get these vaccinations when they are home for winter break if they haven't already.

Tuition Refund Plan

Every year, college students around the country navigate many physical or mental health challenges, and some students unexpectedly take time away from their studies. Our departments work closely with Tufts students whose health issues may significantly impact their ability to complete a semester. Reasons for a medical leave vary and can stem from a concussion, a prolonged bout of mononucleosis, problems with depression or anxiety, or many other health-related conditions beyond one's control. The University provides a graded tuition refund for all medical leaves taken at the beginning of each semester; beyond the first six weeks of each term, a student who takes a medical leave without insurance forfeits a substantial portionor the entiretyof the payments made toward that semester's tuition.
Tuition insurance is meant to safeguard your financial commitment should an unexpected health concern necessitate that your Tufts student take a medical leave of absence this year. Participation in the Tuition Refund Plan is entirely optional, but we strongly encourage you consider enrolling. If you wish to enroll for the Spring 2022 semester, please submit the application and payment by the first day of classes. Applications will not be accepted after that date. Questions can be directed to Dewar at 617-774-1555.

Give the Gift of Coffee!

Looking for a gift for your student this holiday season? Treat them to a drink from the Sink, our very own student-run coffee shop on campus. A Sink voucher gives the recipient their choice of anything from our menu including teas, coffee, specialty lattes, muffins, bagels and more. Perfect for someone settling into campus looking to come explore our Friendly Fridays or Open Mic Events or for a loyal customer who'd love a discount!

2022 Senior Memory Book

Class of 2022 Parents and families: order your copy of the 2022 Senior Memory Book now. The book will include 64 color pages in a coffee table book format celebrating the Tufts Class of 2022. The book will include the traditional senior portrait section and other campus and community highlights from this special year. Books will be completed following commencement weekend and will be mailed to the addresses provided during the ordering process in mid- to late July 2022.

Check Out Summer Course Options!

Could your student benefit from tackling a challenging class outside of the pressures of the regular school year or maybe they just need to catch up on credits? With a large offering of flexible course schedules, as well as virtual course options, summer courses at Tufts are accessible to any students for any reason. Registration opens January 4. To view our summer offerings, have your student visit go.tufts.edu/SummerAtTufts.

Career Corner: Conversations with the Tufts Career Center

Ways Your Student Can Make the Most of Winter Break

Alongside opportunities for rest and rejuvenation, winter break is a great time for students to reflect, research career paths, and refine self-marketing materials. Here are three low-stress options:
  • Read through our Career Guide: From career competencies to resume writing and sample interview questions, the Tufts Career Guide (PDF) provides a thorough look at the career exploration and planning process. Students can start with a page or two and go from there.
  • Update Handshake profile: In less than five minutes, students can log onto Handshakeour home for job and internship listings and career eventsto complete their profiles and sign up to receive email alerts when jobs/internships of interest are posted.
  • Conduct informational interviews: If this sounds intimidating, remind your student that they're simply short conversations with people whose careers sound interesting. Perhaps someone from The Herd (our student-alumni flash mentoring database) would welcome a chat over coffee or a 20-minute Zoom or phone call?

What's Happening Academically?

Advising Dean Updates and Academic Standing Reminder

A new Liberal Arts Advising Dean will be starting in the Spring 2022 semester to replace Robin Olinsky. In the meantime, the following changes have been made to the Advising Dean alpha-splits.
Tanesha Leathers (last names: AE, Combined Degree BA/BFA with Leah Gadd)
Matthew Bellof (last names: FL, UZ, Transfer and Domestic Exchange)
Stephanie Frazitta (last names: MR, ST, Combined Degree Tufts/NEC)
After the Fall semester, academic standing will be reviewed for all students. Academic standing criteria can be viewed online for Liberal Arts BA/BS, Engineering, and Liberal Arts BFA students. If students have incompletes from the Fall, they should resolve them before the Spring to ensure a balanced schedule for the following semester. Students can prepare for the spring by reviewing campus resources that can help them be successful: Academic Advising, the StAAR CenterCounseling and Mental Health, and Health Service.

Dates to Remember

December 23 – Final examinations end
December 23 – Review Boards end
December 23 – Residence halls close at noon for winter recess
December 24–December 31 – University closed for winter break
January 4 – Fall term grades due online by 9 a.m.
January 4 – Summer enrollment opens
January 16 – Residence halls open at noon for Spring semester
January 17 – Martin Luther King Day (University Holiday)
January 18 – Last day for undergraduate AS&E students to submit a request to be enrolled part-time
January 19 – Classes begin
View the Student Life Calendar

COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Requirement

All eligible students, faculty members, and staff members are now required to get a COVID-19 booster by February 15.
Medford Campus in the summer

Student Email Archive

Messages sent to students are archived on the Student Affairs Announcements and Updates web page.
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