Division of Student Affairs
|
|
|
Colleagues in the Division of Student Affairs,
Happy spring! It’s hard to believe the end of the academic year is right around the corner. It’s this time when we are busily trying to get our students across the finish line of the academic year and in particular, helping our seniors prepare for the next stages of their lives. Thank you for all that you do and will do for our students as we support them in achieving their goals, especially at this busy time of year.
On April 9, the university will host our third annual Giving Day and come together for 24 hours to celebrate the countless reasons to love and support WashU. I invite you to make an impact on the area that means the most to you. As shared at our last divisional meeting, I will donate $5,000 if 250 Student Affairs staff participate—and gifts of any amount, to any area, including gifts to support the student experience and the work we do every day, will count! Please contact Jen Nulle, our advancement partner, with any questions.
The Call for Proposals for our Student Affairs Professional Development Day is now open. The theme for this year is “Learn, Connect, Collaborate: Strengthening WashU.” Proposals are due Friday, April 11. Learn more about proposal requirements for our Professional Development Day 2025 and how to submit your proposal.
Please make note of all the great events and highlighted initiatives included in this newsletter. I hope to see you for the last Dr. G’s Fun House of the semester on Monday, April 7 from 1-3 p.m. on Mudd Field. This event is open to all students and features free food and games. And as a reminder, our final Student Affairs Monthly Divisional Meeting of the academic year is Wednesday, April 16 in Risa Commons beginning at 8 a.m.
I look forward to wrapping up the semester and celebrating our students and our team as we close out this academic year. Thank you for all your tremendous work.
|
|
|
Anna "Dr. G" Gonzalez
Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs
|
|
|
The Social Programming Board (SPB) will host the Spring Walk In Lay Down (WILD) on Mudd Field Friday, April 25 at 6:30 p.m. This event cannot run successfully without the support of volunteers from our amazing colleagues. Volunteering for the event shows the members of the SPB that campus partners collaborate and take time out of their schedules to ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. For questions, contact Jasmine James-Milford.
|
|
|
|
Call for proposals open for Student Affairs Professional Development Day |
You are invited to join our dynamic Student Affairs community in sharing your expertise, creativity and unique experiences for Professional Development Day 2025, scheduled for May 14.
The call for proposals is now open to all WashU Student Affairs staff. We encourage submissions that are relevant and beneficial to our diverse audience. Sessions submitted should be about 50-65 minutes long in a traditional presentation, roundtable discussions, your version of a TED Talk (sharing expertise or an inspirational story) or a departmental open house.
The submission deadline is Friday, April 11 and proposals should address at least two of the five specific outcomes:
|
- Strengthening departmental understanding
-
Creating connections & identifying collaborative opportunities
- Effective utilization of resources & services
- Empowering personal & professional growth
- Innovation & best practices
|
|
|
| Volunteer with the Center for Diversity & Inclusion (CDI) at the 35th Annual Buder Center Pow Wow |
Join the CDI to volunteer and support the 35th Annual Buder Center Pow Wow on Saturday, April 12 from 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Come at noon or 5 p.m. to see the Pow Wow Grand Entries.
|
|
|
| Marketing & Communications Knowledge Hub |
The hub community, with representatives from each department, will support communication efforts throughout the division. This group offers access to how-to videos, virtual office hours, templates for design and communications plans, a community Q&A, and a division-wide calendar. Be on the lookout for your invitation via email. Dr. G and the division's marketing and communications team will launch the hub with a kickoff event on April 21 from 11 a.m. to noon.
|
|
|
Student Affairs logo use and merchandising policy |
All merchandise printed with our name and logo shapes the perception of our division and the university—not just on campus but in the broader community. The following approval process ensures consistency and thus, better recognition and impact.
The division reserves the right to remove from circulation any digital or printed material or merchandise that fails to meet university and division logo use and merchandise standards.
All items should follow the guidelines for promotional merchandise outlined by University Marketing & Communications and must be ordered from an approved vendor. In addition, wearable merchandise and environmental signage that represents the Division of Student Affairs and/or any of its departments, must also be reviewed by Student Affairs Marketing & Communications.
Be sure to submit final vendor proofs for approval and allow an additional 2-3 business days in your production schedule for final review. Learn more about the merchandise approval process.
|
|
|
Save the date: Social Media Workshop with Student Affairs MarComm |
Join the division's marketing and communication team on Tuesday, April 8 from 10-11 a.m. for a virtual social media workshop. Leave the event with techniques and resources you can apply on the spot. This event is open to everyone in the division. Registration information will be shared in the MarComm Knowledge Hub this week. For questions, contact Pascal Sloman.
|
|
|
Volunteers needed to proctor final exams |
Each semester, Disability Resources (DR) supports disabled students and their faculty by proctoring accommodated exams. In order to serve this need during Finals Week, May 1-7, DR relies on volunteers from the division. The support from the division is critical to this endeavor and supervisors are encouraged to offer staff reasonable flexibility to assist in this capacity.
|
|
|
Registration open for the Difficult Dialogue National Resource Center National Conference |
Dialogue Across Difference (DxD) will host the Biennial National Conference for the Difficult Dialogue National Resource Center June 30 - July 2 on the Danforth Campus. Discounted registration rates are available for WashU staff, faculty and students.
This year’s conference theme is "The Weight of Words: Navigating the Evolving Role of Dialogue in Polarized Times." Dialogues help deepen understanding of personal, group and intergroup relationship issues. Many people across the nation and world are wrestling with questions about how to engage with others who do not share the same values and/or identities and feel helpless around authentic engagement when we can’t even agree on basic facts for an informed dialogue. Join us this summer to build on those skills with dialogue experts across the globe.
|
|
|
Upcoming Windows 11 migration |
IT will soon start upgrading the Student Affairs departmental computers to Windows 11. This upgrade aims to enhance security, performance and user experience across our systems. Staff leaders will receive meeting invites shortly to plan and coordinate the migration efforts, similarly to their involvement in the current Print Deploy project. Your cooperation and support are crucial for a smooth and efficient upgrade. Learn more about the migration. For questions, contact Hemal Sharma.
|
|
|
| Upcoming retirements and celebrations |
Join us in celebrating the careers of Melissa Ruwitch, Tom Brounk and Kathy Lewis at their upcoming retirement celebrations.
With more than 65 years of combined service to WashU, Ruwitch, Brounk and Lewis have been integral members of the division's team. As assistant director of Health Promotion Services, Ruwitch supports students’ academic and personal growth by connecting them with reliable programs, services, resources and information on priority topics in physical and mental health.
As director for the Center for Counseling & Psychological Services, Brounk provides steady leadership to his staff so that students receive the best counseling services in support of their well-being while at WashU and beyond.
As the executive assistant to the vice chancellor, Lewis provides direct support to Dr. G in nearly every aspect of her job including scheduling, communications and even the occasional dog-sitting.
Ruwitch's retirement party is May 1 at noon in the Goldberg Lounge; Brounk's is May 16 from 2-4 p.m. in Holmes Lounge and Lewis' is May 30 from 3:30-5 p.m. in the Goldberg Lounge.
Melissa, Tom and Kathy, we wish you the very best and hope you enjoy every moment of this next phase of your life.
|
|
|
Join Dr. G for food and fun on Mudd Field, April 7 from 1-3 p.m.
|
|
|
|
The Day of Service program seeks to provide students with opportunities to connect, engage, participate and serve the greater St. Louis community beyond the boundaries of the Danforth Campus. It is also a great way to connect and spend time with other WashU students who share a commitment to service supporting the efforts of community organizations working to make our region a better place for all. We will provide breakfast, transportation and a free t-shirt. Come, hang out, have fun, do good! Registration is open.
|
|
|
Offered by the Center for Career Engagement, this one-credit course guides students through a personal career exploration process to increase self-confidence and personal clarity, eventually leading to career choices that are intentional, meaningful and healthy. It is intended for students from across the university and designed to help them better understand their interests, values and strengths as they relate to college experiences and the world of work. This class is designed especially for sophomores, but all who are interested may enroll.
|
|
|
As part of encouraging Healthy Excellence, a key anchor in our strategic plan, Student Affairs announces the free Thriving Thursday series for students, where students can incorporate well-being into their week, every Thursday.
|
|
|
|
Get to know the Taylor Family Center for Student Success (TFCSS)
|
Comprised of four signature programs - the Taylor Scholars, formerly known as the Taylor STARS, TRIO Student Support Services, the Kessler Scholars, and Forward Families, the TFCSS creates an infrastructure of support for first-generation or limited-income students to fully embrace the transformative WashU experience and successfully persevere towards achieving a degree.
|
|
|
Student Affairs spotlight |
Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month
|
Cross-Cultural Connections is hosting a variety of events throughout the month of April to celebrate Asian Pacific Islander Desi American Heritage Month.
|
|
|
NACE keynote presentation set for April 9 |
Dr. G and the Center for Career Engagement invite you to attend a keynote presentation with speaker Shawn VanDerziel, president and chief executive officer of the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE). VanDerziel is a leading voice on the employment of the college-educated workforce and an advocate for equitable student outcomes. His insights will provide valuable context for how we, as educators and employers, can better support students in their career journeys.
Date: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Time: 8:30 - 10 a.m.
Location: Risa Commons
|
|
|
|
For nearly nine decades, ThurtenE Carnival has served as a late spring occasion for WashU students to let loose. The event is the largest student-run carnival in the United States and includes games, dramatic entertainment, rides and other forms of amusement.
|
|
|
| Social Media Workshop with SA MarComm |
April 8, 10 – 11 a.m., 2025 | Virtual
|
Leave this workshop with techniques and resources you can apply on the spot. This event is open to everyone in the division. For questions, contact Pascal Sloman.
|
|
|
|
Members of the WashU community will come together for the third annual Giving Day, a 24-hour fundraising blitz in support of the university’s mission. The day will include information tables and snacks at various locations across the Danforth and Medical campuses, along with music on Brookings Quadrangle.
|
|
|
| NACE keynote presentation with Shawn VanDerzie |
April 9, 2025, 8:30 – 10 a.m. | Risa Commons
|
This keynote presentation with speaker Shawn VanDerziel, president and chief executive officer of NACE will provide valuable context for how we, as educators and employers, can better support students in their career journeys.
|
|
|
| We encourage submissions that are relevant and beneficial to our diverse audience. Sessions submitted should be about 50-65 minutes long.
|
|
|
| April 12, 2025, 9 a.m. – noon
|
This annual event is held each Spring for students, faculty and staff to be able to give back to St. Louis. When we all come together, it creates big change for our city!
|
|
|
|
Student Affairs Monthly Divisional Meeting
|
April 16, 2025, 8 – 9:30 a.m. | Zetcher House, Risa Commons
|
Light breakfast begins at 8 a.m. with a formal welcome at 8:30 a.m.
|
|
|
|
Marketing & Communications Knowledge Hub Kickoff |
April 21, 2025, 11 a.m. – noon | Location: TBA
|
Joining this group offers access to how-to videos, virtual office hours, templates for design and communications plans, a community Q&A, and a division-wide calendar. To learn more contact Kathy Atnip.
|
|
|
| April 25, 2025, 6:30 p.m. | Mudd Field
|
WILD is an annual spring concert that takes place in Mudd Field. The largest student run event at WashU, each WILD features a headlining musical artist and free food and drinks. Volunteer for this year's event.
|
|
|
| April 28, 2025, 3 – 5 p.m. | May Auditorium, Simon Hall
|
The James E. McLeod Honors & Awards program acknowledges students who demonstrate a commitment to: individual pursuits promoting expression of Black culture, history, and values; academic excellence and advancement of scholarship; and cultivating community through service to improve quality of life for Black people at WashU in St. Louis and globally.
|
|
|
Submit an entry for the next newsletter
|
The Student Affairs newsletter is sent the first Tuesday of each month. If your department has content you would like featured, submit via the link below at least a week prior to the edition you would like to be included in.
Examples of items to submit are highlights of new initiatives or programming; staff achievements, publications or awards; department spotlights and upcoming events you would like Student Affairs staff members to know about.
|
|
|
Washington University in St. Louis
One Brookings Drive, St. Louis, MO 63130
washu.edu
|
Washington University in St. Louis
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130
washu.edu
|
|
|
|
