October 2024

Tuesday, October 1, 2024

Dear parents and families, 

We’re nearing the mid-point of the fall semester and it’s been a great one so far. Last week was our two-day Career Expo hosted by the Center for Career Engagement. More than 2,000 students visited with 129 organizations who were recruiting our talented students. Thirty-seven of those were new companies. The inaugural Reverse Student Group Fair was held last week as well. This fair allowed students to engage directly with employers to highlight their projects, talents and leadership abilities all while building professional relationships and exploring career opportunities. If your student wasn’t able to attend the Career Expo, they can still connect with employers through Handshake. And as they consider their next steps, encourage them to join a Career Community to stay connected with industry-specific events, resources and job opportunities throughout the year.

In the coming weeks, your student will be meeting with their academic advisor to discuss spring 2025 courses. As they build out their schedule, I encourage them to enroll in a Dialogue Across Difference course. These courses teach students how to navigate difficult topics such as politics, religion, race and gender in a positive and productive way.

Also, please remind your student to check their voter registration status and explore the events and opportunities associated with WashU Votes.

I hope you will join us for Parent & Family Weekend November 1-3. As your student’s greatest supporter, we’d love for you to attend. If you are unable to travel to campus, we are offering our program, Bears Family Dinner, on Friday, November 1 and Saturday, November 2. Bears Family Dinner invites students whose families are unable to attend Parent & Family Weekend to join faculty, staff and fellow students for dinner.

Warmly,

Anna "Dr. G" Gonzalez
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Fall 2024

Parent & Family Weekend 2024 is November 1 - November 3. Parent & Family Weekend 2024 Registration is now live. Registration and advanced ticket sales deadlines and information can be found on our families website. 

If you are unable to attend Parent & Family Weekend this year, encourage your student to attend Bears Family Dinner - a free dinner at the City Foundry Food Hall. They should check out their Bear Bulletin for more information! 

We would appreciate it if you would take 5 to 10 minutes to complete our 2024 Family Programs Beginning of Year Survey, which includes questions about Student Transitions & Family Programs communication and parent and family programs and events. Your feedback and responses help us plan for future family programming and communication.

The upcoming webinars for our Fall 2024 Family Webinar Series can be found below! This series was designed to help your student succeed by answering all their and your WashU questions. Register for upcoming webinars and view recordings of past webinars.

The Center for Career Engagement is an integrated hub, collaborating across WashU. We provide career coaching and planning, career assessment and skills training, and access to a global community of leaders, recruiters, influencer networks, and WashU alumni. We help students turn their WashU education into real-world stories of success.

Your student can access Handshake, our career management platform, to discover workshops, events, and career fairs, plus search more than 11,000 internship and job postings, and make appointments with a career coach. Encourage your student to join a Career Community (or more than one), where they’ll find resources to build their skills, explore career opportunities, and prepare for their future. Have your student visit or email us to learn more.

Looking for things for your student to do on-campus? Washington University Group Organizer (WUGO) and the Student Affairs Events webpage are great places for them to start! 

Here are some on-campus events in October:

The Student Health Center has Flu and COVID vaccines available to students either by individual appointment or during the vaccination clinics hosted this fall.

The vaccines are proven to reduce your risk of severe disease and lesson your symptoms if you do get sick. Learn how to take care of yourself and your community.

Therapy Assistance Online (TAO) is a platform that uses evidence based therapeutic interventions to address a variety of mental health and well-being issues. Through TAO, all WashU students have free access to online self-help tools that allow them to work in private and at their own pace. 

Health Promotion Services trained 49 undergraduate Peer Health Educators (PHEs) last month. 21 returners and 28 new PHEs will plan health and well-being programs and communications about substance use, mental health, and sexual health, and promote campus well-being resources available to students including free resources in the Zenker Wellness Suite, this year. 

Stay informed about dining options during fall break! Check updated dining hours and available services on the Dining Services website. Visit Special Dining Hours for all the details.

The election is Tuesday, November 5! To vote in Missouri, your student must register by Wednesday, October 9 and have acceptable photo ID. St. Louis County voters can vote on campus on election day, and all students are welcome at Party at the Polls. Encourage your student to check out more election information.

Encourage your student to explore St. Louis or build an itinerary for your next visit!

Neighborhood Spotlight: The Grove

The Grove is home to a growing vibrant business and entertainment district in St. Louis City. In the Grove you can find a diverse mix of independently owned restaurants, retail stores, and entertainment services. It is also a thriving center for the LGBTQIA+, artists, and cycling communities in the St. Louis area. When you or your student are in The Grove, be sure to explore the local shops for unique boutiques and antiques.

Upcoming St. Louis Events:

For a springboard to help you determine the best answer to your questions, please email families@wustl.edu or call 314.935.5040 or reach us toll free at 844.935.5040.

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