Dear Sewanee Family,

Before I dive into this issue of From The Quad, I need to share a quick correction: The date of Advent Semester Convocation & Gowning 2026 is Friday, Sept. 18, not Thursday, Sept. 17. We hope to see you there! 

With that out of the way, I’m glad to share a warm hello from chilly Sewanee! If you follow the University’s Facebook page, you know the campus was recently a winter wonderland. No doubt Stirling’s is selling plenty of hot chocolate!

Despite the freezing temperatures, we’re looking ahead to spring. We were happy to celebrate our new Order of the Gown inductees at Sewanee’s Easter Semester Convocation. If your student earned this honor, congratulations! You can find a recap of Convocation here and see a photo album here.

As your student plans for spring break (March 5–15), don’t forget about the Groome Shuttle, which picks up and drops off at the Smoke House Lodge in Monteagle. If your student needs a ride to or from the Smoke House, the sign-up form is here. The deadline for completing this form is Wednesday, March 4, at 8 a.m.

Commencement is now in sight—if your student is a senior, I’m sure you’re getting excited! To help create opportunities for the next generation of Sewanee graduates, we encourage seniors to provide a capstone gift of any size to the Sewanee Fund. Students can choose to give to a specific program or department, or provide scholarship or general support. Our goal is for 50% of seniors to contribute, and participation now stands at 8%. Your senior can make a gift here.

Another heads-up for parents of seniors: If you missed our Commencement 101 Zoom session or need more information, check out commencement.sewanee.edu. You’ll find guest seating and viewing options, meal tickets and announcements, and more!

Finally, Tiger Tuesday, Sewanee’s annual day of giving, has been set for April 14! It’s the 10th anniversary of this special day, and we’re hoping for extra love from the Sewanee community. Stay tuned for more Tiger Tuesday details!

As always, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me at sewaneeparents@sewanee.edu. Stay warm!

Bess Turner, P’25, P’28
Director of Family & Donor Engagement  

Sewanee’s historic architecture is a major part of the Domain’s charm—and the interiors of our residence halls and campus facilities are just as important as the buildings’ outer aesthetic. Over the past months, Facilities Management has led the renovation of Gorgas Hall, Johnson Hall, McCrady Hall, and Tuckaway Hall. Recently, the inside of Hoffman Hall was completely transformed with new flooring, carpeting, painting, and LED lighting, as well as updated appliances. Check out our Hoffman Hall photos, and be on the lookout for more renovation news.

Hoffman Hall's common area received a total makeover with new lighting, flooring, paint, and furniture.

Flu season is still going strong, so the staff at University Health Services (UHS) wants to remind students and their families of how to stay as healthy as possible and what resources are available when students are feeling sick. 

PREVENTATIVE MEASURES

Share a gentle reminder with your student: Helpful preventative measures include wearing a mask, washing your hands, eating well-rounded and colorful meals, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly. 

MAKING AN APPOINTMENT

If your student feels sick, they can make an appointment at UHS anytime during business hours (Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) by scheduling on the patient portal, calling 931.598.1270, or coming by in person. Our online booking options are currently limited, but that doesn't mean all appointment times are booked. Please tell your student to call or come by in person if they don't see an appointment that works with their schedule. 

MORE URGENT CARE

Should your student feel unwell after business hours and need an immediate appointment, the Sewanee hospital and urgent care clinics (Complete Express Care and Fast Pace) are available. 

We at UHS are here to support your student, so encourage them to call or come in today!

The Office of Global Citizenship is looking ahead to warmer seasons! Students interested in studying away or abroad for the summer 2026 or spring 2027 term should begin the study away process by submitting their Request to Study Away before Feb. 15. 

We’re also glad to announce a new summer program—Unsettling Memories: Slavery and Holocaust Memorialization in Transatlantic Perspective. Through close observation, discussion, and travel, students will investigate how history is told, who gets to tell it, and how memory fuels public debate today. Find more information here. 

In early January, Career Readiness + Student Success welcomed 32 alumni and parent volunteers and 83 juniors and seniors for Beyond the Gates. The annual event occurs over two full days and includes career panels, networking practice, business dining etiquette, 

resume review, practice interviews, and alumni advice about job searching and launching life after graduation. One student participant this year shared that “the networking is top tier.”

Now that the spring semester has begun, we are turning our attention to internship and job-search support. There are many opportunities available to students in Handshake, including ACE internships and research opportunities that are specifically for Sewanee students. Many ACE internships have application deadlines of Feb. 15 but some are earlier; the deadline for research opportunities is March 1. We would love to meet one-on-one with students to help them explore opportunities and strengthen application materials. Students can make appointments using Handshake!

If your student is a freshman, you may already have some familiarity with Sewanee’s new First Year Experience (FYE) program—and if you didn’t get the full scoop, you can find a few photos here! Piloted in 2025, FYE combines elements of Sewanee’s longstanding 

PRE program with additional extracurricular options, orientation sessions, and a one-credit course that meets once a week throughout the Advent Semester. While FYE was optional for incoming freshmen last year, it will be mandatory in the 2026-2027 academic year. 

Like PRE, Sewanee’s new orientation program incorporates broad exploration of the Domain. FYE focuses on three pillars: Sewanee Encounter, Sewanee Explore, and Sewanee Embark. This year, FYE will start on Thursday, Aug. 20. You can learn more about FYE on this webpage and in this article.

At the start of the Easter semester, Sewanee welcomed Nancy Seiters, C’96, as assistant dean of Greek and student life. Seiters grew up in Sewanee and holds a master’s degree in human development counseling from Vanderbilt University. She’s currently pursuing a Ph.D. in leadership, learning, and decision-making at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.

Addressing Sewanee parents and families, Seiters says, “Returning to the Mountain and meeting with the Greek life students has been inspiring and has reminded me of the strength of Sewanee student leadership.”  

Spring 2026 Greek life recruitment is underway, and more information on the process can be found here. During recruitment, students participate in a range of organizational sessions, including general orientation for prospective new members, alcohol and drug prevention education, and hazing prevention programming. These sessions culminate with formal house visits.

Rho Chis are designated Greek life students who volunteer to serve as neutral guides, supporting new students through the logistics of recruitment while providing peer mentorship and encouragement. If your student is joining a fraternity or sorority, remind them to connect with their Rho Chi, the Student Involvement Office, and other campus resources.