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Welcome to our Blue Jay Families of the Class of 2025 and welcome back to our returning families! This newsletter, produced monthly by our office of Parent and Family Relations, acts as an important resource to keep your family informed so you can better support your student. To view previous editions of this newsletter, as well as the most up-to-date resources for our parent and family community, please visit the Blue Jay Families website.
Note: This monthly communication is different from the bi-weekly Blue Jay Family Welcome newsletter that is being sent to our 2025 Blue Jay Families this summer.
We have a wonderful semester of programming planned, including the return of our Family Weekend from October 15–17, 2021! A complete schedule for the weekend will be available soon. In the meantime, here is more information on hotels if you need to make accommodations.
There are several opportunities for our Blue Jay Families to engage and volunteer throughout the year. For example, you may consider becoming a Blue Jay Family Ambassador. As an ambassador, you support JHU by volunteering your time to help with campus events and outreach activities in the surrounding area and in your home community. You may also serve as a contact person for other families who have questions about the Blue Jay Family experience. Ambassadors develop strong connections to JHU and relationships with fellow Blue Jay Families. Join one of our Ambassador committees today! Please visit our Blue Jay Family Ambassador page to learn more and sign up.
Lastly, if you are interested in sharing your experience of transitioning your student to college, we want to hear from you! Sharing your story helps to supports other Blue Jay Families in their journey. Please email us at bluejayfamilies@jhu.edu or call 410-516-7355 for more information.
All the best!
Kesha Williams
Director of Parent and Family Relations
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Coming Soon: Democracy Day!
The Center for Social Concern will host Democracy Day on August 28. Democracy Day is a new opportunity for your Blue Jay to join their peers, staff, faculty, and alumni in learning the power of voting and the importance of democracy. It’s an opportunity for all students to get involved—and it’s sure to be fun!
"The norms and institutions that define our democracy are so difficult to build but so easy to deform and damage, which is why communities like ours must continually join in the hard work of embodying democratic values of open and respectful dialogue and dissent, that are peacefully engaged and effectively harnessed, in service of the common good, of opportunity, of justice, and of human dignity."
~ President Daniels, on the importance of democracy
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President Daniels' Term Extended Through 2029
In a unanimous vote on President Daniels’ tenure, the Board of Trustees voted to add a new five-year term to President Daniels’ presidency, thus making him the second longest-serving president in the university’s history.
"We are enormously fortunate to have a president who brings principles, determination, collegiality and vision in building on the institution's successes over the past decade and prior long history of accomplishments," said Lou Forster, Chair of the Board of Trustees. "We eagerly look forward to the next decade, to our 150th anniversary, and to the many achievements yet to come."
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Family Weekend Is Coming – Are You Ready?
We are so excited to welcome students and families back to campus for this year's Family Weekend. This annual tradition is an opportunity for our Blue Jay Families and students to visit Hopkins for a weekend and see the campus community from the student's perspective. You will also have the opportunity to meet other Blue Jay Families as well as faculty, staff, and senior administrators, and participate in programming and social activities. Most of all—having fun with your Blue Jay and exploring our beautiful campus and city!
Look for a schedule later this month on our website. Additionally, the university's Admissions website has more information on hotels around Baltimore.
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Welcome from Parents Programs and Giving
The Parents Programs and Giving office is housed under Development and Alumni Relations on the Homewood campus, and it is one of two parent resource offices that offer information, programming, and engagement opportunities for Blue Jay Families.
The goal of the Parents Programs and Giving office is to offer the opportunity for all families to engage in the philanthropic tradition of parent giving through support of the Hopkins Parents Fund. The Parents Fund is unrestricted, designated support for outside-the-classroom programming, activities, and resources that enhance the student life experience on the Homewood campus. Additionally, the office offers programming to engage parents in philanthropic leadership opportunities on a volunteer basis. Many families enjoy getting involved and experiencing a parallel Homewood experience throughout their Blue Jay’s undergraduate years by volunteering as ambassadors, participating on advisory councils, hosting events, or partnering with the Life Design Lab for career and internship resources.
Visit the Blue Jay Families website for more information, or email Parents Programs at parents@jhu.edu.
First Day of Classes Celebration
Your Blue Jay will celebrate the first day of fall semester classes with a treat, some awesome giveaways, and an opportunity to connect with staff and deans to open the academic year on August 30! This is the first of many planned events that will bring the Homewood student community together, proudly made possible by the tradition of parent philanthropy.
Support the Hopkins Parents Fund mission and help make the Homewood student life experience remarkable—for your Blue Jay and their fellow classmates! Make your gift today.
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A Message from Homewood Recycling
A big welcome to campus from Homewood Recycling! Whether your student is returning to campus or coming to campus for the first time, we are excited to engage with them and help them be Green Blue Jays.
Our office is committed to responsible waste reduction, disposal, and educational outreach in order to protect the health of the JHU community and our environment. As your student moves into their new residence, we want to help them navigate how and why waste should be reduced and sorted on the Homewood campus. We encourage you to read the Green Packing List to assist your student in preparing to come to campus.
To learn more about Homewood Recycling and our work, check out this video. For up-to-date information on campus waste reduction services, waste sorting practices, and the new Hop Reuse Hub Student Free Store that has all sorts of great lightly used school supplies and room decor, explore the Homewood Recycling website and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
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Legionella Remediation Update
Learn more about the water safety update in buildings on Homewood campus.
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Vaccinations
MyChart
Please encourage your student to familiarize themselves with MyChart, where they will schedule their weekly COVID tests. Note that they will need their assigned Hopkins creditials to access MyChart.
Prodensity App
The Prodensity app will help your student follow university guidelines to keep the community safe through COVID health checks, COVID testing management, access to important resources, density monitoring, and alerts. Make sure they download the app!
Health Forms Due NowIncoming parents and transfer families, please have your student complete and submit the following:
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Student Health Insurance Requirements
As the fall term approaches, we would like to remind you that Johns Hopkins requires that all full-time students maintain adequate health insurance coverage to protect against unexpected accidents and illnesses.
All students are automatically enrolled in the university’s annual student health benefits plan for the 2021–22 academic year effective August 15, 2021, through August 14, 2022.
Click here to learn more about the waiver process.
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Semester DatesAug 16, Aug 18: Pre-O starts
Aug 20: International Student Move-In
Aug 21-22: First-Year Move-In
Aug 23: New Student Orientation begins
Aug 26-27: Second-Year Move-In
Aug 28: Democracy Day
Aug 29: Convocation
Aug 30: Classes start
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Laptop Loaner Program
Our Student Outreach and Support and IT Services offices have teamed up to launch a Laptop Loaner Program for students who find themselves without technology they need to complete their coursework. All Homewood undergraduates are eligible to apply for a loaner laptop; someone from the IT/SOS team will be in touch afterward to arrange pickup from the Technology Center in Levering Hall.
Laptop loans are for up to two weeks, and requests should be submitted at least two days prior to the date needed. If your student needs to extend their loan, they should contact a Student Outreach and Support Case Manager for possible arrangements. Students can also email SOS with any additional questions.
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Reimagine @ JHU
Introducing reimagine.jhu.edu, your student’s one-stop-shop for all their career needs! Reimagine is the unified effort of the Office of Integrative Learning and Life Design, comprised of the nine school’s career departments as well as Study Abroad, Hopkins Connect, University Experiential Learning, and Hire Hopkins. This website offers comprehensive information on the latest networking and recruiting events hosted by the schools, best practices and tips on all career topics such as resume building, networking, and career searching, as well as a portal to find alumni mentors all over the world! Feel free to explore with your student and keep up with the latest from all the career departments. Go to reimagine.jhu.edu!
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A Message from Student Financial Services
Student Financial Services is excited to welcome Blue Jays back to Homewood for the 2021–22 academic year! As your student begins classes, encourage them to check their financial aid to-do list, available in SIS, to make sure all documents are received. Families can learn more about flexible options to cover educational costs, including payment plans, loans, outside scholarships and more through our website. Contact our office with any questions or concerns.
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| Contact Us
(T) 410-516-7355
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