Dear Parents and Families,
Majors Month wraps up this week and hopefully has helped many students choose their path. Academic advising has also been top of mind as students meet with their advisors to prepare for Spring 2023 registration.
In this edition, the "Student Spotlight" column focuses on the impact of the student-advisor relationship, we chat with new Associate Director for Student Engagement in the Office for Campus Life Alexa Erb, and "Career Corner" highlights hiring timelines.
In a couple of weeks, many of you will be welcoming your Jumbo home for Thanksgiving. Enjoy the time together!
Best wishes,
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Meet New Associate Director for Student Engagement in the Office for Campus Alexa Erb Alexa Erb started at Tufts in July. In her role, she supports more than 350 student organizations representing the AS&E undergraduate population in all aspects of their operations. Erb’s been meeting with students, attending some of their signature events and getting their feedback on how the Office for Campus Life (OCL) can support the work they do.
She describes Tufts students as “kind, brilliant, and passionate.” An area that she’s excited to grow is student organization leadership development and bringing in content experts to provide meaningful professional trainings and growth opportunities.
Having grown up in Burlington, Vermont, Erb began her career at the University of Vermont, where her primary role was managing large-scale student programming and events, before moving to Massachusetts where she advised student organizations at Bentley University. These experiences as an event programmer inform her work at Tufts, helping students think through the “nitty-gritty” details from check-in to signage.
She also guides students working through conflict management issues that arise. “Some of the skills you develop as a programmer are being adaptable and flexible in the moment – being able to reframe unexpected bumps so that it’s still a positive experience,” she said.
For parents wondering how students can explore which organizations they might like to join. Erb says it really depends on the individual student and how they like to engage. “They may want to start by following an organization’s Instagram account, scanning Jumbo Life to learn about an organization’s mission and programming, or going to an event with a roommate or pal.” She highlights student employment opportunities in the OCL as a good opportunity to get to know student organizations or stopping by the Campus Center – an active hub for student activities. “There are a lot of different organizations and events on campus, encourage your student to be brave and bold and explore all that interests them.”
As the weather cools, there are plenty of student organizations events that will help keep students from hibernating, including Torn Ticket II’s “Into the Woods,” showing Nov. 17 – 19; late-night mini golf and bowling in Tisch Library on Dec. 2, 10 p.m. – 1 a.m.; and The Dance Collective performance on Dec. 3. Senior events include trivia on Nov. 17 and bingo on Dec. 8.
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Student Spotlight...on the Student-Academic Advisor Relationship by Kylie McNulty '25
Class registration for the Spring 2023 semester is around the corner, which means it is officially advising season! The highlight of advising season is meeting with either your pre-major or major advisor to discuss your progress and the classes you'd like to take in the upcoming semester. I recently met with my advisors (one for each major) Steve Cohen and David John Proctor.
All AS&E students are required to have a major advisor and to meet with that advisor before each semester. This ensures that someone is always in your Jumbo’s corner, keeping them on track towards graduation and advocating on their behalf. But the lovely thing about Tufts advisors is the advising part is really only the bare minimum. Beyond encouraging you academically and supporting you emotionally, advisors can offer research opportunities, connect you with other professors, and provide insight into working in the field.
These kinds of personal relationships between students and faculty are a huge part of what makes a Tufts education so special. Check out the video to hear more about what my friends and I love about our advisors.
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Career Corner: Conversations with the Tufts Career CenterHelping your student Understand Hiring Timelines
Students continually compare themselves to peers -- it’s human nature! And one can easily see how they might notice those who have already secured jobs/internships and say, “Am I behind?” Answering this question involves understanding hiring timelines, as industries operate by different schedules. Similarly, some employers–typically larger ones–recruit heavily on campuses while others only advertise openings online.
While there are always exceptions, here’s a sense of timelines by industry. (And no matter the timeline, networking is essential!)
- Late Summer/Fall: Finance, Consulting, Engineering, Tech
- Fall/Winter: International, Think Tanks, Business Services, Consumer Products, Law, Government, Research, Healthcare
- Spring: Education, Human Services, Arts, Communications
Encourage your student to meet with a career advisor to discuss strategies that fit best with their areas of interest and the corresponding timelines.
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What's Happening Academically
Registration dates for Spring 2023 can be found on the academic calendar. Students must meet with their advisor before they are able to register. To prepare for registering, students should confirm their registration time in SIS, put courses and multiple back-up options into their “shopping cart,” and validate their cart to avoid time conflicts or issues with missing prerequisites. While students might not get all their preferred courses, there are plenty of classes available to create a robust schedule.
As Majors Month concludes, the deadline for students to declare is approaching: Liberal Arts students select a major by March 1 of their second year. Engineering students do so by March 1 of their first year.
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Treat Your Jumbo to a Sink Coffee Shop Voucher
Help your student stay well-caffeinated this semester while supporting a student-run business. Vouchers are sold in blocks of $10 and do not expire. After you add the voucher to your online cart (using the link below), you will be able to choose the dollar amount of your purchase ($10, $20, or $50) or purchase any combination of our voucher options. Your student will be able to pick up their voucher on campus at the Sink Coffee Shop. Please email tuftssink@gmail.com with any questions -- and thank you for your support!
The Sink Coffee Shop is Tufts’ only student-run café in the Campus Center. The Sink is a hub for student life on campus – with great coffee, bumping music, and incredible vibes. You can find students at the Sink during all hours of the day, meeting up with friends, studying or exams, or enjoying one of our signature specialty drinks.
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Dates to Remember
Nov. 16 – Spring 2023 registration starts for EN and SMFA undergrads including combined degree students in SIS
Nov. 17 – Spring 2023 registration starts for AS rising seniors in SIS
Nov. 18 – Spring 2023 registration starts for AS rising juniors in SIS
Nov. 18 (1:30 p.m.) – First Steps Meeting for study abroad
Nov. 21 – Spring 2023 registration starts for AS rising sophomores in SIS
Nov. 21 (12 p.m.) – Data and Computer Sciences and Italian in Pavia, Italy: Virtual Info Session
Nov. 22 – Spring 2023 registration starts for AS rising first-year students in SIS
*THANKSGIVING BREAK
Nov. 23, 24, 25 – No classes
*Information about all the breaks during the 2022 - 2023 academic year is available online.
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| Dec. 2 – Deadline for COVID-19 booster and flu vaccination compliance
Read more about required vaccinations and on-campus clinics to receive COVID-19 boosters and flu shots here.
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| Leader on the Field—and Everywhere Else
Undergraduate student president, Jumbo defensive back, and Beelzebubs singer Jaden Pena is a team player.
Read more.
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| TuftsAlert
We invite you to enroll in the TuftsAlert system to be notified directly by text, phone, and/or email in case of significant emergencies affecting the Tufts University community.
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Student Email Archive
Announcements and messages sent to students are available on the Parents and Families Resources web page.
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Class of 2023 Parents:
Order the Senior Memory Book Now!
Order your 2023 Senior Memory Book 2023 for sale at yearbookforever.com (enter Tufts University in “school name”). The book will include senior portraits and highlights from this past year and will be completed following Commencement 2023. Ordered books will be mailed to addresses provided during the ordering process in late July 2023.
Senior Portraits are underway
Students can now sign up for their free portrait sitting.
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