Dean Ellise LaMotte, reducing the stress of choosing a major, and more
Dean Ellise LaMotte, reducing the stress of choosing a major, and more
Tufts Student Life
PARENTs and Families NEWSLETTER
November 19, 2021
Dear Parents and Families,
This year, there are no university travel restrictions during Thanksgiving break, and students are welcome to celebrate the holiday with their families and friends. We hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving! In this issue, we introduce you to the new Associate Dean of Student Diversity, Inclusion, and Success, Ellise LaMotte.

Meet New Associate Dean of Student Diversity, Inclusion, and Success Ellise LaMotte

On November 1, Ellise LaMotte became the Associate Dean of Student Diversity, Inclusion, and Success for the School of Arts & Sciences and School of Engineering. She joined Tufts in 2018 as the director of the Center for STEM Diversity.
"The Center for STEM Diversity reported into the School of Engineering, even though some of the students we supported were in AS&E. I wanted to figure out a way to support students on the A&S side, as well, and we accomplished this through the Redefinining the Image of Science and Engineering (RISE), Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation (LSAMP), and STEM Ambassador programs," Dean LaMotte said.
In her new role, she leads the Division of Student Diversity and Inclusion (DSDI). With Dean LaMotte's appointment, the Center for STEM Diversity has moved to DSDI, as well. She hopes to be able to expand and build upon the model of some of the Center's programs. "Being able to integrate academic support into the cultural, emotional, and social development of our students is important and intriguing to me," she said.
Dean LaMotte is looking forward to working more directly and intentionally with the six identity-based centers under DSDI (Africana Center, Asian American Center, FIRST Resource Center, Tufts Latinx Center, LGBT Center, and Women's Center). She emphasized that all of the centers are open to students of any identity to use as a safe space. An Indigenous Peoples Center is in the works, as well. "Under the DSDI framework, we want to make sure all eight centers are working together as a unit to support students while also working individually," Dean LaMotte said.
"I am very excited about all the opportunities we have in front of us to continue to support and empower our students on campus and to be instrumental in the process Tufts is going through to become an anti-racist institution," she said.

Career Corner: Conversations with the Tufts Career Center

Reducing the Stress of Choosing a Major

Selecting a major can be both exciting and intimidating. With over 100 majors and minors at Tufts, it's easy for students to feel overwhelmed and wonder if they’re choosing (or have chosen!) the "right" path. Fortunately, the Career Center team is ready to assist. Here are a few resources:

What's Happening Academically?

Spring Registration and Majors Exploration

Registration dates for Spring 2022 can be found on the academic calendar. Students must meet with their advisor prior to registration to be able to register for classes. To prepare for registration, students should look up their registration time in SIS, confirm they have no additional registration holds, fill their shopping cart with courses and multiple back-up options, and validate their cart to confirm they meet course requirements. While first-choice courses are not guaranteed, there are plenty of courses available for students to have a full schedule.
The vast majority of courses in the Spring 2022 term will be offered in-person with only a handful of courses being offered virtually. Students are required to complete a Semester Intent Form, which became available on November 8. A registration hold will be applied to the students' records to prevent registration in Spring 2022 courses until their semester intent form has been processed.
The deadline for students to declare their major 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.

Dates to Remember

November 18 – Spring 2022 registration for all engineers; BFA, SMFA, and NEC combined-degree students; and rising LA Seniors, including fifth-years (first- or second-semester senior in Spring 2022)
November 19 – Spring 2022 registration for rising LA juniors (first- or second-semester junior in Spring 2022)
November 22 – Spring 2022 registration for rising LA sophomores (first- or second-semester sophomore in Spring 2022)
November 23 – Spring 2022 registration for rising LA first-years (first- or second-semester first-year in Spring 2022)
November 24 – Deadline for undergraduate students to submit graduation packets for May and August 2022 graduation
November 24 – Thanksgiving break (no classes; residence halls remain open, but students must register to stay)
November 24 – Spring 2022 registration ends
November 25 – Thanksgiving (University holiday) no classes
November 26 – No classes (University holiday)
November 30 – Last day for graduate students to apply and submit materials for February graduation
December 14 – Classes end
December 14 – Last day for graduate AS&E students to WITHDRAW from courses and receive a grade of W
December 15 – Reading period
December 15 – Review Boards begin
View the Student Life Calendar
Medford Campus in the summer

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