TUFTS PARENTS AND FAMILIES (TPF) NEWSLETTER | JANUARY 24, 2024 

Dear Parents and Families,

The spring semester is underway, and while students may be wearing boots and coats now, by the end of the term, it'll be shorts and flip flops—this is New England after all! 

In this edition, Campus Life Director Joe Golia highlights opportunities for student engagement, and be sure to check out Career Corner for spring resources, including two Career Fairs (Feb. 1 and Feb. 9).

If your Jumbo will be graduating this spring—congratulations! The Commencement Office will be posting updates on the Commencement 2024 website to help you plan for the big day. 

Best wishes to all of you and your students in the new year,

Carole McFall
Family Engagement, AS&E Student Life
carole.mcfall@tufts.edu
617-627-2797

As the spring semester begins Director of Campus Life Joe Golia and his team prepare for highly anticipated spring semester events. With an average of 750 events throughout the year, much of their work focuses on supporting more than 350 student organizations, helping them with myriad logistics so their events run smoothly—from budgeting and scheduling facilities to event registration, ticket sales and promoting their event on Campus Life’s JumboLife platform.

Large-scale events such as Winter Ball, Spring Fling, Senior Week, and Tuftonia’s Day (a carnival celebrating the University’s founding) that generations of Tufts students have celebrated are hosted by student organization TUSC (Tufts University Social Collective) with support from Campus Life. 

Every Sunday during the academic year, students get a snapshot of student organization and campus partner events coming up in the week ahead via the “Jumbo Digest” email. The Digest is a great resource to help students stay up-to-date, active, and engaged during the winter, participating in events like Bingo games, ice-skating excursions, and bake sales.

Golia also emphasizes getting involved in a student organization as a way for students to gain teamwork and leadership experience, develop critical thinking, and organizational skills. “It’s an opportunity to practice what they’re learning in the classroom,” he said.

Student organizations range in size and interest. TUSC and the Tufts Mountain Club (TMC) are examples of larger student organizations, and there are also many smaller scale clubs such as the Cheese Club and the SMFA Bird Club. Students can explore clubs by category/interest on JumboLife (e.g., sports, community service, arts and performances, social programming, and culture and identity).

In addition to event-related programming, Campus Life manages the Loj, an off-campus facility in Woodstock, New Hampshire (operated by TMC), as well as several spaces on campus including its main facility: the Mayer Campus Center. Campus Life has 50 student employees that help with event management, office operations, the information booth, and box office. “We’re really proud that students come back year after year as part of our team.” Positions become available as students study abroad or graduate. Campus Life is planning an open search this spring (in March) for Fall 2024. Jobs will be posted on the website and the student job platform Handshake.

Golia and his team welcome students to stop by their offices, located in the Campus Center, to ask questions, give feedback, or just say hello. Campus Life can also be contacted via email at ocl@tufts.edu.

(Pictured above: The Mayer Campus Center is a hub of student activity including the box office, a game room, student organization and Campus Life offices, the Sink Coffeeshop, and several Tufts Dining options. It’s open 7 days a week.)

The Career Center offers extensive resources to help your student explore career options, gain skills and experience, build a professional network, and develop strategies for pursuing goals. Here are a few of the resources and opportunities available for Spring 2024:

We look forward to supporting and encouraging your student.

The Tufts Summit Program is a unique 4-week summer program for rising high school juniors and seniors held every July at the Tufts European Center in Talloires, France. Students take courses in International Relations and French language and culture and participate in a variety of immersive and experiential activities. Accommodation is with local French families. An experienced team of Tufts staff is on site to provide support. The beautiful Alpine setting offers a unique place to learn and grow!

TuftsNow
Sources of Hope: Looking Ahead to 2024, Tufts faculty share what inspires and motivates them...

News You Can Use: Higher Ed Parent 
An overview of transitions to be prepared for each year of your student's college experience.

Spring Break: March 16 - 24
Information about your student's breaks is available online. If your student is staying on campus for the upcoming break, they may be interested in Jumbo Spring Break.

Dates to Remember
Feb 1 – Applications due for education abroad during the fall or spring term, academic year 24-25. (Virtual advising times listed on the Student Life Calendar.)

Feb 15 – Major declaration deadline for first-year engineering students 

Feb 1* – Career Fair, Biotech and Life Sciences (virtual)

Feb 9* – Career Fair, various industries (in person)

*Career Center hosts a Virtual session for students on Jan 26 with tips on how to prepare for career fairs 

Music Event (in-person and virtual): Family and Children's Kidcappella concert 
“Rainbow Jeff” Rawitsch hosts several of Tufts student-run a cappella groups in a concert of tunes for music fans of all ages, culminating in a sing-along of “Rainbow Connection."

Class of 2024 Senior Memory Book: last chance for senior portraits
The final round of senior portrait sessions is the week of January 29. Sittings are free; registration is required.

TuftsAlert
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.

Communications Archive
Emails and other communications to parents, families, and students are archived online. 

Parents and Families