TUFTS PARENTS AND FAMILIES (TPF) NEWSLETTER | April 18, 2024

Dear Parents and Families,

April kicked off with the solar eclipse, followed by Jumbo Days to welcome Class of 2028 students and their families, the Boston Marathon, and year end campus traditions, including Tuftonia's Day. Coming up for students this weekend is Spring Fling.

In this edition: preview a new wellness space on campus, the Career Center team shares resume tips for your student, and summer move-out and commencement-related details. 

Best wishes for your end-of-spring-semester planning,

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

On Friday, April 26, a new wellness space will open. A collaboration between TCU Senate (Tufts student government) and the Student Life/Health and Wellness teams, the space is located in Stratton Hall, a central location on the Medford/Somerville campus. Its unveiling will take place just ahead of review boards and finals, which can be a stressful time for students.

According to TCU Senate President Arielle Galinsky, A24, it’s a designated place for students to de-stress outside of their dorm room or off-campus residence. “It’s meant to be a place of relaxation, serving as a reminder of the importance between physical space and mental well-being. I hope it’s a fresh opportunity to disconnect from the constant buzz of being a college student—a break from academics, student organizations, and roommates—even if it’s for five minutes out of their day,” she said.

TCU Senate members tapped into the expertise of Student Life/Health and Wellness teams for guidance on vital aspects of the space to ensure it will be beneficial and accessible to students, becoming a hub for students to decompress as well as learn about other health and wellness resources.

“We know how helpful it is to offer a variety of relaxation options to our students, so we're excited for this new wellness space. Creating physical locations on campus dedicated to well-being and stress management (in addition to counseling, workshops, and wellness programs) rounds out our holistic approach to supporting our students’ health and wellbeing. It was also wonderful to follow the lead of the TCU Senate on this project that will benefit their fellow Jumbos,” said Executive Director of Health and Wellness Sonya Satinsky.

What’s the vibe of the new wellness space? In addition to the calm blue paint color and comfortable furniture, which includes couches and bean bag chairs, the collaborative team has been thoughtful about all aspects, considering calming scents in the space, sound in the room/what type of music should play or what might be showing on the television, as well as activities that will be available such as coloring books and other tactile items.

Asked about how she manages stress, Galinsky, a Biopsychology Community Health major, minoring in Political Science, says one go-to tactic is to make a "to-do" list. “It works for me to get things down on paper and take comfort in knowing it’ll all get done,” she said. “I’ll definitely spend some time in the new wellness space and encourage others to use it too.”

Open House: Students can get a sneak peek of the new wellness space during an open house event on Friday, April 19 from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. 

Good to know: Every semester, students can pick up "Finals Kits" that include important reminders/tips about how to manage stress during finals and review boards. (These are good conversation starters for parents and families too!) This semester, the kits will be available the week of April 22; times and locations will be shared on Instagram: @tuftscmhs and @tuftsmhr.

Debunking Resume Myths 
We help students create strong resumes, and here are 3 common misconceptions about them:

On Friday, May 17, join your Jumbo family for Alumni Engagement's longest-running tradition, Tufts Night at the Pops. Alumni, students, and their families are invited to Symphony Hall in Boston for a special concert by the world-renowned Boston Pops Orchestra. This year's theme will be the music of George Gershwin. Tickets are on sale now. We hope to see you there!

Tufts' independent student newspaper will publish its annual Commencement edition on Sunday, May 19. This longer issue reflects the Class of 2024's time at Tufts, highlighting key events and moments over the past four years. Commemorative ads can be custom made or designed by Daily staff.

Tufts Now
Academic Achievement and ‘Intellectual Curiosity’ Shared by Admitted Class of 2028

Summer Courses -- currently enrolling
Summer at Tufts offers hundreds of courses with flexible options for students to choose from. Students can catch up on credits, take an elective, or tackle a challenging course outside of the regular academic semester. In-person or virtual options available. 

Summer Programs for High School Students -- applications are open
Taught by Tufts renowned faculty, pre-college programs range from one to six weeks and offer high school students a chance to explore their passions and preview the college experience. 

Summer Move Out Details
To help you plan ahead, information about timing, shipping, and storage is on the Residential Life website. 

Dates to Remember
May 2 – Review boards begin

May 7 - Final exams begin

May 11, 12 p.m. - Residence halls close (excluding graduating students)

Multifaith Calendar
Your students have access to the University-wide Multifaith Calendar, and families are welcome to reference it too.  If you have questions and requests for additional information about religious and philosophical observances, please contact the University Chaplaincy team at chaplaincy@tufts.edu.

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

Class of 2024 Parents:
Senior Memory Book
Order the 2024 Senior Memory Book at yearbookforever.com (enter Tufts University in “school name”). The book will include senior portraits and highlights from this past year. Ordered books will be mailed in late July 2024.

Recorded Webinar for parents/families of graduating students
If you missed the Commencement 101 webinar last month or would like to reference it again, the recording and PowerPoint presentation are available on the Family Engagement website. 

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.