A letter from Tufts' Program Director for Writing Support
A letter from Tufts' Program Director for Writing Support
Tufts Student Life
PARENT NEWSLETTER
FEBRUARY 2020
Kristina Aikens, Program Director, Writing Support
Kristina Aikens, Program Director, Writing Support, ARC
Dear Parents and Families,
The semester is just getting started here at Tufts, but students are already busy writing papers for their classes and personal statements for applications. As the Program Director for Writing Support in the Academic Resource Center, I hear a lot of students — from first-year undergraduates to doctoral candidates — express insecurity about their writing. I also hear a lot of misconceptions about writing: that getting help with it is a sign of weakness or lack of preparation, that it’s something you need to do alone, that it isn’t an important skill for STEM students, that everything you need to know you should have already learned in high school. It is my passion and privilege to spend my days debunking these myths and helping students to develop not only stronger writing skills, but a more robust process for writing. I’m writing today to provide you with an overview of some of the supports and resources available to your student writer.
Continue Reading Kristina Aikens' Letter

Career Corner: Conversations with the Tufts Career Center

Networking Myths vs. Realities

Networking is often wrongly defined as knowing the right people, working a room, or more aggressively, asking people for jobs. Its simplicity -- one person needing info and the other offering it -- can be lost in the shuffle. Fortunately, we can get back to the basics and help students strengthen their personal networks by debunking networking myths. Here are four common misconceptions:
  1. Networking is intimidating. One of our favorite networking strategies, the career conversation (a.k.a. informational interview), is simply a brief chat with someone whose career sounds interesting. Encourage your student to reach out to someone from The Herd (our new flash mentoring platform), the Tufts University Career Network on LinkedIn, or your personal network for a coffee chat or a 20-minute phone call. People are eager to help!
  2. Bigger is better. Students don’t need to speak with the top executives of an organization to have valuable conversations. Moreover, the majority of people do not have ready-made networks of powerful contacts; rather, they spend time cultivating mutually-beneficial relationships.
  3. More is better. This isn’t a contest where the one who talks to the most people wins. Quality over quantity when it comes to networking! Students should focus on high-quality conversations as opposed to simply collecting more business cards or LinkedIn connections.
  4. Extroverts make the best networkers. Students don’t need to be extroverted to develop strong connections through networking. Those who identify as introverted can play to their strengths by starting with people they already know and compiling plenty of thoughtful questions to ask.
More Networking Tips and Resources from the Career Center

What's Happening Academically? 

Introducing Out New Liberal Arts Advising Dean, Last Names H - O

On January 31, Carol Baffi-Dugan retired from her role as Advising Dean for Liberal Arts BA/BS students with last names H – O. On February 3, a new Associate Dean of Undergraduate Advising joined the Advising Team at Tufts: Dean Matthew Bellof has now taken on oversight of all Liberal Arts BA/BS students with last names H - O
  • If your Liberal Arts BA/BS student has a last name H - O, they may now reach out to Dean Bellof with questions about academic policies, extended leaves/absences, academic difficulty, or graduation requirements. We also invite the parents and family members of those students to contact Dean Bellof.
  • First-years and sophomores may also continue to reach out to their Senior Academic Advisor, as well as their Pre-Major/Major Advisor
Dean Baffi-Dugan will continue to support Tufts students on a part-time basis through the Spring 2020 Semester in her capacity as Director of Pre-Health AdvisingAmanda Stone also continues as our Associate Director for Pre-Health Advising, and she will be the designated Advisor for all pre-health students beginning June 30.

Policy Update: Incomplete Grades

Beginning Spring 2020, all undergraduate students who take a personal or medical leave of absence or who have been required to withdraw from the University must complete all outstanding written work and exams to resolve all grades of Incomplete prior to being able to return for subsequent semesters. This policy update is designed to ensure a smooth transition back to coursework for all students who have taken time away from their studies.
You can learn more about this policy on the Academic Advising websites for Liberal Arts BA/BSLiberal Arts BFA, and Engineering students. Students may also contact their Advising Dean with any questions.

This Summer at Tufts

The campus comes alive and opens doors to students both current and new

When you picture a college campus, do you only think of fall leaves and spring blooms? Well, think again! Every summer, the Tufts campuses buzz with activity, with classes, programs and intensives in full swing. Current undergraduate and graduate students stay on site to take a class outside of their major or get ahead with extra credits. They are joined by high school students who may be interested in trying out a college-level class or simply discovering college life, as well as professional and adult learners looking to add a specific skill to their resume. Together, this vast and varied community of learners ensures that the university is active even during the summer “break”!
Summer offerings include:
  • Hundreds of courses offered on our campuses through Courses at Tufts: from nutrition to languages, to engineering or art.
  • A wide variety of online and evening courses, allowing students and professionals to combine summer work and travel with studying at their convenience.
  • Our intensive Pre-College programs, designed to allow secondary school students the chance to explore university life.
Registration for summer term is now open! More information is available at: https://universitycollege.tufts.edu/summer2020.

Purchase The Class of 2020 Memory Book

Don't forget to order The Class of 2020 Senior Memory Book! The Senior Memory Book will include senior portraits and many highlights and photos commemorating and celebrating the Class of 2020. The 2020 edition will be hard-covered and include approximately sixty-four all-colored pages. Books are completed following Commencement and mailed to home addresses in mid July 2020. Order your book now!
Purchase The Class of 2020 Memory Book!
Thanks for the memories painted on the canon

Tufts Summit Program for H.S. Students

It's time to start thinking about summer! The Tufts Summit Program invites high school students to study International Relations and French at the Tufts European Center in Talloires, France in summer 2020. Students will develop a greater understanding of the global village they'll call home while improving their French language skills. Students are also introduced to the complex world of international politics and diplomacy through classroom instruction, exploration of French culture, and field trips to local sites of historic importance and natural beauty.  
Visit our website for more information about dates, fees, scholarships, policies, and preparing for the Summit Program. Feel free to contact us by email at France@tufts.edu or by phone at 617-627-3290.
https://ase.tufts.edu/europeanCenter/programs/summit/

Dates to Remember


February 17 - Presidents' Day (University Holiday): No Classes

February 19 - Last day for all AS&E students to DROP Courses without Record of Enrollment

February 20 - Substitute Monday's schedule on Thursday

February 26 - Last Day for AS&E Students to Make Up Incomplete Grades from Fall 2019

View the Student Life Calendar
Read Previous Parent Newsletters
Visit the Parent Resource Center
Medford Campus in the summer

The Haven at College


Tufts Health and Wellness and the Dean of Student Affairs Office are excited to continue our partnership with The Haven at College. This innovative, dynamic program is the leading national provider of on or near-campus drug and alcohol treatment and recovery support services. Tufts’ collaboration with The Haven includes:
  • an outpatient center at 200 Boston Avenue
  • an on-campus recovery residence
  • staff and peers dedicated to developing programs, trainings, and Tufts-specific resources for students and student groups
  • free recovery meetings, support groups and substance free events for students and their families to get connected to a supportive community
The Haven is for everyone -- a place for all undergraduate and graduate students to find care, support, resources, and information. To learn more about the program, contact Caroline Farrell, University Relations Director for The Haven at College.

Learn More About Tufts' Partnership with The Haven at College
The Haven at College

3 Quick To-Dos

Learn More About the Academic Resource Center
Explore Writing Support through the Academic Resource Center
Join the Tufts Parents Facebook Group
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