E-Newsletter, August 2011
Dear parents,
This may be my favorite time of the year, as the entire campus eagerly prepares to welcome the newest members of our community. Each new class brings with it a fresh energy, adding a new element to the Franklin & Marshall personality. And each new year brings a fresh crop of parents and families who are ready to become part of the Franklin & Marshall family. First-year parents: read on for some last-minute information and advice regarding your student’s arrival. Returning parents: welcome back!
Enjoy these last days of summer.
All the best,
Mark your calendars and make your reservations for F&M’s upcoming Inauguration Weekend (encompassing Homecoming & Family Weekend) Thursday, September 22 - Sunday, September 25. This big weekend combines programs and events for alumni, parents and friends with the official inauguration of Daniel R. Porterfield, Ph.D., as the 15th president of Franklin & Marshall College. We encourage families to plan to arrive on campus around mid-day on Friday and to stay through the inauguration ceremony and reception mid-day on Sunday. One other change for those of you who have come to Family Weekend before: this year we are asking all attendees to register by September 18. View the schedule of events, hotel information and register online by going to the Inauguration Weekend website.
Class of ’15 parents, please note these last-minute points as you prepare for your student’s arrival at F&M:
- If you haven’t already done so, please complete our online Family Information Form by Monday, August 22.
- For helpful packing hints, room dimensions, FAQs and move-in day information, visit our Moving In website.
- Although many first-year students move in early for various programs, the big Move-In Day is Friday, August 26. Here’s a glance at the day’s schedule:
- 8 - 11 a.m.: Arrival and Check-In at the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center (929 Harrisburg Avenue). Many campus offices and off-campus services will be available in the ASFC at this time.
- 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.: Casual lunch available for the whole family in the residential quad.
- 1 - 2 p.m.: Welcome Address for Parents by President Porterfield, Provost Steiner and Dean Trachte in the Alumni Sports & Fitness Center.
- 2:30 - 3:30 p.m.: College House Induction Ceremonies & Receptions for New Students & Families (various locations).
- 3:30 p.m.: Parents Depart
Here are some important points for you:
- The move-in date for upper-class students who plan to live in one of the residential halls or in most College-owned theme houses is Sunday, August 28, beginning at 8:30 a.m. The Key Shop will be open until 4 p.m. that day.
- Students moving into the new International House and the new Arts House locations may move in any time after August 24, and should pick up their keys at 448 W. James Street (the JSP Office) during normal business hours.
- The Moving In website has information that is helpful to returning students and families. It includes information about microfridge rentals and carpet purchases.
F&MConnect, F&M’s Career Management System, is now available to students through MyDiplomat, making it easier and more convenient than ever to use F&MConnect. Here are some of the resources available to your student:
- Resource Library containing guidance and tips for completing a successful search (graduate school, internship or career).
- Self-assessment, exploration and research resources to help students find careers of interest, and how their personal values, skills and interests will shape their life after college.
- Access to the F&M alumni directory, allowing students to contact alumni in career fields and geographic areas of interest (housed on the "Exploration Resources" tab of F&MConnect).
- Registration and information for Career Services events.
- Career Services Partners, a small group of engaged parents and alumni who connect with F&M students and alumni to provide advice on life after college (housed on the "Career Services Partners" tab of F&MConnect).
Parents, if you are interested in providing students and alumni with insight (related to your career field) into hiring processes and culture, advice on self-presentation, and guidance on possible career paths, please register as a Career Services Partner at www.fandm.edu/careerservices. Click on the F&MConnect login for parents.
The F&M Campus Calendar now contains the schedule for the coming academic year. Please note the following:
- Labor Day (Monday, September 5), classes are in session and administrative offices are closed.
- Columbus Day (Monday, October 10), classes are in session and administrative offices are open.
- Fall Break begins after classes on Friday, October 14; classes resume at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, October 19.
- Thanksgiving Recess begins after classes on Tuesday, November 22; classes resume at 8 a.m. on Monday, November 28.
- The final exam schedule (December 14 - 18) will be available online after fall break.
The College has begun a new relationship with My Favorite Student to allow F&M parents to easily and conveniently send care packages to their students. Your participation not only lets your student know you’re thinking of him/her, but also provides valuable business experience to the students of the Diplomatic Congress who manage the program. In turn, "Dip Con" receives a percentage of the proceeds to provide programming for the student body. Go to fandm.myfavoritestudent.com (no www) for fast and convenient online ordering. Call their customer service number, 1-877-244-5694, if you have questions.
Q: As a parent, how can I stay informed about what is happening on campus?
A: In addition to this monthly Parents e-newsletter and the F&M website, there are other publications and services you can subscribe to that will help you stay current on what’s happening around campus:
- Headlines is a monthly e-newsletter sent to all parents and alumni, supplying news of interest to a broad audience. Publication follows the academic year and resumes in September.
- The Diplomat is the weekly e-newsletter for the campus community. Parents are welcome to subscribe by signing up on the website.
- Emergency Alert is an instant, mass-notification system that provides students, parents, faculty and staff with updates and alerts on cell phones, email accounts and personal web pages (Google, AOL, or Yahoo).
To receive Emergency Alert messages, ask your student to add your phone number and/or email information to his/her account. - The College Reporter is the weekly student newspaper on campus, available in electronic format on its website.
The Franklin & Marshall Fund year began on July 1, which makes this a great time to begin recurring gifts to F&M. Visit our Monthly Giving Program website to learn more. Giving on a monthly basis has many benefits to donors and to the College.
Benefits for you:
- Convenient: You can make your gift in monthly installments, charged to your credit card or debited from your bank account on the date you specify each month.
- Flexible: You can begin at any time; gifts can continue for a specified period or until you provide notice to discontinue.
- Manageable: You can make a big impact over an extended period. Make a $100 gift to the F&M Fund for as little as $8.34 per month or check the website to see the monthly giving amounts to join The Benjamin Franklin Society.
Benefits for Franklin & Marshall:
- Impactful: Your long-term support can be used immediately to support F&M students and faculty.
- Dependable: Your monthly gifts provide the College with a reliable source of funding.
- Sustainable: You help F&M raise funds in an economical way by reducing the number of phone calls, mail and email reminders.
Questions? Contact , F&M’s assistant director of annual giving, at 717-358-4795.
