Hello Parents, Family Members, and Supporters of our SCU Students!
Happy International Women’s Day! A heartfelt thank you to all the moms, grandmothers, aunts, and mother figures of our SCU students. Your influence on the lives of your students is truly remarkable and deeply appreciated.
As a reminder, this newsletter is designed to provide you with insight into life at SCU and equip you with valuable information to guide your students throughout their college journey. The content presented in this newsletter has been previously communicated to your student through email, at a resource fair, or is available on the SCU website. In this edition, you will:
- Discover how Campus Recreation encourages well-being
- Find a podcast featuring our Executive Director of Career Services
- Receive important reminders about Campus Safety
- Get the latest information about Undergraduate Commencement for our seniors
- Learn about the new Substance-Free Housing option on campus
- Explore new one-unit course offerings for the Spring Quarter
Finally, I'd like to express my gratitude to everyone who joined us for Family Weekend a few weekends ago. Your presence truly energized the campus, and it was a pleasure meeting many families from our community. I've received excellent feedback from parents and internal partners, but I want to hear more from all of you! Whether you were able to attend or not, please take a moment to complete the survey below. Your input is valuable and will help us enhance future Family Weekends. Your voice, through feedback, will support the planning team as they propose new and innovative ideas to campus decision-makers.
Should you have any feedback on the content of this newsletter or specific requests for future editions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me via email at sponce@scu.edu.
Cheers!
Steven Ponce Director of Parent and Family Communication and Engagement Division of Student Life Santa Clara University
Winter Quarter Finals Week: March 18 - March 22
Spring Quarter Billing Deadline: March 21
Rising Sophomore Housing Residency Exception Form Deadline: March 22
Spring Recess: March 25 - April 1
FAFSA & DREAM Application Deadline - April 2
Enhancing Student Well-Being: Exploring Campus Recreation
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Campus Recreation is an organization on campus dedicated to supporting students’ physical, social, and emotional well-being. The program operates across several areas: Open Recreation, Club Sports, Intramural Sports, and Fitness. Open Recreation is the most common way for students to participate, where they can access on-campus facilities, like the Malley Center or pool, for free during their enrolled term. In the Malley Center, students can engage in activities like basketball, weightlifting, or using cardio machines. Club Sports consists of 22 teams competing nationally against other colleges, including men's, women's, and open teams. Intramural Sports provide a space for SCU students, faculty, and staff to compete against one another in different leagues and tournaments each quarter, featuring sports like basketball, flag football, and pickleball. League sign-ups occur at the beginning of each quarter and end on the second Wednesday at midnight. Lastly, the fitness program offers free classes each quarter, led by nationally certified student instructors, covering topics such as an introduction to weight training, yoga, and cycling. |
The Voices of Santa Clara Podcast hosts Dylan Houle, Career Center
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As Executive Director of the Career Center, Dylan Houle leads a dynamic, dedicated, and wonderfully diverse 10-person team responsible for helping deliver on the promise of education: a good job, social capital, and economic mobility. He recently joined Voices of Santa Clara podcast hosts Arturo and Armando for an engaging discussion, that is a perfect mix of the personal and professional. Listen to learn more about Dylan, his career path, and how he approaches the work of career services. Throughout the episode, he shares some great advice for students on the topics of interviewing, attending career fairs, working in start-ups, and more.
Questions about the Career Center? Email Dylan Houle at dhoule@scu.edu. |
Campus Safety: Tips and Tools for a Secure SCU Community
Ensuring the safety of our students, faculty, and staff is a top priority. To cultivate a strong campus culture and improve readiness for emergencies, it's essential to inform the SCU Community about the tools and resources compiled by our Campus Safety and Emergency Planning Teams.
Here are some key reminders to pass on to your student:
SCU Bronco Alert and the Guardian App:
- Students can update their contact information by logging into their MySCU Portal and accessing the SCU Bronco Alert tile. Keeping information current ensures that students receive important updates promptly.
- They can also download the free Guardian app to receive SCU Bronco Alerts via in-app notification, make direct calls to 911 and Campus Safety, and engage in live chat with Campus Safety Dispatch.
In cases of severe weather and power outages:
- Emergency lighting is provided in most buildings for a limited time following an outage.
- Students should evacuate immediately from areas without natural lighting.
- Any power outages should be reported to Campus Safety Services at 408-554-4444 or via the chat function in the Guardian App.
- Emergency generators are installed in most campus buildings to ensure the continuity of life safety systems.
- Stay informed about current power outages through Silicon Valley Power's outage updates.
Celebrating Achievement: Santa Clara University's Commencement
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The Commencement ceremony marks a significant milestone for graduating students, a time to celebrate their achievements alongside cherished friends, family, and supporters who have been part of their college journey. It’s an unforgettable moment hearing your name announced, crossing the stage, and realizing that all your hard work has paid off.
Santa Clara University will host three traditional Commencement ceremonies on Saturday, June 15th. The ceremonies will honor undergraduate seniors earning their Bachelor’s Degrees and graduate students receiving their Master’s or Doctoral Degrees at Stevens Stadium on campus. Each graduate will receive (8) eight guest tickets for their respective ceremony (graduating students do not need a ticket, and children 2 and under do not require one). Need extra tickets? Encourage your students to check with their friends, as tickets are transferable among graduates who may not use all eight.
The Commencement Ceremony for Undergraduate Seniors will start at 8:30am on Saturday, June 15th. Doors will open at 7:15am, and seating will be on a first-come, first-served basis. For more details about this special day, visit the Commencement Website. The Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) page also provides additional information. |
Introducing Substance-Free Housing at SCU's Magis Community
In collaboration with the Wellness Center, SCU Housing launches the inaugural Substance-Free Housing (SFH) program for students, starting the 2024-2025 Academic Year, in the Magis community (Campisi and Sanfilippo Residence).
Substance-free housing will foster an intentional and supportive environment where residents commit to living substance-free. All members of this community agree to abide by a set of community norms that will create a safe and supportive environment conducive to the well-being of all students. The purpose of these norms is not to be punitive, but instead to ensure a culture of accountability and mutual respect. Students have various reasons for choosing this lifestyle, and all are encouraged to apply!
If your students are interested in this opportunity, they can apply using the SFH Google form (which requires SCU login). The priority deadline is March 15th!
It’s important to note that your student must have completed the main housing application before submitting this application. If your student has any questions, please encourage them to contact Jason Munoz, Assistant Director for Substance Use & Recovery Programs at The Wellness Center, by email at jmunoz2@scu.edu.
Ignite Change: Spark Seminars for Social Justice Conversations
Is your student interested in a relaxed and supportive environment to connect with others who share similar views on Social Justice, all while earning 1 unit towards their degree? Spark Seminars offer just that. These courses provide unique opportunities for undergraduate students to engage with peers on challenging questions, learn from faculty they might not otherwise encounter, and interact with a University leader in a less formal setting. Class sizes are small, typically 10-15 students, and the seminars run during weeks 2-5 of the Spring Quarter. Some notable courses include: creating a sustainable downtown in our own backyard, racial disparities in health outcomes, and sparking civics for a thriving democracy. If this sounds appealing to your students, encourage them to register for the course through Workday. If they have questions about these offerings, they can email the Office of the Provost at provost@scu.edu.
Many events are taking place at SCU for students to enjoy! From engaging talks to entertaining performances, and everything in between, there's something for everyone. Explore some of the events, including those I mention below, on the SCU Events Page!
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SCU Ballroom Dance Association Beginner Class
Starts at 7PM in the Locatelli Student Activity Center
The Santa Clara Ballroom Dance Association is excited to announce they are hosting a Beginner Lesson for interested SCU Students. This will be an exciting event to meet new people, learn a dance step or two, and have fun! Following the class, they will open up the space, so all students can stop by and dance the night away.
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Empowering Her-Story
5:00PM - 6:30PM in the Benson Center California Mission Room
The Office for Multicultural Learning (OML) & the Rainbow Resource Center (RRC) hosts Empowering Her-story: An Intersectional Panel and Networking Event. This dynamic panel discussion delves into the diverse experiences and efforts of women faculty and staff, offering insights and resources for students to create their own impact. Embracing intersectionality, they’ll explore narratives from various departments and backgrounds, standing in solidarity with women’s struggles across generations.
After the discussion, students can join OML & RRC for a networking session to connect with fellow attendees and continue the conversation. Light refreshments will be provided.
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De-Stress with Campus Ministry
11:00AM - 2:00PM at Alameda Hall
Encourage your students to take a break from the stress of finals and treat themselves to comforting food, spend time with adorable dogs, and relax with a soothing chair massage! It's the perfect chance for them to unwind and recharge amidst the hectic finals week.
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Concerto Aria 2024 Student Ensemble by SCU Presents
Starts at 7:30PM in the Mission Church
Bask in the talents of the Concerto Aria Competition winners in this awe-inspiring concert with the SCU Orchestra and Wind Ensemble. This year's soloists will be A'Zhae Turay (piano), William Payne (cello), Tasha Moorjani (soprano), and Evan Fine (violin).
Event Cost: SCU Students: Free | Adults: $20 and up
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Volunteering with Santa Maria Urban Ministry
Meet inside of Campus Ministry at 8:30am
Join Campus Ministry for a rewarding volunteer experience at a local non-profit that assists low-income families in San Jose. Volunteers will support the Santa Maria Urban Ministry food pantry team by preparing nutritious items for distribution to the community. Transportation to and from the location will be provided.
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SCU Women’s Club Rugby vs UC Santa Cruz
Starts at 11:00AM on Bellomy Field
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SCU Men’s Club Rugby vs Long Beach State
Starts at 1:00PM on Bellomy Field
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Student Chair Massages sponsored by the Library Team
2:00PM-4:00PM in the Library
Students are encouraged to join the University Library team in the Library for a FREE chair massage! Sign up near the 1st-floor vending machines between 2 pm to 4 pm for a free 10-minute massage. Space is limited and will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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