September 2009
Welcome Students!
Students returned to campus August 28 and enjoyed a “Welcome Weekend” filled with activities, culminating with the official start of the academic year at Convocation 2009 (see story below). Here, students prepare for Synerjam, an Adventure Education program.
The Saint Joseph College student body congregated in The Connor Chapel of Our Lady on August 31 to celebrate Convocation 2009. The official ceremony that launches the academic year, Convocation brings the College community together in an event that commemorates the intellectual and the spiritual aspects of a Saint Joseph College education. In her welcoming remarks, President Pamela Trotman Reid, Ph.D., urged students to participate fully in campus life as a training ground for civic involvement. “Your Saint Joseph College experience will help prepare you to think, to engage in civil debate, to research facts, and unpack controversies,” she said. “We expect that your faculty and your peers will model for you rationality, critical thinking, and justice in agreement and disagreement.”
Dr. Marylouise Welch, professor of Nursing and winner of the 2009 Reverend John J. Stack Teaching Excellence Award, delivered the Convocation Address. Speaking on the unpredictability of the immediate — as well as distant — future, she reminded students to pursue their passions along with intellectual and social independence. “Living life on your own terms is exhilarating and probably frightening,” she said. “Use the opportunity that college presents to explore new ideas, test limits, and take chances ... If you take advantage of all we have to offer, you will flourish.”
Following the ceremony, the College community gathered for a picnic luncheon on the quad.
The Class of 2013 — Fun Facts
Members of this year’s first-year class — known as the Class of 2013 — were born in 1991. Remember when: George W. Bush was the president’s son ... the Persian Gulf War was underway ... the New York Giants defeated the Buffalo Bills in Super Bowl XXV ... Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton announced his bid for the White House ... Dances with Wolves won the Academy Award for Best Picture?
Here’s where they stand at SJC:
- 28 are from out-of-state
- Farthest state: Virginia
- Two are international exchange students from The Netherlands and Ireland
- 32% are student athletes
- Most popular majors: Nursing, Psychology, Biology, Child Study, Nutrition/Dietetics
Saturday, October 3 promises something for everyone! The schedule includes:
| 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. Registration Athletic Fields area 11:00 a.m. SJC Athletics: 11:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. 1:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. |
Throughout the Day: 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Saint Joseph College Art Gallery Open Saint Joseph College Bookstore Open 12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Family Fun includes kids’ crafts, carnival games, moon bounce, ceramic mug pictures, train ride, and a variety of activities for all ages. 12:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
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7:30 p.m. 
The Saint Joseph College campus is alive with activities! The Carol Autorino Center will present a full menu of artistic and cultural events, including a foreign film series, theater, dance, music and more. For the complete schedule, visit www.sjc.edu/arts. The athletics department is launching a fall schedule that features Blue Jays soccer, tennis, volleyball, swimming and diving. For the latest in sports news, visit www.gobluejays.sjc.edu.
Saint Joseph College has celebrated a variety of achievements over the past academic year. Some of the highlights are:
- Saint Joseph College School of Pharmacy —the College’s first doctoral program is currently undergoing accreditation and preparing to welcome students in the fall of 2010. Read more at www.sjc.edu/pharmacy
- SJC Strategic Plan — Focused on the Future is a strategic plan that outlines the College’s working vision through 2014. The plan encapsulates the College’s mission as a Catholic institution; represents its core moral values; and presents its future dreams through five clearly defined goals. Read more at www.sjc.edu/strategicplan
- The College is working on a number of new academic programs including:
- Doctoral program in Nursing Practice (under development)
- Weekend Program for Adult Learners (WPAL)
- New WPAL certificate programs include: ¡Adelante! Bilingual Career Development Certificate; Juvenile Justice/Human Rights
- New concentrations include: Management with Human Resource Management; Political Science with Legal Studies Focus; Psychology with Criminal Justice & Mental Health Concentration; Social Work with Criminal Justice Concentration; and Social Work with Latino Community Practice Concentration
- Women’s College: Concentrations in Human Resource Management and Entrepreneurship (as part of Management degree)
- Pre-Pharmacy, offered in fall 2009
- Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Certificate program and Summer Institute
- Doctoral program in Nursing Practice (under development)
- Community Service recognition — The Corporation for National and Community Service honored SJC with a place on the President’s Higher Education Community Service Honor Roll for exemplary service efforts and service to America’s communities. SJC students completed more than 5,000 hours of community service in the last academic year, including an alternative spring break trip to Laredo, Texas where they worked with Habitat for Humanity
Brittany Mathes ’06, M’08 knows exactly what she’ll be doing on September 27: “I’ll be home with my family and friends watching the season premiere of Extreme Makeover: Home Edition.” The date has been in her planner since late June when she learned that Saint Joseph College was a sponsor for an episode of the popular ABC show scheduled to be filmed in Suffield, Conn. For those who don’t know, Extreme Makeover is a reality show where a team of designers and builders create a new home for a family in need — in this case, the Hill family — 13 members who were living in a small, fire-damaged home. The crew moved into location on June 21, sent the family on a vacation, and began the mammoth week-long construction project. Relying on the help of the local community, Extreme Makeover forges relationships with area organizations eliciting services for the family and volunteers for the construction.
Mathes responded to an all-campus e-mail seeking volunteers willing to assist the builders. “At the time I called, slots were filling up quickly, but luckily they added five additional positions to the design team,” she said. “I signed up to work a four-hour shift on Saturday, June 27, but then I received a phone call from Sarah Ellsworth, a member of the Recent Graduate Committee, inviting me to go up the Thursday before and watch the construction from the VIP tent. That was a bonus!”
Looking back on the experience, Mathes was most struck by the sense of community: “It reminded me of an Amish barn raising. I was really moved by how we all worked together. I didn’t know most of the people I was working alongside that night, but we were in sync, working together for a common cause. I can’t wait to see the show and see the Hill family’s reaction. It was a remarkable experience.”
Flu season is quickly approaching and the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cautions all citizens to prepare for H1N1. Because this particular strain of flu affects young adults, Saint Joseph College has developed a plan to prepare for the virus, should it hit the campus.
Steve Caron, director of Public Safety, continues to work with the State Department of Public Health to monitor the situation. Students will be updated regularly via MySJC as the situation develops. In the meantime, the following measures are in place:
- Anyone presenting H1N1 symptoms (fever, cough, sore throat, runny or stuffy nose, body aches, headache, chills and fatigue) will be sent home until the flu has run its course — they can only return to campus 24 hours after their fever has subsided.
- Isolation beds are set up on the third floor of Mercy Hall should someone need to wait for a ride to bring them home.
Students are asked to stock up on tissues, alcohol-based sanitizer, and fever reducing medication. Most importantly, take the following precautions to prevent contracting the flu:
- Wash hands frequently and dry with a paper towel
- Use alcohol-based sanitizer
- Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue if you need to cough or sneeze
- Maintain a healthy life style
To learn more about H1N1, including symptoms and the developing vaccine, please visit www.ct.gov/dph/swineflu or www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/. Together, we can minimize the effect of the H1N1.
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends getting a seasonal flu vaccine as early as possible. The College has scheduled two vaccination clinics for seasonal influenza on Monday, September 21 (12:00 – 6:00 p.m. in McDonough 211) and Tuesday, September 22 (9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. in the Faculty Dining Room, McGovern Hall). Appointments are not necessary.
The clinics will be administered and vaccines provided by PreventaHealth,™ a regional provider of flu shots in 28 states. PreventaHealth™ accepts cash or checks as payment and provides detailed receipts for insurance submission. The cost for the flu shot is $25.00.
If you have additional questions about the seasonal flu vaccination, we encourage you to contact your student’s health care provider for more information or PreventaHealth™ at 203.274.7896. You may also contact the Saint Joseph College Health Services office (860.231.5530) for questions or more information.
Danielle Desjardins ’10 is fully aware of the transformative experience that college provides. “I am different than I was when I started three years ago, much more focused and capable” she said. “I’m living proof that college is a journey of self discovery.” As a resident assistant (R.A.) in the residence halls, Desjardins willingly guides younger students in adjusting to the rigors of college life. Nothing speaks as powerfully as her own experience, though: “I was pretty unfocused in my freshman year, definitely more interested in having a good time than applying myself. My grades were average, but I was miserable.”
Originally enrolled in the Nursing program, Desjardins knew it wasn’t the right major for her, but was unsure of what to do. Then, in her sophomore year she took an introductory Psychology course and everything fell into place: “Psychology was the culmination of all my interests. From that point on, I fell in love with everything Saint Joseph College had to offer,” she said. “I started to leave my comfort zone and put myself out there, building relationships and friendships that will last me a lifetime.”
Desjardins served on the executive board of the Student Programming and Events Council (S.P.E.C.), the student academic appeals board, President Reid’s inauguration committee and the Investiture planning committee. She also applied to be an orientation leader and, in her junior year, became an R.A.
“I felt I had a lot to offer with my own personal experience,” Desjardins said. “I wanted to share what I learned and be a role model to other students. I want to let them know it’s okay to have to find yourself and to encourage them to stay focused until they do.” As for herself: “I feel unstoppable. I emerged from this initial journey as a goal-driven, determined, and strong-willed young woman who will stop at nothing to reach success. I have found what I love, what I do well and what I need to work on. I have found who I am.”
Financial aid is an important part of the higher education puzzle. Parents and students at SJC have several resources available to assist them in understanding their financial aid and completing the necessary steps to receive their aid. First, students should visit the Financial Aid tab on MySJC to view their financial aid award and to check document tracking to see if any paperwork is missing from their files. Many forms are available for download; updates and important information are posted in this area regularly.
Financial aid advisors are also available in the Student Financial Services (Financial Aid) offices on the 2nd floor of Mercy Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., and until 7:00 p.m. on most Wednesdays. Appointments may be scheduled, but walk-ins are welcome. Many questions may also easily be answered by phone at 860.231.5223 or e-mail at financialaid@sjc.edu.
In addition, the Office of Student Financial Services is excited to be using Twitter to keep students and parents updated on important financial aid deadlines and reminders. Follow us on Twitter at SJCFinancialAid (twitter.com/SJCFinancialAid).
Saint Joseph College is committed to the success and well-being of all students. Please remind your daughter to utilize the College’s wide array of support resources:
- Center for Academic Excellence — provides tutoring, writing assistance and more; located second floor of Mercy Hall; cae@sjc.edu
- Academic Advisement Center — offers academic guidance in relation to majors; located on first floor of McDonough Hall; advisement@sjc.edu
- Counseling and Psychological Services Center — provides free, confidential counseling and wellness services; located in “the little red house” east of McGovern Hall; 860.231.5530
- Career Development Center — provides career counseling, internship assistance, and more; located first floor of McDonough Hall; careercenter@sjc.edu
- Campus Ministry — provides spiritual counseling and social activism opportunities; located second floor of McGovern Hall; campusministry@sjc.edu
- Office of Residential Life — assists with housing issues, wellness and more; located second floor of McGovern Hall; housing@sjc.edu