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Dear USD Parent,
As another academic year comes to a close, we thank you for your involvement in your student’s USD experience. We hope you found these newsletters informative and helpful as you support your student’s educational and personal goals. We wish safe travel to our students and families going home or abroad during the summer break and look forward to students’ return in the fall. A heartfelt congratulations to our graduates and their families! Remember, this is only the beginning of your new relationship to the university as the parent or family member of a USD alumnus/a!
Commencement 2008
 More than 1,200 undergraduate degrees will be awarded on Sunday, May 25. Please note the schedule of events for undergraduate families below. For complete Commencement information, please visit www.sandiego.edu/commencement.
May 24, 5 p.m., Baccalaureate Mass (Jenny Craig Pavilion) Caps and gowns will not be worn at Mass. Open Admission – tickets are not required.
May 24, Baccalaureate Dinner (Immediately following the Baccalaureate Mass, approximately 6:30 p.m., Eagen Plaza): Toast your graduate with your family and friends at a festive Italian dinner on the Eagen Plaza at the Jenny Craig Pavilion. Tickets are going fast! Purchase tickets online at www.sandiego.edu/parents.
May 25, 9 a.m. COMMENCEMENT – College of Arts & Sciences (Jenny Craig Pavilion): Graduating students will meet at 8 a.m. in the parking lot between the Jenny Craig Pavilion and Cunningham Baseball Stadium. Guests must be seated in the Jenny Craig Pavilion no later than 9 a.m. (Only guests with tickets will be admitted to the Jenny Craig Pavilion.) Immediately after Commencement, trams will be available from the Jenny Craig Pavilion to the Commencement Reception on Marian Way.
May 25, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Commencement Reception – College of Arts & Sciences (East Marian Way in front of the University Center): This reception is for graduating College of Arts & Sciences major students, guests and faculty. Light refreshments will be available, and the USD Bookstore will have merchandise available for purchase.
May 25, 2 - 4 p.m. (procession begins at 2 p.m.), COMMENCEMENT – School of Business Administration/Engineering Program (Jenny Craig Pavilion): Graduating students will meet at 1 p.m. in the parking lot between the Jenny Craig Pavilion and Cunningham Baseball Stadium. Guests must be seated in the Jenny Craig Pavilion no later than 2 p.m. (Only guests with tickets will be admitted to the Jenny Craig Pavilion.) Immediately after Commencement, trams will be available from the Jenny Craig Pavilion to the Commencement Reception on Marian Way.
May 25, 4 - 5:30 p.m., Commencement Reception – School of Business Administration/Engineering Program (East Marian Way in front of the University Center): This reception is for graduating School of Business Administration and Engineering Program students, guests and faculty. Light refreshments will be available, and the USD Bookstore will have merchandise available for purchase.
Guest Tickets
Graduating students may pick up guest tickets for the May 25 Commencement ceremonies at the Jenny Craig Pavilion ticket office beginning May 5. Tickets must be picked up by Friday, May 23 by 4 p.m. Eight tickets will be available to graduating seniors in the College of Arts and Sciences. Given the smaller size of the graduating classes in the School of Business Administration and Department of Engineering, these graduates will have ten (10) tickets available.
Children under the age of 3 who will be seated on the lap of an adult do not need a ticket. All other guests must present a ticket for admittance to the Jenny Craig Pavilion on Sunday, May 25, 2008. Guest tickets are only available to seniors for the ceremony they plan to attend. Although the University does not have a formal process for ticket exchanges among students, a ticket trading board will be posted adjacent to the Main Dining Room in the University Center in early May.
Guests without tickets may view the ceremony by closed circuit television in the University Center (UC).
Flowers
USD has partnered with a flower vendor to make bouquets and orchid leis available at the Jenny Craig Pavilion during Commencement Weekend. Although graduates sometimes wear leis with their regalia, corsages should be reserved for guests. In addition to reasonable prices and convenience, a percentage of all sales will support ongoing university programs. Visit www.graduationleis.com or call (619) 596-6169 for more information and to place pre-orders. Please refer to the enclosed information for further details.
Photographer and Video Services
A professional photographer, California Candids (www.gradphotos.com, (866) 882-2897), will capture the ceremony and each graduate as the diploma is presented. This is the best way to get a good photo of graduates onstage as they receive diplomas, as guests will not be permitted to approach the stage area. Within a week of the ceremony, graduates will be sent order cards with proofs from the ceremony and a password to view their photographs online.
Graduation Nation will be producing a commemorative Commencement 2008 DVD of the Commencement ceremonies. For information and to place your order, please visit http://www.graduationnation.com/.
Napa Valley Wine Tasting Event
The University of San Diego, its San Francisco Bay area Alumni Chapter and the St. Supery Winery invite USD alumni, families and friends to a special USD Family wine tasting event on Saturday, May 10, 2008. Special guests include President Mary E. Lyons, Ph.D. and Executive Director of Athletics Ky Snyder. What an enjoyable way to spend a Saturday afternoon—perhaps even as part of your Mother’s Day weekend plans!
The event includes hors d'oeuvres paired with a selection of fine wines from our USD Family wineries. This event has been made possible by the generous contributions of the following USD families and affiliated wineries: St. Supery Winery, Joseph Phelps Winery, and Whitehall Lane Winery.
For more information, contact University Events and Promotions at (619) 260-7889.
Transportation to St. Supéry Winery will be available from San Francisco and can be reserved when purchasing event tickets. Click here for additional details and to purchase your tickets.
Message from Student Affairs
Dear Torero Parents,
 The completion of coursework, finals, and graduation are just around the corner. During the next few weeks our students will need support preparing for finals and managing summer transitions. At the same time, it is important to recognize the accomplishments of our community members. As I collectively congratulate the USD community on an amazing 2007-2008 academic year, I encourage you to take the time to congratulate your student on personal milestones and achievements.
As the countdown to finals begins, students often experience increased stress. If you feel your student is experiencing heightened levels of stress, there are several things you can do, which may help ease the tension in his or her life: make a phone call to show you care, send a comforting e-mail, or surprise him or her with a positive text message. As a parent, you may be the best person to support and encourage your student. According to the National College Health Assessment, 82 % of our USD students get their health related information from parents. This means your son or daughter will hear you as you provide guidance to manage stress. In some cases, simply encouraging your student to seek additional on-campus support, from Student Wellness services will be of tremendous help.
As the academic year ends and many students are preparing to return home for the summer, I encourage you to consider how you can set this transition up for success. Consider having a conversation with your student about expectations in relation to your student’s independence and living at home. Also, explore how you can ensure your house feels like “home” for your student. When I asked students about moving back home for the summer, students reported they are most excited about experiencing the basic comforts of home.
As the academic year comes to a close, I am struck by the many accomplishments we have to celebrate—over 1,000 first-year students will complete their first full academic year, our graduates will participate in the conferring of degrees at commencement ceremonies, and many of our students have engaged in service work, leadership, and community events. All of these events foster a tremendous sense of community and Torero pride.
Thank you again for your support during the 2007-2008 academic year. Families are an essential part of our Torero community.
In Torero Spirit,
Carmen M. Vazquez
Vice President, Student Affairs
2008-2009 Financial Aid Awards
A message from the Office of Financial Aid:
For the 2008-2009 academic year, the Office of Financial Aid will be awarding continuing students beginning in May 2008 using the university’s new Banner System software. Students will receive a message sent to their USD email account informing them of a financial aid award which they will view through the MySanDiego portal. The email will explain in detail the steps necessary to access their award information and how to apply for the various forms of financial aid offered, including loans. The student’s financial aid award information will not be accessible to parents. Students must use the login they use for their USD email account to access their award information on the MySanDiego portal. Of course, students may share the information with their parents.
If a parent calls regarding information about the student’s award, such information can only be provided to the parent if there is a signed Student Information Release Authorization on file with the USD Registrar authorizing the Office of Financial Aid to release specific financial aid information to the parent. If the signed authorization form is not on file with the Registrar, the Office of Financial Aid will not be able to release any information to the parent regarding the student’s award.
If you have any questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at (619) 260-4514 and a Financial Aid Advisor will assist you.
Care Packages
Brain Food for Finals
Finals are right around the corner - send your son or daughter an extra boost with an X's and O's Care Package. The 'Brain Food' pack includes: a squishy brain-shaped stress ball, Snickers, Rice Krispies Treats, Nutrigrain, Nature Valley, & Quaker Chewy Bars, sunflower seeds, M&M's, Sweet Tarts, two packs of gum, Act II Popcorn, pretzels, Rockstar Energy Drink, Minute Maid juice, USD pen, pencils, highlighter and index cards, all packed in a decorative bag. Just $34.95. To order, and for information on all of the X's and O's Care Packages, visit the Dining Services Web site: http://www.sandiego.edu/dining/care.php. Please order by May 5th, 2008.
2008 Family Weekend
The next Family Weekend will take place October 31 – November 2, 2008. The Family Weekend Student Committee will soon meet to plan the various aspects of the weekend. If your son or daughter is interested in participating in event preparations and volunteer opportunities during Family Weekend 2008, they can contact us at parents@sandiego.edu.
Important Dates to Remember
May 14 – 20 – Final exams (Remember to use your student’s class schedule to determine his or her individual exam schedule.
May 24 – 25 – Commencement Weekend
June 2 – First day of first Summer Session (Click here for more information on Summer Session 2007)
August 22 – Last day of last Summer Session
September 3 – First day of Fall Semester
October 17 – Fall Holiday (no classes)
October 31 – November 2 – Family Weekend
November 26 – 28 – Thanksgiving Holiday (no classes)
December 12 – Last day of classes
December 15 – 19 – Final Exams
For the full academic calendar, please visit http://sandiego.edu/news/academiccalendar/. |
