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Dear USD Parent,
Welcome to the Fall Semester 2008! We hope you had a wonderful summer. Campus is once again filled with the energetic and lively students we grow to miss over the summer. By now, your son or daughter has attended first classes and perhaps has finally settled into a room or apartment for the year. We would like to extend a special welcome to our new families of freshman and transfer students. We are so glad you have joined us as part of the USD community. We invite parents of first year students to visit a new page on our Web site created especially for you!
Your Family Weekend invitation should arrive in your mailbox very soon if it has not already! We hope to see you on campus October 31 – November 2, 2008 for Family Weekend 2008. For the complete Family Weekend schedule or to download a registration form, please click here.
This newsletter will be sent periodically during the 2008-2009 academic year, close to the first of each month. At other times, we also will send special announcements and updates in order to keep you connected to life at USD. Please consider the Office of Parent Relations as your campus resource. We welcome your calls and look forward to hearing from you.
Welcome from President Mary E. Lyons
Dear Campus Community,
 MESSAGE TO COME ON SEPT. 2
I look forward to seeing you around our beautiful campus!
Mary E. Lyons, Ph.D.
President
Message from Student Affairs
Dear Torero Parents,
Just last week, USD was a flurry of activity with families helping students move into their new campus communities. Now that classes are starting, it is important to reflect on how best to support your student throughout this exciting academic year. Two of the most important ways to support your student are encouraging him or her to take advantage of the many resources on campus and maintaining a relationship with your student that demonstrates support and facilitates personal growth.
Students have many opportunities to get involved on campus. The Residential Life experience and the Preceptorial Program are two important points of connection for your student. Encourage your student to get to know his or her Resident Assistant (RA) and Preceptorial Assistant (PA). RAs and PAs are great peer leaders who can help your student connect to campus resources and the community. Another resource is the FRESH@USD program, which offers first-year students over 35 educational sessions focused on supporting the college adjustment process. For more information about the many initiatives, specifically targeted for first year students, visit www.sandiego.edu/fye/.
As a parent, you will need to navigate your student’s newfound independence, while providing the support needed for your student’s academic, social, and emotional growth. I encourage you to initiate conversation about your student’s personal and academic goals. What may feel like very basic conversation often translates as caring about his or her transition experience. As your student shares his or her transition process, avoid rushing to “fix” concerns; often, just listening and helping your son or daughter sort out options is empowering and helps facilitate adult development. Parents are extremely powerful partners in the college experience.
We are committed to creating an atmosphere of academic excellence, Torero pride, and personal care for students. We want your student to flourish, connect with the campus community and stay healthy; families are critical to this process. Should you believe your student could benefit from extra support, please encourage your son or daughter to contact Student Wellness support services . Telephone: (619) 260-4618.
I'd like to personally thank you for your support and warmly welcome you as family members of our USD community. We are looking forward to an amazing fall semester here at USD!
In Torero Spirit,
Carmen M. Vazquez
Vice President, Student Affairs
Meet the Parents Association Board Co-Presidents
Eileen and Albert Massi have been on the USD Parents Association Board since 2003 and have recently assumed the role of co-presidents, putting their years of experience and desire to help USD families to good use.
Originally from Pennsylvania, the Massis have lived in Las Vegas, Nevada for the past 33 years. Albert went to Villanova University for his undergraduate degree and then to Dickensen School of Law. Eileen received her degree in health, physical education and recreation from Slippery Rock University. Eileen is now retired from the teaching profession, Al is an attorney and is approaching retirement, and both have been amazing supporters of USD over the years and have every intention of making a difference.
Eileen and Albert are truly expert USD parents as they have two children at USD. Their son, Alano graduated in 2007, majoring in communication studies. Daughter Amanda, who is currently a junior, is also majoring in communications. In September 2007 the Massis, along with Rhonda and Michael Mona, another USD family from Las Vegas, took it upon themselves to hold a fundraising event that aimed to establish an endowed scholarship for students from Las Vegas. Eileen and Al have also hosted numerous Summer Send Offs in Las Vegas and have always “walked the walk”.
The USD Parents Association Board members work to integrate parents into the university community by mobilizing them to volunteer their talents and abilities, to contribute financially, and to join other parents, students and university personnel in helping to create an educational environment consistent with the mission statement. As Eileen and Al continue to work toward their goals to support USD’s mission, you will be hearing more success stories from them and the board they represent.
Torero Weekends
Weekends are happening at USD! Your student has received a full schedule of Torero Weekends activities and events during each weekend of the fall semester. The weekend programs kick off during this weekend with a welcome back event on Friday on the Immaculata lawn, a student tailgate prior to the Torero football game on Saturday, and the semester’s first Saturday Nights @ Aromas event featuring live music from Julia Jordan. On Sunday, your student can hop on a shuttle to explore in a kayak or join a game of beach volleyball at Mission Bay. Like many weekends, the Torero athletes are in action on campus as well, and all students get one free ticket to regular season home games.
On Friday night, Associated Students has planned a special event with a local Target store. This will be a fun event for students, and can also be a great way to get a ride to Target to purchase any remaining residence hall room supplies or accessories.
There are many more fun-filled weekends like this to come! Visit the Torero Weekends Web site for upcoming events throughout the semester, and Associated Students will offer a variety of programs as well. Saturday Nights @ Aromas schedules are posted online, too.
Family Weekend and Awards
Please plan to join us for Family Weekend, October 31 – November 2, 2008! This year’s weekend events feature an emphasis on your Torero Sprit, as we welcome families of all students to campus. Invitations have been sent, and you can view all the details online if you can’t wait until the mail arrives at Family Weekend 2008.
Also, take the time to submit your nominations for the recipients of the Award of Excellence and the Parent of the Year awards. Students, parents or families can nominate a member of USD’s faculty, staff or administration who has made a difference in the lives of students and families for the annual Award of Excellence. Also, students can submit a nomination for the naming of the Parent of the Year. What a great way to recognize those who support our campus community! For more information and to download the nomination form, please click here. Nominations are due Friday, Oct. 10.
Summer Thank You
Thank you to all the generous families, students, alumni and friends of USD who assisted with hosting and attending all of our successful Summer Send Off receptions during July and August. Twenty-seven receptions welcomed more than 470 of the new students and their families to the USD community. The popularity of these receptions continues to grow, as families see the value of beginning their student’s connection to USD as soon as possible. One new parent commented that the Summer Send Off “shared a wealth of information with all of us; certainly provided my husband and me with some helpful hints on ‘saying good-bye’ and making the transition easier on both of us and our daughter.” Thank you to our generous and warm host families, and thank you to the new families who joined us at these important gatherings!
 A special thanks as always to the energetic, and very strong, Torero Squad members who help carry every stereo, bookcase, and pillow into the residence hall rooms of the new students!
USD Knowledge Transfer
Parent and Alumni Experts in Investment Banking on Wall Street
Does your student understand networking and its importance in career development? Does your student need answers from insiders as he or she pushes the door to their career open?
This exciting networking program was created by the USD Parents Association and aims to put your student in direct contact with parents of other USD students- parents who have the inside angle and can provide answers to your student’s questions and a current prospective on the job market. For the October 3 panel, we’ve broadened our network and will also have alumni experts lending a hand.
Title: Investment Banking on Wall Street
Date: Friday, October 3, 2008
Start Time: 10 a.m.
Location: Joan B. Kroc Institute for Peace and Justice, Rotunda and Theatre
Cost: Free
For more details and information on how to get involved and be part of this network for our students, visit our Web site today!
Upcoming Events
Mass of the Holy Spirit
On Thursday, Sept. 11, the campus community will gather to seek blessings on the new academic year and in remembrance of the 2001 attacks. All are welcome to this special gathering in The Immaculata Church at 12:15 p.m. For more information, please contact University Ministry at (619) 260-4735.
Joan B. Kroc School of Peace Studies and Institute for Peace & Justice
A variety of special events are held at the institute throughout the year. Most are open to the public and many are free of charge. On Friday, Sept. 19, the IPJ will commemorate the United Nations International Day of Peace from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. with live entertainment, information booths, films and exhibits. The event is free and open to the public. For more information about this event and other upcoming events, including those featuring the 2008 Women PeaceMakers, go to http://peace.sandiego.edu.
“Inspiring Social Change through Education” 19th Annual Social Issues Conference
Oct. 2-14, 2008. Keynote speakers, luncheon presentations, workshops and more. To register and view the full list of conference events, please go to www.sandiego.edu/csl or call (619) 260-4798. Campus sponsors include the Associated Students, Center for Community Service Learning and the Joan B. Kroc School for Peace Studies along with community partners.
For a listing of all other upcoming campus events throughout the year, go to www.sandiego.edu/news. Remember parents and families are always welcome on campus!
For more information about people, programs and events at USD, be sure to check out Inside USD . This Web site highlights the “inside” scoop on the news from the university.
Athletics
The Toreros are gearing up for another exciting year of athletic competition. The USD Football team welcomes returning head coach Ron Caragher, and started the season with a victory over Marist, 40-22. Torero football has been named as the team to beat this year in The Sports Network’s preseason Mid-Major Top 10 poll as they seek their third consecutive Sports Network Cup. Catch a home game this month on Sept. 8 or Sept. 15 or see the Toreros on the road!
21st ranked women’s volleyball opened the season with three straight victories in the San Diego State Invitational tournament, and both soccer teams and others are off to a great start as well. For exciting information about all Torero teams, visit http://usdtoreros.collegesports.com. |
