Dear parents and families,

On behalf of the entire WashU community, I’d like to wish you and your families a happy new year! I hope you have been able to spend time with loved ones and connect with your student during winter break. 

Now is the perfect time to help your student reflect on and celebrate their accomplishments from the fall semester. The new year — and the new semester — offers a chance for students to refocus on goals and reflect on changes they may want to make in the coming months. 

Perhaps your student is hoping to explore more of WashU’s academic support services during the spring semester. I recommend they connect with the Learning Center to participate in mentoring programs, academic skills coaching, and assistance with specific courses.  

Maybe your student wants to improve their well-being in the new year. I encourage them to explore counseling services available through Habif Health & Wellness Center. And if they haven’t done so, please encourage them to sign up for TimelyCare. We will also be highlighting Habif Health & Wellness services for both mental and physical health in the Habif Happenings column in each month’s Family Ties. 

One of Student Transitions & Family Programs’ goals for the new year is to find more ways to connect with and support WashU family members. We are excited to announce that the Family Ties eNewsletter will now be sent monthly. This change is in response to feedback we received from parents and family members in our fall semester surveys.  

You will notice a few other changes in the structure of this eNewsletter. We added a section to highlight events happening on-campus. Please encourage your student to attend these events! We will also be sharing things to do in the St. Louis area. We hope students take advantage of these opportunities to engage with the larger St. Louis community. Similar resources and events will be shared each month in our student eNewsletter, the Bear Bulletin.

I look forward to welcoming students back to campus in a few short weeks. Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership. 

Warmly, 

Anna "Dr. G" Gonzalez

Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs

Spring 2023

January 16: Martin Luther King Day (No classes)

January 17: First day of classes

March 12-18: Spring Break (No classes)

April 28: Last day of classes

May 1-10: Reading Days and Finals

Meet Our New Staff Member

Hello WashU parents and families! My name is Mimi Mudd and I am the assistant director for parent & family programs. I joined the Student Transitions & Family Programs team in September. I previously was a staff member of the Campus Life team, and am excited to be working with the parents and family members of our undergraduate students more directly. One aspect of my role is to oversee the departmental communication to parents and families, like Family Ties and the Family Webinar Series. I also serve as a centralized point of contact for parent and family inquiries, so always feel free to email or call me at 314.935.5040.

Updates to Family Ties

Student Transitions & Family Programs is excited to announce that the Family Ties newsletter will now be sent out monthly instead of quarterly. You will notice several changes in the structure of the newsletter as well. Each edition will include:

• A letter from Anna "Dr. G" Gonzalez, Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
• A "What's Happening on Campus" section to highlight events at WashU
• A Department Debrief introducing one of our campus partners
• The Career Corner featuring information from the Career Center
• Habif Happenings, where Habif Health & Wellness Center will share updates
• What to do in the Lou, including a neighborhood spotlight and local St. Louis events
• Upcoming family webinar series events
• Other updates and relevant information

Encourage your student to engage with the WashU community by attending upcoming events:

Lunar New Year Festival Show: February 3, 4, and 11, 7:00 PM

• Lunar New Year Festival is an annual, student-run production celebrating East Asian culture and the start of the new lunar new year. In addition to a skit centering around Asian-American social issues, LNYF includes dance and performance acts like Chinese Fan, Lion Dance, and Chinese Yoyo. Fundraising from from the show is donated to a philanthropic cause.

Black Anthology Production: February 10-11

• Now in its 32nd year, Black Anthology is a show that is written, choreographed, directed, and produced entirely by Wash U undergraduates. Each year the Executive Board, cast, and crew aim to create a show that examines the nuanced black experience in America, from both the past and present.

Cheer on the WashU Bears!

• View the WashU Athletics event calendar for opportunities to support WashU teams. Men's and women's basketball and swim teams, and the men's tennis team have several home events in January and February.

Getting involved has never been easier! Here at Washington University in St. Louis, there are over 400 different student groups with programs varying in time, place, and intensity. The best part about it is that students can find all of these groups and their events on one single platform, WUGO.

WUGO is our student group platform that lays out every event that our student groups register with details such as location, time, and a brief summary. In fall 2022, there were over 1,000 registered events on our campus.

Of course we know involvement looks different for everyone, but if your student is looking for a way to make friends, a free snack, or even to be the President of Student Union, WUGO is the way to go. Students are encouraged to stop by Campus Life in DUC 260 with any questions.

Washington University Career Center is hosting several large employer events this semester. 

Spring 2023 All-Campus Internship and Job Career Fair

• January 31, 3:00 - 7:00 pm CST

Spring 2023 Net Impact Expo: Explore Environmental & Social Impact Careers

• Feb 9, 3:00 - 5:00 pm CST

Spring 2023 Architecture | Urban Design | Landscape Architecture Career Fair  

• February 16, 4:00 - 7:00 pm CST

Spring 2023 Virtual Startup Job + Internship Fair

• Mar 7, 3:00 - 6:00 pm CST

Have your student check out our career fair FAQS and tips.

Experiences outside of the classroom are a critical part of your student’s education and personal development. Clubs, activities, part-time jobs, passion projects, service, volunteering, shadowing, research, travel-- these things go a long way towards discovering meaningful and satisfying career steps after graduation.

We are here to help each step of the way! We offer programming, online resources, and individual assistance. You student is welcome to come by the Career Center in DUC 110 weekdays, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM, to get resume feedback, learn about Handshake, or schedule an advising appointment.

Suicide prevention training teaches users to recognize and respond to suicidal behavior. Student organizations, academic departments, offices, and other groups are invited to participate.

QPR training, a nationally recognized suicide prevention program, is available to all students, faculty and staff at WashU. Kirk Dougher, associate vice chancellor for student support and wellness, and Arie Baker, director of health promotion and wellness at Habif Health and Wellness Center, liken QPR to CPR — an emergency response that saves lives.

QPR stands for Question, Persuade and Refer — the key steps in recognizing and responding to signs of suicidal thinking or behavior.

“We would like the entire campus to engage in this process so they have the tools for when — not if — they encounter someone in crisis,” Dougher said. “Student Affairs alone cannot solve the student mental health crisis. WashU, on the other hand, has a chance.”

Read the full article in the Source.

The upcoming webinars for our Spring 2023 Family Webinar Series can be found below! This series was designed to help your student succeed by answering all of their and your WashU questions. Register for upcoming webinars and view recordings of past webinars.

A Conversation About Pre-Health Advising: February 7 at 5:30 PM

• Carolyn Herman, associate dean and director of pre-health advising at Washington University in St. Louis will provide a brief overview of the pre-health curriculum and describe some features of pre-health advising here at WashU. Information about pre-health advising is available at prehealth.wustl.edu.

Encourage your student to explore St. Louis or build an itinerary for your next visit!

Neighborhood Spotlight: Central West End

The Central West End is a hub for historical architecture, dining, and shopping. To get there from the MetroLink, get on the blue line towards Fairview Heights at Big Bend station and get off at the Central West End station.

Check out the World Chess Hall of Fame, the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis (home to the largest mosaic installation in the Western Hemisphere), or catch a movie at Chase Park Cinema. Enjoy live jazz and brunch at Evangeline's Bistro, Peruvian cuisine at Cocina Latina, or inventive ice cream flavors at Jeni's.

Local Events:

The Loop Ice Carnival: January 21, 11:00 AM - 9:00 PM

• Celebrate winter and support local businesses at the 16th annual Ice Carnival at the Delmar Loop. There will be sculptures, giveaways, performances, and more!

Chinese New Year at the Missouri History Museum: January 26, 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

• Join the St. Louis Chinese Language School and the Missouri History Museum to welcome in 2023 with games, museum exhibits, and performances, including the traditional Lion Dance. This event is free.

SIX The Musical at the Fabulous Fox Theatre: January 24 - February 5

• This award winning musical at the beautiful Fox Theatre follows the six wives of Henry VIII. Join the Fox Theatre's student mailing list for access to occasional student discounts on day-of tickets.

Student Transitions & Family Programs | Washington University in St. Louis

Umrath House, lower level, suite 0925 | One Brookings Drive, MSC 1136-0332-LL | St. Louis, MO 63130

families.wustl.edu | Office: 314.935.5040 | Toll free: 844.935.5040 | families@wustl.edu