Webster University: Staying Connected

Welcome to the first issue of the 2009-10 academic year for Staying Connected, a newsletter for parents of first-year students. We hope you’ll enjoy the informative articles, some of which have been written by students and staff members.

This e-newsletter is coordinated by the Dean of Students office. Our web designer is Joshua Hirtz, a senior from Cedar Hill, Missouri, majoring in computer science. We obtain a number of our articles from PaperClip Communications, a firm which produces content for parent newsletters.

By the time you all read this, most of you will have enjoyed a wonderful experience during New Student Orientation weekend. We offer quite a few programs for parents and we hope that you got most of your questions answered. We know that it can be a stressful time for you, but we do try to make it go as smoothly as possible.

If your son or daughter did not attend the Orientation weekend activities, it is extremely important that they seek out assistance to find out what they missed. Many important campus resources are introduced during Orientation. By contacting the Information Desk in the University Center, new students can check to see if there are any leftover packets of information that might prove helpful. Any student who did not attend Orientation should come to the UC front desk to pick up a student handbook and planner. We expect new students to review the policies, procedures, and resources contained within this handbook. This is how they know what Webster expects of them.

Within Student Affairs at Webster, we have 10 departments that provide programs, services, activities, facilities, and opportunities for students. Our focus is on helping students to succeed, to maximize their learning, and to cause them to get the most out of their college experience. I have the pleasure of providing leadership for these departments and working with this outstanding team of student life professionals. You couldn’t find a more talented, dedicated, hard-working group. They are truly student-centered and committed to your student’s success.

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This year’s New Student Orientation was a huge success!
Niki Femmer, Multicultural Center and International Student Affairs

Webster University welcomed 474 freshmen and 275 transfer students over the four-day Welcome Weekend August 20-23.

The Orientation Leaders and campus volunteers helped move in nearly 300 new students on Thursday, August 20. Students living in West Hall, East Hall, and Maria Hall were welcomed to campus by 30 smiling students in light blue t-shirts, all ready to move students into their new homes. Volunteers from Student Government Association, Alumni and Development, Facilities, Delta Upsilon, Latitude, and Student Affairs professionals spent the entire day Thursday moving items from cars to rooms.

During Orientation weekend, the Parents Reception offered parents an opportunity to ask questions of the administration and speak with other parents. Over 250 parents and family members joined the University Administration for drinks, appetizers, and a chance to relax during the busy weekend. President Elizabeth Stroble was on hand during the reception, ensuring parents that their children were in good hands. MORE

Emergency Alert System
Ted Hoef, Associate Vice President and Dean of Students

We need your help in encouraging your son or daughter to sign up for the Webster alert system. The media has reported on a number of shootings that occurred on college campuses around the country during the past few years. Many of these schools have relied upon similar alert systems to quickly inform their students of these shooting incidents in an effort to keep everyone as safe as possible.

Webster University has implemented a mass notification system to be used to alert students, faculty, and staff in the event of an on-campus emergency or school closure due to weather. Webster is partnering with Omnilert utilizing their e2Campus system to offer this service. The choice of notification methods will include SMS text messages to a cell phone, an email account (personal or University), a Blackberry or text pager, a RSS feed, or any combination of these. More information about this service can be obtained at: http://www.webster.edu/technology/websteralerts/

You can also read the news release about this new service as well as FAQs at: http://www.webster.edu/news/releases/emergencyalert_070807.shtml MORE

Pandemic and Infectious Disease Information

Webster University is committed to communicating to the campus as much information as possible on any influenza or other pandemic and infectious diseases, and to make recommendations about responses necessary on the part of the university in the event of an outbreak. MORE

Expectations of New Students
Ted Hoef, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students

Expectations of New Students Ted Hoef, associate vice president for student affairs and dean of students During New Student Orientation, I shared a list of our most important expectations and what we have found to be the keys to success. As I presented each one, an orientation leader shared a personal reflection to add a student perspective. For those that missed this presentation, here is our list of expectations and keys to success. MORE