As October comes to a close and families start to think about the upcoming holiday season, I write to share how the next few weeks may be challenging for students. The excitement of the adventure of a new semester may have lost a little shine. Midterms have come and gone. The celebration of Homecoming has successfully ended. The reality of the end of the semester is directly ahead – and with that, for many, comes stress of impending finals.
In addition to possible academic or personal uncertainty, there is unrest in the world around us. Students are not immune to this. Students may have evidenced strong midterm grades and yet be anxious about what is coming next for them – on campus or off.
With that in mind, we encourage you to reach out, check in and connect with your student about how they are doing. Ask how they will navigate the remainder of the semester. Ask how classes are going. Ask if friendships are thriving. Ask if they are sleeping, eating and taking care of themselves. If you are concerned with any of their answers, know there are resources and services available to students – to assist students in achieving success inside and out of the classroom. If your student is unsure of how to get help or what they might need, reach out to one of our staff. We are here to help students find their way!
The remainder of the semester will fly by in many regards. There are plenty of ways for students to positively de-stress and unwind while navigating the whirlwind of the last few weeks. As a community that cares deeply about one another, know that we are here for your students – cheering from the sidelines or running to the finish line right next to them.
Warmly,
Dr. Melanie V. Tucker
Vice President & Dean of Students
Chief Diversity Officer
Maryville College
November 2 - Last Day to Withdraw and Receive a “W” 21 - Residence Halls Close for Thanksgiving Break 22-26 - Thanksgiving Break 26 - Residence Halls Re-open
December 8 - Classes End 11-14 - Final Exams 14 - Residence Halls Close for Winter Break 15 - Winter Break Begins
The 2018-19 FAFSA is now available to be completed at fafsa.ed.gov.This application will be based on your 2016 income. The deadline to have it completed in order to receive Tennessee state grant funds is Jan. 16, 2018. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Financial Aid at 865.981.8100.
Student Affairs: Veterans Day Event Planned
The Student Veterans Association is planning a Veterans Day event for Fri., Nov. 10 on the lawn in front of Sutton Science Center from 2:30-6:30 p.m., with food, a National Guard display, and booths from local veteran support organizations and veteran friendly businesses. This event is open to the Maryville College community.
Residence Life: Residence Hall Closures/Procedures
During the holiday breaks, residence halls on campus close, and we require residents to leave campus for those breaks. The departure deadline for Thanksgiving Break is Tues., Nov. 21 at 9 p.m. For Winter Break, we ask that all students depart within 24 hours of their last final exam or at the latest by Thurs., Dec. 14 at 9 p.m. These dates, along with reopening dates, are posted on the MC website.
Students who need to stay past the deadline should complete a break housing agreement request. For Thanksgiving Break, we ask that these be completed by Nov. 3 at noon. For Winter Break, we ask these be completed by Nov. 29 at noon. Students may incur a $15/night charge for being allowed to stay on campus during break periods. Students should also be aware of the break policies listed on the break agreement, as they are different from our standard policy due to having so few staff members available to assist students during the break period.
Career Center: Career & Internship Fair
The Fall Career and Internship Fair is on Nov. 9. Registration for the fair can be found on Handshake for students, employers and graduate schools! If your company or organization would like to participate, registration is open until Nov. 1. More details can be found on the MC website. Attending the Career and Internship Fair is a Maryville College Works requirement for students. Please encourage your students to dress appropriately and be prepared to meet professionals!
Natural Sciences: Wildlife Photography Calendar
Looking for the perfect Christmas gift? Calendars featuring Maryville College student photography are still available! The 17-month calendar (August 2017 through December 2018), features beautiful photos taken by students in Dr. Drew Crain’s Wildlife Photography January Term course. The calendar lists holidays, as well as important MC-specific dates. Visit the MC website for more details on how to purchase a calendar on campus or have one shipped to you!
Academics: January Term 2018
January Term is a short academic term – starting Jan. 8 and ending Jan. 26 – in which students take one course in a condensed format. Classes meet every day for at least three hours and use the concentrated time to engage in a variety of specialized learning modalities. Courses offered include those required as a part of the general education requirement, major-related courses, as well as elective courses that encourage students to explore various disciplines. See examples of past January Term courses.
Because all first-year students are required to complete a January Term course, it is important to include these dates in planning for the holidays. Spring semester enrollment confirmation takes place on Jan. 29 – the Monday immediately following the end of the January Term.
MC is coming to Music City! Nashville Events Planned Nov. 17-19
Maryville College is headed to Music City in November! Several events are planned for Nov. 17-19 that are designed to help Nashville-area high school students, families and high school educators learn more about Maryville College and what it has to offer. If you know any students in the Nashville area who would be a good fit at MC, please encourage them to attend!
There is also an event for Maryville College alumni, families and friends – we hope to see you there for an evening of fun, food and fellowship! Visit the MC website for more details.
Residence Life: Care Packages
Fall finals are right around the corner, and during this hectic, crucial time, you can support your student with a delicious care package. Maryville College’s Residence Life Department is sponsoring and distributing Fall Finals Care Packages for students, and the deadline to order is Nov. 17. Availability is limited, so order soon online, as the more popular packages do run out! (Visibility on website indicates a particular package is still available for purchase.)
Student Affairs: Marketplace Open Enrollment Reminder
Does your student have health insurance? If not, please be aware that the Health Insurance Marketplace will open on Nov. 1, and your student may qualify for low-cost or free health insurance under the Affordable Care Act. Tennessee residents can visit this website to set up appointments and learn more, and out-of-state residents can visit this site to schedule appointments near you. Visit the “Get Covered America” website to learn more.
Center for International Education: Upcoming Deadlines
Maryville College students have a variety of opportunities to study abroad all over the world, and students may choose to use study abroad to meet the Maryville College Works significant practical experience (SPE) requirement for their degree. The majority of students who study abroad do so in their junior year. This means they are generally researching and applying for programs one year in advance, during their sophomore year. Program and application information is available on the MC website.
Upcoming Deadlines:
Nov. 15 – Fall and Academic Year Programs (2018-19)
Jan. 15 – Summer 2018 Study and Intern Abroad Programs
March 1 – Travel Study Programs (May 2019)
April 15 – Spring 2019 Programs
Congratulations to the following Spring 2018 study abroad scholarship recipients:
Ragsdale International Scholarship: Sofia Rubio (Spain), Justis Owens (France), Mackenzie Yaksic (Chile), Myka Bland (England), Nate Long (Spain), and Alex Crutcher (Spain)
Tuck International Study Award: Samuel Phillips (Germany)
Advancement: Homecoming Wrap-Up
MC alumni and friends came “Home to Howee” to celebrate Homecoming 2017 during the weekend of Oct. 20-22. The weekend included something for everyone: athletic events, the Harvest Crafts Festival and Bake Sale, parade, Decade Bash, reunions, choir performances and awards ceremonies. Check out our wrap-up to see photos, videos and stories!
Admissions: Meet Maryville
Meet Maryville is one of our best events for prospective students and their families to experience Maryville College. Know students who would thrive at MC? Please encourage them to attend our Meet Maryville preview day on Nov. 4 or April 7. For more information, please contact the Office of Admissions at 865.981.8092 or visit the MC website.
Post Office: Reminders
Exam week and the days leading up to it are great times to send mail and care packages to your student. Even if your students don’t tell you they enjoy and love these packages, believe us – we hear the excitement in their voices as they come to pick up their mail.
Addressing mail to your student is easy:
Student Name
Maryville College #1234 (student box number)
502 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy
Maryville, TN 37804
Please visit the MC website for more information about MC Post Office hours and holiday closure information. If you have questions, please contact the MC Post Office at 865.981.8082, and we will be happy to help you!
Advancement: AmazonSmile
You can make a difference in the life of a Maryville College student and do your holiday shopping at the same time with AmazonSmile. AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support Maryville College every time you shop on Amazon, at no cost to you. To shop at AmazonSmile and support MC, go to smile.amazon.com from your web browser or mobile device. On your first visit to AmazonSmile, select “Maryville College” to receive donations from eligible purchases before you begin shopping. AmazonSmile will remember your selection, and every purchase you make through smile.amazon.com will result in a donation to MC!
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