Both inside and outside the classroom, engagement in meaningful dialogue around ideas and events is foundational to both the intellectual discovery and self-discovery that underpin a Colorado College education. Throughout this election season, CC students have had multiple opportunities for engagement. Upcoming events include the remaining speakers in the Sondermann Presidential Symposium and a performance of "Purple State, Purple Haze," a "satirical, honest, and provocative look" at the election. In addition, a cohort of students has been participating in a new initiative sponsored by the Department of Political Science and The Butler Center entitled "Election Fellows: Dialoging for Democracy" through which they have the opportunity to meet and personally engage with our campus visitors and their scholarship.
     As Election Day approaches, and the national conversation around the election intensifies, students may be impacted by stress or fatigue above and beyond the stress that they experience during the normal course of a block. Encourage your student to take advantage of campus resources and to practice good self-care—it is a key component of managing stress successfully. Here are some tips from the Wellness Resource Center that you can share with your student.
     Finally, please take a moment to scroll to the bottom of this email for new link boxes that give you an easy way to access frequently needed information.
     As always, I welcome your questions or concerns and look forward to being in touch!

Debra Zarecky
Director of Parent and Family Relations
(719) 389-6103

Did you know your student’s Gold Card grants them free admission to all Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center galleries? Students also receive discounted member pricing for specially ticketed FAC exhibits.
     CC students also are eligible to attend any FAC theatre production for free, subject to availability, within an hour of show time. Students just need to present their student Gold Card at the front desk. “Student Rush” tickets also are available for purchase anytime on the day of the show for $15. Contact (719) 634-5583 with questions.

The FAFSA is used to calculate your student’s estimated family contribution (EFC) as a dollar amount, based on dependency status, income, family size, and number of siblings in college. The FAFSA assesses eligibility for federal student aid, such as student loans, work-study or Pell grants (which you don’t have to pay back), awarded by the federal government.
     Although the CSS PROFILE has a fee, CC uses this information to award grants and scholarships beyond what the federal government awards from the FAFSA. The PROFILE considers income, assets, family size, and number of siblings in college to assess financial strength at all levels and allows financial aid counselors to consider special circumstances, such as job loss, in financial situations that may not be reflected in the FAFSA. The application process can take 45 minutes to two hours.
     Both applications are now open! Click here for a list of documents your student will need to apply. Please note that if your student did not apply for financial aid during admission they may not be eligible for CC funds. 

Regardless of a student’s background, experiences, or preparedness, studying in college away from home will be stressful. It is, after all, a new environment with new expectations and new people relying on your student to meet those expectations. We sometimes describe this concept as “living in community” and the people in it, including your student, as “community members.”
     But what’s happening to your student in this new community, with its new stressors and expectations? Are they able to cope or are they showing signs of distress? Read more here about opportunities to build student resilience.

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) students are an important part of Colorado College’s student body. CLD students include international degree-seeking and exchange students as well as domestic students with multilingual or non-English dominant backgrounds. These students comprise more than 10 percent of CC’s enrollment and enrich the educational environment by contributing different perspectives, backgrounds, experiences, and languages from over 55 countries around the world. Having such a significant population of CLD students at CC provides an invaluable educational atmosphere for students in any area of study. Read more here about the classes and tutorials offered by Chelsea Walter, Ph.D., the English as a Second Language (ESL) specialist at CC.

Eighty one percent of students study abroad while at Colorado College. Part of the class requirement for study abroad is the completion of a travel consult and physical exam. Our Student Health Center provider, Colorado Springs Health Partners, offers various services, including exams, that help students prepare for their travels. Read more here or call the Student Health Center at (719) 389-6384.

Dynamic Half Block, Jan. 9-19, 2017, provides for-credit and non-credit opportunities for students looking to capitalize on their Winter Break. To enroll in for-credit offerings, students simply stop by the Office of the Registrar to add a course to their schedule. No points needed! 
     Registration for non-credit offerings opened in Summit on Oct. 24. This year, students can create a professional non-fiction writing portfolio, craft original spoken word pieces, work with local community organizations, spend a week at the United States Olympic Committee offices learning about their business operations, and more. This year, students have the option to earn a digital badge for select offerings. Dynamic Half Block offers great opportunities for students to enhance their professional development. Learn more about what students gain from the program.

Tiger Link, CC’s new mentoring platform, has launched with over 600 participants. The networking site, compatible with LinkedIn, allows students and graduates to seek direct guidance from experienced alumni and parents in a variety of fields. Any students in need of career advice are highly encouraged to sign up. Parents are invited to participate. Join now and be a career resource for CC students!