Dear Catamounts,
I hope you have been enjoying the incredible fall weather. As the semester’s midpoint approaches, I am writing to say hello as your new acting provost and to check in. While recognizing that everyone needs to follow their own path through college, I thought I would send along a few things to think about.
ACADEMICS
The faculty and staff at ¶¶Òõ̽̽ are committed to your academic success! Please do not hesitate to go to your professors’ office hours or to reach out to the , the Undergraduate Tutoring Center, the Graduate Writing Center or the Undergraduate Writing Center, your academic advisor, the Student Services Office in your dean’s office, and your faculty members. It is never too early, or too late, to engage more deeply with your academics.
GET INVOLVED
There are so many lifelong skills to learn outside of the classroom. If you haven’t already, think carefully about how you will craft your Catamount Experience. Joining undergraduate and graduate student clubs, conducting undergraduate research, participating in or supporting our and NCAA teams, participating in the creative arts, and connecting with an identity center are all wonderful ways to find friends and build your networking, academic, and leadership skills. Think about exploring global opportunities, innovation and entrepreneurship, and career connections.
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF
It is easy to overdo it! Think carefully about the balance between your academics and social life, and please make sure you find time to include healthy behaviors in your routine: hydrate, eat right, get good sleep, exercise, express gratitude, find ways to manage your stress, and take a social media break every now and then. If you need health and wellness support, reach out to the Center for Health and Wellbeing.
BUILD OUR COMMUNITY
We all share in the responsibility for building and sustaining our vibrant campus community. I hope you are living Our Common Ground values, that you will attend the Presidential Lecture Series events that focus on free speech this year, and that you will find a way to connect with the university’s new Planetary Health Initiative—start by attending its launch tomorrow, October 17!
Whether your first few months of the semester have been smooth or a bit bumpy, you belong here. Take a moment to reflect on how you’re doing and what you need, and reach out for help and support. We are here for you and we are invested in your success.
All the best for a wonderful rest of your semester,
Linda Schadler
Acting Provost and Senior Vice President