Staying Connected - May 2008
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New Gustavus President Announced
The Board of Trustees of Gustavus has elected Jack R. Ohle to be the College's 15th president. Ohle, currently the president of Wartburg College in Waverly, IA, will succeed Jim Peterson, who is retiring after serving as president of the College since July 2003. Ohle will take office July 1, 2008. For more information, go to
New President.
The College Rhythm in May
The last few weeks of school are here. Students have anxiety about final exams and papers. Students who do not have other plans for the summer are busy finding summer employment. The reality of graduation brings mixed emotions for most seniors, sadness over leaving friends or relationships, anxiety about finding a job or starting graduate school, and relief and excitement for the completion of college. May is filled with end of the year banquets and celebrations to bring a sense of closure and preparations for the changing of leadership positions as organizations look to the fall.
Pre-Register For Graduation Photos
During the Commencement Service, staff from Chappell Studios will be taking a photo of each graduating senior as they shake hands with the president. These photos are then available for purchase direct from Chappell Studios. Family members may pre-register so they receive an e-mail when the photos are ready to download and order. To take advantage of this service, go to
Graduation Photos.
Baccalaureate/Commencement Tickets
Baccalaureate and Commencement are Sunday, June 1. Each graduate received four tickets for one of the Baccalaureate services (at 9:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.) at the Grad Finale in April. Seniors NEED a ticket. Commencement will be held on Hollingsworth Football Field at 2 p.m. No tickets are necessary if Commencement is held outdoors, and families are welcome to invite as many guests as they wish. However, if the ceremony is moved into Lund Arena due to inclement weather, space is limited; each graduate receives three tickets for the indoor Commencement option (seniors DO NOT need a ticket). If this is the case, the ceremony will also be broadcast live around campus on large screen televisions. The decision regarding the Commencement location will be announced at the Baccalaureate service. Tickets have been distributed to students from the Office of College Relations. For more information on Commencement go to
Commencement or call toll-free 800-726-6198.
Senior Week
Gustavus sponsors a time of celebration and closure for the senior class in the days between the end of finals and Commencement. Senior Week events are planned by interested members of the senior class. Activities include a fiesta dinner, Johnny Holm concert, Twins baseball game, Valleyfair, President's Banquet, spa day, and boat cruise. Registration for events is May 5-9 on campus.
Summer with your college student
Most students and parents find it to be an interesting transition if your college student is returning to live at home this summer. Students are accustomed to different freedoms while at college and many families have also adjusted to a routine without their college student. Talk with your student about expectations, both yours and theirs. You may find you have different thoughts relating to such topics as house rules, meals, curfew, and spending time with family versus friends.
Grant Received for Science Education
Gustavus has recently been awarded $1 million for science education over the next four years from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) in Chevy Chase, Md. The award will support a variety of programs that seek to transform the first-year student experience in the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) disciplines — particularly through collaboration between the departments of biology and chemistry. For more information, go to
Science Grant.
Celebrating 25 Years of Phi Beta Kappa at Gustavus
In April, Gustavus celebrated its 25th anniversary as a Phi Beta Kappa institution. Phi Beta Kappa began during colonial times, in 1776, when its members secretly met to discuss revolution against the British throne. It was the first Greek society founded in the United States and today remains the most prestigious of scholarly organizations. Out of the nearly 5,000 colleges and universities in the country, only about 300 are authorized to host a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. The application process for a chapter charter is long and tedious. The national board looks at a college's ratio of Ph.D. faculty members, test scores, endowment, and the number of books in the library, among other things. A team then comes to do a physical inspection of the campus. Gustavus applied five times before it was recommended for a chapter. After a year of planning, Gustavus members were first initiated in 1983. For more information, go to
Phi Beta Kappa.
Upcoming Events/Important Dates
Last day of classes — May 21
Finals — May 23-27
Commencement — June 1
Returning student move-in — September 1
Fall Semester Classes begin — September 2
Homecoming/Family Weekend — October 3-5
For a complete listing of events on campus, go to the
College Calendar.
Click here for information on other
Important Dates and Campus Resources .
E-mail Address Updates
If you change your e-mail address, please inform the Gustavus staff by filling out an online form at
gustavus.edu/parents/newsletter.cfm.
Please remember to also unsubscribe from this newsletter with your old address and re-subscribe to the newsletter with the new e-mail address. You can do this at
gustavus.edu/parents/newsletter.cfm.
About Staying Connected
Welcome to
Staying Connected, a monthly e-mail newsletter from Gustavus to parents of current students. The purpose of
Staying Connected is to provide parents with updates regarding activities and programs on campus, upcoming deadlines, and general information about how you can help your student have the best experience at Gustavus. Feedback and ideas are welcome. Please let us know any suggestions or topics at
deanofstudents@gustavus.edu.
If you prefer not to receive future issues of this newsletter, please unsubscribe at the Parents' homepage at
gustavus.edu/parents/newsletter.cfm or contact the Dean of Students at
deanofstudents@gustavus.edu or 507/933/7526 with any questions or concerns.
