Partners in Your Student's Journey

Parents are vitally important to us at Seattle Pacific University. We view you as partners with us in the educational journey that your student is taking.

Because of that, I'm delighted to send you this first issue of an e-newsletter designed exclusively for the parents and families of our students. Here's a sampling of things you will find in each issue:

Upcoming campus events you may wish to attend
Quick tips on how to help your student succeed (academically, spiritually, financially, and more)
Interviews with faculty and staff members who are important resources for your student

I hope that you will find this newsletter — and our new website for parents — to be helpful to you as you navigate this new territory. As always, I welcome your questions and comments. Please feel free to contact me at president@spu.edu.

Thank you again for the trust you have placed in us and for the time you are taking to learn more about the important things that are happening here at this great university.

President Philip W. Eaton

Celebrate Homecoming and Family Weekend

Mark your calendars for SPU's Homecoming and Family Weekend, January 24-26, 2008.

Visit your student's "home away from home" and enjoy a full range of activities, from informational sessions about study abroad to a Falcon basketball game or two.
Bring the whole clan — grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings. Even friends are welcome.

A Note About "Tradition"

"Tradition" is an annual event held in Tiffany Loop and produced by the Student Union Board. Complete with lights, carolers, holiday treats, and other seasonal festivities, the event is an opportunity for the campus community to celebrate the holiday season. This year’s Tradition occurred on November 30, 2007, and celebrated Christmas with a Southwest flair.

Autumn Quarter Grades

Students will be able to view grades online beginning December 18. Parents will not be sent their students' grades; the decision to share grades rests with each student.

Holiday Hours, Start of Winter Quarter

Seattle Pacific University will close for the holidays at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, December 21. The campus reopens on January 2, 2008. Students return to classes on Thursday, January 3.

Join Us for Chapel, Nights of Worship

Parents are invited to attend any of our Chapel worship services, typically held Tuesdays at 9:30 a.m. in First Free Methodist Church adjacent to SPU's campus.

Parents are also welcome to join us for Nights of Worship, held twice per quarter on Sundays at 7 p.m. in First Free Methodist Church. Winter sessions will be held January 13 and February 24.

Financial Literacy 101

Research shows that students who understand the financial commitments and decisions they encounter while earning their degrees are more likely to graduate on time and with less debt.

At Seattle Pacific University, the office of Student Financial Services (SFS) provides quarterly information sessions in financial literacy. These seminars help SPU students gain the vital set of skills they need to handle their present financial obligations and their future financial planning. Sessions for the 2007-08 academic year include:

Building a foundation for a solid financial future
The importance of building and maintaining good credit
How to protect financial identity

Each spring, SFS also offers a student loan information (exit) session for graduating and interested student-loan borrowers. The session provides students with information on repayment, covers their borrower rights and responsibilities, and has a question-and-answer period with student-loan professionals.

For more coverage on financial literacy, visit the Parents and Families website.

Refugees for a Day

On November 10, 2007, SPU students experienced a bit of what it's like to be refugees entering the United States.

As part of the Refugee Project, a program sponsored by World Relief and SPU's Urban Involvement (UI), 15 SPU students were assigned "identities" as refugees. Next, the students proceeded through different stations in Seattle's International District that represented everything from medical appointments to a U.S. State Department visit.

"Depending on their stories and how they told them, the students received or were denied certain services," says Owen Sallee, coordinator for UI.

The students ended the day by eating dinner with actual refugee families from areas such as Somalia and Burundi. This allowed the students to listen to family members talk about their own experiences.

"The program puts theory into practical experience," says Sallee. "It helps students engage and empathize with a new culture."

Find out more about the Refugee Project and discover what students learned.

Secrets to Academic Success

Niki Amarantides, director of the Center for Learning, offers the following tips to help your student get the most from his or her time at SPU:

"Going to college involves our bodies, minds, and spirits. Success in college should include strategies for all three areas. Examples for students to consider include:

Eat. Take protein snacks to class and drink lots of water throughout the day. Trips to the school's gym can also help.
Pray. Go to Chapel or join group. Take time to reflect on life, and pray about purpose and direction.
Relate. Take time to build relationships, including with an SPU staff or faculty member who will be available to help when challenges occur."

For practical tips you can share with your students (and maybe use yourself), visit the Parents and Families website.