Dear Students,
Welcome to the 2018-2019 academic year!
As I do every year, I greeted first-year students and their families as they moved belongings into our residence halls on Move-In Day two weeks ago. There is no other day, except for Commencement, that brings me such joy and affirmation for what we do as a college community. Arrival assistants in Week of Welcome T-shirts meet cars as they pull in, and you can see family members—and sometimes students—vacillate from excitement to sadness in the time it takes to get a mini-fridge to the second floor of Lima.
The hopes and dreams of entire families, of fathers and mothers, siblings, and aunts and uncles are apparent on this day. In one family, a woman announced to me with pride, “I’m the Grandma!” In another room, a young toddler sat in the lap of a staff member who was with me as I talked with his cousin, our student. These encounters are reminders that going to college is about the transformation of entire families. For returning students who came here as first-year students and lived on campus, I hope this time of year brings back fond memories. For those of you, like me, who never lived in a residence hall, embrace the full experience of the new school year and participate in many of our activities.
Whether you are just starting college or are returning to Saint Rose as a continuing undergraduate or graduate student, higher education is full of transitions. The senior who is trying to figure out which internship will provide the most meaningful experience and will most likely lead to a job offer after graduation is in transition. The student veteran who just traded the mess hall for the dining hall is in transition. The mom who works full time and is going to graduate school at night so that she can earn a promotion is in transition. So is the student from Lesotho who seeks the education he needs to return to Africa and become a future leader. Transitions, while times of change, are also times of immense opportunities and possibilities. Remember this.
Added to this diversity of student experiences is a wide array of liberal arts (which includes the sciences) and professional degree programs at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. This is what makes Saint Rose a master’s comprehensive institution of higher education. We have great energy, in part, because we appeal to so many different kinds of students—undergraduates who are drawn to majors in criminal justice or studio art and graduate students pursuing clinical mental health counseling or accounting. By making global connectedness a priority, our campus is also full of learning opportunities simply because of the people from different cultural backgrounds we encounter on a daily basis.
College is intended to be disruptive to your thinking. It must challenge what you believe you know to be true. You may question the professor who sets the highest performance standards, or who asks that you think more deeply than you ever believed possible. You may even tell your friends that he or she is “too hard.” Then one day, you will be in your first job, and you will realize that you were able to solve a difficult problem because of the way you were pushed to do your best work in a course at Saint Rose.
Of course, many of you arrive here with a great deal of tenacity. You may have grown up taking care of a sibling or an ailing parent, or may have worked multiple jobs even while in high school. You may be a student athlete who has come back from a serious injury to be able to play your sport again. You may have immigrated to this country and English may not be your first language. One of the wonderful aspects of talking with students at events is that I hear these and other stories of perseverance. They inspire me, because of the ways students have overcome roadblocks.
What I want to make sure that you know, however, is that even the strongest of us has our weak moments. Since higher education is meant to challenge you, you will likely experience stress and frustration at times. The key is how you react to these feelings, and to remember that you are not alone. You have a circle of support at Saint Rose.
Since Saint Rose offers a personalized learning environment where we know students by name, and not as numbers, we are here for you. With our small student-to-faculty ratio, you will be able to participate in class discussions, meet with your faculty one-on-one, and develop mentoring relationships with them. Make sure that you use the many resources we offer. If you discover that you need help with a specific subject or with the development of skills, visit the Academic Success Center. For those who live on campus, your Resident Assistant can help you to troubleshoot many problems. Students can also seek guidance from your Campus Coach or FLIGHT Guide. For those from other countries, the Center for International Programs offers fellowship, and food that will remind you of home. If problems seem overwhelming, make sure to stop by our Counseling and Psychological Services Center. No issue is too small, and the services are free.
I also urge you to get involved on campus. We have more than 60 student clubs, organizations, and musical ensembles, and they are open to undergraduate and graduate students. Take advantage of the many ways to connect with others who share your passion, or just try something new.
A vibrant community surrounds you, even if you are new to Saint Rose and have not yet met many of those who call it “Home.” You are important to me and to those who share responsibility for your intellectual, personal, and creative development within our diverse, inclusive community. Remember that you are here to learn, and to earn a degree. Remember, also, that it is a process, and that at many junctures during your time with us you will be in transition. Your experiences as a student will definitely change you for the better. I can promise you this–it is worth it.
Have a great semester,
Carolyn
President Carolyn J. Stefanco, Ph.D.
