Speaker Series Event — Join us!

Our final Parent and Family Speaker Series event for the year takes place on Wednesday, March 7, from 7 to 8:30 p.m. at the Fireside Lounge, Rauenhorst/Morrison Hall. Brian Bruess, vice president for enrollment management and student affairs, and Curt Galloway, dean of student affairs, will host an informal Town Hall meeting. Brian and Curt will share future building construction plans and address the proposed tuition, room and board rates for next year; as well as present other University information that may interest parents. Most important, they will address your questions. Come prepared to ask whatever is on your mind about the University and your student's experience. Your student may join us for the conversation — or just the ice cream social at 8 p.m.
Please RSVP your attendance by March 5 to Ellen Richter-Norgel, erichter-norgel@stkate.edu or call 651-690-8730.

Tell Us: How Are We Doing?

Your voice matters! The Parent and Family Association (PAFA) advisory council is interested in finding out how PAFA is meeting your needs and interests. We have developed a short survey to inquire about your awareness and use of the PAFA programs and services. We welcome your comments and suggestions on how we can be more responsive to your interests and needs as parents and family members of St. Catherine students. Responses will be confidential and reported with no names. We will publish the survey results in an upcoming issue of Parent Update. For completing the survey, we will include your name in a random drawing for a gift basket from the St. Catherine Bookstore. So, watch for an email from us about this survey! Thank you in advance for your thoughtful feedback and responses.

Residence Hall Sign-up Time Is Here

We hope your student will consider living on campus next year. Housing & Dining Agreements are due March 31, and room selection will take place in April. Your student can complete the entire process online.

It's a great time to discuss the benefits of campus living with your student. Did you know that students who live on campus:

• Have a higher grade point average
• Have a higher graduation rate
• Study more hours per week
• Report higher satisfaction with general education
• Are more involved in co-curricular activities

(source: 2003 NNSE and CSC IRP data)

Housing Options and Financial Considerations
St. Kate's offers double, single, triple, suite and apartment-style housing. Students seeking off-campus housing should consider the true costs of renting and paying for amenities. The Twin Cities apartment vacancy rate just hit a 10-year low (2.3%), which pushed average rental rates to new highs (source: Minnesota Housing Partnership). St. Kate’s housing fees, on the other hand, always include great amenities — such as laundry, internet access, cable service, all utilities and furniture! Students also have access to study lounges, computer labs, social lounges with televisions and other community-building common spaces.

Housing Sign-Up Process
Everything your student needs to know about Housing Sign Up is on the Residence Life website on KateWay. Additionally, Residence Life has distributed posters, flyers, postcards, brochures and more about this. If your student has questions, please have her call, email or visit the Residence Life Office. Or she can attend one of three information sessions.

If your student is currently commuting and wants to live on campus next year, she can sign up as well. She'll have the same priority access to rooms, suites and apartments as current residents.

Your student can reach Residence Life at 651-690-6617 or residencelife@stkate.edu.

Anxiety, Burnout Common as Spring Nears

It's normal for emotions and moods to ebb and flow during the academic year. We want to remind parents of the typical adjustment issues many college students report at this time of year. A full description of these issues can be found on St. Kate's Parent website under Parent Resources. (Adapted from: Helping your First-Year College Student Succeed, Richard Mullendore and Cathie Hatch, National Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition at the University of South Carolina, Columbia.)

March
Anxiety about mid-term exams
Anxiety about finding a roommate for next year
Excitement and/or disappointment regarding Spring Break plans
Concern over winter weight gain

April
Feeling burned out
Spring fever
Concern over declaring a major

If your student shares any of these issues, please remind her of the support services available at St. Kate's: Counseling Office (690-6805 St. Paul, 690-7830 Minneapolis); Residential Life staff, (690-6617 St. Paul, 690-7831 Minneapolis); Academic Advising office (690-6803 St. Paul, 690-7743 Minneapolis).

Can You Afford to Study Abroad?

Studying abroad may sound both exciting and expensive. On Wednesday, April 4, from 4:30 to 6 p.m., St. Kate's Money Management Program will host a discussion on "Funding Your Study Abroad Trip." Staff and a student panel will explore the ways in which students can fund their study abroad trip without incurring a large amount of debt. Please encourage your globally minded student to attend. As always, parents and family members are welcome to join these presentations. Location: Rauenhorst Hall (ballroom), Coeur de Catherine.

FAFSA Priority Deadline is April 15

April 15 is the priority deadline for the FAFSA 2012–13 academic year. View complete information about the St. Kate's Financial Aid Application process.

Show Your Katie Spirit on Feb. 29!

Are you proud of your daughter? Is she happy to be a Katie?
If you answered yes to both of these questions, we invite you to share your St. Kate’s story on “Shout Out St. Kate’s Day” -- Wednesday, Feb. 29th. The St. Kate’s reputation is strong but quiet. We want it to be vibrant and well-known. As you and your daughter know, St. Kate’s is an amazing learning community, and it is time to let that secret be known.

Share your St. Kate’s story with at least five people on Wednesday:

• Wear your St. Kate’s sweatshirts, hats and T-shirts wherever you go that day.
• Mention St. Kate's in a meeting, or tell your boss, your CEO, your coworkers, or your direct reports about St. Kate's.
• Proudly claim your connection to St. Kate's -- especially to someone who may have a daughter who is high school age.
• Get more ideas and learn more about “Shout Out St. Kate’s Day."