COMMENCEMENT INFORMATION FOR PARENTS
H1N1 VACCINATION INFO
The flu is shall we say "in remission" right now at EU and THIS is a good time for your student to get the H1N1 vaccination, We anticipate another spike or two in cases this spring. With the vaccine your student will not miss the week or more of classes and avoid the ill effects that this virus has on the body as well as on grades. Additionally he/she will not spread this to others by being a "host" to the disease. The EU Health Center has some vaccination doses left so ask your child to get there soon if you'd like him or her to be protected. The Charge is minimal and can be placed on the student's bill. Thanks for helping us keep your student well.
FIVE WAYS TO HELP YOUR STUDENT TRANSITION HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS.
LETTER TO PARENTS - EASTERN IS GOING GREEN
Please check for H1N1 updates on the EU main page
H1N1 FLU UPDATE & NOTES FOR PARENTS
Parents just NEVER stop worrying about their children… and when they are at college we are especially concerned with their health, safety and academic progress. So now we have another worry; H1N1 flu! EU is following the CDC and PA Department of Health recommendations regarding the flu.
See this link for the latest EU information on the flu: http://www.eastern.edu/news/releases/archive/flu.html check back often for updates by going to the EU home page then scrolling down to the bottom of that page. Under USEFUL LINKS, click on FLU INFORMATION.
The CDC is recommending that ill students go home when ill if at all possible and not return until they have been fever free for at least 24 hours with no fever reducing meds. At EU we are asking students to “save up their cuts” for sick days, however if a student exhausts his/her permitted absences and has sent Student Development an e-mail stating that he/she went home with the flu, we will work with the professor on behalf of the student regarding the absence. Of course all missed work will need to be completed. Students who ride out their illness on campus should let their RA know that they are ill for documentation if needed later. All College of Arts and Sciences students and all St. Davids resident students may use the Health Center on campus for treatment. All others should see their private medical provider.
As a parent and if you live close enough, you should make a plan to retrieve your ill student and care for him/her at home if you are able to do so. Students who cannot go home will be permitted to stay in their rooms. We have made this decision because by the time a student knows that they have the flu, their roommate(s) have likely already been exposed to it. Making an ill student live somewhere else just is not necessary. They ill student should rest, drink liquids and eat as they feel that they are able to do so and tell their RA that they are ill. We recommend that all students have Gatorade©, bottled water and a selection of non-perishable foods like canned soups (that can be made with water), cup of noodle soup and so on, available in their room. Send those care packages with that in mind! Crumbled chocolate chip cookies are not appealing when you are sick with a sore throat and a temperature!
We are also working with the food service to have prepackaged nonperishable meals-to-go available for ill students. Note that we always have “meals to go” available for anyone at any time and ill students can have a friend or Resident Assistant get a regular to go meal or a blue meal for them if they take their e-card to the dining commons with a note from the ill student giving permission and stating that they are ill (the note must include the date, the meal and the student’s ID number, name and signature).
Thus far this fall, we have had no cases of the flu, lots of bad colds that last a long time, but not with the fever, and severe body aches that accompany the flu. Although we pray that we escape the flu here, we are also preparing for it and we hope you will too.
Bettie Ann Brigham, Vice President for Student Development
610-341-5822
IMPORTANT FLU INFORMATION
The flu season has started! All of us have been hearing about the flu including H1N1 (swine flu) and the threat it poses to communities like ours that have gatherings where people are in close proximity to each other on a regular basis. Several colleges in the area have already experienced larger than normal numbers of illness and absence due to the flu. Most of these “outbreaks” can be traced to gatherings of people where one person came to the gathering with flu-like symptoms.
The CDC advises each person who participates in a community to take individual responsibility for reducing their chances of both contracting the flu themselves and spreading the flu to others. Please read and print out the information located here and share it with others: http://www.eastern.edu/news/releases/archive/flu.html
What about vaccinations? EU has requested a supply of the H1N1 vaccine and we hope that we will e able to secure the number of sets of dosages that we feel we need. Since the production of the vaccine is behind schedule and the number of available dosages is also lower than originally predicted, we may or may not be able to offer the vaccine. If we do get some doses, we will need to offer the vaccine to College of Arts and Sciences resident students first, then to other students, and then to employees until the supply is exhausted.
It is highly recommended that ALL community members (including students, especially those with compromised immune systems or asthma) contact their personal health care provider and request information as to how to receive the vaccine.
Please call Student Development at 610-341-5822 or the Student Health Center at 610-341-5955 with any questions.
IMPORTANT HEALTH CENTER INFORMATION
1. Personal health insurance is required for all full-time undergraduate students who attend the St. Davids campus and for all resident students living on the St. Davids campus. Graduate students are eligible to enroll in the University’s health insurance, but are not required to do so. At this time, part-time students are not eligible for coverage. Students meeting this requirement will automatically be billed for the University’s health insurance policy at the beginning of each fall semester, with coverage lasting for 12 months from time of enrollment. Proof of personal coverage must be provided ONLINE between July 1 and September 15 to have the fee removed from the student’s bill. Students MUST either waive or enroll by September 15, and can do so online at www.srstudentcenter.com. Students who have not waived or enrolled by the close of business on September 15 will automatically be billed for the University’s insurance. This fee will be non-refundable. WAIVE OR ENROLL TODAY!
2. Health records for all full-time students are required to complete the admissions process. Forms for the following are available on the EU Website at www.eastern.edu/centers/health_center/index.html
This includes:
a. Vaccination Records
b. Health History
c. Physical Exam (done within 1 year)
d. Current TB Skin Test
3. Health Center Services & Resources – DID YOU KNOW?
a. There is no charge to visit the campus physician.
b. The Health Center carries many generic drugs, such as antibiotics, for under $20.
c. The University physician is available 4 days a week to see students.
d. The Health Center provides onsite cultures and testing (throat cultures, blood work, mononucleosis testing, etc.) and these can be billed to the student’s insurance.
e. The Health Center loans equipment such as crutches, nebulizers, etc. to students.
HAVE YOU ORDERED A YEARBOOK YET?
Eastern’s yearbook, The Log, is available for purchase throughout the year. If you are interested in purchasing a yearbook for your student for the 2009-10 year, please contact the yearbook adviser, Katie Caruso at 610-341-5823 or email kcaruso@eastern.edu. Also, if your student did not order a yearbook last year (2008-09) there are still some for sale!
ATTENTION EASTERN FAMILIES!
Do you know of other families that could be a part of Eastern's future? We'd love to talk with them about Eastern's diverse programs and where they might fit in. If so, contact Mike Dziedziak, our Director of Admissions and University liaison to the Parents' Council. You can contact him directly at 610-341-1376 or mdziedzi@eastern.edu.
CAREER & CALLING
THE MISSION of Careers & Calling is to provide information, encouragement and opportunities for each College of Arts & Sciences student to develop the skills necessary at each stage of career development: Self-Exploration, including the consideration of God's purpose for her or his life; Career Exploration; and Job Search. Click here to read more!
DID YOU ORDER A YEARBOOK YET?
Yearbooks are available for purchase throughout the year. Students, check it off on your billing statement. Parents, contact the yearbook advisor, Katie Brenneman at 610-341-1451 or kbrennem@eastern.edu.
EU EMERGENCY ALERT SYSTEM
Parents encourage your students to sign up, NOW!
Frequently and especially in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech events, Eastern University reviews security procedures and safety features and efforts on the St. Davids campus and at other locations. The most valuable method of emergency notification we have put into place this year is emergency text messaging. We have asked all in the campus community to register for this service several times but still do not have all of our students and employees registered in our system. We need your help: please ask your son or daughter to sign up for text messaging today at http://www.eastern.edu/campus/university_wide_services/security/
e2campus_info.html.
Continuing in our effort to motivate students to be prepared for emergencies, for next year we will require all resident students to provide us with emergency phone numbers as well as addresses, names and contact information for the place that they have prearranged to go, in case they have to leave University housing due to a campus wide or area wide emergency. We are hopeful that your influence as you ask your student to sign up for text messaging and to fill out the emergency contact forms, will help us reach our goal of being able to alert them in an emergency and of obtaining emergency-contact information for every student.
Bettie Ann Brigham,
Vice President for Student Development
Should your child take a summer school course or two?
Some students get behind in credits due to adjustment to college, an especially hard semester, not signing up for the right courses and other reasons. Summer courses can also help a sagging GPA and help an athlete become eligible for team participation again. There are annual credit minimums for financial aid and many scholarships too. Make sure that your student has what he or she needs to make progress. Summer courses are a good option to get ahead or to make up credits. All courses for transfer from other schools must be pre approved by request using the "Undergraduate permission to take course work elsewhere" form located here:
http://www.eastern.edu/academic/registrar/pdf/Undergraduate
PermissionCourseElsewhere.pdf
Students may speak to their department chairs about the following summer opportunities that are available at Eastern: Field Experiences, Internships and Directed Studies for majors and YMIN specialty courses . Each of these courses must be prearranged by the student by working with a faculty member and directly with the department.
Health Center Information/Updates
1.Personal Health Insurance is required for all full-time Undergraduate and Graduate students who attend St. Davids Campus and Palmer Seminary. Part-time students are not eligible for coverage at this time.
Students meeting this requirement will be automatically billed for the Eastern Health Insurance Policy at the beginning of Fall Semester. Proof of personal coverage must be provided ONLINE after July 1 to have the fee removed from the semester bill. The DEADLINE to waive is Sept. 15, so don't forget to go online and enter this information at: http://www.firststudent.com/
2. Health Records for all full-time students are required to complete the admission process. This includes:
- Vaccination record
- Health History
- Physical Exam (done within 1 year)
- Current TB skin test
These forms are available on the EU Website at: http://www.eastern.edu/centers/health_center/index.html
and are DUE by August 1 to avoid a late fee for processing.
3. Health Center Services & Resources. Did you know?
- there is no charge to see the campus physician
- We carry many generic drugs such as antibiotics for under $20
- The Campus Physician is here 4 days weekly
- We offer evening hours 2 days a week
- Onsite cultures and testing like throat cultures, blood work, mononucliosis testing, thyroid studies, can be done here and billed to your insurance
- Equipment loan such as crutches, nebulizer etc.
Check our our website at: http://www.eastern.edu/centers/health_center/index.html
DID YOU KNOW?
Grades and Privacy Laws
As you know, federal privacy laws prevent the University from providing access to grades to parents but we encourage you to talk with your student about his/her performance. Students have on-line access to their grades via the Eastern E-Net as grades are posted. Note that first year students are sometimes disappointed with their first semester grades. Remind your student that he/she is to be congratulated for making the transition from high school to college and that the first semester makes up only 1/8 of his/her GPA. It may be a helpful exercise to discuss openly with your student what went well this semester and why, along with what could have gone better and why. Also, take the opportunity to ask about the courses your student has chosen for second semester.
Academic Advising
First year students are assigned an academic advisor who is specially trained in the matters that apply to new college students. The first year academic advisor is also the instructor for your student’s course, Introduction to Faith, Reason and Justice (INST 150). Once your student has selected a major their advisor will likely change to one from the department for the major they choose.
Encourage your student to meet with their academic advisor frequently. It is up to the student to initiate meetings with their advisor and it is also up to the student to be familiar with the University catalog and the requirements for their major and/or concentration. The advisor can recommend certain courses and help in course selection, but each student is responsible to make sure that he/she stays on track for graduation in the desired time frame.
Note that not all courses are offered every semester.
Students should plan carefully to make sure that they schedule courses in the correct sequence where necessary in order to remain on schedule for graduation.
PARENTS OF NEW GRADUATES - FROM THE EU HEALTH CENTER
Don't let your graduate be uninsured! Check to see the regulations regarding your pending graduate's medical insurance. If your graduate needs short term insurance after graduating, or for any other reason, have them contact these companies for information.
PARENTS, BE AWARE OF STUDENT VEHICLE REGULATIONS
Eastern's St. Davids campus is made up of about 100 acres of beautiful, wooded paths and three lakes, connected by a stream system and adjacent to wetlands. In stewardship of the natural features and to preserve the beauty of the campus, parking is very limited. Students are encouraged to take convenient public transportation whenever possible or to carpool. Parking will not be convenient on the campus and many times faculty, staff, visitors and students will need to walk up to 10-15 minutes to their desired destination after finding a parking space.
Full Vehicle Regulations can be found in the Eastern University Student Handbook. All students are responsible for all contents of the Handbook which can be found at:
http://www.eastern.edu/campus/studev/handbook.html
Parents are encouraged to read the Handbook as it contains some valuable information.
Resident Student Parking Policy:
First year resident students are not permitted to have a vehicle on the campus. It is recommended that resident students in the College of Arts and Sciences with fewer than 25 college credits not bring a vehicle with them to college (to the area) for their first full year. Students who do not have access to a vehicle adjust better to college, make more friends, attend more events and do better academically than do those who have access to a vehicle/and/or go home on weekends. Students in this category (fewer than 25 college credits on their EU transcript) may apply for a permit to park at a remote parking area that is a 15 minute walk from the St. Davids campus. Although this is not recommended, we know that some students need to have a car in the area. We encourage parents to discuss this option thoroughly with their students before making the decision to take it. Very limited transportation is provided to and from this remote lot and is on an occasional basis and on a very limited schedule. Students who choose this option are reminded that the University does not recommend it and by applying for a permit, they agree to park at this location at their own risk.
New students (residents who transfer 26 or more college credits into EU and all commuting students) must apply for parking privileges before the beginning of their first semester of entry and must have received the permit and must display it before parking on the campus. No student may bring a car to the campus or to remote parking, even once without prior, express authorization from security.
Resident students with 26 or more college credits on their EU transcript and commuters may be issued on-campus parking privileges on a first-come, first-served basis subject to availability... Parking applications are mailed with the returning student’s bill. Permits will be issued only to the limit of the maximum number of spaces available. Returning students should apply for parking privileges prior to the beginning of the semester and as early as possible.
Because of the limited available space for on-campus parking, this policy is strictly enforced through ticketing, booting, towing and for repeated offenders, the suspension of parking privileges. Students who bring vehicles without prior authorization will receive a substantial fine and will likely be required to take the car home. This is especially important to remember for returning students who have been studying abroad or otherwise have taken a semester off, and expect to be able to bring a car when they return to on-campus studies. Prior planning by students and families will prevent problems and disappointments.
Many, many students, in fact most, never receive even one parking ticket or citation for their entire enrollment period at Eastern. Compliance is the key. We wish that we did not have to issue any parking tickets, boot any cars or suspend any parking permits; however the management of parking for those who do abide by the regulations makes these penalties essential for a few students
MRSA INFORMATION
Like many schools we have had a few cases here on campus that have been treated promptly. We have initiated a campus-wide office and keyboard cleaning campaign as well as an infectious biohazardous waste program for every building on campus. Any students with signs or symtoms are seen promptly at the Health Center, culture the site and provide preventative medicine.
MRSA-(methicillin-resistant staphylococcus areus) is a type of staph infection that is resistant to standard antibiotics. Infections frequently look like pimples or boils, may be red, swollen, painful or have pus or drainage.
Who gets staph? Anyone can get it, but more likely if they have skin to skin contact with someone who has it, openings in their skin such as cuts or scrapes, poor hygiene(handwashing)
Treatment-usual treatment is antibiotics or having a doctor drain the infection. If antibiotics are give it is crucial to complete ALL the medicine.
Decrease spread: wash hands often or use hand sanitizer, keep cuts and scrapes clean and covered, do not share personal items like razors or towels.
DINING SERVICES
Are you looking for more information about the food services at Eastern University? Our foodservices provider has set up their own webpage with information about:
- Locations & Hours of Operations
- Online Menus
- Special Dietary Needs
- Online Payments for Commuter Meal Plans & Add Ons
- Campus Employment – both for students with Federal Works study and for students without
CONVERSATIONS THAT HELP WITH PARENTAL EXPECTATIONS
Many parents find that once college begins, some expectations that they had for communication with their student were not shared by the student. With this in mind, we recommend that you sit down with your child and talk through your expectations for him/her relative to leaving home. If these things are discussed well before the packing begins, you will be ahead of the game. With clear expectations, there will be fewer problems later.
Among other things that are specific to your family, your worries and your relationship with your child, we suggest that you have intentional conversations about these things:
- I/we pay your bills and I/we expect to know your grades.
- How will you let us/me know how you are doing in your classes (grades)?
- Midterm warnings are important and I/we need to know when you receive them and what you are going to do about them
- Discuss things that you are worried about. For instance: alcohol, drugs and “partying” are a big part of some high school students’ lives. (Whether the parents know it or not…) This likely will not change in college. Ask your child:
- How are you going to handle peer pressure to do things that you know are dangerous, disrespectful or just plain wrong?
- Do you plan to drink alcohol in college?
- How will you handle it if you feel pressure to try drugs?
- How will you handle hazing if it happens to you or you are asked to do it?
- If you are involved in a disciplinary process or police matter, we want to hear about it first from you. Can you promise that?
- I/we need to hear the good news as well as the bad news. When you are upset or angry about something, I/we want to know. Likewise, when something gets resolved or when you are happy about something, I/we want to know.
- I/we want you to handle most things yourself; however we also want to know when something is particularly hard for you so that we can help out.
- The University is not permitted legally to give us information about you, since you are over 18. How will you keep us informed?
- Would you like your child to sign a waiver of privacy rights or release for information to be given to you when you ask? If so, click here:
http://www.eastern.edu/academic/registrar/pdf/Parent%20Access
%20Form2.doc
-
- Be sure to submit this form before the first day of classes.
- What other expectations/questions do you have for your child related to his/her independence legally and dependence financially?
- Staying on the campus over the weekends is essential to feeling comfortable socially in the new environment. What is a reasonable number of times to go home each semester if that is an option at all?
These are a start to some of the conversations you will be glad you had as the University months and years go by. Don’t put it off. Have the conversations early.
HEALTH CENTER CONTACT INFORMATION
Call 610-341-5955 or e-mail Janet Topper, Director: jtopper@eastern.edu. Visit: http://www.eastern.edu/centers/health_center/index.html
