Planning
to study abroad?
As
freshman year comes to a close, this is probably the best time to
be looking at all the options students will have during their Bona
journey. The University is rich in areas of service, volunteering,
and academic experiences, both here and abroad. Qualified students
can apply for semester, full-year, or summer overseas academic programs.
The office of International Studies maintains a Web site that lays
out experiential opportunities abroad. Included in that Web site
is information about academic opportunities that fall into two categories:
• programs that have a faculty leader and a population usually
made up of SBU students traveling to an overseas destination and
taking classes from SBU instructors
• programs where SBU has overseas affiliations. Those partner
institutions serve as host institutions to our students. Students
are not accompanied by SBU personnel, nor are they traveling with
a group of SBU students. Those programs cover the span of six continents
and offer programs suitable for students from all majors. Most provide
total immersion into the host university culture.
As markets and economies evolve, we view study abroad as a crucial
piece of a student’s résumé. The skill set that
a student develops during an overseas academic experience speaks
to the creativity, initiative, motivation, maturity, and independence
that it takes to pursue study abroad—all the qualities a potential
employer may be looking for. Our office works closely with the Career
Center during the pre-departure advisement period and post-program
follow-up, guiding students through the process of taking their
academic experience and weaving it into a professional asset.
The programs we offer are compatible with the foreign languages
taught on campus—Spanish, French, Italian, German, and Arabic.
Other non-English speaking sites include India, Czech Republic,
Greece, Japan, Portugal, and China. Additionally, we have many destinations
in English-speaking countries, such as Ireland, Australia, New Zealand,
and England. Our newest SBU program is offered in collaboration
with the Fr. Mychal Judge Center, and is a semester program at Queen’s
University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.
In
the study abroad advisement process, we look for two factors to
be solidified. One very important factor to you, as parents, is
the financial. The financial aid audit forms the basis for this
discussion. I evaluate the aid package through the lens of the cost
of education here at SBU for one semester. We allow students to
use federal aid on all semester programs, TAP (NYS) for some programs.
Institutional monies cannot travel with students, but to offset
the loss of SBU funds, we work closely with students to identify
endowed, partner, outside, and local community sources of additional
funding. We also work with students to apply for a number of federal
scholarships the U.S. government offers for study abroad. Most of
our programs are affordable and some are about half the cost of
a semester at SBU.
The academic portion of the study abroad advisement process involves
the academic audit that lays out the course plan for the degree.
It is conveniently divided so that we can look at courses for the
major, Clare College courses, peripheral requirements related to
the major, and electives. We strive to find a program suited to
those elements of the degree, and also work to build a schedule
that would closely mirror the student’s campus schedule for
that semester.
Most program requirements include a 2.5 overall GPA; some more competitive
universities require a 3.0 GPA for consideration. Students are expected
to maintain a full course load and grades earned abroad are posted
to their SBU transcripts and calculated as part of the overall GPA.
This conveys the message that study abroad is a complement to their
on-campus coursework and is recorded as such.
If you have specific questions about our programs, you can check
our site: www.sbu.edu/intstudies,
contact me via e-mail: asayegh@sbu.edu
or call me at 716-375-2574. If you plan to be on campus any time,
I am happy to have a cup of La Verna coffee with you and chat about
our students’ experiences.
Alice Farris Sayegh
Director, International Studies
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Summer
Orientation
Summer orientation leaders are important.
They serve the dual purpose of acclimating incoming freshmen to
life at St. Bonaventure University and making the transition process
as fun and easy as it can possibly be. So how were this summer’s
orientation leaders selected?
Abby Cohen, assistant director for the First-Year
Experience, said the process began with a series of four open information
sessions outlining time commitments and other requirements.
Following the information sessions came a written application.
“The application had basic questions in it along with the
requirement of two letters of recommendation,” said freshman
journalism/mass communication major Samantha Kauffman.
Applicants were then required to attend a group workshop, where
they split into smaller groups of four to five students to complete
tasks involving teambuilding exercises or producing and performing
a skit.
“We really look to see how they work under pressure, and how
they work with each other,” Cohen said.
After the group workshop, applicants scheduled individual interviews.
Cohen said the goal was to get to know each student personally.
“We look for people who are passionate about Bonaventure,
and who are easy to get along with,” she added. “Blending
leadership styles is also important. We chose some who are very
quiet and others who are more outgoing.”
Once orientation leaders are selected, an intense training process
follows. Each leader must undergo training to become a Peer Coach
in the fall, plus a weeklong training program before the first orientation
session. The program includes CPR and first aid certification training.
It also includes basic theater training to aid in the production
of skits. Cohen said leaders must also become intimate with campus
resources and how freshmen will use them.
Ten orientation leaders, two parent orientation leaders and two
upperclassman co-coordinators have already been chosen for the 2010
orientation season. Kauffman, one of those leaders, said she is
excited for her first session.
“I am most looking forward to helping to make the transition
as easy as possible for (incoming freshmen) and seeing them experience
the new chapter in their lives,” she said.
Waheed Ameen, another leader, said he wants to give the same positive
experience to the next batch of incoming freshmen that his orientation
leaders provided for him.
“I am looking forward to working with my peers and meeting
new people that I plan on influencing during the summer and carrying
on into the 2010-2011 school year,” Ameen said.
Having orientation leaders with this level of enthusiasm and excitement
is important, a fact Cohen understands.
“I think that it is essential to have qualified orientation
leaders,” she said, “because they are the faces of Bonaventure
for incoming students.”
-Connor McDonald
Class of 2011
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Campus
leadership opportunities
St. Bonaventure University’s size may
have been one of its attractions for your student -- perhaps he
or she felt more comfortable on a campus this size, where it's sometimes
easier to get to know faculty, staff and fellow students.
But the University's size makes something else easier as well —
working toward leadership positions in campus activities.
Parents sometimes hear the complaint "there's nothing to do,"
noted Steve Kuchera, assistant director of the Center for Activities,
Recreation and Leadership (CARL). That may be the time to suggest
to your student that he or she get involved with campus activities
and work his or her way toward leadership roles.
Becoming a leader makes a student’s résumé stronger
and may assist in the search for internships and jobs. It also gives
your student a chance to see – his or her efforts result sometimes
in a permanent change.
Students interested in becoming involved could start their search
for activities through CARL, Kuchera said. That office, established
in the fall of 2009, oversees all student club and sport organizations.
It offers students a place to learn communication skills, effective
strategies for dealing with conflict and ways to run effective organization
meetings.
One way for your student to learn leadership skills and likely obtain
a leadership position on campus is through the National Society
of Leadership and Success (NSLS). This is the first year for the
program at St. Bonaventure, Kuchera said.
Currently, 200 students are involved with the program. All students
who finish program requirements will be honored at a banquet on
May 6, Kuchera said.
The program will shift next year from a one-year to a two-year commitment,
he said. In addition, it will be available to any student who wishes
to take part.
First-year students in NSLS acquire community service and leadership
hours. Students will also continue to plan and organize key events
though the organizations with which they are involved.
During the second year of the program, Kuchera said, the students
will mentor new students in the program, teaching them conflict
resolution, management and different leadership styles. By the second
year, he said, students will likely become a leader of one of the
more than 60 organizations on campus. Some of those groups include
the Campus Activities Board (CAB), Student Government Association
(SGA), the office of Residence Life (Resident Assistants) and the
Peer Coaching Program.
Student leaders coordinate such activities as the Sean Kingston
concert scheduled for Spring Weekend and the New York City day trip.
Both are sponsored by CAB, a campus organization where students
organize and effectively coordinate and execute events.
Kuchera said parents who have any questions about what activities
are available on campus or what to do on campus may contact him
at skuchera@sbu.edu.
If your student is still at a loss for what to do, suggest he or
she walk through the door at CARL; they will find some answers there.
-Robbie Chulick
Class of 2013
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SBU
students have a subscription to the online magazine Student Health
101. There is a parent companion piece for you!
Access this online magazine.
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Spring
Weekend: A chance to breathe
With trees budding, the sun shining and temperatures
above 40 degrees, spring surely has arrived! Tagging along with
this new arrival is the bittersweet stretch to an end of another
semester. The race to prepare for finals, wrap up projects and finish
papers in just one month will quickly begin.
The last weekend of the spring semester, before the anxiety of finals
week arrives, is dedicated to de-stressing and fun. Spring Weekend,
which is open to the entire campus community, offers students a
variety of activities, including a softball tournament, concerts
and carnival-like games.
The kickoff to this year’s Spring Weekend will be a performance
by Sean Kingston, a Jamaican-American reggae-fusion singer and rapper.
His performance is co-sponsored by the Student Government Association,
Campus Activities Board and the Damietta Center.
Kingston’s performance will be Thursday, April 29, at 8 p.m.
This part of Spring Weekend is open to the public. Tickets for members
of the public may be purchased for $12 at www.tickets.com.
Students may purchase their $10 ticket at the Reilly Center.
In addition to Kingston, smaller musical acts will perform during
the weekend.
“There will be a DJ this year and the possibility of a cover
band,” said CAB member Melissa Gentile.
WSBU-FM is also arranging for musical acts to play throughout the
weekend. In years past, they have brought acts such as Spitalfield,
I Am the Avalanche and Owen to perform.
WSBU is not ready to reveal details of this year’s lineup,
station manager Zack Witzel said.
Students will have the opportunity to receive free souvenirs to
commemorate the weekend. Those will include the ever-popular Spring
Weekend T-shirts, the beloved Buzz sunglasses, trinkets from booths
and more.
“SGA designs and purchases the Spring Weekend T-shirts, which
are given to students for free every year and are very popular,”
said SGA president Sabrina Maddeaux.
The event has often included caricature and spray paint artists,
picture booths and other token things students can take as souvenirs,
said CAB president Ali Dykeman.
The biggest attractions, she added, are the inflatable stations.
CAB has not officially decided what inflatables will be at this
year’s Spring Weekend, but members are confident they will
be a hit.
Finally, the hallmark of Spring Weekend is the traditional Rick
Farina Softball Tournament, which begins April 29. Students have
the opportunity to form teams and compete against each other throughout
the weekend. Each team that signs up is guaranteed to play at least
one game. Sign-ups for the tournament are usually a couple weeks
before Spring Weekend.
Spring weekend is a reminder that even though school is about work,
it can be fun, too. It’s the perfect time to breathe and clear
the mind before finals week begins and the 15 weeks of summer separate
students from each other.
-Meaghan O’Rourke
Class of 2013
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WHAT'S
GOING ON . . .
Upcoming events on campus include:
Ongoing - Math
Lab available for drop-in assistance in mathematics
Friday, 4/9 - Women's
Lacrosse vs. Temple
Friday-Saturday, 4/9-10 - SBU
Department of Visual and Performing Arts Theater Program presents
a senior capstone production FAT PIG, a play by Neil LaBute
Friday-Sunday, 4/9-11 - Hut-a-thon
Saturday, 4/10 - Softball
vs. George Washington
Sunday, 4/11 - SBU Chamber Music
Tuesday, 4/13 - University Spring Awards Ceremony
celebrating the Fr. Joe Doino, Employee Recognition and Faculty
Recognition awards
Wednesday,
4/14 - "To Know the Peace Corps" presentation
by Lucha Skandar
Friday, 4/16 -"For the Respect of Women"
- Mr. Bryon Hurt
Monday, 4/19 - Faculty Research Colloquium: Soccer
Clubs and Politics in Buenos Aires between the Two World Wars
Wednesday, 4/21 - SBU Jazz Band Concert
Friday, 4/23 - Barbara Carr McKee Scholarship Luncheon
Saturday, 4/24 - Honors Project Presentations
Sunday, 4/25 - SBU Band and Choir Concert
Wednesday, 4/28 - Student Research
and Creative Endeavors Expo
Spring
semester is jam-packed with Campus Activities Board events!
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