Welcome back Oles!

Students are moved into their dorms. Professors have started classes. The campus is buzzing again with the energy and excitement of a new academic year. But that doesn’t mean families are left behind!

Parents and family members are an important part of success of current Oles. In this monthly newsletter, you will find campus happenings, helpful tips, and ways to support your student.

In this month’s edition:

1. First-year students SOAR!
2. Homecoming and Family Weekend
3. Public Safety
4. Campus Dining
5. Health, Wellness, and Counseling
6. Homesickness
7. Co-Curricular Activities
8. Registering to Vote

First-year students SOAR!

After parents hugged their first-year students and drove away, those students joined their SOAR group for the first of many activities together. The St. Olaf Orientation to Academics and Resources helps students build strong personal and academic habits that will support their success at St. Olaf … and it’s also FUN! Your student may already feel connected to their SOAR leaders and to the others in their group. Ask your student about the games, meals, conversations, and learning opportunities they encountered through SOAR during orientation — even if it was a couple of years ago!

Homecoming and Family Weekend is Oct. 4–6

Return to campus and enjoy quality time with your Ole at Homecoming and Family Weekend October 4–6! Here is just a sample of things to do during the weekend:

• Team up with your Ole and participate in Ole’s Amazing Race!
• Grab a treat when you stop by the Fireside Orchard table on the campus green.
• Stop by the parent reception with President Singer at The St. Olaf House.
• Hear beautiful music at the weekend’s concerts.

See you on the Hill! Register here and view our schedule of events.

Public Safety welcomes students back to campus

As parents and family members, you play a vital role in the lives of our students, and we want to keep you informed and connected. On the first Friday of each month, our department distributes a newsletter to students, designed to provide them with important updates, safety tips, and essential information that will help ensure your student’s experience on campus is both safe and enjoyable.

The Public Safety team is dedicated to maintaining a secure and supportive environment where your student can thrive. Our commitment extends beyond responding to emergencies; we also focus on building and fostering strong relationships with all members of the St. Olaf community. Safety is a shared responsibility, and through collaboration and mutual respect, we aim to create a campus where everyone feels safe, valued, and included.

Throughout the academic year, we host a variety of community engagement events where your student can meet and interact with the Public Safety team. We also offer practical training sessions that empower students to take an active role in their own safety and that of their peers. Additionally, we collaborate with various offices and organizations across campus to enhance the services available to your student. Our goal is to be a reliable resource and ally for every member of the St. Olaf community, including you as parents. 

Here’s to a successful and fulfilling year on the Hill!

Derek Kruse, Director of Public Safety
Zita Toth, Associate Director of Public Safety

Introducing St. Olaf’s new care and comfort dog

St. Olaf College’s newest staff member shares many things in common with her colleagues: she loves spending time on the Hill, enjoys meeting new people from across campus, and — most importantly — she’s focused on supporting students.

There’s one key difference: Bertha is the only St. Olaf staff member who is a dog. Learn more about her here!

Campus dining experience update

For the 2024-25 academic year, below are the dining options in Buntrock Commons for your students:

• The Cave | 7 a.m. – midnight M-Th | 7 a.m .- 1 a.m. Friday/Saturday
  • The Cave, the campus convenience store, has self-service checkout that accepts OleDollars or flex dollars.
• Kings Dining Room | 11 a.m. -1:30 p.m. M-F
  • Starting Thursday, September 12, Kings Dining Room (KDR) has a ramen lunch option for students, faculty, and staff that will accept meal plan swipes, flex dollars, Ole Dollars, or credit cards.
  • Valhalla (one of the dining rooms in KDR) will now have open seating. 
• Stav 
  • In Stav, dinner hours have also been extended to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday. For those with dietary needs, an appointment can be made with an off-campus dietitian at Leslie.mathiasmeier@cafebonappetit.com.
  • Stav meals can now be taken out of the dining hall and eaten elsewhere in Buntrock Commons with the USEFUL containers, which allows meals to-go.
  • The Stav line will accept meal plan swipes, flex dollars, Ole Dollars, or credit card. 
  • To help address lines during high traffic times, there will be two lines to enter Stav – one entering from each direction around the atrium – leading to separated access to the two check-in stations.
  • Hours
    • Monday – Thursday
      • Breakfast: 7 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
      • Lunch: 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
      • Dinner: 4:30 p.m. – 8 p.m.
    • Friday
      • Breakfast: 7 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.
      • Lunch: 10:30 a.m. – 2 p.m.
      • Dinner: 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
    • Saturday
      • Breakfast: 8 – 9:30 a.m.
      • Brunch: 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
      • Dinner: 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
    • Sunday
      • Breakfast: 8 – 9 a.m.
      • Lunch: 10:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.
      • Dinner: 4:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
• Bag Lunch Express | 7:30 a.m. – 1 p.m. M-F
  • Next to the Stav entrance/exit, students can pick up a bagged lunch as another schedule-flexible option
  • Bag Lunch Express accepts meal plan swipes  
• The Cage | 7:30 a.m. – 8 p.m. M-F  | 9 a.m. – 8 p.m. Sat/Sunday | Fast Food Line 11:00 a.m. -1:30 p.m.
  • Separate coffee and fast food lines (for prepared salads/sandwiches/etc, as well as grilled to order options)
  • NEW A limited lunch option of Mediterranean dishes each weekday that will accept meal plan swipes, flex dollars, Ole Dollars, or credit cards. Open 11 a.m. -1:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
• The Pause | Noon – 3 p.m. | 5 p.m. – Midnight
  • The Pause, the student run kitchen and event venue on campus. They serve a limited menu during the day and deliver pizza on campus from 5 p.m. to midnight. 
  • Accepts Ole Dollars and credit cards  

Pick up your bag
On the third floor of Buntrock Commons, there will be increased storage through cubbies, hooks, and racks for backpacks and bags. Backpacks and bags can also be taken into Stav. These changes were made to decrease walking hazards for individuals walking to and from Stav and KDR. Campus community members will no longer be allowed to leave backpacks and bags on the floor near dining spaces.

Where to guide your student when health concerns arise

Taking care of health needs can be challenging for students who are living away from family – from dealing with coughs and colds, to managing anxiety, to sprained ankles, and more. Whether your student has questions right now or not, here are some campus resources for families to help guide students when a health concern comes up:

• St. Olaf Health Services offers consultations in the on-campus clinic for a variety of illnesses, injuries, and health concerns:
  • Psychiatric speciality services (with referral from Counseling Center)
  • Cold & flu symptoms
  • Skin problems (acne, insect bites, rashes, warts, and more)
  • Sexual health needs (birth control, infection prevention)
  • Sexually transmitted infection testing and treatment
  • Minor injuries
  • Pap tests (age 21+)
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Over-the-counter medications and supplies on site
  • Medication prescriptions sent to local pharmacies
  • Lab tests (sometimes a fee applies)
  • And more!
• St. Olaf Counseling Center offers individual counseling, group counseling, workshops, and consultations on campus:
  • Relationships
  • Identity
  • Family
  • Depression
  • Anxiety/panic
  • Academics
  • Chemical use/abuse
  • Grief and loss
  • Food/body image
  • Socialization/isolation
  • And more!
• St. Olaf Wellness Center offers wellness resources and education on campus:
  • Wellness events
  • One-on-one meetings with peer educators who specialize in coping skills, conflict, boundaries, self-care planning, substance use, sexual relationships, and stress management
  • Paw Program (sit with, pet, and interact with dogs)
  • Community nights
  • Educational materials
  • Wellness supplies
  • And more!
• TimelyCare is an app-based telehealth service for students:
  • 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, 365 days per year
  • Medical care
  • Mental health care/counseling
  • Psychiatric care (with referral from Counseling Center)
  • Health coaching
  • Available throughout the U.S. with some services available internationally

With few exceptions, Health Services, the Counseling Center, the Wellness Center, and TimelyCare do not charge for visits. Students are referred to other campus partners or off-campus professionals for services that are not available on campus. We help students confidently manage their health so students can focus on academic success.

Counseling resources for your Ole

St. Olaf College has an on-campus Counseling Center if your Ole is in need of mental health support during their time on campus. Information about the Counseling Center Services, as well as additional local and virtual options for mental health support, can be found online at stolaf.edu/counseling-center under the “parents” section on the front page.

Mental health trainings are available to YOU and your student!

Question Persuade Refer (QPR) is a virtual 1.5-hour training that focuses on how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and how to question, persuade, and refer someone to help.

Upcoming dates (all virtual):

• Sept. 18 – 1 p.m. and 6 p.m.
• Oct. 17 – 1 p.m.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) is an in-person 8-hour training that teaches you how to identify, understand, and respond to signs of mental illnesses and substance use disorders. This training gives you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial help and support to someone who may be developing a mental health or substance use problem or experiencing a crisis.

Upcoming dates (all on campus):

• Oct. 19 – 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
• Nov. 15 – 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. For more information, fill out this form and email willia24@stolaf.edu

Noticing and managing homesickness

Whether this is a student’s first time or fourth time coming to campus for the year, homesickness is a common experience for many Oles. It can show up differently for different students across different years, but usually present as anxiety, sadness, stress, isolation, or an overwhelming sense of loneliness. Sometimes your Ole will tell you directly that they are feeling homesick, and other times you might notice a change in their tone of voice or appearance through your phone or video calls with them.

If you know or suspect your Ole is experiencing homesickness, the first thing to do is to let them know if that it is completely normal and common for most college students to experience it. Even if they didn’t feel this homesick last year, remind them that this is a new year that brings new challenges to face. Here are some other strategies and resources you can offer to help them manage homesickness:

• Encourage your student to try familiar activities on campus or try something new. Staying in their room will further exacerbate the sense of loneliness and disconnection from their peers and from the larger campus community, which fuels homesickness. The Office of Student Activities has regular programming to help involve students in the campus community. There are around 200 student organizations on campus, many of which are ready to welcome new members. Involvement will help complement their experience in the classroom and enable them to meet a wide variety of students who share their interests.
• Strike a balance between connecting with your Ole regularly and encouraging them to connect to peers on campus regularly. Set up a regular time to check in. Not only does this help them stay connected with home and give them something to look forward to, but it helps them develop a regular routine and connect to life on campus.
• Send your student mail that helps them stay connected to their home and the people they miss. Send a letter or a care package with some of their favorite snacks. This is a great way to stay connected to your Ole. 
• Remind your student that homesickness is often temporary and will ebb and flow throughout the semester. Oles are resilient and have done hard things before – this is another chance to learn how strong and resilient they can be!

In addition, the Wellness Center is an excellent resource for your Ole. There are also resources for families to support your student’s mental health from afar:

• Supporting Mental Health from a Distance
• Mental Health Resources on the St. Olaf Wellness Center site
• Straightforward Steps to Support Transition to Adulthood 

If your student needs additional support, remind them of the many people and places on campus that are here to support and guide them. RAs, faculty members, the Counseling Center, Campus Ministry, and their class dean are all ready and willing to speak with them and help them through times of homesickness.

The importance of co-curricular activities

St. Olaf proudly supports 200+ student organizations on campus, ranging from a cappella ensembles to club sports to advocacy groups and everything in between. These organizations are open for students to join year-round, and most meetings are open to the community if someone wants to simply stop by and see what the organization is all about.

There are two things we believe students (and parents/families) need to know:

1. Involvement is meaningful to a student’s experience on campus and matters on several levels, from social well-being to a sense of belonging and mattering on campus.
2. Involvement will ebb and flow, which is completely normal. It is never too late to try something new, and shifting co-curricular experiences as you go along is okay. We hope each student starts with one involvement outside of their academics that they enjoy and build on from there as they desire.

For students who may feel stuck, the Office of Student Activities (OSA) team is excited to connect with them! They will often engage in “involvement coaching:” sitting down with students, learning more about their interests, passions, and goals, and discuss options they may find interesting. Staff also work with students seeking to create new student organizations to help them build successful spaces, meetings, and events. If this sounds like your student, give them a nudge to stop by the OSA to grab some popcorn and chat with a team member.

Weekends can feel daunting socially, especially for new students who are still in the process of meeting their peers. Friday nights, Saturdays, and Sundays do not have the same structure as weekdays, and students sometimes feel a little lost. The Office of Student Activities sends students a newsletter every Thursday from Ole the Lion that reports a full schedule of on-campus activities and events sponsored by the OSA and student organizations. Activities can be anything from trivia to a craft night, a dance in the Pause, or even a trip off campus! 

Like becoming involved in student organizations, attending social events is a great way for your Ole to meet others in a relaxed, non-academic setting. In addition, Presence is a website run by the OSA that shows a calendar of on-campus activities and lists all student organizations.

Pro tip for parents and families: ask your student about their out-of-the-classroom experience. Often, we find students are eager to talk about what they are doing in their co-curricular activities with those in their support network. Talking through what they are involved in can lead to deeper reflection on their college experience and solidification of values, goals, and passions.

Registering to vote as a college student

St. Olaf College supports all eligible students in exercising their right to vote in the next General Election on November 5. Our VOTE website is a one-stop shop for information about how to register to vote, finding information about candidates, and identifying other ways to get involved in the election and our democracy. 

The first thing your student should do, if they are eligible to vote, is to decide WHERE they will vote. The Minnesota Secretary of State says that college students should vote at the address they consider home. All students can visit our unique voter registration portal to begin the process. In Minnesota, students can pre-register to vote by October 15 OR register to vote on Election Day. 

Does your student consider St. Olaf College their home?
Make sure they use the following formula for entering their street address:
0 (House Number) + RESIDENCE HALL NAME + ST OLAF CLG
Northfield, MN 55057
All students using an on-campus address will vote in The Pause on Election Day!

Does your student live off-campus in Northfield and wish to vote at that address? 
They will need to input their address differently and will vote at a different location in the City of Northfield. They should visit the Voter Registration Guide for more details. 

Does your student want to vote from a permanent home address?
They can still use our voter registration portal to begin the registration process. Talk with your student about making a plan to obtain an absentee ballot and/or travel to vote on Election Day. Note that every state has different deadlines for both voter registration and requesting and returning absentee ballots! Visit vote.gov to learn more.

The VOTE website can’t cover every scenario in which your student may find themselves. Questions may be directed to Alyssa Melby, Campus Vote Coordinator, at melby1@stolaf.edu.