In this month’s edition:

1. Homecoming and Family Weekend 2024
2. Upcoming Events for Students
3. Registration for J-term and Spring
4. J-Term and Spring Parking
5. St. Olaf Orchestra Tour
6. Here for the Hill Giving Campaign
7. Voter Education Resources
8. Academic Success Center Tips for Reading
9. Sleep, Fatigue, and Anxiety

Homecoming and Family Weekend 2024

Thank you to all our Ole families, alumni, and students who joined us for Homecoming and Family Weekend! The beautiful weather provided the perfect backdrop for a great celebration on the Hill! View a photo recap of the weekend.

Upcoming Events for Students

The Orientation and Transition Experiences team is excited to highlight some upcoming events for your Ole. While a large focus of our work is on the transition of every Ole to campus in their first year, we also provide meaningful programming to address the continual transition through their four years. We encourage you to review our upcoming programs with your Ole!

If you or your Ole have questions about the orientation or transition experience at St. Olaf, please connect with Associate Director Sarah Jurewicz or Director Brandon Cash at ote@stolaf.edu.

• The Academic Exploration Expo is on Thursday, October 17. The Expo is designed to help first-year and undeclared sophomore students explore their academic options. It will be held in Regents Hall where faculty from a variety of programs will be available to share information about available academic majors and concentrations. It’s a fun way to help your Ole understand different academic options and prepare for fall advising and next year’s course registration, which falls the week after the Expo.
• The Sophomore Bucket List is part of the Sophomore Experience. Students are encouraged to check-off a series of activities, events, and involvements during their second year on campus. We know that engagement across a variety of opportunities during the sophomore year is what helps our Oles find their stride and confidence as they reach their half-way point of their St. Olaf journey. Some of the connection events coming up to round out the fall semester are SophS’mores and Sophomore Year Succs.
• Life After Olaf is a series of mini-workshops designed for juniors and seniors. The monthly workshops will focus on key topics of interest to connect resources and information directly to students to support a successful transition beyond the Hill. The first workshop will launch on Sunday, October 20, and will continue monthly throughout the academic year.

Registration for J-term and Spring Courses is Coming up!

Students should start thinking now about their next semester “wish list” as registration will be here before we know it! On October 10, first-year students will meet with their SOAR (St. Olaf Orientation to Academics and Resources) group to learn about the registration system and start thinking about their four-year plan. The week of October 21–25 is Quiet Week, a time for students to check in with their academic advisors to discuss their goals and schedules. Starting October 28, at their assigned time, students can add courses to their schedules in the spring registration portal. Remind your student that support is available from their SOAR leaders, their Success Coaches, their Advisors, and the Academic Success Center!

A detailed explanation of registration times and web registration order can be found on the Registrar’s website. 

The best way to support your Ole during registration is to encourage them to watch their email, plan (and have several backup plans) for the rest of the school year, and set an alarm for their registration time.If your student has questions, they can first connect with their advisor or the Academic Success Center office, or they can use the chat function within the Student Information System (SIS) to speak with someone in the Registrar’s Office. Additional information and resources can also be found on the Registrar’s Office website.

Below is a timeline of important information for your Ole to know for registration:

• The Week of October 1 
  Student registration holds have been added to the Student Information System (SIS). Holds are required housekeeping items for your student to complete. Most of them are short forms such as confirming enrollment intent and reviewing emergency contact information. The most important holds are about academic advising. Your Ole should be sure to complete the academic advising form and keep an eye out for contact from their academic advisor to set up a meeting. All Oles must meet with their academic advisor before they can register for classes.
• The Week of October 7 
  Your Ole will receive an email from the registrar with logistics about registration. The registration system will be made available for viewing this week so students can begin planning their schedules and creating wish lists. In addition, your Ole may submit prerequisite overrides once the system is available for viewing. Some majors also have pre-registration coordinated by the departments for select classes. If applicable, your Ole will receive an email directly from their major’s department around this time.
• October 21–25 
  Quiet Week for advising appointments: students meet with their academic advisors in addition to attending their regular classes.
  As a reminder for first-year students, the First-Year Registration Guide is designed to help first-years prepare for registration throughout their entire first year. Your student should take time to visit the pages that most interest them. All majors and concentrations offered at St. Olaf are listed as well as pre-professional areas they may want to pursue. 
• October 28–November 1 
  Registration begins! It will remain open until the second day of classes each term. All times listed are Central Daylight Time. You should encourage your Ole to register as soon as their time window opens. Registration is a first-come, first-served process, and certain classes can fill up fast! Your Ole’s registration day and time will be listed at the top of the registration page when they click “January term” or “Spring Registration” in SIS.
  • Monday: All class years register for January term classes at their designated time
  • Tuesday: Class of 2025 registers for Spring Semester
  • Wednesday: Class of 2026 registers for Spring Semester
  • Thursday: Class of 2027 registers for Spring Semester
  • Friday: Class of 2028 registers for Spring Semester

January Term and Spring Parking Applications

There are a limited number of spots available for general student parking permits in the January Term and Spring Semester. Applications will open on November 1 and close on November 15. Students will receive the application link via email.

Applications will be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. An application does not guarantee a pass. Failure to submit a parking permit application by the deadline means you will be ineligible to obtain a parking permit. No exceptions will be granted. Please direct questions to parking@stolaf.edu.

St. Olaf Orchestra to Tour Wisconsin and Illinois October 12–18

The St. Olaf Orchestra, conducted by Chung Park, will embark on a 2024 fall tour across Wisconsin and Illinois from October 12–18. The internationally-recognized Orchestra will perform in Brookfield and Madison in Wisconsin, and Elgin, Woodstock, Naperville, and Elmhurst in Illinois. 

Highlights of this year’s program includes Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8, music by Bach, “Overture” to Candide by Leonard Bernstein, “Morning Music” from Peer Gynt by Edvard Grieg, student soloists, and more. Concert tickets range in price from free up to $10 for adults depending on the location and are always free for students of all ages. Tickets may be reserved online.

Support Your Student’s Activities during Here for the Hill, October 29 to November 1

Support your student’s organizations on campus with the Here for the Hill — Student Org Challenge campaign, October 29–November 1.

Student organizations are a huge part of the St. Olaf Experience. They provide leadership opportunities, physical outlets, technical skill building, and community building for Oles on and off the Hill. The St. Olaf Fund knows how important student involvement can be — so they are once again hosting the Here for the Hill campaign to showcase and enhance student organizations.

From now until November 1 at noon, student organizations will be asking you to make a gift to help them achieve their goals and impact fellow Oles. One hundred percent of your gift will go to the organization you choose. The challenge will also offer a few bonus dollars for the co-curricular opportunity fund, which exists to ensure that every Ole is able to access campus life beyond the classroom. Preview the challenge at stolaf.edu/hereforthehill.

Voter Education Resources for Your Student

Getting registered to vote is the first step to participating in the election (see the September newsletter for more information). Next steps include making a plan to vote and learning more about who and what will be on your ballot. 

Here are a few of the ways St. Olaf is helping students prepare to participate in the upcoming election:

• St. Olaf VOTE Website: students one-stop for all things related to the elections and democratic engagement! Students can still register to vote, make a plan to vote, and research candidates who will be on their ballot if they are choosing to vote using their campus or Northfield address. The college also has more than 100 nonpartisan student “election ambassadors” who are getting out the vote with their peers and answering questions about all things election-related! 
• Practicing Democracy exhibition: students can swing by the Flaten Art Museum to see 150 years of archival artifacts related to civic engagement efforts. They can participate in a mock election, walking through all the major stops in the election process and get to vote on such important questions as “The St. Olaf staff member more likely to run for president” and “The best coffee shop in Northfield.” But in all seriousness, the mock election is meant to demystify the process for those who haven’t participated in voting before. There is also an interactive “Democracy in Dialogue” wall that invites students and visitors to engage in dialogue about important questions related to our democracy and the election. 
• Institute for Freedom and Community: In addition to the “Democracy and Dialogue” Speaker Series, which has invited top scholars from around the country to speak on topics related to this year’s election, every Friday morning students, faculty, and staff can swing by the IFC offices for “Politics and Pastries” to work through all that is unfolding in real time with the election. 

We recognize that this is a stressful, polarized election season. We have student support services at the ready as well as non-election related self-care events in early November to support students.

What is Your Student Reading at College?

Every student at St. Olaf is being challenged to read actively and critically for their classes. This part of their homework is crucial to their learning and often requires a significant amount of their time! Ask your student what they’re reading and how it’s going? Talking with others about the assigned readings helps students be engaged, increases understanding and retention of information, and adds a layer of purpose to the work. If your student seems to be struggling with quantity or complexity, remind them that the Academic Success Center has resources for reading and so much more!

• Supplemental Instruction schedule
• Academic Tutoring schedule and request form
• Writing Tutoring appointment schedule
• On-demand Workshops for Academic Success

Sleep, Fatigue, and Anxiety: How to Support Your Student this Fall

By Esperanza Carrera Murgo ’25, Student Public Health Coordinator at the Wellness Center

Fall is a busy time at St. Olaf. With midterms, exams, and big projects, students are feeling the pressure of their academics. Athletes are deep into their seasons, and music students are preparing for the Christmas Festival and upcoming tours. This is a time when stress and anxiety can rise, and your student may be feeling the weight of it all.

As parents, you can play an important role in supporting your student during this hectic time. Here are a few tips to help:

Check in, but Keep it Light:

• Limit the academic questions: It’s natural to want to know how classes are going, but asking too many questions about their schoolwork can add to their stress. Instead, focus on how they’re doing in other areas of life — ask about their friends, activities, or what they’re doing for fun. Conversations that aren’t centered around academics can give them a much-needed break.
• Ask what’s making them anxious: Encourage your student to talk about what’s making them feel stressed or anxious. Sometimes just saying it out loud helps them get clarity and figure out the next steps.
• Talk about coping strategies: Ask what they’re doing to take care of themselves. TimelyCare, a telehealth option available at no cost to St. Olaf students, is a great resource for managing anxiety and stress.
• Help them set realistic expectations: Ask about their goals for upcoming exams, papers, or projects. Sometimes students set expectations too high, which can lead to more stress. Talking through their goals can help them be more realistic and reduce some of that pressure.

Encourage Healthy Routines:

• Remind them to take breaks: It’s easy for students to get caught up in studying and forget to take a break. Encourage them to step away from the books, even for a short time, to recharge.
• Keep a regular schedule: Help your student establish a routine by going to bed and waking up at the same time every day. Consistent sleep is one of the best ways to maintain mental and physical health.
• Plan healthy habits: Suggest using a physical or Google calendar to schedule things like meals, relaxation time, and physical activity. Having a routine helps keep stress in check.
• Unplug before bed: Encourage them to turn off their devices an hour before bedtime to wind down. Reading, showering, or practicing mindfulness can help them relax and sleep better.

Mental Health Training for You and Your Student

St. Olaf offers mental health training that can help both you and your student:

Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR): This 1.5-hour virtual training teaches how to recognize the warning signs of a suicide crisis and respond by asking questions, persuading, and referring the person to help.

Upcoming dates (virtual):

• October 10: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
• October 17: 1–3 p.m.
• October 31: 3–5 p.m.

Mental Health First Aid (MHFA): This 8-hour in-person training provides tools for identifying and responding to signs of mental health or substance use issues. It’s a great way to help others in a crisis.

Upcoming dates (in-person, on-campus):

• October 19: 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
• November 15: 9 a.m.–4:30 p.m.

To register for a training, sign up online. For more information, Contact Lacy Williams ’21 at willa24@stolaf.edu.

Remember, your support during this time can make a big difference. By focusing on their overall well-being and not overwhelming them with too many academic questions, you can help your student navigate this busy fall season while maintaining their mental and physical health.