family connections winter 2015
DESCRIPTION
Family Connections is a publication designed for the parents and families of Robert Morris University students. It is compiled by the Office of Student Life and printed in cooperation with the Office of Public Relations and Marketing. Editions are printed in the fall, winter, and spring of each academic year. We are interested in your feedback about this publication. E-mail your comments and suggestions to [email protected].TRANSCRIPT
Family Connections is a publication designed for the parents and families of Robert Morris University students. It is compiled
by the Office of Student Life and printed in cooperation with the Office of Public Relations and Marketing. Editions are printed
in the fall, winter, and spring of each academic year. We are interested in your feedback about this publication. E-mail your
comments and suggestions to [email protected].
This issue of Family Connections is focused on
providing parents and families with some advice
and recommendations about how to stay engaged
with and support your student during his/her
college experience. It is a difficult transition to
make. Your child, whom you have nurtured and
protected since birth, is now considered an adult.
They are studying at a university, where quite
possibly you are paying the bill. It is a difficult
paradox—you want them to become independent,
but you still want to nurture and protect them.
How do you find a healthy balance? As a parent of
first-year college students as well, I understand
and share your perspective and emotions. I thank
the Office of Residence Life, the Counseling Center
and the Career Center for their thoughtful
submissions in this issue.
I also invite you to read further about the
appointment of Dr. Christopher B. Howard as the
next president of Robert Morris University. Dr.
Howard will serve as the eighth president of the
university. He succeeds Dr. Gregory Dell’Omo
who departed RMU in June. The Colonial family
eagerly awaits Dr. Howard and his wife,
Barbara Noble Howard, to arrive early next
semester.
I hope you have had, or will have the opportunity
to visit Moon Township and RMU this Fall. The
campus is alive with excitement and energy
during this transition from warm weather to the
crisp, cool days of fall. We’ve already enjoyed
Homecoming and Parents & Families Weekend,
fraternity and sorority recruitment, fall sports
contests, the annual Career Expo, and numerous
academic and student engagement events. We look
forward to the Almost Midnight Breakfast,
Winterfest, the start of basketball season, and
various holiday celebrations all of which will be
held later this semester.
ADVICE TO PARENTS…HOW TO MAINTAIN A POSITIVERELATIONSHIP WITH YOUR STUDENT
FAMILYConnections
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY WINTER 2015
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS 1
2 RMU.EDU
While your son or daughter might not be an
NCAA Division I athlete, they can still gain some
of the same benefits that varsity athletes do by
participating in a club or intramural sport. Club
sports typically differ from intramural sports by
including competition against club teams from
other colleges, while intramural leagues consist of
students within the university. In a 65 item survey
of RMU club sport participants from the 2014-15
academic year, the following were the top five
areas of growth cited by participants:
• Understanding of sport
• Sense of belonging
• Opportunities for unique memories
• School pride
• Leadership ability
Literature supports these types of outcomes for
recreational sports participation. A study done at
Ohio State University in 2012 found that
participation in sports at any level had a positive
outcome towards a student’s self-efficacy and
leadership development.
Each year our club and intramural sports grow as
our residential student population continues to
grow. Students can register throughout the year
for intramural sports at imleagues.com/rmu and
club sports at dosportseasy.com/rmuclubsports.
For questions about opportunities in recreational
sports, please have your student contact
THE ROLE OF RECREATIONAL SPORTS ON CAMPUS
• Take a selfie with Bronze Bob
• Walk the Massey Garden
• Head to “The Joe” or “The Chuck” to attend
an RMU Athletic e vent
• Enjoy a Lock N’ Load Sandwich at RoMo’s Café
in the Nicholson Center
• Take a walk on our wonderful Nature Trail
• Have your younger child(ren) attend Little
Siblings Weekend with your student
• Get an awesome milkshake at Yorktown Café
• Enjoy a coffee and relax at the Gazebo
• Go ice skating or hit a bucket of golf balls at
the RMU Island Sports Center
THE RMU PARENTS BUCKET LIST…COMPILED BY CURRENT STUDENTS
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS 3
A MESSAGE TO PARENTS OF RESIDENT STUDENTSThe transition of going to college can be
challenging for students and the entire family.
Sending a student to college can be both exciting
and stressful. For a successful transition, your
student will need your support.
The Office of Residence Life would like to help
parents and families make this transition easy
with the following useful tips.
If your student is having a roommate conflict or
does not seem to be engaged in college, before
you contact a Residence Life staff member,
consider the following:
• Students tend to call a loved one when they
are having a stressful day, sometimes just to
talk out their problems. You should
consider asking them what positive things
are going on in their college experience.
• If their roommate conflict needs attention,
suggest that they reach out to their
Community Advisor (CA). CAs are here to
help because they want students to have
the best possible experience at RMU.
• By putting the responsibility of the
situation on your student to make a
decision and take the initiative,
students learn to make better decisions
for themselves and develop
problem-solving skills.
• You can also help by encouraging your
student to speak with their assigned
Area Coordinator (AC) located in the
Office of Residence Life. The ACs
provide supervision to the Community
Advisor staff.
• Students can find more helpful
roommate tips at:
studentlife.rmu.edu/residence-
life/roommate-information
Keeping in contact with your student has
become easier today with technology. In
previous years, a phone call once a week or the
occasional letter or care package from home was
the only contact a student had with their
families. New technology makes it easier to
remain close, which may have a negative affect
on a student’s development. Students who
remain close to family and friends at home often
do not fully engage in their college experience.
Try some of the following tips:
• Try not to be your students “crutch.” Talk
with them regularly, but it may not need to
be daily. Your conversations may be more
meaningful when you catch-up with them
once a week about everything that
happened on campus during that week.
• Send your student a care package so they
know you are thinking of them at home.
• Be efficient in allowing your student to
grow independence. It will be very
rewarding for both of you!
4 RMU.EDU
At the RMU Counseling Center, we understand
that when your student goes away to college,
you will have many questions and concerns
about how best to support him or her during
what can be both a very exciting and stressful
time of transition. We've gathered some tips
and resources we hope will help you figure out
how you can remain involved in your student's
life, while also allowing them the increasing
independence they need to manage the
challenges that come with college and
growing into capable adults.
• Encourage your student to handle their
academic affairs as independently as possible.
It can be tempting to intervene and handle it
yourself when your student has questions
about, or difficulties with, admissions, their
advisor, Residence Life, course registration, a
grade, or a certain professor. When you resist
swooping down into a situation to try to fix
everything, it lets your student develop the
problem-solving skills that will be critical to
their success in college and beyond. You can,
of course, be available for advice!
• Familiarize yourself with campus resources,
and when your student approaches you for
help, before offering suggestions, ask what
they've tried so far to handle the situation on
their own. If they are struggling in a class,
have they sought out tutoring? If they are
having roommate issues, have they talked to
their CA or other friends on campus for
insight and feedback? If they aren't sure if
their major is right for them, have they talked
to their counselor in the Center for Student
Success? This encourages your student to
think creatively and critically when it comes
to life's challenges and allows you to reinforce
that there are supports available on campus
to help them.
• Show your student that you miss them, but
you are doing okay. Students often worry
about how their parents and families are
doing without them, particularly if they are
the last child to 'fly out of the nest.' It's
important that you take good care of yourself
as you and your student both adjust to their
being away from home.
• Reflect on the mistakes you made and
challenges you faced as a young adult and
what you learned from them. This will allow
you to maintain a healthy and balanced
perspective when your student inevitably
makes, what seems like, a big mistake.
Remember that during college, most students
will make some mistakes.
• If your student has any history of depression,
anxiety, grief or loss, or any other mental
health struggle, please encourage them to
come to the Counseling Center. Our services
include crisis/walk-in counseling, one-on-one
therapy, psychiatric medication management,
grief peer support and other
psychoeducational groups, and outreach
across campus.
COUNSELING CENTER ADVICE TO PARENTS
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS 5
• Lastly, let your student know that we have
Thrive Leaders, a team of student leaders
who serve as ambassadors for the Counseling
Center and are out-and-about at events across
campus meeting students and explaining
how the Counseling Center can offer them
support. Make sure your student knows to
visit them in their signature light-blue shirts
at events across campus. Our Thrive Leaders
are here to assist the Counseling Center in
educating students on important issues
including underage drinking and drug
abuse, sexual violence prevention, suicide
prevention, and feeling empowered to
intervene and speak out when they see
situations happening on campus that
aren't okay.
SOME RESOURCESWe'd also like to make sure you know about our
social media and internet outreach, to familiarize
yourself with our website, and follow us on
Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and Instagram.
TWITTER AND FACEBOOK We publicize
Counseling Center events and share resources
that might be useful for students and parents.
twitter.com/rmu_counseling
facebook.com/rmucounseling
OUR WEBSITE RMU.EDU/COUNSELING We
provide in-depth resources and education on
mental health and wellness topics such as ADHD,
eating disorders, depression and anxiety, suicide,
and healthy relationships.
PINTEREST We have lots of quick, fun, and helpful
tips for your student. We really encourage you
and your student to consider our Pinterest a one-
stop-shop for learning skills and getting ideas to
help them when they are struggling.
pinterest.com/rmucounseling
INSTAGRAM Lastly, our Thrive Leaders maintain
an Instagram where they post lots of pictures
keeping your student up-to-date on what Thrive
and the Counseling Center has going on on
campus. Your student can follow them
@RMU_THRIVE.
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What do these three organizations have in
common: a faith-based health center serving our
neediest neighbors, a storefront selling recycled
craft supplies, and a philanthropic foundation
worth billions? No, this is not a trick question!
These are but three of the Pittsburgh-based
nonprofit organizations that Robert Morris
University students visited during the Nonprofit
Leadership course offered over spring break.
While it might be hard to believe, 10 students
from diverse majors and class years chose this
four-day engaged learning experience over the
traditional spring break vacation. They were not
disappointed!
Led by professional staff from RMU’s Bayer
Center for Nonprofit Management and the Office
of Student Civic Engagement, the students spent
six to seven hours each day, Monday through
Thursday, traveling around the city of Pittsburgh
from the Northside to Downtown to the East End,
scoping out the wide variety of missions,
programs and leaders who make up Pittsburgh’s
vast and diverse nonprofit sector. The four-day
immersion experience included touring the art
studios and job training programs at Manchester
Bidwell Corporation, which now replicates its
program model in cities across the country and
around the world; visiting the cats and dogs at the
Animal Rescue League (ARL) while learning
about the need for such shelters and its plans to
build a new state-of-the-art facility next year; and
catching the vision for community redevelopment
and sustainability at the Kingsley Association,
which is at the forefront of building new housing
and greenspace to replace urban blight and
strengthen the inner city.
Whether exploring the Pittsburgh Children’s
Museum or taking a walking tour of public art,
students were surprised to discover the many
different types of nonprofits doing “really cool
stuff” all across the city. They also were greatly
inspired by the passionate and dedicated
professionals, including RMU graduates, who
led these organizations. As one student put it
at the end of the four days, “I had no idea….”
That was just the reaction we were going for
when Robert Morris University created the
Nonprofit Leadership Association Certificate
Program, which this course is a part of. If your
student is passionate about giving back to the
community and would like to explore career
opportunities in the nonprofit sector, please
encourage him or her to be in touch with Donna
Anderson, director, Student Civic Engagement
at [email protected] for more information.
NONPROFIT LEADERSHIP ASSOCIATION: AN EXCELLENT ADVENTURE!
As a parent, the success of your student is an
important goal. However, sometimes what you
see as being helpful can be perceived as
interfering or pushy. So, you must walk a fine
line in helping your student attain their career
goals. With that in mind, however, you can be
an asset and positive support to your student’s
career development in the following ways:
• Listen to your student’s dreams, goals,
challenges and plans in an open, non-critical
way. Provide suggestions to help them
clarify, realistically evaluate, and reach
those goals.
• Choose your words thoughtfully while
engaging with your student. For example,
instead of saying “Have you found a
job/internship yet?,” you may ask “How is
your job/internship search going?” While
the former can be perceived as critical and
puts pressure on the student, the latter is an
open-ended, non-judgmental conversation
starter. Also, your awareness that the typical
length of a job search can vary by fields will
help you have more empathy with your
student as they pursue their career goals.
• Encourage them to visit the Career Center
from their freshmen year on to take
advantage of resources, programs, and
individual counseling.
Some upcoming fall programs offered by the
RMU Career Center include the following:
JUMP-START YOUR JOB SEARCHWednesday, Nov. 4, 4–6:00 pm; Sewall Center
VETERAN NETWORKING EVENTWednesday, Nov. 11, 4–6:00 pm; Sewall Center
PATHWAYS TO FEDERAL EMPLOYMENTThursday, Nov. 12, 1–3:00 pm; Sewall Center
CAREERS IN THE SOCIAL SCIENCESMonday, Nov. 16, 12–3:00 pm; Sewall Center
POSITIVE CAREER CONVERSATIONS YIELD POSITIVE RESULTS
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS 7
In addition to these programs, individual
advising and resume reviews, job and
internship postings through the online
ColonialTRAK system, practice interviews
(by career counselors and local employers),
and a career resource library are available to
students on an on-going basis.
• Recognize that employers are not only
looking for candidates who possess the
necessary job-specific skills.
Communication, interpersonal, leadership
and other soft skills are also very important.
Many times these skills are developed
through part-time jobs, volunteer work and
contributive involvement in a student
organization. If your student is not currently
pursuing these avenues, suggest the
importance of becoming a well-rounded,
results-oriented individual during college.
• Emphasize the importance of internships
and practical work-based experiences.
Although an internship or other work-
related learning experience may not be
required for your student to graduate, in
today’s world however, it is almost always
required for them to get a job in their field.
In addition, completing multiple career-
related experiences will not only build
additional skills, it will help your student
clarify their career goals.
• Help your student to network. Making
connections is an important part of the job
search, and you can be an important first
step in that process. Through your personal
contacts, you may arrange an informational
interview or job shadow experience for your
student to help them learn more about their
field as well as start to build their
professional network.
• Become involved with the Career Center.
Posting jobs and internships, conducting
practice interviews, serving on panel
discussions, and networking with other
students are just some of the opportunities
available for you to help RMU students
and show your student your commitment
to the university.
While you cannot force your student to take
advantage of the opportunities available to
them, your positive support and encouragement
are critical to help them understand and develop
their job search skills and professional presence
while at RMU.
Contributing Resource: Denham, Thomas J.
(2013, September 12) A Parents’ Guide to Career
Development. Courtesy of the National
Association of Colleges and Employers
8 RMU.EDU
Christopher B. Howard, D.Phil., has been
named the eighth president of Robert Morris
University. Howard, 46, is a distinguished
educator, dedicated public servant, and
decorated Air Force veteran who is currently
president of Hampden-Sydney College, a
private Virginia college for men and one of the
nation’s top liberal arts institutions. He will
join Robert Morris on February 1.
“Dr. Howard is a high-energy, charismatic,
and visionary leader who believes in the power
of mentorship – a perfect fit for RMU,” said
Gary Claus ‘74, chairman of the university’s
Board of Trustees.
“In the future, it is those higher education
institutions truly committed to providing
the foundational tools of critical thinking,
written and oral communication, and a deep
understanding of the world we live in, coupled
with the opportunity to delve deeply into the
professions, that are poised for success,” said
Howard. “RMU is an ‘all of the above’
university bolstered by an exceptional faculty,
able staff, engaged alumni, dedicated board,
supportive friends, and bright and motivated
students.” Howard added, “Just as importantly,
members of the RMU community have
demonstrated a willingness to innovate in a
manner rarely seen in the academic world,
resulting in remarkable growth and success.
I am both honored and humbled by the
opportunity to serve as its eighth president.”
Richard Harshman ‘78, vice chairman of
the RMU Board of Trustees and chairman
of its Presidential Search Committee, said
Howard rose to the top of a national list of
candidates because of his vision, energy,
and charisma, as well as his record of success
at Hampden-Sydney.
“The Search Committee was impressed
with the way Dr. Howard was able to build
on the traditions of his current institution and
to translate those traditions to contemporary
and more diverse generations of students,”
said Harshman, the chairman, president,
and CEO of ATI. Howard has been president
of Hampden-Sydney since 2009, during which
time enrollment and retention have grown,
alumni giving has reached 33 percent, and the
grade-point average of the incoming freshman
class has risen. In 2011-12, Hampden-Sydney
LEADERSHIP FOR THE FUTURE
ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS 9
climbed 17 spots in the U.S. News and World
Report rankings, the largest jump among any
Top 100 liberal arts colleges. During Howard’s
tenure as president, Hampden-Sydney
produced its first Truman and Goldwater
scholars in 20 years, as well as a Rhodes finalist
and numerous Fulbright and Rotary scholars –
thanks in part to the Office of Fellowship and
Advising the college created under his
leadership. Hampden-Sydney received the
largest gift in its 240-year history under
Howard, and the college will soon break
ground on a new student center.
“Dr. Howard has experience both within and
outside of higher education, having worked in
the corporate world and having a distinguished
career in the Air Force and Air Force Reserve,”
said Claus. “He has experience with and
insights into different models of education,
from Ivy Leagues to large publics, from small,
liberal arts institutions to military academies.
And, on the more personal side, his own
background reflects the character and values
we see in RMU’s students and alumni.”
Howard was raised in Plano, Texas, where he
was a star running back in high school and
captain of the state championship football team.
He is a Distinguished Graduate of the United
States Air Force Academy and received the
Campbell Trophy, the nation’s highest academic
honor for a senior college football player. He
earned an M.B.A. with Distinction from the
Harvard Business School and a D.Phil. in
politics from Oxford University while on a
Rhodes Scholarship.
Howard served as a lieutenant colonel in the
Air Force Reserve, and earned a Bronze Star for
military service in Afghanistan. He served as
U.S. Reserve Air Attaché to Liberia and as
intelligence operations and places officer with
the elite Joint Special Operations Command. In
2011, President Barack Obama appointed
Howard to the National Security Education
Program Board. Howard previously was vice
president for leadership and strategic initiatives
at the University of Oklahoma, and has worked
for General Electric and Bristol-Myers Squibb.
He is the co-author of the book Money Makers:
Inside the New World of Finance and Business
and a member of the Board of Directors of the
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ROBERT MORRIS UNIVERSITY FAMILY CONNECTIONS 11
American Council on Education, the NCAA
Division III Presidents Council, the Baylor
University Board of Regents, and the
prestigious Young Presidents’ Organization.
Howard co-founded the Impact Young Lives
Foundation, a not-for-profit organization that
brings South African students of color to the
U.S. for summer educational and cultural tours.
His wife, Barbara Noble Howard, is the
foundation’s executive director; she is
originally from Johannesburg, South Africa.
They have two sons, Cohen, a senior at the
University of the South, and Joshua, a freshman
at Middlebury College.
Howard succeeds Gregory G. Dell’Omo, Ph.D.,
who left Robert Morris in June after 10 years to
become the president of Rider University in his
home state of New Jersey. Since Dell’Omo’s
departure, RMU has been led by David
Jamison, J.D., who is also the university’s
provost.
Join the RMU Residence Hall Association and
Office of Residence Life for Siblings Weekend
2016! This is a fun opportunity for residential
students at RMU to bring their little siblings to
campus for a weekend filled with events and
activities for all ages! More information will
be made available in January, including dates,
a tentative schedule, and how to register siblings
to join their student.
LITTLE SIBLINGS WEEKEND…..COMING IN WINTER 2016
FAMILYConnections
STUDENT LIFE
Robert Morris University
6001 University Boulevard
Moon Township, PA 15108
RMU.EDU
UPCOMING EVENTSVisit rmu.edu for the university’s full calendar of events.
NOVEMBER Native American Heritage Month4 Pittsburgh Speakers Series presents Dr. Sanjay Gupta,
8 p.m., Heinz Hall4-5 RMU Band Recruitment Weekend9 Diwali Celebration,
8 p.m., PNC Colonial Café19 Diversity Speakers Series presents Native American Heritage Month
Celebration, 4:30 – 7 p.m., Sewall30 2016–17 Community Advisor Information Session,
7 p.m., Salem Meeting Room
DECEMBER1 2016–17 Community Advisor Information Session,
7:30 p.m., Salem Meeting Room3 Cram Jam, 9 a.m.–9 p.m., Center for Student Success4-5 Winterfest (Various events scheduled)7-12 Final Exams8 Almost Midnight Breakfast,
10 p.m.–Midnight, PNC Colonial Café