February is the love month. It starts with the anticipation of Valentine’s Day.

Ever since we were all in grade school we couldn’t wait to carry home a shoebox full of “be mine” valentines. We naturally think of “who” we love during this time, not so much about “what” we love.

In January, I started re-reading the book “Simple Abundance” by Sarah Ban Breathnach. I first read it in 1997 during a particularly painful time in my life. It is hard to believe it’s been 11 years since my first reading. I had my heart broken in 1997. It took almost two years for me to recover my bearings, to be able to sing my made-up songs in the mornings and to believe that I would indeed love again. I know this part of my story is not unique. Many of us fall in and out of love over our lifetime. What helped me regain my positive perspective was Breathnach’s approach to gratitude, and too, knowing it’s not always about “whom” you love, but knowing “what” you love.

I read a saying the other day and put it on my bulletin board: “The key to loving how you live is knowing what it is you truly love.” Part of knowing what you love is listening to that still, small voice within. It happens all the time…you see a painting and are moved to draw closer…you read a poem and feel tears well, heart touched…you are drawn to certain colors that remind you of special times…Knowing what you love is about trusting your own instincts, your gut, your heart, the spirit that leads you. Sarah says “you’ll know what you love the moment you see it. It’s that familiar “wow” reaction. Trust the impulse, capture the encounter, and record the clues.” This she says leads you on the journey of knowing what it is you truly love.

Knowing what you love is also about not being swayed by the opinions of others. So you like stripes and plaids together—go for it! Wear it well. You like the color fuchsia, when everyone else is screaming beige. Go for the gusto. You love the mornings; your partner hates them—celebrate the sunrise alone without being lonely. You want to be a theater major and your folks desperately want you to love accounting. Acknowledge to them that you realize you have to earn a living to support the life that you love. Remember the old saying, “life is not a dress rehearsal.”

Some folks believe the still, small voice inside is intuition. Others believe it is the way God speaks to us. When you know what you truly love you are living in that space which is your calling…your desired present and future. Part of knowing what you truly love is discovering your authentic self. It’s not about loving someone else. It is about loving yourself. Oscar Wilde once said, “to love oneself is the beginning of a life-long romance.” So for the month of February, as we walk by the aisles of valentine cards begging to be bought, Breathnach says “the most essential question we can ask is: what is it that we truly love? Be patient. We aren’t going to overhaul our lives, our homes, and our wardrobes in a week. Trust that your authentic life will unfold naturally and with grace.”

“A meaningful mission can act as a moral compass, helping to align decisions with values and goals.”

–Laurie Beth Jones, author of The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement for Work and Life

What is the purpose for our Student Affairs community at Loyola in having a meaningful mission statement? Laurie Beth Jones, author of several books on spirituality and leadership, shares our belief that “Having a clearly articulated mission statement gives one a template of purpose that can be used to initiate, evaluate, and refine all of one’s activities.”

While keeping professional improvement and student success at the core, the Student Affairs mission statement underwent a major revision in the fall of 2006. It was clear we wanted a mission, vision and values statement that supported the University mission and would also be part of our strategic planning. In developing our new statement, we decided on the following: The statement must be clear, concise, engaging, and meaningful. In other words, we wanted it to reflect our passion for working with students, the deep values of having a Jesuit heritage, and our intense desire for professional excellence.

With new professionals joining our team, and new experiences and programs developing, we are committed to an intentional yearly review of our mission, vision and values statement. As we begin the new year, we proudly share with you the following:

Our Mission:

To cultivate a learning community, in the Jesuit tradition, which engages students in the full development of all human qualities.

Our Vision:

To be the leader in Student-centered, values-rich, co-curricular education.

Our Values:

Dignity
The Value of each person as created by God.
Excellence
The call to develop all abilities and talents.
Wholeness
A commitment to mind, body, and spirit.
Inclusiveness
The awareness of finding God in all things.
Compassion
A commitment to being people for and with others.

Dear Loyola Families:

I phoned a friend the other day, finding her in the midst of a blizzard. She was remarkably relaxed about the snow. She lives in the Northeast. Winter is no big deal.

I told her that we in New Orleans had just experienced our first real “sneaux” in decades. According to the Times-Piyacune, since 1850, snow had fallen in “measurable amounts” rather than traces in the city just 17 times.

Same white flakes. Very different circumstances. It’s a metaphor.

There’s no one in the world who hasn’t been affected, somehow, by the stress of the past several months. Whether or not your own family has had someone lose a job, or savings, or prospects for advancement, you likely know others in need. And you likely feel anxious every time you turn on the television or open a newspaper. We’re all in this together, whatever our individual circumstances. The reality is the same, our response is what matters.

I truly believe that students enrolled at Loyola are in the best place they could be to understand, and develop skills for, the challenges of today’s world. You well know, because you choose Loyola, that “Jesuit education is a call to human excellence, to the fullest possible development of all human qualities. This implies a rigor and academic excellence that challenges the student to develop all of his or her talents to the fullest. It is a call to critical thinking and disciplined studies, a call to develop the whole person, head and heart, intellect and feelings. The Jesuit vision of education implies further that students learn how to be critical, examine attitudes, challenge assumptions, and analyze motives. All of this is important if they are to be able to make decisions in freedom, the freedom that allows one to make love-filled and faith-filled decisions.”

That’s our Jesuit heritage, a heritage that has served humankind well for centuries, providing the structure for a well-informed, well-reasoned, affirming life. Now, more than ever, I urge you to feel confident in your decision to place your trust in a Loyola education.
You’ve probably read a lot of stories about colleges around the country that are in serious financial difficulties. Loyola, too, will be affected by the financial strains facing our Nation. But we remain firmly committed to excellence in every way that students know it. So I will continue my tradition of keeping you informed of the Student Life division’s progress and priorities.

Our first goal this year is to increase cocurricular programming, including the signature leadership program “StrengthsQuest” and the Jesuit values leadership lecture series. Let me describe StrengthsQuest for you, as it’s a relatively new concept. StrengthsQuest, Gallup’s strengths development program for college-age students, gives students the opportunity to develop based on their strengths rather than their weaknesses. In other words, it helps students learn what they do best, then build their lives on those talents. With StrengthsQuest, students can:

• Discover and develop their greatest talents.
• Use their strengths to improve their grades and increase their learning.
• Strategically determine a rewarding career path.
• Focus on their strengths rather than their weaknesses.

Isn’t that a positive way to plan for the future? We’re very pleased that 729 freshman students completed StrengthsQuest training, and many parents participated in a workshop during Family Weekend.

A second goal for us was the completion of the Danna Student Center renovation. Have you seen it? It has become the community gathering spot! The university community along with the Board of Trustees held the “renovation celebration” on October 9, 2008. Danna has started a new and exciting era for campus life, and is creating a vibrant campus community of student leaders, academics, and participants in scholarly, creative, and exciting endeavors. It is open to all students, student organizations, community members, and outside activities and programs. Overseen by the Office of Co-Curricular Programs, Danna houses multiple meeting spaces throughout the building, a state-of-the-art student organization collaborative and interactive work space, and top-notch dining options at multiple locations. This coming spring, we’ll begin renovations to the retail space of the Bookstore, so stay tuned for more improvements.

A central resource in Danna is the Career Development Center, whose staff works closely with students, faculty, academic programs, advising, and alumni. The accomplishments in this area are many, and I’ll outline some of them to give you a sense of the ways we are directly preparing our students to apply their talents and passions to career opportunities:

• Conducted 81 distinct career development programs ranging from workshops on resume writing to career fairs; posted 261 new internships and jobs, and conducted over 500 individual appointments.
• Launched EMPLOYOLA, our on-line career development network, and hosted 14 EMPLOYOLA teach-ins across campus.
• Launched two new virtual career development tools – CareerBeam and CareerShift.
• Partnered with 14 individual faculty members across all four undergraduate colleges to integrate career development material and activities into their courses. Partnerships took place in biology, business, history, music education, music therapy, political science, psychology, sociology, and theatre arts.
• Partnered with Academic Support Services to provide career and major exploration workshops and assessments for students receiving their services.
• Joined a planning team within the College of Business to design a four-year career development curriculum to launch fall 2009.
• Partnered with the Office of Mission and Identity to host Careers in Social Justice panel during Loyola Week.
• Partnered with the Associate Deans Office of the College of Humanities and Natural Sciences to provide career counseling to students readmitted to the College.
• Designed and wrote a new CDC web site for launch in spring 2009.
• Embraced the use of the new Danna Center LearnLab to transform instructional delivery.
• Initiated partnership with the Black Student Union (BSU) to deliver targeted career development programming to their constituents.

We continue to increase the impact of athletics and wellness programming in co-creating a vital campus life. We are exceptionally proud that many of our athletes combined their commitment to team with commitment to community this fall. The men’s basketball team assisted in setting up and serving Thanksgiving dinner to homeless men and recovering alcoholics at Bridge House and volunteered for the Hornet’s “Achieve to Read” program at local public school. The baseball team assisted with set up for a post race event for the Susan B. Komen Race for the Cure. And the volleyball team visited with children and their families at Ronald McDonald House.

• The Wellness team offers over 20 group exercise classes per week.
• The cardio theater (4 new flat screen TV’s) have been operationalized!
• St. Ignatius Spirit Band launched.
• Athletes and staff participation in “Take Back the Night”.
• Collaboration with other offices with Orientation, Family Weekend, Athletic Pep Rallies.
• Research on field space for Loyola athletics and intramurals on-going.
• Addition of Women’s Intercollegiate Tennis in 2009.

As a residential college, Loyola knows that student satisfaction with Residential Life Services and facilities is key to overall student satisfaction. This fall, we increased Resident Assistant programs targeting social networking based the “care-of-the-person” theme model.

• This fall over 225 programs were held in residence!
• Presented to the Board of Trustees a walking tour of current residential facilities, and a design plan for a phased in enhancement of all public spaces; lounges, entryways, and kitchens. Further plans will be developed in the Spring, 2009, and I look forward to updating you on specifics this summer.

As I shared in my summer letter, we launched the following learning communities this fall:

• The Cardoner Fellows
• Wellness
• International Experience

We have had an established Honors Learning Community, and too, offered new ways of having partnerships enhance the programming.

We are adding four new and exciting learning communities for 2009-2010:

• Faith/Justice
• Psychology
• Writing & Literature
• Women’s Initiatives for Learning & Leading

Another ambition for us this fall was to increase student satisfaction with Health and Counseling Services. This semester we focused much creativity and energy on preventative care and educational programming. The Ochsner Healthcare professionals presented five health and wellness programming for the Loyola community. Through a combination of staff counselor presentations in the residence halls and representatives from Residential Life, Athletics and Wellness, Dining Services and Co-Curricular Programs, we provided 25 developmentally appropriate health promotion and education programs. We also know that one-on-one services are needed, so to better meet the demand, we consolidated part-time positions and acquired a grant in order to fund two, full-time staff counselor positions.

So, the weather outside may be frightful, with the winds of change bringing many chilling worries, but here at Loyola, we’re wrapped warm and secure in the belief that we’re on mission and on task. We continue to aim higher, to ask more of ourselves, to provide the best to the deserving Loyola students, as you would expect.

Let it sneaux! It can be a challenge, but we’re ready to meet life’s challenges. I hope the next year brings a greater measure of peace and prosperity.

Warmest wishes

Dear Loyola Families:

A little book, fewer than 200 pages, sits on my desk, dog-eared and scuffed from use. I discovered it in 2001, a year that brought all of us to some of the toughest days we’ve ever had, as individuals, as friends, as neighbors, as a nation, as a world community. During the last several weeks here at Loyola, I’ve scanned the book frequently. I’d like to tell you why the book, The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, A Toltec Wisdom Book, has helped me once again, and lastly, provide a campus update.

Danna Center Renovations: We have begun work on a $3 million renovation of the Student Center, a space on every campus that is symbolic and practical; a place that is for anyone and that is for everyone. Construction is to be completed by September. Two million dollars has been allocated by the Board of Trustees for the renovations and $1 million from Sodexo, the university’s food service provider, for improvements in dining facilities and services.

Award-winning designer Henry Muñoz, CEO of Kell Muñoz Architects, is the creative catalyst for the Danna Center renovations. His firm is the largest minority-owned architectural group in Texas and has received much acclaim for its focus on cultural activism in its work.

Mr. Muñoz, an alumnus of Loyola and a former trustee, is donating his and his team’s time for the renovation project. Designers and architects are incorporating space, color and decor reflective of the Danna Center’s 1960s modern context. In his master plan, Mr. Muñoz offers four goals for the building: create and activate warm, welcoming, inclusive public spaces; offer the best dining services in the nation; provide attractive meeting rooms conducive to students’ needs; and allow for student organization office areas which promote interaction and collaboration.

The renovations will touch more than 90,000 square feet of space in the Danna Center, out of a total of 114,000 square feet. Changes will consist of new paint, furniture and carpet throughout the building, new landscaping, installation of a student art gallery, redesign of the existing food mart and retail area, and a redesign of existing student organization areas and dining areas.

The students consulted in the planning of the Student Center, the architect, and I, believe that the student center should reflect the diversity of the Loyola community. Mr. Munoz placed special significance on the redesign and expansion of space for the Center for Intercultural Understanding. The CIU space at the entry of the Danna Center will be opened up and will incorporate multimedia equipment such as LCD projectors and a wall of six flat-screen TVs that all student organization groups can use to tell their “cultural” story. Displays of cultural stories will alternate among different student groups. The CIU office will be moved to the upper floor of the building, allowing for more meeting space.

We know that the CIU inspires passion among those who know the history of the CIU’s beginning. The Student Center is a perfect location for the CIU, a place to see, hear, and sense, every day that cultural differences make us Loyola University New Orleans. And yet, as we designed Student Center improvements that would benefit every student, we came to realize that the CIU is more than walls and furniture, and it transcends a particular corner of a particular building. The changes proposed for the CIU trouble some. I’ve listened to concerns expressed by students and alumni. Many believe that the CIU while well-established can expand with resources (program and staff) so more people can be included.

We’ve listened to each other in agreement and disagreement. Part of learning about self and others is opening our hearts and minds to the different opinions and letting the differences wrestle and bump against each other. Over time, the sharp edges of each opinion softened so differences could co-exist and a plan evolved. The plan does not satisfy everyone in every way. But it honors the differences that form its foundation.

That’s what I learned through The Four Agreements. As we move forward together, I invite all Loyola students and families to consider The Four Agreements and return to campus committed to a new year formed by the challenges of the past.

• Be Impeccable With Your Word: Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
• Don’t Take Anything Personally: Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
• Don’t Make Assumptions: Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
• Always Do Your Best: Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.* Explore the new Danna Center when you return to Loyola this fall. Visit every floor, every corner, every special space. Visit the CIU if you’ve never been. Make the Danna Center—every square inch—yours.

Now, on to some updates from the Student Life division!

• Wolfpack Welcome: The Centennial Class of 2012, transfer students and their families will arrive on campus on August 20 to participate in the Wolfpack Welcome orientation program. During this program, students and families will learn about the Loyola community through various workshops, discussions, and activities. At the end of the program, students will have a confirmed class schedule and some new friends. Parents will have a better understanding of the resources and the support Loyola provides for student success.
• FYE Book Discussion: This summer the First Year Experience committee mailed first-year students copies of the shared summer reading, Mountains Beyond Mountains by Tracy Kidder. The book highlights the work of Dr. Paul Farmer in his mission to cure tuberculosis in Haiti and around the world. During Wolfpack Welcome, students will discuss the Jesuit value of “purpose beyond self” as a theme during their book discussion with Loyola faculty, staff and students. Wolfpack Welcome participants will also hear from Dr. Richard Heinzl, another man whose mission of “purpose beyond self” drove him to create the organization of “Doctors Without Borders of North America.”

Later in the academic year, the University community will hear from Dr. David Walton, who is one of two Global Health Equity residents working with Dr. Paul Farmer. Exemplifying “purpose beyond self,” Dr. Walton spends half of his time in Haiti working to eradicate tuberculosis, raising awareness for HIV, and advocating to provide access to health care for everyone.

• Cardoner Leadership Fellows will join a 20-person community to study and practice leadership together. The Fellows will become experts among their peers on a pressing social issue and collectively work toward positive change in that area.
• Watch for Leadership Development Programs: StrengthsQuest at Loyola, a University initiative to engage students in a campus culture using their unique talents and strengths and Leadership Loyola, which supports all students in conversations on leadership in light of Jesuit values. Students are also provided series of workshops to help them develop their personal leadership styles and equip them for leading their peers.
• New counseling/health staff: With assistance from a grant provided by the Raskob Foundation, the University Counseling and Health Center will welcome two new full-time staff counselors to assist in meeting the mental health and outreach programming needs of the campus community. This will provide the UCC with 4 full-time counselors in addition to an intern and consultant psychiatrist. This year we are pleased to partner with both the Ocshner Hospital System and the Loyola School of Nursing to provide progressive health care for our students. Loyola University will provide a Nurse Practioner health care model that will increase student satisfaction with services.
• Wellness Community: The Wellness Community, will focus on providing residence hall living for students who have an interest in all aspects of personal and social wellness. The community is completely free of all drugs, alcohol, and tobacco, and will provide opportunities for students to get involved in various wellness-related activities. Events and community standards will be student-driven.
• Res Life’s Pack Planet Initiative: Residential Life has begun pursuing several ‘green’ policies and practices in an effort to minimize its carbon footprint and to work toward becoming a more sustainable operation. Recycling centers have been placed in all residence halls, new recycling programs have and will continue to be implemented throughout the year, and we are committed to using recycled and recyclable products such as office supplies.
• Alcohol Wise: This course will be implemented with all first-year students and was created to enhance campus culture, educate college students about the harmful effects of alcohol and act as prevention for future alcohol related violations.
• EMPLOYOLA: The new EMPLOYOLA job board providing students and employers with 24/7 access to internship and job notices launches August 15. Combined with electronic resources, including resume builder tools, occupational information resources, and technological advances that turn the concept of six degrees of separation into two clicks of separation; the new EMPLOYOLA service takes job hunting to new heights. Also available under the EMPLOYOLA brand – video resume software, on-line assessment tools, and search engines to find international opportunities.
• Watch for new programs from Career Development Center: Speed Networking for seniors, Social Justice Careers, and, Career Exploration/vocational discernment for sophomores along with the full compliment of career fairs, job search skills workshops, and employer-of-the-day programs.
• Commuters: All commuter students will receive “On the Go! The Off-Campus Update”, a monthly online newsletter. It’s a great way to stay informed about programs and resources available to commuter students. The Commuter Lunch Series will begin in September, featuring a speaker on a highlighted topic and offering free lunch to commuter students. Another resources: The commuter Web site: http://www.loyno.edu/commuters/.
• New Women’s Basketball Coach: Kellie Kennedy is our new head women’s basketball coach. Coach Kennedy comes to Loyola after spending 10 years as an assistant coach at Tulane University. She also was an assistant previously at the University of Richmond (1995-96) and UNC-Wilmington (1990-93). Coach Kennedy was the head coach at Hollins College from 1993-95.

Have a safe and happy summer

Have you ever met someone and felt an affinity right away? Whether it was easy banter, or a knowing smile while “people watching” and silently agreeing on a “glamour don’t?” Haven’t you met someone that could both madden and gladden you in a space of several minutes? Does the laughter of someone ring in your ears?

I was privileged to have that kind of friendship with Cole Pratt who passed away this week. The last email he sent me several days before his sudden death puts our relationship into perspective, and so I share it with you:

From: Cissy Petty [mailto:mlpetty@loyno.edu]
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 9:27 AM
To: Cole Pratt
Subject: RE:
Next time! What a great dinner gathering. Hate to miss it. what are you all doing this weekend? french quarter fest? strawberry festival? hanging out at your beautiful home? C

From: Cole Pratt [mailto:cole@coleprattgallery.com]
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 9:32 AM
To: Cissy Petty
Subject: RE:
Why, Do you want to come over so that I can invite people to entertain you then leave me hanging? HA! HA! HA!!!!!

From: Cissy Petty
Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008
To: Cole Pratt
Subject:RE:
You make me laugh.
Let’s see…how to make it up to you…
Let me count the ways…

I counted on Cole. I don’t count on many people, and ours was a new friendship. But I counted on Cole. He was the first friend made when moving to New Orleans almost 2 years ago. He insisted on including us in everything that he and his partner, Roy concocted. Most of the time it entailed eating, drinking, and merriment. Cole Pratt defined “merriment.” Part of that “merriment” was captured in Cole’s affinity for the pirate life! He could hoist. With a loud “arrr” Cole introduced everyone to his world, and invited them to be a part of the whole. He epitomized the romantic swashbuckler. Skip Williams defines swashbuckler this way: Just about everyone is familiar with the classic swashbuckler — a flashy combatant who lives by his wits and literally dives into combat. But a swashbuckler can be much more than just a character that looks good in a fight. He might be a tireless do-gooder, a fun-loving reveler, a wisecracking vagabond, a rebel, a pugnacious adventurer who won’t sit still when insulted, or some combination of these. I can hear his laughter, even now, over this description. In that slow, southern, Mississippi drawl…he’d say “Cissy, enough about me…tell me what you think about me.”

He was someone I’d have walked the plank with and laughed as we hit rock bottom. Smooth sailing, my friend.

Finals are finished. Grades are being posted. Residence Halls have all closed. The high energy and stress of the semester is behind us. Students love holidays! No surprise, faculty and staff love holidays too. Every one who makes a campus “buzz” loves the break time. It’s a great time to catch up reading for fun, writing for pleasure, and re-connecting with friends from afar. And while all of this energy is good, there still is a certain amount of stress with “going home.”

Many students have been on their own for months and sometimes years. Going home represents falling back into “family patterns.” Whether you are 18 or 48, you still are the ‘oldest, middle, youngest’ in a family system. Parents and siblings have a hard time letting go of family roles, we all do. I am the youngest in my family. Until my mother died (when I was 32) every Christmas the gifts were not put under the tree until I went to bed! Yes, even in my 30′s…I was still the youngest. When my older sister (she hates when I say that) and I were both home for the holidays it seemed as if she always drove. It is hard to bust out of family roles!

My sister and I are 3 years apart. When we went away to college, coming home had its joys and stresses. I would promise myself each year, no matter what, we wouldn’t have any disagreements, rolling of the eyes, or other sisterly scenes. We managed to be civil for at least the first 3 days! Thank goodness we’ve had years to grow our relationship and discover that we can be both friends and siblings.

So how can we reduce stress during the holidays? Here are a few tips that have worked for me and I hope they work for you.

Make sure that you communicate to your family, both parents and siblings, the ways in which you’ve changed being at school. Often parents, in particular, can’t believe you are “growing up and away.” It’s an adjustment for both of you! It’s best to talk about your independence, and what expectations they might have for you. It’s likely you may hear “in my house, you’ll obey my rules.”

This is a perfect time for parents and students to sit down and address expectations. While life at college may not have begun until after 11:00pm, your folks will not appreciate the return at 3:00am. Remember they have a schedule that they have become used to as well!

Remember your parents are real people. Ask them how they are doing in their work, home and family life. Often students begin to see changes in their families that make them uneasy. A parent divorcing or single parents re-partnering, or the recent loss in your parent’s family of origin. Parents having job changes, or moving from the “family” home can all create stress. These topics aren’t off limits for you to discuss with your parents. They may appreciate your sensitivity, and be aware that you know the world no longer revolves just around you.

Take time for yourself! Relax, and enjoy. Don’t spend all your time on MySpace or Facebook, or with your i-pod. See your friends home from other colleges. Be grateful for time to re-connect. Exercise and get some sleep!

Let’s remember the greatest gift we can give is our love and care for our families and friends. When things get “tight,” and you know they will, hold on to the following words: Compromise, Accommodate, Be Grateful, Be Lovingly Honest, Respectful, Communicate, and Celebrate.

Have a terrific holiday with all those you love and who love you.

Dear Loyola Families:

Remember back in school when you had a question but hesitated to raise your hand? Your teachers probably told you that if you have a question, at least one other person, and probably many classmates, had the same question. Your teachers were right, and as an educator, let me say that we love hearing your questions and love helping you find the answers you need to make the most of your Loyola experience.
I’ve gathered a few of the most frequently asked questions I hear from parents. Maybe the answers will spark a conversation in your family over the semester break, and maybe you will come up with new questions we can answer in a future letter.

Frequently Asked Questions

Once my child is enrolled at Loyola, what do you do to make sure she’s thriving?

At Loyola University just about everything we do focuses on student success, so let me take this question from just one perspective. That doesn’t happen by accident. A student who is thriving is a student who is engaged and connected. The staff of the Co-Curricular Programming Office begins the process with an innovative New Student Orientation program. For example, we created Wolfpack Welcome, a series of alcohol-free events, so first-year students can extend their friendship circles. We coordinate the Opening Doors program with faculty and staff to help students expand their support networks. The Saturdays in the City series introduces students to all New Orleans has to offer; our Global Café brings students, faculty, and staff together in a deliberate dialog about important social issues.

In addition, of course there is always athletic “Wolfpack” action! The women’s volleyball team is the 2007 GCAC champions! The NAIA honored Sarah Howard, Colleen McNerney, and Mary Seals as student athlete scholars. The women’s basketball team began the season ranked 17th nationally in the NAIA. The men’s basketball team is off to a winning streak and received votes nationally for the NAIA poll. The newly formed spirit band has added a great deal of “zest” to the games, and students are enjoying watching their classmates. Any student who takes advantage of even one of these programming options will begin to strengthen his or her engagement with our community and increase their chances to have a meaningful Loyola experience.

What’s behind the concept of the “living-learning” communities?

It’s simple, really. Research tells us that college students grow intellectually, emotionally and spiritually with every experience they have, not just those in the classroom. Loyola University takes the opportunity to enhance learning seriously. Our new living-learning communities will gather students who have shared interests, place them in a shared residence, and ask them to work together to develop programming that will benefit everyone on campus. Honors Hall, Global Village, Leadership Fellows, and Social Justice are four emerging communities that will launch next fall. We have faculty, staff and students interested in exploring the following possible communities as well: the Women’s Resource Center, Ignatian Spirituality, Sophomore-Year Experience, and Psychology. It will soon be time for students to sign contracts for residence hall rooms for 2008-2009. It is important to note that residential room rates will NOT increase this year. This fall Residence Life installed 8 42” TV’s for students to enjoy watching sporting events and favorite TV shows together. New washer and dryers have also been installed. We plan for residential lounge refurbishments beginning fall, 2008. More information to come!

I’m hearing good things about the food. What’s up with dining services?

They are awesome! We hired a new Loyola Dining Services management team, and the new executive chef, Vinny Bruno trained under renowned restaurateur Ella Brennan at Commander’s Palace. Vinny has radically redefined the dining experience by focusing on quality ingredients and more sophisticated menu offerings. Our contractor, Sodexho, implemented the Circle Customer Excellence training program to improve service on campus, so I hope your students are enjoying great food from friendly staff servers! Let me also mention two other dining-related initiatives. We worked with the proprietor of Dunbar’s Creole Café to relocate and open the restaurant on our Broadway campus and in spring 2008, it will implement the Smart Market to increase healthy menu options. By spring break, we will be opening a new Community Coffee (CC’s) shop in the Orleans Lounge. This is the first of many food options coming to the Danna Center. Stay tuned! In addition, in partnership with Tulane University, we created the Uptown Campus Dining concept where Wolf Bucks and Wave Bucks can be exchanged at retail outlets.

What do you do to take care of my child’s health concerns?

If you don’t feel well, you don’t do well. So we have a comprehensive counseling and health services program to help students be healthy and active. We contract with LSU Health Sciences Center for primary medical and preventative health care. We have enhanced integration between counseling and health services, through consultation, communication, and collaboration. We have recently contracted with Tulane Emergency Medical Service for on campus health emergencies. We also have 24/7 dedicated phone assistance for students regarding ‘after hours’ emergency health care. The university counseling staff and university police are available 24/7. An Early Warning Team improves communication between student affairs, faculty concerns, health issues, and law enforcement regarding at-risk students. With numerous programs on substance abuse prevention already in place, we recently received a grant to assist with education and awareness on the harmful effects of tobacco use and secondhand smoke. We continue to apply for grants that will increase staffing and programming.

What about measures to improve campus safety?

This question, on every parent’s mind, deserves extra attention. Let me outline the aspects of our campus security program:

• 24-hour Safety Escorts: The Public Safety Department provides a 24-hour / 7 days a week escort service on both campuses, and to the adjacent public streets.
• Complimentary Shuttle Service: Runs between both campuses.
• Emergency Medical Assistance: All Loyola University Police Officers are certified in American Red Cross First Aid and CPR.
• Be On The Lookout Notifications (BOLO): 24-hour alerts by email of area crime incidents on campus and the surrounding areas.
• 23 Blue Light Emergency Telephones: Located in various strategic places on both campuses, they are monitored 24/7.
• General Assistance: Includes “all other” requests for help, such as unlocking specific doors, loud noise complaints, and checking out suspicious persons.
• Free Property Engraving: Operation ID is available for students to mark books and other personal possessions.
• Free Bicycle Registration
• Lost and Found Repository: The University Police office is the designated “Lost and Found” control center for the university and a considerable effort is made to find the owner(s) and return the property promptly.
• Motorist Vehicle Assistance: University Police provide battery boosts, unlock vehicle services, and tire change assistance to community members.
• After Hours Information: Because of our 24-hour operational status Loyola University Police dispatchers serve as the university’s general information operators, fielding all inquiries after normal business hours and weekends.
• Safety Orientation and Training: University Police provide several orientations throughout the school year for students, parents, new faculty, and new staff.
• Self Defense Training for Females
• Silent Witness Program: All information is confidential. If you know of a crime that has occurred or is occurring on campus, we request that you report it and we offer a confidential on-line form.
• Fingerprinting Service: This service is offered to all community members.
• Campus Crime Prevention and Awareness Programs and Reports: University Police collect retain and distribute certain crime statistics and security policy and procedures to all community members and prospective students and employees.
• Fire, Burglar and Hold-Up Alarm Monitoring: University Police monitor fire, burglar, and hold-up alarms throughout the campus.

How can my student, on a limited budget, best enjoy New Orleans?

So much of the charm of New Orleans is experienced by being here, walking our streets, meeting our people, appreciating the big-hearted love we have for this city. Remember I mentioned the Saturdays in the City series? We’ve brought students on a Swamp Tour, to the opera, the New Orleans Museum of Art, the National World War II Museum, to Saints and Hornets games, and more. For students who love to shop until they drop, we sponsor a Saturday Shopping Shuttle and a Saturday Entertainment Shuttle. Both shuttles bring students to local malls and back home again. The best news? The streetcars are running again and you can’t beat it for $1.25!

Why did you move Family Weekend to the fall?

Our first question was about making sure students thrive, and the change to a fall Family Weekend is about student retention. The first few weeks of college can be the most difficult, the most stressful for even the very best, most enthusiastic students. They are in a new environment, starting from the ground up to make friends, find mentors, and navigate life. In addition, they are doing it (even if they call and IM you every hour and as much as we’re there to support them) by themselves. Research shows that bringing families to campus in the fall gives our students that familiar connection they need, and gives them a chance to show you how much they have already learned. I hope you enjoyed Family Weekend and we are always looking for feedback.

It all sounds good, but will my student get a job after graduation?

Everything our students do at Loyola helps prepare them for life (including a career) after graduation! Chairing a committee, being president of a club, organizing an event: all these activities help students develop their skills of communication, time management, delegation, problem-solving, negotiation,…hmm, sounds like real life, doesn’t it? However, many of you ask about our formal career development program, so let me give you a few recent initiatives.

We’ve begun career-related educational programming designed for and delivered to specific classes and student groups. An academic internship staff is now incorporated into our career development center to provide a “one-stop shopping” experience for students. Career Services provides a bi-weekly newsletter for students, employers, and faculty/staff, so everyone stays aware of opportunities, especially our weekly internship and job search workshops. Moreover, thanks to a new investment in technology, we offer 24/7 resources for students and employers.

All that, and more, is available to your student, yet career development is a partnership that takes more than just a visit or two the week before graduation! Please encourage your student, whatever class year, to get to know my staff in career development. The investment of time and energy will pay off well.

It’s my turn to ask. How can we improve your student’s Loyola education? What was the best part of the fall semester? What are your worries? How can we work together better to help your student grow? If you could sit at my desk for the day, what would you do?
I would love to start a dialog with you on these, and any other questions you have. Contact me at 504-865-3030 or mlpetty@loyno.edu and let me know how well we are doing and how we can have a terrific spring semester.
Best wishes to you for the New Year.

Team SA:

What does it mean to be “essential personnel?”

Philosophically, it means that Student Affairs folks are indispensable. Classes can be cancelled, faculty may stay home, but students are still living their lives with us. We are necessary.

American Heritage Dictionary
es·sen·tial (Ä­-sÄ›n’shÉ™l) adj.

1. Constituting or being part of the essence of something; inherent.
2. Basic or indispensable; necessary: essential ingredients.
See Synonyms at indispensable.
—Synonyms 1. fundamental, basic, inherent, intrinsic, vital. See necessary.

As long as we have students on campus, whether classes are cancelled, we are in the process of evacuating students, or some other crisis, Student Affairs staff members are essential.

You are vital.

With 1045 students on campus, we must still provide counseling and health center, residence life, and dining services. It’s a given, the whole “Maslow” hierarchy of needs. Once a situation or crisis passes, there is always much more to do and share. That’s when the Co-curricular staff, the Athletic and Wellness staff, and the Career Development staff become equally essential. Office managers and administrative assistants’ presence often “normalizes” office operations and provides confidence.

If we have the ability to open and provide services, during stressful or difficult times, we should. Doing so provides structure, and in turn confidence and comfort. For example, when there is bad weather, the library is open, and so too is our sports-plex. Co-curricular programs and student meetings may continue. Simply having SA colleagues present, should a situation turn more difficult, is the essence of essential. The parameters of what services or hours we offer depend on any number of factors. We must be flexible.

When times are tough, people count on us to know what to do. Success in stressful situations depends on experienced leaders: the doers — those who make a plan, deliver results, and do so with courage and compassion. People just like you. In other words, if you can make it happen, make it right . . . do it. Open the sports-plex, hold a luncheon, write thank-you notes, conduct a business meeting, visit the residence halls, and talk to a parent about the weather.

Your presence inspires confidence.

So the next time a university message reads “classes are cancelled and non-essential personnel are not to report to work,” don’t question your intrinsic worth. Students and colleagues count on the gifts and talents you bring to the good and difficult times.
There will never be a penalty if you can’t get to the campus because of weather or some other unforeseen crisis. No one wants you to be in a situation where your safety is compromised.

After all, remember you are essential.