Weekly Updates

Undergraduate College Division Message - 9.27.2024 

This week’s Division Message is from A.T. Ortíz, Dean of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Life.
 

Dear Friends,

I was driving to work the other day and got stuck in traffic.  In the midst of my angst – my worries about being late, the list of things to do mounting in my mind, the concerns I was hoping to address that day, and all the other thoughts that were clattering around in my brain – I suddenly looked up. 

What did I see? 

In the middle of a stand of trees, I saw one tree showing off the splendor of fall.  I saw yellows and oranges and reds.  I saw that one tree, trying to find its way into the new season, and it was beautiful.  It reminded me that this was the beginning of a new time – a season that usually holds two lessons for me.

The first is the importance of remembering what happens in nature during this time.  Yes, the trees change colors, but they also lose their leaves.  Do you know why?  They drop their leaves in order to conserve water for the winter.  It makes me wonder:  what do I need to let go of in order to be strong enough for the seasons ahead?  What do you need to let go of? 

That’s lesson number one – a question, really, about letting go. 

Lesson number two came from that drive to work the other morning.  I won’t notice the beauty around me if I don’t take time to look up. 

It’s important, in the midst of all the things we are doing, to pause, to notice what is around us, and to take in the beauty.  There’s lots of it:  beauty within the students with whom we work, beauty in one another, beauty on campus.  We are beautiful souls.  There is beautiful creation all around us.  We are beautiful people becoming.  We just have to notice.

Let’s be sure to take time to notice the lessons of this changing season.  What do they offer you?
 

Peace,

A.T.

YOU ROCK!

• Campus Safety Team continues to conduct 30-minute fire watches for Denbigh dorm!
• Caroline Northcutt, for adeptly mastering the complex puzzle of scheduling 23 Fulbright and 8 Watson interviews!
• Cristen Kennedy and Erika D'Angelo for their amazing efforts to bring a transformative, inaugural wellness program to Bryn Mawr College!
• Dana Gold, Jennifer Prudencio, and the Career & Civic Engagement Center team for holding a successful Fall Tri-Co Career Fair which brought 400+ students and 24 employers spanning a wide range of industries and fields representing internship and full-time job opportunities. The team did an excellent job holding prep events, large and small, to get the students ready for the big day. Jerry and the team in campus safety were a huge help in preparing for possible activism at the event and all went smoothly due to the coordinated efforts to support our students and our employers.
• Mia Harvey, Student Engagement Coordinator, for the time she gave this past weekend in her service as one of the on-call coordinators.

UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE DIVISION (UCD) UPDATES

STUDENT SUCCESS

Academic Support:

• Presented at the International College Learning Center Association's annual conference. 
• Collaborated with Haverford College's Office of Academic Resources on shared tutor training and resources.
• Peer Mentors provided weekly outreach to all undergraduate students with resources, support, and advising reminders.

Access Services:

• Continued student meetings, engaging with 10 new students.
• Collaborated with professors and students to clarify guidance around attendance flexibility.
• Continued conversations with appropriate campus partners about the implementation of a campus-wide wayfinding system for 2025-26.

Class Deans:

• Seniors enrolled in a thesis or capstone course and received an email inviting them to schedule brief meetings with Dean Fenimore to discuss support while they navigate the completion of their thesis/capstone projects. 
• Hosted the second of two Sophomore Plan Overview sessions with Sophomore Dean, Global Engagement, and Career & Civic professional staff members and student leaders with 59 sophomores in attendance.
• Class Deans held 35 scheduled meetings and met with two students during drop-in hours.
• Participated in the Family Zoom Sessions.  

First-Year Experience:

• Brief check-in sessions for first-year students to connect with FYE staff after completing one month of college begin next week.
• Continuing to meet with Customs People and discussing ways they can support the first-year transition in the residence halls. 
• A Staff member attended THRIVE section this week to discuss Harm Reduction.

Global Engagement:

• All 11 Hanna Holborn Gray fellows presented their summer research findings in a colloquium open to the college community.
• Opened the late application for college approval to study abroad in Spring ‘24 and received four applications.
• Worked with 94 Fall '24 study abroad students to ensure completion of the travel registry.
• Conducted outreach to 346 sophomores about fall study abroad programming and office hours.

CAMPUS SAFETY

Rollcalls

• Local Incidents: We discussed recent incidents that have occurred around the area to ensure everyone is aware of the trends and potential risks nearby.
• Reporting to dispatch: Importance of documenting observations, even if minor, to ensure all incidents are logged into the system for proper tracking and follow-up, especially student activism on campus.
• Reminder to pay attention when taking Ubers and taking Septa to go to new places.

Bryn Mawr College
9/18-9/24/2024

Alarm Activation            15
Alarm Fire                      1
Assist Student                3
Drug Violation                0
Facilities Notification      2
Liquor Law Violation      0
Lockout                          86
Medical Response         0
Medical Transport          5
Student Lockout            20
Transport                       70
Well-Being Check          10
Total                              212

CAREER & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

• 96 BMC students attended the Fall Tri-Co Career Fair at Haverford (this is up from 51 at last Fall’s event). They were able to meet with 24 different employers. Here’s what one employer emailed us afterward: “From the moment I arrived, everyone was not only helpful, but also welcoming and the space the fair was held in was also lovely. I had many wonderful conversations with students and was very impressed by their engagement.” 
• Gap year/not Gap year Law Panel (Tri-Co) had 12 attendees and great questions. This was the 4th (of 13) Bi-College law school admission events this fall semester.
• The nonprofit organization Juntos visited campus to facilitate a letter writing workshop with the students in the Spanish for Advocacy Praxis course. Each student was matched with a community member currently being held in an immigrant detention center. These letters create connection and boost morale of the immigrants being detained and are part of Juntos’ regular community outreach. As part of this workshop, students learned more about Juntos, their work, and their advocacy for the Latinx community in Philadelphia.
• Civic Engagement Student Coordinators and staff members highlighted our co-curricular programs and Praxis courses during the Civic Engagement Spotlight event. Students explored volunteer opportunities with the Community Garden, Adelante, Overbrook Art Program, and VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). Students learned about upcoming Praxis courses and how to design Praxis Independent Study courses. We also offered support for students applying for background clearances and voter registration.
• 37 students indicated interest in the PLEN Health Policy Seminar in DC. Participants will learn directly from policymakers and advocates shaping health policy in Washington, DC and around the world. Twelve students, including all interested juniors and seniors, were selected to participate.
• Staff from the Student Success team and Career & Civic Engagement team met to start brainstorming ways we can work together and build off the Class Dean model! 

IMPACT CENTER

• Offered an all-day retreat for multicultural and multilingual students. 12 students participated in activities that fostered community, belonging, and “home.” Hosted by Joi Dallas and Vanessa Petroj, Director of Multi-Lingual Writing,
• Provided transportation and facilitated appointments with the Social Security Administration so that 16 international students were able to obtain social security numbers.
• Interfaith Chaplain offered eleven individual meetings and facilitated the Recovery Support Group.
• Completed registration for all international students in SEVIS and updated records with student local addresses.
• Welcomed and began on-boarding for new Associate Director of Student Support and Belonging, Trish Whitfield!
• Continue work to support students in the midst of the war in the Middle East.

STUDENT LIFE

Counseling Services:

• Met with 124 students this week. We completed 144 clinical appointments; 34 were brief assessments for students looking to engage in counseling. 
• 138 out of 144 were undergraduate students and six were graduate students. 
• Reminder: students, faculty, and staff that in addition to our services, students have access to mental health support 24/7, 365 via: ProtoCall (610-526-7778): crisis line staffed by trained mental health professionals, Counseling Services follows up on all crisis calls by the next business day. This is a great resource if you are sitting with a student who seems to be in crisis. The counselors on the line will advise whether the student should go the ER or can wait to see a counselor later that day/next business day.
• TELUS Health: students can text or call a support line as well as schedule REGULAR, FREE teletherapy appointments with licensed mental health professionals.

Health Services:

• 121 total weekly student encounters including sick/well-preventive/sexual health/consult/injection/RN/lab/triage were conducted this week.
• Hosted a very successful Grand Opening of the Wellness Room (space's name TBD via a naming contest by students). Over 50 people dropped by for the opening. The space is already getting "buzz" as a space to come and decompress from the stressors of student life.
• Professional staff and Peer Health and Wellness Educators are now holding office hours in the new space. Hours are attached—please feel free to print and post the information for your offices if possible.​  
• The Tri-co wellness directors are meeting to plan future training among all peer educators on the Tri-co campuses. The hope is to create a united understanding of wellness and share common language related to topics of health promotion, prevention, and wellbeing among the tri-co.
• Participated in the Intravenous Infusion Therapy (IVY+) Wellness Collective this week, sharing information about our new program with over 15 schools in the IVY+ consortium. Cristen was heartened by our offerings and progress, compared with the well-established schools at the meeting (Cristen Kennedy).
• Reminder to check out our brand-new Instagram, thanks to Erika D'Andrea, our Wellness Program Coordinator: healthwell_bmc Please "Follow" us!
• What's New? This is asked on the glass billboard in the waiting room. Please feel free to stop by and read the student and staff responses. Maybe add one of your own.

Residential Life and Student Engagement:

• Hosted an event/mixer for our department staff and transfer students.
• Department staff organized and will attend the annual "Thrilla at Linvilla" event for Hall Advisors and the Owl Programming Board today.
• We are collaborating with staff of the Impact Center for Community, Equity, and Understanding regarding the Intercultural Living and Learning Communities.
• Staff member participated in two Family Zoom webinars hosted by the Dean of the Undergraduate College.
• A staff member is serving in the search process for the Environmental Health and Safety position.
• We supported the elected student Residence Council Heads for their first meeting with their team of elected dorm presidents. 

Restorative Practice:

• Held 1 Facilitator training that reviewed the Restorative Practice intake process and the role they will play within the process.
• Met with our Trainers from International Institute for Restorative Practice to discuss our progress within the program thus far.
• Continued creation of Moodle Page for Facilitation Group. 

Student Support Services:

• Provided services to 47 referred students through 1:1 meetings, email check-ins, and consultations with campus partners. 
• Maxient is live! Please use the Student of Concern Referral Form (maxient.com) to refer students.

Title IX

• The work of the Interim Title IX Coordinator remains the same and we now have identified the interim. This is guided both by the College’s Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment policy (“the Policy”) and the Title IX Final Rule. 
• We will perform a robust, nationwide search for a full time Bryn Mawr dedicated Title IX Coordinator, There will be a search committee contrived of students, staff, and faculty.

STAFFING

• Interim Title IX Coordinator is Kim Pacelli. You can still reach the Interim Title IX Coordinator through the same reporting forms and Title IX phone number/email address link listed on the Sex Discrimination pages on the College’s website: titleix_coordinator@brynmawr.edu or 610-526-7863. You can also reach her directly at kim.pacelli@tngconsulting.com.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Stop by the Well today between 1:00 and 3:00 for prizes, Kona Ice, and more.
• Oct 2nd is the new Covid Boosters and annual flu vaccine clinic; signups are almost full. Please make sure to get a spot if you would like to take advantage of the convenience of the campus clinic. If you do not see a time that works for you, please just sign up in any slot and come when you can. We have been reassured by Walmart that no one will be turned away if they come at a time different from their original sign-up.
• October 4th is First Year First Friday at the Campus Center Main Lounge at 8pm.
• October 5th from 2-4pm on Merion Green Residence Life and Student Engagement will be hosting the annual Fall Festival for students, with a special viewing of Over the Garden Wall at 8 p.m. in the Campus Center.

DEAN ON CALL SCHEDULE

In order to contact the dean on call, please call Campus Safety at 610-526-7911.

FALL 2024

September 23-30 - Sara Donals
September 30-October 7 - Candice Love 
October 7-14 - Baru Roberson-Hornsby 
October 14-21 (Fall Break--No OCC on call!) - Tomiko Jenkins
October 21-28 (Inauguration & Family Weekend) - Tomiko Jenkins
October 28-November 4 - Andrew Wilbraham  
November 4-11 - Richie Gebauer  
November 11-18 - Melissa Giess
November 18-25 - Akirah Fenimore
November 25-December 2 (Thanksgiving) - Joi Dallas
December 2-9 - Tracy Weber
December 9-16 (Last week of classes) - Rachel Heiser
December 16-21 @ 9am (Finals Week; Dorms close at 6pm on 12/20) - Courtney Newkirk 

Message from the Undergraduate Dean

Dear Friends,

I would like to think that I would never take for granted the act of voting, mostly because I have vivid memories of my parents’ active participation in such activities in Jamaica. They participated even when there were threats of violence. It was that important to them. I suppose it’s in my DNA. I do also believe that because I chose to become an American citizen and understand the many sacrifices our ancestors (ones from long ago as well as most recent) made, it is a must that I vote. I share this for context because I have stayed up night after night to gather information about our upcoming elections. I am eager to learn about the candidates themselves, their policies, and the ways Americans have been and would be impacted by decisions made. I decided to watch some of the “townhall” hosted by Oprah Winfrey with Vice President Kamala Harris.

There were many moments of intrigue and pause, but one moment that stood out was a question pertaining to a woman’s right to choose. The mother of Amber Thurman, who died in a Georgia hospital of complications after taking abortion pills and waiting 20 hours was invited to this townhall. The doctors feared what actions to take because they wanted more clarity about the law. The mom wanted the world to know how much Amber suffered, that her death was preventable and that her daughter was not just a statistic; she wasn’t invisible. She wants the world to know that Amber was a loving and kind person who was loved by many. I had many feelings watching that segment, but for this reflection I want to lift up the ideas of “choice” and “visibility”. We thrive when we have the chance to share more of who we, our gifts and have the chance to explore, make mistakes and grow. This means we must constantly work on creating an environment that supports equity, provides opportunities, and create pathways for transparency and openness. We need this and so does our students. It isn’t lost on me that each day we show up at a women’s college, a place that we should create pathways for our students to feel strong, powerful, valued and seen. We have an opportunity to encourage, support and co-create by example. Let’s marvel in our responsibility to make and support change. Let’s keep centered the opportunities for our students to experience being visible so that they feel empowered to make choices, because there are many. It is our responsibility and duty—for ourselves and our students.

YOU ROCK!

• Campus Safety conducted multiple fire watches, including overnight, every 30 minutes since September 11^th.
• Campus Safety-for all their extra support with one card concerns, fire alarms, and dorm room access requests.
• Melissa Giess for her efforts redesigning and coordinating a new workshop series on the Sophomore planning process!
• The Student Success Team for creating a positive and collaborative environment!
• Dean Tomiko who has worked to put interim Title IX measures in place with the vacancy of our Title IX Coordinator.

UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE DIVISION (UCD) UPDATES

STUDENT SUCCESS

Academic Support:

• Hosted a tabling event in Erdman for planning for the semester with 200 students interacting with staff at the table.
• Conducted outreach and began consultations for all 39 potential Spring 2025 re-enrollment applicants.
• Held the first weekly Chem 103 Study Group facilitated by Peer Academic Coaches, as part of the HHMI Catalyst Initiative, with over 40 students attending.

Access Services:

• Continued intake meetings, engaging with 24 new students.
• Clarified guidelines for faculty related to the accommodation of recording.
• Held conversations with appropriate campus partners about the implementation of a campus-wide wayfinding system for 2025-26.

Class Deans

• Met with and supported approximately 60 students through one-on-one meetings and drop-in hours.
• 31 students attended the first of two Sophomore Plan Overview sessions with Sophomore Dean, Global Engagement, and Career & Civic professional staff members and student leaders. 
• Met with Global Engagement to brainstorm ways to partner on class year specific programming. 
• Attended the Political Science Department Senior Capstone Meeting to learn how to best support Seniors completing their capstone. 
• Met with Willy Oppenheim, Executive Director at Omprakash (non-profit that specializes in digital portfolios for students who study abroad) to begin discussions on potential partnership for Junior Year Away.

First-Year Experience

• All first-year students attended Campus Philly's CollegeFest in Philadelphia. 
• Thrive has had a successful start following the changes made over the summer, which have been received positively as students attentively engage in class discussions. 
• Met with all Customs Persons during bi-weekly check-ins. 

Global Engagement

• Four Study Abroad Student Coordinators (SASCs) started this week, and walk-in office hours will begin on Monday. The SASCs assist with student advising, organizing and lead events, and support Global Engagement's outreach. 
• Met with study abroad program partners from Temple University and University of Melbourne.
• Hosted a delegation of 16 scholars and administrators from African universities in conjunction with the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia for a roundtable discussion and a tour of campus.
• The fellowships committee has so far conducted 12 interviews with Marshall, Rhodes, and Fulbright candidates.

CAMPUS SAFETY

Rollcalls

• Had training on handling situations when someone becomes trapped in an elevator.
• Fire watches for a dorm that begun on September 11^th and occurred every 30 minutes. The situation has been corrected.
• Reviewed student activism protocols.

Bryn Mawr College
9/11-9/17/2024

• Alarm Activation                    12
• Alarm Fire                               2
• Assist Student                          7
• Drug Violation                         0
• Facilities Notification               7
• Liquor Law Violation               0
• Lockout                                   87
• Medical Response                    3
• Medical Transport                  1
• Student Lockout                      13
• Transport                                 98
• Well-Being Check                    2
• Total                                        232

CAREER & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

• Celebrated Constitution Day and National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, September 17. There was voter registration tabling in the Dining Halls during lunch and dinner, collecting PA voter registration forms and engaging with students. The BMC Democrats and the Service Club also tabled in Pem Arch. Together 28 new registrations were collected. 
• Liv & Ellie met for a post-event debrief meeting with the facilitator of the Kaospilot workshop, “The Art & Craft of Designing and Facilitating Learning Spaces” which was held at BMC in August. A total of 18 people participated in the workshop representing several higher ed institutions—including Bryn Mawr, Haverford, St. Joe’s, LaSalle, and UPENN—and nonprofits—including PHENND (Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development), Women’s Way, and the Philadelphia School District. Feedback was overall positive, and the hope is to offer the workshop again. 

• 18 Bryn Mawr students attended the first of a series of seven virtual technical skill trainings led by AESOP Academy for the Tri-Co. The topic was “Excel Basics.” 11 Swarthmore students and 7 Haverford students also attended the session. 
• Hosted our 2nd annual Prep Rally with 60+ BiCo students attending! In the Well Community Room and Atrium, students got LinkedIn headshots, drop-in resume reviews, and shopped in the career closet.
• 17 Bryn Mawr students attended Prepare for the Fair sessions ahead of the Tri-Co Career Fair. 
• Students in Praxis courses began their fieldwork this week. Students in Professor Juan Suárez Ontaneda’s class, Spanish for Advocacy (El derecho a vivir en paz: activismos en español) will be working on campus with community partner, Juntos, on a letter writing project.
• Patti Lausch, Assistant Dean for International Student & Scholar Advising and Lauren Platt, Associate Director for Career Counseling, Programming and Outcomes Assessment presented the International Student Employment Authorization workshop for 13 Senior International students.
• 31 Sophomores attended the Sophomore Plan Overview session, a collaboration between Global Education, Sophomore Dean, and Career+Civic. Student staff from each area served as panelists to impart wisdom to Sophomores about their experiences.
• The 2nd annual Fall Tri-Co Career Fair is being held at Haverford College today. 24 employers across industries are coming to campus to recruit students. 

IMPACT CENTER

• Hosted an Open House at the Enid Cook Center (ECC), 28 students attended.
• In collaboration with Career & Professional Development, hosted an International Student Employment Authorization Information Session for seniors.
• Preparing SEVIS registration for 178 students in F-1 visa status.
• Religious and Spiritual Life hosted first Recovery Group meeting – three students participated.
• Supporting 20 Alliance of Multicultural Organizations (AMO) groups and their budget requests for the semester.
• Launched monthly “Beyond the Book” series with a discussion of The Four Agreements. 12 staff and faculty participated.

STUDENT LIFE

Counseling Services:

• Met with 101 students this week and completed 113 clinical appointments; 35 were brief assessments for students looking to engage in counseling.
• Therapy groups will be starting in the next 1-2 weeks, students can indicate interest by scanning the QR code in the group flyer or clicking on this link which can be found on the website, under “Groups and Workshops.”
• Staff had a successful meeting with Pete Thompson, Sports Psychologist in Athletics, and discussed collaboration between offices.

Health Services

• Continued to see an increased number of students a day. 150 total weekly student encounters (including sick/well-preventive/sexual health/consult/injection/RN/lab/triage.
• Students are taking better advantage of the extended weekday hours this year compared to last year.
• Thanks to Erika D'Andrea, Wellness Program Coordinator for creating a new Instagram: healthwell_bmc 
• Several team members participated in the Restorative Practices training in August and look forward to integrating the principles into our interactions with students and each other.
• New Covid Boosters and the annual flu vaccine sign up went out. Please sign up and take advantage of the convenience of the campus clinic. 

Residential Life and Student Engagement

• Collaborated with the U.S. Census for completion of the American Community Survey for Erdman Hall.
• Twenty-three Hall Advisers (HAs) submitted entries into our door tag decoration contest.
• Supported the Self Governance Association (SGA) with their club budgeting process. 
• Facilitated three weekly small group staff meetings for 41 Hall Advisers.
• Resumed recruitment process for the Residential Life Coordinator vacancy.

Restorative Practice

• Created a Moodle page to streamline communications with our Facilitation group. 
• Held two facilitator trainings that reviewed the Restorative Practice intake process and the role they will play within the process. 
• Met with Consultant about our policies and procedures.

Student Support Services

• Provided services to 42 referred students through 1:1 meetings, email check-ins, and consultations with campus partners.
• Maxient is live! Please use the Student of Concern Referral Form (maxient.com) to refer students.

Title IX

• Created new job description in preparation for new Title IX coordinator hire.

STAFFING

• Letricia ("Trish") Whitfield has been hired as the Associate Director of Student Support and Belonging in The Impact Center. In this position, Trish will work closely with first-generation, limited income (FGLI) and undocu+ students. Trish has worked in DEI-related positions for over 15 years, coordinating education and support efforts around inclusion, allyship, gender equity, and anti-discrimination initiatives. Her commitment to limited income, first-generation college and undocu+ students is strong, and she spent over five years supporting these students at the secondary and higher education level. Trish has also worked as a non-teaching adjunct in the Office of DEI at the College of Staten Island and as a teaching assistant at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Trish earned her BS in Applied Science at Campbell University, her MA in Counseling Psychology at Eastern University, and is completing her PhD this December at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her first day will be Wednesday, September 25. Contact info:  610-526-6588 and twhitfield@brynmawr.edu. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Monday, Sept 23 from 2-4pm, Health services will host a Campus-wide "Grand Opening" of the Wellness Room. Please be on the look-out for reminders to join the celebration! Come meet new staff members, Cristen Kennedy, Wellness Program Director, and Erika D'Andrea, Wellness Program Coordinator, and share in a tour, grab a snack, join some fun activities, and enter a naming context for the space. ​
• Thursday, Sept 26 Tri-Co Writing/Publishing/Journalism Meet Up at Swarthmore. Students will meet with Tri-Co alumnae working in these fields and have career conversations about working in writing careers. There's a special blue bus for BMC students and there's more information in Handshake for any interested students.
• Friday, September 27 is Fun Friday @ the Well from 1-3pm! Come by to say hello & enjoy some Kona Ice, Cotton Candy, and some special guests! 

DEAN ON CALL SCHEDULE

To contact the dean on call, please call Campus Safety at 610-526-7911.

FALL 2024

• September 16-23 - Katie Krimmel 
• September 23-30 - Sara Donals 
• September 30-October 7 - Candice Love 
• October 7-14 - Baru Roberson-Hornsby 
• October 14-21 (Fall Break--No OCC on call!) - Tomiko Jenkins
• October 21-28 (Inauguration & Family Weekend) - Tomiko Jenkins
• October 28-November 4 - Andrew Wilbraham  
• November 4-11 - Richie Gebauer  
• November 11-18 - Melissa Giess  
• November 18-25 - Akirah Fenimore  
• November 25-December 2 (Thanksgiving) - Joi Dallas 
• December 2-9 - Tracy Weber 
• December 9-16 (Last week of classes) - Rachel Heiser 
• December 16-21 @ 9am (Finals Week; Dorms close at 6pm on 12/20) - Courtney Newkirk 

With gratitude,

Karlene

Dean of the Undergraduate College
Bryn Mawr College
Eugenia Chase Guild Hall
Lower Level
101 N. Merion Ave.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Phone: (610) 526-5375
Fax: (610) 526-7560

In Support of the Dean of the Undergraduate College
Liana Henrie
Executive Assistant
lhenrie@brynmawr.edu
(610) 526-5374

Message from the Undergraduate Dean

September 13, 2024

As we begin to settle into our academic year, I have been thinking a lot about our time together. What a difference a year makes. As I walked in today, I was overwhelmed by the feeling of “hope and possibilities”. My reflection this past week reminded me of how far we have come in such a short period of time. We focused on being both proactive and responsive to our community’s needs. We made it through a strategic plan, developed plans to assess many of our programs and experiences (baseline information), completed an assessment of our policies and procedures, most of them finalized, and had the division’s website redesigned. We offered many educational opportunities for continued learning. We have also done a lot of work to build a strong foundation with each other- to better understand our strengths, challenges, and opportunities. And we broke down the siloes and see and interact with each other as human beings!!! Last year, we worked to create a psychological safety environment so that we remain excited to show up to work each day, and put our best forward, even when there were moments of struggle. That yielded a place of joy and optimism and set the stage for our many new hires—an amazing group of colleagues that will only make us better and stronger. We did this…all of this and so much more, and we did it TOGEHER. To get here, at this pace, I honor the hard work, dedication, “we can do it attitude”, creativity, courage, optimism, collaboration, co-creation, and your willingness to be open and honest, which helped us make difficult decisions in the spirit of growth. Our division has persevered and so, even with upcoming challenges, some known and others not, we are better and stronger. We will lean on each other and thrive. Our students are counting on it. Let’s keep enjoying the journey.

YOU ROCK!

• A HUGE pat-on-the-back to Caroline Northcutt for her efficiency in learning the process and distribution of verification letters.
• To all the Thrive Facilitators for helping students build community, learn resources, and make connections on campus.
• This is a recognition for the whole team who supported student voters in 2022:  Bryn Mawr College earned recognition from the All In Campus Democracy Challenge for nonpartisan efforts in the 2022 Midterm Election!  We were recognized as the 4-year institution with the Highest Voting Rate AND the Highest Registration Rate for 2022, we’ve been added to the list of “Top Campuses by 2022 Voter Turnout” for 4-year private institutions, and we earned a Diamond Seal from All In based on our 2022 campus voting rate from our National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement report from Tufts University!  Woo hoo! 
• Ellie and Dayna’s presentations on voting and our students' first destinations at the UCD (Undergraduate College Division) meeting rocked! 
• Helen Roane, Residential Life Coordinator, for assuming additional responsibilities and leadership this year during student move-in and Hall Advisor orientation!!!
• Stacey and Dean Tomiko for the success of the SEPTA pass distribution!
• Amanda Coltri for her amazing work in redesigning the division’s website.

UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE DIVISION (UCD) UPDATES

STUDENT SUCCESS

Academic Support:

• Partnered with Chemistry faculty to pilot weekly Chem 103 Study Groups facilitated by Peer Academic Coaches as part of the HHMI (Howard Hughes Medical Institute) Catalyst Initiative with over 40 students registered.
• Conducted training to onboard peer tutors, peer mentors, peer academic coaches, and returning student mentors.
• Participated in and held programming throughout Fall Folic, Emerging Owls, DLT (Dorm Leadership Team) Training, and Orientation.

Access Services:

• Collaborated with staff from the Career & Civic Engagement Center and the Impact Center for an upcoming inclusive hiring event.
• Negotiated accommodations/requests from professors who had concerns.
• In contact with approximately 55 students related to various requests, intakes, and/or concerns.

Class Deans

• Met with 119 students in individual appointments.

• Met with approximately 35 students during drop-in hours.
• Met with Career and Civic Engagement to discuss opportunities for collaboration.
• Created a thesis/capstone tracker and shared it with several seniors to garner feedback for future implementation.
• Sophomore Plan overview sessions begin next week.
• Engaged with faculty at the faculty meet and greet. 
• Began work on a Class Dean manual.

First-Year Experience

• Successfully began all sections of Thrive.
• Began researching first-year and pre-orientation experiences at peer institutions to develop a pre-orientation program for early decision students. 
• Supported students in finalizing course schedules. 
• Implemented a sense of belonging scale in the first week of Thrive yielding 326 responses. Results to follow.

Global Engagement

• Received 23 Fulbright applications, 5 Marshall applications, and 3 Rhodes applications, and have begun the interview process with the committee.
• Added all members of the Class of 2027 to the Study Abroad 101 Moodle course; this course contains resources designed to help students learn about studying abroad as a Bryn Mawr student, discover and compare programs, and understand the logistics of the Study Abroad application process.
• Held the first study abroad information session of AY 24-25, on Debunking Study Abroad Myths, with 8 students in attendance.
• Met with partners from University of Bristol and CIEE / Yonsei University, South Korea.

CAMPUS SAFETY

Bryn Mawr College      

9/4/2024-9/11/2024            

• Alarm Activation - 6
• Alarm Fire - 3
• Assist Student - 10
• Drug Violation - 0
• Facilities Notification - 4
• Liquor Law Violation - 1
• Lockout - 02
• Medical Response - 2
• Medical Transport - 6
• Student Lockout - 20
• Transport - 118
• Well-Being Check - 0

Total - 272

CAREER & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT

• Dana Gold took a group of 10 students to NYC for a day trip on 9/13: visiting TriCo alums at 2 finance firms and exploring summer 2025 internships.
• 31 students (Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors) completed the Job & Grad School Boot Camp August 28-30. Pre-Post survey outcomes indicate that students’ confidence about the job market increased by 16% across the 3-day program, while their anxiety about the job market and graduate school application processes decreased by 10% and 12%, respectively.
• Amanda Moser-Shick hosted the Civic Engagement Student Coordinator Kick-Off. At this event, Student Coordinators who lead our on and off campus service programs gathered for community-building and training to kick off the fall programs. 
• Collected over 150 PA Voter Registration Forms during Customs Week and Fall Frolic! Tabling will continue in the Dining Halls and at events to promote voter registration between now and the PA Voter Registration deadline—October 21. 
• Katie and Ellie shared the Design Your Life concepts with 400+ parents while Jennifer Prudencio graciously welcomed a room of 300+ first years to Career & Civic Engagement Cetner during move-in day. Thanks for this opportunity MB! 

IMPACT CENTER

• Facilitated the Fall Orientation for the Intercultural Living and Learning Center (ILLC) in which expectations for participation and engagement were reviewed, residents established community agreements, and students began planning activities for the fall semester.
• Hosted a Welcome Event for first years – nearly 50 students attended and participated in a variety of activities designed to help students get to know one another and the Impact Center.
• Supporting international students with their transition to Bryn Mawr.
• Participated in Fall Frolic, highlighting programs and opportunities for involvement at the Impact Center.
• Facilitated a successful Dorm Essentials distribution, distributed donated dorm items to incoming and returning first-generation limited-income (FGLI) and international students.
• Helped Breaking Barriers (FGLI and undocu+) students who participated in Move-Out with the return of their items from summer storage.
• Offered workshops at the Emerging Owls leadership retreat.

STUDENT LIFE

Counseling Services:

• Met with 92 students in the first week of classes. Completed 115 clinical appointments; 65 were brief assessments for students looking to engage in counseling.
• Staff members attended the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research (GSSWSR) “Welcome Week” Tabling events on 9/3 and 9/4. The department shared about their services with graduate students and advertised our therapy groups for this semester.

Health Services

• Began working on the Okanagan Charter for Health-Promoting Colleges –also endorsed by American College Health Association (ACHA), but more holistic and inclusive framework than Healthy Campus  
• Onboarded Wellness Program Director.
• Revised Peer Health & Wellness Educator training and job description. 
• Created new alcohol and other drugs (AOD) trainings for Dorm Leadership Team, Hall Advisors (DLT, HA’s), and First-Year Orientation.
• Created new Wellness and Self Care trainings for Student Leaders, Dorm Leadership Team’s (DLT’s), Owl Retreat. 
• Created a new curriculum for Peer Health and Wellness Training. 
• Created a new Narcan Training and distribution Program in conjunction with a PA State Grant. 
• Created a new Wellness space for students on the 2nd Floor in the Well. 
• Established collaboration on emergency protocols and policies for the Tri-Co with directors from Swarthmore and Bryn Mawr College.
• Updated 4 core administrative policies: Emergency all-hazard policy, Health records management, Confidentiality, and Immunizations. 
• Completed immunization record review of all incoming first years and Post Bacs. 
• Executed new contract for the Community-wide Fall Covid/Flu Vaccination Clinic. 
• Student encounters: 117 since 9/4. There is a steady mix of upper respiratory infections, injuries, gynecology appointments, and referral requests. Please note the updates to Covid management and direct student to us or our website if they have questions: Health Resources

Residential Life and Student Engagement

• Three staff members are teaching a total of 5 first year THRIVE courses this semester.
• Staff have been working with both new and returning students regarding navigating roommate relationships and conflicts.
• Collaborated with campus partners to train over 100 student Dorm Leadership Team members.
• Organized Fall Frolic student club and organization fair for 130 student groups.
• Hosted the Emerging Owls Leadership Workshop for 110 student leaders.
• Over 300 new students attended the Friday Night Lights event as part of the Customs orientation week.
• Over 110 student clubs have completed their registrations.
• Provided party education for over 100 student leaders.
• Hosted a Welcome Back Bash event for students, faculty, and staff with over 500 people attending.
• Coordinated with the student Traditions leaders for the first Parade Night, the first student College tradition.

Restorative Practice

• Created training materials and solidified dates for the first monthly Circle Keeper (Facilitator) meeting. 
• Began building an internal evaluation tool.
• Scheduled our first meeting with consultant, to review policies and procedures.
• Sent out the library link for the books that were mentioned in the Restorative Practice two day training-Restorative Practice Recommended Readings.

Student Support Services

• Held first CARE Team meeting of the academic year.
• Student Assistance Fund Committee met to review applications and discussed criteria and website updates. Also finalized meeting schedule for fall semester.
• Provided services to 37 referred students through 1:1 meetings, email check-ins, and consultations with campus partners.
• Maxient is live! Please use the Student of Concern Referral Form (maxient.com) to refer students.

Title IX

• Development of community wide message for students, staff, and faculty regarding updates.
• Continued case management of reports.
• Planning for community prevention and educational programming.

STAFFING

• Counseling is thrilled to welcome three new graduate interns who are completing their advanced clinical training with BMC Counseling Services: Olivia Eilers (social work student from University of Pennsylvania), Kelsey Nelson (social work student from West Chester University), and Taylor Dunn (psychology doctoral student from Chestnut Hill College). Excited to welcome Cathi DelVecchio (professional counseling student from Villanova) back as a second year intern this year.
• Counseling is pleased to also welcome a new receptionist, Cindee LaDuna! Cindee brings more than 25 years of experience in administrative reception in a dental office and is thrilled to enter the world of higher education with this new position! Please come by and introduce yourself when you get a chance.

UPCOMING EVENTS

• Thursday, September 19, 3:30 – 5:30 pm join Civic Engagement staff and Student Coordinators to learn more about our service programs, the Praxis Program, and the many resources available to students who want to engage in the local community through civic engagement!  Snacks will be provided! 
• Thursday, September 19, join the Impact Center at The Well for the launch of this year's "Beyond the Book" series, a monthly discussion time for faculty and staff.  This month's selection is The Four Agreements. Please join us (even if you haven't finished the book)! For questions or to rsvp, contact ctaipe@brynmawr.edu. 
• Friday, September 20, 12:00-3:00, the Tri-Co Career Fair at Founders Hall, Haverford College, allows students from all class years and majors to create meaningful connections with organizations from various industries. Students can stop by to explore organizations, learn about open internship/full-time opportunities and gain knowledge about various industries of interest. 
• Monday, Sept 23 from 2-4pm, Health services will host a Campus-wide "Grand Opening" of the Wellness Room. Please be on the look-out for reminders to join the celebration! Come meet new staff member, Cristen Kennedy, Wellness Program Director, and Erika D'Andrea, Wellness Program Coordinator, and share in a tour, grab a snack, join some fun activities, and enter a naming context for the space. ​
• Thursday, September 19^th from 4:30-6pm in Lower-Level Guild, Faculty Meet and Greet hosted by our division. Please plan to attend if you can.

DEAN ON CALL SCHEDULE

In order to contact the dean on call, please call Campus Safety at 610-526-7911.

FALL 2024

• September 9-16 - Patti Lausch 
• September 16-23 - Katie Krimmel 
• September 23-30 - Sara Donals 
• September 30-October 7 - Candice Love 
• October 7-14 - Baru Roberson-Hornsby 
• October 14-21 (Fall Break--No OCC on call!) - Tomiko Jenkins
• October 21-28 (Inauguration & Family Weekend) - Tomiko Jenkins
• October 28-November 4 - Andrew Wilbraham  
• November 4-11 - Richie Gebauer  
• November 11-18 - Melissa Giess  
• November 18-25 - Akirah Fenimore  
• November 25-December 2 (Thanksgiving) - Joi Dallas 
• December 2-9 - Tracy Weber 
• December 9-16 (Last week of classes) - Rachel Heiser 
• December 16-21 @ 9am (Finals Week; Dorms close at 6pm on 12/20) - Courtney Newkirk 

Have a well-deserved weekend.

With gratitude,

Karlene

Dean of the Undergraduate College
Bryn Mawr College
Eugenia Chase Guild Hall
Lower Level
101 N. Merion Ave.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Phone: (610) 526-5375
Fax: (610) 526-7560

In Support of the Dean of the Undergraduate College
Liana Henrie
Executive Assistant
lhenrie@brynmawr.edu
(610) 526-5374