Talk with Your Student

Here are some topics for families and parents to discuss with your student to help guide them through the college journey.

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January 2023

Making Marquette home 

Many first-year students return to campus more confident and comfortable and will receive invitations to become involved in out-of-class experiences. The opportunities are as diverse as the student body, including student organizations, community service opportunities, intramural and club sports, and faith-based retreats, to name a few. 

Other opportunities to get involved service learningGreek Life and student employment. Now is a great time for students to try different groups and learn about different opportunities around campus.

New Year’s Resolutions 

If your student is trying to keep their new year's resolution or just wants to get moving encourage, them to check out what Rec Sports has to offer!  There are sign-ups for club sports, intramurals and group fitness classes. Be sure to check out their website for locations and hours during the Rec’s renovations!    

Apply to be a SPARK Leader and/or Orientation Leader this Summer!

Students can develop their leadership skills and help welcome the Class of 2027 next June as a SPARK Leader and next August as an Orientation Leader! These positions provides students an opportunity to connect with other student leaders through spring trainings and teambuilding. These positions also introduce students to many campus resources and leadership development programs. Information will be posted on the website. Applications will open January 31st!

Attend the Justice in Action Conference

Save the Date: The 2023 Justice in Action Conference will be held on February 25, 2023. Justice in Action is a daylong campus conference intended to provide a space for discussion, reflection, and information sharing on a variety of social justice issues. Applications will open in January 2023! To learn more about the Justice in Action Conference, please click here.

February 2023

Winter blahs

Winter in Milwaukee can be a challenge for some students as the snow flies and the days are shorter. Students may experience the winter “blahs”, and alcohol use tends to increase at this time of the year. Encourage students to bundle up and spend time outside exploring Milwaukee. Included in student tuition is a bus pass for the Milwaukee County bus system, and there are hundreds of entertainment and dining options only a few minutes away, Visit Milwaukee is a great place to start the search.  

Spring break plans can include service trips.

Spring break – March 12 to 19th – is just around the corner, and students begin making plans for trips during this time. Some visit home, travel or stay on campus, but many participate in week-long service trips with other students. Offered through student organizations or Campus Ministry, service trips are a fun, inexpensive way for students to meet new people while giving back to their greater community. Service sites are spread around the globe and provide an opportunity to live and learn from people of different backgrounds. The trips engage students in aspects of social justice.  

Health and Wellness

Kicking off with their grand re-opening February 1st, The Center for Student Wellness and Health Promotion is offering 1:1 peer wellness coaching and offering a weekly conversation corner.  

The 2023 Justice in Action Conference Registration is Live!

Justice in Action is a free daylong campus conference intended to provide a space for discussion, reflection, and information sharing on a variety of social justice issues. All students are encouraged to attend.  The conference will be held on Saturday, February 25 from 9:00 am to 2:00pm, in the Alumni Memorial Union.

REGISTRATION IS OPEN! Preferred Registration deadline is February 17th 2023.

Click here to learn more about the conference and register!

March 2023

Fall class registration and declaring a major

Students will be able to see their Fall 23 registration appointment in CheckMarq starting on March 6th.  Students will meet their adviser and begin planning for course registration for the next year. Those students who are still undecided about which major to choose should be encouraged to explore their options and seek guidance from academic support services. Most students choose a major by the end of their sophomore year, but even those who don’t should start narrowing down options.  Career Services also serves as a resource for students for a variety of topics including selecting a major and how to prepare for a job search. They have a portion on their website devoted to helping family members assist their student with career development.  

Fall Housing

Deposit collection for sophomore housing selection will run from March 1 through March 20. Housing selection will begin on March 27 for all current students (March 21 for living-learning communities) and conclude on April 6. A complete outline of the process is available on the residence life website: https://www.marquette.edu/residence-life/signup.php

April 2023

Staying Focused

As temperatures rise, students often find it more difficult to concentrate. Continue to encourage your student to balance work and play and join study groups or set attainable short-term goals to stay focused on classes and assignments.  

Summer Class Opportunities

Whether your student is looking to catch up, get a head start on the fall semester or graduate sooner, Marquette’s Summer Studies program offers hundreds of on-campus options and many online courses, including many popular introductory and University Core of Common Studies classes. Six-week accelerated summer programs allow students to take a class in the morning or evening, leaving plenty of time for a summer job or internship and enjoying summer in Milwaukee. 

Summer Employment

It is never too early for students to begin preparing for their post-graduation career. Summer jobs and internships are valuable opportunities to learn skills for future jobs and start creating a network of professional contacts. The programs, including resume critiques, interview practice, and job and internship search skills. Encourage your student to take advantage of Career Services and visit the Handshake websites to see what opportunities are out there.  

For on-campus jobs and off-campus seasonal or part time jobs, you can encourage your student to explore Student Employment opportunities by visiting JobX.

May 2023

Summer Leadership Opportunites Still Available

SPARK & Orientation Leaders still needed in New Student & Family Programs.  Please encourage students to apply!

Future Planning

Family Weekend is September 29th - October 1st, 2023

August 2023

A time of transition – for the student and families 

During the first year, and throughout college, students will move between being out in a world that’s exciting and needing to know their parents and families will always support them. Some students will thrive immediately; others will need more time to get comfortable. No matter the pace, the next four years are an important transition to independent adulthood. 

It’s also an important milestone for parents and families, transitioning from provider and protector to mentor and confidant. 

Living arrangements 

All first-year students living in a residence hall are asked to complete a roommate agreement, including how roommates will navigate different expectations and living styles. Most new students find their living arrangements work if they are open-minded and communicate with one another.  

Tuition and bills 

Students receive notices about tuition to their Marquette email accounts. If parents want to receive these notices, they must have their student register a parent’s email for guest access through their CheckMarq account. This also provides access to bursar accounts, e-bills and 1098Ts. 

 

September 2023

Stay in touch – visit this month for Family Weekend

(September 29th - October 1st)! 

Marquette encourages families to stay in touch with their students and send care packages to celebrate their successes while also encouraging them to take advantage of university resources when they are struggling. 

First-year students living on campus are encouraged to stay at Marquette on weekends during the first semester as much as possible. It is a crucial time to make new friends, adjust to new academic expectations and get involved outside the classroom.  

Visit the website to learn more about the events offered on or off campus. Also, consider just joining your student for a tour of campus or a dinner downtown.