Southern Vermont College

Well, we knew it had to happen.  You can’t avoid the inevitable no matter how hard you try…Southern Vermont College got its first snow storm this weekend – and it couldn’t have come at a better time (add sarcasm here).

Mid-term exams have just finished and students are settling in for the last half of the fall semester.  Hopefully many of you are hearing from your students and are receiving news about academic successes or struggles at this half-way point.

All students have confidential access to the SVC Scholars Portal where they can log into a College website and find their mid-term grade for each class.  Students are reminded that this is only a reflection of where they stand as of mid-semester.  Having this information lets a students know where they are at and if they need to “step-up” their studying in any particular area.

The second half of the fall semester always appears to be more stressful than other times of the year.  The days are getting shorter, the weather is getting colder, the holidays are getting closer, and paper and project deadlines begin to loom larger.

Now is the best time of year for family members to check in with their students a little more regularly.  A consistent boost of encouragement and occasional care package from home can make a big difference to a student hitting the mid-semester blues.  Discuss plans for Thanksgiving and end of the year holiday celebrations, giving them something to look forward to.  If your student commutes to campus, an extra conversation about how classes are going and how campus life is treating them can go a long way.

Starting the week of November 7 students will begin the process of registering for spring classes, making appointments with academic advisers and discussing what courses are the best fits for next semester.  After meeting with their advisers, students then return to the Scholars Portal and register for those classes online.

See…spring is just around the corner!

Everyone feels that extra pinch during this time of year.  The Mountaineer Events Board and Office of Student Life offer additional programming and activities for students to relax and let off steam because we realize what this time of year can be like.

As always, if you have any concerns about how your student is fairing on campus, do not hesitate to contact the Dean of Students Office or Counseling Services.

Next Month:  Coming Home for the Holidays!