VICE PRESIDENT FOR STUDENT AFFAIRS

Planning During Unprecedented Times

With seven weeks of on-campus living remaining, we are holding our own. Mandatory testing has played a large role in our success and you can stay up-to-date on the positivity rate via our dashboard. I am grateful to our students for their consistent compliance along with your support as parents and family members. We cannot, however, let our guard down. Despite Florida moving into stage 3, there is still a curfew in Miami-Dade County in effect and we will continue to enforce it.

As I shared in the September edition, we are beyond an unprecedented time. Collectively, we do not have past experiences to rely on and guide our actions. As parents, we are all too familiar with journeying into the unknown as we support our students. You each have been doing extraordinary work for your students. We must, however, also take care of ourselves. I recently discovered this article about surge capacity, our adaptive systems for stressful situations. At times like this, I am reminded of how I must engage in activities that fulfill me so I am able to be present and supportive of my daughter as well as all of your outstanding students. I encourage each of you to give yourselves grace as a parent both on a day-to-day basis and as you prepare for the rest of the semester supporting your student.

While planning is extraordinarily challenging now, we are planning December commencement where we intend to also honor our May and August 2020 graduates with a physically distanced in-person ceremony as well as looking towards Spring 2021 with the release of the academic calendar. We have made it known to students that sorority recruitment will occur virtually. We know how important planning and information is at a time like this and we will continue to make information known as soon as possible.  

I hope that you and your family are doing okay throughout this time. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at vpsa@miami.edu yourself or encourage your student to do so.

Dr. Patricia A. Whitely has been the Vice President for Student Affairs since 1997 and is an adjunct faculty member in the School of Education and Human Development. Dr. Whitely is responsible for oversight of residential life, leadership development, diversity and inclusion initiatives, service learning, orientation, student organizations, student activities, student facilities, student counseling and student health centers, Greek life, the Dean of Students Office, and the Camner Center for Academic Resources.

DEAN OF STUDENTS OFFICE

Understand the Honor Code

With midterms approaching, it is important to be reminded of the University’s Undergraduate Honor Code. Recently amended for the fall 2020 semester, and with additional considerations given for both in-person and remote learning, it is important for students and families to understand these guidelines.

As exams, projects, and papers begin to stack up, each may be worth a significant percentage of your student’s semester grade. The pressure and stress upon a student to perform well are ever-present during this time.

It is important that students take the time to study and prepare, while also familiarizing themselves with the Undergraduate Honor Code. This code covers cheating, plagiarism, collusion, and academic dishonesty. Its intent is to ensure a fair and ethical academic pursuit not just during finals, but all throughout their time as a student. The Dean of Students Office invites students and families to contact them with any questions and to provide additional resources.

COUNSELING CENTER

Coping with COVID-19

As departments across campus continue to do their part helping to keep our University community safe in response to COVID-19, the University of Miami Counseling Center (UMCC) is open to support students and the campus community.

Understandably, this year has been taxing for everyone. UMCC acknowledges the impact of COVID-19 on students—and their families—and recognizes that it is typical to experience anxiety, worry, or fear. Each student is coping with the global pandemic in a different way. By showing patience, compassion, and grace towards one another, we can continue to support those we care about.

That is why the UMCC developed its 'Cane Care Package, which is filled with various resources to help students cope with COVID-19. Specifically for students who are required to quarantine or isolate, the UMCC has also developed an information guide.

The UMCC provides a wide array of effective and quality multi-disciplinary psychological services. From individual telemental health appointments to online resources, the Counseling Center is here for your student.

ORIENTATION AND COMMUTER STUDENT INVOLVEMENT

Celebrating our Transfer Students

Happy Autumn 'Canes families! This month, we want to highlight National Transfer Student Week, a week full of campus-wide events to celebrate our transfer students and instill pride within our transfer student population. Whether your student is one of the 700+ that transfer into the University of Miami each year or has welcomed a transfer student into our community, this is an important population to celebrate!

National Transfer Student Week will be held from October 19-23, and is coordinated by the Transfer Assistants and our Tau Sigma National Honor Society chapter. Tau Sigma is one of the many organizations on campus that is dedicated to enhancing transfer students' experience here at the U by celebrating their academic success and providing opportunities for campus involvement and building networks.

We are both thriving transfer students at the University of Miami from Miami Dade College. We owe our successful transition to the various resources offered at UM and within Orientation & Commuter Student Involvement. From our time of arrival, we were placed with Transfer Assistants who helped us acclimate to our new home. Inspired by my Transfer Assistant and grateful for her support, I (Fedelene) decided to follow her path and became a Transfer Assistant myself. This opportunity further allowed me to contribute to the creation of the new Transfer Student Guide provided at orientation. This guide provides students with many of the tools and a roadmap to ensure success at the U.

Our best advice is for transfer students to seek out opportunity beginning on day one and step out of their comfort zone. Transitioning into a new university can be difficult, but as all students can attest to, it is worth everything to become a Miami Hurricane!

Fedelene Camille (left) is a senior majoring in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and minoring in Health Sector Management and Policy. She is a transfer student from Miami Dade College, and currently serves as the President of Tau Sigma National Honor Society. Fedeline is a highly involved student leader and is actively engaged in medical research that further prepares her for education beyond UM.

Nathalia Torres (right) is a junior majoring in Sociology and Criminology, and minoring in Health Management and Policy & Public Health. She is a transfer student from Miami Dade College, and currently serves as a Remote Assistant. Nathalia is an active member of the President's 100, Category 5, Homecoming Executive Committee, HP Concerts, and the Pre-Physician Assistant Club. 

CAMPUS DINING

Dining Dollars Balance Extension

Eligible students with Dining Dollar balances from the 2019-2020 academic year were offered an extension of use through October 15. Furthermore, students who are remote for Fall 2020 were further extended through February 28, 2021. In an effort to provide further value and goodwill, Dining Services has extended all Spring 2020 balances through the end of the Spring 2021 semester (May 2021). For further information, please visit Dining Services.

Late Night Dining

Late Night Dining at the Hecht-Stanford Dining Hall adds an additional meal option from 8:30 to 10:45 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Visit dineoncampus.com/miami for more information.

Meals at Home

Designed for students with access to a kitchen or kitchenette, U|Apron is a new bi-weekly meal kit program that includes all the ingredients students need to make 2 servings of a special dish plus a pre-recorded cooking demonstration led by a professional chef. Students must sign up in advance at www.tinyurl.com/ycdsskw6, and meal kits can be picked up from the Hecht-Stanford Dining Hall for 2 meal swipes (or $27).

As an alternate to U|Apron, Grab Goodness offers ready-cooked, microwavable meals for students who do not have access to a kitchen but would like to take something back with them to eat later. These convenient, nutritious, and freshly made meals are available for a single take-out swipe from both dining halls: Mahoney Pearson and Hecht Stanford Dining Hall.