CMC Parent Newsletter
Summer 2023

In this issue:

By Dahlia Jabro P'26

I cannot believe it was a year ago that I dropped off my first-year student at CMC. It was a challenging but exciting time. As a parent, I struggled to figure out how to be helpful and supportive while giving my student the space to be independent. So, I will share some last minute details and suggestions that will hopefully unload some of the uncertainty associated with this monumental day.

Move In Day: Move-in for new students is on Sunday, August 20th from 8:00 – 11:00 a.m. When you arrive you will find a team of First Year Guides who will help unload your vehicle and direct you where to go. They will greet your car with tons of energy and big smiles! Try to label all that you can with your student's last name, dorm, and room number to make sure nothing is lost in the excitement! New students will check in at their quads (see here for locations) and pick up their dorm key with the Dean of Students. Please note: keys are distributed to students only. Story House and the mailroom will be open to pick up any packages you sent ahead from 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. (If you have a returning student, move-in day is Saturday, August 26th and Sunday, August 27th.) A schedule of Student Orientation can be found in your student’s portal. You can also download the Guidebook App to your phone and search for the Claremont McKenna College Orientation 2023. This helpful guide has both the student and parent schedules.
What to Bring: I recommend reviewing the detailed dorm checklist found online to confirm your student has all their essentials.
Parent and Family Orientation: While students attend their orientation sessions, parents are invited to attend Parent and Family Orientation. These sessions are designed to meet the specific needs of parents and families. If you have not registered, please visit the Parent and Family Orientation website by Friday, August 19. International families may register here. Please note the sessions are optional.

Most importantly, as a parent, I can tell you that Claremont Mckenna College is a supportive community. Staying engaged through social media and volunteer opportunities can help you stay up-do-date and provide valuable support to your student. These opportunities are also a great way to meet other parents and share experiences, creating a supportive network within the CMC community for your entire family.

What to Know Before They Go: A Parent’s Guide

By Lisa Therron P'24

As parents, our top priority is to ensure a seamless transition to college life for our students and to understand how we can effectively support them during this crucial time. That's why we reached out to Dianna "DT" Graves '98, Vice President of Student Affairs for the Dean of Students Office at CMC. This office oversees various aspects of a student's life, including residential life, new student programs, student activities, and provides a variety of services, extracurricular programs, one-on-one support, and assistance.

Dianna Graves began her remarkable journey with CMC as a student, excelling in sports with 11 varsity athletics letters and receiving the prestigious Dickinson Award. She also served as Head Resident Assistant and was recognized as one of two outstanding students in her graduating class, winning the esteemed Berger Prize. After her impressive student career, Dianna returned to CMC as the head women's volleyball coach, successfully leading the team for 12 seasons. In 2010, she took on the role of Director of Academic Planning at CMC, showcasing her dedication to student success. Prior to her current position as Vice President of Student Affairs, Dianna served as Dean of Students and Associate Vice President of Student Affairs, demonstrating her expertise in supporting and guiding students. Additionally, she contributed significantly to CMC's institutional priorities as the Assistant Vice President for Strategic Initiatives, collaborating with students, faculty, staff, and trustees. Dianna's extensive experience and passion make her the perfect guide for parents, ensuring their students are well-prepared for the exciting journey ahead.

I have reached out to Dianna and asked her to draw on her wealth of experience as a student, coach, and college leader to offer invaluable guidance to parents. With her deep insights, we can assure you that on move-in day, not only will our students have the perfect sheets, but they will also feel fully equipped for this thrilling new chapter in their lives.

You were a student a CMC and have worked extensively at Claremont McKenna in the Dean of Students office. Tell us what brought you back to CMC and what continues to drive you as a leader for the college.

When I came to CMC, I was the first in my family to go to college, and I was incredibly nervous and quite homesick for those first few months. Making connections with other students but also professional staff and coaches and faculty who clearly cared about me really made an impact. The opportunity to work closely with students who are transitioning from high school into adulthood has been extraordinary for me as a career. I have held numerous roles at Claremont McKenna, and for decades, I have seen how people who extend simple kindness to others can really make an impact as leaders at a place like this.

The DOS Office employs a transformational framework in which students are supported and coached in developing the skills and attributes required of engaged and responsible global leaders. Can you tell us what is one of your favorite programs (or functions) of DOS that you have seen make an important impact on student's lives and elevated the CMC experience?

The Romero Success Coaches program has been really important in providing students opportunity to work with other students in building all kinds of skills that help them be excellent academics and also responsible global leaders. Students can meet with a success coach to talk about everything from their strategy in approaching a particular assignment or class, to thinking through health and well-being concerns like sleep, to developing communication skills. The success coaches are trained by professional staff and because they are students, they are particularly dialed into the kinds of things other students need support in. Watching them coach one another is so impressive and provides confidence to them and the students they work with that they can handle the hard things required at CMC.

Moving away from home, learning to live with different people, and adapting to new situations are huge parts of the transition for students and parents. Can you share with parents your top 1-2 tips for supporting their students during their adjustment to residential life?

Yes! Moving away from home is a massive transition. Try to let them find their path and make their own decisions. You’ve prepared them so well, and we are here to help them recover from mistakes if they are made—it’s part of the learning. We have four primary messages that we send to our students that we love for parents to reinforce.

You belong here! We value the person you are and the person you will become at CMC.
It’s hard, but you can do it. CMC is rigorous and will demand much of you. That’s by design. The world needs you—strong thinkers who have the tenacity to tackle big problems. Commit to hard work.
You are not alone. Yes, it’s hard, but we are here to help. There are so many resources to assist with everything from the transition to college, to academic support, to mental health and wellbeing, to social engagement, to career planning. We’ve got you! If you’re not taking advantages of the resources, you’re leaving opportunities on the table.
This is your journey. Seriously, there is no “right” way to do CMC. Approach your journey with curiosity and an open heart, and don’t let the expectations placed by others control your decision-making.

There is a wide range of different mentoring programs that the DOS Office offers to students. How do most students come to learn about the programs? Any advice for parents who may want to point their students toward mentoring? Are most students in the mentor programs first-year students, or do you have students from 2nd and 3rd years?

One of the hallmarks of CMC is that newer students learn from older, more experienced students, sometimes through structured mentorship relationships. All new students are assigned to 3-4 First Year Guides (FYGs) who act as mentors through the first year of college. The FYGs take this responsibility very seriously and take pride in coaching their “FYGlets” through everything from registration and accessing resources to making friends. The Resident Assistants are another incredible group of mentors. They live in the residence halls and help keep an eye on all their residents to make sure they are healthy and thriving. They have regular open-door hours for students to come by to say hi or seek advice or discuss a concern. They function more as older brothers and sisters than they do policy enforcers in the way resident assistants sometimes work at other institutions. While they help enforce our community expectations, they put a huge focus on building strong communities of support. In addition to these student leadership cohorts, there are some formal mentorship clubs, for example, the Asian Pacific American Mentors (APAM) group, OneGen for those who are the first in their family to go to college, and IConnect for international students.

All of these have student leaders who are trained as mentors to work with students of shared identity to help them in the transition to college. These clubs will have an open house during orientation so students can get involved with these organizations. All of them are geared towards the first-year experience and then as students become more comfortable, they move into mentorship roles during their second, third, and fourth years.

Parents do worry about the mental health challenges that come with transitioning to college. What advice do you have for parents who become concerned about their student's well-being? Are there resources that you recommend for parents?

The Dean of Students Office cares deeply about the well-being of our students, and we are committed to providing support to all students, understanding that challenges may arise along the way. For those who may find themselves facing obstacles or are looking to improve their personal well-being, CMC’s Assistant Dean of Students for Mental Health and Case Management (Jess Neilson) works with students to identify their current needs and coordinate support through an ongoing partnership. This often includes referrals to campus and community resources and ongoing monitoring of personal progress. The goal of case management is to help students engage in effective problem-solving by navigating supportive options together. Here are some of the many mental health resources available to our students. We also do a lot of work to help students increase their stress tolerance and develop skills that help them to deal with the pressure of college and adulthood. If your student has existing mental health concerns, encourage them to reach out to Jess Neilson jneilson@cmc.edu to discuss how this new environment should be factored into their care plan. If you get concerned that they are not ok, you can always contact the Dean of Students Office directly at deanofstudents@cmc.edu so we know to check in and offer support.

Above all, remember you got them this far, and they are ready to launch. Certainly, they don’t have life all figured out, but who does really? CMC is a perfect place to explore, take some conscientious risks, and start to stretch those “grown-up” muscles in new ways. It’s an exciting ride, and we’ve got them!

An Overview on the Research Institutes and Centers

By Marisol Rivera Thurman P'24

It might have already started: dozens of emails a day flooding your student’s mailbox with an amazing array of opportunities. This is one of the many blessings of a CMC education! Some students, however, take a bit longer to learn how to navigate a full inbox and multiple options. Not to worry! You might be able to give your incoming first-year a little support by knowing about some of the opportunities to look for that have early application deadlines.

The 11 Research Institutes and Centers are a unique CMC feature that give undergraduate students research and other career building experiences. You may learn more about the Institutes by watching this video. Here are a few that provide first-year opportunities:

The Financial Economics Institute (FEI) gives students interested in finance and related areas the chance to develop research skills and engage with both academics studying finance and practitioners working in the world of finance. Students can work closely with finance and economics faculty as well as assist FEI staff with general operations. Look for applications to open with a deadline of Mid-September.

The Keck Center for International and Strategic Studies encourages first-year students to apply to their World Affairs Podcast Program. Students will conduct research on a region or a theme in world affairs and develop three podcast episodes. Students selected for this fellowship will receive $1,000 disbursed in two payments. No previous experience in podcasting is required. Applications will open at the beginning of the fall semester.

The Mgrublian Center for Human Right’s Academic Year Research Fellowship Program allows students to conduct research of their own choosing and design under the guidance of a faculty advisor. Research fellows spend the academic year diving deep into a human rights, Holocaust, or genocide studies project while benefiting from the resources and office space the Center has to offer.

The Randall Lewis Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (RLCIE) accepts applications from all students in good academic standing. Students are required to participate in a series of six 1st Year CORE workshops spread across the Fall and Spring semesters, participate in a first-year cohort pitch contest, and conduct office hours once per month with the RLCIE Executive Director. All students that complete these requirements earn their way into the program and are eligible to participate in the RLCIE Fellows Program. Look for application deadlines in mid-September.

Student Privacy for Healthcare and Grades: The Parent Perspective

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) was designed to protect student’s rights by maintaining the privacy of educational records, and providing guidelines for the correction of inaccurate or misleading information. The College realizes, however, that some students may want to share their academic progress with their parents and welcome parental support when it comes to healthcare and academics.

Parents and students over the age of 18 may want to have a conversation regarding the release of educational and medical records, and arrive at a mutually satisfactory agreement. More information regarding the specific forms is below.

Healthcare: Student Health Services (SHS) and Monsour Counseling and Psychological Services (MCAPS) follow all required HIPAA and privacy guidelines, unless students pose a danger to themselves or to others. The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPPA), protects the privacy of medical records. As soon as a child turns 18, parents no longer have access to their medical information even if they are still covered by the parents’ health insurance. Students may elect to sign a Medical Release of Information Form, allowing health-care provides to share information with the authorized person.

If your student is a CMS athlete, be aware that athletes will be asked to complete the annual NCAA Student-Athlete HIPAA Authorization Form with the rest of their NCAA Eligibility paperwork. This allows athletic trainers, physicians, and other medical providers to freely communicate about an athlete’s healthcare-related information. It also allows coaches to be kept informed on the status and severity of injuries. In order for parents to be informed about sports-related health information, athletes would have to also sign the aforementioned SHS Medical Release of Information Form.

Grades and Educational Records:
The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), is a federal law that administered by the Department of Education. FERPA applies to all institutions that receive funding from the department. Once a student reaches the age of 18 and enrolls in college, FERPA rights transfer from the parent to the individual student. As a result, CMC cannot release education records—including grades—to parents unless the student has given prior express written consent. Students may access, fill out, and sign a FERPA Release Form and bring it to the Registrar’s Office in order for their parents to have access to their grades. (In accord with FERPA laws, CMC’s full written policy with regard to educational privacy and student privacy rights can be found on the website.)

Privacidad de los estudiantes para la atención médica y las calificaciones: La perspectiva de los padres

La Ley de Derechos Educativos y Privacidad de la Familia (FERPA) fue diseñada para proteger los derechos de los estudiantes manteniendo la privacidad de los registros educativos, y proporcionando lineamientos para la corrección de información inexacta o errónea. Sin embargo, la universidad es consciente de que algunos estudiantes pueden querer compartir su progreso académico con sus padres y agradecen el apoyo de los padres cuando se trata de la atención médica.

Los padres y los estudiantes mayores de 18 años pueden tener una conversación sobre la divulgación de los registros educativos y médicos, y llegar a un acuerdo mutuamente satisfactorio. A continuación, encontrará más información sobre los formularios específicos.

Atención médica: Los Servicios de Salud de los Estudiantes (SHS) y los Servicios Psicológicos y de Asesoramiento de Monsour (MCAPS) siguen todas las directrices requeridas por la HIPAA y de privacidad, a menos que los estudiantes representen un peligro para ellos mismos o para otros. La Ley de Portabilidad y Responsabilidad del Seguro Médico (HIPPA), protege la privacidad de los registros médicos. Tan pronto como un adolescente cumple 18 años, los padres ya no tienen acceso a su información médica, incluso si todavía están cubiertos por el seguro médico de los padres. Los estudiantes pueden optar por firmar un formulario de divulgación de información médica, lo que permite que los proveedores de atención médica compartan la información con la persona autorizada. El formulario se puede encontrar aquí.

Si su estudiante es un atleta de CMC, tenga en cuenta que se les pedirá a los atletas que completen el formulario anual de autorización HIPAA para estudiantes-atletas de la NCAA con el resto de su documentación de elegibilidad de la NCAA. Esto permite que los entrenadores de atletismo, los médicos y otros proveedores de servicios médicos se comuniquen libremente sobre la información relacionada con la atención médica de un atleta. También permite que los entrenadores se mantengan informados sobre el estado y la gravedad de las lesiones. Para que los padres sean informados sobre la información de salud relacionada con el deporte, los atletas también tendrían que firmar el mencionado Formulario de Divulgación de Información Médica de SHS.

Calificaciones y registros educativos:
La Ley de Derechos Educativos y Privacidad de la Familia (FERPA), es una ley federal que administra el Departamento de Educación. La FERPA se aplica a todas las instituciones que reciben fondos del departamento. Una vez que un estudiante alcanza la edad de 18 años y se inscribe en la universidad, los derechos de FERPA se transfieren de los padres al estudiante individual. En consecuencia, CMC no puede divulgar los registros educativos -incluidas las calificaciones - a los padres, a menos que el estudiante haya dado previamente su consentimiento por escrito. Los estudiantes pueden acceder, completar y firmar un formulario de autorización FERPA y llevarlo a la Oficina de Registro para que sus padres tengan acceso a sus calificaciones. (De acuerdo con las leyes FERPA, el documento completo de CMC con respecto a la privacidad educativa y los derechos de privacidad de los estudiantes se puede encontrar en el sitio web).

Volunteer with the Parent Network!

As the parent/guardian of a CMC student, you are part of the Parent Network and uniquely connected to the College through your student. The mission of the Parent Network is to help students and their families make the most of their CMC years by providing information about campus life, important milestones and events, and by offering a variety ways to learn more about and connect with the College and each other.

Whether you live across the globe or down the street, there are many ways to become involved. Please visit volunteer page here to learn more and submit an interest form. In addition, if you plan to be on campus for Parent and Family Orientation on Sunday, August 20, please stop by the Parent Network kiosk at the Hub! Several Parent Network Board members will be on hand to meet you and share their experience. And you can grab some great CMC swag! CMC will be the center of your student’s life for four years and beyond.

We encourage you to be connected and engaged!

Show Off Your CMC Pride!

Looking for the latest in CMC parent gear? The CMC Supply Shop has you covered! Make sure to catch our pop-up shops in Roberts Pavilion during Parent and Family Orientation (August 20, 2023) and during Family Weekend (February 17-19, 2024)!

We hope you will display your CMC pride on-campus, at home, and wherever your travels may take you.

Parent Network Board Meetings

The Parent Network Board meets quarterly to discuss ways to enhance the College experience and to hear from College leadership. Read the April 2023 Board meeting minutes here.

Read the Meeting Minutes