Welcome Back Class of 2009

September 1, 2007

Dear Sophomores,

Welcome back to Mount Holyoke as upper-class women! I hope that you have had a great summer. It is a pleasure to introduce myself as the new Dean of the Sophomore Class. I am excited about being your new dean and look forward to working with each one of you.  Your sophomore year may be the most exciting year of your collegiate experience.  It is a time when you make decisions about: your major, learning opportunities abroad, summer and J-term internship opportunities, professional schools, graduate schools, and your overall career goals. 

To help with the many choices available to you, the Alumnae Association, Career Development Center (CDC), McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives (CGI), Dean of Students Office, various offices across campus, your class board, and my office are working to bring you a special program entitled, “MORE for Sophomores.”  The program will be held on Sunday, September 16th at Chapin Auditorium from 1:00-4:00 p.m.  So please come out and support this event, we promise to have something for each of you.  To find out more about this event please visit http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/deans/12025.shtml  and click on MORE for Sophomores!

While many of these opportunities are very exciting, you may also find this time somewhat stressful and problematic.  The new choices, problems, and responsibilities are quite different from your first-year experience, and sometimes you may feel that you are alone in making what appear to be life-changing decisions.  For some sophomores this is a difficult time in their academic, personal and social development.  This combination can lead to what is commonly called, “the sophomore slump.”  Some of the keys to beating “the sophomore slump” are to recognize you are not alone, and that others (and not only sophomores) are experiencing the same kinds of struggles with choices.  Secondly, utilize your resources on campus by reaching out to your advising team including: faculty advisors, deans, professors, student advisors, and trusted others on campus.  Thirdly, have a reasonable plan in place for motivation and relaxation.  The Sophomore Retreat, which generally occurs before advising in November, is an event designed to address this changing period in your life, provide an opportunity for relaxation and fun, as well as connect you with the faculty and departments that might be helpful in your decision making process.  Information for this event is also available at the website listed above.

Additionally, a number of resources are available to help with your decision-making or the need for self-exploration and evaluation.  Faculty and Department Liaisons are excellent resources for helping you choose a major.  The CDC is a great resource for information on internships, fellowships, career opportunities, and both professional and graduate schools. Joanne Picard, Dean of International Studies, and the staff of the CGI are anxious to help you if you are thinking about a learning opportunity abroad, or an international summer internship.   Some additional resources to help you navigate this semester include the members of the SAW (Speaking, Arguing, and Writing) Program and John Body, Associate Dean for Learning Skills.  The staff at the SAW Center are glad to work with you on improving your writing and/or speaking skills. You can set up appointments to prepare and review drafts of your papers or oral presentations, by calling the center at extension 3428. John Body offers academic counseling for students with learning disabilities at the Office for Learning Skills in Safford Hall at extension 2504. Keep in mind that Counseling Services is not just for students-in-crisis; but, also here to provide support for any student undergoing the many challenges involved in college life.  Additionally, the staff at the Elliott House is a wonderful support resource.  Finally, as the Dean for the Class of 2010, please consider me a resource, and do not hesitate to contact me.  My office is on the 3rd floor of Mary Lyon and I can be reached at 538-2855.  Included below please find some key dates to remember.  For your benefit, I will post this correspondence on my webpage at: http://www.mtholyoke.edu/acad/deans/13059.shtml  and I look forward to sharing this information with your families.

Key Dates to Keep In Mind

*Classes Begin Thurs. Sept. 6th

* More for Sophomores (Orientation) Sun. Sept. 16th

*Last day to add classes  Wed. Sept. 19th

*Last day to withdraw from a course without a “W” recorded   Wed. Sept. 26th

*Last day to declare un-graded option for Sophomores  Wed. Sept. 26th

*Mid-semester break  Sat-Tues Oct. 6-9th

*Friends and Family Weekend  Fri-Sun Oct. 19-21st

*Sophomore Retreat    (before November advising)  TBA

*Academic Advising Period   Mon-Fri Nov. 5-9th

*Last day to withdraw from a course with a “W” recorded  Thurs. Nov 15th

*Thanksgiving Recess   Wed-Sun Nov. 21-25th

*Last Day of Classes  Wed. Dec 12th

*Declare major by the end of the 8th week of classes during the second semester

Please remember that Friends and Family Weekend will be a great opportunity for friends, family, your classmates, and the MHC community, to view the summer research and internship experiences of our talented students.  Also if you are interested in a copy of a helpful time management tool, “The Big Picture Chart” please stop by the Academic Dean’s Office on the 3rd floor of Mary Lyon Hall. I welcome you again into the ranks of upper-class women at MHC and look forward to being of assistance.

Sincerely yours,

B. Connie Allen, PhD.
Dean of Class 2010
Chemistry Dept. Faculty