Weekly Updates
Messages from the Undergraduate Dean
Message from the Undergraduate College Division
This week’s Division Message is from Tomiko Jenkins, Dean of Student Life
Dear Friends,
Much of what we offer in our roles in support of students involves a great deal of “heart work”. Yes, we all have the degrees and credentials to serve in the positions we hold, however, the passion and purpose driven nature of our roles flows from the center—our hearts. There are times when it feels as though I am all in—my heart (passion and purpose) and my head (degree and credentials), but my body is struggling a bit to keep up with the pace. In my humanness, my body gets tired, and this often leads to exhaustion. This exhaustion is often a key indicator that I needed to rest well before the exhaustion arrived in my body. There is literature that points to both the seven different types of rest and the value of rest. I love Tricia Hersey and “The Nap Ministry” as she beautifully holds space for the value of rest as a way of life, and specifically as a path forward in liberation work. As a person who often wrestles with resting and being still, I am grateful for the reminders to rest from thought leaders like Tricia Hersey, and I hold gratitude for Mother Nature who gifts us with four seasons; and to me, this time of the year, autumn, invites us all to be still and rest.
Autumn is my favorite time of year. Nature slows down a bit to prepare for leaves to change colors, and for the leaves to eventually fall. The daylight hours are shorter, and the nighttime hours are longer. The temperature drops a little and it is suddenly sweater weather and time for pumpkin spiced everything. The autumn harvest traditionally is an opportunity for gratitude and reflection. There is a clear message from autumn—slow down. The college will soon have Fall Break, and collectively, I hope we will all be intentional in engaging in ways that offer rest and opportunities to recharge and reset. The practice of rest looks different for all of us, and it should because we all need different things. It is important to know what you need and to create a plan to ensure that you can engage in restful practices that refuel you. Many of us will need to offer ourselves permission to surrender by releasing the plans you had to accomplish and tasks that you’ve placed in the parking lot and shift that energy to intentionally prioritize your wellbeing. There is a more rested version of you on the other side of this surrender who will be able to focus better and think with more clarity when you accept the invitation to rest. It brings me great joy to learn about the ways that folks center rest. I hope you will find me after Fall Break to share how you accepted this invitation.
Rest well, Friends!
Tomiko
YOU ROCK!
- Campus Safety Officers Barry Hess, Julie McReynolds, Pete Ruggeri, Wendaya Washington and Dispatchers Jen Turner, Cat Tavares, Mark Foster for coming in on days off or staying for double shifts. The rest of the team continues to follow suit. Thank you!!!
Division Leadership Team, Lil Burroughs, Richie Gebauer, Tomiko Jenkins, Katie Krimmel, and A.T. Ortiz for sending updates every week on time! - Melissa Giess, Lauren Platt, Tracy Weber, and Gabby Sugarman on hosting two successful sophomore plan overview sessions with 100 students in attendance!
- Mia Harvey, Student Engagement Coordinator for offering her enthusiasm and talents to advise and conduct the brand-new student pep band!
- Stacey Riley and Tomiko Jenkins for bringing the amazing goats and animals to the Well and for Sharon Kenny assuring awesome prizes were available for students spinning the prize wheel, all of which made for a very fun Friday at the Well!
Liana Henrie for working through the process to get the weekly messages archived on the division’s website.
UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE DIVISION (UCD) UPDATES
STUDENT SUCCESS
Academic Support:
- Hosted "After the First Exam" panel event with First Year Advising, Peer Mentors, and STEMLA with over 30 attendees.
- Peer Tutors and Academic Coaches (peer and professional) met with roughly 100 unique individuals over the last week.
- Collaborated with librarians and Career and Civic Engagement to co-host dorm workshops and plan end of semester Studypalooza event.
Access Services:
- Met with 17 students to clarify professors expectation for attendance and assignment due dates.
- Continued conversations with appropriate campus partners around wayfinding implementation for 2025-2026.
- Attended NACE webinars with Career and Civic Engagement.
Class Deans:
- Participated in the Annual After the First Exam Panel on Oct. 1 hosted by the STEMLA program and Academic Support, which was attended by 25 students.
- Completed 8 Senior Thesis/Capstone check-in meetings.
- Met with 50 students through scheduled meetings and drop-in hours.
First-Year Experience:
- Met with 15 students through scheduled meetings and drop-in hours.
- Completed 10 Custom Person pair check-ins.
- Attended Dorm Leadership Team Advisory Group meeting. Working on developing recruitment and selection process for Dorm Leadership Team positions.
Global Engagement:
- Saw increased walk-in traffic, with 15 walk-in appointments for students especially interested in asking how their study abroad courses can count towards their major.
- Held an information session on how fellowships can help fund study abroad with 7 students in attendance.
- The Student Abroad Student Coordinators are planning a study abroad mixer at the Lusty Cup to connect interested students with returned students to take place in early October.
CAMPUS SAFETY
Rollcalls
- Training focused on Conflict Resolution and De-escalation Techniques.
Bryn Mawr College
9/25 - 10/01/2024
Alarm Activation 16
Alarm Fire 5
Assist Student 2
Drug Violation 0
Facilities Notification 4
Liquor Law Violation 0
Lockout 89
Medical Response 2
Medical Transport 4
Student Lockout 16
Transport 56
Well-Being Check 0
Total 194
CAREER & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
- Recently hired Undergraduate College Division staff gathered in the Community Room to learn and discuss their StrengthsFinder results!
- Over 250 students and staff came out to Fun Friday at the Well hosted by the Impact Center, Health & Wellness Center, Career & Civic Engagement Center, and Student Engagement. Goats, dogs, bunnies, games, prizes, Kona Ice and more brought smiles and joy on a rainy Friday afternoon.
- 34 Bryn Mawr students (over 50% of total event attendees!) attended the Tri-Co Writing, Publishing, and Journalism Meet Up at Swarthmore College. Students met with Tri-Co alumnae/i (including 2 BMC alums) working in writing careers.
- Liv & Tiffany hosted the first Praxis Independent Study cohort meeting of the fall semester. Fourteen students are currently enrolled in Praxis Independent Study, and they meet regularly with Praxis staff for reflection and discussion. This week Liv and Tiffany are sending out early semester feedback forms to the students’ field supervisors.
- The Community Based Work Study (CBWS) program has open positions for students seeking employment. Through CBWS, undergraduate students work as BMC student employees at off campus work sites—typically nonprofit, community-based agencies. Positions are developed by the Career & Civic Engagement Center in partnership with the host organizations. To be eligible for the program, students must have federal work study as part of their financial aid package. Please reach out to Ellie to confirm if a student is eligible before referring them to the program.
- Lolita Beylina and Dayna Levy participated in the 2024 NACE Disability Signature Webinar Series “Expanding Access to Good Jobs for All.”
- Dana Gold and Dayna Levy attended the “Hiring & Retaining International Student Talent” program, co-hosted by Campus Philly, International House Philadelphia, Chamber of Commerce for Greater Philadelphia, hosted by Temple University.
- Jennifer Prudencio and Dayna Levy attended a Handshake-sponsored networking event with regional recruiters from Amex, Aramark, Comcast, Chubb Insurance, City of Philadelphia, and more.
IMPACT CENTER
- Participated with Career & Civic Engagement, the Health & Wellness Center, and Dean Tomiko to help host “Fun Friday” at The Well.
- The inaugural issue of The Bridge, Breaking Barriers’ re-designed newsletter for FGLI and undocu+ students, was sent to 202 students. If you have an item you’d like listed in a future issue, please contact Trish Whitfield, Associate Director of Student Support & Belonging.
- Patti Lausch and Akirah Fenimore, Assistant Dean of the Senior Experience, collaborated on a session for seniors, reviewing information, deadlines, and requirements especially pertinent to international students. 23 students attended.
- Joi Dallas and the ECC Community Board hosted a movie and s’mores night in the Sunken Garden. 21 students attended.
- 11 students have applied to the International Friendship Program, which provides new international students with an opportunity to get to know a local individual or family during their first year at Bryn Mawr. Applications to be a host are still being taken and are due October 5th. If you are interested, please complete this form.
- Beginning work to support planning for Lunar New Year activities in 2025.
- On-going engagement in several conversations with students, faculty, and staff about community needs as we approach the one-year mark since October 7 and experience current escalations in the Middle East.
STUDENT LIFE
Counseling Services:
- Met with 117 students. Completed 131 clinical appointments; 27 were brief assessments for students looking to engage in counseling. The rest were counseling intakes, counseling revisits, psychiatric initial evaluations and ongoing psychiatric management, and brief clinical check-ins. 111/117 were undergraduate students and the rest were graduate students.
- Counseling staff successfully held an expressive arts workshop at the School of Social Work to provide a healing space for GSSWSR students.
Health Services:
- The number of sick students with respiratory symptoms has leveled off.
- Students are taking advantage of the Wellness Space! The official name of the program was proposed by the Peer Health and Wellness Educators and voted on by students: OwlWell. The OwlWell lounge will be called The Nest.
- The Grand Opening of the new wellness space had well over 50 participants—thanks to all who made that day so special.
- OwlWell will soon set up a community email that can be used to communicate with staff.
- New Covid Boosters and the annual flu vaccine was a huge success. Stay tuned for the final tally, but all 700 spots were filled.
Residential Life and Student Engagement:
- Student Engagement coordinator has supported student leaders to form the first Bryn Mawr student pep band.
- Currently registering students in eRezlife who will remain on campus during fall break.
- Meeting regularly with students and dorm leaders regarding student conflicts and relationship and communication strategies.
- Coordinating housing logistics with the Undergraduate Admissions office as they prepare to host their Lantern Scholars program October 5-7.
Restorative Practice:
- Registered for the International Institute of Restorative Practice 2-day Higher Education Virtual Forum.
- Created Restorative Practice promotional items.
- Consulted with Professor Tamarah Moss on internal evaluations.
Student Support Services:
- Provided services to 44 referred students through 1:1 meetings, email check-ins, and consultations with campus partners.
- Continued collaboration with campus partners through CARE Team and Student Assistance Fund Committee. ·
- Maxient is live! Please use the Student of Concern Referral Form (maxient.com) to refer students.
Title IX:
- Interim Title IX Coordinators is Kim Pacelli. The Interim Title IX Coordinator can be reached through the same reporting forms and Title IX phone number/email address linked/listed on the Sex Discrimination pages on the College’s website: titleix_coordinator@brynmawr.edu or 610-526-7863. You can also reach her directly at kim.pacelli@tngconsulting.com.
- The Interim Title IX Coordinator remains the same and is guided both by the College’s Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment policy (“the Policy”) and the Title IX Final Rule.
- Brynn Mawr College will hire a fulltime Title IX Coordinator dedicated to our community. This will no longer be a BiCO position but there will be continued partnership and collaboration. We will perform a robust, nationwide search for a Bryn Mawr College Title IX Coordinator, which we have already started, and student, staff, and faculty will participate on the search committee.
STAFFING
Nothing to report.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- October 4 (today is First-Year First Friday at 8pm in the Campus Center Main Lounge.
- October 5 from 2-4pm on Merion Green, with a special viewing of "Over the Garden Wall" at 8 p.m. in the Campus Center. Residence Life & Student Engagement and the Owl Programming Board will host a Fall Festival for students.
- October 13th, complete this brief application form and submit it for The Dialogue Project. This is a seven-week interactive series of workshops about connecting, understanding, and building skills to have difficult conversations. Creating community with students, staff, and faculty – it’s a powerful experience! Interested?
DEAN ON CALL SCHEDULE
To contact the dean on call, please call Campus Safety at 610-526-7911.
FALL 2024
September 30-October 7 Candice Love
October 7-14 Baru Roberson-Hornsby
October 14-21 (Fall Break--No OCC on call!) Tomiko Jenkins
October 21-28 (Inauguration & Family Weekend) Tomiko Jenkins
October 28-November 4 Andrew Wilbraham
November 4-11 Richie Gebauer
November 11-18 Melissa Giess
November 18-25 Akirah Fenimore
November 25-December 2 (Thanksgiving) Joi Dallas
December 2-9 Tracy Weber
December 9-16 (Last week of classes) Rachel Heiser
December 16-21 @ 9am (Finals Week; Dorms close at 6pm on 12/20) Courtney Newkirk
Undergraduate College Division Message - 9.27.2024
This week’s Division Message is from A.T. Ortíz, Dean of Equity, Inclusion, and Community Life.
Dear Friends,
I was driving to work the other day and got stuck in traffic. In the midst of my angst – my worries about being late, the list of things to do mounting in my mind, the concerns I was hoping to address that day, and all the other thoughts that were clattering around in my brain – I suddenly looked up.
What did I see?
In the middle of a stand of trees, I saw one tree showing off the splendor of fall. I saw yellows and oranges and reds. I saw that one tree, trying to find its way into the new season, and it was beautiful. It reminded me that this was the beginning of a new time – a season that usually holds two lessons for me.
The first is the importance of remembering what happens in nature during this time. Yes, the trees change colors, but they also lose their leaves. Do you know why? They drop their leaves in order to conserve water for the winter. It makes me wonder: what do I need to let go of in order to be strong enough for the seasons ahead? What do you need to let go of?
That’s lesson number one – a question, really, about letting go.
Lesson number two came from that drive to work the other morning. I won’t notice the beauty around me if I don’t take time to look up.
It’s important, in the midst of all the things we are doing, to pause, to notice what is around us, and to take in the beauty. There’s lots of it: beauty within the students with whom we work, beauty in one another, beauty on campus. We are beautiful souls. There is beautiful creation all around us. We are beautiful people becoming. We just have to notice.
Let’s be sure to take time to notice the lessons of this changing season. What do they offer you?
Peace,
A.T.
YOU ROCK!
- Campus Safety Team continues to conduct 30-minute fire watches for Denbigh dorm!
- Caroline Northcutt, for adeptly mastering the complex puzzle of scheduling 23 Fulbright and 8 Watson interviews!
- Cristen Kennedy and Erika D'Angelo for their amazing efforts to bring a transformative, inaugural wellness program to Bryn Mawr College!
- Dana Gold, Jennifer Prudencio, and the Career & Civic Engagement Center team for holding a successful Fall Tri-Co Career Fair which brought 400+ students and 24 employers spanning a wide range of industries and fields representing internship and full-time job opportunities. The team did an excellent job holding prep events, large and small, to get the students ready for the big day. Jerry and the team in campus safety were a huge help in preparing for possible activism at the event and all went smoothly due to the coordinated efforts to support our students and our employers.
- Mia Harvey, Student Engagement Coordinator, for the time she gave this past weekend in her service as one of the on-call coordinators.
UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE DIVISION (UCD) UPDATES
STUDENT SUCCESS
Academic Support:
- Presented at the International College Learning Center Association's annual conference.
- Collaborated with Haverford College's Office of Academic Resources on shared tutor training and resources.
- Peer Mentors provided weekly outreach to all undergraduate students with resources, support, and advising reminders.
Access Services:
- Continued student meetings, engaging with 10 new students.
- Collaborated with professors and students to clarify guidance around attendance flexibility.
- Continued conversations with appropriate campus partners about the implementation of a campus-wide wayfinding system for 2025-26.
Class Deans:
- Seniors enrolled in a thesis or capstone course and received an email inviting them to schedule brief meetings with Dean Fenimore to discuss support while they navigate the completion of their thesis/capstone projects.
- Hosted the second of two Sophomore Plan Overview sessions with Sophomore Dean, Global Engagement, and Career & Civic professional staff members and student leaders with 59 sophomores in attendance.
- Class Deans held 35 scheduled meetings and met with two students during drop-in hours.
- Participated in the Family Zoom Sessions.
First-Year Experience:
- Brief check-in sessions for first-year students to connect with FYE staff after completing one month of college begin next week.
- Continuing to meet with Customs People and discussing ways they can support the first-year transition in the residence halls.
- A Staff member attended THRIVE section this week to discuss Harm Reduction.
Global Engagement:
- All 11 Hanna Holborn Gray fellows presented their summer research findings in a colloquium open to the college community.
- Opened the late application for college approval to study abroad in Spring ‘24 and received four applications.
- Worked with 94 Fall '24 study abroad students to ensure completion of the travel registry.
- Conducted outreach to 346 sophomores about fall study abroad programming and office hours.
CAMPUS SAFETY
Rollcalls
- Local Incidents: We discussed recent incidents that have occurred around the area to ensure everyone is aware of the trends and potential risks nearby.
- Reporting to dispatch: Importance of documenting observations, even if minor, to ensure all incidents are logged into the system for proper tracking and follow-up, especially student activism on campus.
- Reminder to pay attention when taking Ubers and taking Septa to go to new places.
Bryn Mawr College
9/18-9/24/2024
Alarm Activation 15
Alarm Fire 1
Assist Student 3
Drug Violation 0
Facilities Notification 2
Liquor Law Violation 0
Lockout 86
Medical Response 0
Medical Transport 5
Student Lockout 20
Transport 70
Well-Being Check 10
Total 212
CAREER & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
- 96 BMC students attended the Fall Tri-Co Career Fair at Haverford (this is up from 51 at last Fall’s event). They were able to meet with 24 different employers. Here’s what one employer emailed us afterward: “From the moment I arrived, everyone was not only helpful, but also welcoming and the space the fair was held in was also lovely. I had many wonderful conversations with students and was very impressed by their engagement.”
- Gap year/not Gap year Law Panel (Tri-Co) had 12 attendees and great questions. This was the 4th (of 13) Bi-College law school admission events this fall semester.
- The nonprofit organization Juntos visited campus to facilitate a letter writing workshop with the students in the Spanish for Advocacy Praxis course. Each student was matched with a community member currently being held in an immigrant detention center. These letters create connection and boost morale of the immigrants being detained and are part of Juntos’ regular community outreach. As part of this workshop, students learned more about Juntos, their work, and their advocacy for the Latinx community in Philadelphia.
- Civic Engagement Student Coordinators and staff members highlighted our co-curricular programs and Praxis courses during the Civic Engagement Spotlight event. Students explored volunteer opportunities with the Community Garden, Adelante, Overbrook Art Program, and VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). Students learned about upcoming Praxis courses and how to design Praxis Independent Study courses. We also offered support for students applying for background clearances and voter registration.
- 37 students indicated interest in the PLEN Health Policy Seminar in DC. Participants will learn directly from policymakers and advocates shaping health policy in Washington, DC and around the world. Twelve students, including all interested juniors and seniors, were selected to participate.
- Staff from the Student Success team and Career & Civic Engagement team met to start brainstorming ways we can work together and build off the Class Dean model!
IMPACT CENTER
- Offered an all-day retreat for multicultural and multilingual students. 12 students participated in activities that fostered community, belonging, and “home.” Hosted by Joi Dallas and Vanessa Petroj, Director of Multi-Lingual Writing,
- Provided transportation and facilitated appointments with the Social Security Administration so that 16 international students were able to obtain social security numbers.
- Interfaith Chaplain offered eleven individual meetings and facilitated the Recovery Support Group.
- Completed registration for all international students in SEVIS and updated records with student local addresses.
- Welcomed and began on-boarding for new Associate Director of Student Support and Belonging, Trish Whitfield!
- Continue work to support students in the midst of the war in the Middle East.
STUDENT LIFE
Counseling Services:
- Met with 124 students this week. We completed 144 clinical appointments; 34 were brief assessments for students looking to engage in counseling.
- 138 out of 144 were undergraduate students and six were graduate students.
- Reminder: students, faculty, and staff that in addition to our services, students have access to mental health support 24/7, 365 via: ProtoCall (610-526-7778): crisis line staffed by trained mental health professionals, Counseling Services follows up on all crisis calls by the next business day. This is a great resource if you are sitting with a student who seems to be in crisis. The counselors on the line will advise whether the student should go the ER or can wait to see a counselor later that day/next business day.
- TELUS Health: students can text or call a support line as well as schedule REGULAR, FREE teletherapy appointments with licensed mental health professionals.
Health Services:
- 121 total weekly student encounters including sick/well-preventive/sexual health/consult/injection/RN/lab/triage were conducted this week.
- Hosted a very successful Grand Opening of the Wellness Room (space's name TBD via a naming contest by students). Over 50 people dropped by for the opening. The space is already getting "buzz" as a space to come and decompress from the stressors of student life.
- Professional staff and Peer Health and Wellness Educators are now holding office hours in the new space. Hours are attached—please feel free to print and post the information for your offices if possible.
- The Tri-co wellness directors are meeting to plan future training among all peer educators on the Tri-co campuses. The hope is to create a united understanding of wellness and share common language related to topics of health promotion, prevention, and wellbeing among the tri-co.
- Participated in the Intravenous Infusion Therapy (IVY+) Wellness Collective this week, sharing information about our new program with over 15 schools in the IVY+ consortium. Cristen was heartened by our offerings and progress, compared with the well-established schools at the meeting (Cristen Kennedy).
- Reminder to check out our brand-new Instagram, thanks to Erika D'Andrea, our Wellness Program Coordinator: healthwell_bmc Please "Follow" us!
- What's New? This is asked on the glass billboard in the waiting room. Please feel free to stop by and read the student and staff responses. Maybe add one of your own.
Residential Life and Student Engagement:
- Hosted an event/mixer for our department staff and transfer students.
- Department staff organized and will attend the annual "Thrilla at Linvilla" event for Hall Advisors and the Owl Programming Board today.
- We are collaborating with staff of the Impact Center for Community, Equity, and Understanding regarding the Intercultural Living and Learning Communities.
- Staff member participated in two Family Zoom webinars hosted by the Dean of the Undergraduate College.
- A staff member is serving in the search process for the Environmental Health and Safety position.
- We supported the elected student Residence Council Heads for their first meeting with their team of elected dorm presidents.
Restorative Practice:
- Held 1 Facilitator training that reviewed the Restorative Practice intake process and the role they will play within the process.
- Met with our Trainers from International Institute for Restorative Practice to discuss our progress within the program thus far.
- Continued creation of Moodle Page for Facilitation Group.
Student Support Services:
- Provided services to 47 referred students through 1:1 meetings, email check-ins, and consultations with campus partners.
- Maxient is live! Please use the Student of Concern Referral Form (maxient.com) to refer students.
Title IX
- The work of the Interim Title IX Coordinator remains the same and we now have identified the interim. This is guided both by the College’s Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment policy (“the Policy”) and the Title IX Final Rule.
- We will perform a robust, nationwide search for a full time Bryn Mawr dedicated Title IX Coordinator, There will be a search committee contrived of students, staff, and faculty.
STAFFING
- Interim Title IX Coordinator is Kim Pacelli. You can still reach the Interim Title IX Coordinator through the same reporting forms and Title IX phone number/email address link listed on the Sex Discrimination pages on the College’s website: titleix_coordinator@brynmawr.edu or 610-526-7863. You can also reach her directly at kim.pacelli@tngconsulting.com.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Stop by the Well today between 1:00 and 3:00 for prizes, Kona Ice, and more.
- Oct 2nd is the new Covid Boosters and annual flu vaccine clinic; signups are almost full. Please make sure to get a spot if you would like to take advantage of the convenience of the campus clinic. If you do not see a time that works for you, please just sign up in any slot and come when you can. We have been reassured by Walmart that no one will be turned away if they come at a time different from their original sign-up.
- October 4th is First Year First Friday at the Campus Center Main Lounge at 8pm.
- October 5th from 2-4pm on Merion Green Residence Life and Student Engagement will be hosting the annual Fall Festival for students, with a special viewing of Over the Garden Wall at 8 p.m. in the Campus Center.
DEAN ON CALL SCHEDULE
In order to contact the dean on call, please call Campus Safety at 610-526-7911.
FALL 2024
September 23-30 - Sara Donals
September 30-October 7 - Candice Love
October 7-14 - Baru Roberson-Hornsby
October 14-21 (Fall Break--No OCC on call!) - Tomiko Jenkins
October 21-28 (Inauguration & Family Weekend) - Tomiko Jenkins
October 28-November 4 - Andrew Wilbraham
November 4-11 - Richie Gebauer
November 11-18 - Melissa Giess
November 18-25 - Akirah Fenimore
November 25-December 2 (Thanksgiving) - Joi Dallas
December 2-9 - Tracy Weber
December 9-16 (Last week of classes) - Rachel Heiser
December 16-21 @ 9am (Finals Week; Dorms close at 6pm on 12/20) - Courtney Newkirk
Message from the Undergraduate Dean
Dear Friends,
I would like to think that I would never take for granted the act of voting, mostly because I have vivid memories of my parents’ active participation in such activities in Jamaica. They participated even when there were threats of violence. It was that important to them. I suppose it’s in my DNA. I do also believe that because I chose to become an American citizen and understand the many sacrifices our ancestors (ones from long ago as well as most recent) made, it is a must that I vote. I share this for context because I have stayed up night after night to gather information about our upcoming elections. I am eager to learn about the candidates themselves, their policies, and the ways Americans have been and would be impacted by decisions made. I decided to watch some of the “townhall” hosted by Oprah Winfrey with Vice President Kamala Harris.
There were many moments of intrigue and pause, but one moment that stood out was a question pertaining to a woman’s right to choose. The mother of Amber Thurman, who died in a Georgia hospital of complications after taking abortion pills and waiting 20 hours was invited to this townhall. The doctors feared what actions to take because they wanted more clarity about the law. The mom wanted the world to know how much Amber suffered, that her death was preventable and that her daughter was not just a statistic; she wasn’t invisible. She wants the world to know that Amber was a loving and kind person who was loved by many. I had many feelings watching that segment, but for this reflection I want to lift up the ideas of “choice” and “visibility”. We thrive when we have the chance to share more of who we, our gifts and have the chance to explore, make mistakes and grow. This means we must constantly work on creating an environment that supports equity, provides opportunities, and create pathways for transparency and openness. We need this and so does our students. It isn’t lost on me that each day we show up at a women’s college, a place that we should create pathways for our students to feel strong, powerful, valued and seen. We have an opportunity to encourage, support and co-create by example. Let’s marvel in our responsibility to make and support change. Let’s keep centered the opportunities for our students to experience being visible so that they feel empowered to make choices, because there are many. It is our responsibility and duty—for ourselves and our students.
YOU ROCK!
- Campus Safety conducted multiple fire watches, including overnight, every 30 minutes since September 11th.
- Campus Safety-for all their extra support with one card concerns, fire alarms, and dorm room access requests.
- Melissa Giess for her efforts redesigning and coordinating a new workshop series on the Sophomore planning process!
- The Student Success Team for creating a positive and collaborative environment!
- Dean Tomiko who has worked to put interim Title IX measures in place with the vacancy of our Title IX Coordinator.
UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE DIVISION (UCD) UPDATES
STUDENT SUCCESS
Academic Support:
- Hosted a tabling event in Erdman for planning for the semester with 200 students interacting with staff at the table.
- Conducted outreach and began consultations for all 39 potential Spring 2025 re-enrollment applicants.
- Held the first weekly Chem 103 Study Group facilitated by Peer Academic Coaches, as part of the HHMI Catalyst Initiative, with over 40 students attending.
Access Services:
- Continued intake meetings, engaging with 24 new students.
- Clarified guidelines for faculty related to the accommodation of recording.
- Held conversations with appropriate campus partners about the implementation of a campus-wide wayfinding system for 2025-26.
Class Deans
- Met with and supported approximately 60 students through one-on-one meetings and drop-in hours.
- 31 students attended the first of two Sophomore Plan Overview sessions with Sophomore Dean, Global Engagement, and Career & Civic professional staff members and student leaders.
- Met with Global Engagement to brainstorm ways to partner on class year specific programming.
- Attended the Political Science Department Senior Capstone Meeting to learn how to best support Seniors completing their capstone.
- Met with Willy Oppenheim, Executive Director at Omprakash (non-profit that specializes in digital portfolios for students who study abroad) to begin discussions on potential partnership for Junior Year Away.
First-Year Experience
- All first-year students attended Campus Philly's CollegeFest in Philadelphia.
- Thrive has had a successful start following the changes made over the summer, which have been received positively as students attentively engage in class discussions.
- Met with all Customs Persons during bi-weekly check-ins.
Global Engagement
- Four Study Abroad Student Coordinators (SASCs) started this week, and walk-in office hours will begin on Monday. The SASCs assist with student advising, organizing and lead events, and support Global Engagement's outreach.
- Met with study abroad program partners from Temple University and University of Melbourne.
- Hosted a delegation of 16 scholars and administrators from African universities in conjunction with the World Affairs Council of Philadelphia for a roundtable discussion and a tour of campus.
- The fellowships committee has so far conducted 12 interviews with Marshall, Rhodes, and Fulbright candidates.
CAMPUS SAFETY
Rollcalls
- Had training on handling situations when someone becomes trapped in an elevator.
- Fire watches for a dorm that begun on September 11th and occurred every 30 minutes. The situation has been corrected.
- Reviewed student activism protocols.
Bryn Mawr College
9/11-9/17/2024
- Alarm Activation 12
- Alarm Fire 2
- Assist Student 7
- Drug Violation 0
- Facilities Notification 7
- Liquor Law Violation 0
- Lockout 87
- Medical Response 3
- Medical Transport 1
- Student Lockout 13
- Transport 98
- Well-Being Check 2
- Total 232
CAREER & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
- Celebrated Constitution Day and National Voter Registration Day on Tuesday, September 17. There was voter registration tabling in the Dining Halls during lunch and dinner, collecting PA voter registration forms and engaging with students. The BMC Democrats and the Service Club also tabled in Pem Arch. Together 28 new registrations were collected.
- Liv & Ellie met for a post-event debrief meeting with the facilitator of the Kaospilot workshop, “The Art & Craft of Designing and Facilitating Learning Spaces” which was held at BMC in August. A total of 18 people participated in the workshop representing several higher ed institutions—including Bryn Mawr, Haverford, St. Joe’s, LaSalle, and UPENN—and nonprofits—including PHENND (Philadelphia Higher Education Network for Neighborhood Development), Women’s Way, and the Philadelphia School District. Feedback was overall positive, and the hope is to offer the workshop again.
- 18 Bryn Mawr students attended the first of a series of seven virtual technical skill trainings led by AESOP Academy for the Tri-Co. The topic was “Excel Basics.” 11 Swarthmore students and 7 Haverford students also attended the session.
- Hosted our 2nd annual Prep Rally with 60+ BiCo students attending! In the Well Community Room and Atrium, students got LinkedIn headshots, drop-in resume reviews, and shopped in the career closet.
- 17 Bryn Mawr students attended Prepare for the Fair sessions ahead of the Tri-Co Career Fair.
- Students in Praxis courses began their fieldwork this week. Students in Professor Juan Suárez Ontaneda’s class, Spanish for Advocacy (El derecho a vivir en paz: activismos en español) will be working on campus with community partner, Juntos, on a letter writing project.
- Patti Lausch, Assistant Dean for International Student & Scholar Advising and Lauren Platt, Associate Director for Career Counseling, Programming and Outcomes Assessment presented the International Student Employment Authorization workshop for 13 Senior International students.
- 31 Sophomores attended the Sophomore Plan Overview session, a collaboration between Global Education, Sophomore Dean, and Career+Civic. Student staff from each area served as panelists to impart wisdom to Sophomores about their experiences.
- The 2nd annual Fall Tri-Co Career Fair is being held at Haverford College today. 24 employers across industries are coming to campus to recruit students.
IMPACT CENTER
- Hosted an Open House at the Enid Cook Center (ECC), 28 students attended.
- In collaboration with Career & Professional Development, hosted an International Student Employment Authorization Information Session for seniors.
- Preparing SEVIS registration for 178 students in F-1 visa status.
- Religious and Spiritual Life hosted first Recovery Group meeting – three students participated.
- Supporting 20 Alliance of Multicultural Organizations (AMO) groups and their budget requests for the semester.
- Launched monthly “Beyond the Book” series with a discussion of The Four Agreements. 12 staff and faculty participated.
STUDENT LIFE
Counseling Services:
- Met with 101 students this week and completed 113 clinical appointments; 35 were brief assessments for students looking to engage in counseling.
- Therapy groups will be starting in the next 1-2 weeks, students can indicate interest by scanning the QR code in the group flyer or clicking on this link which can be found on the website, under “Groups and Workshops.”
- Staff had a successful meeting with Pete Thompson, Sports Psychologist in Athletics, and discussed collaboration between offices.
Health Services
- Continued to see an increased number of students a day. 150 total weekly student encounters (including sick/well-preventive/sexual health/consult/injection/RN/lab/triage.
- Students are taking better advantage of the extended weekday hours this year compared to last year.
- Thanks to Erika D'Andrea, Wellness Program Coordinator for creating a new Instagram: healthwell_bmc
- Several team members participated in the Restorative Practices training in August and look forward to integrating the principles into our interactions with students and each other.
- New Covid Boosters and the annual flu vaccine sign up went out. Please sign up and take advantage of the convenience of the campus clinic.
Residential Life and Student Engagement
- Collaborated with the U.S. Census for completion of the American Community Survey for Erdman Hall.
- Twenty-three Hall Advisers (HAs) submitted entries into our door tag decoration contest.
- Supported the Self Governance Association (SGA) with their club budgeting process.
- Facilitated three weekly small group staff meetings for 41 Hall Advisers.
- Resumed recruitment process for the Residential Life Coordinator vacancy.
Restorative Practice
- Created a Moodle page to streamline communications with our Facilitation group.
- Held two facilitator trainings that reviewed the Restorative Practice intake process and the role they will play within the process.
- Met with Consultant about our policies and procedures.
Student Support Services
- Provided services to 42 referred students through 1:1 meetings, email check-ins, and consultations with campus partners.
- Maxient is live! Please use the Student of Concern Referral Form (maxient.com) to refer students.
Title IX
- Created new job description in preparation for new Title IX coordinator hire.
STAFFING
- Letricia ("Trish") Whitfield has been hired as the Associate Director of Student Support and Belonging in The Impact Center. In this position, Trish will work closely with first-generation, limited income (FGLI) and undocu+ students. Trish has worked in DEI-related positions for over 15 years, coordinating education and support efforts around inclusion, allyship, gender equity, and anti-discrimination initiatives. Her commitment to limited income, first-generation college and undocu+ students is strong, and she spent over five years supporting these students at the secondary and higher education level. Trish has also worked as a non-teaching adjunct in the Office of DEI at the College of Staten Island and as a teaching assistant at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Trish earned her BS in Applied Science at Campbell University, her MA in Counseling Psychology at Eastern University, and is completing her PhD this December at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Her first day will be Wednesday, September 25. Contact info: 610-526-6588 and twhitfield@brynmawr.edu.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Monday, Sept 23 from 2-4pm, Health services will host a Campus-wide "Grand Opening" of the Wellness Room. Please be on the look-out for reminders to join the celebration! Come meet new staff members, Cristen Kennedy, Wellness Program Director, and Erika D'Andrea, Wellness Program Coordinator, and share in a tour, grab a snack, join some fun activities, and enter a naming context for the space.
- Thursday, Sept 26 Tri-Co Writing/Publishing/Journalism Meet Up at Swarthmore. Students will meet with Tri-Co alumnae working in these fields and have career conversations about working in writing careers. There's a special blue bus for BMC students and there's more information in Handshake for any interested students.
- Friday, September 27 is Fun Friday @ the Well from 1-3pm! Come by to say hello & enjoy some Kona Ice, Cotton Candy, and some special guests!
DEAN ON CALL SCHEDULE
To contact the dean on call, please call Campus Safety at 610-526-7911.
FALL 2024
- September 16-23 - Katie Krimmel
- September 23-30 - Sara Donals
- September 30-October 7 - Candice Love
- October 7-14 - Baru Roberson-Hornsby
- October 14-21 (Fall Break--No OCC on call!) - Tomiko Jenkins
- October 21-28 (Inauguration & Family Weekend) - Tomiko Jenkins
- October 28-November 4 - Andrew Wilbraham
- November 4-11 - Richie Gebauer
- November 11-18 - Melissa Giess
- November 18-25 - Akirah Fenimore
- November 25-December 2 (Thanksgiving) - Joi Dallas
- December 2-9 - Tracy Weber
- December 9-16 (Last week of classes) - Rachel Heiser
- December 16-21 @ 9am (Finals Week; Dorms close at 6pm on 12/20) - Courtney Newkirk
With gratitude,
Karlene
Dean of the Undergraduate College
Bryn Mawr College
Eugenia Chase Guild Hall
Lower Level
101 N. Merion Ave.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Phone: (610) 526-5375
Fax: (610) 526-7560
In Support of the Dean of the Undergraduate College
Liana Henrie
Executive Assistant
lhenrie@brynmawr.edu
(610) 526-5374
Message from the Undergraduate Dean
September 13, 2024
As we begin to settle into our academic year, I have been thinking a lot about our time together. What a difference a year makes. As I walked in today, I was overwhelmed by the feeling of “hope and possibilities”. My reflection this past week reminded me of how far we have come in such a short period of time. We focused on being both proactive and responsive to our community’s needs. We made it through a strategic plan, developed plans to assess many of our programs and experiences (baseline information), completed an assessment of our policies and procedures, most of them finalized, and had the division’s website redesigned. We offered many educational opportunities for continued learning. We have also done a lot of work to build a strong foundation with each other- to better understand our strengths, challenges, and opportunities. And we broke down the siloes and see and interact with each other as human beings!!! Last year, we worked to create a psychological safety environment so that we remain excited to show up to work each day, and put our best forward, even when there were moments of struggle. That yielded a place of joy and optimism and set the stage for our many new hires—an amazing group of colleagues that will only make us better and stronger. We did this…all of this and so much more, and we did it TOGEHER. To get here, at this pace, I honor the hard work, dedication, “we can do it attitude”, creativity, courage, optimism, collaboration, co-creation, and your willingness to be open and honest, which helped us make difficult decisions in the spirit of growth. Our division has persevered and so, even with upcoming challenges, some known and others not, we are better and stronger. We will lean on each other and thrive. Our students are counting on it. Let’s keep enjoying the journey.
YOU ROCK!
- A HUGE pat-on-the-back to Caroline Northcutt for her efficiency in learning the process and distribution of verification letters.
- To all the Thrive Facilitators for helping students build community, learn resources, and make connections on campus.
- This is a recognition for the whole team who supported student voters in 2022: Bryn Mawr College earned recognition from the All In Campus Democracy Challenge for nonpartisan efforts in the 2022 Midterm Election! We were recognized as the 4-year institution with the Highest Voting Rate AND the Highest Registration Rate for 2022, we’ve been added to the list of “Top Campuses by 2022 Voter Turnout” for 4-year private institutions, and we earned a Diamond Seal from All In based on our 2022 campus voting rate from our National Study of Learning, Voting, and Engagement report from Tufts University! Woo hoo!
- Ellie and Dayna’s presentations on voting and our students' first destinations at the UCD (Undergraduate College Division) meeting rocked!
- Helen Roane, Residential Life Coordinator, for assuming additional responsibilities and leadership this year during student move-in and Hall Advisor orientation!!!
- Stacey and Dean Tomiko for the success of the SEPTA pass distribution!
- Amanda Coltri for her amazing work in redesigning the division’s website.
UNDERGRADUATE COLLEGE DIVISION (UCD) UPDATES
STUDENT SUCCESS
Academic Support:
- Partnered with Chemistry faculty to pilot weekly Chem 103 Study Groups facilitated by Peer Academic Coaches as part of the HHMI (Howard Hughes Medical Institute) Catalyst Initiative with over 40 students registered.
- Conducted training to onboard peer tutors, peer mentors, peer academic coaches, and returning student mentors.
- Participated in and held programming throughout Fall Folic, Emerging Owls, DLT (Dorm Leadership Team) Training, and Orientation.
Access Services:
- Collaborated with staff from the Career & Civic Engagement Center and the Impact Center for an upcoming inclusive hiring event.
- Negotiated accommodations/requests from professors who had concerns.
- In contact with approximately 55 students related to various requests, intakes, and/or concerns.
Class Deans
- Met with 119 students in individual appointments.
- Met with approximately 35 students during drop-in hours.
- Met with Career and Civic Engagement to discuss opportunities for collaboration.
- Created a thesis/capstone tracker and shared it with several seniors to garner feedback for future implementation.
- Sophomore Plan overview sessions begin next week.
- Engaged with faculty at the faculty meet and greet.
- Began work on a Class Dean manual.
First-Year Experience
- Successfully began all sections of Thrive.
- Began researching first-year and pre-orientation experiences at peer institutions to develop a pre-orientation program for early decision students.
- Supported students in finalizing course schedules.
- Implemented a sense of belonging scale in the first week of Thrive yielding 326 responses. Results to follow.
Global Engagement
- Received 23 Fulbright applications, 5 Marshall applications, and 3 Rhodes applications, and have begun the interview process with the committee.
- Added all members of the Class of 2027 to the Study Abroad 101 Moodle course; this course contains resources designed to help students learn about studying abroad as a Bryn Mawr student, discover and compare programs, and understand the logistics of the Study Abroad application process.
- Held the first study abroad information session of AY 24-25, on Debunking Study Abroad Myths, with 8 students in attendance.
- Met with partners from University of Bristol and CIEE / Yonsei University, South Korea.
CAMPUS SAFETY
Bryn Mawr College
9/4/2024-9/11/2024
- Alarm Activation - 6
- Alarm Fire - 3
- Assist Student - 10
- Drug Violation - 0
- Facilities Notification - 4
- Liquor Law Violation - 1
- Lockout - 02
- Medical Response - 2
- Medical Transport - 6
- Student Lockout - 20
- Transport - 118
- Well-Being Check - 0
Total - 272
CAREER & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
- Dana Gold took a group of 10 students to NYC for a day trip on 9/13: visiting TriCo alums at 2 finance firms and exploring summer 2025 internships.
- 31 students (Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors) completed the Job & Grad School Boot Camp August 28-30. Pre-Post survey outcomes indicate that students’ confidence about the job market increased by 16% across the 3-day program, while their anxiety about the job market and graduate school application processes decreased by 10% and 12%, respectively.
- Amanda Moser-Shick hosted the Civic Engagement Student Coordinator Kick-Off. At this event, Student Coordinators who lead our on and off campus service programs gathered for community-building and training to kick off the fall programs.
- Collected over 150 PA Voter Registration Forms during Customs Week and Fall Frolic! Tabling will continue in the Dining Halls and at events to promote voter registration between now and the PA Voter Registration deadline—October 21.
- Katie and Ellie shared the Design Your Life concepts with 400+ parents while Jennifer Prudencio graciously welcomed a room of 300+ first years to Career & Civic Engagement Cetner during move-in day. Thanks for this opportunity MB!
IMPACT CENTER
- Facilitated the Fall Orientation for the Intercultural Living and Learning Center (ILLC) in which expectations for participation and engagement were reviewed, residents established community agreements, and students began planning activities for the fall semester.
- Hosted a Welcome Event for first years – nearly 50 students attended and participated in a variety of activities designed to help students get to know one another and the Impact Center.
- Supporting international students with their transition to Bryn Mawr.
- Participated in Fall Frolic, highlighting programs and opportunities for involvement at the Impact Center.
- Facilitated a successful Dorm Essentials distribution, distributed donated dorm items to incoming and returning first-generation limited-income (FGLI) and international students.
- Helped Breaking Barriers (FGLI and undocu+) students who participated in Move-Out with the return of their items from summer storage.
- Offered workshops at the Emerging Owls leadership retreat.
STUDENT LIFE
Counseling Services:
- Met with 92 students in the first week of classes. Completed 115 clinical appointments; 65 were brief assessments for students looking to engage in counseling.
- Staff members attended the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research (GSSWSR) “Welcome Week” Tabling events on 9/3 and 9/4. The department shared about their services with graduate students and advertised our therapy groups for this semester.
Health Services
- Began working on the Okanagan Charter for Health-Promoting Colleges –also endorsed by American College Health Association (ACHA), but more holistic and inclusive framework than Healthy Campus
- Onboarded Wellness Program Director.
- Revised Peer Health & Wellness Educator training and job description.
- Created new alcohol and other drugs (AOD) trainings for Dorm Leadership Team, Hall Advisors (DLT, HA’s), and First-Year Orientation.
- Created new Wellness and Self Care trainings for Student Leaders, Dorm Leadership Team’s (DLT’s), Owl Retreat.
- Created a new curriculum for Peer Health and Wellness Training.
- Created a new Narcan Training and distribution Program in conjunction with a PA State Grant.
- Created a new Wellness space for students on the 2nd Floor in the Well.
- Established collaboration on emergency protocols and policies for the Tri-Co with directors from Swarthmore and Bryn Mawr College.
- Updated 4 core administrative policies: Emergency all-hazard policy, Health records management, Confidentiality, and Immunizations.
- Completed immunization record review of all incoming first years and Post Bacs.
- Executed new contract for the Community-wide Fall Covid/Flu Vaccination Clinic.
- Student encounters: 117 since 9/4. There is a steady mix of upper respiratory infections, injuries, gynecology appointments, and referral requests. Please note the updates to Covid management and direct student to us or our website if they have questions: Health Resources
Residential Life and Student Engagement
- Three staff members are teaching a total of 5 first year THRIVE courses this semester.
- Staff have been working with both new and returning students regarding navigating roommate relationships and conflicts.
- Collaborated with campus partners to train over 100 student Dorm Leadership Team members.
- Organized Fall Frolic student club and organization fair for 130 student groups.
- Hosted the Emerging Owls Leadership Workshop for 110 student leaders.
- Over 300 new students attended the Friday Night Lights event as part of the Customs orientation week.
- Over 110 student clubs have completed their registrations.
- Provided party education for over 100 student leaders.
- Hosted a Welcome Back Bash event for students, faculty, and staff with over 500 people attending.
- Coordinated with the student Traditions leaders for the first Parade Night, the first student College tradition.
Restorative Practice
- Created training materials and solidified dates for the first monthly Circle Keeper (Facilitator) meeting.
- Began building an internal evaluation tool.
- Scheduled our first meeting with consultant, to review policies and procedures.
- Sent out the library link for the books that were mentioned in the Restorative Practice two day training-Restorative Practice Recommended Readings.
Student Support Services
- Held first CARE Team meeting of the academic year.
- Student Assistance Fund Committee met to review applications and discussed criteria and website updates. Also finalized meeting schedule for fall semester.
- Provided services to 37 referred students through 1:1 meetings, email check-ins, and consultations with campus partners.
- Maxient is live! Please use the Student of Concern Referral Form (maxient.com) to refer students.
Title IX
- Development of community wide message for students, staff, and faculty regarding updates.
- Continued case management of reports.
- Planning for community prevention and educational programming.
STAFFING
- Counseling is thrilled to welcome three new graduate interns who are completing their advanced clinical training with BMC Counseling Services: Olivia Eilers (social work student from University of Pennsylvania), Kelsey Nelson (social work student from West Chester University), and Taylor Dunn (psychology doctoral student from Chestnut Hill College). Excited to welcome Cathi DelVecchio (professional counseling student from Villanova) back as a second year intern this year.
- Counseling is pleased to also welcome a new receptionist, Cindee LaDuna! Cindee brings more than 25 years of experience in administrative reception in a dental office and is thrilled to enter the world of higher education with this new position! Please come by and introduce yourself when you get a chance.
UPCOMING EVENTS
- Thursday, September 19, 3:30 – 5:30 pm join Civic Engagement staff and Student Coordinators to learn more about our service programs, the Praxis Program, and the many resources available to students who want to engage in the local community through civic engagement! Snacks will be provided!
- Thursday, September 19, join the Impact Center at The Well for the launch of this year's "Beyond the Book" series, a monthly discussion time for faculty and staff. This month's selection is The Four Agreements. Please join us (even if you haven't finished the book)! For questions or to rsvp, contact ctaipe@brynmawr.edu.
- Friday, September 20, 12:00-3:00, the Tri-Co Career Fair at Founders Hall, Haverford College, allows students from all class years and majors to create meaningful connections with organizations from various industries. Students can stop by to explore organizations, learn about open internship/full-time opportunities and gain knowledge about various industries of interest.
- Monday, Sept 23 from 2-4pm, Health services will host a Campus-wide "Grand Opening" of the Wellness Room. Please be on the look-out for reminders to join the celebration! Come meet new staff member, Cristen Kennedy, Wellness Program Director, and Erika D'Andrea, Wellness Program Coordinator, and share in a tour, grab a snack, join some fun activities, and enter a naming context for the space.
- Thursday, September 19th from 4:30-6pm in Lower-Level Guild, Faculty Meet and Greet hosted by our division. Please plan to attend if you can.
DEAN ON CALL SCHEDULE
In order to contact the dean on call, please call Campus Safety at 610-526-7911.
FALL 2024
- September 9-16 - Patti Lausch
- September 16-23 - Katie Krimmel
- September 23-30 - Sara Donals
- September 30-October 7 - Candice Love
- October 7-14 - Baru Roberson-Hornsby
- October 14-21 (Fall Break--No OCC on call!) - Tomiko Jenkins
- October 21-28 (Inauguration & Family Weekend) - Tomiko Jenkins
- October 28-November 4 - Andrew Wilbraham
- November 4-11 - Richie Gebauer
- November 11-18 - Melissa Giess
- November 18-25 - Akirah Fenimore
- November 25-December 2 (Thanksgiving) - Joi Dallas
- December 2-9 - Tracy Weber
- December 9-16 (Last week of classes) - Rachel Heiser
- December 16-21 @ 9am (Finals Week; Dorms close at 6pm on 12/20) - Courtney Newkirk
Have a well-deserved weekend.
With gratitude,
Karlene
Dean of the Undergraduate College
Bryn Mawr College
Eugenia Chase Guild Hall
Lower Level
101 N. Merion Ave.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Phone: (610) 526-5375
Fax: (610) 526-7560
In Support of the Dean of the Undergraduate College
Liana Henrie
Executive Assistant
lhenrie@brynmawr.edu
(610) 526-5374
Message from the Undergraduate Dean
Dear UCD colleagues,
As we begin a new academic year, it is an opportunity to think about renewal. And while our “new year” is related to our academic year, it cannot be separated from our lives outside of work. We have another chance to beam about the joys experienced that lifts us, providing additional motivation to show up, innovate, co-create, and remain focused on the mission of the College. Obviously, life isn’t real without many challenges that can often feel like obstacles. With experience, I more often celebrate challenges as opportunities—opportunities to see a different point of view, engage differently without judgment, display more vulnerability, and share our authentic selves.
We have collectively built an incredible team and I couldn’t be prouder. Our foundation is set, and I know as a collective, we are feeling anchored and strong. We are well prepared for the year ahead, no matter what it brings. Let’s emote positivity, optimism, grace, and gratitude as we continue our work to support, collaborate and co-create with each other, our students, colleagues, and faculty. We will make a difference. In fact, as I encounter our students, especially our first-year students who have entered this new and important phase of their lives, I have already witnessed the difference many of you have made. So here is to a productive, challenging, and growing year that nudges us to move beyond our familiar.
You Rock!
This section ordinarily highlights individual colleagues who have contributed something extra during the week. Naming these individuals and what they did comes from you. I am using today’s “You Rock” to honor our entire division—for the time and commitment spent this summer finalizing strategic planning, developing, and building upon programs, organizing ways to assess our work, keeping the community safe, and above all, putting in a ton of preparation to welcome our new and returning students. Your gifts are already being experienced. Thank you!!
Updates
Moving forward, this section will include weekly accomplishments. To begin the year, we look back on what was accomplished during the summer months.
STUDENT SUCCESS
Academic Support:
- Engaged in a complete revision of the Academic Leave and Re-enrollment Processes.
- Worked with Communications to overhaul the Academic Support and Time Away and Return websites to clarify college processes and streamline access for stakeholders.
- Worked closely with College Counsel, the Registrar, and the Dean of Student Success to clarify communications to and expectations for students who come before the Committee on Academic Standing
- Successfully launched an internship program with the Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research
Access Services:
- Met with over 100 students seeking disability accommodations.
- Piloted new process for facilitating faculty/student dialogue concerning reasonable flexibility in course policies.
- Collaborated with LITS and the Provost's Office to inform faculty about the switch to Ally for assessing document accessibility.
- Continued to meet with and created a plan for the continuation of the Residential Life Accommodations Review Committee
- Reached out to and met with colleagues in the space of Accessibility at other institutions to gather insight into assessment instruments designed to help determine the needs or “gaps” students and faculty are experiencing on campus in respect to accessibility/successfully providing academic accommodations.
Class Deans and the First-Year Experience
First Year Class Dean:
- Advised the Class of 2028 on their academic schedules in the following ways:
- All members of the incoming, first-year class (approximately 380 students) attended one group advising session.
- 182 students participated in an individual shopping cart review from July 1-August 12.
- 139 students attended one-on-one meetings from July 1-August 16.
- 32 students attended drop-in hours during pre-registration from August 12-16.
- 55 students attended multiple one-on-one meetings, participated in multiple shopping cart review sessions, and attended drop-in hours.
- Held drop-in hours for students impacted by course lotteries (numbers tbd).
*Important to note that students may have engaged in more than one of the various touchpoints outlined above.
First-Year Experience:
- Revised the Thrive curriculum to incorporate an “Integrated Approach to Wellness” providing students with essential information to support them in their continued transition to college.
- Planned New Student Orientation.
- Worked with Health Services and the OneCard Office to yield a >95% completion rate of health information and the OneCard registration process prior to arrival.
- Assumed responsibility for first-year summer placement exams including timeline, student communication, website, updating of 10 placement exam Moodle sites, webinar, faculty outreach, and student foreign language survey including tracking completion and communication of survey results.
- Divided summer responsibilities of the Assistant Director of the First Year Experience between a Graduate Assistant and the Associate Dean of the First-Year Experience to track multiple summer onboarding processes including a) the evaluation of the QR Requirement for students to meet the benchmark, their Q Test results, and the Q Sem registration; b) the Language Interest Form; c) the International Arrival Form; d) the Advising questionnaire; e) Pre arrival tutorials; f) Group advising registration and attendance; and g)Individual meeting registration and attendance.
Sophomore Class Dean:
- Developed a timeline and events for the Sophomore Plan for the 2024-2025 academic year.
- Collaborated with Global Engagement and Career & Civic Engagement on Sophomore Plan programming and events.
- Updated website and streamlined resources.
- Advised rising sophomores, incoming transfer students, as well as juniors and seniors until corresponding class deans were hired.
- Provided administrative support for implementation of Maxient for student success team.
Junior Class Dean
- Began at the College in early August.
- Trained other Class Deans on how to utilize Handshake as a mechanism for inputting advising notes.
- Created a data report on Class Dean Notes that can be viewed on Handshake’s analytics page.
- Met with various stakeholders to better understand the resources on campus to better assist students.
- Met with 20-25 students in the Junior class between mid-August and the start of the term to assist with fall academic schedules.
Senior Class Dean
- Began at the College in mid-July.
- Met with faculty to discuss thesis and capstone requirements.
- Created fall academic calendar flyer that was shared with the residential life HAs
- Co-created Septa UPass flyer
- Reserved Wyndam for December Celebration 12/17/24 for graduating seniors.
Global Engagement:
- Reimaging an office of Global Engagement that intentionally integrates global education, study abroad/away, and fellowships.
- Co-created a vision plan for global engagement across the College.
- Hosted a tri-co planning meeting with colleagues at Haverford and Swarthmore involved with Global Engagement and Fellowships
- Reimagined study abroad and the sophomore planning process in collaboration with the Asst Dean of Sophomore Experience
- Planned a robust program of weekly outreach events for study abroad and fellowships throughout the Fall 24 semester.
CAMPUS SAFETY
- Assisted with move-in and keeping everyone safe while on campus.
- Summer Trainings:
- Fire extinguisher Training (June 2024)
- Van Certification (June 2024 – July 2024)
- Question Persuade and Refer Training (August 6, August 12 and August 13, 2024)
- BMC Air Compressor (July 28 and August 8, 2024)
- Special Collections Alarm Training (Varies dates)
- Uber Training (Varies dates)
- Clery Training (May2024) - Jen Turner
- Rape Aggression Defense Training (June 2024) - Pete Ruggeri
- Narcan Training (August 2024)
Bryn Mawr College
8/28-9/3/2024
- Alarm Activation - 5
- Alarm Fire - 6
- Assist Student - 14
- Drug Violation - 0
- Facilities Notification - 16
- Liquor Law Violation - 0
- Lockout - 83
- Medical Response - 3
- Medical Transport - 1
- Student Lockout - 26
- Transport - 51
- Well-Being Check - 2
CAREER & CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
- Planned Design Your Life opportunities for the 24-25 academic year for students, alums, and the broader community. This includes regularly scheduled meetings of for all staff who have attended the Standford studio (six of which went in June 2024), open meetings for the Campus Community to learn more, Design Your Life Physical Education course for students in second quarter of fall and as a conference version in the spring, incorporating Design Your Life into the planning for Bryn Mawr’s International Forum in March.
- Adopted Pathway U as a tool to help support the life exploration process for both students and alums.
- Officially took on the leadership and planning for the Women’s Colleges Career Fair happening in November.
- Prepared and planned across departments and divisions for the 2024 Election!
- Developed new Praxis courses for 24-25 academic year including a course with the Spanish Department!
- Three team members attended the Restorative Practice Training in August!
- Reimagined what our website could look like in collaboration with Communications. A draft of the new format was provided to Communications in July.
- Complied data for 12 departments for the Pathways web project, with 25 more to research this year.
- Completed After Action Reviews, shared and documented Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism professional development events attended, and compiled data reports for the 23-24 academic year.
- Hired, oriented, and trained new staff members and are excited to go into the year with all positions filled!
- Reviewed reflections, blogs, and other assignments, and provided support for the 117 students doing funded internships and or Curricular Practical Training (CPT).
- Continued to strengthen our partnership with Alumnae/i Relations and Development, connecting new team members and collaboratively strategizing on how best to support each other’s efforts to engage alums.
IMPACT CENTER
- Completed search process for staff person to support FGLI and undocu+ students.
- Continue and expand work of "Vision, Values, & Action" group – coordinating, tracking, developing initiatives and action items to support a positive campus climate in times of conflict and disagreement.
- Developed programming plan for Year II of Intercultural Living and Learning Center (ILLC)
- Planned welcome event for incoming first-year students served by Impact Center's mission.
- Developed Impact Center brochure.
- Began work of compiling and assessing departmental policies and practices.
STUDENT LIFE
Counseling Services:
- Completed writing policies & procedures manual for Counseling Services staff. This includes editing the current manual (last edit was in 2017) and making significant additions to information, procedures, and protocols throughout.
- Created a training manual for our interns in the Graduate Training Program.
- Scheduled orientation for our graduate interns in early fall.
- Finalized next academic years' schedule for: clinician on-call/triage shifts, psychiatry grand rounds, graduate trainee schedules, and monthly check-in meetings with all staff.
- Coordinated with Campus Safety and provided three separate 2-hour Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Trainings for Bi-Co officers.
- Provided three separate 2-hour QPR Suicide Prevention Gatekeeper Trainings for Dining Services and Auxiliary Staff.
- Met with Andrew, new Assistant Director of the First Year Experience, to collaborate on how Health & Wellness information and resources are presented to THRIVE classes.
- Completed creation of new clinical forms on new MedicatOne Electronic Health Record (EHR) platform.
- Facilities work was completed on the new group room within Counseling Services. Continuing to work on furnishing the room to welcome students into the new space in the fall!
- Assisted (ongoing) Athletics Department on search for new Sports Psychologist
- Assisted (ongoing) Impact Center on search for new Associate Director of Student Support and Belonging.
Health Services
- Website is now complete and includes all staff and bios.
- Offered students an opportunity to complete Mental Health and Substance Use survey. Almost 100 surveys have been completed. Survey is open through the end of the month.
- Peer Health and Wellness Educator’s (PHWE's) finished the Wellness Week activities with a "make-your-own-coffee" coffee hour in the Campus Center. They plan to host a candy potpourri in the Lusty Cup.
- Continue to partner with Federal Equipment and Manufacturing Company (FEMCO) to bring free menstrual product dispensers to campus. We will provide updates on the implementation of this initiative by the end of the semester.
Residential Life and Student Engagement
- Finalized hiring process for vacant Hall Advisor positions.
- Developed 2024-25 department events planning calendar.
- Re-structured and planned Hall Advisor orientation.
- Collaborated with Dorm Leadership Advising Group to plan Dorm Leadership Team orientation.
- Collaborated to re-imagine Safety Meeting now that CARE Team exists.
- Implemented Early Return procedures with faculty, staff and students.
- Assigned housing to Class 2028, transfers, and exchange students and students returning from time away from the College.
- Developed goals and events calendar for Emerging Owls leadership program.
- Developed training and programming calendar for the Owls programming board.
- Developed Emerging Owls mandatory club retreat schedule.
- Continue to develop uses and training of eRezLife for relevant departments.
- Working more in-depth on strategic planning initiatives and outline 3-year plan.
- Exploring possible professional development opportunities for 2024-25 for the request and planning calendar.
- Set up activities and programs calendar for the Fall 2024/Spring 2025
- Collaborated with the Impact Center to recruit and assign new students to Intercultural Living and Learning Center (ILLC).
- Assisted with SEPTA UPASS program launch and card distribution.
- Coordinated with Facilities Services, Housekeeping and Campus Safety for student summer storage with College Butler.
- Recruit, hire and train new Residence Life Coordinator—now paused until Fall semester.
- Continuing to engage with colleagues to learn about Restorative Practices.
Restorative Practice
- 10 Ambassadors and 27 Circle Keepers (Facilitators) were trained in Restorative Practice (RP).
- The RP website has been created and is operational.
- Solidifying plans for Faculty and students training.
- Presented to student groups and leaders (Emerging Owls Institute, Dorm Leadership Training (DLT) and Hall Advisor (HA)
- Planning for reoccurring trainings for RP Facilitation group.
- Facilitated our first intake.
- Trained on Maxient and successfully set up our landing page and back-office items.
Student Support Services
- Implemented Maxient
- Finalize CARE Team Operations Guide
- Developed internal Student Case Criteria Rubric
- Updated Website:
- Notice of Privacy Practices
- Student Support Services Overview & Language
- Community Resources
- Co-developed and finalized workflow collaboration with Class Deans
Title IX
- Revised Sexual Misconduct policy and procedure (now called Sex Discrimination and Sex-Based Harassment policy) to comply with new federal laws.
- Updated website with new policy information.
- Created Title IX Resource Brochure (in collaboration with Haverford).
- Provided Title IX training to some designated faculty/staff/student groups and incoming first year students.
DEAN ON CALL SCHEDULE
In order to contact the dean on call, please call Campus Safety at 610-526-7911.
FALL 2024
September 2-9 - Amanda Brown
September 9-16 - Patti Lausch
September 16-23 - Katie Krimmel
September 23-30 - Sara Donals
September 30-October 7 - Candice Love
October 7-14 - Baru Roberson-Hornsby
October 14-21 (Fall Break--No OCC on call!) - Tomiko Jenkins
October 21-28 (Inauguration & Family Weekend) - Tomiko Jenkins
October 28-November 4 - Andrew Wilbraham
November 4-11 - Richie Gebauer
November 11-18 - Melissa Giess
November 18-25 - Akirah Fenimore
November 25-December 2 (Thanksgiving) - Joi Dallas
December 2-9 - Tracy Weber
December 9-16 (Last week of classes) - Rachel Heiser
December 16-21 @ 9am (Finals Week; Dorms close at 6pm on 12/20) -Courtney Newkirk
With gratitude,
Karlene
Dean of the Undergraduate College
Bryn Mawr College
Eugenia Chase Guild Hall
Lower Level
101 N. Merion Ave.
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
Phone: (610) 526-5375
Fax: (610) 526-7560
In Support of the Dean of the Undergraduate College
Liana Henrie
Executive Assistant
lhenrie@brynmawr.edu
(610) 526-5374