PARENTS ASSOCIATION E-NEWSLETTER

Welcome to the First Issue of the Parents Association E-Newsletter. We are very pleased to offer you this digital version of our parents newsletter—designed to bring you the latest news and updates.

In addition to one print issue each fall, we’ll be sending you seven digital issues throughout the 2007-08 academic year. The next issue will arrive in your e-mailbox in early September.

In the meantime, let us know what you think of the new Parents Association E-Newsletter by sending an e-mail to Kristen Pawlowski, our Parents Association Coordinator.

MARQUETTE HAS EMERGENCY PLANS IN PLACE

As this inaugural edition of the Parents E-Newsletter was being prepared, news of the terrible tragedy at Virginia Tech reached campus. The Marquette community is keeping the students, faculty, staff, alumni and families of VT in our thoughts and prayers. The bells on campus tolled 32 times this afternoon in memory of those who died.

The events on the Virginia Tech campus are causing colleges and universities worldwide, including Marquette, to reexamine their emergency plans.

Marquette has four key resources in dealing with a crisis. First, the university's Department of Public Safety is a highly qualified force of armed officers and prevention specialists who receive annual training in handling a variety of crisis situations. Second, the university has a well-articulated Critical Incident Management Plan (CIMP), which has been tested and refined and will be tested again this summer in a simulated emergency situation. The plan calls for utilizing all available means of communication in the event of an emergency; this includes e-mail, the university Web site, university voice mail, Access TV message boards, postings in buildings both on and off campus and use of megaphones or other devices as needed. Third, an electronic lock system allows the Department of Public Safety to lockdown all academic buildings instantaneously using technology; all residence halls have a lockdown mechanism at the front desks, which are manned 24 hours a day. Finally, the Department of Public Safety has a close working relationship with the Milwaukee Police Department and numerous other local and state law enforcement and emergency management agencies.

The focus of all emergency planning is the safety and security of students and staff.

As part of its emergency planning, the university has identified and trained emergency coordinators in every building on campus, and fire marshals have been identified in every department. The emphasis is on preventive measures, especially awareness of the unusual, such as suspicious packages or individuals, doors pried open that should be locked, leaks and odors. These individuals will also assist with notification and evacuation as necessary.

Security is everyone's business. If your son or daughter indicates a concern about his or her personal safety or that of a friend, please encourage him or her to immediately notify Public Safety at 414-288-6800. If the events at Virginia Tech are troubling your child, encourage him or her to contact University Ministry or the Counseling Center.

On a day-to-day basis, Marquette's Department of Public Safety and all university offices work to create a safe environment for everyone at Marquette and to help both students and employees develop lifelong safety habits.

COMMENCEMENT IS SUNDAY, MAY 20

They’ve worked hard at their studies, and you’ve worked hard supporting them through it all. Now it’s time for you and your new graduate to be recognized and to celebrate.

This year, for the first time, due to capacity limitations, tickets are required to attend the Helen Way Klingler College of Arts and Sciences graduation ceremony at the Al McGuire Center. This ceremony follows the university’s Commencement ceremony at the Bradley Center on Sunday, May 20.

Graduates do not need tickets, but guests do. Your grad can pick up four complimentary tickets with an MU ID from noon to 11:30 p.m. Monday, April 16, to Friday, April 20, in the Brooks Lounge, Alumni Memorial Union, first floor.

Unclaimed tickets are available, first-come first-served, beginning at noon on Wednesday, April 25, in the Brooks Lounge. Tickets are not available the day of the event, and we will not be able to replace lost tickets.

For more information, including ceremonies for the other Marquette colleges, go to Marquette’s 2007 Commencement Web site.

2007 ALUMNI NATIONAL AWARDS RECIPIENTS HONORED

Meet the 45 graduates of Marquette University who are the recipients of this year’s alumni awards. From their work in the community, to professional achievement, to their service to Marquette, we think you’ll enjoy reading their stories. Read more.

COME TO LIL’ SIBS WEEKEND 2007

Does your student have younger siblings, cousins or family friends who are interested in “Solving the Marquette Mystery”? If so, invite them to Marquette April 20–22 for the Residence Hall Association’s annual Lil’ Sibs Weekend for three days of fun and sleuthing.

Events include an opening picnic, a trip to the Milwaukee Public Museum, a campus-wide game of Clue, Hunger Clean-Up, Rock the Rec and many more residence hall-sponsored events.

It’s not too late to register for Lil’ Sibs Weekend. Just come to the on-site registration at the Alumni Memorial Union, 4:30 p.m.–6:30 p.m. on Friday, April 20.

For more information about costs and events, visit the Residence Hall Association Web site.

If you have any other questions regarding Lil’ Sibs Weekend 2007: Solving the Marquette Mystery, contact the Residence Hall Association at (414) 288-5851 or e-mail the Residence Hall Association.

ENCOURAGE YOUR STUDENT TO ATTEND STUDENT CAREER WEEK APRIL 16-21, 2007

Is your student looking for a full-time position or summer internship, wondering how to break into a career field, or wanting to work on resume and interviewing skills? Encourage him or her to attend Career Week, hosted by the Marquette University Career Services Center.

Several events are planned. At employer panels, students will get valuable information on how to break into their field of interest. Topics include job search techniques, interview tips and career advice. Employer panels are scheduled for engineering, business, arts and sciences, communication and nursing majors.

A number of workshops are also being offered, including resume writing, internships, interviewing, “First Year as a Professional” and an Etiquette Dinner.

Note: Pre-registration is required for the Etiquette Dinner. Students may register online or by calling (414) 288-7423.

For times, locations and other information, go to the Career Week Web site.

MONEY TALK: NEW ONLINE SERVICE BRIDGES COMMUNICATION

A new student self-service feature could potentially open the lines of communication between you and your student.

It’s called “Guest Access to CheckMarq,” and it’s a way for students to let parents in on the financial mail they receive from Marquette.

CheckMarq, Marquette’s online self-service for all things student — applying for admission, registering for classes, viewing to-do lists — serves as a virtual information system. With the advent of guest access to CheckMarq, parents and guardians can now log on to this virtual system to view their students’ financial aid and bursar accounts.

“We’ve known for a long time that parents play major roles in the financial aspects of their children’s educations,” says Anne Deahl, associate provost for enrollment management at Marquette. “And they want as much information as they can get. Because of this, we looked at the best practices at other universities to see what we could implement here.”

The result is access and tools for parents and guardians that can allow them to monitor financial aid as well as fee and tuition balances.

There is one catch: because of federal privacy laws, your student is the one who must set up the guest access user name and password for you to use. Put another way, your student is in the driver’s seat.

However, while it’s true that most college students are legal adults and theoretically should be handling their own business, the reality is that many of them are still dependents, and their parents and guardians are involved, even responsible for paying the bills.

“Even though the university recognizes students as responsible adults,” says Kathy Bussanich, Marquette University bursar, “we also know that parents are playing an important role in their transition to adulthood.”

With this in mind, guest access to CheckMarq can bring parents and students together, in practical ways. “It can engage both parents and students in a conversation about finances — one that helps students understand how college educations are financed,” says Deahl.

Susan Teerink, director of student financial aid at Marquette, agrees, emphasizing that it is also a way for the university to provide better customer service.

“We’re trying to help parents have a better handle on paying the bills,” says Teerink.

And there are other benefits. Although Kristen Britton, a junior exercise science major in Marquette’s physical therapy program, makes it a personal priority to stay on top of her own financials, she set up a guest access to CheckMarq user name and password for her mom to save time for them both.

“We’re on different schedules,” says Britton. “This way, my mom can log on whenever she wants, see what’s going on, and we don’t have to keep calling each other and leaving messages.”

Marquette’s guest access to CheckMarq was launched on March 6, 2007. For more information, go to the guest access Web site.

BUSINESS WEEK RANKS MARQUETTE'S BUSINESS SCHOOL IN TOP 50

For the second time in two years, Marquette University’s College of Business Administration placed among the top 50 in BusinessWeek’s “Best Undergrad B-Schools” issue. The magazine introduced the undergraduate rankings in 2006.

“The continued national recognition for our business program is a tribute to the efforts of our faculty, staff and students,” says Dr. David L. Shrock, dean of the college. “Marquette strives to help students excel as individuals with a strong ethical foundation and to develop the skills necessary to be business leaders who will make a difference in our global economy.”

The magazine cited the college’s “focus on ethical and moral reasoning,” as well as its alumni mentoring program.

To identify the best business programs, BusinessWeek used five measures, including a survey of nearly 80,000 business majors at top schools and a poll of undergraduate recruiters. The ranking is based on an “index number,” which represents the sum of all five ranking measures. BusinessWeek also calculated letter grades on teaching quality, facilities and services, and job placement.

The complete list is available in the March 19, 2007 issue of BusinessWeek. Expanded content, including the full methodology, interactive tables, in-depth profiles and a discussion forum are available at BusinessWeek.com.

CELBEBRATE SPRING WITH A CHOIR CONCERT

Join the Marquette University Liturgical Choir, an ensemble of approximately 55 students, for its sixth annual spring concert, “Holy God, We Praise Thy Name,” at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, at Gesu Church.
The concert is free and open to the public; donations are accepted following the program.

Gesu Church is located at 1145 West Wisconsin Avenue. Parking is available in Lot F on the corner of Wells and 12th Streets.

For more information contact Rachelle Kramer by e-mail or phone at (414) 288-3695.

MARQUETTE GRADUATE PROGRAMS RANKED BY U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT

Each spring brings April showers, May flowers and the annual U.S. News & World Report graduate school rankings. This year, a number of Marquette graduate programs were ranked and recognized by the national news publication. Read more.

HIGHER ED HEALTH

When students are sick or need medical attention, they head to Marquette’s Student Health Service. But there’s more to this very busy clinic than meets the eye. The two professionals who run it give us a behind-the-scenes look in an article that originally appeared in Marquette Matters, the university's faculty and staff newsletter. Read more.

MARQUETTE RANKED 38TH FOR BEST VALUE

In its April 2007 issue, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine lists Marquette 38th among private universities that offer “the best values.” Ratings reflect a combination of quality and financial measures. Quality measures, which account for two-thirds of the total, include admission rate, percentage of freshmen with an ACT of 24 or higher (or equivalent SAT), and four/five-year graduation rate. Financial measures include total cost, costs after need-based aid, percentage of the average aid package that comes from grants or scholarships, percentage of undergrads without need who receive aid and average debt at graduation. Read the full story.

KEEPING MILWAUKEE BEAUTIFUL, STAMPING OUT HUNGER

Hunger Clean-Up, a Marquette tradition that’s now 18 years old, is a one-day service project taking place Saturday, April 21. Students, faculty, staff and alumni gather at 9 a.m. then disperse throughout Milwaukee in groups to execute various smaller projects, whether it's weeding, painting or working at a local meal program. Through pledges, they also raise $20,000 to support community agencies. Read more.

Read more about Hunger Clean-up in the Parents Association Newsletter Archive.

DID YOU KNOW...?

A few of the latest facts about Marquette that not many people may know (and now you do!):

The Marquette Tribune finished second in the recent Wisconsin Newspaper Association contest against 45 other college newspapers, with three third prizes and three Certificates of Merit.

John Bobek, Comm ’04, will make an appearance on “Desperate Housewives” this month.

The Salvation Army of Greater Milwaukee recently honored Marquette’s Center for Community Service for its involvement in the Feed the Kids program, State Fair and holiday programs.

PARENTS E-NEWSLETTER

APRIL 2007