Friday, November 22, 2013

Heading Home for Thanksgiving!



         
                  Many of your students most likely have Wednesday, November 27 double circled on their calendar. The 27th is the day Thanksgiving break begins, marking a much-needed break for students during the busy fall semester. One of the most common questions we get over the phone from Parents during this week is about the best way for their students to travel home. Figuring out travel arrangements for students who do not live close to Hofstra can seem stressful, but with a little planning ahead, it can be a breeze! In my experience, there are really three great ways to get home if your student does not have a car.

By Train: This is my personal favorite way to travel when I go home. I live in Vermont and don’t have a car, so public transportation is a must for me. Amtrak is always one of the better public transportation experiences out there. The train takes a beautiful route along the Hudson River, and the views are absolutely spectacular. Unlike taking a plane, the seats are comfortable and you’re not packed into the train like sardines. Your student can find tickets for Amtrack at http://www.amtrak.com/. If your student hasn’t booked tickets yet, make sure they do so soon!

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Let's Talk Turkey: Tips on Having Conversations with your Student during Thanksgiving.



For many first-years, thanksgiving break is the first time they have been home since the fall semester started back in September. For first-year parents, these last ten weeks with the student at school may seem like an eternity! Many parents will have burning questions they want to ask their students about life at Hofstra and how the student is doing. Here’s some advice on talking to your student, without overwhelming them with questions:
1.     Before going into your questions, make sure to hug first! Welcome your student back into your home and let your student get settled before going into any big questions about school. Remember that your students have been answering questions in class and through homework for almost ten weeks! The last thing your students probably wants to do is feel like they are taking a verbal quiz about Hofstra with you! Give your student some time to unwind and relax, and they will become much more open about school.
2.     Bring up school in a quiet relaxed setting. Around the table with family members is not the best time to bring up your students academics. Perhaps one night when the family is sitting around watching TV.
3.     When you approach your student about schoolwork, the way you present yourself and ask the questions will make all the difference in getting your student to open up about their time at school. If you come across as confrontational, you can expect the student to close up and be confrontational back. However, if you come across as open and caring listen to what your student has to say, you will find that your student will be much more open about his or her experiences.
4.     When talking about grades, you must also be aware and understanding that the student may not know exactly where their grade standing is currently in the semester. Every professor has a different way of grading, whether it is through exams, projects, class participation, papers etc. Instead, you should encourage your student to meet regularly with their professors to discuss their performance in class.
5.     Should any problems or issues arise, keep in mind that the student’s academic dean is always available to help in any way possible. You student can find out who their dean is through their portal. Should you wish to get in contact with this academic dean yourself, you should keep in mind that while the dean can discuss general academic topics with you, the dean cannot get into detail about your students records until your student waives you on their FERPA Authorization Form online through their portal.
If you have any questions about talking to your student during Thanksgiving break, please don’t hesitate to contact the Office of Parent and Family programs at 516-464-4698 or at parents@hofstra.edu.

Shuttle Services- Evening and Holiday Schedule



Hofstra is happy to announce some new expansions in their shuttle services. Below is some information on these newly expanded transportation services:


Does your student live off-campus? Do they often tell you that they’ve been studying late in the library for exams and walked back to their apartment or residence hall in the later hours? Maybe they got a late-night bite to eat with a study group on the south campus and need to get back to their residence hall on the north campus? Hofstra is pleased to let you know about the Hofstra Night Shuttle, an expansion of our shuttle service for students, running through the neighborhoods surrounding Hofstra during the overnight hours, from 10 p.m. until 5 a.m. The night shuttle will travel from various points on the North and South campus, to local eating and entertainment establishments, and through areas of Hempstead and Uniondale where many students live. Students will only need to show their ID to board the shuttle. This shuttle service will be very convenient and reliable for those students that works or studies late as well as those who need to travel to and from off-campus in the nearby areas.

Students can even track the Hofstra Night Shuttle on their mobile device by going to my.hofstra.edu and tap the ‘Night Shuttle’ icon. They can also view the schedule by logging onto the portal and clicking the ‘Night Shuttle’ icon on My Apps.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Hofstra Alumna Living Her Dream as a Rockette


                Hofstra’s highly rated School of Drama and Dance has been turning out top dance performers for a long time. Graduates from Hofstra have gone on to perform on film, television, broadway and many other renown places. However, one alumna stands out from the rest.

                Tara Dunleavy-Tubridy, a 2004 graduate from Hofstra, is living her life-long dream of performing with the Radio City Rockettes for the past seven years. The Rockettes, world-renown for their annual Christmas Spectacular since 1933, are one of the most iconic pieces of the holidays in New York City.

                Tara grew up in Queens, NY and started studying dance at the age of 3. Tara danced competitively, and focused mainly on Jazz and Broadway styles. When it came to choosing a college, Tara knew there was no other choice for her other than Hofstra. Tara explains, “I knew I wanted to major in dance, but I didn’t want to go too far from my family. Hofstra was one of the schools we visited, and I fell in love with the campus, the program and the facilities. Being a Hofstra student was one of the best experiences of my life.”

You can read about the rest of Tara’s story about her time at Hofstra and becoming a Rockette at: