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Parent & Family Newsletter

March 2020

Welcome

Inside this edition of our Parent & Family Newsletter, you can find features including information about our College Enhancement Internship Program, an article about TCNJ's Football Team partnering with a non-profit, and a spotlight from the School of Education. We have also included a Faculty Corner titled, "Our Trenton Roots," important dates and deadlines, and spring closing information for your reference. You can find all of our features listed in the table of contents below. 

Susie Orecchio, MA, NCC
Director of Administration & Operations, Student Affairs
Coordinator of Parent & Family Programs

Highlights from the Vice President
for Student Affairs 


Dear Parents, Family, and Friends:

It is almost here. The time of the year when college campuses go through a metamorphosis. New flowers bloom, the sun shines a little brighter as the earth leans in for its annual greeting, and the campus seems to come to life again. Those that have taken cover from the winter chill are ready to explore a little more than what has occurred in the preceding few months. The metamorphosis is nearly complete. First year students are no longer new to the campus but in fact have become ambassadors to the institution as they give sage advice to younger students seeking to follow in their footsteps. Our seniors are beginning to become overwhelmed with joy as they approach the commencement milestone. Students, from beginning to end, reflect on the academic year thus far and mark their progress towards their 19-20 school year goals. 

It is truly a special time of year. As your students begin to note their progress, speak with them about their preparations for internships. Understandably, some students may not be quite ready for an internship in their particular major, but perhaps they are looking for a challenging employment opportunity to sharpen their skills. In that case, pay particular attention to the segment in this newsletter about the College's CEI Program. This is a program offering internships within the college working with some of our many talented staff. Whatever the decision may be, we want our students to take full advantage of the rich opportunities available to a young college student. 

Finally, the spring semester is filled with many celebrations for academic departments and student organizations alike. We want to encourage our students to be engaged while always remembering to keep self-care at the forefront of our thoughts and actions. Self-care can be achieved in many ways including participation in our 
Weekly Meditation Services or our at home meditation resources. Remember, it is not necessary for a student to participate in every event and activity; it is most advantageous to pace themselves.

I look forward to seeing many of you at our rapidly approaching commencement ceremonies!

Sean O. Stallings
Vice President for Student Affairs
Table of Contents

Connect with us across the web for more information and resources!

TCNJ Parent & Family Resources
TCNJ Parent & Family Resources
Parent and Family Webpage
Parent and Family Webpage
TCNJ Student Affairs
TCNJ Student Affairs
TCNJ Student Affairs
TCNJ Student Affairs
TCNJ Student Affairs
TCNJ Student Affairs
College Enhancement Internships:
A Closer Look
By Vanessa Rutigliano
CE Intern Coordinator

The College Enhancement Internship (CEI) program allows students of all majors the opportunity to collaborate professionally with TCNJ administrators through a paid internship. The internship takes place over the course of an academic year, where interns work approximately 10 hours per week in one of the College’s many departments on campus. Interns work on both collaborative and individual projects, and are able to offer a student perspective while tackling projects and leading initiatives to further enhance the College’s mission. Examples of CE Intern accomplishments include social media campaigns, newsletters, event planning, and web designs; CE Interns have worked to put forth several unique initiatives of the College, such as the Lions Lifting Lions Fund and the Thrive Wellness Expo. Each intern has a departmental supervisor and is assigned in-depth, real world experience to enhance their professional skills and prepare them for the workforce. 

The CEI program is currently in its fifth year and is supervised by Debra Klokis, Associate Director of the Office of Career and Leadership Development. Debra says, “The College Enhancement Intern program is a great opportunity for students to gain professional experience while staying on campus. The increased level of responsibility these students experience prepares them for life after TCNJ.”

Kim Tang, a senior Communication studies major with minors in marketing and graphic design, has worked as a CE Intern in various offices for the past three years. She currently works in the Office of Communications, Marketing, and Brand Management. Kim said, “The internship program gave me a chance to grow and work professionally, while still being able to stay on campus. I was given project and office experience and got to work with professional staff members of the College while never leaving campus. This flexibility was so important for me as an underclassmen who did not have a car.”

Tara Mild, a junior English and elementary education major at TCNJ, works as a CE Intern for the Office of Career and Leadership. Tara explained, “I enjoy working with lots of different organizations through workshops that are requested through the Office. I also really enjoy meeting and working with professionals in different areas throughout campus, including the School of Arts and Communication, the Career Center, and the School of Business, just to name a few. My favorite event that I have been part of so far was TedX TCNJ, in which I learned how to grow my own social media platform and also helped grow the Leadership Office’s social media presence; this helped allow more students to be aware of the various opportunities and programs that the Office has to offer.”

Encourage your student to apply for this opportunity on Handshake when 2020-2021 CEI positions are posted this summer.

 

Spring Break Closing Information
By the Department of Residential Education & Housing

 
As your student prepares to return home for Spring Break, TCNJ Residential Education & Housing offers a few things for your student to keep in mind while packing up to head home and relax:
  • Close and lock all windows. 
  • All blinds should be left open unless your student lives in a ground floor room. Please have your student close the blinds if they live on the ground floor.
  • All trash should be removed from your student's room and disposed of properly in the trash room or designated dumpster. Don't forget to recycle!
  • All valuables such as jewelry, money, game systems, etc. should be taken home.
  • Approved pets should be taken home as Residential Education staff will not be responsible for the care of any pets.
  • Turn off all lights and lock room door.
  • Your student should review and complete the check-out instructions that will be placed on their door or completed electronically prior to leaving.

Residence Halls will close at 8pm on Friday, March 13th for Spring Break, and reopen at 2pm on Sunday, March 22nd.

School Spotlight
School of Education
By Suzanne McCotter,
Dean of the School of Education
 

The Troublemaker Project

This year, over 240 TCNJ and TCHS students participated in the 2020 Freedom Dreaming Institute presented by The Troublemaker Project. Trenton Central High School students were assisted by The College of New Jersey students with creating podcasts and education journey maps. Dr. Bettina Love, a national expert on hip hop history, anti-racist education, intersectionality, and abolitionist teaching was the keynote speaker. Her speech highlighted topics from her book, We Want To Do More Than Survive, which included teaching methods in urban schools. 

 

Trenton Rise

In the fall of 2019, the Department of Counselor Education entered into a collaborative project with the City of Trenton Recreation Department and the Trenton Police Department to create an afterschool program for youth ages 12-18. In an effort to create an enriching environment where city youth can participate in interactive recreational and educational activities, the Trenton RISE Youth Center is typically open from 2:30pm-7:00pm. A typical day of program activities begin with an hour of homework help, followed by a choice of educational or cultural activities, a shared meal, and a round of semi-competitive table tennis or chess. Programs are evaluated and adapted based on the needs of participants. The program also offers weekly events, such as movie night and family game night wherein community members of all ages are invited to join in. TCNJ staff and students (both undergraduate and graduate students) plan and deliver the educational and recreational components of the program under the direction of Dr. Stuart Roe. In the coming year, plans include a building renovation, center-run summer camps, and weekend programming. The project is funded by the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs. 

 

Teacher Leadership Program in Hamilton

Experts in the field of education and school principals who face an overwhelming menu of responsibilities have long recognized that students benefit when schools have leaders at all levels. The NJ Legislature validated the importance of teacher leadership when it recently approved an endorsement for teacher leaders. TCNJ's educational leadership program faculty rolled out a new, state-approved, 15-credit Teacher Leader Certificate Program that prepares teachers to be mentors, instructional coaches, and facilitators of professional learning. The response to this program has been overwhelmingly positive. The first cohort of 22 teacher leaders is now being prepared on-site in the Hamilton Township School District. TCNJ faculty are pleased to be working closely with Hamilton’s administrators and teachers and supporting their commitment to learning and growing as educators. 
 

Campbell Endowed Chair of Urban Education

TCNJ welcomes Dr. Salika Lawrence as the inaugural Campbell Endowed Chair of Urban Education. 

 

Environmental Sustainability Education Symposium

On March 7th, 2020, from 8:30am-1:00pm, TCNJ will host the 2nd Annual Environmental Sustainability Education Teacher Summit. The Summit is open to teachers, TCNJ preservice teachers, and school administrators, and will include sessions geared specifically to PreK, elementary, middle school, and high school in addition to school-wide initiatives. TCNJ's Dr. Colleen Sears will give this year’s keynote address and discuss the connections between music and environmental issues. 

Registration is $15 and includes breakfast and lunch. Teachers are credited 4 hours of professional development for attendance and participation. A reduced TCNJ student rate of $5 is also offered. 

Register now at https://tpd.tcnj.edu/environmental-sustainability-education-teacher-summit/

Faculty Corner
Our Trenton Roots

By Dr. Robert McGreevey,
Professor, History Department


 

In fall 2016, students in my Trenton research seminar discovered a folder of letters from black parents sent to Paul Loser, superintendent of Trenton Public Schools, in the 1940s. The contents of that folder, together with a cache of related historical documents found in the Trentoniana collection of the Trenton Public Library, demonstrated Loser’s objections to integrating the city’s schools, even after the New Jersey State Supreme Court ordered integration in 1944.The documents my students uncovered in dusty corners of the city’s archive served as the basis for the renaming of our admissions building from Loser Hall to Trenton Hall. 

As superintendent of Trenton School District, Loser denied two African American students entry to Trenton’s Junior High School No. 2. With the help of the NAACP, the Hedgepeth and Williams families filed suit against the Trenton School Board. When the New Jersey State Supreme Court called Loser to testify, Loser confirmed that he had excluded the children on the basis of “color.” The New Jersey Supreme Court decided in favor of the black families in the Hedgepeth-Williams case (1944). 

My students determined that honoring Loser on our admissions building did not reflect TCNJ’s values, and they shared their findings with then-President Gitenstein and Provost Taylor. Their presentation of evidence to the president was one my proudest moments as a history professor. After practicing and debating which documents were most critical to present, they built a compelling case, and President Gitenstein responded by forming the Commission on Social Justice. Department members Chris Fisher (co-chair), Rob McGreevey, and history major Kevin Moncayo ‘17 served on the Commission, which recommended a name change for Loser Hall. President Gitenstein acted on the recommendation in May 2017, choosing the name Trenton Hall to reflect the College’s roots in the capital. In addition, the commission called for the College’s action on the question of race and educational attainment and our relationship to Trenton.

The “Our Trenton Roots” exhibit, which opened in Trenton Hall in Fall 2018, was a collaborative effort of students in the departments of history and interactive multimedia. My students conducted research in the TCNJ archive and collaborated with Professor John Kuiphoff’s IMM course on exhibit design. Highlights from the archive include: the earliest surviving class photo, which helps document women’s presence at the College since its founding; the 1897 class photo, which includes a black student (the College graduated its first black student, Priscilla Herbert in 1879, 13 years before Rutgers); and audio recordings from the 1950s of President Roscoe West, an outspoken school integration advocate and critic of Paul Loser. Building on the success of “Our Trenton Roots,” college ambassadors are being trained to incorporate the College’s history in campus tours. Roscoe West’s role in desegregation is now part of the required First Year Community Engaged Learning curriculum.

TCNJ Football Partners with National Non-Profit
By Evan Shomo
TCNJ Athletics Communications


 
 

This past October, the TCNJ football team partnered with Team IMPACT to sign Ian Todd as the first member of the 2020 recruiting class. 

Eight-year-old Todd was put on the Lions’ recruiting radar by Team IMPACT. Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit whose mission is to improve the quality of life for children facing serious and chronic illnesses through the power of team. The organization connects collegiate teams with children ages 5-16 who have been diagnosed with a serious or chronic illness. 

Todd was officially inducted as a member of the TCNJ football program in a press conference this past October. He signed a letter of intent and posed with his No. 22 jersey. 

In 2011, Todd was diagnosed with spina bifida. The illness is a birth defect that occurs when the spine and spinal cord don't properly form.

TCNJ head football coach Casey Goff has been known to recruit multi-sport athletes during his time with the program. Todd was already a hockey force, and he has made the transition to the football field with ease.

At his introductory press conference, Todd wasted no time in warning his new teammates of his skills. “Don’t even try to race me, because I am very fast,” said Todd. He was an honorary captain for TCNJ’s final two home games. Todd did the honors at the coin toss prior to TCNJ’s game against Wesley College. 

When asked why he chose TCNJ, Todd explained that it was his love for the campus which he visited during the New Jersey Special Olympics, which are held at TCNJ every summer.

"We were extremely lucky to have Team IMPACT and their representatives contact us," said Goff. "It's a tremendous organization that is doing great things. This will be a great experience not just for the young man that is joining our program, but also for what our program is going to learn from Ian. It's an important program that we are extremely excited to be a part of."

Todd remains a key part of the TCNJ football program. He will continue to attend practices, games, team dinners, workouts, and more when the Lions return to action in 2020.

Team IMPACT is a national nonprofit headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts. 
It connects children facing serious or chronic illnesses with college athletic teams, forming lifelong bonds and life-changing outcomes. Since 2011, Team IMPACT has matched more than 1,900 children with more than 650 colleges and universities in 48 states, reaching over 55,000 participating student-athletes.

"HPV (vaccination)...Is Easy as 1,2,3"
By Barbara Clark, ANP
Nurse Practitioner, Student Health Services
 
 
“HPV (vaccination) Is Easy as 1,2,3” or so it seems!  So why are so many college-aged students not vaccinated or not fully vaccinated with the HPV vaccine?
 

The answer may lay in a knowledge gap about the many benefits of the HPV vaccine beyond its role in protecting young adults from the HPV virus during sexual activity. Understanding the role of the HPV vaccine in protecting against several types of cancer is critical in decisions to vaccinate adolescents and young adults against the virus.
 
HPV, which stands for Human Papillomavirus, is well known for its role in causing genital warts in both men and women. However, HPV has also been shown to cause cancer. In women, HPV has been implicated as a cause of cervical cancer. It can also cause other reproductive health cancers in both men and women. Lastly, and maybe most surprisingly, HPV can cause cancers of the mouth and throat including tongue and tonsils in both men and women. In fact, over 34,000 of cancers detected in the U.S. each year are linked to the HPV virus.1

 
Most people who have HPV do not know it. They have no symptoms or develop symptoms years after acquiring it. HPV is similar to other viruses in that it can be easily passed from person to person. Methods to prevent transmission include condoms and other barriers, but transmission of HPV can still occur. The best way to protect from HPV-related cancers is through completion of the HPV vaccination series.
 
The HPV vaccine, brand name Gardasil 9, is recommended for all persons ages 9 through 26 years, with the ideal age to vaccinate children at age 11 or 12. Two doses of HPV vaccine are recommended for those who receive their 1st dose of vaccine before their 15th birthday (0, 6-12 month schedule). Three doses of HPV vaccine are recommended for people who get their 1st dose on or after their 15th birthday (0, 1-2, 6 months schedule).2

 
For more information about the HPV vaccine or to find out if your child completed their HPV vaccine series, contact your health care provider. Information can also be found at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at https://www.cdc.gov/hpv and on the Protect Me With 3+ website at www.protectmewith3.com.

 

1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ‘HPV Diseases and Cancers’. April 29, 2019, viewed on February 16, 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/parents/cancer.html 

2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, ‘HPV Vaccine Schedule and Dosing’. August 15, 2019, viewed on February 16, 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/hcp/schedules-recommendations.html 
What's New at TCNJ?
 
As another semester is under way, see some of the latest news available about The College of New Jersey:
 
Stay updated with more news about the College here!
Health & Wellness Newsletter
By TCNJ's Health & Wellness Portfolio
 
TCNJ's Health & Wellness portfolio has another newsletter to share with you from February 2020! We hope that this newsletter can provide you with useful information about the departments, programs, and initiatives taking place at the College that focus on the health and wellness of your students. You can view the latest newsletter here.
Class of 2020 Commencement
 
         
 
Class of 2020 families, be sure to visit the Commencement website for detailed information on Commencement festivities. Updated information about academic ceremonies and Commencement Convocation will be posted on the Commencement website within the next week. The site will continue to be updated as additional details become finalized.

Significant Dates and Deadlines

  • Residence Halls close for spring break: Friday, 3/13/20, 8pm
  • Spring Break: 3/16/20 – 3/20/20
  • Residence Halls reopen: Sunday, 3/22/20, 2pm
  • Fall 2020 and Winter 2021 registration window: Tuesday, 4/7/20 – Friday, 4/17/20
  • Reading days: 5/9/20 – 5/11/20
  • Final exam period: 5/12/20 – 5/15/20
  • Reading days continue: 5/16/20 – 5/17/20
  • Final exam period concludes: 5/19/20, 5pm
  • Residence Halls close for the spring semester: 5/19/20, 8pm
  • Spring Commencement: Thursday, 5/21/20 – Friday, 5/22/20
You can find TCNJ's full academic calendar here.
Give Your Graduate a Place in TCNJ History!
 

In celebration of your 2020 grad, we encourage you to leave a lasting legacy by securing your place in Alumni Grove with a personalized brick. Plus, each order includes a keepsake mini replica.

15% discount for the Class of 2020.

Visit the
 Brick Campaign webpage for more information. Make sure to place your order by March 9 so that it is installed by commencement.

Are You a TCNJ Legacy Family? Let us Know!

A Legacy at The College of New Jersey is an alumna/alumnus or current student who is the grandchild, child, or sibling of another TCNJ alumna/alumnus or current student. The Office of Alumni Affairs hosts special events for Legacy families throughout the year. Please let us know if you are a TCNJ Legacy family by clicking here to fill out our survey.
TCNJ Barnes & Noble Bookstore

 
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