Parent and Family Newsletter - Dean of Student Letter - January 2019

Dear Golden Bear Families,

It’s hard to believe we are well into the spring semester after what I hope was a refreshing and enjoyable holiday break.

Allow me to take this opportunity to touch on a few important points about this time of the year. 

Early spring semester is prime cold and flu season, so we ask that you join us in reminding students to eat well, get proper rest, and consider getting a flu shot so their studies are not interrupted by illness. 

Occasionally, the winter months in Beckley can present hazardous weather conditions.  Although the university rarely closes due to weather, it does happen from time to time.  Should weather with the university’s safe operation of the campus, students will be sent notification through Tech Alert, our emergency alert system.  Students are automatically enrolled in this system and will receive text alerts and emails in the event weather or some other emergency impacts the operation of the university.  Families can also receive these alerts by signing up on the Tech Alert website.   Weather related cancellations/closings are also posted on the homepage of the WVU Tech website.

More commonly, weather may hinder commuter-students’ ability to travel safely to campus.  Students should exercise good judgement and not travel to campus in unsafe weather conditions.  When road conditions make travel unsafe, students should contact their instructors to arrange to make up work they may have missed.  Our faculty have been asked to be understanding in these circumstances and provide students reasonable opportunities to make up work they may miss due to hazardous road conditions.

Sometimes after the fall semester, students question their college path.  And while this tends to be more common for first-year students, upper-class students may experience this too.  Staff in the Student Success Center, Career Services, and the Counseling Center are ready and available to assist students in affirming their current path or choosing a path that suits their interests and abilities.  Please encourage your students to reach staff in these areas for assistance should they need it or reach out to us yourself if you think we can help.

Student Life staff along with other areas of the university offer a wide range of programs throughout the semester to help students get the most out of their college experience.  Take a few moments to look over our university calendar and see what’s happening on campus.  Because students who are actively involved on campus tend to succeed at higher rates than those who do not, we send students a weekly email called The Student Life Digest to keep them informed of upcoming activities, events, and other happenings on campus.  You may want to remind your students to watch for The Student Life Digest and urge them to get involved.  Here’s the latest Student Life Digest for your information.     

I continue to be thrilled to have your students on our campus and stand ready and willing to help should you or they have any questions or ever need assistance.  

Best wishes for a successful Spring semester,

Go Golden Bears!

Richard Carpinelli
Dean of Students