Helping Your Student Navigate Homesickness

It’s October! The first month of college and classes has ended, and we are moving toward midterm exams. As the director of Hope’s Counseling and Psychological Services, I wanted to take a minute of your time to address the concern of homesickness and adjusting to college. Most of our students have settled into their rooms and connected with roommates, classmates and other students around them. For some, the pull of home and the not-yet-secure connections here will make adjusting to college a little more difficult during this first month or so of college (and no, this is not just for first semester students either!).

What can you, as families, do to best support your student? I’d like to suggest that you begin by taking a deep breath (or two, or three) and remember that your student is experiencing normal and expected grief and loss of no longer being at home. They will eventually connect with people and classes and student organizations, they will find a job on or near campus, they will even find their new favorite food in Phelps! Once they begin to connect at Hope, they will be less sad about not being home. We can all encourage students who are experiencing homesickness to be brave and take small steps to talk with other people here at Hope. Perhaps your student can set up a time to speak with their academic advisor to talk about classes? Perhaps your student could find a student club to join? Or, perhaps your student could make a coffee date with their RA?

If you search online for “homesickness and college students” you will most likely read that students who are homesick must not go home to visit. Well, I happen to disagree with that as a blanket statement. Some students actually do much better after a short weekend trip home. It can be as if seeing that home is still there makes it easier to make the move to college. And, if other high school classmates are also in college and gone, the pull to home may not be a strong as they seemed those first weeks on campus.

Kristen Gray, Associate Dean for Health and Counseling

If homesickness is making it difficult to sleep or eat or attend classes, then your student might benefit from speaking with a counselor or a chaplain. We have excellent and caring people with experience navigating the complexity of moving from home to Hope. Let us partner with your student to make good choices about how to best manage this time of transition.

Learn more at hope.edu/caps.

From Our Hope Family to Yours

Dear Hope Families,

Welcome to the 2019-20 academic year! Later this month, I will be meeting many of you as you help your student move into their campus home — some of you for the first time, others for the last time. Whether your child is entering their freshman year or their senior year, this is a special time filled with great anticipation for families and students alike.

This is a special time for me, too. Just a few weeks ago, I began my first year as president of Hope College. In late June, my family — my wife, Sarah (whom I met while we were students at Hope), and our three children, Sophie, Lucy and Oliver — left our home in New York City and made the road trip to Holland, Michigan. We quickly settled into the President’s House, and have been waiting with great excitement to greet our new neighbors — Hope students!

Sarah and I are delighted to be living right in the heart of campus, where we always will be close to your sons and daughters.

It is hard to believe that, 21 years ago this summer, I arrived on Hope’s campus as a freshman. Little did I know that Hope would transform my life. I never imagined how I would be mentored by caring professors, how I would be given opportunities to study and work off campus, how I would engage in graduate-style research, how I would prepare for a career in business and government . . . and importantly, how I would develop a relationship with God. Two decades later, Hope continues to transform students’ lives in ways that no other institution in the world does. I am so proud to lead this institution, and I am especially proud to be working for, and alongside, your students.

Thank you for entrusting your student to Hope College. May this year be a year of growth as they rise to meet the challenges and celebrate the achievements along the way. I look forward to seeing you very soon!

Transformed by Hope,
Matthew A. Scogin
President

Get Oriented! Five Reminders for First-Year Families

Hello New Hope Families!

This is the week we’ve been waiting for all summer — Orientation is almost here, and we are excited to share these five reminders for all participating families:

1. Next Friday is the day! Move-in Day is Friday, August 23 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Orientation Assistants (“OAs”) will be at every residence hall to welcome you and your student.

No need to think that moving all of this stuff into your student’s dorm room is overwhelming! Hope students are here to help!


2. We’re here for you… and your heavy items! The Orientation team is ready to help in any way — and that includes carrying your boxes, bins and heavy items. All 180 students volunteer their time because they love Hope College and want to ensure that you and your student have a smooth transition to “Home Sweet Hope.”


Pro Tip: Use blue tape to mark your belongings with your student’s name and room number before you arrive!

Which way do you go? Hope Campus Safety and our Orientation Assistants will help show you the way.

3. Unload, then park. Campus Safety officers and Orientation Assistants will be managing traffic and pointing you in the right direction. Parking near residence halls is reserved specifically for those who are unloading their cars. Once you are done unloading, you can park in any Hope parking lot throughout Orientation weekend — no permit required.

4. Step in and step up. We know that every family’s story is unique, and we’ve worked to build a variety of experiences that will meet a variety of needs. So, make yourself at home and dive into the family sessions. The more you participate throughout the weekend, the more you will get out of it.

5. Ask for help! There are no silly questions or unimportant concerns. Stop by the Orientation Station in the Bultman Student Center and ask the Orientation staff anything. Members of the Parents’ Council will be at Hydration Stations throughout camps. If they don’t know the answer, they’ll track it down for you!

Good luck with all your last-minute packing and preparations. We can’t wait to welcome you to Hope in person!

Sara Arnquist, Kayla Lang and Caleb Miller
2019 Orientation Directors

Fall Update from Student Development

Dear Hope Families,

Richard A. Frost, Vice President for Student Development and Dean of Students

I hope you are enjoying the summer with your loved ones. Here at Hope College, we are busy preparing for the arrival of our students. Our campus community is eager to greet all our students — both new and returning students — in person.

One of the best parts of the new academic year is having new opportunities to learn each student’s unique story. You have been an important part of your student’s story, and I want to thank you for all you have done to pave the way to this moment, whether your student is entering their first year or their last semester at Hope. The familiarity of the high school years is behind them, and soon they will be engaged in the learning culture of Hope College. Your student will experience academic rigor, develop new and different relationships, and engage in meaningful activities.

Before the fall semester begins, I encourage you to create some special time to talk with your student about their Hope journey. As the father of three college graduates, I know it can be difficult to start and have these conversations. Need some help? The following questions may prompt good discussion with your student:

  • What are you most looking forward to this year? What are two or three questions that you hope to answer this year?
  • When it comes to managing your time, what will be the biggest challenge? How do you plan to deal with that challenge?
  • What are you most anxious or nervous about? Classes, roommate, exams, internships, graduation, being away from family?
  • What are one or two ways that we, as a family, can support you?

With just a few until the start of the 2019-20 academic year, you and your student probably have a lot yet to do! It’s a busy time for all of us, but at Hope, we are always here to answer your questions. Please feel free to contact me at 616-395-7800 or email sdev@hope.edu.

Thank you for being a part of the Hope family!

Sincerely,

Richard A. Frost
Vice President for Student Development
Dean of Students

Meet Dan Osterbaan ’91

Greetings from Hope College!

As a fellow Hope parent, I want to take a moment to introduce myself and my new role at Hope. I am both an alumnus and a parent of two third-generation Hope students. This April, after a 21-year career at a Fortune 250 company, I made the decision to accept a role at my alma mater focused specifically on parent engagement and philanthropy. I am grateful for the education and opportunities that Hope has provided for my family and delighted to join a team that is focused on transforming the lives of our students, our community, and our world.

One of my objectives is to engage families to expand the reach of the college via enhanced learning and vocational experiences through the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career. By establishing the Boerigter Center, Hope College is one of the few higher education institutions nationally to streamline the intersection of calling, academic advising, experiential learning, and internships/career connections. This forward-thinking was recently highlighted in a New York Times article titled, “One Way to Make College Meaningful.”

Strong and diverse networks are a key element that make these types of programs successful. Parents play an integral role in identifying and cultivating experiential learning opportunities for our students as well as expressing the value that Hope College brings to your family and community.

I look forward to connecting with you in the near future to personally hear your ideas and insights about Hope College. Together we can build the network and support the services needed to enhance students’ experiences, equipping them to impact our community and our world.

Regards,

Daniel J. Osterbaan ’91
Director of Development for Parent Giving
Development and Alumni Engagement

Find me on LinkedIn.

Give to What You Love

Greetings from Hope College! I am writing to share some details — and my excitement — about Hope’s upcoming Day of Giving, which begins at midnight Thursday, April 11 and runs through noon on Friday, April 12. For this year’s Day of Giving, we will be inviting alumni, employees, friends and families to give to what they love at Hope College. I hope you’ll consider what you love about Hope and make a gift to support it.

We recognize that our Hope families already invest a significant amount in their students’ education, and we are grateful for your dedication. Like most colleges and universities, however, the full costs of the educational experience we deliver at Hope are not covered by tuition alone; indeed, it is the participation of many in philanthropy to support our world-class programs that allows us to go above and beyond what tuition provides and offer a robust, transformational experience, with exceptional opportunities, resources and support. Please know that any gift, no matter the amount, is important.

On April 11-12, you’ll have the option to “give to what you love.” This means that you can designate your gifts and, in doing so, support the areas that connect you most closely to Hope.

Maybe your student is an artist, athlete, Phelps Scholar or Emmaus Scholar. Maybe they participated in a campus ministries program, gained experience in a science lab, had an adventure studying abroad, or shared their research at a conference. Perhaps they received guidance from the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career. Or, perhaps like so many Hope students, they received a scholarship. You can give to (and get involved with!) any of these areas, and many more.

Thank you for being a part of the Hope College community, and thank you in advance for your consideration. On April 11, watch your email inbox for an invitation to be a part of Hope’s Day of Giving!

Thank you,
Rev. Dr. Dennis N. Voskuil

Day of Giving 2019 – Join our Team!

Get ready!
Hope College’s Day of Giving is 14 days away. We need your voice, your networks and your enthusiasm to help promote Hope College. Please join our team on Thursday, April 11 and Friday, April 12 and become an online ambassador!

What’s an Ambassador?
An ambassador can be an alumni, parent, employee or friend that is willing to promote Day of Giving through their personal networks, especially social media using #Give2Hope. Ambassadors will receive a personal online link and be able to promote a specific category, program or department. The individual ambassador with the most gifts tied to their ambassador link will win a Hope College prize pack!

Words of the Week: Give to what you love!
This year, you can designate the area you would like to support. This option allows you to “pick your passion” and support the areas you feel most closely connected to. Help us spread the word: Give to what you love at Hope College!

Help us make the day a success. We will supply you with a toolkit full of easy to post pictures and graphics, sample posts and more. Did we mention the one-of-a-kind t-shirt? All you need to do is sign up and start promoting Hope College on your social media accounts.

Please consider helping our efforts this year and sign up to be an ambassador!

Spring Update from Student Development

Dear Hope Families,

Richard Frost, Dean of Students

Here at Hope, we are in the final weeks of the academic year, and the entire community is ready to finish strong. As you probably know, this time of the year is filled with meaningful tasks — completing classwork, preparing for final exams, finding summer work, planning to launch a new career and attending year-end events. One of the most enjoyable parts of my job is seeing students celebrate their achievements and other important milestones with friends and loved ones. This will certainly be the case on Sunday, May 5, when we gather for the graduation of the Class of 2019!

At baccalaureate and commencement, graduates always tell me how fast their college years went by. They say that, “Time flies when you are having fun!” I would revise that to say, “Time flies when you are engaged in meaningful, life-changing experiences.” Over the course of this year, your student has worked hard in classes, developed relationships with faculty who have guided and challenged them, engaged in opportunities to deepen their faith, and made lifelong friends. No wonder time seems to go so quickly!

As the dean of students, I want to thank you for being a part of the Hope family. Our community is better because of the energy and gifts you and your student have shared with us. Whether your student will be continuing as a student next year or stepping into the new role of Hope alumnus, there is much to look forward to in 2019-20.

For those parents and families who will be joining us on May 5 for graduation, we look forward to celebrating your student’s many accomplishments and will be shedding a tear as we say goodbye to the Class of 2019, whom we love dearly.

Thank you!

Spera in Deo
Richard A. Frost
Dean of Students

Refer A Student

Referrals from alumni and families make a difference. Once a prospective student is referred, one in five of them apply. Over the past four years, nearly 300 students are at Hope because they first connected through a referral from someone like you.

WHY HOPE?
With more than 3,500 colleges and universities in the United States alone, what makes Hope such a unique option? Well, let’s start with three words: mind, body and spirit. These are the anchors of the Hope experience. Before you reach out to the prospective Hope students in your life, brush up on why there’s never been a better time to consider Hope College.

WHO SHOULD I REFER?
Students from around the world that are currently sophomores and juniors in high school and have demonstrated leadership, service and academic performance are great candidates for a referral. We seek students who will bring a wide range of perspectives and gifts to enrich our campus community. Though admission is selective, we’ll give each completed application careful consideration and review for factors that signal future academic and social success.

WHAT SHOULD I SAY?

Feel free to share your own Hope experiences in addition to these ideas:

For those that express interest, don’t forget to suggest they apply.

HOW DO I MAKE A REFERRAL
Making a referral is easy. You simply fill out this refer a student form. There are a few required fields including:

  • Name
  • Address
  • Current school

Other items like contact information, date of birth, GPA and academic interests are not required, but are helpful if you have them.

The Hope College admissions team will follow up with individual attention to the student you recommended.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
You’ll receive an email from Hope confirming your referral, and we will follow up with the student encouraging them to apply to Hope.

As a thank you for referring a student you will receive a coupon code for $10 off a purchase of $40 or more to the Hope College Bookstore.

Refer a student today!

Events Galore!

There are so many events happening this semester there’s definitely one for you and/or your student to attend.

The Alumni and Family Engagement team works closely with the Boerigter Center for Calling and Career to bring you the Living and Working In networking events for students, alumni, families and friends.

Join us:
February 19: Living & Working In: Health Care on the East Side
February 27: Internship Fair for students at the Bultman Student Center
March 5: Living & Working In: West Michigan
April 9: Living & Working In: Chicago (More details coming soon!)

The office of Development and Alumni Engagement is also hosting several regional events in partnership with Admissions for prospective families to hear your Hope story. Please consider the impact your attendance may have on prospective students.

Join us:
February 20: Hope in Midland
March 11: An Evening with Hope in Indiana
March 27: Hope in D.C. (More details coming soon!)

Questions? Contact us at 616.395.7250 or email alumni@hope.edu.