Dear Westmont Parent,
We’re so thankful students have returned to campus. All the planning and preparing for their arrival and the efforts to keep them safe have helped us complete a month back in the community. We keep emphasizing the important fundamentals of COVID-19 safety, and we appreciate that Westmont stands apart from many institutions with just a few positive tests and only one active case currently on campus.
We have troubling news as well. As you may know, one of our first-year students, Kaitlynn Derani, was critically injured October 13 in a terrible head-on car accident while visiting her home in Colorado to celebrate her birthday. As of today, she remains in a coma. Her extensive injuries have required multiple surgeries. Her parents request prayers from as many people as possible. You can stay updated on her condition through her CaringBridge website. Please share this link with anyone willing to pray for her.
Thank you for entrusting your son or daughter to us as we strive to model how to love and care for another well. As a reminder, if you need to visit, please contact us at parents@westmont.edu. Our office will put your name and arrival information on an approved list so you may enter campus. We allow only a very limited number of visitors to keep our community safe.
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Sincerely yours,
Sarah Camp
Assistant Vice President for College Advancement,
Interim Senior Director of Alumni and Parent Relations
Virtual First-Year Parents Weekend
First-year parents will receive information about Virtual First-Year Parents Weekend in an email the first weekend in November. We’re planning some fun ways to show you what your student is experiencing here on campus. Watch for this email so you can participate.
Westmont Hosts Pulitzer Prize-Winner Jon Meacham
“The Architecture of Endurance: Building a Republic that Stands the Test of Time” Friday, November 6, 2020, 12-1:30 p.m.
The Mosher Center for Moral and Ethical Leadership presents Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jon Meacham. Through the generosity of the Mosher Foundation, Westmont is delighted to invite all parents and alums to watch the live, free broadcast featuring his timely and insightful thoughts.
Meacham, a presidential biographer, has authored numerous books, including “The Hope of Glory: Reflections on the Last Words of Jesus from the Cross,” “The Soul of America: The Battle for Our Better Angels,” and his latest, “His Truth is Marching On: John Lewis and the Power of Hope.” Look for an email with more information about participating in this exciting event. Register for the live broadcast today.
Westmont Earns Top College Rankings
What makes Westmont one of the top colleges in the country? According to Payscale, Westmont ranks in the top 7% of all four-year bachelor degree institutions for salary potential for mid-career alumni, putting it ahead of all CCCU schools. Niche ranks Westmont 85th overall and No. 7 in California.
How Westmont Helps Students Succeed
By Eileen McMahon McQuade, Associate Dean of Faculty
A generous donation from some alums allowed us to establish the Center for Student Success (CSS) in 2018. Since then, we’ve been hard at work researching what our students most need and expanding our student support services. If your son or daughter shares that they’re experiencing some challenges in their academic work—and Westmont’s rigorous standards at mean that most students do—see the resources below that might assist them. These services are all free and open to all.
Tutoring
Many of our large, general education or introductory courses offer specialized peer tutors who lead weekly group-tutoring sessions. Theresa Covich, library academic support manager, trains and supervises these tutors, who work closely with professors to make the sessions valuable and productive. See the fall 2020 tutoring schedule here.
Some students attend every week, making the sessions a regular part of their study routine. Writer's Corner.
Westmont’s writing center provides a creative space where student writers can find friendly test readers as they develop projects for professors, employers and others. Tutors with Writer’s Corner coach and collaborate with peers as they mature into more skillful and confident writers. Sessions are one-on-one. Students can make appointments here.
Peer Coaches
Through private, personalized coaching sessions, students receive assistance in navigating their college experience. Coaches work with students to identify their goals, connect to resources, and learn new life and academic skills. For more information about these peer coaches, what areas they focus on, and how to make an appointment, click here.
Student Success Coaches (SSCs)
The Student Success Coach program is the newest addition to the CSS. Starting this fall, all new first-year and transfer students were assigned to a student success coach and meet with them at the beginning of each semester. Professional members of the student life staff, the coaches seek to help our new students make a successful transition to college and thrive. If your daughter or son is new to Westmont and feels the need for support, they should start by contacting their SSC. Click here to learn more about our fantastic team of six SSCs.
Encouraging Students to Connect in Safe and Creative Ways
by Stu Cleek, Dean of Students
Students living together on campus in community makes Westmont a richer environment. Their presence this past month has brought energy, excitement and joy to life on campus. Laughter fills our residence halls once again, and we’re deeply thankful they’ve returned to Westmont.
Now that students have moved back and settled into the residence halls, Student Life has been hard at work creating opportunities for them to connect with each other and build relationships. Fostering a sense of belonging is key for student success, and it remains a top priority for residence life and campus life in the upcoming months. We know students will persist academically when they feel connected to the institution and have developed meaningful relationships with peers. Though COVID-19 has created obstacles for how we typically connect as a community, the college is committed to being creative in facilitating social connection.
When students moved to campus, Residence Life and Campus Life worked to host a variety of initiatives to encourage community connection. Students were invited to participate in virtual section events, first-year seminars, small Orientation groups, and all-hall welcome events through Zoom. We’ve seen students connecting these first few weeks in safe and responsible ways in the residence halls, physically distanced with face coverings. Students have embraced the community guidelines while also seeking ways to capitalize on each of these opportunities as a way to connect. Our students are clearly hungry to connect and open to new experiences.
Though county regulations prevent large social events, Residence Life remains committed to initiatives that build relationships. Resident assistants have been intentionally reaching out to students in their sections, inviting them to meals at the Dining Commons, encouraging participation in hobbies such as surfing or spike ball, and making themselves available for one-on-one connections. Resident assistants also work to host virtual section events once a month or serve as hosts in bringing people together in physically distanced ways. Our resident assistants serve faithfully and work hard to foster connection within the limitations of our safety protocols.
Additionally, social media has provided a creative means for connecting with students. For weeks, Residence Life staff have posted about meet-and-greet sessions on Instagram Story. Resident directors hosted virtual hall tours and used Instagram to facilitate conversations and announce gatherings in the halls. We hope to continue to build on this platform to bring people together virtually.
Other initiatives also help bring students together. We’re working to host Secret Santa, organize hiking adventures on the surrounding campus trails, and empower students to embrace small-group connections as a way to go deep with people. Moving away from planned events can be refreshing as we embrace the joys of unplanned connection to build authentic relationships. As we work through the complexities of COVID-19, we’re calling our community to connect.
We believe it’s important for your sons and daughters to development as students, so, we’ll continue to be creative in providing opportunities for them to develop meaningful friendships, connect with the Westmont community, and develop a network of support as we collectively persevere this year.
Summer 2020 Student Research
Even while much of the country was shut down for the summer, Westmont professors continued their research. With the assistance of 27 students who strictly adhered to safety protocols, they conducted research on a number of topics ranging from the factors that affect the presence of western fence lizards to the use of motion-capture cameras to analyze prosthetics.
Read more on this research and findings
Finals Week Survival Kits
The semester has passed swiftly, and we’re already preparing for finals week. As your students write papers, conduct experiments and make plans to return home for Christmas, you may wish to encourage them to finish well.
Consider ordering a Finals Week Survival Kit for your student. For just $20, you can send fabulous treats and stress-relieving toys to your student’s room with a personalized note from you. We even offer a limited number of gluten-free kits. Place your order by Wednesday, December 9.