WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:04.480 welcome and congratulations to you  usually congratulations are given to   00:00:04.480 --> 00:00:10.080 to the students but i think it's also important  to recognize the contributions of of parents   00:00:10.080 --> 00:00:17.760 grandparents aunties uncles uh those who who act  as support mechanisms for for their student right   00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:21.920 brothers sisters whoever it happens to be and  help them along their journey you're a big   00:00:21.920 --> 00:00:28.560 part of what it took to actually get your young  person to the point where they're ready to to   00:00:28.560 --> 00:00:33.360 find themselves at a four-year institution  like the University of Illinois at Chicago   00:00:34.320 --> 00:00:39.600 my name is Oscar Rodriguez i'm associate vice  provost of academic and enrollment services and   00:00:39.600 --> 00:00:44.080 and i'm part of the unit that helps students get  the information that they need work their way   00:00:44.080 --> 00:00:50.960 through the steps uh become admitted and then find  their way transitioning to campus in the fall um   00:00:50.960 --> 00:00:56.560 we we thought it was important to to get together  a group for parents in specific and and guardians   00:00:56.560 --> 00:01:01.200 and others were support mechanisms for students  because oftentimes you have different questions   00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:06.320 right uh we we've all worked with young people  we all have family members we all understand   00:01:06.320 --> 00:01:11.840 that sometimes they're they're bright they're  intelligent they're beautiful we all know this   00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:17.200 but sometimes they they're not quite asking the  questions that you might be asking or addressing   00:01:17.200 --> 00:01:21.760 the things that maybe you are concerned about so  our intention here is to provide you a variety of   00:01:21.760 --> 00:01:27.760 different people who come from different parts of  the campus and give you the opportunity to perhaps   00:01:27.760 --> 00:01:32.480 perhaps ask the question that that perhaps your  student might not ask or perhaps ask a question   00:01:32.480 --> 00:01:38.240 about how is it you can best support your student  as they engage in their in their four-year journey   00:01:38.240 --> 00:01:44.800 hopefully this fall we've got until 11 10 so we've  got about 55 minutes and we'll the the chat will   00:01:44.800 --> 00:01:49.520 remain closed for a question or two as we sort  of set the stage and get you thinking about   00:01:50.160 --> 00:01:54.720 the kinds of things that uh that we're ready to  answer for you and uh then we'll open it up to   00:01:54.720 --> 00:01:58.880 chat we'll open it if you're willing to come off  camera and the mic feel free to do that or you can   00:01:58.880 --> 00:02:02.240 put things in chat when we open it up and we'll  be able to address as many of the questions that 00:02:02.880 --> 00:02:08.720 that we have there we've got a fantastic panel  for you today so i'm gonna go ahead and ask them   00:02:08.720 --> 00:02:15.040 to to introduce themselves talk a little bit  about their background and sort of their their   00:02:15.040 --> 00:02:21.280 work at UIC and the kinds of things that they  have some experience and expertise in and since   00:02:21.280 --> 00:02:24.960 everyone finds themselves in a different  place in a zoom room let me go ahead and uh   00:02:25.680 --> 00:02:28.080 give it to people in specifics  so why don't we start with 00:02:28.080 --> 00:02:36.800 Dr El-Amin well thank you oscar and good morning  good morning i'm Dr Aisha El-Amin i serve as   00:02:36.800 --> 00:02:41.280 the associate vice chancellor for equity and  belonging and here at UIC and our office of   00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:47.520 diversity equity and engagement um i have been at  UIC about 10 years in various roles but i'm also   00:02:47.520 --> 00:02:54.400 a UIC alumni and i have a first year student  here at UIC in the college of business so   00:02:54.400 --> 00:03:00.320 i understand uh where you are i was exactly  where you are uh not long ago and i'm here to   00:03:00.320 --> 00:03:08.400 help uh answer any questions you have and i'll  pass it over to my colleague Josephine Volpe   00:03:09.840 --> 00:03:13.840 oh you are so kind to use my full name hi  everyone i'm josephine volpe everyone at   00:03:13.840 --> 00:03:20.080 UIC knows me as Joey um so i'm Joey Volpe i'm the  assistant vice provost for advising development i   00:03:20.080 --> 00:03:27.840 have been acquainted to UIC since 1994. i have an  alum of UIC actually a triple alum uh i spent some   00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:33.040 time in california and came back as a staff member  in 2001 and i have a wide-ranging background but   00:03:33.040 --> 00:03:37.840 generally that has always been in working with  undergraduates and primarily in advising and   00:03:37.840 --> 00:03:42.160 advising development so what that means is that  i work with all of our advising teams on campus   00:03:42.160 --> 00:03:46.320 um and i am sort of the saint jude children's  research hospital of advising if you'd like to   00:03:46.320 --> 00:03:51.120 think of it that way i get some of our most unique  things and it's what it's a joy to work with   00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:57.280 your children and and loved ones at whomever may  be coming to UIC hopefully so thank you very much   00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:04.240 and i'm going to actually pass it over to Kiely  Fletcher good morning everybody happy saturday my   00:04:04.240 --> 00:04:08.640 name is Kiely Fletcher i am executive director  of financial leading scholarships here at UIC   00:04:09.360 --> 00:04:18.560 i have been in financial aid since 1999. i've  been at UIC god i feel old but but that is true i   00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:26.080 have been at UIC almost exactly five years to the  day January 23rd will be my five year anniversary   00:04:26.800 --> 00:04:31.680 in the role of director financial aid here at UIC  um we know that financial aid can be a challenge   00:04:31.680 --> 00:04:36.800 especially for families who this is their first  their first son or daughter going to college   00:04:36.800 --> 00:04:41.600 um so we're more than happy to help in any  way we can navigate the confusing world   00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:48.160 of financing college for for your child  and then i will pass them over to Dr McCall 00:04:50.880 --> 00:04:57.760 good morning everyone thank you Kiely Dr Fred  McCall i serve as the associate vice chancellor   00:04:57.760 --> 00:05:03.120 for student engagement and student affairs um and  i have been i'm the newbie so i've been at UIC 00:05:03.760 --> 00:05:07.520 for a little over two years out  from california as well and so   00:05:08.160 --> 00:05:13.360 um in my role in student engagement i oversee  six departments in student affairs that deal   00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:17.200 with transition engagement supporting  your students um through involvement   00:05:17.200 --> 00:05:20.800 and just making sure they're connected  and have a sense of belonging at UIC 00:05:20.800 --> 00:05:26.000 and so uh looking forward to chatting with you and  answering questions that you all have thank you 00:05:28.480 --> 00:05:34.160 all right so um as we get started i promised  everybody on the panel that i would do this   00:05:34.160 --> 00:05:39.120 uh obviously thank you for bringing us into your  homes um you are bringing us into your homes but   00:05:39.120 --> 00:05:44.800 we're also bringing you into ours so so welcome  to my office welcome to everyone else's office   00:05:44.800 --> 00:05:52.080 or living room wherever they happen to be please  do not be surprised if if a if a child or a cat   00:05:52.080 --> 00:05:57.600 or a dog finds their way moving through moving  through um through the background here where   00:05:57.600 --> 00:06:02.720 we're all obviously living through the pandemic  and and some of the impacts of it and you know   00:06:02.720 --> 00:06:08.240 it sort of makes itself known uh at times like  this uh with that said let me go ahead and start   00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:12.720 with some questions and and and this is in fact  related to it the pandemic continues to impact   00:06:14.400 --> 00:06:19.840 post high school education in general for for  students and families right as as colleges  00:06:22.160 --> 00:06:26.640 closed for different times open for different  times perhaps start virtually perhaps are engaging   00:06:26.640 --> 00:06:34.560 in certain practices to keep their their campuses  safe but but aid and affordability remains one of   00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:41.520 the the primary concerns for families through the  pandemic so Kiely what kind of advice or insight   00:06:41.520 --> 00:06:48.160 do you have for for families given everything that  we know and have learned through the the past year   00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:53.680 year and a half of of of the pandemic and sort of  their impact on family finances and and college   00:06:53.680 --> 00:07:00.480 financial aid yeah so i mean clearly the pandemic  that we are still in has had a broad reaching   00:07:00.480 --> 00:07:07.680 effect on everyone's finances and particularly  when it comes to financing education when you   00:07:07.680 --> 00:07:12.400 filed your fafsa and hopefully at this point you  have filed your fafsa for the upcoming year the   00:07:12.400 --> 00:07:18.240 22-23 fafsa application if you haven't there's  still time recommend that you do so right away so   00:07:18.240 --> 00:07:22.160 that we can get that information processed for you  timely but if uh if you've already filed you're   00:07:22.160 --> 00:07:28.160 probably aware that the fafsa was looking at 2020  tax information and that was the first year that   00:07:28.160 --> 00:07:34.480 we really felt the hit of the pandemic pandemics  began in march of 2020 and that's really when   00:07:35.040 --> 00:07:41.120 it wasn't just a few months of pandemic expenses  it was almost the full year of 2020. and we and we   00:07:41.120 --> 00:07:46.480 understand in financial aid that the information  that you're providing on the 2020 tax information   00:07:46.480 --> 00:07:51.440 it might not be where your family is right now in particular there's a lot of financial changes   00:07:51.440 --> 00:07:56.400 a lot of job changes that were that occurred  through the course the pandemic and one of the   00:07:56.400 --> 00:08:00.720 options that we have available for you is what  we call a change of financial situation appeal   00:08:01.520 --> 00:08:06.000 because that was a few years ago and the  information we know especially with the pandemic   00:08:06.000 --> 00:08:10.160 could have changed from that point in time to  where you are now and where you will be in fall   00:08:10.160 --> 00:08:16.160 of 2022 we want to take that into consideration so  what we what we will allow is an appeal basically   00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:21.280 saying look what happened in 2020 a lot of things  happened in 2020 since i filed my tax return and   00:08:21.280 --> 00:08:25.040 i really want to get you the information in  terms of where my family is right now and   00:08:25.040 --> 00:08:31.360 that's what the change of financial situation  appeal will allow the form is available for you   00:08:32.160 --> 00:08:37.520 on our website if you have a change in your  circumstances from 2020 you just need to   00:08:37.520 --> 00:08:43.280 reach out to the college counselor in financial  aid that's assigned to your particular student   00:08:43.280 --> 00:08:47.600 via liberal arts and sciences or business  administration each college has their own   00:08:47.600 --> 00:08:52.400 financial aid mailbox you just need to reach out  to that mailbox to say hi we would like to file   00:08:52.400 --> 00:08:57.120 one and we will get that process started for you  including going through the forums with you as   00:08:57.120 --> 00:09:02.320 well as next steps to to get your finances  correct in terms of where your family is   00:09:02.320 --> 00:09:07.840 right now considering considering what everyone  has gone through financially throughout the course   00:09:07.840 --> 00:09:12.560 of the pandemic and we're still in one we are not  out of the woods we are still in the pandemic and   00:09:12.560 --> 00:09:17.760 so taking that information into consideration so  that we have where you are now not where you were   00:09:18.400 --> 00:09:23.280 accurately reflected on your application so we  can accurately reflect the financial needs that   00:09:23.280 --> 00:09:29.920 you have coming in to follow 2022. and thank you  Dr El-Amin for posting on the website on the chat   00:09:31.920 --> 00:09:39.360 thanks in a related note so obviously college education is one of the most sizable   00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:43.680 investments that that students and families  are going to make in in their lifetimes and   00:09:44.400 --> 00:09:47.920 if you start thinking about it as an investment  really what you're looking for is some sort of   00:09:47.920 --> 00:09:57.200 return on that investment so Joey what kind of   key strategies do would you suggest or propose   00:09:57.200 --> 00:10:03.120 to to families and students that students have  a successful transformative experience thereby   00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:09.840 providing that strong return on their college  investment thanks oscar um i there are quite a   00:10:09.840 --> 00:10:14.240 few key strategies but we'll pick some pick some  of the top ones that i think make make the most   00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:19.440 sense so one of the one of the things that i've  always said um and i think is especially true   00:10:19.440 --> 00:10:25.040 about our institution is we are a reflection  of real life on a cloud right we are this   00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:32.400 greatest opportunity for for any student to really  start to experience what they may want to be doing   00:10:32.400 --> 00:10:38.240 in their futures right future is now kind of idea  and to do that one of the one of the most key   00:10:38.240 --> 00:10:43.360 things that i would say is that we really want our  students to try and learn the resources we have on   00:10:43.360 --> 00:10:49.120 the campus especially as a research institution  and we have this panel today is literally some   00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:54.240 of my favorite people on this campus because  they really embody all of the things we offer   00:10:54.240 --> 00:10:58.960 and so one of the things that i would say is that  it's really important to kind of think about who   00:10:58.960 --> 00:11:04.160 who you are as a student right so in terms of our  our folks here today help your student think about   00:11:04.160 --> 00:11:09.280 who they are and how they connect right and we  want them to take advantage of advising right   00:11:09.280 --> 00:11:13.760 we have a decentralized advising system so there  are advisors in the colleges but there are also   00:11:13.760 --> 00:11:19.760 a larger network of advisors and coaches that are  here to really help develop all of the goals and   00:11:19.760 --> 00:11:25.120 really start to articulate and connect the very  specific things that that our students can do   00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:29.920 so a good example right so doing that would mean  when you're going through orientation or as you're   00:11:29.920 --> 00:11:34.880 going through kind of events like this and over  the time to choose college one of the things we   00:11:34.880 --> 00:11:39.200 would say is really look at the top things you  think you may want to start with right and think   00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:42.880 about the phases as you go through college  that's what we tell our students and so one   00:11:42.880 --> 00:11:46.960 of the things to do is to take advantage of our  advising take advantage of our learning centers   00:11:46.960 --> 00:11:51.600 there are great opportunities there to be in  study groups and really get dig deep into your   00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:56.880 academic areas but also we have researchers we're  a research university so one of the great best   00:11:56.880 --> 00:12:01.440 opportunities for our students from day one is  to really be with the people writing the books be   00:12:01.440 --> 00:12:05.760 with the people in the labs right and so that's a  really great opportunity as well one of the other   00:12:05.760 --> 00:12:10.960 things that i think is really amazing is kind of  figuring out where and when you want to do certain   00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:16.080 really unique things that may be part of your  academic life so study abroad right things like   00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:20.800 this these are offerings here and i think it's  really important to think about who i am how am   00:12:20.800 --> 00:12:25.040 i doing this and where do i want to put these and  really then start engaging in conversation we have   00:12:25.040 --> 00:12:30.400 experts all over the campus to be helpful right  so that's key strategy one key strategy two is   00:12:30.400 --> 00:12:37.840 never ever ever ever start college thinking that  it is not okay to ask for questions ask for help   00:12:38.480 --> 00:12:42.800 to really think about it and really what we try  and do in my world in the student success world   00:12:42.800 --> 00:12:48.160 is to normalize all of the all of these things  that we all are challenged by as humans right   00:12:48.160 --> 00:12:52.720 so it is new to be in a college classroom a  lot of the time it is new to be thinking about   00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:58.080 oh i'm taking on these kinds of things that are  extra that i didn't do or it's a different version   00:12:58.080 --> 00:13:02.000 of that if i did those in high school right so  from that perspective i think the other piece   00:13:02.000 --> 00:13:06.960 of it is not just learning the resources  but also then picking your key points and   00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:11.280 really kind of thinking through and really being  attentive to those things so that's kind of where   00:13:11.280 --> 00:13:16.160 i'd start um i think that we have a number of  other things we'll tell you a little bit today   00:13:16.160 --> 00:13:22.080 but those are two of the really big value ads  from my perspective we have a wide range of of i   00:13:22.080 --> 00:13:26.880 would call them the larger network of activities  and really important for um you know dr mccall   00:13:26.880 --> 00:13:31.600 is here dr el amin is here and i think i wouldn't  steal their thunder but to say from my perspective   00:13:31.600 --> 00:13:37.600 we do not think of learning centers advising  academics to be separate from these other areas   00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:42.400 they are all part of the college experience  and so that other key strategy is to really   00:13:42.400 --> 00:13:47.040 ensure that as we think through phasing and as we  think through the college experience how do you   00:13:47.040 --> 00:13:51.120 do that how do you make sure that you have that  bandwidth and have that time and some of that is   00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:56.000 key conversations with advisors so you can tell my  advising background comes to the floor sometimes   00:13:57.120 --> 00:14:00.400 but that's where i'll stop and then i know we have  lots of other things and then things will come up   00:14:01.200 --> 00:14:06.960 thanks yeah you you will you will have noted  that when when when joey said yeah they need   00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:11.280 to get over this idea of not asking  questions every person on the panel 00:14:13.440 --> 00:14:19.520 was nodding yes to that it is in fact a  really key part of it and it's because   00:14:19.520 --> 00:14:26.240 of one primary thing we want them to connect with  people that the people who we have on campus are   00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:32.960 are absolutely concerned and obsessed with trying  to do the kinds of things that we need to do   00:14:32.960 --> 00:14:39.840 to try and help your young people along  it's important for your young people to find   00:14:40.400 --> 00:14:44.960 that the people that are in their corner  and there are lots of places to find   00:14:44.960 --> 00:14:50.400 those people and it does not have to be the  same person for the same for the same group   00:14:50.400 --> 00:14:56.560 of friends or for the same family members or for  the same insert whatever group here right some of   00:14:56.560 --> 00:15:02.240 you will find some of your young people will  find um home and space and people one of the   00:15:02.240 --> 00:15:06.720 cultural centers others will find it one of the  support programs others will find it in advising   00:15:06.720 --> 00:15:13.680 others others will find it just in in a staff  member right is as ridiculous as this sounds there   00:15:13.680 --> 00:15:20.640 was a story in UIC today the the campus sort of  regular news about us about a graduate who found   00:15:21.200 --> 00:15:27.920 a janitorial person on our campus when they  graduated because that person was a support person   00:15:27.920 --> 00:15:33.840 to that student that person was constantly in this  student's corner saying yes you can do this yes   00:15:33.840 --> 00:15:39.280 you can do this yes you can do this and and this  person credits part of their success in graduation   00:15:39.280 --> 00:15:46.080 to to a janitorial staff on campus right again you  can find your person anywhere just find someone on   00:15:46.080 --> 00:15:51.040 campus that will help you along that will support  you that will point you to the right place and   00:15:51.040 --> 00:15:57.600 find the kind of resources that you have we're  research one institution we study things and   00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:04.560 that includes our students we know what it takes  to be successful we know what it takes to be   00:16:04.560 --> 00:16:10.320 uh to have a transformative experience the  key difference between high school and college   00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:19.360 is that i cannot compel students to do everything  that i think they should do to be successful and   00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:24.800 transform and have a transformative experience  all we can do all we do is continue to try and   00:16:24.800 --> 00:16:29.920 promote promote promote promote in hopes that  they take you up on that offer in hopes that they   00:16:29.920 --> 00:16:34.480 connect with someone so that when that one person  says hey listen maybe you should study abroad   00:16:35.200 --> 00:16:42.400 even though they heard it from Joey and Aisha  and Fred and Kiely and myself that but when they   00:16:42.400 --> 00:16:47.200 heard it from that one person it resonated and  they will go ahead and take advantage of that   00:16:47.200 --> 00:16:51.360 experience that we know will help them have a  successful transformative experience on campus   00:16:53.280 --> 00:16:59.280 with that that sort of sets up the the next sort  of topic or area that that we'll delve into really   00:16:59.840 --> 00:17:05.440 at a high level and it's it's this it's that UIC  you're all aware we're it's we're in the heart   00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:12.080 of a of a large world-class city and it's  really rare it truly is really rare to have   00:17:12.080 --> 00:17:19.360 an institution of this size and magnitude located  in the heart of a city with a true college campus   00:17:19.360 --> 00:17:24.000 you walk on campus you look around you see a true  college campus you see trees you see greenery   00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:32.800 you see enron back chairs on the lawn it's a true  college campus and then you look up to the skyline   00:17:32.800 --> 00:17:38.480 and there's downtown chicago right so it's  rare for for campus to to be located in   00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:43.760 these sorts of environments so Fred what kind of  opportunities do you think that intersectionality   00:17:44.400 --> 00:17:49.600 really does afford students what what kinds of  things do you think that students often times   00:17:49.600 --> 00:17:53.520 when they're coming from let's say chicago or  the suburban areas or perhaps over the border   00:17:54.160 --> 00:17:59.440 in in uh in lake county indiana they find  themselves here they think they know chicago   00:17:59.440 --> 00:18:03.840 and and what do you think they should know  about that that unique sort of intersectionality   00:18:05.040 --> 00:18:11.200 absolutely thanks Oscar i would just say i went  to school in the cornfields of ohio and i would   00:18:11.200 --> 00:18:16.000 have loved to have this type of experience  of being in a large city uh going to school   00:18:16.960 --> 00:18:23.120 i believe that UIC has made some intentional  connections and priorities of connecting with   00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:27.840 the chicagoland area and our students benefit  from those connections and those networks   00:18:28.560 --> 00:18:33.360 and so those important collaborations  and partnerships across campus are in   00:18:33.360 --> 00:18:39.680 government and business and non-profit sector  religious associations and other agencies   00:18:40.720 --> 00:18:45.760 and that's across all colleges and across all  divisions so no matter what field of study   00:18:45.760 --> 00:18:52.160 there are connections and and people that  will have a branch to the city of chicago   00:18:52.160 --> 00:18:56.720 and the resources and the benefits of the city  and so i'll just name a few opportunities that   00:18:57.360 --> 00:19:01.920 are afforded to our students because of those  relationships and partnerships and so one major   00:19:01.920 --> 00:19:10.240 one is internships and so there are internships  across chicagoland that we have connections   00:19:10.240 --> 00:19:17.680 with we even offer flames internship grant  which pays for internships that may be unpaid   00:19:17.680 --> 00:19:21.600 and that's for nonprofits or different government  agencies because we want students to have those   00:19:21.600 --> 00:19:26.160 experiences because we know that they will  benefit them when they're looking for employment   00:19:26.160 --> 00:19:33.520 and after graduation also our service and  leadership opportunities as well so our students   00:19:33.520 --> 00:19:39.040 can go out and serve the chicagoland community  and get connected with nonprofit organizations and   00:19:39.040 --> 00:19:44.960 agencies that are that are geared to um support  the community and benefit the community of chicago   00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:50.240 we also have the flames in the city program  which allows our students to really kind   00:19:50.240 --> 00:19:56.880 of learned about the history of chicago go to  broadway plays really just kind of engage with   00:19:56.880 --> 00:20:02.160 all the culture that chicago has to offer our  students and then finally we have we have over 400   00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:07.520 clubs and organizations on campus that are  also connected to non-profits to alumni to   00:20:07.520 --> 00:20:12.080 other organizations and so we want your students  to really take advantage of those organizations   00:20:12.080 --> 00:20:16.160 because we know that students are also learning  in those organizations and that's connecting   00:20:16.160 --> 00:20:19.520 the the classroom learning with the out  of class learning and so we want to make   00:20:19.520 --> 00:20:24.400 sure that those students are your students are  able to make those those connections and those   00:20:24.400 --> 00:20:30.240 intersections there so there's so many resources  and and networks and and things that um   00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:35.520 this allows your students and so we  encourage you to encourage your students   00:20:35.520 --> 00:20:39.200 to take advantage of these resources we  don't want them just to come to class   00:20:39.200 --> 00:20:45.440 and go home no students should be doing that as  folks say that we've come before make connections   00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:49.360 find your person find your community and  we're here to help your student do that 00:20:52.640 --> 00:20:59.360 thank you Fred and let me underscore that that  one piece a significant percentage of our students   00:20:59.360 --> 00:21:03.600 are actually commuter students they're they're  they're coming to us from another part of the city   00:21:05.440 --> 00:21:10.880 to further their education with us at UIC and  and it's important that they do that right we   00:21:10.880 --> 00:21:14.800 think it's important that they go to class that  they study that they get good grades if they   00:21:14.800 --> 00:21:21.600 engage academically but another part of of the  campus and part of what's critically important   00:21:21.600 --> 00:21:26.400 is that they engage with those other kinds of  opportunities that they have available to them   00:21:27.280 --> 00:21:33.280 because of being on a campus like ours and if  they don't do that they're not truly getting   00:21:33.920 --> 00:21:40.720 everything they can get out of an education so  so so i get it i understand right two two of my   00:21:40.720 --> 00:21:49.600 family members are UIC grads um you know two with  advanced degrees no less but um and and part of   00:21:49.600 --> 00:21:56.160 the challenge there at home was convincing mommy  and papi right that that hey listen i'm i'm gonna   00:21:56.160 --> 00:22:00.800 stay on campus till 8 o'clock because i'm going  to be involved in these three things and that   00:22:00.800 --> 00:22:05.760 was a challenge for the family right because the  the family was thinking first and foremost go to   00:22:05.760 --> 00:22:10.800 the university complete your courses come home  go work go do whatever else that you were doing   00:22:10.800 --> 00:22:15.440 and they needed those other pieces they needed  to engage in those other pieces to be successful   00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:21.280 and um and they both are i mean they both are  but we're not going to spend time talking about   00:22:21.280 --> 00:22:26.480 uh that my family in in in much more  depth than that but but you've you've   00:22:26.480 --> 00:22:30.080 you've heard some of us alluding to some  of this and let me be a little bit more   00:22:30.640 --> 00:22:34.960 forward about this right you may already know  this but but just let's underscore this UIC   00:22:34.960 --> 00:22:38.800 is one of the most diverse colleges  or universities in the entire country   00:22:39.680 --> 00:22:45.760 right and we mean that broadly that that's race  ethnicity that's religion that's that's a gender   00:22:45.760 --> 00:22:50.720 identity sexual orientation it's religion um  there you know last count i saw there were   00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:55.920 over 50 different religions on campus and over  50 different languages spoken on campus um it's   00:22:55.920 --> 00:23:02.000 an incredibly diverse institution and although a  lot of our students come from diverse backgrounds   00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:06.240 one of the things that we are really aware of  is that a lot of students come from less diverse   00:23:06.800 --> 00:23:13.120 high schools right perhaps you're a student that  went to a primarily latino latina high school or   00:23:13.120 --> 00:23:18.000 perhaps a primarily african-american or native  american high school and you find yourself   00:23:18.000 --> 00:23:22.320 here on campus so you're a student with a  diverse background but you find yourself   00:23:22.320 --> 00:23:29.040 in environments that are largely segregated and  also you find yourself here on this campus with   00:23:29.040 --> 00:23:35.680 a ton of difference and there is a great deal of  strength there there's a great deal of value there   00:23:35.680 --> 00:23:42.640 but there's also some challenge there so dr  elamine how can students who come from high   00:23:42.640 --> 00:23:47.840 schools and communities that that may be diverse  but perhaps not as diverse as our community here   00:23:48.480 --> 00:23:53.600 finds community here that's respectful of their  particular background and then support them as   00:23:53.600 --> 00:23:59.440 they learn to leverage the value that comes  from from attending this diverse institution   00:24:00.720 --> 00:24:06.640 so thank you ask her for that question it's a  question that i relate to on multiple levels i'm   00:24:06.640 --> 00:24:11.440 a south side chicago girl right grew up on the  south side uh when there was still ought to be   00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:16.000 Ida B Wells projects there right it's now bronzeville  and so and then i went into the military and   00:24:16.000 --> 00:24:22.320 served for five years and that was the first  um kind of entryway that i had into a diverse   00:24:22.320 --> 00:24:28.640 space and so UIC is a very special place  and when we say UIC is one of the most diverse   00:24:28.640 --> 00:24:35.280 uh universities in the nation it's a it's a  source of pride for us we we value that   00:24:35.280 --> 00:24:41.040 diversity in very authentic and very deep ways  and part of what we we have in order to both   00:24:41.040 --> 00:24:46.640 celebrate our differences right um our different  cultural centers and so i'm popping in the chat   00:24:46.640 --> 00:24:52.320 there's seven different cultural centers and and  as Oscar said i mean we really do pay attention to   00:24:52.320 --> 00:24:57.760 diversity the with the big d right written large  and we're talking about gender and sexuality we're   00:24:57.760 --> 00:25:03.120 talking about religion we're talking about  you know your race with ethnicity and so uh   00:25:03.840 --> 00:25:09.280 these are the tribes too and Dr McCall kind of  talked about finding your space right these are   00:25:09.280 --> 00:25:17.600 the spaces that our students can find on campus  and and what we also work towards in office of   00:25:17.600 --> 00:25:22.800 diversity is ensuring that that that diversity  although there is challenges with it that we we   00:25:22.800 --> 00:25:29.360 really ensure that it is a space where everyone  feels welcome and there is no one 00:25:29.360 --> 00:25:34.080 that feels outside of that the sense of belonging  is something that we really try to focus on   00:25:34.080 --> 00:25:39.200 and so i i did pop that in the chat and i'll pop  a few other spaces in the chat because beyond   00:25:39.200 --> 00:25:44.560 the cultural centers we have academic spaces  right we have lot the latino african-american   00:25:44.560 --> 00:25:48.640 academic network we have chance we have just a  plethora of programs that pay attention to the   00:25:48.640 --> 00:25:55.840 diversity that that our students embody in ways  that we really you know feel feel good about 00:25:59.760 --> 00:26:03.760 as you've worked with your young person as  you've helped them through the college search   00:26:03.760 --> 00:26:10.320 if you visited schools what you're going to find  a lot of in in higher ed at universities is a lot   00:26:10.320 --> 00:26:16.800 of us do hold up diversity as a value and and we  oftentimes frankly do a really poor job explaining   00:26:16.800 --> 00:26:24.240 why that's valuable and and let me let me give you  one well let me give you two related stories about   00:26:24.240 --> 00:26:30.640 how why why there is incredible value in that  word and in that practice on a college campus   00:26:31.840 --> 00:26:36.160 when you think about the world that your young  people and your students are going to move into   00:26:36.720 --> 00:26:43.280 this world is increasingly interconnected  that means that that your student is going   00:26:43.280 --> 00:26:49.680 to find themselves in all likelihood working with  someone from india from japan from somewhere else   00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:55.600 in asia from europe from africa from north and  south america from central america much less   00:26:55.600 --> 00:27:02.160 north and south parts of the united states east  coast west coast and there is difference there   00:27:03.280 --> 00:27:07.520 and students when they find themselves in the  workplace in the future no matter what they do   00:27:07.520 --> 00:27:15.360 will have to know how to how to maneuver through  those uh through those differences and how to be   00:27:15.360 --> 00:27:21.280 impactful and approach their work in a mindful  way through those differences right but   00:27:22.160 --> 00:27:25.600 politics aside right now with everything  that we're seeing in our country and i if   00:27:25.600 --> 00:27:30.400 more people actually found themselves in diverse  institutions and diverse educational environments   00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:35.680 i suspect that we could solve some of those issues  too to be perfectly honest and blunt but the world   00:27:35.680 --> 00:27:38.720 that your students are going to inherit the  world that your students are going to move into   00:27:39.440 --> 00:27:45.360 depends on their ability to maneuver through  diverse environments right again not just   00:27:45.920 --> 00:27:52.480 racial and ethnically but but across a  number of different factors and um we   00:27:52.480 --> 00:27:56.800 we provide that sort of environment at UIC notice  what you didn't hear there she didn't hear simple   00:27:57.360 --> 00:28:04.240 it's not simple it's hard work because you're  asking students to engage in difference and learn   00:28:04.240 --> 00:28:10.480 to get through some of those differences in in in  hopefully in a mature and adult fashion to try and   00:28:10.480 --> 00:28:15.840 get to a position where they understand themselves  and the people around them a little bit more 00:28:18.240 --> 00:28:22.400 proactively better and able to work with  those people in a different sort of manner so   00:28:22.400 --> 00:28:28.800 that and here now let me give you the second  one which is a tangible story i was in a meeting   00:28:28.800 --> 00:28:34.160 last year with commonwealth edison and there were  other people we were meeting with the college of   00:28:34.160 --> 00:28:39.760 engineering about one about a number of different  things and commonwealth edison said directly   00:28:40.320 --> 00:28:46.720 to my college of engineering what do we need to  do to ensure that we have more diverse voices   00:28:48.080 --> 00:28:51.680 at commonwealth edison what do we  do to make sure that we have more   00:28:52.800 --> 00:28:59.600 african-american latino asian more more more of  the engineers and and others that we don't have   00:29:01.280 --> 00:29:07.680 what do we need to provide you to be able to do  that better again if you've got corporate america   00:29:07.680 --> 00:29:14.560 coming to you saying that they're they're trying  to build relationships with your organization   00:29:14.560 --> 00:29:19.040 because they value the diversity that you bring  because they value what it does to their workforce   00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:26.000 what do you think that means for your children in  the future right again that word diversity means   00:29:26.000 --> 00:29:31.040 something but uh there's value that oftentimes  we don't talk about and oh one more thing i just   00:29:31.040 --> 00:29:36.080 have to put this one out there for everyone and  i have to call it out in specific because of this   00:29:36.800 --> 00:29:42.000 oftentimes again our first reaction to that  word is is frankly african-american latino   00:29:42.000 --> 00:29:48.160 asian-american native american etc and and you  don't tend to to really point it back to the value   00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:53.200 of what it means for let's say caucasian or  majority students as a whole the value exists   00:29:53.200 --> 00:29:58.560 there as well and and there is research and data  that shows that as well so it does not matter   00:29:59.760 --> 00:30:04.720 who you are what your background is coming to  a place that provides you with that difference   00:30:04.720 --> 00:30:09.840 in thought that difference in opinion and and  help you get through some of that will in fact   00:30:09.840 --> 00:30:16.160 improve your outcomes in the short and long term  so i just thought we'd throw that out there um   00:30:16.160 --> 00:30:22.400 with that we've we've uh we if we can go ahead  and just open up the chat room at this point um   00:30:22.400 --> 00:30:26.640 we tried to get to the point where providing  at least a couple big highlight areas   00:30:26.640 --> 00:30:32.640 for everyone here um i the the floor is everyone  in the room if there's something in specific that   00:30:32.640 --> 00:30:37.360 you'd like us to focus on that's why we've got  the the five people that we have here on the panel   00:30:37.360 --> 00:30:42.400 if there are uh uh a number of different areas  we find ourselves bopping around from person to   00:30:42.400 --> 00:30:46.080 person and topic to topic we're happy to do that  if there's something we didn't cover and you're   00:30:46.080 --> 00:30:49.840 interested in chatting about that please put it in  the chat where we're happy to answer the questions   00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:55.040 and try and help you get some of the information  so that you can help uh your young person make   00:30:55.040 --> 00:31:00.160 uh sound informed decisions this spring and then  hopefully find themselves having transformative   00:31:00.160 --> 00:31:04.320 experiences as they enroll at uh wherever  they enroll and we hope it's UIC in the future 00:31:09.920 --> 00:31:14.960 okay so the first question that was posed  is our students will not be commuters and   00:31:14.960 --> 00:31:18.160 can you cover dorm life so uh Fred do you want to   00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:21.440 chat a little bit about residence halls  in campus life in the residence halls 00:31:24.320 --> 00:31:32.800 sure and folks can chime in as they see a fit  um so we have several residence halls across   00:31:32.800 --> 00:31:38.400 campus and these are really communities of  students where they're living and learning   00:31:39.120 --> 00:31:45.840 they have support staff peer student leaders  there's academic resources in the residence halls   00:31:46.640 --> 00:31:51.120 there are activities where your students will be  engaged and connected so it's really a community   00:31:51.120 --> 00:31:58.240 of folks that are there to ensure that students  are safe that they are connected and that they're   00:31:58.240 --> 00:32:06.240 really thriving i'm here at UIC and so i used to  work in residence life i i lived on campus when   00:32:06.240 --> 00:32:10.400 i was in college and those were some of the best  experiences and memories that i have being at a   00:32:10.400 --> 00:32:16.480 college campus just the connections the sense of  belonging and the the relationships that you know   00:32:16.480 --> 00:32:22.080 still exist for me today and so um i think that's  one of the the great things about living on campus   00:32:22.800 --> 00:32:28.240 that you can first of all be very close to  your classes and be able to watch the classes   00:32:28.240 --> 00:32:32.480 but then the connections and the support that you  have living on campus and so folks can chime in if   00:32:32.480 --> 00:32:37.440 there's other thoughts but i mean i think your  child should look forward to having support uh   00:32:37.440 --> 00:32:43.040 resources and being connected with with the campus  community i would agree i think i would just jump   00:32:43.040 --> 00:32:48.000 in for a second and say um while it was many many  many years ago i still may have conversations with   00:32:48.000 --> 00:32:53.760 a student now and again when i find that they're  living in my residence hall room at UIC and they   00:32:53.760 --> 00:32:58.560 are so it's uh it's i think that you know one  of the things one of the privileges i have is   00:32:58.560 --> 00:33:02.880 being connected across the campus right to all of  our campus housing folks and one of the programs   00:33:02.880 --> 00:33:08.880 we work on uh related to to different kinds of  things is are uh essentially it's it's almost   00:33:08.880 --> 00:33:14.000 like an alerting program so that's if students  are having challenges and courses uh we actually   00:33:14.000 --> 00:33:18.400 have our res halls if you're living in campus  housing it's a great example of community right   00:33:18.400 --> 00:33:23.600 and a great example of just having folks that  are like you with you doing what you're doing um   00:33:23.600 --> 00:33:28.880 you know there's a peer mentoring program there uh  it's a it's really excellent um i think one of the   00:33:28.880 --> 00:33:33.360 most fun things that i've seen is the evolution  of campus housing over years right the idea of   00:33:33.360 --> 00:33:38.160 residence life and one of my favorite things to  ask students when i get to see them because i   00:33:38.160 --> 00:33:43.120 don't have that many students that i deal with now  um is to really think about think about you know   00:33:43.120 --> 00:33:48.400 tell me more about campus housing and inevitably  i get to hear about all of the really unique and   00:33:48.400 --> 00:33:52.000 interesting things that are going on and a lot  of times the res hall students will actually take   00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:57.120 advantage of the flames in the city right together  as a group because they've met their their cluster   00:33:57.120 --> 00:34:02.400 mates and you know all of that and one of my very  dearest colleagues in at the university also has   00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:08.720 a first year student like like Dr El-Amin like  Aisha and and he was just talking about how when   00:34:08.720 --> 00:34:14.560 they got back last week it was like there was  a tour of campus housing and all the students   00:34:14.560 --> 00:34:20.080 were together so i would agree that i think it's a  really vibrant life um and i think it's really is   00:34:20.080 --> 00:34:24.320 that best advantage of being in a residence  hall but also being in the city it's great 00:34:30.080 --> 00:34:34.160 i i saw you came off me so i thought maybe you  wanted to add yeah then i was then i started   00:34:34.160 --> 00:34:38.240 answering the one in the chat but i just  wanted a quick story and i'll put the um   00:34:38.240 --> 00:34:42.080 for yes we absolutely do have an asian american  resource center it's part of the seven cultural   00:34:42.080 --> 00:34:47.120 centers that i put the link up for i'll put  the specific link for the asian asian american   00:34:47.120 --> 00:34:53.040 resource center in just one moment i want to  share a quick story i dropped thank you sam   00:34:53.040 --> 00:35:02.000 i dropped off my daughter at the dorms wednesday  and i you know she was taking more stuff in that   00:35:02.000 --> 00:35:08.480 she didn't need of course and in the quad  area inside they were like dancing and i was   00:35:08.480 --> 00:35:12.240 like what is going on she was like yeah we have  like dance sessions when people come down and   00:35:12.240 --> 00:35:16.800 she said it looks like you know there's an  indian dance they had their their you know   00:35:16.800 --> 00:35:21.280 uh their their whole routine going and she was  like yes and you know we just switch up and   00:35:21.280 --> 00:35:24.560 we learned about different ones i was like wow  that's really cool so there's some things that   00:35:24.560 --> 00:35:30.480 going in the dorms uh that help with this kind of  social environment in ways that i i just kind of   00:35:30.480 --> 00:35:35.040 stepped back and was like that is really that's  really cool to have that experience so so those   00:35:35.040 --> 00:35:40.080 are you know those are some of the experiences  uh that your students will will engage in as well   00:35:41.120 --> 00:35:44.880 can i just chime in really quick about one  of the questions about guaranteed housing   00:35:44.880 --> 00:35:52.560 that was in there that's kind of connected um  so um we have not been in housing capacity um   00:35:52.560 --> 00:35:56.880 and so i would it would be very unlikely that if  you wanted housing that you would be turned away   00:35:56.880 --> 00:36:01.920 um and so it's not i wouldn't say it's  guaranteed because there is a capacity   00:36:01.920 --> 00:36:06.320 um but for the most part if you're interested in  housing that resource should be available to you 00:36:08.800 --> 00:36:15.600 the the other piece again i sort of go back to  my whole rr1 research one institution sort of uh   00:36:15.600 --> 00:36:20.320 every once in a while and this is one of them um  there's there's there's a fair amount of data that   00:36:20.320 --> 00:36:26.560 indicates that students who live in in campus  housing the residence halls um perform better   00:36:26.560 --> 00:36:32.480 academically right so so there's something  to that uh being in sort of that structured   00:36:32.480 --> 00:36:36.480 environment with help right there at any given  time that a student wants it that that does have   00:36:36.480 --> 00:36:41.280 an impact on students academics um the other  related piece to this is i'll say this is that   00:36:42.720 --> 00:36:46.400 part of the goal whether it's stated or  unstated and it's typically not stated but   00:36:46.400 --> 00:36:52.400 allow me to say it is that you hope that  when when you drop off your team to us   00:36:53.600 --> 00:37:00.400 that you that you're giving us a 18 a a  young person a kid a big kid but a kid   00:37:01.280 --> 00:37:06.640 and that we return that person to you as a  young man or a young woman or a young adult   00:37:07.680 --> 00:37:11.600 right that you can see that  this maturity that happens   00:37:11.600 --> 00:37:15.760 um through living in these sorts of environments  where they have to be responsible for themselves   00:37:15.760 --> 00:37:20.880 where they're supportive but they still need  to be responsible for themselves and you start   00:37:20.880 --> 00:37:24.880 to see that growth right so fundamentally  they're your children and you will see them   00:37:24.880 --> 00:37:28.800 or or your grandchildren or your nieces  and nephews or your brothers and sisters   00:37:29.440 --> 00:37:33.680 and you will see them after some time in those  residence halls and they will they will simply be   00:37:34.560 --> 00:37:41.040 bigger more adult versions of themselves and  that's pretty wonderful and fascinating to see uh   00:37:41.040 --> 00:37:45.840 keeley let's let's sort of jump to that as i'm  working my way through the questions so could you   00:37:45.840 --> 00:37:50.800 please talk about when students will know if they  receive any base scholarships and maybe maybe the   00:37:50.800 --> 00:37:56.960 timing of financial aid notifications as a whole  sure absolutely so um my office works very closely   00:37:56.960 --> 00:38:02.400 with oscar when it comes to um determining uh  merit-based awards and that is being done kind of   00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:07.920 as we speak um in fact some of those merit-based  um notifications i believe are going out um   00:38:07.920 --> 00:38:12.800 relatively soon here Oscar right and they towards  the end of towards the end of january beginning   00:38:12.800 --> 00:38:17.440 of february all that information again because we  work so closely together is communicated back to   00:38:17.440 --> 00:38:22.880 us in the financial aid office it will be included  on your on your young person's award notification   00:38:22.880 --> 00:38:30.320 award notifications will be sent out starting  friday um friday march 4th so that first week of   00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:36.560 march um at UIC we we send notifications to you  in two ways um we send it electronically um so   00:38:36.560 --> 00:38:40.400 that your your student will be able to access  that information through the student portal   00:38:40.400 --> 00:38:45.040 so we notify them through their uic email address  to log in the portal they'll be able to bring   00:38:45.040 --> 00:38:49.840 up their electronic notification but we also  send a paper package to you because we do know   00:38:49.840 --> 00:38:54.240 sometimes it's nice to have that paper package  to kind of go through mark it up do some math   00:38:54.240 --> 00:38:59.280 yourself and circle things and highlight certain  things on that notification so we also send out   00:38:59.280 --> 00:39:04.000 paper notifications those paper notifications  typically are sent out the subsequent week so   00:39:04.000 --> 00:39:08.400 you can probably expect to receive that paper  notification sometime around the middle of march   00:39:08.400 --> 00:39:12.400 but the actual electronic notification is going  out that friday your student will be able to   00:39:12.400 --> 00:39:18.160 access it through the student portal sometime over  that first weekend of march merit information is   00:39:18.160 --> 00:39:22.640 included on those award notifications as well  as any need-based financial aid that you are   00:39:22.640 --> 00:39:30.240 receiving as based on the fafsa application that  that you have filed for 2223 so that's when you   00:39:30.240 --> 00:39:36.480 can expect to receive your official notification  from us again that that march uh march 4th that   00:39:36.480 --> 00:39:40.320 evening that friday your notifications will be  going out electronically and then you should be   00:39:40.320 --> 00:39:45.120 receiving the subsequent paper notification  from us sometime in midnight in the march   00:39:47.040 --> 00:39:51.040 thanks keith there's communication happening  in the background with the visa question just   00:39:51.040 --> 00:39:56.160 so people if they're monitoring the questions  as well don't feel that i that i skipped it and   00:39:56.160 --> 00:40:02.160 let's sort of move down it looks like the next  question has a has is a question about campus   00:40:02.160 --> 00:40:05.600 safety and safety procedures on campus and  i want to jump in about campus safety as a 00:40:05.600 --> 00:40:13.600 whole sure i know we've got some links going on  and certainly everybody should feel free to jump   00:40:13.600 --> 00:40:18.160 in as well um i think one of the things that i  will always talk about when we talk about safety   00:40:18.160 --> 00:40:23.280 is that the campus is very attentive to this  we have a wide range of resources available and   00:40:23.280 --> 00:40:31.520 generally we we see most of of the issues that  we see tend to be petty theft so students   00:40:31.520 --> 00:40:35.600 leaving things uh people leaving things just by  accident when they're walking away from a desk   00:40:35.600 --> 00:40:41.120 or uh you know like a in a common space but we  also are very attentive to what it means to be in   00:40:41.120 --> 00:40:45.760 the city so one of the things that we often do and  one of the things we always do in our in our in   00:40:45.760 --> 00:40:49.680 often doing any kind of interaction especially  a student's transition to the university but   00:40:49.680 --> 00:40:55.200 also in our orientation is to be to ensure that  our students know about our UIC safe app um that   00:40:55.200 --> 00:41:00.080 they can actually designate a buddy so that when  they're walking to anywhere to and from we talk   00:41:00.080 --> 00:41:05.680 about being safe in the city we talk about  a number of different areas of how we also all   00:41:05.680 --> 00:41:10.400 participate together and that's not doesn't mean  it's their responsibility only it's ours as well   00:41:10.400 --> 00:41:15.040 but this is one of the ways that we do that where  we really work together on the campus and every   00:41:15.040 --> 00:41:19.120 member of the community is attended to this we  do have you're probably familiar from hearing   00:41:19.120 --> 00:41:23.040 about this maybe from tours and other kinds of  things or or just hearing about it in other ways   00:41:23.040 --> 00:41:28.240 we do have blue lights so they are our our  emergency response is very quick on the campus   00:41:28.240 --> 00:41:33.280 should there be an emergency it's very  important to know that we also have our own emts   00:41:34.400 --> 00:41:39.680 and we also have a partnership around the city  the right around the campus area um to ensure that   00:41:39.680 --> 00:41:43.920 when students are coming to and from that there  is an attentiveness for our UIC police do patrol   00:41:43.920 --> 00:41:48.640 outside of the exact campus area there is a radius  within which they partner with the city of chicago   00:41:48.640 --> 00:41:53.680 so this is just from a general my own general  work on the campus as well and i will tell you   00:41:53.680 --> 00:42:00.160 that one of the things that we often we often  do see as well is we have uh our success units   00:42:00.160 --> 00:42:05.920 we'll often have nighttime hours and so our staff  members are very attentive to this on behalf of   00:42:05.920 --> 00:42:10.800 students as well we'll always ask are you walking  home with or walking to the train with a buddy you   00:42:10.800 --> 00:42:15.840 know do you need a we have we have a safe car  service as well for very late nights very   00:42:15.840 --> 00:42:19.440 important to know we have our own shuttle service  as well as we know that our students use our see   00:42:19.440 --> 00:42:23.600 their cta passes so i'll stop there because i  know other folks have a lot of a lot of things   00:42:23.600 --> 00:42:27.760 as well that they might know but i will tell  you that i'm very we're very attentive to this   00:42:27.760 --> 00:42:33.200 we know we're in a city and ultimately the campus  is i participate on a special monthly meeting   00:42:33.200 --> 00:42:37.520 for student safety and student and student and  you know really to support students in all of   00:42:37.520 --> 00:42:43.200 these various ways now Joey i think you i think  you covered all of the the you know ones i was   00:42:43.200 --> 00:42:48.400 thinking of i want to just make sure that you know  parents guardians know that these are services   00:42:48.400 --> 00:42:53.280 that are part of you know there's no extra cost  for these services this is part of what you're   00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:57.440 you're already paying for and so we do encourage  students to make sure that they download that app   00:42:57.440 --> 00:43:03.040 and get it get someone to walk you if you you know  want to feel feel like you know you need to and   00:43:03.040 --> 00:43:08.480 it's late and we encourage you to and get a ride  you don't have to call uber to go across campus   00:43:08.480 --> 00:43:14.320 we we have that that service that is available to  all of our students faculty and staff i i always   00:43:14.320 --> 00:43:18.080 make the joke that well it's not even a joke  it's just an observation that i make in this way   00:43:18.720 --> 00:43:27.360 there's a there's an fbi headquarters within  a mile of campus they're both the the state city   00:43:27.360 --> 00:43:35.440 county police are are right there within a mile  of campus we're right at downtown chicago which   00:43:35.440 --> 00:43:42.560 obviously the city takes safety there very very  seriously the the the campus is is patrolled   00:43:42.560 --> 00:43:49.760 and safe and we simply ask that students  be mindful because they they are in a city   00:43:49.760 --> 00:43:54.320 right i mean they simply are right i i  wouldn't i wouldn't find myself going to   00:43:55.200 --> 00:44:01.040 you know the museum of science and industry and  leave my leave my bicycle unlocked in front of the   00:44:01.040 --> 00:44:05.760 museum and then expect it to be there when i came  out i should probably not expect the same thing   00:44:05.760 --> 00:44:10.880 when when i'm going to the library at UIC you  know so it's that sort of thing right be mindful   00:44:10.880 --> 00:44:15.440 where you are practice some common sense and then  take advantage of all the resources that we have   00:44:15.440 --> 00:44:19.920 all the infrastructure around your  student is there to keep your students safe   00:44:20.480 --> 00:44:24.480 absolutely i just wanted to kind of touch on  the other part of safety and that's kind of the   00:44:24.480 --> 00:44:29.120 health and safety part because as clearly  mentioned we're still in the pandemic and so   00:44:30.080 --> 00:44:36.640 UIC is doing everything we can to follow the  science we have experts on campus that are um   00:44:36.640 --> 00:44:42.480 taking uh you know they know that the most current  trends that are happening around the coronavirus   00:44:42.480 --> 00:44:47.360 and so and then we're developing guidance for our  campus community to keep all of us safe and so   00:44:47.360 --> 00:44:53.840 that includes masking in classrooms that includes  vaccines i think we're probably 96 percent   00:44:54.560 --> 00:44:58.640 vaccinated at this point on campus  and so i did drop in the link the   00:44:58.640 --> 00:45:05.120 kind of coronavirus today.uic.edu coronavirus that  has kind of updates and kind of information around   00:45:05.120 --> 00:45:10.000 coronavirus at uic as well that i think is also  important for you for your students to be aware of   00:45:10.960 --> 00:45:17.440 if hey um fred joey uh aisha kiwi if anyone  wants to jump in if i'll certainly jump in but   00:45:17.440 --> 00:45:23.360 uh anyone want to talk a little bit um about um  how we launched this semester the one thing that   00:45:23.360 --> 00:45:28.160 the question really is is with the pans i make uh  for ongoing freshmen or the gen ed classes mostly   00:45:28.160 --> 00:45:34.240 online or in person and before i pivot to or at  least before i open it to everyone else to jump   00:45:34.240 --> 00:45:41.200 in let me just say that that this is an ongoing  concern for the campus that the campus spends   00:45:42.320 --> 00:45:49.360 time each and every week discussing talking about  reviewing data and and thinking about what the   00:45:49.360 --> 00:45:54.640 right approach is given the data that they're in  fact reviewing every week so it's in fact informed   00:45:54.640 --> 00:45:59.520 but but do you want to talk perhaps about how  we launched uh last fall and perhaps what our   00:45:59.520 --> 00:46:06.240 start was this spring to sort of highlight um the  approach of campus sure i can i can i can do that   00:46:06.240 --> 00:46:11.200 as well as and have i have folks jump in so one  of the decisions that was made at the end of the   00:46:12.160 --> 00:46:17.040 fall so i'll back it out we'll start with right  now um the fall term uh is is pretty indicative   00:46:17.040 --> 00:46:22.480 also of the way that our approaches are has been  so we do follow the science uh we do so what we   00:46:22.480 --> 00:46:30.240 decided to do when there was there was news coming  in and spikes with the pandemic was to actually be   00:46:30.240 --> 00:46:35.600 remote for our online art classes for the first  two weeks of class one of the um one of the   00:46:35.600 --> 00:46:40.320 the big pieces of news i would say that because  we are attending to this and we review it weekly   00:46:40.320 --> 00:46:45.280 that we started to come out at the end of our fall  term was that actually we had very we had uh very   00:46:45.280 --> 00:46:50.480 good data coming back that all of our classrooms  we did uh we did not do all online classes in the   00:46:50.480 --> 00:46:55.760 fall we actually were here on campus there are  large courses of about a hundred were actually   00:46:55.760 --> 00:47:00.560 were actually done online uh however all of our  smaller classes were actually put in classrooms   00:47:00.560 --> 00:47:06.240 with a wide range of opportunity to be able to be  on campus in a safe manner and actually the data   00:47:06.240 --> 00:47:12.000 are very good campus exposures through classrooms  actually were very very low if at all um while we   00:47:12.000 --> 00:47:17.600 do contact tracing at a very high level and  really intensely so what we knew to be true   00:47:17.600 --> 00:47:23.200 was that ultimately we were really positioning  the campus to be in on-site um for classes as   00:47:23.200 --> 00:47:27.280 much as possible given the experience that we're  having where we recognize that many students learn   00:47:27.280 --> 00:47:33.120 better in the classroom and also mitigating the  anxiety and and very real concerns about being on   00:47:33.120 --> 00:47:38.400 site together so we have masking rules we have we  have regular information that we are putting out   00:47:39.120 --> 00:47:45.040 and so we are inten we are coming back to campus  for our for on-site classes starting on monday   00:47:45.040 --> 00:47:50.800 uh our faculty did an amazing job pivoting  to being online for the first two weeks of   00:47:50.800 --> 00:47:55.760 class to maintain that and i think we  really are also actively trying to work   00:47:55.760 --> 00:48:01.360 all the time with students and the concerns that  that may be presented we do have procedures and   00:48:02.160 --> 00:48:07.840 in place for students who may need accommodations  and can request those we do require vaccination   00:48:07.840 --> 00:48:12.560 or a vaccination exemption must be applied for  so from our perspective the science tells us   00:48:12.560 --> 00:48:18.400 that we are really doing as much as possible to be  as safe as possible within this so i'll leave it   00:48:18.400 --> 00:48:23.920 to others to speak a little more but so that you  understand we really are trying to maintain that   00:48:23.920 --> 00:48:29.840 level of of of learning that we know really  should be existing both within within both   00:48:29.840 --> 00:48:34.320 spaces right and many of our our faculty members  what i will also say i just said i was gonna stop   00:48:34.320 --> 00:48:38.720 talking and now i'm still talking um but i will  say this that having worked with faculty members   00:48:38.720 --> 00:48:44.800 especially in our um our advising system we uh we  know that faculty members have been very attentive   00:48:44.800 --> 00:48:50.160 to seeing students on zoom or online i also will  mention that ultimately our advising sessions   00:48:50.160 --> 00:48:54.400 are actually often being offered in hybrid  formats where students may choose to be on   00:48:54.400 --> 00:48:59.520 site with an advisor who may be in their office  but also they are absolutely able to do advising   00:48:59.520 --> 00:49:03.680 appointments and other types of appointments such  as office hours with faculty members often on zoom   00:49:03.680 --> 00:49:09.120 or online in some manner so i think we're really  trying to to to be as attentive as we possibly can   00:49:09.920 --> 00:49:14.240 and we do that as well financial aid just so that  you're aware we also offer in-person appointments   00:49:14.240 --> 00:49:19.440 we offer walk-in in-person appointments beginning  monday our office will be open 8 30 to 5 for for   00:49:19.440 --> 00:49:24.240 you to walk in and speak our our front desk is  staffed by counseling staff so it is staffed by   00:49:24.240 --> 00:49:28.800 our financial aid counselor so um when you walk  in you will be speaking to a financial aid expert   00:49:29.840 --> 00:49:34.880 on intake but we also offer zoom appointments  as well so we do offer the flexibility for   00:49:34.880 --> 00:49:39.200 you and your family in terms of if you want to  speak with your financial aid counselor to have   00:49:39.200 --> 00:49:44.320 a more in-depth discussion we offer that in in  multiple ways be it in person or also through zoom 00:49:46.960 --> 00:49:49.920 yeah what you're going to find  is that the campus on the whole   00:49:50.880 --> 00:49:58.160 is attempting to meet students and families where  where they're at so absolutely we're trying to   00:49:58.160 --> 00:50:03.280 we're our first preference for coursework for  example is absolutely in person but there are   00:50:03.280 --> 00:50:07.440 oftentimes i shouldn't say oftentimes there  are times where perhaps that's not the right   00:50:08.000 --> 00:50:13.200 approach for a student or for a faculty member  or for whatever reason and and those students   00:50:13.200 --> 00:50:17.200 or faculty members of course should be able  to pivot for brief periods of time in order   00:50:17.200 --> 00:50:23.520 to deal with those issues and then find themselves  back in the classroom uh along with all our other   00:50:24.320 --> 00:50:29.600 student related services so the registrar's office  financial aid office office of admissions etc etc   00:50:29.600 --> 00:50:33.520 means for you to be able to interact in person  but also be able to interact with us virtually   00:50:34.160 --> 00:50:38.000 if that's simply going to be more convenient  or perhaps um put everyone at ease as we're   00:50:38.000 --> 00:50:42.000 going through things and you'll find that that  everything from you know student activities to   00:50:42.000 --> 00:50:45.760 the cultural centers et cetera trying to do things  in person but also trying to do things virtually   00:50:45.760 --> 00:50:54.400 right so um i i cannot predict the future of  higher education nor nor society but but if   00:50:54.400 --> 00:50:58.880 if i were a betting person and there was  a betting line somewhere i would bet on   00:50:58.880 --> 00:51:07.280 on hybrid modalities for for everything that we  do being not not the exception but the norm going   00:51:07.280 --> 00:51:12.000 forward right like you will be expected to have  both of those things in place at least that's   00:51:12.000 --> 00:51:18.960 where i think we're moving uh it is uh 1105. we've  got five minutes left as i'm monitoring the chat   00:51:18.960 --> 00:51:23.280 looks like we we've hit most of the questions if  there are any final questions please feel free to   00:51:23.280 --> 00:51:27.840 put them in chat we're happy to address some  of them uh a couple quick uh announcements for   00:51:27.840 --> 00:51:31.920 everyone because there have been people dropping  in and out of the the presentation for the last   00:51:31.920 --> 00:51:36.960 hour again this session has been recorded or is  in process of being recorded we will get this up   00:51:36.960 --> 00:51:41.280 in the excellence platform that you logged into  this morning uh probably a little bit later this   00:51:41.280 --> 00:51:45.280 afternoon not early next week you will be able  to go back and review some of the information   00:51:45.280 --> 00:51:52.720 including the sessions that your that your student  was was uh involved in um when you are done here   00:51:53.360 --> 00:52:01.760 uh the uic challenge has got a it's a game uh with  uic trivia and and housing tours and virtual uh   00:52:01.760 --> 00:52:09.360 campus tours and such they'll be available  in the expo uh there there is a way to earn   00:52:10.080 --> 00:52:16.720 you know t-shirts and other sorts of swag uh  through the expo so please you know engage go   00:52:16.720 --> 00:52:22.880 get some uic swag for for yourself and for your  students and participate there um if you have   00:52:22.880 --> 00:52:27.680 questions about what's next always there's  always questions about what i need to do   00:52:28.800 --> 00:52:37.440 next uh our admitted student website bound.uic.edu  uh we'll we'll be able to take you to all those   00:52:37.440 --> 00:52:43.040 next steps more tours more of the admitted student  events that we'll be hosting on campus uh this   00:52:43.040 --> 00:52:49.200 coming spring we're resuming frankly some of  the the in-person tours and such starting in   00:52:49.200 --> 00:52:55.200 in the middle of february for admitted students  so uh although we did this event virtually because   00:52:55.200 --> 00:52:59.840 of the what we were hearing coming out of the  holiday season we we do know that many of you will   00:52:59.840 --> 00:53:03.520 want to get to campus we'll want to interact  with people in person and we'll want to take a   00:53:03.520 --> 00:53:09.600 tour in person so so please bound at usc.edu with  a young person please get to campus we'd be happy   00:53:09.600 --> 00:53:13.760 to have you and and show you around and give  you a chance to interact with uh both students   00:53:13.760 --> 00:53:17.840 faculty and staff in person there are lots of  different ways to be able to do that with us   00:53:17.840 --> 00:53:22.480 some big some small if you just want to come take  a tour come take a tour if you want to come for   00:53:22.480 --> 00:53:28.560 a longer session interact with faculty and take  a take a sample class please come do that so   00:53:28.560 --> 00:53:32.240 and a number of other different ways for us for  for you to be able to interact with us as we   00:53:32.240 --> 00:53:41.840 as we move forward uh and let me take a one quick  thing through chat hold on hold on boom boom 00:53:45.200 --> 00:53:49.840 admit it student hub there we go and yes you  can schedule the one-on-ones with financial aid 00:53:53.760 --> 00:53:59.680 all right all right so from from from  my perspective then i'm going to pitch   00:53:59.680 --> 00:54:04.720 to everyone left uh tonight everyone left  to to my panel and and ask them a pretty   00:54:05.280 --> 00:54:11.920 basic question i'd like to end these conversations  with which is can you provide like   00:54:11.920 --> 00:54:18.720 one tangible piece of advice for parents  grandparents or or whoever or support person   00:54:19.680 --> 00:54:28.000 to help them partner with their student as they  transition from from being you know a a minor   00:54:28.000 --> 00:54:32.640 high school student to an adult  college student and and why don't   00:54:32.640 --> 00:54:37.840 we start with it fred was was nodding pretty  vigorously so why don't we start with fred 00:54:41.040 --> 00:54:46.480 thanks mascara um i was not in because you know  you know our students are in transition and they   00:54:46.480 --> 00:54:51.920 are developing into adulthood and so i think that  you know a lot of times we want to do it for them   00:54:51.920 --> 00:54:55.200 but i think this is the critical time where  you are encouraging your student to do it for   00:54:55.200 --> 00:55:02.400 themselves and have access to all the resources  that are here at uic and so i encourage you to   00:55:02.400 --> 00:55:08.240 encourage your students to reach out and we will  reach back so um whatever you can do to kind of   00:55:08.240 --> 00:55:14.240 um encourage them and push them to uh step out of  their bubble in their comfort zone that that will   00:55:14.240 --> 00:55:20.320 be appreciated so we encourage you to encourage  them to to do it do it for themselves because   00:55:20.880 --> 00:55:24.240 that's going to be the nature of adulthood  so that's that's my piece of advice 00:55:27.840 --> 00:55:32.720 everyone else can feel it jump in at any given  time and i'll wrap this up sure i can i can i can   00:55:32.720 --> 00:55:38.160 pit i can actually build on that one of my best  pieces of advice all the time is help your help   00:55:38.160 --> 00:55:45.200 your loved one who is coming here uh to to really  decide what fearlessness means for them college   00:55:45.200 --> 00:55:50.400 experience is about courage and fearlessness you  can use either word but what that means for them   00:55:50.400 --> 00:55:55.600 so how do they engage what do they do but what  is that defined in who they are how do they how   00:55:55.600 --> 00:56:00.480 are they fearless right that's not without fear  but that's with courage and with facing things   00:56:00.480 --> 00:56:05.040 and with taking on what they want and it's really  exciting it's taking advantage of opportunity and   00:56:05.040 --> 00:56:10.640 to really help them frame that within that space  of transition and let them know that it's all an   00:56:10.640 --> 00:56:14.960 evolution they don't have to do everything right  away but what they do is they have a vision for   00:56:14.960 --> 00:56:18.240 what they want to be and what they want to start  with and that's one of my big pieces of advice   00:56:19.600 --> 00:56:25.840 i think that's really good advice joy i want  to just thank the parents for entrusting us   00:56:26.800 --> 00:56:30.960 with your loved one with your  young adult and i want you   00:56:30.960 --> 00:56:35.280 as we will on our end to remind them  constantly that you are more than enough   00:56:35.280 --> 00:56:40.800 that you belong here that you are going to do  exceptional things and we are uh your support   00:56:40.800 --> 00:56:46.080 um so you just have another support system  at uic as you've had a support system at home 00:56:48.320 --> 00:56:54.000 and i just want to add to that it it can be scary  i'm a first generation college student and so   00:56:54.000 --> 00:57:00.560 you know going into college for the first time  and navigating all the various things the the the   00:57:00.560 --> 00:57:04.560 different support networks the different you know  just trying to figure out my bill trying to figure   00:57:04.560 --> 00:57:09.760 out my class registration schedule it can be a  challenge especially if you're if your student   00:57:09.760 --> 00:57:15.760 is the first person in your in your family to go  through that everyone at uic is here to support   00:57:15.760 --> 00:57:22.320 you to support your student and for them to be  successful that is why we're here and sometimes   00:57:22.320 --> 00:57:28.080 the question that's not asked is the question that  needs to be asked and to echo joey's fearlessness   00:57:28.800 --> 00:57:32.000 questions are okay questions are more than okay   00:57:32.000 --> 00:57:36.720 and why we are here we are here to help provide  support and to answer those questions for you   00:57:36.720 --> 00:57:41.360 so that your and your family and your student  most importantly can be successful at uic 00:57:45.440 --> 00:57:51.520 there my last point will be this is that  there's always someone multiple someones   00:57:51.520 --> 00:57:58.320 to to help that there are there are always people  uh at the university who were there to help your   00:57:59.120 --> 00:58:04.480 your young person along to help them look at  perhaps the challenges that they're facing   00:58:04.480 --> 00:58:09.600 differently perhaps access a resource differently  or perhaps make them aware of something that   00:58:09.600 --> 00:58:17.520 they're simply not aware of uh i've been in  college admissions for for 25 years and and i will   00:58:17.520 --> 00:58:24.720 tell you that that this is the brightest group of  students that i've ever worked with in this day   00:58:24.720 --> 00:58:32.160 and age but they also come with with some areas  that perhaps they they need a bit of a help on   00:58:32.160 --> 00:58:39.520 and they are sometimes simply not aware that they  need help and and that only comes from from from   00:58:40.080 --> 00:58:45.440 the the assistance and the growth comes when they  ask questions when they're seeking advice and then   00:58:45.440 --> 00:58:51.120 perhaps our are perhaps trying to tap into some  of the wisdom of the people that are that are here   00:58:51.120 --> 00:58:56.000 on these college campuses to help them maneuver  through it allow me to be personal for just one   00:58:56.000 --> 00:59:01.120 moment uh this past week dean shelley passed  away at the university of illinois at urbana   00:59:02.000 --> 00:59:09.680 i'm a u of i alum and um dean shelly in 1986 and i  recall having a conversation being in an all-white   00:59:09.680 --> 00:59:16.000 classroom struggling with what it means to be  an inner city kid in a environment at that time   00:59:16.000 --> 00:59:20.080 that was not particularly diverse and weren't  particularly welcoming of a student like me   00:59:20.960 --> 00:59:24.320 and dean shelley sat me down and as we were  talking about it dean shelley looked at me   00:59:24.320 --> 00:59:30.960 and said oscar i do believe the library  is open until midnight in this big bass   00:59:30.960 --> 00:59:37.200 voice and that is exactly what i needed to hear  from someone who i knew cared about my success   00:59:37.840 --> 00:59:44.480 at that institution those people exist on this on  this campus those people exist on this call those   00:59:44.480 --> 00:59:49.200 people exist there for your students and we can  provide that sort of support for your young people   00:59:50.160 --> 00:59:54.640 help them support them perhaps say the things  to them that they need to hear in order to be   00:59:54.640 --> 01:00:01.120 successful and we provide them here because  we know of the diverse population that we're   01:00:01.120 --> 01:00:06.320 bringing again across all those different segments  that they're all coming to us from very different   01:00:06.320 --> 01:00:11.200 places and we have to stop be mindful of where  they're coming from mindful of their experiences   01:00:11.200 --> 01:00:16.320 and then try and put them in a position where  they can challenge themselves and grow and become   01:00:16.320 --> 01:00:22.640 the people that we all want them to become so with  that again thank you for for joining us here today   01:00:22.640 --> 01:00:28.480 we do appreciate your participation and attendance  here in addition to your students participation   01:00:28.480 --> 01:00:32.160 uh the sessions are recorded please refer back  to them if you have any questions whatsoever   01:00:32.960 --> 01:00:38.800 the best place i think to start with is  admissions@uic.edu if my team can't help   01:00:38.800 --> 01:00:43.440 you we will make sure that you get to the team  that can in fact help you and uh we hope to   01:00:43.440 --> 01:00:47.200 be able to continue some of the conversation  hopefully in person in the next two or three   01:00:47.200 --> 01:00:52.720 months as you start working toward may one of  those final decisions so again thank you i hope   01:00:52.720 --> 01:00:57.760 we help raise some some points to to highlight  for for you and your loved one and we hope that   01:00:57.760 --> 01:01:09.200 you join the expo and go get some UIC swag go  go UIC swag go get some thank you everybody