AU Family A publication for families of Aurora University undergraduate students
SPRING 2017
Dear Friends, On the south side of Eckhart Hall, a few lonely daffodils are waving in the late-February wind. They are hardy and the warmth from the building always prompts their early appearance. This year, of course, we are seeing many signs of an early spring, sparked by the unusually warm winter weather. As one season gives way to the next, I am thinking about the seasons in the life of a university. Some of our students are looking forward to a summer at home after a first year on campus. Others are searching for internships. Seniors are anticipating graduation and all that lies beyond. What role should family members play as these processes unfold? I have one simple suggestion: Listen with your heart and with your mind. Sometimes a daughter or son
will want your counsel. Often, however, they will value most your presence at their side, your company along the journey. With each decision your AU student makes, he or she takes responsibility for charting a future pathway. After years of careful parenting, it may be hard to watch this process unfold without comment. Still, I hope that you will try. Listening is such a generous gift in a noisy world. Sincerely,
Rebecca L. Sherrick President
Commencement 2017 Spring is in the air and that means commencement is just around the corner. The undergraduate ceremony will take place Sunday, May 7, 2017, at 2 p.m. on the University Quadrangle. If your son/daughter has not done so already, please remind him/her that all degree candidates scheduled for graduation in December 2016 or May or August 2017 must file an application for graduation through their
WebAdvisor accounts. A cap and gown should be ordered at the same time. Information packets, which will include tickets, will be mailed to student addresses on record soon. For more information about commencement, visit aurora.edu/commencement.