Campus Connect: Spring 2024

CAMPUS CONNECT BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER

SPRING 2024

A NOTE FROM THE STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER Our center is here to provide support and resources that empowers undergraduate and graduate students to achieve their academic, personal, and professional success. Through personalized guidance, innovative services, and a collaborative community, the Student Success Center cultivates a campus culture of continuous learning, resilience, and holistic development. Our mission is to equip all Bay Path students with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to excel in their educational journey and beyond.

IN THIS EDITION...

PG. 1: A Note From the Student Success Center PG. 2: Navigating Bay Path University With the Professional UG Advising Center PG. 3: Important Reminders from Student Financial Services Celebrating Milestones with Accessibility Services Getting to Know the Hatch Library PG. 4: All You Need to Know about the Sullivan Career and Life Planning Center Upcoming Health & Wellness Events PG. 5: Fall 2023 Student Success Spotlight Winners

In the SSC, we will facilitate collaboration between student support offices on campus to more effectively engage and support students in both the on-ground and online environments. By leveraging technology, data, and analytics we are able to anticipate student’s needs, and ensure that we have the most effective support services in place in order to maximize student success. Support services will be integrated holistically into a student’s academic journey through systematic communications and touchpoints throughout their time as a Bay Path student.

The Student Success Center will serve as the primary stakeholder to deliver the following services: conduct planned communication outreach to all populations; design and deliver a unified peer mentoring program; conduct re-enrollment campaigns to all populations; manage and triage University alerts for all populations; manage midterm outreach for all populations; establish a virtual one-stop center in BPU Community; provide ongoing updates about the SSC initiatives and student success to the community.

PG. 6: Spring 2024 Student Success Spotlight Winners PG. 7: Spring 2024 Alumni Success Spotlight

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CAMPUS CONNECT BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER

SPRING 2024 NAVIGATING BAY PATH UNIVERSITY WITH THE PROFESSIONAL UNDERGRADUATE ADVISING CENTER Embarking on your college journey as an undergraduate student at Bay Path University is an exciting adventure, and our Advising Center is committed to supporting you and aiding in your success from day one to graduation.

Our comprehensive advising model offers personalized support that goes beyond academic guidance, providing you with the tools and resources needed for a successful and fulfilling university experience.

QUICK LINKS: Meet the Bay Path Advising Team!

Bay Path Academic Calendars BPU Schedule Planner Professional Guidance from Start to Finish: At Bay Path, you'll be paired with a dedicated Academic Advisor & Success Coach who will be with you throughout your entire college journey. This professional guide serves as your primary point of contact, providing support in various areas including changing majors, declaring minors and certificates, understanding your academic standing status, taking a leave from the university, seeking external credit pre-approvals, planning for graduate programs, and for assistance with academic form submissions.

Registration Made Simple: Planning your course schedule can be a daunting task, but with our support, it becomes a breeze. We provide course suggestions for upcoming sessions/semesters, assist with self-registration on the Portal, and review and approve your course schedule each semester. Our advisors are available to discuss adding, dropping, or withdrawing from a course, providing the guidance needed for a successful academic journey.

Required Advising Sessions: To further enhance your experience, the Advising team has implemented mandatory student and advisor sessions for all new and existing students. These flexible 30-minute meetings offer a general academic check-in, discussions about your graduation timeline, recommendations for upcoming course registration, referrals to campus resources, and a platform to address any questions you may have. While at least one meeting is required per semester, students are encouraged to reach out and meet with their advisor as often as needed.

ACADEMIC SUCCESS

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CAMPUS CONNECT BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER

SPRING 2024 IMPORTANT REMINDERS FROM STUDENT FINANCIAL SERVICES

GETTING TO KNOW THE HATCH LIBRARY

The 2024-2025 FAFSA application is now available online

Hatch

at

needing

comprehensive support, assisting students in finding

assistance completing the FAFSA application may

articles, developing effective search strategies, and

schedule

Financial

utilizing databases for research, with options for in-

Services. Fall 2024 financial aid award notifications for

person, virtual, or chat meetings during evenings and

current students will be available in early June.

weekends. Free interlibrary loan services expedite access

studentaid.gov. an

Students

appointment

and with

families Student

Student Financial Services is hosting a series of webinars and on campus events for financial wellness. Please be sure to check your BPU email with the dates and times for the following events: March - Federal Student Loan Repayment

librarians

provide

to articles and books not in our collection. We offer course textbooks on reserve, and many books in ebook format, saving students money. Dr. Shannon Compton supports research needs at the Ryan Center on our East

Hatch Learning Commons supports Bay Path’s Core

April - BPU & Beyond Financial Education Fair

Values with curated resources like:

Contact SFS at:

Inclusion Hub: Celebrating contributions of Black,

Email: sfs@baypath.edu

LatinX, AAPI, Indigenous, and LGBTQIA+ communities,

Phone: 413-565-1256 or 800-782-7284 ext. 1256

offering literature, music, film/TV, podcasts, and

CELEBRATING MILESTONES WITH ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES Services

Commons

Longmeadow campus.

February - Housing & Transportation

Accessibility

Learning

is

celebrating

a

significant

online resources. Visit here to learn more!

Life Skills Collection: Aids college transition with resources on financial literacy, nutrition, social skills, time

management,

and

"adulting,"

catering

to

milestone as we recently unveiled our new testing center

diverse needs. Partnerships with Aramark and the

in Blake 110! Located next door to our main office, this

Financial Aid Office help to enhance that accessibility

dedicated space marks a crucial step in supporting both

for our students.

our students and faculty.

Mindfulness Collection: Promotes healthy coping With its spacious layout, Blake 110 offers students a

skills and resiliency through mindfulness, meditation,

welcoming

and stress reduction practices.

utilizing

and

testing

accessible

environment

accommodations.

With

for

those

numerous

testing carrels and ample table space, this area will ensure that every student has the access they need to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

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CAMPUS CONNECT BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE STUDENT SUCCESS CENTER

SPRING 2024 ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE SULLIVAN CAREER AND LIFE PLANNING CENTER WHO THEY ARE: The SCLP is a team of coaches, mentors, and educators who work collaboratively to empower students with the skills needed for career readiness and career advancement.

WHAT THEY DO: The SCLP provides students at all levels of study with opportunities to gain the skills needed to access their visions of a purposeful professional life. They host 1:1 coaching sessions, webinars, as well as networking events.

WHERE TO FIND THEM: The Sullivan Career and Life Planning Center is located on the bottom level of the Blake Student Commons for in-person visits. For greater accessibility, they host virtual career coaching sessions and events online.

WHY THEY DO IT: The goal of the SCLP is to empower students to translate what they are learning in their courses to the workforce. They hope to guide them as they define and explore career options and support them as they prepare to launch or advance their careers.

UPCOMING HEALTH & WELLNESS EVENTS Dance Your Stress Away Silent Headphone Party Sponsored by Student Engagement & Counseling Center April 4, 2024 | 8:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Blake Dining Hall Get ready to Dance Your Stress Away at our Silent Headphone Party! With free entry and a live DJ spinning the tunes, let loose and groove your worries away in a one-of-a-kind silent disco experience.

Fresh Check Day April 10, 2024 | 12:00 PM - 2:30 PM Fresh Check Day is back, bigger and better than ever!

Join us on Wednesday, April 10, 2024, from 12:00 PM to 2:30 PM for a mental health check-in extravaganza. Our interactive booths are brimming with free food, exciting prizes, and invaluable resources that will help keep your mental health in check.

OFFICE HOURS: Students first meet with a career coach upon enrollment at Bay Path. Check-ins are recommended every semester to update resumes and explore new career opportunities. Visit online or inperson Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and by appointment.

TO LEARN MORE: Find the SCLP website HERE! To make an appointment with a professional career coach, send an email to careers@baypath.edu or click HERE for the office Calendly link.

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CAMPUS CONNECT STUDENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT WINNERS

FALL 2023 MABEL BARNES YANKEY Doctoral Student

Major: Occupational Therapy & Mental Health Future Aspirations: Establish myself as a consultant providing specialized training in occupational therapy and mental health to foster professional growth and advancement within my field.

Nominated By: Dr. Rae Ann Smith, Assistant Professor, for her OTD Capstone project where she developed, and continues to support, an outpatient occupational therapy substance use and wellness program in the Ashanti region of Ghana.

PATRICIA GRANDFIELD

TAWC Undergraduate Student Major: Psychology Future Aspirations: Establish a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families affected by trauma by offering resources and tools to facilitate their healing and growth.

Nominated By: Michelle McGrath, Senior Program Director, TAWC Psychology, and Dr. Adriane Mayda, Senior Lead Faculty, TAWC P s y c h o l o g y f o r b e i n g a n e x e m p l a r y s t u d e n t a n d b e i n g r e l e n t l e s s i n t h e pursuit of excellence despite facing many significant personal hardships and challenges.

ALEXA ESTRADA-CACERES

Traditional Undergraduate Student Major: Early Childhood Education Future Aspirations: Pursue a Master’s Degree with interest in becoming a reading specialist with specialization in children’s literature and media.

Nominated By: Dr. Jennifer Stratton, Program Director of Traditional Undergraduate Education, for consistently displaying empathy an d engagement, and for her honor’s thesis work focused on the analysis of the representation of the Latine community in children’s media.

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CAMPUS CONNECT STUDENT SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT WINNERS

SPRING 2024 SARAH TAWDROUS Doctoral Student

Major: Occupational Therapy Future Aspirations: To run my own pediatric nonprofit mobile clinic throughout other countries, especially in Africa and the Middle East.

Nominated By: Nominated by Professor Rae Ann Smith for her exemplary commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging demonstrated through community service, particularly in developing a culturally sensitive autism education program for underserved communities.

ALEXANDRIA RICHARD

TAWC Undergraduate Student Major: Cybersecurity: Digital Forensics & Incident Response Future Aspirations: To pursue a career in digital forensics investigation, whether within the FBI or in organizations dedicated to combating crimes against children.

Nominated By: Amy Porter, Career Coach, for her outstanding representation as a non-traditional student, woman of color, woman in STEM, and mentor. Additionally, nominated by Dr. Douglas Keevers, Academic Program Director, for her exceptional contributions to cybersecurity initiatives and team leadership, as well as her demonstration of academic excellence and unwavering dedication to WiCyS.

ALLANAH (OLLIE) LONG

Traditional Undergraduate Student Major: Justice & Forensic Studies Future Aspirations: To attend law school and learn more about psychology and how to use my voice for myself and others.

Nominated By: Melissa Welch, Senior Creative Director, for demonstrating exceptional leadership in DEIB initiatives, fearlessly championing authentic representation and fostering challenging conversations, while actively participating in the Executive Director search process.

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CAMPUS CONNECT ALUMNI SUCCESS SPOTLIGHT

SPRING 2024 SARA BUSHEY

2018 TAWC Graduate Sara Bushey, a 2018 graduate of the BA in Leadership and Organizational Studies degree program, currently serves as a U.S. Foreign Service Diplomat for the Department of State.

She is an Office Management Specialist and works at embassies throughout the world to aid in improved collaboration on U.S. foreign policy, human rights, and geopolitical priorities. Sara shared that, “the skills and knowledge gained through my degree program at Bay Path afforded me the opportunity for career advancement, and allowed me to further highlight my professional skills and contribute in bigger, more significant ways.”

One of the most notable projects to date that Sara played an instrumental role in coordinating and executing was Operation Allies Welcome, where her embassy served as a critical stop for at-risk Afghan civilians who were evacuated during the final weeks of the War in Afghanistan. Sara was on the front line, greeting Afghan civilians as they deplaned at the military base, directing efforts to process and care for these men, women, and children, then saw them off to their next stop on their journey to America.

Bay Path is fortunate to have played a small role in Sara’s success, and we are proud that her degree has opened many doors and given her a bigger platform on which to shine!

Do you know a Bay Path University alum who deserves recognition? Send all nominations to studentsuccess@baypath.edu for a chance to be featured in the next edition!

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