Parent and Family Engagement

Upcoming Events

Parents of our newly admitted students, please join us for one of our Admitted Student Days this spring. These events are intended to provide you and your student with a deeper look at the Benedictine experience and cover important next steps in the enrollment process.

March 5, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
March 27, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
April 17, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.

Wellness Wednesdays are being offered by our Counseling Center this semester. They will provide some great tools for our students to take care of their mental health. https://www.ben.edu/student-life/counseling-center/index.cfm

“Parent Connect” Lunch Sessions are being offered on the third Tuesday of each month via Zoom:

Tuesday, February 23, 2021 | 12:00 p.m. CST
Join via ZOOM link HERE
Meeting ID: 862 9471 8379 | Passcode: 822263
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Meeting ID: 862 9471 8379 | Passcode: 822263
Find your local number: https://benu.zoom.us/u/kddpGHSpks)

 

Helpful Tips for Students Learning Online

 

• Help your student create a study space that limits distractions
• Encourage them to maintain their same study habits
• Support them with their time management
• Establish house rules/boundaries
• Encourage exercise to relieve stress
• Encourage communication to combat fear and anxiety
• Encourage them to stay connected to their friends and family to avoid social isolation
• Be careful no to overindulge in COVID-19 news
• Foster a positive environment
• Follow the CDC guidelines as a family
• Remind them the world is going through this together

Family Fun/Outlets

• Board games
• Cook offs
• Bike riding
• Video games
• Card games
• Karaoke
• Dancing
• Group FaceTime with friends & family
• Reading
• Catching up on a good movie

 

Parent & Family Resources

 

• Academic Calendars
• Academic and Career Enrichment (ACE) Center Parent Resources
• Admissions
• Advising Center
• Campus Dining
• Campus Response Evaluation (CARE) Team
• Contact list during virtual campus
• Coronaviurs Updates
• Counseling Center
• Financial Aid
• Move-in Packet
• Residence Life
• Safe Return to Campus Plans
• Student Affairs

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Important Information

The BenU Learning Center

Our BenU campus is ready for the community to explore and engage—please join us! The campus has extensive signage and barriers to support safe gathering and in-person engagement. Here’s how we plan to safely bring our student community together:

• Study Areas: We will provide campus learning spaces with access to the internet and computer labs. You may use these facilities for private or socially distanced study (room capacity will be capped) or even to log on and take your virtual courses (while still on campus). A variety of classroom campus spaces will be available through an online booking system to reserve blocks of time. Information on the online booking system will be posted on the website by Saturday, August 29.
   
• Experiential: In-person experiential instruction in labs, music and art studies will continue following established safety guidelines including six-foot social distancing, wearing masks and utilizing plexiglass barriers. Class schedules are being updated within MyBenU to reflect these final changes, noting which experiential learning courses will be in-person. Students will receive an updated schedule with class modality on Monday, August 24 from the Registrar’s Office.
   
• Student Activities & Organizations: The Office of Student Activities will maintain a regular schedule of events throughout the semester including Thrilling Thursdays. The community will continue to receive a weekly email (“This Week at BenU”), which will include the schedule of weekly activities and events. At this time, student club and organization meetings and events will be held virtually. Our desire is to move to in-person meetings and events in accordance local guidelines soon. Student organizations are encouraged to recruit new students, meet regularly on a virtual platform and plan events. A virtual Eagle Stop will be hosted by the University to introduce new students to student clubs and organizations.
   
• BenTalks: The Office of Diversity and Inclusion will continue to host our BenTalks throughout the semester for students to participate in important discussions, share their opinions and let their voices be heard.
   
• Athletics: Student-Athletes will be having team activities, strength and conditioning workouts and practices throughout the fall semester. All of these will be conducted in accordance with the NCAA guidelines for Resocialization of Collegiate Sport. We are currently awaiting further clarification from the NCAA on scheduling dates. At this time, we believe we will be starting team activities within the first two weeks of our fall semester.
   
• Tutoring: Access tutoring and virtual academic services through the ACE Center website. The ACE Center learning specialists and peer tutors are available to talk to you virtually about any tutoring needs. To view a current list of tutoring hours and how to contact the learning specialists please visit the ACE website.

Please remember that in any on-campus or in-person scenario, we require masks to be worn at all times and everyone must follow social distance protocols

Lastly, please add the link for commencement, the latest that marketing received as I want to be accurate.

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For questions, please contact:

Lisle Campus

Academics – Colleen Hanna (channa@ben.edu | 630-829-6240)
Athletics – Paul Nelson (pnelson@ben.edu | 630-829-6144)
Housing – Liz Velez (evelez@ben.edu | 630-829-6496)
Return to Work – Kimberly Viehmann (kviehmann@ben.edu | 630-829-6004)
Student Affairs – Marco Masini (mmasini@ben.edu | 630-829-6006)

Mesa Campus

Kevin Broeckling (kbroeckling@ben.edu | 602-888-5507)
Jessica Jelinek (jjelinek@ben.edu | 602-888-5532)