Two parents and four children standing outside the Kimmel Center; two of them are wearing UArts Weekend T-shirts.

Generations - February 2021

A Letter from Parent Council Member Marian Maier 

“The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” – Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

As we approach a full year under pandemic restrictions, Tolstoy’s quote is quite fitting.  We, the UArts community, are fighting COVID-19, an invisible enemy. We have been patient warriors and given almost a year of our time battling this force together. After almost a full year, I’m sure some of your methods of adapting have needed modification. So, I asked members of UArts’ Parent Council, “How have your students been adapting to this new timeline, and how have you helped them?”

I can say that my student, Jess, has taken on new routines and “spaces.” Getting up at the same time every day, no matter when classes start, and getting dressed helps her to start each day with a routine. This routine provides a sense of “how things used to be” and a change from a semester in pajamas! She has also decided to set up a desk in our office, which provides more of a classroom structure and less distractions than learning at the family room table. 

“As the pandemic continues, we try to give Shannon more dedicated spaces in the house for her classes,” Lynne Sullivan shared. “She uses her bedroom for Critical Studies classes, the guest room for recording self-tapes, part of the basement to practice piano, and my office for ballet and jazz classes (when I am not on conference or Zoom calls). Truly, I feel like our house has become a UArts satellite campus. Shannon would like nothing more than to be taking in-person classes this semester. She will be able to experience her junior and senior years in the same way she enjoyed most of her freshman year.”

With time as a major force, Eric Fisher has found that the pandemic provided “greater control of our daily clock. Gaining additional time permitted us to more effectively structure our work and study periods, enabling incremental time to explore new expanded areas of interest. We soon discovered we had more time to appreciate safe outdoor recreational activities, such as hiking, bicycling, tennis or skateboarding, which served as uplifting diversions that helped us refresh and energize our minds with greater clarity and creativity. This cleansing of the mind …  culminated with robust new explosions of artistic outputs in performance and sculpture design.”

I hope these experiences are helpful in supporting your student as we all continue to fight this battle. 

Stay safe and positive!

Sincerely,
Marian Maier

Health & Wellness Support for Students

Student Health Services 
We strongly believe that student wellness plays a role in academic success. As we all work together to combat the spread of COVID-19, we are also in the middle of flu season. The best way to prevent seasonal flu is to get vaccinated each year. However, there are other healthy habits that can help stop the spread of germs and prevent respiratory illnesses.

  • Avoid people who are sick.
  • Cover your cough.
  • Wash your hands often (with soap and water).  

Our staff is available to help students stay healthy, even from a distance. If your student has questions about health and wellness or navigating healthcare resources (including telemedicine and insurance), we are here to help! 

Telehealth Services (by appointment)

Counseling Services
This year has brought new opportunities and new challenges, and the Counseling Center can support your student along the way. UArts seeks to support the whole person: academically, socially, physically and emotionally. 

There are no additional fees for Counseling Center services. All counseling services, including individual or group counseling, are confidential and provided by trained professionals. The Counseling Center also provides consultation, crisis response and workshops about coping with stress and other mental health topics. 

While UArts is operating remotely, all services are by appointment only. Students can make an appointment by emailing counseling@uarts.edu. Telemental health (the HIPAA-compliant use of Zoom video) is used for counseling.  

Visit a list of our mental health resources and support materials. 

COVID-19 Vaccine Update 

You might be wondering when your college student is eligible or how they can get access to a COVID-19 vaccine. Here is what we know: States are setting their own priorities for distributing the limited quantities of vaccine currently available, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) has provided recommendations to assist with state-level decision making. 

In line with the ACIP’s guidance, the first phase of vaccination has focused mostly on healthcare workers and other essential workers, individuals over the age of 65, and people with high-risk medical conditions. ACIP’s Phase 2 guidance includes all other people age 16 or older and not already recommended for vaccination in Phase 1. 

Once your student has determined which phase for which they are eligible, they should review the registration and appointment system for their state. If your student is living away from home in Philadelphia, they are eligible for the vaccine in the city. College students do not need to return to their home states to receive the vaccine. 

The Wall Street Journal has a helpful state-by-state guide for how to get the COVID-19 vaccine. However, students living in Philadelphia county should follow the vaccine distribution guidelines for Philadelphia, not Pennsylvania. Because of the city’s size, the CDC recognizes Philadelphia as an independent immunization program. 

If your student is in Philadelphia, encourage them to sign up for the vaccine. The vaccine signup form asks questions to determine when residents are able to get vaccinated. Information entered on the form will be kept confidential with the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

The Philadelphia Department of Public Health is maintaining a robust COVID-19 vaccine website with an FAQ section. 

If your student has questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and lives in Philadelphia, they can email vaccines@phila.gov or connect with our Student Health Services staff at healthservices@uarts.edu. 

Though the vaccine is being administered, your student should still be wearing masks, physically distancing, washing their hands regularly with soap and water or using hand sanitizer, and avoiding crowds. 

Student Leadership Opportunities

The Office of Campus Life is now hiring for two student leadership opportunities for the next academic year (2021–2022): first-year guide and resident assistant. Student leaders help  contribute to the success of the community and gain valuable skills that benefit them far beyond their UArts experience.  

First-year guides (FYGs) welcome new students to campus at New Student Orientation and support them throughout their first semester at UArts. Along the way, FYGs help new students acclimate to our community, so they can connect and engage with their fellow UArtists. Interested students should submit an application and accompanying reference form by Sunday, March 28. 

Resident assistants (RAs) help build our residential communities as live-in student staff members. Through program planning, individual resident support and upholding the Student Code of Conduct, RAs help provide a welcoming and safe residential experience. Students who are interested in an RA position need to complete the application by Sunday, Feb. 14. 

Launch Experience