October 2022
A Message from the Dean of Students
Dear parents, guardians, and family members,
I hope that this newsletter finds you and yours safe and well. Our campus is on the brink of Fall Break, and whether your student is traveling during those days (October 8–11) or not, they’re sure to enjoy the break from attending classes. If you plan to visit your student on campus, be sure to check out the Letchworth Arts and Crafts Show and Sale, the Genesee Valley Hunt Races, or the Livingston County’s events calendar for things to do in the area.
Fall also puts us on the brink of severe weather season. In the event of severe weather warnings or events, the University Police Department and the Office of College Communications will notify employees, students, and the general public through a variety of means, including NY-Alert, a system that texts weather-related notifications. Be sure to subscribe to stay up to date.
This Family Newsletter offers useful information for both you and your student. If you’d like more news about the College, you can subscribe to the monthly community edition of Geneseo’s e-newsletter One College Circle or follow Geneseo on Facebook or other social media platforms. And as always, if you have any questions or concerns, you can feel free to contact me or the Center for Community staff. We’re more than happy to assist you.
Lenny Sancilio
Dean of Students and Director of the Center for Community
585-245-5706
Want to make sure your student is taking classes that will count toward their degree? Wonder how long it will take them to graduate? How their credits have transferred in? DegreeWorks can help answer those questions. On October 12, 7 p.m., the Academic Planning and Advising Office will host a VIRTUAL interactive tutorial for students and families on DegreeWorks, Geneseo’s degree mapping tool. Invite your student to share their DegreeWorks account with you and join the discussion!
Academic advisement for Spring 2023 begins October 18, with advance registration for Intersession 2023 and Spring 2023 beginning November 1 and open registration starting November 22. Students should check KnightWeb for their registration times and dates. The last day to withdraw from first half semester courses is October 14; the last day to elect Pass/Fail is October 19.
Resources
Academic Peer Mentors
How to Register for Classes
Academic Calendar
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for 2023–24 became available October 1, and families can now re-apply for financial aid. Geneseo’s Office of Financial Aid strongly recommends that current students complete the FAFSA by February 1, 2023. Some aid is awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. The earlier you file your FAFSA, the greater the likelihood you will be considered for all aid programs.
Resources
Simple Steps to Transfer Tax Information into Your FAFSA Form
Office of Financial Aid
The Geneseo Opportunities for Leadership Development (GOLD) program offers workshops to help students develop the personal skills and knowledge necessary for future success in both life and career. Open to all Geneseo students, GOLD workshops cover everything from time management to resume building, and students can earn nine certificates in three leadership programs.
Fraternity and sorority life can pose any number of questions for parents and family members, from the benefits of joining to the processes students go through. Here are some of the most common questions we receive from family members.
SUNY Geneseo has earned the #1 spot for Best Undergraduate Teaching in the North in US News & World Report’s Best Colleges 2023 list. US News selects the Best Undergraduate Teaching colleges through data collected from college presidents, provosts, and admissions deans at peer institutions within their region.
The 2022 midterm elections are coming up on November 8—is your student registered to vote in Geneseo? Are they registered at home and using an absentee ballot? Unsure? Your student can get information and answers from our Geneseo Votes website.
Please encourage your student to update their personal information—especially cell phone numbers, off-campus addresses, and emergency contacts—in the college’s web-based student information system, Knightweb. Encourage them also to update your information, including your phone number(s) and email address(es). NOTE: If you have an @optonline.com email address, you may want to change it and have your student update their record, as those emails frequently get filtered out, preventing you from receiving up-to-date information or emergency notifications.
What would you like to read about in the Family Newsletter? Let us know!
