WELCOME

Dear Parents and Families of Shepherd University Students:

Welcome to the new FASTPASS (Families and Shepherd Together Promoting Academic Student Success)! This web site will replace last year's FASTPASS newsletter. We hope that you will enjoy its many features. We have designed the site to keep you connected to your Shepherd student and to help you help us ensure that his/her experience here is a great one.

Here are some of the features to look out for on the site:

Regularly updated calendar: Check back often to see the list of events occurring on campus. If you live locally, we hope you can visit campus often.

E-mail blasts If you sign up with your email on the "Parents Communication" tab, you will receive regular e-mail blasts about information we consider important to students and parents.

Spotlights (under construction): On a periodic basis, we will highlight faculty, staff and/or students who have made contributions to the Shepherd Community. We will also use this section to send out "kudos" to those who have gone above and beyond to help our students--and yes, we will be asking for nominations from parents for this section!

Links: We will have many links to other Shepherd University web pages as well as local area resources. Please surf often!

Prospective parent page (under construction): We will also develop a special page just for prospective parents--if you know someone who might be interested, please let them know! They can even sign up for our blasts if they want.

In addition, we hope to eventually develop (with the help from YOU) some of the following areas. Drop us an email if you think they might interest you!

Contribution from parents: Have an experience you want to share? A testimonial? A list of helpful tips for other parents? Considering submitting a piece to be published in our "From the Parents" section.

On-line Parents Council: Want to be able to chat with other parents about issues pertaining to students? We are thinking about putting together a parents' discussion board.

Parent Advocates: Let us know if you wish to have your name listed as a resource for new or prospective parents to contact if they have questions; we will list your name and whatever contact information you choose in a special section.

Alumni Parents: Are you a parent and an alum? Let us help you get in contact with the Office of Alumni Relations to see what unique perspective you can offer.

Career Advocates: Do you live in the area? Work in a field you think might be of interest to Shepherd students? The Career Development Office routinely uses alums to come in and speak to students and we would like to try to get parents involved as well.

Parent Handbook: We will also be working to develop a parent handbook over the course of the next year. Look for calls for suggestions and input!

Thanks for checking us out and feel free to contact us with any questions you may have! Surf away!

Sincerely,

Helena Cole
Retention Specialist