Parent & Family Newsletter

Homecoming & Fall Family Weekend is almost here!

Join us Sept. 30 – Oct. 2 for a “groovy” time!

• Friday night movie under the stars at Hodson Outdoor Theater: Marvel’s “Black Panther!”
• Saturday, it’s Hoodstock on the Quad, packed with a tie-dye party, out-of-sight treats and games, and Blazer Radio spinning hits from the ‘70s!
• Grab your teammates and study your Hood traditions as you compete for gift cards & treats at the annual Hood Scavenger Hunt*!
• Cheer on the Blazers as they compete in field hockey & soccer!
• Get groovy at Saturday night’s Silent Disco!
• And much, much more!

Click here for the full schedule and registration information for the weekend!

Our first Hood Virtual Happy Hour is scheduled for Thursday, September 22, at 5:30 p.m., and we’re proud to have President Andrea Chapdelaine join us to talk about what’s new and next for Hood! If you would like to submit a question for President Chapdelaine, please send it to alumoffice@hood.edu.

To register for this online event, click here. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. See you on September 22!

Please remember to review the Academic Calendar occasionally to ensure you are aware of the essential dates that will impact you and your student this year.

This fall, all first-year and transfer students participated in community building programming during new student orientation designed to immerse students into college life and help create community standards for the upcoming academic year. Students were introduced to the Academic Honor Code, the College's mission statement and the Student Government Association Community Values Pledge. During the First-Year Seminar, all first-years will participate in further dialogue that will allow them to explore cultural norms and unintended biases, and diversity, equity and inclusion.

The college years can be hard sometimes. With your help, your student will feel supported in making healthy decisions for themselves and have a happier and more successful experience! Here are some behavioral health conversation prompts and reminders to talk about with your student throughout the year.

Hood College offers two free, mental health services to support your student.

1. Hood Counseling Services provides short-term, goal-oriented counseling services via telehealth and on-campus in the Apple Resource building, room 8A. Services are by appointment weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

2. NeighborHood Counseling Training Center provides counseling services on-campus and via telehealth. Services are provided by Hood’s Counseling MS program by appointment Mondays-Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m.

Please also encourage your student to contact the Office of Student Success, Health and Counseling Services, the director of wellness at wellness@hood.edu, or other campus resources for additional support when needed.

Interesting time in the financial aid world! President Biden has just announced a student loan forgiveness program that will provide assistance to many borrowers who utilized the federal direct loan programs prior to this year. Unfortunately, at this writing, very few details are available, leaving all of us with questions. Please know that we will help distribute information as soon as it is available.

On another topic, October 1 is right around the corner. That is the date the FAFSA opens for the 2023-2024 academic year. If your student will be returning to Hood next fall, we encourage you to file the new FAFSA as soon after October 1 as possible. Early filing is always better!

The financial aid team would like to thank everyone for their patience at the start of the fall semester. We experienced staff outages due to COVID-19 throughout the month of August. The short staffing, coupled with the Department of Education processing difficulties, resulted in unsatisfactory customer service from our office. We understand the delays were worrisome and we want to reassure our students and families that the team is working diligently to identify processing and partnership gaps, develop proactive, timely communications plans, and to improve our overall services to the Hood community.

In less than a month we will be hosting the Blue & Grey Golf Tournament at PB Dye. Please consider playing or sponsoring a hole for the tournament. Individuals and companies can sponsor at levels from $250 - $5,000. For an individual the cost to golf is $150, or to register a foursome is $550. Click here to register for golf or sponsor online: Blue & Grey Golf Outing - Hood College (hoodathletics.com)

The Parent Advisory Council (PAC) is almost a year old, and it is time to celebrate! During Fall Family Weekend 2021, we launched the PAC, and invited parents to share their Time, Talent and Treasure with the Hood community. Over the past year, Council members have welcomed new parents at S.O.A.R. days, handed out treats and messages of encouragement to Hood students as they prepared for finals, and cheered our Blazers on to victory! Many thanks to our Council members who enthusiastically shared their “hearts, minds and hands” to make Hood even more special for our students.

Upcoming opportunities for fall 2022 include participating on parent discussion panels during Discover Hood Days, October 8 and November 19. You can also join the fun on December 6, for “Take a Study Break!”, supporting our students as they prepare for finals with treats, notes of encouragement and other fun surprises!

To learn more, please see Parent Advisory Council or email Kellye Greenwald ’86, director of alumni and constituent engagement, at greenwald@hood.edu

Of the many traditions that enrich a student’s affection and affinity for Hood, the Hood ring is the one that alumni hold very close to their hearts. Its unique design makes it instantly recognizable, and many an alum can share a story about how they met a friend, a spouse, a partner because they were wearing their Hood ring.

Traditionally purchased in the junior year, and first worn at the Ring Ceremony held annually in the Spring, the Hood ring is a concrete symbol of your student’s perseverance, hard work, and well-deserved achievements.

Every October, juniors and seniors are invited to apply for a legacy ring or scholarship via the Hood Legacy Ring and Scholarship Program. This program is made possible through generous donations from alumni and friends. Students may apply to receive a legacy ring, previously worn by a Hood alumna/us and donated to the College, or a ring scholarship to allow them to purchase a new Hood ring. Applications are reviewed by the Alumni Executive Board Ring Committee, and awards are based on the student’s campus involvement, community service, and a personal essay in which the student is asked to reflect upon the significance of the Hood ring and the what the tradition of the Hood ring means to them.

If you would like to purchase a Hood ring for your junior or senior, our Hood ring vendor, Herff Jones, will be on-campus on Homecoming & Fall Family Weekend, Friday, September 30 and Saturday, October 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. each day. Our HJ rep will be ready to size your student properly and discuss the available style options. Rings ordered by February 1, 2023, are guaranteed to arrive in time for the Ring Ceremony on Saturday April 15, 2023, to which parents and family will be invited. Orders may be placed through the Hood College Bookstore, or via the secure Herff Jones website.

Hood Alert, the campus emergency notification system, gives college administration and security professionals the ability to reach participating students, faculty, staff, parents and others with time-sensitive information during unforeseen events or emergencies. For additional information and instructions about signing up to receive alerts, please see Hood Alert.

The students have returned and the energy felt throughout campus is incredible! Thank you to everyone who made a gift to the Hood Fund and shared words of encouragement on the Hello Hood signs displayed on campus during move-in. The signs were a hit with the students and added to the excitement of move-in.

The Hood Fund is something you will hear a lot about this year. It is the annual fund that gives the school options when it comes to expenses that can arise, outside of the annual budget. Your gift to The Hood Fund supports student scholarships and financial aid, academic programming, athletic training and equipment, and so much more. To make your gift of support today, visit www.hood.edu/give.

Email: communityandinclusivity@hood.edu
Website: www.hood.edu
Location: 401 Rosemont Avenue, Frederick, MD 21701
Phone: 301-696-3573