Parents

A Parent’s Guide to Saint Joseph’s

All you need to know about life on campus for your student — from the first year to graduation.

Parents of the incoming first-year students, make sure your child signs up for New Student Orientation

Our Orientation page will also help you keep track of what is needed (Plus later you’ll find the move in weekend schedule there.). Please encourage your student to log into the student portal to complete his or her forms, if they have not done so already. 

Why choose SJC?

One big reason to choose Saint Joseph’s is that faculty members here are accomplished, yet accessible. Their attitude is student-oriented and they will go the extra mile for your child. Your child’s educational outcome will reflect that personal attention. Beyond academic excellence, other big reasons to pick Saint Joseph’s are location and community. Campus is safe and friendly. Everyone knows everyone, and the location couldn’t be more stunning. Need more reasons?

Mother and son on campus in fall

Paying for college

Cost Calculators We offer many scholarships to  help students pay for their education, as well as grants, and state and federal funding programs. You may want to check out our two cost calculators. We offer numerous work-study jobs, if awarded, and on campus jobs. Learn more about  financial aid at Saint Joseph’s.

Should your child go to a state college or a private college?

At Saint Joseph’s we’re competitive with state colleges because we commit more than $10.8 million of our own resources to assist students with the cost of going to college. Each student’s eligibility is different – maximize your chances by meeting our priority deadline.

Our financial aid packages can include:

  • scholarships to help students pay for their education
  • grants (you don’t need to pay these back)
  • state and federal funding programs
  • loans
  • work-study jobs, if awarded (We also have on-campus jobs, though these aren’t part of our award package.)

To be eligible, make sure your child fills out our necessary financial aid forms and FAFSA by our priority filing date of March 1 for new students or April 15 for current students.

Is your child graduating soon?

When your child graduates he/she will be required to complete an exit interview (if they’ve taken out federal loans).

Learn more about financial aid at Saint Joseph’s.

800-752-1266 or  207-893-6612
FAX: 207-893-6699
finaid@sjcme.edu

Deposit Now

What to expect during college

Going off to college is a big adjustment for you and for your student. Learn what to expect, how it will impact you as a parent and what you can do about it.

College will offer new opportunities and challenges not only for your student, but also for your relationship. Below are some examples of what your student may experience at college. They will help you understand the changing nature of your relationship with your student. In college, your student may experience:

  • new demands on his/her time,
  • encouragement toward independence and an increase in freedom,
  • full responsibility of their own education,
  • frustrations with administrative details,
  • differences in course scheduling (not in class all day or every day),
  • desire to try something new or radically different,
  • significant differences in relationships with instructors and their expectations,
  • necessity to actively manage (and increase) study time to achieve the same grade,
  • new anxieties about their abilities or future,
  • less interaction with you,
  • changes in classroom, testing, and grading procedures, and
  • social adjustments required by living with a roommate.

These new experiences are a normal part of your student’s development and because of them, the nature of your relationship with your student is likely to change. While each relationship is different, you might be aware of some of these changes:

  • As Saint Joseph’s encourages independence and deals directly with your student as an adult, you can expect to be less directly involved with the school.
  • As your student begins to become more independent, you may experience strong negative reaction to parental suggestions.
  • As your student faces new challenges or defeats, you might see a need for more verbal reassurance.
  • In adjusting to the demands of college, you might see differences in your student’s involvement at home and with family.
  • As your student finds his/her own way, you may also experience an unusual mixture of emotions: fear, pride, frustration, abandonment and joy.

Despite all the changes your relationship may experience, your student needs your continuing love, respect, and support. The challenge will be to discover new ways to let the love and respect come through:

  • It may take your student time to adjust to new academic demands. Be patient and assist in problem-solving as they are ready.
  • Encourage your student to discuss the decisions they face.
  • Allow student to make their own decisions and be supportive even if results are not ideal.
  • Try to take a “wait and see” attitude toward any new venture.
  • Support and encourage good study habits without being too directive.
  • Help your student view this time of life as a discovery phase.
  • Give freedom to learn how to cope with all that is new.
  • In the face of frustrations, give encouragement and support to keep trying.
  • Encourage your student to be involved in a few leadership roles.
  • Encourage your student to network with a variety of people.
  • Know the relationship is shifting, and your best intentions to help your child grow and take responsibility may sometimes overstep the line or be ignored. The goal is empowering your college student — which involves caring and compassion as she or he learns to solve their own problems.

Some of the information was adapted from Louisiana State University at Shreveport.

How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character by Paul Tough

Where You Go Is Not Who You Will Be: An Antidote to the College Admissions Mania by Frank Bruni

How to Raise an Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success by Julie Lythcott-Haims

What to Do When College Is Not the Best Time of Your Life by David  Leibow, M.D

Reclaiming Conversation: The Power of Talk in a Digital Age by Sherry Turkle

Letting Go: A Parents’ Guide to Understanding the College Years by Karen Levin Coburn and Madge Lawrence Treeger

You’re On Your Own (But I’m Here if You Need Me): Mentoring Your Child During the College Years by Marjorie Savage

Don’t Tell Me What to do, Just Send Money: The Essential Parenting Guide to the College Years by Helen E. Johnson and Christine Schelhas-Miller

How Saint Joseph’s helps students to succeed

We have many programs to  help your child succeed at college — first-year program, writing center, tutoring, internships and career services, to name a few.

Helpful Names and Numbers

First-Year Experience Program

First-Year Experience Seminar enhances the first-year student experience through academic and social connections. First-year students will expand upon academic skills already developed, while gaining a more meaningful understanding of themselves and their surroundings through different cultural experiences within the Saint Joseph’s College community.
Contact: Shanna Webster at swebster@sjcme.edu or 207-893-7563

Academic Center for Excellence

The  Academic Center for Excellence provides study skills workshops, writing tutors, peer tutoring within various departments, individualized mentoring for academic success, and  accommodations for students with disabilities. The Academic Center for Excellence also works with each student to set goals for academic success and to connect students with help they may need.
Contact: Shanna Webster at swebster@sjcme.edu or 207-893-7563

Internships

We foster internships in the Greater Portland area through our connections with businesses and organizations. Intern placements include American Red Cross, L.L. Bean, Lake Region Animal Hospital, Portland Sea Dogs, Maine State Government, and many more.
Contact: Shanna Webster at swebster@sjcme.edu or 207-893-7563

Course Registration

The Registrar’s Office manages course registration and pre-approves courses for students enrolling in the May semester or summer school.
Contact: Registrar’s Office at 207-893-7798

Career Studio

The Career Studio will help your child with career assessment, résumé writing, workshops, employment, internships, grad school and prepare for job interviews.
Contact: Career Studio at careerstudio@sjcme.edu.

Athletics and Recreation

Saint Joseph’s offers many team sports for both men and women, and provides students with the opportunity to excel.

Athletic Training

The athletic training room is located on the first floor of the Harold Alfond Center. A certified trainer is on hand at all home games and contests. All non-traditional-season games and contests will be covered on an “as-available” basis. The training room provides athletes with pre-game taping and wrapping, ice, water and cups, whirlpool, hydrocollator, ultrasound, and e-stim. Other emergency equipment (crutches, immobilizer, etc.) are available. Athletes must furnish their own supplies and medical kit for pre-game taping and wrapping.
Contact: Athletic Training 207-893-6677

Recreation

The Alfond Center is available for all students to use for fitness, intramurals, and club sports. Some students also enjoy running on the track, using the swimming pool during open swim hours, or climbing the rock wall. The college also offers fitness and wellness classes in the Alfond Center dance room.

Student-Athlete Academic Office (SAAO)

We’re proud of the academic records of our student-athletes. At Saint Joseph’s, your child is first a student. The SAAO works as a liaison between the student-athlete and college academic staff. If an athlete needs help managing studies and sports, our coaches encourage them to go to the Academic Center where they can get help through workshops and tutors.
Contact: Tiffany Miller-Gagnon at tgagnon@sjcme.edu

Residence Life

Living on campus gives students the opportunity to grow socially. The residential life team dedicates themselves to making sure every resident is provided with safe, clean, and affordable housing. For more info, visit the residential living web site. Contact: 207-893-6603

Student Engagement

Students at the college participate in various activities such as working out in the fitness room, going to comedy shows, lending a hand in community service projects, and joining or organizing a club. Every week the Campus Activities Board (CAB) plans events for the students to attend. There are also opportunities to do things off-campus, such as taking a trip to Boston, skiing at local resorts, or visiting Portland. Contact: Student Life 207-893-6603

Safety and Security

Located on the first floor of Standish Hall, our public safety officers patrol campus 24/7. The campus also has emergency call boxes in prominent locations, each identified by a blue light. Contact: Security 207-893-6687, Emergency: 207-893-7911

Ministry

Campus Ministry, located in the Heffernan Center brings students together to share their faith or questions about their faith. It is also a chance to serve others and the community through volunteer work, such as working at a local soup kitchen, or distributing clothes and food to homeless people in New York City. Contact: Kathryn Cody Russell, 207-893-7794

Campus Services (Mailroom)

Campus Services is located in the front side of the Service Building, it operates both the U.S. Mail and print services. All students pick up their packages and mail here. Parents can find information on how to address mail and packages to their students.
Contact: copycenter@sjcme.edu, 207-893-7717

Dining Services

Pearson’s Café offers students a custom restaurant experience with the freshest of ingredients, featuring an all-you-can-eat buffet with a variety of entrees including vegetarian, salad bar, deli bar items, and desserts. The dining hall is generally open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. Brunch is served at 10:00 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and dinner is served from 4:30-7 p.m.

Add money to your child’s Monk Bucks account

Call or go online to add monk bucks to your child’s account. This can be used for snacking and late-night meals.

Send your child a birthday cake

For $15, we’ll bake and decorate a birthday cake, complete with candles. Please call one week ahead of time to place your order.

Contact: Pearson’s Cafe at 207-893-6680 or pearsonscafe@sjcme.edu.

 

Health and Wellness Center

Located in O’Connor Hall, health care is provided for students by appointment and on a first-come-first-serve basis. A primary care nurse and doctor are available for students in need of treatment. Open Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m., the health center is a place for students to receive urgent care and preventative care, and have all of their medical questions answered. Contact: Doreen Webber 207-893-6634

Counseling Center

The college experience can bring challenges, both positive and not-so-positive. Welcoming staff at the Counseling Center can often help students deal with some of the difficulties encountered along the way. Located in Saint Joseph’s Hall on the first floor. Contact: David Lischer, LCSW, at dlischer@sjcme.edu or 207-893-6628

Quick Links

Pay student account
Add Monks Bucks
Cost Calculators

Contacts

Financial Aid

Office of Financial Aid
800-752-1266
207-893-6612
finaid@sjcme.edu

Billing

Office of Student Accounts
207-893-7732
FAX: 207-893-7678
studentaccounts@sjcme.edu