Information to Anchor Your Simmons Experience

Welcome to The Anchor. This bi-weekly communication will provide you with relevant information to anchor your Simmons experience.

From the VP's Desk

Dr. Renique Kersh, VP for Student Affairs

Hey, Sharks!

Welcome to Simmons campus for the 2021-2022 academic year! We are thrilled to have you with us in person, and I am so excited to share some important information that will help guide you through these first weeks of the semester.

This edition of The Anchor will cover the schedule for Welcome Days, opportunities to participate in Health and Wellness activities, reminders and updates on COVID compliance and testing protocols, and updated information from the One Stop.

We have such an exciting year ahead of us together, and I look forward to getting to meet and greet you all!

Welcome Days 2021

We invite you to join various students organizations and offices to celebrate Welcome Days 2021. Scan the QR code or visit the Simmons University Welcome Days page for more events and details.

Sharks at Fenway Events

Attend a Welcome Days Red Sox Game on Friday September 3 or Saturday September 4! The limit is two tickets per Simmons student, all sales are final. The email confirmation will include the ticket pick-up location and time.

September 3 at 7:10 PM

Bleacher Section 41, Rows 38-43

Reserve Tickets

September 4 at 4:10 PM

Bleacher Section 41, Row 37-41

Reserve Tickets

Upcoming Events

The HUB is the portal to see what is happening from a variety of student organizations and offices. You can find information about all the happenings from the Office of Student Leadership and Activities, Colleges of the Fenway, Athletics, Academic Advising, Center for Global Education, Community Engagement, and much more. 

Some highlighted programs are listed below. Log in to see what else is happening throughout the year!

Fan Frenzy

Wednesday, September 1

Head down to Daly Field to cheer on our athletes! We will be handing out free t-shirts, and a food truck will be there. Field hockey will play at 4pm, and soccer will play at 7pm.

The bus leaves Residence Campus at 3:30 PM for the first game and 6:30 PM for the second game.

Mindfulness Yoga

Friday, September 3

Join us at 3pm in the Sports Center Dance studio for Nyell Yoga. This workshop will teach mindfulness practices to help you live life more presently and with more awareness.

Mindfulness also helps people gain access to personal tools that promote relaxation and stress relief.

"I am..." Collages

Thursday, September 2

Join us in Simmons Hall to create a collage at 7:00pm in the First Floor Lounge. The collages will focus on the theme "I am...". All materials will be provided. Sponsored by Betsy's Friends.

Managing Money 101

Thursday, September 9

Join the Director of SFS, Amy Staffier at 4:00pm to set goals and learn more about budgeting, spending, paying your bills and more. 

COVID Policies

This week, all students will receive additional policy information in regard to following aspects of campus life: 

• Testing Compliance for Students
• Simmons Star Testing Compliance Rewards Program
• Quarantine, Isolation, and Symptomatic Students
• Contact Tracing
• Absence Policy

• Intercollegiate Athletics
• Holmes Sports Center
• Student Event Policy
• COF Event Participation Policy
• Student Travel Policy
• Residential Student Policies

COVID DashBoard

At the beginning of semester we shared our community commitment to wellness. At Simmons, students, faculty, and staff share the responsibility to fulfill and uphold our community values by demonstrating a firm commitment to health and safety. We do this by:

• Working together to minimize transmission of COVID-19
• Protecting those in our community and beyond who are especially vulnerable
• Respectfully holding each other accountable
• Recognizing individuals have varying degrees of comfort with returning to “normal” 
• Check out the regularly updated COVID dashboard (beginning the first full week of classes) to see how we are doing as a community.  

Upcoming Opportunities

Introduction to Undoing Racism Workshop Opportunity

Led by the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond and coordinated by Dr. Hamilton-Mason, this intensive training will lead Simmons faculty, staff and students through the exploration of how we have been socialized and conditioned to think about race and racism in the United States.  

This six hour workshop will discuss and analyze class, power and institutional/individual relationships within communities. Each session will include breaks throughout, allowing space and time for reflection, self care, and community connection.

Three workshops will be held from 9am - 3pm on Saturday September 18, Saturday September 25, and Saturday October 2. The deadline to complete the registration form is Friday, September 17.

Upcoming Group Counseling

The Office of Student Affairs and the Counseling Center will be offering groups throughout the month of September to reflect on the past 16 months and transition back to campus. Stay tuned for more information.

One Stop Center for Student Enrollment Services

The One Stop Center for Student Enrollment Services is officially open! Located in A-200 of the Main College Building (second floor at the end of the hallway to the left of the staircase), this is where you will find the Registrar’s Office, Financial Aid, Student Accounts, Student Employment/Work Study, Military and Veteran Services, the Cashier and the Campus Card Office. All offices located in the center offer in-person, virtual and self-service options.

At the One Stop, you can:

• Meet with a Financial Aid Counselor
• Pick up your MBTA Pass
• Retrieve your Student ID
• Make a Payment by Cash/Check
• Speak with a member of the team and get your questions answered

Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 8:30-4:30 or by appointment.

For more information, please visit the One Stop FAQ page, or email the Registrar or Financial Aid and Billing.

Stay safe, and be well.