In this edition:

1. Major Declaration Celebration
2. Registration for 2025-26
3. Uncertainty is normal!
4. Parking Update
5. Care & Comfort K9 Awarded

Celebrate and support your sophomore student as they declare their major!

Families of St. Olaf sophomores, there are some important deadlines and exciting decisions approaching for your student.

In March, we celebrate sophomores at the Major Declaration Ceremony! Families, ask your Oles about this exciting decision and important step along their Pathway. The date to declare a major is March 15. Some students may feel pressure to declare more than one major. You can reassure them that most students graduate with only one major at St. Olaf.

The Major Declaration Ceremony is March 6, 2025, during Community Time (11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.) in the Buntrock Commons Ballrooms. President Rundell Singer, academic departments, and faculty members will be at the celebration. ALL sophomores are welcome to come and explore, even if they haven’t decided. Students can pick up their “I Declared” sign and a Class of 2027 T-shirt! We will also have a photo booth, and Ole the Lion will be on hand to take pictures with students! Students will be able to sign their class banner and visit with representatives from the Library, Alumni and Parent Relations, Smith Center for Global Engagement, the Piper Center for Vocation and Career, and the Academic Success Center. Finally, this will count as an activity on the Sophomore Bucket List — one more step to receiving their Bucket List bucket hat! Please encourage your Ole to join us for this celebration!

If your student is struggling with what to major in, they can reach out to their Academic Advisor, Success Coach, any of their professors, or the Piper Center for Vocation and Career to discuss their decision.

Once students decide, declaring a major takes only a few minutes and can be completed in the Student Information System (SIS) “Forms and Links” section. After that, students choose an advisor in their major. The form to change advisors is also in SIS under “Forms and Links.”

Please encourage your student to join us for this celebration!

Registration for next academic year happens soon!

Registration for Fall Semester 2025 will occur from April 22–24. Students are assigned a day and time to register based on their anticipated year of graduation. 

Students will be notified by email when the registration system is open so they can plan possible schedules, submit prerequisite override requests, and easily remove holds on their registration well before their assigned day.

The week before registration is officially dubbed “Quiet Week for Advising.” During Quiet Week, Faculty Advisors set aside time to meet with each of their advisees. This required check-in is an opportunity for students to talk through their wish list of courses, review their progress toward a degree, and discuss their vocational goals. Students can also find guidance and support in the Academic Success Center or use the chat function within the Student Information System (SIS) to contact someone in the Registrar’s Office. Encourage your student to take advantage of these resources.

Summer Terms 1 and 2 Registration

Registration for Summer Terms 1 and 2 will occur on Monday, March 3 at 8 a.m. (Central Time) and is open to all current students who wish to register for a summer course. Updated Summer Term dates, registration information, and deadlines can be found on the Summer Term registration webpage.

Spring Break

Spring break 2025 will be from Saturday, March 29 through Sunday, April 6. No classes will be held on these dates. The academic calendar can be found here.

Spring Semester Finals Schedule for Making Travel Plans

As you begin to make travel arrangements with your student for the end of this academic year, please keep the following key dates in mind:

• Tuesday, May 13: Last Day of Classes
• Wednesday, May 14: Reading Day (no classes)
• Thursday, May 15–Tuesday, May 20: Final Exams
• Saturday, May 24: Baccalaureate/Commencement

Uncertainty is normal during the first year

By Esperanza Carrera Murgo ’25

First-year students are halfway done with their first year at St. Olaf College! If your student is feeling uncertain about their career path, reassure them that uncertainty is normal. You can help by asking open-ended questions about their passions and interests, rather than pushing for an immediate decision.

Sophomore students are reaching the date to declare their major! This is always an exciting time for many students as they have discovered the path they wish to pursue in their undergraduate studies. While this can be an exciting and memorable experience, it can also be quite overwhelming. The Piper Center for Vocation and Career is a valuable resource at St. Olaf that helps students explore career paths, connect with internships, and develop skills for life after college. Encourage your student to visit the Piper Center to gain guidance on choosing a major, identifying career interests, and finding experiential learning opportunities that align with their goals.

Here are some tips to best support your student:

• Encourage open communication: It is important for students to express themselves openly without feeling any judgment. While students might have an idea of the path they want to take, they could still have worries or fears about it.
• Validate their feelings: Acknowledge their emotions without criticism. Let them know that they are worthy of being heard. Listen attentively, show empathy, and understand their perspective.
• Avoid pressure: While it’s natural for parents to have expectations for their student’s future, it’s important to support their autonomy in making this decision. Encourage open discussions about their interests and strengths, and reassure them that their chosen path should reflect their passions and aspirations.

Parking updates

Parking permit applications will open for returning students (rising sophomores, juniors, and seniors) on April 7. Students will receive further information via email. Applicants are assigned permits on a first-come, first-served basis. There is limited parking available on campus, and permit applications fill quickly. Failure to submit a parking permit application by the deadline renders students ineligible to obtain a parking permit. No exceptions will be granted.

Parents of first-year incoming students will receive further information in May. 

REMINDER: We are seeking feedback from students about their campus parking experience! We conduct annual parking focus groups to continuously improve campus parking services. Focus groups will be held on:

Campus care and comfort dog awarded

Bertha, the care and comfort dog at St. Olaf, was recently inducted into the Minnesota Veterinary Medical Association’s Animal Hall of Fame. She was honored for her work as a professional service animal, as well as for being a trailblazer in an innovative program. Bertha is one of two care and comfort dogs serving in Minnesota’s institutions of higher education within public safety.