From the Dean of Students' Desk

Happy New Year!!!
You son or daughter is now well into their second semester at Webster. I hope things went well for them in the fall semester. Please remember to encourage your student to seek out one of our staff members if he or she has any questions about anything or is experiencing any difficulties.

In addition to all of the valuable information included in this issue of the newsletter, I wanted to make you aware of a few things: a new national college parents organization, a guide for parents on federal tax benefits, and our efforts to improve the Maria Hall cafeteria.

I recently read an article from the Associated Press about a new national organization for college parents. This nonprofit group is called College Parents of America. It was founded in the 1990s and now has a membership of 900. They seek to provide resources for college parents and serve as an advocacy group similar to that of AARP. They claim to be the only national membership association dedicated to advocating on your behalf and to serving as your resource as you prepare for and put your children through college. I don’t really know much more about this organization, so please do not construe this information as a recommendation to join. You can learn more about College Parents of America at http://www.collegeparents.org/

Webster University is a member of the National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators (NASFAA). This organization has published a Parents and Student Guide to Federal Tax Benefits for Tuition and Fees. This guide includes information on the Hope Scholarship and Lifetime Learning tax credits, provides guidance on understanding the tuition and fees tax deduction, and has links to IRS publications that address relevant topics. This document is intended to provide general guidance only. For specific advise you should consult the IRS or your financial advisor. You can find this guide at http://www.nasfaa.org/annualpubs/TaxBenefitsGuideIntroPS.html

As was reported in our staff newsletter, the year the Maria Hall Cafeteria was built, Elvis Presley recorded “Heartbreak Hotel” and a movie ticket cost 75 cents. As you have probably heard from your student, the cafeteria is due for an update. With the exception of a minor cosmetic remodel in 1997 when Sodexho took over dining service operations, it’s never been updated. The cafeteria looks just about the way it did in 1957.
The cafeteria is scheduled to be remodeled this summer. Mark Connor, an award-winning designer based in Boston, was hired to design the remodeled facility, based on feedback received both from the University’s Food Service Planning Committee, as well as focus groups and surveys conducted with the University at large.

The renovation promises to turn the current cafeteria format into a restaurant-style experience. The remodel will feature an open kitchen marketplace with a center island, a large salad bar and an exhibition-style cooking station, where themed dishes will be prepared to order.

The new dining space will also incorporate:

• vibrant décor and a high-energy environment;
• a variety of multi-purpose seating options to give students, faculty and staff a place to congregate
• aesthetically pleasing lighting; and
• nutritious and healthy dining options.

The renovation is intended to last for seven to 10 years, a normal life span for this type of renovation. Click on the following link to see a graphic of the new cafeteria design. This link will take you to an article that appeared in The Journal. http://www.webujournal.com/news/2003/11/12/News/Webster.Plans.For.New.
Cafeteria. Residence.Halls-555333.shtml
We hope to have another newsletter out to you later in the Spring semester. We’d love to hear from you with comments or suggestions for articles.

Sincerely,

Ted Hoef
Dean of Students

Comments and Suggestions
We hope to publish this Webster University Newsletter for Parents of First-Year Students at least once every eight weeks. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions for future newsletters, please send them to hoeftl@webster.edu. We look forward to your comments and suggestions.