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Dear Bobcat parent and family members,
The semester is in full swing here at Montana State, and that can only mean one thing. Homecoming Week has arrived! The weather is starting to feel like fall, the leaves are turning, and students are finding their rhythm in this academic year. I know this weekend is going to be a special one, and let me share a few of the activities planned for the week.
The theme for this year's Homecoming is "Bobcats through the Decades." A few highlights will include the annual lighting of the M on the Bridger Foothills Trail tonight at 7 p.m., the Homecoming Pep Rally in downtown Bozeman on Friday evening, and of course the ASMSU Homecoming Parade on Saturday morning before the Bobcat football game against Portland State. Your student can find the full schedule of events for the week on the MSU Homecoming website.
On the heels of Homecoming, the Fall Career Fair is Oct. 3-4. Is your student looking for information on careers or internships? The career fair will include panels and information sessions, networking events and interviews. Last year's event included over 200 employers, from the U.S. Forest Service and Raytheon to NorthWestern Energy and BNSF Railway.
Our Office of Financial Education also offers resources on everything from navigating job offers to learning financial literacy, making sure every student is armed with the knowledge they need to be set up for future success. You can learn more on the OFE webpage.
Fall activities and festivities continue on through October. Don't forget that Parent and Family Weekend is also coming up quickly -- Oct. 13-14! If you are able to join us and have not registered yet, please do so ASAP at this link. The schedule of events and activities is available on our Parent and Family Weekend webpage, and don't forget that you and your student can find out what's going on around campus by checking the MSU events calendar. There is always something happening at MSU.
A number of our recent campus activities have been part of Hispanic Heritage Month, which began Sept. 15 and continues through Oct. 15 in celebration of the histories, cultures and contributions of people with Hispanic and Latino heritage. We began the month with a discussion by author and poet Javier Zamora on Sept. 19 as part of the President's Crossing Boundaries Speaker Series, where he spoke about his journey from El Salvador to the United States and his memoir "Solito," touching on topics of mental health, immigration and community.
Other activities celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month included games and music hosted by MSU's Spanish Club; volunteer opportunities with English Para Todos helping local youth practice and improve their English; and weekly films in our on-campus theater focused on Hispanic culture and experiences. To round out the month, the Bobcat Browse book club, which is open to faculty, staff, students and community members, will read and discuss Zamora's book "Solito."
Here at MSU, we want every member of our community to know that they are valued, and they belong. Opportunities like these to share our experience and learn from one another are part of what makes our campus such a special place to live, work and learn. To learn more about MSU's commitment to a welcoming and engaging environment -- and upcoming programs -- please visit the Diversity and Inclusion Student Commons website.
One final note: If your student transferred to MSU, you might encourage them to join the first-ever Transfer Student Hiking Day planned in collaboration with MSU Outdoor Recreation. The day trip offers transfer students an opportunity to meet new people while hiking in Hyalite Canyon. The free event (lunch included) is set for Sunday, Oct. 1. An invitation with this RSVP link was sent to all transfer students.
Warm regards,
Matthew R. Caires
Dean of Students
P.S. While your student is here at MSU, we invite you to learn about our Bobcat Family Fellows program, which provides opportunities for you to develop relationships with other families who want to help sustain MSU programs and other initiatives that enrich the student experience. For more information contact Moira Keshishian with the MSU Alumni Foundation.