My name is Tom Ellett, and I serve as the Chief Experience Officer here at Quinnipiac. I oversee all student-facing operations, including Enrollment, Financial Aid, One Stop, Registrar, Student Affairs, Dining and Veteran’s Affairs. 

As we begin the new academic year, I’d like to highlight some programs and opportunities available to help students connect with their peers and build community. 

Campus Engagement Opportunities 

Common Hour: Our campus-wide initiative takes place every Tuesday and Thursday from 12:30 to 1:45 p.m. It’s designed to foster connection, well-being and community. Whether students want to participate or present, there’s a place for everyone. Visit the Quinnipiac Events Calendar for details. Please encourage your students to attend the variety of events each Tuesday (led by faculty/staff) and Thursday (led by student groups). This is a way to gain connection with your peers. Some of the events include book clubs, storytelling, financial literacy, academic programs, speaker series, arts festival, athletic spirit week and much more! 

CXO Advisory Board: I host this board on Sunday evenings — 6 p.m. for first-year students and 7 p.m. for upperclass students. If your student is interested, please encourage them to join by emailing eve.behrens@qu.edu A great way for first year students to meet new friends! 

Dining Advisory Board: Meets every other Tuesday at 5 p.m. on the second floor of the Student Center. All students are welcome. The Menu Makers for Quinnipiac (student employees) choose the menu for Café Q so if your students are not happy with the dining options, they should attend. They will also receive a free meal!  

Talks on the Rocks: A free, catered dinner for students. The remaining fall semester dates include Tuesday, October 13 and Monday, November 9. The RSVP link will be sent out soon. 

Cookies in the Commons: Hosted by my wife (a faculty member in nursing) and me every other Thursday night — next one is Thursday, September 24. Students bake cookies for the community — Commons residents and others are welcome! 

On the Rocks Pub and Grill: Open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 10 p.m. with weekly themes and activities included such as karaoke, live bands and bingo. Meal points are accepted for all food items. It is run by students for students. 

Listening Labs: Our peer-led listening groups are now in their third year. Coordinators will be visiting clubs, First-Year Seminar classes and other gatherings to connect with students. The outcomes from the sessions include greater sense of belonging, increased connectedness to others and enhanced listening skills. 

Support Resources 

If your student is facing academic or emotional challenges, please remind them they are not alone. We offer a wide range of support services: 

The Learning Commons 

The Counseling Center 

Office of Student Accessibility 

Resident Assistants (RAs) and Residence Life Staff (for residential students) 

Student Affairs (for commuter students) 

Public Safety (available 24/7 at 203-582-6200) 

Get Involved 

We encourage students to get involved in clubs, attend athletic events, and participate in service opportunities in Hamden and North Haven. Finding a sense of belonging is key to success in college, and with hundreds of clubs and organizations, there’s something for everyone. 

We also offer student employment opportunities across campus, including positions with Chartwells (our dining partner) and part-time roles with our healthcare partner, HHC, at hospitals and clinics. 

Parent Academy 

We’re continuing our Parent Academy Zoom sessions this fall, each focused on a specific aspect of the student experience. If you didn’t receive an invite, you can register for the last session on dining services on Wednesday, September 23 at 7 p.m. 

This session will provide an overview of meal plan options and members of the Menu Maker team will share their experiences working with Chartwells. 

Communication is key to building a strong partnership with families. If you have questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at QUParents@qu.edu. Thank you for being such an important part of your student’s journey at Quinnipiac. 

Warm regards, 
Tom Ellett 

Chief Experience Officer (cxo@qu.edu) 

Student Experience and Engagement 

We hosted our Engagement Fair two weeks ago, where students interacted with more than 200 student organizations and offices that provide co-curricular involvement opportunities. If your student is still navigating how to find a place at Quinnipiac, please encourage them to visit Bobcat Central to explore our organizations and their events on campus, or email campuslife@qu.edu to set up a meeting with our staff. There is no deadline for students to join. 

Fraternity and Sorority Life

The Office of Fraternity & Sorority Life (FSL) is a vibrant piece of campus life where more than 20% of students chose to become members. Membership offers community, avenues for service and philanthropy, lifelong friends and fun. The all-FSL GPA is consistently higher than the all-undergraduate GPA and our members perform more than 14,500 hours of hands-on service each year. They also raised $224,700+ for philanthropic causes locally and across the country during the last academic year. 

We are thrilled to welcome the 320+ new members of the sorority community who joined us over Labor Day weekend. There are still opportunities to join a sorority if your daughter is interested. Please have them reach out to fslife@qu.edu or via Instagram @qufsl. 

Registration for fraternity recruitment is live, and students will be able to join throughout this month (and beyond). We have a new fraternity joining the Quinnipiac FSL community this semester, Sigma Chi. Men interested in this new organization can connect with them on Instagram @sigmachiqu.  

Our recognized fraternities on campus are Alpha Sigma Phi, Beta Theta Pi, Delta Upsilon, Lambda Theta Phi Latin Fraternity, Inc., Phi Delta Theta, Pi Kappa Phi, Sigma Chi, Sigma Phi Epsilon, Tau Kappa Epsilon and Zeta Beta Tau. If your student is interested in a group that is not included in the aforementioned list, please feel free to reach out to us to confirm they are a recognized group.  

If your Bobcat wants to find their home away from home, establish a community of peers with similar values, participate in service/philanthropy events and have fun, feel free to direct them our way for information about joining. Fall recruitment processes are still underway. All questions can be directed to fslife@qu.edu or asked via Instagram at @qufsl. 

Health & Wellness

Counseling Services

Counseling Services provides confidential, no-cost services where students can discuss concerns related to stress, anxiety, relationships, adjustment to college, academic challenges and personal wellbeing. As the semester continues, students are balancing academics, friendships, extracurricular activities and personal growth. This can be an exciting time, but it can also bring periods of stress, uncertainty and adjustment. Counseling Services is here to support students in building resilience, managing challenges, and developing skills that contribute to both academic success and personal well-being. 

Tips for Staying Connected and Encouraging Connections 

1. Ask Open-Ended Questions. Instead of "How are classes?" try:

• What is the highlight of your week? 

• What are you learning about yourself this semester? 

• What has been challenging lately? 

Open-ended questions encourage deeper conversations and help students feel heard.   

2. Encourage Healthy Habits  

Sleep, nutrition, movement and downtime all play a critical role in mental health. Check in about how your student is taking care of themselves beyond academics.  

3. Support Connection  

College is a time for growth. While staying connected is important, encourage your student to build connections with their peers by joining a Quinnipiac club or participating in the events and activities happening on campus.  

4. Know When to Encourage Additional Support  

If your student seems persistently overwhelmed, withdrawn or distressed, encourage them to utilize campus resources early. Seeking support is a sign of strength and can help prevent challenges from becoming crises. 

Upcoming Counseling and Wellness Opportunities 

Students are encouraged to participate in wellness-focused programming throughout the semester, including: 

Fresh Check Day, a Jordan Porco Foundation event to promote Mental Health awareness.  

Date: Tuesday, October 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  

Location: Mount Carmel Quad 

Counseling Services offers no-cost services from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Your students can schedule an appointment by phone 203-407-4020 or online. After hours, students can reach a licensed mental health professional 24/7 by calling 203-407-4020 and pressing option 3. 

Fitness and Recreation

Recreation

Recreation is back in action. Our fitness centers and climbing wall are open, and our first session of Intramural Sports is officially underway! We invite students to visit our website or app Fusion Go for more information on upcoming programs and events.  

Interested in cheering on one of our Club Sports programs? Find upcoming schedule highlights below:   

• Club Women's Rugby Home Opener versus UConn: September 19 at 4 p.m. at the Quinnipiac Rugby Field 

• Club Softball Home Opener versus Merrimack: September 19 at noon at Quinnipiac Softball Field 

• Club Field Hockey Home Opener versus Marist on September 20 at noon at Quinnipiac Field Hockey Stadium 

• Club Sports Bobcat Weekend Schedule at Home 

  • October 3 at 12 p.m.: Men's Rugby versus Southern Connecticut State University 

  • October 3 at 4 p.m.: Men's Soccer versus Yale University 

  • October 3 at 7:50 p.m.: Men's Ice Hockey versus Montclair (at Northford Ice Pavillion) 

  • October 3 at 8:15 p.m.: Women's Ice Hockey versus Sacred Heart (at Northford Ice Pavillion) 

  • October 4 at 12 p.m.: Baseball versus Montclair 

  • October 4 at 4 p.m.: Women’s Soccer versus Connecticut College 

  • October 4 at 5 p.m.: Women’s Ice Hockey versus UConn (at Northford Ice Pavillion) 

Upcoming Events

Free fitness classes began on August 30 and run through the full semester on all three campuses. 

Sign up 24 hours prior to the class start time in RecWell App or website.  

First-Year Class Passport: Attend four different types of fitness classes between August 30 and October 31 and get a T-shirt! Get your class passport sheet signed by each instructor and then put your sheet in the acrylic box at the front desk of the RecWell fitness center any time. 

Wellness Wednesday: Weekly tabling program from 1 to 3 p.m. in the RecWell lobby. Each week a topic based on one of the eight dimensions of wellness is highlighted with professionals within that area, educational information, online support resources, give-aways, activities and more. 

Also, look for an email from Student Affairs with the topic of the week, programs, tips and resources which are sent out each Wednesday morning. 

Back to School Kitchen Hacks 

September 22 from 5 to 7 p.m. 

RecWell RWA-117 Demonstration Kitchen 

Join Quinnipiac Dining's guest chef to focus on budget-friendly ingredients and building a balanced plate. Registration is now open. 

Dining Updates

Meal Plan Point Balances  

Meal plans are refreshed at the beginning of each semester, and students are able to purchase individually priced items in locations across our three campuses. All items in the dining facilities are sold a la carte (not buffet). Instead of a meal-based system, students pay for each item using the meal points on their Q-Card just as they would in a traditional restaurant.  

In addition to the wide variety of meals and snacks available in our dining halls, students may use the balance on their dining plan to purchase other items on campus, such as On the Rocks Pub and Grill, our on-campus Starbucks, concessions at athletic events or at food trucks, which regularly visit the Mount Carmel Campus Quad.  

With a point-based system, it is important that students track their points to ensure that they are not over or underspending. We recommend that students download the Transact app to their mobile device. Students also have access to log into the Transact website to get their point balances. In addition, students can ask cashiers for their balance and we send regular emails with the current balance.  

For more information visit the Meal Plan Budgets and Staying on Track page of our website. 

More Than a Meal 

As students settle into the semester, Quinnipiac Dining is offering more ways to eat, connect and get involved on campus. From new dining concepts to wellness programming and student events, there is always something new to discover across our three campuses. 

Celebrating Our Chefs 

This week, Quinnipiac dining is celebrating Chef Appreciation Week and the talented culinary teams who help make dining on campus special. Throughout the week, students can learn more about the chefs behind their favorite meals and the work that goes into creating the dining experience they enjoy every day. 

Find Your Feel-Good Meal 

EVOLVE continues to bring balanced, wellness-focused dining experiences to all three campuses. Students can explore options designed to support their energy, training and overall wellbeing while finding meals that fit their individual preferences and routines. 

Get Involved with Dining 

Dining at Quinnipiac is about more than grabbing a meal between classes. Students can participate in Teaching Kitchens, Dining Advisory Board meetings, wellness events and other programs that give them a voice in campus dining and opportunities to connect with their community. 

To Stay In the Know 

Visit our DineOn Campus page to learn more about upcoming events, navigating campus with allergies or learning how to dine on a budget. 

Spiritual and Religious Life 

Ongoing Events

Bible studies are taking place every Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night on the Mount Carmel Campus, with an additional bible study on Wednesday night on the York Hill Campus, courtesy of Quinnipiac Christian Fellowship. 

Weekly Roman Catholic Mass is offered at the Center for Religion (CAS-2) at 4 p.m. every Sunday. 

There is Catholic student programming every day of the week except Wednesdays (including Mass, Rosary, Eucharistic Adoration, Dinner and Faith Study, Friday Fun Night followed by Mass and Men’s and Women’s Bible Study). 

A non-denominational Christian church service is held on the second Sunday of every month at 2 p.m. 

Shabbat services are at 5 p.m. at the Hereld House every Friday. 

Jummah prayers are being held in the Muslim Prayer Room (SC-116) every Friday afternoon. 

Noteworthy Events 

A Spanish-speaking bible study is being piloted on the Mount Carmel Campus on Tuesday nights. 

The Fellowship of Christian Athletes is huddling on Monday nights in RecWell. 

Nisa, the club for Muslim women, is planning a community service project to serve Quinnipiac students and others in need in the greater Hamden community. 

Jewish High Holiday Schedule at the Peter C. Hereld House for Jewish Life: 

Sunday evening, September 20: Yom Kippur Kol Nidre Service 

Monday, September 21: Yom Kippur Service 

Monday evening, September 21: Break Fast 

Global Engagement

The Office of Global Engagement is hosting information sessions about Spring/Summer 2027 faculty-led courses abroad. The last session is Wednesday, September 23 at 8 p.m. on Zoom. Students should visit educationabroad.qu.edu and click on “Take the First Step” for Zoom information and additional resources. The application deadline for Spring/Summer 2027 faculty-led courses abroad is October 15.  

What is a faculty-led course abroad?  

Students apply to enroll in a Quinnipiac Spring or Summer course and then travel abroad with their professor, faculty/staff chaperone and peers as part of the course. The travel takes place for approximately 10 days over spring break or in May/June. There are more than 20 courses being offered that range in location, discipline, timeframe and cost.  

Students are encouraged to visit the Office of Global Engagement during weekly office hours. Fall 2026 advising hours are Wednesdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. The Office of Global Engagement is located in ABL-111 (across the hallway from One Stop in the library). 

Community Engagement

Is your student looking to gain hands-on career experience, earn $20+/hour, and secure a parking pass in their first year? The Office of Community Engagement is hiring for dynamic off-campus service positions with top community partners including Masonicare, Special Olympics Connecticut, New Reach and multiple local schools. From healthcare tech, marketing, business and finance, information technology, event planning and business operations, these roles let students build impressive resumes while serving our local community. Positions are beginning to fill, so encourage your student to apply now. 

Financial Aid

Incoming Full-Time Students and Transfer Students New to Quinnipiac     

Incoming full-time Fall 2026 students and transfer students filing FAFSA will not see any changes to the annual federal student loan offer.  Please be sure your student's federal loan requirements are complete on the studentaid.gov website.  Loan Entrance Counseling and the completion of the Master Promissory Note are required for first-time federal loan borrowers and transfer students new to Quinnipiac. 

The Parent PLUS Loan remains a viable option for parents of new freshmen students wanting to pay toward their semester invoices.  The borrowing eligibility is capped at $20,000 per student, per academic year.  There is an overall aggregate lifetime limit of $65,000 per student for their undergraduate career.  

Parents of dependent transfer students can submit a Parent PLUS Loan application up to $20,000 for the academic year.  Previous PLUS Loan borrowing is taken into consideration when determining eligibility.  The Financial Aid Office will review each application and notify parents of alternative payment options if applicable.  

Returning Full-Time Students  

Undergraduate full-time returning students filing FAFSA will not see any changes to their annual federal student loan offer. Students who previously borrowed a federal student loan (or parents who borrowed a PLUS Loan for this same student) disbursing prior to June 30, 2026 may qualify for the legacy provision enabling eligible parents to borrow the Parent PLUS Loan without regard to the new capped amount and continue borrowing up to the university determined cost of attendance. The legacy provision may be valid for up to three additional consecutive years or time to credential, whichever occurs sooner.    

Part-Time Attendance  

All students attending the university on a less than full-time basis will be subject to a Schedule of Reduction of their federal student loan offer.  Beginning with the 2026–2027 FAFSA, federal student loan amounts will be prorated based on credit enrollment for those attending less than full time.  

Additional Payment Options  

Private lenders offer many loan options to students and families for financing education. Private lenders will allow borrowing up to the university determined cost of attendance. Please refer to the online tool, comparing lender products in an unbiased manner, ELMSelect.com. The website provides detailed information about lenders historically used by Quinnipiac students. Undergraduate students will be required to have a credit-worthy co-signer to secure the loan.  

One Stop

We’re thrilled to see campus buzzing with energy as students have returned for the fall term! All registered students were invoiced in June or shortly after registration, with balances due by July 15 or within two weeks of registration. If your student has an outstanding balance, they may have account holds and possibly late fees.  

Please take a moment to review your student’s account in Self-Service and ensure any remaining balance is resolved. For guidance and support, visit the Resolve a Balance Due page of our website — we’re here to help! 

Parking and Transportation

As a friendly reminder, please note that in accordance with campus policy, first-year residential students are not permitted to have vehicles on campus. Residential sophomores must park in York Hill Garage on weekdays. First-year and sophomore commuters should park in Whitney Lot, Westwoods, Whitney Village, York Hill Garage, North Haven Garage or the North Haven Surface Lots with student parking signage. Juniors, seniors and graduate students may only park in the lots assigned to their parking permit.  

All students with vehicles on campus are required to register for a parking permit. At this point in the semester, vehicles that do not display a valid parking permit are subject to ticketing and towing in accordance with campus parking regulations. 

To avoid any issues, please visit the Parking page of our website to:  

• Apply for a parking permit  

• Pay a parking ticket  

• Appeal a parking ticket  

• Review parking rules and regulations  

• View maps of parking lot locations  

• Learn which permit types are allowed in each lot  

Let’s keep campus safe and organized — thank you for your cooperation! 

Student Conduct

One Month In: Independence, Choices and Accountability 

By now, students are settling into a new routine, meeting new people and experiencing a new level of independence. With that independence comes the opportunity to make decisions, learn from experiences and take responsibility for their choices. Making educated and responsible decisions is an important part of the college experience and a skill that will last well beyond graduation. 

Health and Safety Inspections 

Quinnipiac recently completed routine Health & Safety Inspections in our residence halls. These inspections help maintain a safe and respectful living environment for all students. 

While many concerns are addressed at the residential level, some findings may be referred to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards. 

What Parents Should Know About Conduct Referrals 

It provides students with an opportunity to review the concern, share their perspective, ask questions and take responsibility when appropriate. The Student Conduct Process is designed to be educational and encourages students to understand how their choices affect themselves and their community. 

Families can help by encouraging students to: 

• Communicate directly with university staff. 

• Take ownership of their decisions and responsibilities. 

• Ask questions when they are unsure about expectations. 

• Reflect and learn from mistakes. 

• Think before they act and consider the potential impact of their choices. 

Growing Through the College Experience 

Students will not always make the perfect choice and that's part of learning. Our goal is to help students develop the skills to make informed decisions, take responsibility and learn from their experiences. 

The Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards is here to support that growth and help students become responsible members of the Quinnipiac community. 

Independence means making your own choices. Growth means learning from them. 

Resources 

Students and families are encouraged to review the Quinnipiac Student Handbook and become familiar with the university's Student Code of Conduct and the Student Conduct Process. 

For questions or additional information, please contact the Student Conduct and Community Standards at studentaffairs@quinnipiac.edu. 

Community, Assessment, Response and Evaluation (CARE) Team

Now that we have gotten into the swing of the semester, the Quinnipiac CARE Team has been connecting with students as they transition into the new semester to offer support and resources. It is important to keep in mind social connections and student and family self-care routines as students are settling into their academic routine. Self-care includes taking time for yourself throughout the semester, establishing connections with peers, eating well, getting sufficient sleep and making time for your loved ones.  

We have various different scheduled offerings in the coming weeks, including resource tabling events geared toward first-year students as part of the First Six Weeks Program during the Common Hour, the Graduate Health and Wellness Fair on the North Haven Campus on September 23 and Fresh Check Day on October 6th. Encouraging your students to attend these events can open opportunities for community connection, sense of belonging and learning helpful resources. Along with the offerings, the CARE team regularly collaborates with other campus partners for ongoing events like Wellness Wednesday, a weekly themed resource tabling offered in the entrance of the RecWell building, which is hosted by the Fitness and Well-Being team. The primary focus of our partnerships and offerings is to provide students with information and on- and off-campus resources to help them as they navigate the transition to college and the stressors that inherently come up as they move along their journey at Quinnipiac.   

We continue to encourage families to have open conversations with their students to check in to see how things are going at this point in the semester. At Quinnipiac, we prioritize fostering an encouraging and supportive environment for our students by having supportive faculty and staff. As much as academics are important, we strive to make sure that students are supported in all areas of their experience. We encourage students and their families to reach out to the CARE Team for any additional support. You can learn more about the CARE Team by visiting our website. 

We're here to support you, Bobcats and Bobcat families! 

Office of Advancement for Parents & Families  

Bobcat Weekend is just around the corner! 

We can’t wait to welcome you to campus October 2-4 for a jam-packed weekend of events and connecting as family and friends. From the Roaring 5k Run/Walk (sign-up through separate registration form than the Bobcat Weekend form) to Boomers Harvest Festival, from Innovations in Healthcare tour to the several athletics games/matches, there is something for everyone.  

Register for the weekend today! 

Make an Impact

At Quinnipiac, we value parents and families as essential partners in our educational mission. Your support and encouragement profoundly shape each student’s educational journey. Join fellow Bobcat families in making an impact by becoming a Parent Ambassador, joining the Parents & Families Leadership Council, engaging philanthropically, attending events and so much more. 

Get Involved 

Have questions, interested in connecting or want to learn more about the opportunities for you to connect through the Office of Advancement for Parents & Families? 

Contact Jenna McClain Morlong 
Director of Development for Parents & Families 
203-582-7274 
jenna.mcclain@qu.edu