Billiken Bulletin Newsletter
Greetings Billiken Families. Can you believe it’s already March? Spring break is fast approaching, and our Billikens are getting ready for midterms. In this edition, we are sharing the new registration process, the services of the University Writing Center, tips on how your Billiken can stay safe if they are traveling during spring break, and introducing two of our Family Network Leaders in the “Windy City” region.
The Family Network program started this year and connects Billiken Families across the nation based on their location and provides opportunities for them to engage and support each other even from afar. We have eight networks in total that represent the entire nation.
Saint Louis University is excited to announce the launch of a new time-ticketing registration process, designed to enhance the course enrollment experience for students at the St. Louis and Madrid campuses.
The new schedule assigns registration times based on earned credits. Each student will receive a designated "time ticket" indicating the earliest date and time they can begin registering for classes. This phased approach is aimed at minimizing system overloads and ensuring a smoother experience for everyone.
Key Features of the Time-Ticketing Registration Schedule
Prioritize students nearing graduation
Students closer to completing their degrees are prioritized so they may secure required courses for timely graduation.
Transparency
Access is granted based on clear criteria. Students will be able to see their registration time in Banner Self-Service.
Reduce competition
Staging registration minimizes the number of students competing for limited course availability.
Efficiency
By staggering registration times, the schedule reduces the likelihood of technical disruptions or delays, ensuring a smoother process for everyone.
Support
Registration takes place during regular business hours, allowing access to support during the registration period to address any questions or concerns.
"At Saint Louis University, we are committed to continually improving our students' academic experience," said Jay Haugen, University registrar. "This new registration schedule is a step forward in ensuring that all students have access to the classes they need, while also making the process as seamless as possible."
The time-ticketing registration schedule will be implemented starting with the Fall 2025 registration cycle. Students will view their assigned time tickets through Banner Self-Service.
Students are encouraged to prepare for registration by:
- Reviewing their program requirements in Degree Works and developing a plan for the upcoming semester. See courses.slu.edu for course offerings.
- Discussing their course selection with their Academic Advisor and/or Faculty Mentor.
- Building their course schedule at courses.slu.edu in the registration cart.
- Resolving Registration Holds. Students may view their Holds by logging into mySLU and then Banner Self-Service. Once in Banner Self-Service, look in the top right corner of their "My Student Profile." Click in the box to see details about any holds that need to be addressed.
Whether students are brainstorming for their first assignments at SLU or revising a final research paper, University Writing Services is here to support every student by offering individualized feedback on their writing process. We offer one-on-one consultations throughout the academic year, intending to help SLU students develop into confident and self-directed writers.
Our staff of experienced writing consultants includes professional staff, graduate assistants and trained undergraduate peers. We are committed to the campus-wide improvement of student writing, which means that we work with students from all disciplines and departments. Writing consultants can offer feedback on all types of student writing, including reflections, research papers, personal statements, lab reports and more. They can also provide content-based feedback on group projects, multimodal assignments, and even speeches/oral presentations. We encourage students to bring in their projects at any stage of their writing process, which can include assistance on:
- Following assignment or project guidelines
- Brainstorming or identifying a topic
- Developing thesis statements and arguments
- Organizing ideas (structure, topic/closing sentences, transitions, flow)
- Researching, citing and formatting sources properly
- Identifying recurring grammar and punctuation mistakes
- And more.
To better serve students with varying learning styles, we offer appointments in three modalities: in-person appointments, online (asynchronous) consultations, and Zoom video conferences. Most in-person appointments will take place at the Student Success Center in Busch Student Center Suite 331, but students may also request appointments at one of our three satellite locations. All of our appointments are 50 minutes and can be scheduled in advance through EAB Navigate - Student, which is located under “Applications” on the mySLU Okta dashboard.
To maximize their appointment time, students are encouraged to think about their goals for the consultation beforehand. Where have they been struggling? Where would they like further support or guidance? Additionally, students can come prepared with their professor’s assignment sheet or project guidelines to provide the consultant with context that will help them offer more focused feedback.
For more information on scheduling appointments, check out this step-by-step guide for using EAB Navigate - Student under “Applications” on the mySLU Okta dashboard. For questions or additional information, feel free to reach out via email to writing@slu.edu.
As part of our ongoing efforts to highlight the incredible parents and families supporting their Billikens, we are excited to feature two Family Network leaders for the Windy City Network: Gerald Tisdale and Maricela Delgado.
Meet Gerald Tisdale
Hello! My name is Gerald Tisdale. I’m from Toledo, Ohio, now living in Plainfield, Illinois. My wife, Jill, and I have two sons — Ryan, our Billiken, and Evan, a high school freshman — plus our dog, Denali.
Engagement with SLU and the Windy City Network
SLU has been an amazing place for Ryan’s growth. As a parent, I enjoy connecting with other families through the Windy City Network, offering support and answering questions.
Family Dynamics and Overcoming Challenges
Adjusting to Ryan’s college transition was a change for our family. Freshman year had challenges, but we focused on open communication and guiding him toward independence. This helped him grow into the confident person he is today.
Advice for Billiken Families
SLU is a great place for students to learn and grow. It’s reassuring to know Ryan has a strong support system of faculty, staff and peers who care about his success.
Meet Maricela Delgado
Hi! My name is Maricela Delgado, and I’m from Chicago, Illinois. My husband and I have two daughters, including our Billiken, Kiara Luna, a junior nursing student, plus our two fur babies.
Engagement with SLU and the Gateway Network
I’ve always been involved in my daughters’ education. At SLU, I joined BPFA and the
Windy City Network, where I help parents navigate this experience and share insights.
Family Dynamics and Overcoming Challenges
With Kiara five hours away, we cherish our time together even more. Adjusting to a new city was a challenge, but her outgoing personality helped her adapt quickly.
Advice for Billiken Families
The college transition is a learning experience for everyone. Support your student while allowing them to grow. SLU provides a nurturing environment for their success.
What is R1?
- R1 designation is the highest classification that universities can attain for research activity.
- Only 187 universities have earned R1 status.
- To qualify for R1 classification, universities must spend at least $50 million on research and award a minimum of 70 research doctorates in any field within a single year.
University-level research
- SLU reported $85.9 million in research expenditures and awarded 271 research doctorates in 2023, the most recent year for the Carnegie classification.
- The University’s rise to R1 status has been accelerated by the generosity of donors who have invested significantly in SLU’s mission, including a $50 million gift from Dr. Jeanne and Rex Sinquefield (CSB '67) in 2018.
Find out more about the Carnegie Foundation.
Billiken men’s soccer defender Max Floriani has made history as the second overall pick in the MLS SuperDraft, selected by the San Jose Earthquakes. This marks the highest draft position for a Billiken since the legendary Brian McBride and Matt McKeon in 1996. Floriani’s journey is a testament to perseverance and dedication, beginning as a redshirt freshman and evolving into a cornerstone of SLU’s defense. Head coach Kevin Kalish praised Floriani’s competitive spirit, leadership and versatility.
A native of Gurnee, Illinois, Floriani’s accolades extend back to his high school days as the 2020 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year. With a legacy of producing elite defenders, SLU continues to shine under Kalish, with Floriani joining a growing list of Billikens making waves in Major League Soccer.
Read more about Floriani’s inspiring rise and SLU’s tradition of excellence.
Spring break is just around the corner, and if your Billiken is traveling, we’ve included an excellent resource on choosing safe destinations, how to maintain communication with loved ones, and dangers to stay aware of while on their trip. It’s helpful to have an intentional conversation with your Billiken about the importance of having a good time but staying safe too.
- Arrive safely. Driving through the night to make it down to Florida or other sunny destinations is common for spring breakers. However, the National Safety Council says traffic death rates are three times greater at night than during the day. If you can’t avoid night driving, have at least one person stay awake to talk to the driver.
- Don’t take chances at your hotel. Lock the doors, and secure important belongings like passports and wallets in the safe. SABRE’s door stop alarm is portable and can alert you if someone tries to break in. Make sure you know the name and address of your hotel or take a hotel business card out with you so you can give it to a cab driver. This is especially important if you don’t speak the local language. Don’t tell new acquaintances your hotel or room number. You never know who has innocent or dangerous intentions.
- Protect your location. Sharing too much information about your location on social media may endanger your safety, according to the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. Adjust your privacy settings and use your best judgment when checking in on Facebook. Be cautious about revealing personal information and your location through status updates or tweets.
- Carry cash and phone numbers. And take a copy of your credit cards in case they are stolen.
- Use the buddy system. Never leave a party with a stranger and establish a place to meet in advance if you get separated. It’s always best to take a friend with you. If for whatever reason you do leave without your friends, give them details about where you’re going and when to expect you back.
- Create a code word. Create a secret signal or code word to let your friends know when you're uncomfortable and need them to intervene.
- Practice safe drinking. Take turns so that one friend in the group per night will plan on minimal drinking to look out for everyone. Other good habits include watching your cup or glass and only accepting drinks that you’ve watched get made or poured in front of you. And, don't drink in a hot tub. Alcohol can dilate blood vessels and lower blood pressure to dangerous levels. The effects of drinking are felt faster and stronger if you're sitting in a hot tub.
- If you need help, ask for it. If there’s an emergency, don’t rely on a bystander to call for help. Call for help yourself to be sure first responders or police get the message.
- Hydrate and wear sunscreen. Heat stroke and melanoma aren’t happy spring break thoughts, but too much time in the sun can leave you dehydrated with an increased risk of sunburns. Take your SPF and a bottle of water to the beach.
