Hello Owls! 

We are a few weeks into the fall semester. By now, you have had enough time to get a real sense of your classes, your schedule and how things are going. 

So, how are you doing? 

Whether this is your first semester at Temple or you are counting down the credits until graduation, now is a good time to check in with yourself. Not just about your grades, but about the whole picture. Are you keeping up? Taking care of yourself? Finding your people? Managing your finances? Asking for help when you need it? 

YOUR ACADEMICS 

By now, you should have a good sense of what each of your classes requires. If something is not going well, act now. 

• Go to class and keep up with your work. Check Canvas regularly, know your upcoming assignments and exams, and do not let one missed assignment turn into several. Our Get the Most Out of Your Semester student guide has some simple ways to stay on track. 
• Get to know your professors. Introduce yourself, use office hours and ask questions before you are struggling. 
• Use Navigate360. The Temple Navigate360 student guide can help you connect with your academic advisor, schedule appointments, keep track of important to-dos and find support. 
• Use academic support early. The Student Success Center offers tutoring, writing support, PASS study sessions, academic coaching and other resources. 
• Make sure your accommodations are in place. If you use accommodations, connect with Disability Resources and Services and make sure your professors have what they need.

And start looking ahead. Spring registration will be here sooner than you think. Meet with your advisor, pay attention to holds on your account and address anything that could prevent you from registering before registration begins. 

YOUR WELL-BEING 

You cannot separate your success in the classroom from everything else happening in your life. 

• Take care of your mental health. Tuttleman Counseling Services offers counseling and other support for Temple students. 
• Take care of your physical health. Student Health Services is here when you need medical care, health information and support. 
• Move your body. Try an intramural, sport club, group fitness class, climbing, swimming, basketball, volleyball or just get a workout in through Campus Recreation. 
• Ask for help with the things outside the classroom that can affect everything inside it. If you are dealing with food, housing, transportation, clothing, technology, financial challenges or other essential needs, visit the Essential Needs Hub on the lower level of the Howard Gittis Student Center, call 215-204-NEED (6333) or email [click-for-email]. 

YOUR LIFE AT TEMPLE 

Finding your place here matters. You do not need to join 10 things or fill every hour of your week. Find something that interests you and give it a try. 

• Explore student organizations and events through Owl Connect. 
• Go to a performance, lecture, game or program you normally would not attend. 
• Meet someone new. Invite someone along. Find the people and experiences that make Temple feel a little smaller and a lot more like yours. 
• Start thinking about where Temple can take you next. The Career Center can help with internships, jobs, career exploration and planning. You do not need to wait until senior year. 

You do not have to do everything. Pick something and show up. 

And while we are talking about showing up ... 

We wear cherry on Thursdays. Wear your Temple gear or anything cherry and be part of a Temple tradition. Learn more about Cherry On Thursdays. 

And Temple takes on Penn State this Saturday, Sept. 12, at noon at Lincoln Financial Field. It is the first Temple-Penn State football game in a decade, and the last time Penn State came to the Linc, the Owls won 27-10. I want to see a lot of cherry in that stadium. 

Show up for our student-athletes, performers, organizations, programs and each other. Being part of Temple means being part of the community around you. 

YOUR FINANCES 

Financial health is part of student success too. Know where you stand and address problems early. 

• Sept. 10: Fall semester balances are due. Review the Bursar’s due date schedule. 
• Sept. 12: Students with an unpaid balance will be automatically enrolled in the Deferred Payment Plan and assessed a $50 fee. 
• Oct. 8: Remaining balances are due. After this date, an additional late fee and a registration hold may be applied. 
• Pending financial aid: Do not assume everything is complete. Review your account and contact Student Financial Services if something does not look right. 
• Federal financial aid changes: Federal rules have changed this year and may affect some students and families, including changes related to enrollment status and federal student and Parent PLUS loans. Review Temple’s 2026–2027 federal financial aid changes so you understand what may apply to you. 

AND IF YOU DO NOT KNOW WHERE TO START ... 

Start by asking. 

One of the most important things you can do for your success is ask for help sooner. Do not wait until you have missed several classes, are significantly behind, cannot register or feel completely overwhelmed. Asking for help early gives you and us more options. 

If you are not sure who to ask, contact the Dean of Students Office. You do not need to know the right office or have everything figured out before reaching out. We can help you find the next step. 

Finally, take care of yourself and take care of each other. Check on the friend who has gone quiet. Invite someone along. Ask for help when you need it, and encourage someone else to do the same. 

There is a lot of semester ahead of you. Show up for class. Show up for yourself. Show up for each other. And show up for Temple. 

We want you here, we want you to be successful and we want to see you graduate. 

I hope to see you around campus and this Saturday at the Linc. Wear cherry and cheer loudly. 

Go Owls! 

Take care,   

Jodi Bailey Accavallo 
Vice President for Student Affairs