Assumption Launches Alternative to FAFSA for Academic Year 2024-2025
Assumption Launches Alternative to FAFSA for Academic Year 2024-2025
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Mon, 10/23/2023 - 15:37 This fall, Assumption University debuted an innovative alternative to the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) in a move designed to help students and families applying to Assumption receive expedited financial aid information. Due to the passage of the FAFSA Simplification Act by Congress in 2022, the 2024-2025 FAFSA will not open until December 2023, two months later than the normal October 1st opening, causing stress for students and families applying for the class of 2028. To help alleviate some of the burden this may place on incoming students and families, Assumption’s alternative form, called the Fast Track Early Aid Offer, allows the Office of Financial Aid to make offers of aid earlier than waiting for the FAFSA. The form will provide students with offers of Assumption scholarship and grant funding based on both need and merit. “We saw this as an opportunity to lead on this issue,” said William Boffi, Vice President for Enrollment Management. “Families need as much information as they can get as early as they can get it.” In the spring of 2023, Assistant Dean of Enrollment for Financial Aid Monica Blondin learned of the changes that were being made to the FAFSA for the 2024-2025 academic year. Shortly after, the financial aid team, along with Boffi, University President Greg Weiner, and Vice President for Strategy Christina Graziano, began looking at alternatives to the form. “We realized that this was going to affect our timeline of awarding financial aid, which is a significant part of enrolling students,” Boffi said. “We were very concerned with how it was going to affect families that rely on the FAFSA to do financial aid analysis.” Boffi says that the school had considered options such as the CSS Profile, offered by the College Board, to award aid to students, but decided that they would rather have their own form that had no cost to families. “Our focus is simplicity, clarity, and eliminating barriers,” Boffi said. “And I think that’s what our form does.” Logistics for building the new form was a massive team effort in which Boffi recruited the help of Blondin, Weiner, and Graziano, along with Dean of Enrollment Katie Moulton, Director of Enrollment Operations Eric Vettese, Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid Robin Montalvo, Associate Director of Financial Aid and Enrollment Sarah Bergeron. “It was a months-long process of trying to figure out what our response to this would be,” Boffi said. “But it really has been a full team effort, from Greg [Weiner] to the financial aid pros who figured out a solution.” The official FAFSA will help to confirm offers of aid made to accepted students who have filled out Assumption’s financial aid form, so students will still be required to fill it out. However, the Fast Track Early Aid Offer will allow information to be distributed to families sooner than the FAFSA and may also help with the official FAFSA process. Students can fill out the form as soon as they receive their offer of acceptance. The financial aid office will then provide them with their aid offer within two weeks. Boffi emphasized that creating this alternative to the FAFSA will work to assist students in their college searches as it will help them narrow down their lists sooner. He also hopes that offering aid early will put Assumption on many students’ potential shortlists. “Students go into senior year with a big list, and they’re going to narrow it,” Boffi said. “It’s really hard to narrow down without knowing what you’re going to pay. Price is a big factor; it’s not the only factor, but it’s a big factor. But if you get some sense of what a school is going to offer, that’s a big advantage.” In the end, the goal of the form is to make what is a complicated and confusing process for students and families, easy and accessible. “We’re always trying to figure out ways to serve students and families better,” Boffi said. Students must still file the 2024-2025 FAFSA once it becomes available in December 2023 in order to confirm their financial aid offers. After December 15, 2023, all students must fill out the official FAFSA in order to receive any financial aid information.
Assumption-FAFSA-Form.jpgGeneral
Olivia Boudreau
This fall, Assumption University debuted an innovative alternative to the Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) in a move designed to help students and families applying to Assumption receive expedited financial aid information. Due to the passage of the FAFSA Simplification Act by Congress in 2022, the 2024-2025 FAFSA will not open until December 2023, two months later than the normal October 1st opening, causing stress for students and families applying for the class of 2028.
To help alleviate some of the burden this may place on incoming students and families, Assumption’s alternative form, called the Fast Track Early Aid Offer, allows the Office of Financial Aid to make offers of aid earlier than waiting for the FAFSA. The form will provide students with offers of Assumption scholarship and grant funding based on both need and merit.
“We saw this as an opportunity to lead on this issue,” said William Boffi, Vice President for Enrollment Management. “Families need as much information as they can get as early as they can get it.”
In the spring of 2023, Assistant Dean of Enrollment for Financial Aid Monica Blondin learned of the changes that were being made to the FAFSA for the 2024-2025 academic year. Shortly after, the financial aid team, along with Boffi, University President Greg Weiner, and Vice President for Strategy Christina Graziano, began looking at alternatives to the form.
“We realized that this was going to affect our timeline of awarding financial aid, which is a significant part of enrolling students,” Boffi said. “We were very concerned with how it was going to affect families that rely on the FAFSA to do financial aid analysis.”
Boffi says that the school had considered options such as the CSS Profile, offered by the College Board, to award aid to students, but decided that they would rather have their own form that had no cost to families.
“Our focus is simplicity, clarity, and eliminating barriers,” Boffi said. “And I think that’s what our form does.”
Logistics for building the new form was a massive team effort in which Boffi recruited the help of Blondin, Weiner, and Graziano, along with Dean of Enrollment Katie Moulton, Director of Enrollment Operations Eric Vettese, Senior Associate Director of Financial Aid Robin Montalvo, Associate Director of Financial Aid and Enrollment Sarah Bergeron.
“It was a months-long process of trying to figure out what our response to this would be,” Boffi said. “But it really has been a full team effort, from Greg [Weiner] to the financial aid pros who figured out a solution.”
The official FAFSA will help to confirm offers of aid made to accepted students who have filled out Assumption’s financial aid form, so students will still be required to fill it out. However, the Fast Track Early Aid Offer will allow information to be distributed to families sooner than the FAFSA and may also help with the official FAFSA process.
Students can fill out the form as soon as they receive their offer of acceptance. The financial aid office will then provide them with their aid offer within two weeks.
Boffi emphasized that creating this alternative to the FAFSA will work to assist students in their college searches as it will help them narrow down their lists sooner. He also hopes that offering aid early will put Assumption on many students’ potential shortlists.
“Students go into senior year with a big list, and they’re going to narrow it,” Boffi said. “It’s really hard to narrow down without knowing what you’re going to pay. Price is a big factor; it’s not the only factor, but it’s a big factor. But if you get some sense of what a school is going to offer, that’s a big advantage.”
In the end, the goal of the form is to make what is a complicated and confusing process for students and families, easy and accessible.
“We’re always trying to figure out ways to serve students and families better,” Boffi said.
Students must still file the 2024-2025 FAFSA once it becomes available in December 2023 in order to confirm their financial aid offers. After December 15, 2023, all students must fill out the official FAFSA in order to receive any financial aid information.
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- President Greg Weiner Announces 2023 Presidential Award WinnersPresident Greg Weiner Announces 2023 Presidential Award Winners oe.boudreau Wed, 11/22/2023 - 08:55 For the first time since before the COVID-19 pandemic, the Presidential Awards and Employee Appreciation Ceremony was held in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center Ballroom on November 16th. During the ceremony, four faculty and staff members were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the Assumption community. President Greg Weiner opened the ceremony with a speech recognizing not only the hard work of those four individuals who received awards, but also the efforts of all faculty and staff that help to make Assumption thrive. “We acknowledge today and express our appreciation for those who have dedicated their careers to advancing our university’s mission and to providing an excellent education to our students,” he said. “Each honoree recognized this afternoon has not only contributed their time, but has also invested passion, expertise, and energy for the betterment of our community.” The winners of the Presidential Awards for 2023 are as follows: Dr. Samantha Goldman, Associate Professor of Special Education, has received the Paul Ziegler Presidential Award for Excellence in Scholarship. “Receiving this award is a huge honor, and it means so much to have my scholarly work recognized by the Assumption community,” said Goldman. “My research is focused on access to services for students with disabilities and their families, as well as teacher preparation/training. It is a great feeling to know that others also recognize and value the importance of this area of scholarship. I am extremely grateful to my colleagues in the Education department who nominated me, but also to all the students, families, and educators who have participated directly in my research.” Ms. Melanie Demarais, Associate Vice President of University Advancement, has received the Kathleen M. Murphy Presidential Award for Excellence in Contribution to the Mission. “I was very humbled when I got word that I was going to receive this award,” said Demarais. “I want to congratulate my fellow awardees, because I feel like I am in a very special class of individuals. I’d like to thank my nominators, and of course our University Advancement team. They are great. We are mighty, and we try to support this university as best we can. I want to thank the Assumptionist fathers, brothers, and religious sisters, and they are great friends of mine, and I do try to sparkle whenever I am with them.” Dr. Christian Williams, Assistant Professor of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies, has received the Michael O’Shea Presidential Award for Excellence in Teaching. “I am filled with gratitude and reflection as I think about my time at Assumption. My journey within the Assumption community began many years ago, not as an educator, but as a student. Today as I share this space with my former professors, my esteemed colleagues, and my students, the future of this great institution, I am filled with gratitude,” Williams said. “This award is not just a recognition of my work. It symbolizes the collective effort of our community, in nurturing minds and in shaping futures. I thank Assumption University for shaping me as a student, for inspiring me as an educator, and for allowing me to honor and contribute to the journeys of our students. The shared mission of fostering a lifelong journey of learning, passion and purpose is what makes this institution extraordinary.” Mr. Thomas Burke, Media Services Supervisor and Lecturer in Television Arts, has received the Presidential Award for Service. “It is an honor to be recognized with the 2023 Presidential Award for Excellence in Service,” said Burke. “I sincerely appreciate the nomination along with endorsements received from colleagues, students, alumni, and the Assumption University community. I am truly humbled by the outpouring of support.” Along with these four honorees, faculty and staff were also honored with years of service awards, ranging in five-year increments from five to 50 years of service. One faculty member, Kevin Hickey, Chair of the Global Studies minor, was recognized for 50 years of service and employment at Assumption University. MicrosoftTeams-image (8).pngDr. Samantha Goldman, Dr. Christian Williams, Ms. Melanie Demarais, Mr. Tom Burke, and President Greg Weiner at the Presidential Awards ceremony.General Olivia Boudreau
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Workshops at the conference include research presentations, workshops on human services pedagogy, and best practices in the field. Many of the Assumption University faculty in the Human Services department are involved in the NOHS, including helping with the planning of the conference, as editorial members of the organization’s academic journal, and sitting on the Board of Directors. “We have great participation in the NOHS. We are represented on the Board of Directors, as editorial staff on the Journal of Human Services, and at the conference itself,” said Cinzia Pica, Chair of the Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies department. “I am so proud of our students who are being highlighted at the national level. It speaks to their strengths as well as to the quality education and preparation they are engaged in both in our department and across our institution.” “The conference is where everyone comes together and tries to look forward five years,” said Dante Bachini, a health sciences major with a focus on patient advocacy. “We ask questions like, ‘what are we doing now?’, ‘What’s the new research?’, ‘As a profession, are we moving forward to not only support our patients and clients, but each other?’, ‘How are we trying to maintain the highest ethical standards for our patients?’” Bachini gave a presentation at the conference on the interviewing methods used by primary care physicians and their patients with chronic illness. “In the chronic disease world, providers are unable to really get all the knowledge about what’s going on,” he said. “What we’re seeing is that the patient and provider are on separate thought processes and have different information understandings which create a large barrier to care.” Bachini’s work is focused on how an interdisciplinary approach between human services strategies and clinical strategies can be used in clinical spaces to promote patient wellness. “My research found that the human services field, though not focused on being a clinician, has key enduring strategies which promote the wellness of chronic disease patients,” he said. “These strategies include patients’ stories, their lived experience, and their knowledge into the picture. This informs the interventions the provider can use to create a better and more comprehensive care structure for their patients.” Katy Cannistraro, a human services and rehabilitation studies major, gave a presentation on the gender gap in mental health. “I started the research about a year ago in my psychiatric rehabilitation course,” she said. “I had noticed after looking at these mental illnesses that there was a recurring gap in the statistics between male and female prevalence rates. I wanted to figure out why this gap existed; my project looks at how gender roles affect our emotional expression and what we see as far as emotional disorders and help-seeking behaviors.” On top of presenting her research, Cannistraro was also presented with the NOHS Outstanding Human Services Student Award, which is presented to one student member of NOHS who has “demonstrated a significant contribution to the field of human services during the time of his or her degree completion,” according to the NOHS website. The student who receives this award also then serves as the student member of the NOHS Board of Directors.Katy Cannistraro '24 receives the NOHS Outstanding Human Services Student Award, with NOHS President James Stinchcomb and Professor Christian Williams. “By no means had I ever defined myself as an ‘outstanding student,’” she said. “Professor [Christian] Williams (of the Human Services department) helped me realize that it’s not necessarily about my GPA, but about all the other work I do outside of that. Oftentimes, we emphasize the importance of having a high GPA and I understand that, it’s super important, but I think there are so many different aspects to a person that make them, I guess, ‘outstanding’.” Along with her meaningful work on the gender gap in mental health services, Cannistraro is also a part of AU Allies, and has a large focus on advocating for students of the LGBTQ+ community on campus and has minors in both secondary education and women’s studies. Bachini and Cannistraro both highlighted how meaningful it is for them to be involved with the human services department at Assumption and how it has shaped them as individuals. “Not enough people know about the human services program,” said Cannistraro. “It has changed my life and the whole trajectory of what I want to pursue in the future. I am grateful for all of the professors…they’re extraordinary, and I don’t think they get recognized enough for all the hard work they do and their dedication to the students. It’s incredible.” “Our department makes you a unique candidate for grad school or the workforce because it blends together your strengths that you may not be aware of,” said Bachini. “It makes you want to reach out, makes you able to reach out, and I think that’s a really unique trait to our program and speaks volumes to the level and type of practitioner Assumption is creating.” Pica believes that the futures of the human services department at Assumption and the future of the field of human services itself are bright. “I’m thrilled because I see that we have several students who are both accomplished in terms of academics but also because of their service to our profession,” said Pica. “This emphasizes the quality of students and young, aspiring professionals that we have amongst our ranks.” NOHS-pic-katy-dante-large.jpgAssumption students Dante Bachini '24 and Katy Cannistraro '24 at the National Organization for Human Services Conference.General Olivia Boudreau
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- Assumption University Honors Veterans DayAssumption University Honors Veterans Day oe.boudreau Fri, 11/10/2023 - 12:50 On November 7th, in celebration of Veterans Day, Assumption University honored those who have served in the United States Armed Forces, including those within the AU community, with a ceremony in the Atrium of the Tsotsis Family Academic Center. The service included a presentation of the colors and a performance of the National Anthem by Assumption’s Chorale. “Our world is dangerous, and veterans put themselves on the line to keep that danger at bay, so that we have the luxury of learning for learning’s sake,” President Greg Weiner said in his opening remarks. “Simply to say ‘thank you’ feels grossly inadequate…but when all else fails, words are what we have.” After Weiner’s speech, the guest speaker for the event, Gary Senecal, Assistant Professor of Human Services, spoke about his experience as a member of the United States Army Reserve since 2013, specifically his time serving in Somalia to provide medical care to wounded service members. Senecal emphasized how much of an impact serving has had on both his life and his outlook on teamwork and community. “I’ve learned a lot during my time in the service…teamwork, comradery, fulfillment in connection with others,” Senecal said. “I don’t know if I’ve found greater joy than being a part of that tight-knit group of people. This experience of comradery and connection only happens in the military.” Senecal also spoke about his return to campus after service, saying that the Assumption community was able to help with the transition from life in military service back to work as a professor. “When I came back to campus, I cannot begin to describe how welcoming it was,” he said. “There are days when I miss doing the work that I did…nevertheless, I am thankful to have those sentiments placated by having a job that replicates it and allows me to operate daily in the company of friends.” For many years, Assumption has offered programs and resources for students who are veterans of the United States Armed Forces in order to help them adjust to both college life and life outside of military service. Beginning with the creation of the Veterans’ Success Committee, faculty, staff, and students work together to ensure that veterans on Assumption’s campus have everything they need to thrive and be successful. “I had a very difficult time making the transition from a combat zone to college when I got back from Vietnam,” said Michael Rubino, former Chair of the Veterans’ Success Committee and Veterans Recruitment Coordinator. “Because I had that experience, I am now able to help students make that transition.” Due to the number of efforts put forth by the Veterans’ Success Committee, along with other programs across campus, Assumption was honored by Military Friendly as one of the nation’s Top Ten Military Friendly Schools for 2023-2024. According to Military Friendly’s methodology and criteria, factors that determine rankings include: “retention, graduation, job placement, repayment, persistence, and loan default rates.” These efforts include the creation of a veterans’ lounge, located currently in the Information Technology Center, to allow veterans a dedicated space on campus to gather and form communities. Rubino stressed that the lounge is extremely important to the veteran community on campus so they can have a place to connect and relate to one another. “It gives the veterans a place to go to meet one another and so forth and try to work out problems because they all understand each other’s backgrounds,” Rubino said. “I have found oftentimes that veterans who have been in combat zones only feel comfortable talking to other veterans who have been in similar situations.” On Veterans Day, Saturday, November 11th, a ceremony will be held to honor veterans in the Assumption community. This ceremony will be held at halftime of the Assumption Greyhounds football game against Southern Connecticut State, which kicks off at 12:00pm at Brian Kelly ‘83 Stadium. Veterans-AU-Web-2.pngAssumption University community members present the colors at the November 7th Veterans Day ceremony.General Olivia Boudreau
- Nursing Class of 2023 Has 100 Percent NCLEX-RN® Passing RateNursing Class of 2023 Has 100 Percent NCLEX-RN® Passing Rate oe.boudreau Thu, 11/09/2023 - 15:57 Assumption University’s Froelich School of Nursing announced that every member of its first graduating class has passed the National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX-RN®) following their graduation from the program this May. The NCLEX-RN® is an exam regulated by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN), which oversees each state’s board of registration and nursing. The national exam is the final step in the licensure process to become a registered nurse. According to data gathered and reported by NCSBN, the average pass rate for all candidates who took the NCLEX-RN® from January through September 2023 was 88.55 percent. In April of 2023, the NCLEX-RN® test plan was updated to correlate to the revisions made on the exam. The Next Generation NCLEX-RN®, with a focus on testing the exam taker’s clinical judgment was launched on April 1 after years of research and item development. “Amongst us in nursing education, we had never seen these kinds of exam items,” said Caitlin Stover, Dean of the Froelich School of Nursing. “It was really important to structure a curriculum that embeds clinical judgment scenarios, exam items, and simulations in every course so that the students had exposure and confidence going into this exam.” “The class of 2023’s success is a validation of all of the hard work that we have put in over the past couple of years,” said Stover. “We have things on paper, we give really high-quality exams, and we follow principles of best teaching-learning strategies, but you don’t know until you get the official results.” Along with all passing the NCLEX-RN®, each of the nurses from the class of 2023 are now employed at various hospitals across the country, such as in the UMass Medical system through their new graduate program, St. Vincent Hospital, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Lahey Hospital & Medical Center, Midstate Medical Center, Hartford Hospital, Bozeman Health Deaconess Hospital, and Newport Hospital. Students from the class of 2023, such as Aly Landry and James Bachini, have said that their experiences at Assumption have benefited them greatly, both in terms of when they had to know for the NCLEX-RN® exam and for their nursing careers. “My experience not only prepared me for the NCLEX-RN®, but also for getting a job as a registered nurse on the cardiothoracic surgery unit at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston,” said Landry. “I believe that the foundation set from my time at Assumption with a strong liberal arts curriculum coupled with diverse clinical experiences really helped me transition to practice. I have confidence in my work and can draw from the values learned at Assumption.” “Although the entire process is incredibly stressful and difficult, I felt supported, prepared and capable thanks to the nursing curriculum and education that the wonderful Froelich School of Nursing faculty provided,” said Bachini. “I was also supported by a faculty mentor who helped motivate me and keep me on track with my studying for the boards as well as providing additional resources whenever needed.” The importance of the nursing program’s preparation for nursing students to enter their careers as compassionate professionals was also emphasized by both Stover and Bachini as a former student in the program. “The NCLEX-RN® is 100 percent important, but we pride ourselves on developing the professionalism required of the nurse as well,” she said. “The success of the program is a reiteration of Assumption’s commitment to develop the workforce in a time of a huge nursing shortage, making sure that these nurses are high quality and compassionate.” “Upon my hiring as a staff nurse at Beth Israel Lahey Hospital in Burlington, Massachusetts, I have felt that I have the proper skills in place to support me in my new position,” said Bachini. “We [nurses of the class of 2023] are well prepared to professionally and compassionately treat and serve patients today and well into the future.” The success of the class of 2023 was also aided by many other departments on campus that assisted in laying the science foundations, such as the as well as the humanities departments who were instrumental in establishing a foundation of critical thinking and reasoning that nursing knowledge is built upon. “This wasn’t just nursing’s success,” said Stover. “This was all hands-on deck, all departments that educate the students along their transformative journey here at Assumption.” nclex23-large.jpgStudents from the Froelich School of Nursing's Class of 2023 stand in front of the Catrambone Health Sciences Building. General Olivia Boudreau
- Senator Robyn Kennedy ’03 Leads Town Hall on Community Engagement and Women’s Intersectional LeadershipSenator Robyn Kennedy ’03 Leads Town Hall on Community Engagement and Women’s Intersectional Leadership oe.boudreau Mon, 11/06/2023 - 11:22 To kick off fall semester programming for Assumption’s Women’s Studies Program, Massachusetts State Senator Robyn Kennedy, a member of the class of 2003, participated in a town hall in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center on October 17th to discuss topics such as community engagement and women’s leadership. “I never envisioned that I would someday be standing here as your state senator,” Kennedy said. “Keep your eyes open, your hearts open, and your dreams big.” Kennedy, who graduated from Assumption with a bachelor’s degree in history, currently serves as State Senator for the First Worcester District of Massachusetts, which includes Boylston, West Boylston, Northborough, Berlin, Bolton, and most of Worcester. Through her career, Kennedy has worked in multiple different public service roles, including Chief Operating Officer at the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) of Central Massachusetts and Deputy Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth, and Families at the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services. Over 140 students, faculty, staff, and alumni filled Ballroom A as Senator Kennedy advocated for policies such as the care economy, making the workforce more accessible for all, period poverty, and early education for all children. Senator Kennedy was introduced by Cinzia Pica, Director of the Women’s Studies Program and Professor and Chair of the Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies Department, and Kathryn Cannistraro ‘24, a human services major and women’s studies minor, who recently received the Outstanding Student in Human Services Award from the National Organization for Human Services. Kennedy began her speech by connecting her public service to her undergraduate experience at Assumption, saying she found inspiration in the university motto, “Until Christ be Formed in You.” She also said that in her public service, she works to “drive the mission of the university into a values system,” ensuring that Assumption’s mission is reflected in her work. She emphasized the importance of passionate leadership, encouraging students to take action in the Worcester community through volunteering for campaigns and uplifting and caring for those among us. “We need more leaders – we need the conviction as leaders to be driven by passion,” Senator Kennedy said. “Leaders willing to listen to and to be led by those who are most impacted by any issue we are facing.” To emphasize this point further, Kennedy quoted Bible verse Matthew 25:40, “…Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me,’” saying they were words that have always been important to her work. Kennedy made a point throughout her talk to encourage students to get involved in the Worcester community, including doing both community service and volunteering for local campaigns, saying that doing this work “helps [students] learn and grow [their] own values systems.” After an introduction of her major policy initiatives and promoting getting involved in the community, Kennedy fielded questions from Assumption students on topics such as the opioid crisis, immigration into Massachusetts, and housing. While answering these questions, Kennedy promoted more resources being allocated to community wellbeing, making child care more affordable for families, increased capacities for addiction treatment spaces, and pay increases for teachers, among many other policies. Toward the end of the town hall, Kennedy was asked for any advice she had for seniors getting ready to graduate. To answer, Kennedy stressed the importance of internships, telling students to “take advantage of internships that may not be in your field,” saying that interning can help students learn both what they are and aren’t interested in. AU-Robyn-Kennedy-Image.jpgAssumption University graduate from the class of 2003 Senator Robyn Kennedy participates in a town hall in the Tsotsis Family Academic Center.General Olivia Boudreau