How to be a Successful Parent of a College Student Dr. Brian Inbody

College student success!!! It is important to everyone, including the student. This is a list of items that might help you and your student succeed. Academic success, personal growth, independence and struggling are ingredients of a student's first semester. Going to college is their full-time job!

Finding Balance This is a new venture- Encourage them to explore and enjoy it. Respond to their emotions, let them vent to you, complain, cry, and ignore you. The emotions will be REAL! Don’t be tempted to fix any problem for them! Let them learn it and let them know you are excited for them.

Letting Go Be the voice of reason. Don’t panic with them. Help them learn to fix the problem themselves. Encourage them to talk with: Faculty Coaches Residence Life Coordinator Counselor Mentor (First Year Seminar Teacher)

Successful Students Have a clear educational goal and want that goal! Get engaged with college life. Have support/encouragement. Have resources to handle college. Nothing bad happens during college career.

Top 10 Questions to ASK Are you going to class? Are you studying? How long? When… Are you reviewing your material for each class? Are you scheduling Chill /Relax time? Do you know when the last day to withdraw?

Top Ten Continued Are you starting your assignments early? Have you seen your advisor? Who is it? Have you gone to see your instructor during their office hours? Are you going to tutoring? Have you gotten one yet? Have you formed/joined a study group?

Safety Professional, responsive staff. Health Clinic on two days a week, 12-1 in the Student Union. Hospital within a mile of campus. LOW crime statistics in the community Low campus crime statistics. Best defense is COMMON SENSE

Safety continued Panther text net – for student and families text alert system. Blue Poles – Emergency call boxes. One between Stoltz and Residence Halls, and one near the Student Union. Crime Prevention Presentations Every Building has a supervisor for dangerous weather and other situations.

Residence Life Professional Staff available 24/7. Electronic surveillance monitoring in residence halls, in the Union and other locations. Security on-campus through evening and early morning. Lock your doors! Best defense is Common Sense.

Residence Life It is important to help your student take care of business! They deserve a high quality living environment. Our Residence Life staff is available in the daytime as well the evening into the night! Tell your student to: Report any unwanted noise Report any parties Report problems

Privacy Matters The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act or FERPA Federal law that mandates privacy of academic records. Because of this law, you cannot access information without a signed Consent to Release Information on file.

What you can expect- Week 1 – “This is awesome!” Listen to them Week 2 – “I’m really not so sure” Supportive Week 3 – “I’m homesick” Encourage Limit visits home, DON’T skip class to go home. Week 4 – Be their Cheer Squad! You can do it. Weeks 5-7 –Academics getting tougher. Week 8 – test results are in… Be supportive Week 10 – They’ve made a decision!

How to be a Successful Parent of a College Student Dr. Brian Inbody