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JANUARY
What’s happening with your student?
- Shepherd University students return to campus at the beginning of the month. Many will feel homesick as they return to campus; others will feel relieved to be back to their independent lifestyle.
- There will be uncertainties in the new semester, as students begin new classes and meet new professors.
What parents and guardians can do:
- Remind your student to keep up with their coursework. Many students find that falling behind early in the term is a major cause of stress and failures later on in the term. Help them with time management tips so that academic and social activities are balanced; as well as time for themselves.
-January Helpful Hint-
At Shepherd University, learning takes place outside of the classroom, too. Encourage your student to attend educational and cultural events around campus, including guest speakers, musical and theater performances, museums, poetry slams, etc. We also have opportunities throughout the semester for Shepherd students to connect with the surrounding community through student community service and service learning activities.
FEBRUARY
What’s happening with your student?
- Students living on-campus will be notified about requesting on-campus housing for next year and may face pressures of choosing a roommate and residence hall for the upcoming year.
- Many students neglect their health and exercise plans.
- Student organizations demand a lot of time from students. As a result, students who have trouble with their time management skills may feel over committed and overwhelmed.
- Some students have relationship anxiety, especially around Valentine’s Day.
- Students make plans for spring break. This may lead to financial concerns for some. Others may be jealous of their friends who are going to places warm and exotic. This may also lead to disagreements with family over different expectations for how and where this vacation will be spent.
- Financial Aid paperwork for next year is due. Students should apply for federal student aid each year by submitting a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). (Completing a FAFSA by March 1st for is highly recommended.)
What parents, guardians, and families can do:
- Support them as they try to balance academics and extracurricular activities. Encourage your student to seek assistance from Shepherd University resources, including the faculty. Advise your student to go to office hours and to get to know the faculty.
- Send care packages. Valentine’s Day is an excellent time for you to let them know that you’re thinking about them.
- Listen and support their relationship or roommate concerns. Refer your student to their Resident Assistant if roommate conflicts cannot be resolved and to Counseling Services if relationship concerns are severe and interfere with his academics. Discuss their plans and expectations for spring break. Talk to them about who’s paying for the vacation, whether or not it will be spent with family or friends, and about making responsible choices regarding their behavior.
- Be sure to work with your student to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (Completing a FAFSA by March 1st is highly recommended.)
-February Helpful Hint-
Care packages are a favorite way to show students how much you love them. Possible contents can include: food (homemade cookies or family specialties), money, socks/slippers, pictures from home (don’t forget to include the family pet!), gift certificates for Shepherdstown restaurants or stores, microwave popcorn, candy/ chocolate/gum, letters from the family, vitamins, cold/flu medications, coupons, winter clothing, and toiletries.
MARCH
What’s happening with your student?
- They’ll be stressed as they take more midterms and have more papers or projects due.
- Student Housing Contracts are due before the end of the month. Students planning to live on-campus should be finalizing their housing plans for the following year. This may be a relief for some.
- Students feel pressure to declare a major.
- Students begin to think about summer plans including jobs or internships. Students may also be concerned about how they will fit into the family and the family’s expectations if they return home for the entire summer.
What parents and guardians can do:
- Keep the lines of communication open. As they begin to prepare for their summer plans and for the upcoming fall semester, your student may seek your guidance and advice, or they may want to make their decisions. Recognize that either way, these decisions are part of growing up, and trust that in the end, your student will make decisions that are best for them. You can encourage your student to see an academic advisor before registering for courses.
- Refer your student to Career Services for information about summer jobs and internships.
-March Helpful Hint-
If you live close enough, March is a good time for a short visit to campus. Be sure to talk to your student ahead of time to make sure it’s a good time for them. Students appreciate being taken out to dinner and going shopping during these visits!
APRIL
What’s happening with your student?
- Registration for the fall semester begins and students must meet with an academic advisor before registering for classes.
- Spring Fever hits students as the weather warms up and they will want to go bike riding, walking or a hiking along the C&O Canal. Concentrating on academics becomes harder than ever.
- Students stress levels are high as the semester is winding down and papers and projects are due and final exams are looming.
- Students are thinking about moving out of their residence halls and leaving their college friends for the summer.
What parents and guardians can do:
- Be supportive through this stressful time and consider sending care packages to boost their spirits.
- Remind your student to take good personal care of themselves by eating a healthy diet, getting plenty of exercise and enough sleep.
- Start talking with your student about end-of-semester plans. Advise them to check the Resident Life website for updated information about the move-out process.
-April Helpful Hint-
Join us for our annual Relay For Life Event on April 7, 2017 at the Wellness Center. There are many FUNdraising opportunities throughout the whole night! This is a great time to see what’s going on with Shepherd and your student, while supporting a great cause!
MAY
What’s happening with your student?
- Some students will return home for the summer and others may choose to stay on campus to work and/or take summer courses.
- Students may have lined up summer employment at home and will begin their summer jobs; others may still need/want to find work.
- Some students may have signed up to take summer classes at a college close to home. In this case, they may need to transfer these credits to Shepherd and should seek departmental approval at Shepherd University BEFORE taking classes at another college/university to ensure the credits will be accepted here.
- Students who return home may need to adjust to living with parents, guardians, and siblings. Students may be anxious about a loss of independence.
What parents and guardians can do:
- Discuss expectations for their roles and responsibilities during the summer if they are living at home. Students may feel that a summer job and social commitments with their high school friends take priority over household chores. This is the time to renegotiate responsibilities with them, adult to adult.
- Use this summer to communicate openly with them; be sure to talk about your expectations for their behavior. Is your student expected to be home at a certain time? Are they expected for family meals? Be willing to discuss and compromise before problems occur.
- Respect and appreciate the self-reliant and independent person who has returned home. Your student may be more mature and different from the first year college student you dropped off in the fall.
-May Helpful Hint-
Congratulations! You’ve made it through the first year. You should relax and enjoy this moment. Your student will continue to grow and change over the course of the next few years, and your relationship with your student will also continue to change. However, the first year is a big transition for you both, and you should feel proud if you have both managed to successfully navigate hurdles of the first year.