Buff Parent 101 August Newsletter
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Transcript of Buff Parent 101 August Newsletter
West Texas A&M University Advising Services
Student Success Center – Classroom Center 110 • WTAMU Box 60868 • Canyon, TX 79016 • 806-651-5300 • 806-651-5274 (fax)
2| www.wtamu.edu/advising
Our current students, faculty and staff are excited to welcome you to the WTAMU family as your student begins his/her academic career at the university!
A major transitional time is about to begin. We are looking forward to the opportunity to support our students and their families during this exciting time. As your family prepares, be sure to utilize the resources on our website, consider the conversation talking points, and encourage students to seek help when you feel they need it.
Be confident that as students begin to explore the world around them, they will value the principles in which they were raised and will seek parent and family advice. At Advising Services, we want to encourage a positive and appropriate role of parent involvement by helping you understand your student’s experience at WT. Most importantly, we want to create a partnership with you to empower students to take personal responsibility for their academic and social choices.
You are not alone. We welcome you to the journey!
Living Away From Home
Talk to them about the importance of locking doors
Teach your student how to do laundry
Have a conversation about alcohol use and your expectations
Finances
Discuss credit card use
Help your student plan a budget and stick to it
Time Management
Discuss school as a priority
Encourage your student to get involved on campus
Keeping in Touch
Set clear expectations of communication
Do not encourage your student to come home every weekend
Before your student begins their academic career, use this checklist as a guide of things you need to discuss with them:
BUFF PARENT 101 | 3
Buff Alert is an emergency notification service that gives the University the ability to communicate and quickly pass-on safety-related information through e-mail or text message regardless of your location. HOW TO ENROLL: Students must log in with their username and password to the Buff Alert registration page (www.wtamu.edu/buffalert). They can provide up to two email addresses and two cell phone numbers.
Bedding and mattress covers
Towels and hygiene products
Pictures from home
Laundry soap and laundry basket
Indoor plants
Cleaning supplies
Insurance policy numbers
Shower caddy
Leave at home:
Toasters
Pets (except fish)
Refrigerator (micro-fridges provided)
Candles
Knives
Nails and screws
Quarters for laundry. It’s free!
What would you tell parents of new freshmen
to help them deal with separation?
“In order for their child to grow into the person
they want them to become, they have to let
them go and experience new beginnings and
opportunities.”
-Morgan Adams
Major: Agricultural Media and Communications
Hometown: Ralls, TX
How did you feel being away
from your parents?
“My parents talked to me about
separation and taught me how
to take care of myself. They en-
couraged me to be independent
so I did not worry .”
-Cedric Nguimatsa
Major: Marketing
Hometown: Amarillo, TX What did your parents do to help you be
successful during the first semester?
“Both my mom and dad were extremely
supportive by consistently encouraging me
to make friends, work hard, stay true to
who I am, and continue stepping out of my
comfort zone.”
-Jynna Askew
Major: Education
Hometown: Tahoka, TX
What do you wish your parents
would have done differently
during the first semester?
“I wish they would have encour-
aged me to get more involved.”
-Katelyn Ward
Major: Agricultural Education
Hometown: Lubbock, TX
4| www.wtamu.edu/advising
1. How often do you communicate with your student on the phone or via e-mail?
Once a week
Two or three times a week
Once a day
Six times a day, maybe more. You lose track. 2. How many professors have you contacted on your student's behalf?
None
One or two
You're not sure, maybe five
All of them 3. How much input do you have in your student's course selections?
You're available to talk about it.
You have a standing appointment before each semester to discuss his or her options.
Your student must get your approval before registration day.
You study the course selections on the Web site and completely arrange your student's schedule. 4. Your student feels he or she isn't getting enough playing time on an athletic team. What do you do?
Pat your student on the back for hanging in there, attend games if you can, and cheer like crazy.
Tell your student to talk to the coach about his or her concerns.
You e-mail the coach.
You call the college president and remind him who is paying the bill.
5. Your student is having trouble writing a paper. What do you do?
You listen. You're sympathetic.
Suggest your student make appointments with the professor and the Writing Center.
Read what's been written so far and give suggestions.
Get a copy of the assignment and write the whole thing. (After all, your student is really busy.) 6. When visiting your student, how much do you help?
You don't clean his or her room. It's not your job.
You help to take out the trash.
After taking out the trash, you do the laundry.
You provide maid services and leave mints on the pillow. 7. Your student hates his or her roommate. What do you do?
Remind your student of other times he or she has successfully solved problems.
Tell your student to talk to the RA.
Storm the Office of Residence Life. You want to know what on earth is being done about this.
Call the roommate's parents and let them have it. 8. Your student has just been found responsible for a minor conduct violation. What do you do?
You take headache medication and discuss with your student the consequences of inappropriate behavior.
Show up on your student's doorstep.
Call the college president. You pay a lot of tuition—your kid should be let off the hook.
Call Alan Dershowitz and print up “Free Jenny” T-shirts.
Quiz developed by the College Board with assistance from the Dickinson College Parent Council - Spring, 2006
BUFF PARENT 101 | 5
Number of Answers: ________________
Number of Answers: ________________
Number of Answers: ________________
Number of Answers: ________________ Your answers are your grades: All A's: – You are on the Distinguished Honor Roll. Great job! Mostly A's – You are on the Honor Roll. Keep up the good work. Mostly B's – You are doing well. Mostly C's – It may be time to rethink your college habits. Mostly D's – We know you mean well, but you have just learned that hovering can be detrimental to your student. Take a deep breath!
It is hard to watch your student struggle or be uncomfortable, but being overly involved prevents him/her to learn from
mistakes and disappointments. It is very important for students to mature, form a sense of responsibility, and learn
valuable skills that will help them through adulthood. We want the college experience to be as successful as possible,
but too much parent involvement may be counterproductive and impede the student’s progress. Of course, there will be
times when parent involvement will be needed, but it is important that, on a daily basis, students handle their issues on
their own.
THE DO’S
Let the student initiate the call and learn to be okay if a few days pass without contact.
Allow the student to select classes on their own after they have talked to an academic advisor.
Encourage your student to learn to interact with people of various backgrounds and personalities.
THE DO NOT’S
Contacting your student’s instructors is unacceptable.
Do not solve problems for your student right away. Problems will arise, let the student take responsibility in solving
them.
Do not ask your student to come home every weekend.
Advising Services
WTAMU Box 60868
Canyon, Texas 79016-0001
Aug. 12 First Payment Due (Optional Payment Plan) Oct. 31 Last Date to Drop With a Guaranteed X
Aug. 21 10 a.m. / Residence Halls open Nov. 15 Fourth Payment Due
11 a.m. / Dining Hall opens Nov. 18 Priority Registration opens for current freshmen
Aug. 22 Buff Branding
Nov. 27–29
Thanksgiving Break – No Classes
Aug. 23 Last day to withdraw with 100 percent refund Noon / Class Dismisses
Aug. 26 First Day of Class 1:30 p.m. / Dining Hall Closes
Sept. 2 Labor Day – No Classes Dec. 4 Last Class Day
Sept. 9–11 iWeek Dec. 5 Dead Day - no classes
Sept. 16 Second Payment Due Dec. 6–12 Final Exams
Sept. 29–Oct. 5 Homecoming
Dec. 12 7 p.m. / Dining Hall Ccoses
Oct. 1 Greenlighting Opens Dec. 13 Noon / Residence Halls close
Oct. 3 Convocation 3 p.m. / Graduation
Oct. 15 Third Payment Due 7 p.m. / Graduation
Dec. 17 Spring’s First Payment Due (Optional Payment Plan)