Transcript Students Living at Home While Attending NMU

Students Living at Home
While Attending NMU
Tips for Parents
Now that your student will be attending
college, it is a good idea to consider how
certain dynamics of your relationship
may be impacted. In many ways, college
education is more demanding than high
school, and that means that there will
likely be some lifestyle adjustments for
both you and your student.
This presentation draws attention to
some common commuter student
concerns, and offers suggestions for how
parents might address these topics.
Tip #1:
Manage Expectations
• The Household “Schedule”
• Understand that you will most likely see less of your student than you did
when they were attending high school.
• Will you relax curfews and chores to allow for class schedules,
homework, and meetings?
• Is there a quiet time and place for your student to study at home?
• How do you feel about your student bringing other students in to your
home for study groups?
• Transportation
• How will your student get to and from campus?
• Meals
• Will your student eat on campus, or will they bring snacks from home?
• Will you want or need to have different types of snacks or “quick meals”
available for a student on the go?
• Emergencies
• What happens if their car breaks down on the way to/from class? How
will you expect your student to react? How can they expect you to
react? How will communication be handled?
Tip #2:
Know the Stressors
…and What You Can do to Help
• Commuting can add to the stress of being a college student.
These are common stressors accompanied by suggestions for
addressing them:
• Extra time to get to and from campus (especially in bad weather),
and to locate parking.
• Consider what might you be able to do to help them “get out the door” a
little earlier (and easier) every morning?
• Additional financial burden associated with paying for gas and a
parking pass.
• Gas gift cards are a nice birthday or holiday gift…tell your family members!
• “Wasted time” between classes.
• You might suggest that they use the time between classes for studying,
group meetings, adviser visits, or to grab a bite to eat.
Tip #2 continued:
Know the Stressors
…and What You Can do to Help
• Aligning work and class schedules can be tough.
• If your students maintains a job while attending school, encourage them to
work with their scheduling supervisor as soon as they register for courses.
Course scheduling takes places at least a month prior to the beginning of the
semester.
• Campus jobs are a great alternative, providing flexibility that works well with
course schedules
• It’s a challenge to balance new opportunities with “old” family
responsibilities.
• If your student wants to join a campus organization, it is likely that the group
meetings will be after 5pm…this might interfere with scheduled family events.
Be lenient and understand that campus group involvement is part of the
process of developing a connection with the university and peers.
• Feeling less connected than students living in the residence halls.
• Encourage your student to get involved ON campus in some way…student
organizations, athletics, campus events and speakers, theater productions,
other presentations, etc.
• For first semester students, encourage them to participate in the First Year
Experience program. (www.nmu.edu/fye)
Tip #3:
Ask Questions
Asking questions demonstrates your interest. However, you want to avoid
“the nag” or those questions that pry too much.
• How’s the commute?
• Are you feeling like you’ve got classes
under control?
• Are you having fun?
• What can I do to help out?
• What do you think of your classes?
• What student organizations are you
interested in?
• Have you met anyone new?
• What are you thinking of taking next
semester?
• Is your financial aid situated?
• What’s the best part of college so far?
• Ask them to explain those things you
don’t understand.
Tip #4:
Attend Parent Orientation When Your Student
Attends New Student Orientation
Even if you live locally or
are familiar with NMU’s
campus, it is
recommended that you
attend orientation with
your student. In addition
to showing your support,
you will gain useful
information and valuable
perspective that will aid
your understanding of the
NMU student experience.
Tip #5:
Other Considerations
• What are other parents experiences?
• Talk with parents of other students you
know who live at home and commute.
Share your experiences, and tips.
• Stay Aware of Campus News & Events:
• It’s good to know what’s happening on
campus. You can view campus calendars
here: www.nmu.edu/calendars.
• Suggest a Commute Partner:
• Does your son or daughter have other
friends that are commuting, too? Perhaps
they could carpool to save on fuel costs.
Another benefit of a commute partner is
that your student will be able to share
their experience (good and bad).
We’re Here to Help!
Contact the Dean of Students Office with your questions and concerns.
Via Email [email protected]
Via Phone (906) 227-1700
Our Website: www.nmu.edu/dso
Information contained in this presentation is the property of Northern
Michigan University’s Dean of Students Office and may not be reproduced,
stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical photocopying, recording, scanning, or otherwise,
except as permitted by written consent of the Northern Michigan
University Dean of Students Office (www.nmu.edu/dso).