Tips For Parents

Be sure to look over http://wesleyan.edu/parents/index.html as it features a great deal of information for parents.  The class deans also created a document that is designed to provide you with an overview of the kinds of issues that students typically face during their time at Wesleyan and provides you with sets of questions that may help you get a better sense of how your son or daughter is faring, both as a student and a member of the Wesleyan community. 

If you have any questions or concerns, please be in touch with your children's class dean: http://www.wesleyan.edu/studentaffairs/about/classdeans.html

Suggestions for how to support your student during their time at Wesleyan:

• Don't underestimate the importance of your engagement with your student, particularly in terms of emotional support, as studies have shown that parental encouragement can have a tremendous impact on first-generation students' college experience and academic success. 
  
  
• It can be important for parents to discuss the importance of attending class regularly, reading before class, taking thorough notes, completing all class assignments, and participating in study groups. 
  
  
• Encourage your son or daughter to ASK FOR HELP. We have many resources to support students, such as the class deans, Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS), writing mentors and tutors, the Math workshop, peer tutors, Teaching Assistant (TA) Review Sessions, professors’ office hours and Peer Advisors, all of which are described in more detail above.
  
  
• Parents should talk about how their student’s approach might have to change from class to class and semester to semester. For example, students might work with a writing tutor when they are required to write papers and perhaps seek out a peer tutor or attend TA review sessions when grades are based on exams.
  
  
• Parents should stress the importance of effective time management. For example, parents can encourage their students to use a planner or calendar (either electronic or on paper), put together “to-do lists”, and keep track of due dates for assignments and tasks that need to be accomplished.
  
  
• Parents might also want to discuss the dangers of spending too much time on outside commitments, socializing, or online. All of these are important, but moderation is key given the demands of academics and, when applicable, student employment.
  
  
• If possible, attend Family Weekend to become knowledgeable about the resources/services available to your student, since parent/family support can be key to the academic success of college students.
  
  
• Your son or daughter may not be able to come home every weekend if they are living on campus. Even if it is only 5 or 10 miles away from home, they may not have the same amount of time to devote to family responsibilities as they did before.
  
  
• Be patient with yourselves and one another, especially since this is a learning experience for everyone (both you and your student). You will all be learning about this transition process together!