Attending college is an important milestone and as parents or family members of a new student you can help your student succeed in college. Communicate with your student often and let him or her know you are supportive. To help you offer support, we suggest the following tips.
Tips on How Parents and Family Members Can Help Their Students Be Successful in College
Emphasize the Value of Education:
Behind almost every successful college student is a family that values education and that recognizes its importance to the quality of people’s lives.
- Set high expectations. Let your student know that you expect him or her to work hard and explain how you will support that hard work. Encourage your student to use the resources and services on campus.
Think of College as a Full Time Job:
Students are expected to devote a great deal of time to their studies.
- Help your student to understand that, although they will be spending less time in the classroom, more independent work is expected of them. A student should expect to spend two to three hours studying for every hour spent in class. That means that a students enrolled for 12 credit hours should expect to spend an additional 24 to 36 hours outside of class studying.
Be Flexible About Family Schedules and Responsibilities:
Between attending classes and preparing for them, college students have many demands on their times. As a result, their schedules are sometimes hectic and unpredictable.
- Encourage your student to prioritize his or her commitments and find a healthy balance between school, work, and other commitments. As a support system, you can help students prioritize and develop better time management skills.
Know Campus Resources:
Students are expected to stay informed and to follow college policies and procedures.
- Utilize our website to become familiar with life at Craven and the resources available to students. Helping your student to navigate the college by referring him or her to the appropriate resources is one of the best ways for you to support your student.
Encourage Academic and Career Exploration:
Career exploration is an important part of every student’s education. It encourages students to be open to a variety of career possibilities, to investigate areas of interest, and to participate, when possible, in career-related co-op experiences.
- Encourage your student to meet regularly with an advisor or career counselor. They can help students select a program of study, choose courses, create a class schedule, make a transfer plan, and explore career options.
- Encourage your student to start to explore transfer opportunities early. Craven has a number of articulation agreements with colleges and universities.
Encourage Involvement in Campus Activities:
Campus activities – cultural events, lectures, clubs, and sports – are an important part of a students’ college experience. They complement students’ classroom education and offer participants opportunities to learn about themselves, others, and the world at large.
- Show interest in your student’s classes and participation in campus activities. Ask him or her to share those experiences.
Parent Access to Student Information
It is very important that parents understand that all information related to the enrollment of students 18 years of age and older is protected by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). While parents understandably have an interest in a student’s academic progress, they are not automatically granted access to a student’s records without a student’s prior consent, unless state or federal law requires such release. Parents are encourages to consult with the student if academic information is needed. Please visit Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act to learn more about FERPA.
