Changing Times
Heading off to college is a major transition for not just the student, but the whole family. Mixed emotions of all sorts may go along with the transition of college life. Feelings of being happy, proud and excited about your student going off to college may also be mixed with feelings of loss, grief, and anxiety.
Parent Involvement
First and foremost, stay in touch and involved with your student. Identify a pattern of communication that works best for you and them. Some students and parents may talk every day, which can be perfectly healthy. For many families, one or two times per week is a good way to stay in touch. E-mail and texting offer good ways to communicate, provided your student is comfortable with that level of contact.
Draw a distinction between “intervening” and “supporting” your student. “Intervening” is when parents are doing things or making the decisions for their student because they think they will get better, quicker results. “Supporting” or mentoring your student is when you are there to help guide them and share wisdom and give encouragement, but let them make their own decisions. When students know that you are available for support, they are more likely to ask for it, verses being told what to do and then building barriers with you.
Signs of needing help
Not hearing from your student for several days may be a very good sign. Usually, students are busy getting acclimated and developing their new life at the university. Hopefully they are learning to manage on their own and make their own decisions. But, some students may experience more serious problems and may need assistance. Parents need to watch for signs in detecting such problems. If you notice in conversations that your student is showing signs of extreme, or out-of-character behavior, start asking them questions and try to learn what it is that is affecting/upsetting them. Watch for signs in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, etc., where your student is acting out of their normal.
The Esry Student Health Center located in the Blum Union is available for ALL students if they are sick or in need of any medical information. Go to www.missouriwestern.edu/student-services/health-center/ to find out more information.
Missouri Western has traditionally had a low crime rate. Campus crime statistics and services provided by the University Police Department are available at www.missouriwestern.edu/policedepartment.
The Center for Academic Support (CAS) is a great resource for students to get academic assistance individually from tutors or formal study groups. The CAS is located in the Hearnes Center. More information about their services can be found at https://intranet.missouriwestern.edu/cas/.
Student Employment serves to connect students with meaningful job opportunities while pursuing a degree. There are work-study jobs on campus, if a student qualifies. There are also on-campus and off-campus job opportunities that students can apply for. Go to https://www.missouriwestern.edu/hr/students/ for more information.
The City of St. Joseph is very supportive of Missouri Western and its students! Local banks have numerous ATM machines on campus and many provide free checking and debit card services.
