Tips for sending off your student.....

Thinking of what you'd like to share/advise/mention/plead/communicate to your student before leaving for the fall?  Here are a few great tips 
 What is the Communication Plan? Given all of the amazing ways we can communicate these days (texting, cell phone, email, Twitter, etc.) students and parents will want to talk about how and how often they will communicate. Having a conversation in advance will help with establishing some healthy boundaries while fostering the student's sense of independence and at the same time, keeping parents informed and connected.

Who sees the grades? Parents who were able to attend the Parent Registration Program during May and June learned about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which protects college students' records. This act restricts institutions from sharing grades, student account information and other records without a student's written permission.  Students and parents will want to discuss what level of disclosure is mutually expected and acceptable. Also, St. Kate's provides the opportunity for parents to have access to their student's account information with a signed release; the form is called the Consent to Release Information form. If you have not done so yet, this would be a great topic to discuss.  Questions? contact the Student Accounts office at 651.690-6503.

How will your student manage her money, financial responsibilities and credit cards? You do not want to send your student off to college without this conversation. Discuss your expectations for what your student is going to be responsible for covering on her own. You may want to help her develop a budget before she leaves. So many students have not had to be aware of personal expenses, so she may be surprised how these items can add up. Discuss who is paying for what including tuition payments, meals, books, cellphone, gas/transportation, personal spending, etc. If your student has a credit card, does she know how it works?  Refer your student to St. Kate's Money Management program for developing knowledge and financial management skills that she can use for her lifetime!

How to manage all the time and freedom? As noted in this article, few high school students have had to be fully responsible for meals, creating their own curfew, managing their time. Discussing time management tools like a day planner, the importance of creating a schedule that helps maintain balance in their lives (exercise), developing a study schedule and how to deal with "free" time would be great conversation suggestions. Her academic advisor can help her develop a schedule that will include the needed study time.

Who's experience is this, really?  Overtime, parents will want to encourage their student to learn how to advocate for themselves....to ask for help from the array of offices and programs all designed to provide support and assistance. While it may feel good for parents to be needed and called on, students will feel a sense of empowerment as they access and develop their own problem-solving skills.
Article adapted from:  Checklists for Parents of College Students by Lisa Belkin entitled (http:parenting.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/27/checkliest-for-parents-of-college-students/)