What can I do to help my child adjust to UPG?

Although your child is considered an adult, he or she still needs your support and guidance during this time. Here are some things you can do to help both your student and yourself during this adjustment period and for the remainder of your child’s time here at UPG.

1. Stay in touch with your child.

For students who are living away from home, make arrangements to call or write your child on a regular basis. For students who are living at home, it is usually easier to keep in touch. Even though your child is making independent choices, he or she still needs to know that you are there and are available to talk to about the exciting things that are happening as well as any problems or concerns he or she may be having.

2. Be an active listener when communicating with your child.

If your child needs help or support, the problem is more likely to come up if you are not asking a lot of questions. A response such as, "That sounds interesting, tell me more about that," rather than, "Did you make an A on that exam?" will often provide you with information that will assist you in helping your child.

3. Be realistic with your student about financial matters.

Most students come to school with a fairly detailed plan about how tuition, fees, books, and housing will be paid for, and what the family’s expectations are about spending money. Being specific at the outset may help avoid misunderstandings later.

4. Be realistic about academic achievement and grades.

UPG has many high-achieving students but not every freshman who excelled academically in high school will be an all-A student here. Developing or refining the capacity to work independently and consistently and to demonstrate mastery can be more important than grades as long as the student meets the basic academic requirements set out by the University.

5. Encourage your student to have a broad range of experiences here at UPG.

Obtaining a undergraduate degree is your student’s purpose for being here at UPG. At the same time many other events are occurring -- meeting a diverse population of people, having opportunities to engage in a variety of social and cultural activities, choosing to belong to a club or organization (e.g. Student Government Association, UPG Press, Psi Chi the Psychology Honors Society), participating in a volunteer organization, and other ways to broaden and enhance your student’s academic experience.

6. If your child does experience difficulties at UPG, encourage him or her to take advantage of the many resources available to students on this campus.

At this orientation you will have an opportunity to meet many of the people who could be of assistance to your student. Keep the packet of information in a place at home where it is easily accessible in case you would want to refer to any of the available resources.

For academic issues, talking with the professor, teaching assistant, or academic advisor is probably the first step, but the Learning Resources Center and the Career Center are both available to help. The Office of Student Services can assist with a variety of concerns. The Counseling Center and the Health Center see many students who are experiencing emotional and physical problems. Do not hesitate to remind your student of these resources.

Hopefully these ideas and suggestions will be helpful to you in dealing with some of the experiences which occur when a child goes to college. The freshman year at UPG is a tremendously exciting time, both for students and their families, and it is our hope that you and your child will have a rewarding year.

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