With your student having been in college for about a month, you might be thinking about those panicked calls you are going to get from them, asking you to tell them what to do in a particular situation. First of all, remember, they are adults now so don’t tell them what to do, instead listen to their concerns and refer them to resources you know are available to your student.

But wait, where do you find these resources? There are several ways to find useful resources that will help you and your student.

• Familiarize yourself with Missouri State’s website (missouristate.edu) – type random words in the search bar and see where they lead you.
• Utilize the resources you were given at SOAR – this includes a family handbook, a calendar, or a list of numbers for frequently called offices. If you were unable to attend SOAR, visit the SOAR website (missouristate.edu/soar/resources.htm). These resources should be very helpful to you.
• Bookmark the Parent & Family Website – The Parent & Family Program website is a great place for you to start when looking for resources. We have digital copies of the Bear Family Handbook and Bear Family Calendar, Bear Notes, our monthly e-newsletter, along with many other resources.
• Get to know the Parent & Family Office – We are ready to help you any way we can. We share resources with you, direct you to offices that can help your student and listen to you as you support your student. Never hesitate to contact us by email (pchildress@missouristate.edu), text (417- 812-5468) or phone (417-836-3060) when you have questions.

These are all good first steps, you say – but what about specifics? Let’s go through some common “panic points” for young people that your student might need help addressing:

• Financial Aid – The “word” to remember is FAFSA, which stands for Free Application for Federal Student Aid. It’s the key to your student receiving financial assistance. For questions about the FAFSA, refer your student to our Office of Financial Aid – it’s your best resource for anything financial. The staff are well-equipped to answer all your student’s questions about Pell Grants, loans, scholarships and so much more.
• Getting a job – Point your student to the Student Employment office on campus. The staff has listings of all the jobs for student’s on-and-off campus, and they can help you find jobs that align with your major, hobbies and interests. Encourage your student to visit this office as soon as possible.
• Mental Health Issues – Suggest your student visit the Counseling Center. The Counseling Center is staffed with professionals who are available to help your student in any way they can. We all know that sometimes, it’s much easier to talk to someone other than a family member or friend and the Counseling Center can fill that role for your student. Another good resource is the Dean of Students. If your student is struggling with their academics, personal relationships or just needs someone to talk to, the Dean of Students is equipped to facilitate conversations that can lead your student down the path of success.
• Changing a major – Let’s face it, the odds are that your student is going to change their major once during their college career. And that’s okay! When they are looking at changing their major or making other academic decisions, there is one person that can really advise them and work through the process. Did you guess? That’s right, their advisor. Your student’s advisor is very important to their academic life. The advisor can help students choose classes and start mapping out their four years – plus they are very good listeners and have the student’s best interest at heart. Encourage your student to visit with their advisor at least twice a semester. I promise you, advisors are jewels of the college.
• Roommate or residence hall issues – Roommate issues are one of the most well-known issues that students face on campus as residential students. Communication is the key to working out roommate issues. Who is going to clean the room and when? What about guests? Are they sharing food? These are all conversations to be had by your student and their roommate(s) early on in the semester. It’s hard to make the move from having your own room to living with someone that is never too far away. If the issues continue, your student’s best resource is their Resident Assistant (RA). The RA lives on your student’s residence hall floor and is trained to mediate the tough conversations. Remind your student that the RA is there to help. If issues continue, the RA will assist your student in reaching out to the next level of help.
• Academic issues – College is harder than high school. There is no other way to say it. Students that cruised through high school with good grades and little studying, might meet their first B, C or even a failing grade. It’s not the end of the world. We all need help at some point and when the grades are lower than expected, there are plenty of resources to help your student. First of all, encourage your student to meet their professor, stop by during the professor’s office hours, and ask questions in class. Another tip has to do with the syllabus your student gets usually on the first day of class. The syllabus is their class lifeline. It has the dates of tests and projects, the assignments that need to be completed and contact information for the professor, just to name a few things. Encourage your student to make a copy of the syllabus for each class and put the copies by his desk in his residence hall or room at home and keep the original with the materials for the class. Secondly, refer your student to the Bear Claw, our tutoring center on campus. Asking for help is not a bad thing at all and the tutors hired by the school are ready and willing to help your student as they transition from high school to college.

Your student going to college is a big deal for you and for them. Remember, you are their motivator, their support system, their shoulder to cry on and their resource as they navigate and test out the waters over the next four years! Share your resources wisely!