Parent Resources

Welcome AU Parents!

The Center for Academic Support is dedicated to supporting your student and YOU, the parent, through the first year of college. Whether it's assisting your child in navigating campus resources, connecting with others, working through homesickness, or learning how to adjust to college-level coursework, we're here to help! We provide proactive strategies to make the college transition easier and we collaborate with faculty and staff to implement early interventions to ensure student success.

We recognize that family support is crucial for student success in college. The Center for Academic Support, which houses Professional Academic Advising and Tutoring, wants to partner with you to be certain your student has a smooth transition to Ashland University. Below are some resources to help you as you’re navigating this transition as well.

CLICK HERE to join our Parent Email List to receive copies of our Parent Newsletter!

Parenting a College Student

Is your student homesick?

Homesickness is one of the most common transitional issues of college students. Home is comfortable and familiar, and college is new and challenging. This type of feeling is typical, so it's important to help your student realize that he or she is not alone.

Ask your student to reach out to his or her Professional Academic Advisor. The advisors are experts in navigating higher education and college transitional issues, so they can talk to your student about things they can do to help overcome homesickness.

Check out this article for additional tips on how to support your student: Helping your student through homesickness

Thinking of sending a care package? Be sure to send things that will help your student make connections with others and avoid things that will make them miss home even more. If you're looking for something AU specific, check out the care packages on the Bookstore website. Looking for ideas for a DIY care package? Our fall newsletter will provide you with some suggestions.

Want to help your student find support on campus?

If your student is struggling or needs to talk to someone, connect him or her to one of the campus offices below. Not sure where to start? Start with Advising and they will direct the student to the right place.

Check out this article about Helping Your College Student Find Support on Campus and look at the Frequently Used Resources section for additional campus resources.

Looking for communication tips?

Communicating with your college student can be a transition for both you and your child. For many parents, this is the first time in their child’s life that they haven’t spoken every day, so the adjustment can be challenging.

Here are some great articles on how to communicate with your college student:

If your student is having a hard time communicating with peers, faculty or staff, it’s important that you encourage them to step out of their comfort zone and make campus connections. As a parent, we know it’s hard to resist the urge to do things for your child, but now is the time to promote independence. If your student contacts you with a problem, ask them questions that will help them to find the answers on their own. For example, “what are some things you can do to help the situation?” or “what campus offices might have resources to assist you?” are excellent questions to help your students find solutions on their own while making connections to the campus community.

Communication is hard…especially in an age when so much of it is done electronically. What if your student is having trouble making friends? Check out the article, “Will You Be My Friend?” Your First-Year Student Should Be So Bold To Ask!, to learn more about supporting your student through this transition.

College Transition Tips

First-Year

The first year of college is full of transitions ranging from academic and cultural to social and emotional. Check out this article, From High School to College: 6 Key Areas of Adjustment for Students, to learn more about the college transition.

Check out these tips on college transitions: How to Support Your Student Through the First Year

Second-Year

Students in their second year are sometimes in a place of, “who am I?” They are working to determine if they’ve made the right decision in their major. Learn about the “Sophomore Slump” in this article: The Sophomore Slump is Not a Myth

Click here to discover ways to address the Sophomore Slump: How to Support Your Student Through the Second Year

Third-Year

The third year of college is filled with exciting opportunities. Students are diving deeper into their programs and learning more about future careers. Now’s the time for students to take advantage of mentorship and experiences that will help them beyond college.

Encourage your student to maximize their college experience: How to Support Your Student Through the Third Year

Final-Year

It’s finally here! While students are often focused on the present and “making it through” their last few classes in college, it’s important to encourage them to think about next steps. What’s their plan? What steps are they taking to prepare for life after college?

Here are some tips for guiding your soon-to-be graduate: How to Support Your Student Through the Final Year

Ways to Stay Connected

Parent Newsletters/Email Communication

Want to be added to our email list to receive important updates? Be sure to sign-up at this link: Parent Resources Email List (don't worry, we won't flood your inbox)

Student Blog

Want a student's perspective on what's happening on campus or tips on how to support your student? Be sure to follow our student blog that has weekly updates!
https://aueagleseyes.blogspot.com/