West Texas A&M University Advising Services

Student Success Center – Classroom Center 110 • WTAMU Box 60868 • Canyon, TX 79016 • 806-651-5300 • 806-651-5274 (fax)

2| www.wtamu.edu/advising

Our current students, faculty and staff are excited to welcome you to the WTAMU family as your student begins his/her academic career at the university!

A major transitional time is about to begin. We are looking forward to the opportunity to support our students and their families during this exciting time. As your family prepares, be sure to utilize the resources on our website, consider the conversation talking points, and encourage students to seek help when you feel they need it.

Be confident that as students begin to explore the world around them, they will value the principles in which they were raised and will seek parent and family advice. At Advising Services, we want to encourage a positive and appropriate role of parent involvement by helping you understand your student’s experience at WT. Most importantly, we want to create a partnership with you to empower students to take personal responsibility for their academic and social choices.

You are not alone. We welcome you to the journey!

Living Away From Home

Talk to them about the importance of locking doors

Teach your student how to do laundry

Have a conversation about alcohol use and your expectations

Finances

Discuss credit card use

Help your student plan a budget and stick to it

Time Management

Discuss school as a priority

Encourage your student to get involved on campus

Keeping in Touch

Set clear expectations of communication

Do not encourage your student to come home every weekend

Before your student begins their academic career, use this checklist as a guide of things you need to discuss with them:

BUFF PARENT 101 | 3

Buff Alert is an emergency notification service that gives the University the ability to communicate and quickly pass-on safety-related information through e-mail or text message regardless of your location. HOW TO ENROLL: Students must log in with their username and password to the Buff Alert registration page (www.wtamu.edu/buffalert). They can provide up to two email addresses and two cell phone numbers.

Bedding and mattress covers

Towels and hygiene products

Pictures from home

Laundry soap and laundry basket

Indoor plants

Cleaning supplies

Insurance policy numbers

Shower caddy

Leave at home:

Toasters

Pets (except fish)

Refrigerator (micro-fridges provided)

Candles

Knives

Nails and screws

Quarters for laundry. It’s free!

What would you tell parents of new freshmen

to help them deal with separation?

“In order for their child to grow into the person

they want them to become, they have to let

them go and experience new beginnings and

opportunities.”

-Morgan Adams

Major: Agricultural Media and Communications

Hometown: Ralls, TX

How did you feel being away

from your parents?

“My parents talked to me about

separation and taught me how

to take care of myself. They en-

couraged me to be independent

so I did not worry .”

-Cedric Nguimatsa

Major: Marketing

Hometown: Amarillo, TX What did your parents do to help you be

successful during the first semester?

“Both my mom and dad were extremely

supportive by consistently encouraging me

to make friends, work hard, stay true to

who I am, and continue stepping out of my

comfort zone.”

-Jynna Askew

Major: Education

Hometown: Tahoka, TX

What do you wish your parents

would have done differently

during the first semester?

“I wish they would have encour-

aged me to get more involved.”

-Katelyn Ward

Major: Agricultural Education

Hometown: Lubbock, TX

4| www.wtamu.edu/advising

1. How often do you communicate with your student on the phone or via e-mail?

Once a week

Two or three times a week

Once a day

Six times a day, maybe more. You lose track. 2. How many professors have you contacted on your student's behalf?

None

One or two

You're not sure, maybe five

All of them 3. How much input do you have in your student's course selections?

You're available to talk about it.

You have a standing appointment before each semester to discuss his or her options.

Your student must get your approval before registration day.

You study the course selections on the Web site and completely arrange your student's schedule. 4. Your student feels he or she isn't getting enough playing time on an athletic team. What do you do?

Pat your student on the back for hanging in there, attend games if you can, and cheer like crazy.

Tell your student to talk to the coach about his or her concerns.

You e-mail the coach.

You call the college president and remind him who is paying the bill.

5. Your student is having trouble writing a paper. What do you do?

You listen. You're sympathetic.

Suggest your student make appointments with the professor and the Writing Center.

Read what's been written so far and give suggestions.

Get a copy of the assignment and write the whole thing. (After all, your student is really busy.) 6. When visiting your student, how much do you help?

You don't clean his or her room. It's not your job.

You help to take out the trash.

After taking out the trash, you do the laundry.

You provide maid services and leave mints on the pillow. 7. Your student hates his or her roommate. What do you do?

Remind your student of other times he or she has successfully solved problems.

Tell your student to talk to the RA.

Storm the Office of Residence Life. You want to know what on earth is being done about this.

Call the roommate's parents and let them have it. 8. Your student has just been found responsible for a minor conduct violation. What do you do?

You take headache medication and discuss with your student the consequences of inappropriate behavior.

Show up on your student's doorstep.

Call the college president. You pay a lot of tuition—your kid should be let off the hook.

Call Alan Dershowitz and print up “Free Jenny” T-shirts.

Quiz developed by the College Board with assistance from the Dickinson College Parent Council - Spring, 2006

BUFF PARENT 101 | 5

Number of Answers: ________________

Number of Answers: ________________

Number of Answers: ________________

Number of Answers: ________________ Your answers are your grades: All A's: – You are on the Distinguished Honor Roll. Great job! Mostly A's – You are on the Honor Roll. Keep up the good work. Mostly B's – You are doing well. Mostly C's – It may be time to rethink your college habits. Mostly D's – We know you mean well, but you have just learned that hovering can be detrimental to your student. Take a deep breath!

It is hard to watch your student struggle or be uncomfortable, but being overly involved prevents him/her to learn from

mistakes and disappointments. It is very important for students to mature, form a sense of responsibility, and learn

valuable skills that will help them through adulthood. We want the college experience to be as successful as possible,

but too much parent involvement may be counterproductive and impede the student’s progress. Of course, there will be

times when parent involvement will be needed, but it is important that, on a daily basis, students handle their issues on

their own.

THE DO’S

Let the student initiate the call and learn to be okay if a few days pass without contact.

Allow the student to select classes on their own after they have talked to an academic advisor.

Encourage your student to learn to interact with people of various backgrounds and personalities.

THE DO NOT’S

Contacting your student’s instructors is unacceptable.

Do not solve problems for your student right away. Problems will arise, let the student take responsibility in solving

them.

Do not ask your student to come home every weekend.

Advising Services

WTAMU Box 60868

Canyon, Texas 79016-0001

Aug. 12 First Payment Due (Optional Payment Plan) Oct. 31 Last Date to Drop With a Guaranteed X

Aug. 21 10 a.m. / Residence Halls open Nov. 15 Fourth Payment Due

11 a.m. / Dining Hall opens Nov. 18 Priority Registration opens for current freshmen

Aug. 22 Buff Branding

Nov. 27–29

Thanksgiving Break – No Classes

Aug. 23 Last day to withdraw with 100 percent refund Noon / Class Dismisses

Aug. 26 First Day of Class 1:30 p.m. / Dining Hall Closes

Sept. 2 Labor Day – No Classes Dec. 4 Last Class Day

Sept. 9–11 iWeek Dec. 5 Dead Day - no classes

Sept. 16 Second Payment Due Dec. 6–12 Final Exams

Sept. 29–Oct. 5 Homecoming

Dec. 12 7 p.m. / Dining Hall Ccoses

Oct. 1 Greenlighting Opens Dec. 13 Noon / Residence Halls close

Oct. 3 Convocation 3 p.m. / Graduation

Oct. 15 Third Payment Due 7 p.m. / Graduation

Dec. 17 Spring’s First Payment Due (Optional Payment Plan)