Tips For Families

WELCOMEAnna CareyDirector – New Student Services/Family Outreach

FAMILY TIPSSteve VanderStaayVice Provost for Undergraduate Education, Professor of

English

STUDENT PROFILE &

Tip #1Relax!

Your student has chosen a great school!

Recent Assessment Data

Top 2% of 560 US Masters Granting Universities (Survey of Earned Doctorates)

72% Graduation Rate (2011-2012)

“Value Added” is “greater than predicted”(Collegiate Learning Assessment)

84 %84% of Graduating Seniors report they would “go to Western” if they could start their higher education

experience over again.

Tip #2Be confident:

You have done your job.

Tip #2

“I know you will make good decisions.”

Tip #2

“Everyone makes mistakes: your job is to learn from them.”

Tip #3

Let them go but stay in touch.

Tip #3Don’t say

“Are you homesick?”

Say“Tell me about . . .”

Tip #4

Support their exploration but…

Tip #4

Encourage progress toward major declaration

Tip #4Explore and Research InterestsComplete prerequisitesDeclare a Major

Milestone

Major declaration by end of sophomore year.

Tip #5

Let them know of your sacrifices.

Tip #6

Help them learn from the past.

DifficultiesSuccesses

Our Students#1 Difficulty

Time Management

Other Difficulties we can Anticipate• The pace and difficulty of course work• Winter blues• Illness• A difficult class

What to Say?“That’s tough.”

“That happened to me…”

“That eventually happens to everyone…”

Successful Students:• Get involved/work/volunteer/participate

• Form study groups

• Use a calendar and set deadlines

• Use their professor’s office hours

Successful Students use campus resources:• The Outdoor Center

• The Tutoring Center

• The Advising Center

• The Math Help Center

Tina LoudonDirector – Academic and Career Development Services

ADVISINGACADEMIC

Advising Day One• Advising session with faculty or staff advisor• Introduction to GUR’s and WWU graduation

requirements• Course selection as related to major interest or to

explore potential areas of interest• Advising Resources • Online Registration System• Staffed labs in afternoon for students to start

planning fall class schedule

Advising Day Two• Class registration with assistance from

faculty/staff advisor and ASA

• Schedule modifications possible up to noon of next day (noon Monday for those registering on Saturday)

General University Requirements

• Class registration with assistance from faculty/staff advisor and ASA

• Schedule modifications possible up to noon of next day (noon Monday for those registering on Saturday)

Graduation Requirements

• DTA or completion of WWU General Education requirements

• Complete a minimum of 180 credits• Complete an approved academic major• Complete a minimum of 60 upper division credits• Satisfy the writing proficiency requirements• Complete a minor, if required• Meet minimum grade point average requirements

(scholarship standard required by major and cumulative WWU GPA of 2.0)

How it Adds UpGURs: 65 credits (approximately)Major coursework: 60 – 105Electives: 10 - 55

Advising at WWU• Undecided/undeclared students are advised in

Academic Advising Center or Student Outreach Services

• Once declared, students are assigned a faculty advisor

• Students are not required to see an advisor to register for classes (except students with 105 or more credits)

• Students need to be proactive in seeking advising

ACADEMIC and CAREER DEVELOPMENT SERVICESAcademic Advising, Old Main 380, 360.650.3850

Tutoring Center, Old Main 380, 360.650.3855 Career Services Center, Old Main 280, 360.650.3240

www.wwu.edu/advisingwww.wwu.edu/depts/tutorialcenter

www.careers.wwu.edu

WELLNESSEmily Gibson, M.D.Medical Director – Student Health Center

Dedicated to helping students be well, get well, and stay well

life long.

HEALTH &COUNSELING,

First Things FirstMMR Vaccination requirement for enrollment• MMR is the only required vaccination at WWU• Meningococcal vaccination is strongly

recommended but not required. Students are required to sign an online information sheet prior to initial registration. Vaccine is available at the health center on campus $15 under age 19, $85 for age 19 or older

• Other vaccinations strongly recommended: TDAP (tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis), HPV, Hepatitis A, influenza (starting in October)

Students Under 18• If a student will be under 18 at any time they

will be on campus, we need parental/guardian permission before treating minors in our clinic. Form available on our website.

• Exceptions: we treat without permission in cases of emergencies or legally protected conditions such as mental health, sexually transmitted diseases, pregnancy and contraceptive visits

Student Health Center

Located at the south end of campus in the Campus Services Facility above Parking and Police

Student Health Center• Open weekdays during the academic quarters• Closed for appointments during intersessions,

evenings, weekends and holidays• Year round 24 hour free telephone consulting

nurse with WWU physician back up• Refills, emails, electronic messages available year

round

Student Health Center• $72 Mandatory Quarterly Counseling, Health and

Wellness Fee provides free unlimited visits in the health center, free brief counseling in the Counseling Center

• Additional fees may be charged for dispensed prescription medication from our formulary, durable goods, procedures, vaccinations and laboratory testing

Student Health Center• We do not currently directly bill insurance plans--

ONLY Group Health/Kaiser Permanente. A billing sheet with appropriate codes will be emailed to the student on request to facilitate self-billing of insurance for reimbursement.

• Insurance is strongly encouraged but not required by WWU.  It will be federally mandated under the Affordable Care Act (ACA) starting in January 2014 and various individual plans will be available through the Washington State Insurance Exchanges with potential for government need-based subsidy.

• Option to stay on parental health insurance to age 26

Student Health Center• Optional quarterly or annual coverage available

to enrolled WWU students offered through Wells Fargo through our website

• https://studentinsurance.wellsfargo.com• Plan premiums for 2013-2014 are anticipated to

be under $170 per month with marked increases over the next two years as the full mandate of the Affordable Care Act takes effect.

Student Health Center• Online services: all electronic paperless clinic for

the past 10 years

• online past medical history and symptom specific surveys

• password protected secure patient web portal with access to chart notes, labs and xray reports and patient education materials

• online refill requests and direct secure messaging to health care providers

• Ask the Doc anonymous question and answer service with over 4000 in our archives

Student Health Center• Telephone Services—24 hour free access to

consulting nurse with physician back up• Some illness can be treated by protocol over the

phone without being seen –i.e. viral upper respiratory infections, viral gastroenteritis, uncomplicated influenza and urinary tract infections

• In-clinic formulary of 60 of the most common prescription medications available for purchase, including antibiotics, contraceptives and antidepressants

Student Health CenterCold Self Care Packs

Access to free over the counter pain relievers, lozenges, cough syrup, tea, chicken soup, etc at the Health Center

Triage NurseIn person evaluation by Registered Nurse with ability to assess and treat per protocol, i.e. viral upper respiratory illness, strep throat, conjunctivitis, uncomplicated urinary tract infection, some STI screening

Student Health Center• Unlimited appointments per quarter without co-

pays• Over 100 Same Day Appointments available every

day –we see today’s ill students today• Schedule ahead appointments for routine mental

health, women's reproductive health, sports medicine, travel clinic, physicals

• Acute illness, injury, chronic disease monitoring and management, minor surgery, colposcopy services

• Lab Services including outside doctor orders

Student Health CenterSpecialty Services

• Free unlimited access to mental health providers, including psychiatry consultation and chemical dependency expertise

• Free unlimited access to dietician (in the Rec Center)

• Free unlimited access by referral to athletic trainer (in the Rec Center) for injury rehabilitation

• Travel Clinic and vaccinations (charges for services)

Counseling Center• Located in Old Main, fifth floor• Doctoral and Master’s Level therapists with

expertise in college-age emotional issues• Brief one-to-one counseling model with referral to

private therapists in the community for longer term counseling

• Group classes and support groups• Urgent appointments available every day and

always 24/7 on call telephone consultation

Mental Health ConcernsDuring their years in college:

• Studies indicate 25% of college students experience anxiety and/or depressive symptoms that interfere significantly with their academic progress

• Over 10% experience significant suicidal thoughts • 1-2% attempt suicide• Abuse of alcohol and recreational drugs

significantly increases risk of completed suicide

Prevention & Wellness Services

• Wellness Outreach Center in Viking Union for health information

• Alcohol and Other Drug Counseling Services (ADCAS) for students who have concerns or who are mandated for consultation due to violations

• Crime and Sexual Assault Services (CASAS) for support and advocacy

• Men Against Violence Against Women• Peer Health Educator Program

SAFETYMichael SledgeAssistant Dean of Students

CAMPUS

CommunityEveryone plays a role in creating a safe community

• students

• police

• faculty and staff

• residence hall staff

Crime & Emergency

• Clery crime statistics• Theft• Western Alerts• Emergency 3-day kits

Alcohol & Drugs• Campus policies are more restrictive than

the law• Policies are enforced• Educational focus

What to tell your Student About

Safety• Secure their belongings• Sign up for Western Alerts• Trust their instincts• Know the resources• 650-SAFE• Residence Life staff• Police• CASAS

Tip #1Relax!

Your student has chosen a great school!