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Tips for Parents

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  1. Be reassuring. Your student needs to know that he or she is doing the right thing by going away to college. Reassure your student that, yes, he or she is making the right choice.

  2. Communicate, but don’t overdo it! Oftentimes parents have the urge to call their student every day. With cell phone use so prevalent today, this is even more tempting. It is essential to keep in contact with your student, but no student wants his or her “Mommy” or “Daddy” keeping daily tabs on them.

  3. Use e-mail to talk. When a student enrolls at UPG, he or she receives their very own Pitt e-mail account. Encourage your student to use e-mail as a means of communicating. Oftentimes students will communicate via e-mail because it feels less intrusive than if a parent were calling every day.

  4. But don’t forget “snail mail.” Nothing brightens a student’s day more than receiving something in the mail in his or her residence hall. Students anxiously await for greeting cards and letters from family or friends.

  5. Send care packages. Even better than sending the occasional e-mail or note via postal mail, is the care package. Care packages are a college phenomenon, and your student will love them. Consider making a homemade care package from time to time or search for a company online that will send a pre-made package.

  6. Be there during the stressful times. College can be a very stressful time in one’s life. Your student may want to vent from time to time, and you can help by simply being there. Listen to your student without making judgments.

  7. Encourage. Part of your role as a partner during the college years is to encourage your student. Encourage them to study, to get involved, and to take over their own lives. This means cleaning up after themselves and doing their own laundry. It also means waking up in the morning and actually going to class. You can make sure your student does all of these by encouraging them.

  8. Have a discussion about alcohol & drugs. The University of Pittsburgh at Greensburg is a “dry” campus. This means no alcohol (including empty containers) or drugs and paraphernalia is permitted on campus. We treat violations of our drug & alcohol policy very seriously. Violations of this policy sometimes result in students being removed from the residence halls or suspended altogether. Have a conversation about these repercussions for violating our alcohol & drug policy.

  9. Prepare your student. Parents and guardians can be helpful by preparing their students for college. Teach them how to do laundry and about responsible spending. Teach them how to appropriately handle conflicts or problems that might arise. A parent’s first instinct is to intervene in these situations by calling the university. Give your student the advice and tools necessary to handle these problems on their own.

  10. Discuss academics. Obviously, your son or daughter is moving away in order to pursue a degree. It becomes extremely costly if your student does not do well academically. Consider asking generalized questions, such as, “How are your classes?” or “Have you done any interesting projects lately?” This can help open the channels of communication between you and your student. (In regards to student grades, please note that your student will receive his or her grades electronically – they are not sent home to parents. Be sure to discuss with your student his or her progress.)

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