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in the college yearsfor Ragin' Cajun parents

“When I was a boy of 14, myfather was so ignorant. Icould hardly stand to havethe old man around. Butwhen I got to 21, I wasastonished at how much hehad learned in 7 years.”Mark Twain

Who are our freshmenparents and students?Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Today’sComplexCollege Student Instant gratification Constant connectivity Unsure of how to balanceacademics, work, sociallives, and involvement Not sure of what theirneeds areStraight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Today’sParents Very involved Desire to protect Tendency to intercedeStraight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

What can parents expectthe first year?Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

ExpectChange Change is inevitable. Change can and will begood! Transitions are aboutto begin!Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

ExpectChallengesTop challenges of last year’sfreshmen: Time management Learning to beindependent Roommate conflicts Scheduling classes forthe spring Balance and adjustmentsStraight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

ExpectSuccessTop successes of last year’sfreshmen: Joined student organizations Used tutoring Great GPA Made new friends/positivepeer relationships Became more independent Learned balance Living Learning CommunitiesStraight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

ExpectYour LivesWill Change Younger siblings may behappy/sad to see theolder sibling leave home. If the college-boundstudent is your youngest,you will begin toreestablish a one-on-onerelationship with yoursignificant other afteryears of parenting.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Expect ThatYour StudentWill Need aSafe Haven Don’t change yourchild’s room. Their roomis their “home base”. Freshmen can gothrough some difficulttimes during the firstyear.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Don’t Expectthe Same Gradesin College as inHigh School Expect early GPAs to belower and later ones higher. It takes at least a semesterto get into a groove withcollege academics. Ask your student aboutwhat is happening in theircourses instead of focusingon the grade.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Don’t ExpectCollege StudentsOvernightIt takes time to: learn how to study, eat, do laundry, handle money etc. . .Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Expect tobe Patient! It takes time for studentsto figure it all out. Freshman year is filledwith taking exams, writingpapers, giving reports,messing up, doing well,fending off the freshmen15, eating uncountablepizzas, and attending avariety of events.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

You won’t beable to wait forthem to comehome – or leaveYour student will comehome with a whole newset of habits, particularlywhen it comes to foodand sleep.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Predictable challenges inthe first year. . .Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

First Day ofClassesGive your student somespace!Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Challenges in the Fall SemesterSEPTEMBERTrouble managing time papers and projects aren’t due untilOctober may lead to procrastinationDependence on high school friends texting and social media makes it easy tostay in touch with high school friends can sometimes hinder students frommaking new friendsStraight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Challenges in the Fall SemesterOCTOBERStressed Out About Tests And Midterms some students fall behind because of lack oftime managementLearning to Navigate a College LibraryGet First College Grades On Papers AndProjects learning what professors expect may not get same grades as high schoolLearning to Manage Their Own MoneyStudents Who Join Too Many Organizations may have trouble balancing the demandswith coursework work on research papers pressures to spend money on pizza, movies,clothes, etc.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Challenges in the Fall SemesterNOVEMBERChance of Getting Sick cold and flu season beginsRegistering for Spring Classes seeing their advisors setting schedule registering for their first Spring semesterStraight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Challenges in the Fall SemesterDECEMBER Trouble Managing Time Change of Major Lack of Sleep and Proper Nutrition Home for the Holidays Financial Concerns for SpringSemester (keeping TOPS)Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Challenges in the Spring SemesterJANUARYMARCHor bad) some students think about studyabroad registering for summer/fall termsFEBRUARYAPRIL / MAY cabin fever spring fever planning for spring break finals parental reactions to grades (good student organizations demanding time midterms declaring a major financial aid documents due moving out of residence halls moving homeStraight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

“Children have to be educatedbut they also have to be leftto educate themselves.“Ernest Dimnet – French author 1930’s

What Can Parentsdo to Help?Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

When a Problem Arises, Move LikeYour Feet are Stuck in Molasses The temptation is to intervene when astudent calls with a problem. There are resources to help studentscope. Express support; give your student timeto solve their own problems. It willultimately benefit them.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Have Your Student Check TheirUniversity Email ! ALL important information issent via email from theuniversity and instructors! Zimbra Webmail is availablevia ULink on computers, cellphones, and tablets.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Send Care Packages Students love mail and stuff theycan share with new friends. Send holiday decorations,popcorn, cookies, something fromtheir room. Make sure to send somethingspecial during finals!Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Don’t Forget to Visit!Family Weekend – September 14 Excursions to Lafayette destinations Reception with the President Tour of athletic center, art museum Movie, bingo, jazz brunch Tailgating and football gameStraight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Let your student handle problemson their own unless . . . You hear “that voice” Start with the Dean of The voice that is differentStudents office. No matter who is called, allthe relevant people will benotified and help will be setinto motion.from ordinary complaining,the voice that means thestudent is in trouble. Call the University. Don’t justcome running.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Seriously . . .PROBLEMS Stay out of administrativeissues unless your student isin genuine psychologicaldifficulty. Encourage the use ofUniversity resourcesAWARENESS IS THE KEY Set guidelines for staying intouch. What is comfortablewith student and parent Pay attention to signs if yourstudent is in trouble Make a date to see yourstudentStraight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

We communicate withparents all year long!Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Communicating Important Topicsin all SeasonsSummer TopicsFall TopicsSpring Topics Immunizations Family Weekend Finding the right major Transferring credits to UL Being a college parent Summer part time jobs SOUL Camp Money matters Internships What to pack for housing Safety on campus Doing well on finals Parking and transportation Getting involved Tuition and fees Registering for spring Lee Hall resources Tutoring Study Abroad Roommates and homesickness Becoming a sophomoreStraight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Sign-Up for ParentCommunication Email address from parentorientation registration willautomatically sign you up for theparent newsletter Anyone not attending parentorientation can sign up at the ght Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

“The most important thingthat parents can teach theirchildren is how to get alongwithout them.”Frank A. Clark, US Congressmen 1905

Tips from StudentsBri Perkins - Harvey, LA“Most freshman will change their major whilegoing through the transition into adulthoodand learning more about themselves . besupportive because they will be afraid to tellyou and afraid of not being accepted.”Isioma Anazodo - Katy, TX“Sometimes, it's completelyokay to let your child handlesome problems by themselves.College is for making mistakesand most importantly, learningfrom them.”Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Tips from StudentsSamuel Jones – Bastrop, LA“Encourage their child to experiencepeople who are not like them. They willnot only learn about others ways of life,but they will identify who they are as aperson so much faster.”Cameron White – Marrero, LA“Parents shouldn’t contact a professor.It’s up to the student to speak to theirprofessor. This will prepare them forwhen they begin working in theirfuture career.”Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Life Skills washing clotheshealthy eatinggetting enough sleepnot ignoring signs of illnessbudgeting moneyRelationshipsin the Family discuss your family’schanging relationshipsExpectationsand Goals academicfinancialtime managementinvolvement on campusBeforeSchoolStarts . . .Have these conversationswith your student beforethey leave for college.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Above all else remember Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

MaintainPerspective Listen more, interveneless, be supportive. Encourage the use ofcampus resources. Allow students to makemistakes.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Resist theurge to fix itfor them Ask them “What areyou going to do aboutthat?” Be your student’scoach.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

“The greatest gifts you cangive your children are theroots of responsibility andthe wings of independence.”Denis Waitley– author and motivational speaker

Who is the Office ofFirst-Year Experienceand what do we do?Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

OFYE isHere to HelpLee Hall, Suite 106 337-482-6599The Office of First-Yearfirstyear.louisiana.edu OFYE@louisiana.eduExperience is here to help!The OFYE team is here tosupport first-yearstudents and theirparents or guardians.Feel free to reach out toour office with anyquestions you have. Weare here to help!Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

Social MediaFor a GoodReason! OFYE is UL Lafayette’sleading resource to helpfreshmen excel. We are active onFacebook, Twitter,Instagram, and Snapchat. We invite your student toLike us onFacebook@ULFIRSTYEARlike and follow our office!Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience

What isUNIV 100?UNIV 100 is a required 3credit-hour coursedesigned to help first-yearUL Lafayette studentstransition successfully fromhigh school to university lifeand academic work.The course has 2 segments:1. First-Year Seminar, and2. Cajun Connection.Straight Talk forRagin’ Cajun ParentsOffice of First-Year Experience