Welcome to the inaugural e-newsletter to family members of new first year students at Minnesota State University, Mankato. We are excited about the new academic year and all of the educational and co-curricular activities that are available to MSU students.
Student success is the cornerstone of the educational experience at MSU. We look forward to the opportunity of partnering with you in helping to shape future leaders both within the state of Minnesota and globally. Our First Year Experience Office has a mission to assist both students and their families in making a successful transition to the University.
In the event we can ever provide assistance to you as a family in understanding the University's commitment to student success, please feel free to let the First Year Experience Office know. As Vice President for Student Affairs, I want to officially welcome you to being part of the MSU family and encourage you to participate in the Family Weekend activities scheduled for October 13 through October 15, 2006. More information on these activities can be found on our MSU Family Weekend website.
Should you ever need assistance or have questions that I could provide additional information, please feel free to contact me.
Sincerely,
Patricia Swatfager-Haney, Ph.D.
Vice President for Student Affairs
It has been about a month since your loved one has entered the next phase of their life: the First Year of College. Since then, you probably have received that first phone call, some brief emails, and the occasional letter home. Despite the attempts of contact, you might be asking yourself, is what they are saying true? Are they really telling me everything? Do you have questions that they can't answer? Do they have questions that you can't answer?
These types of anxieties are perfectly natural for parents of first year students. The office of First Year Experience is here to help you relieve these anxieties of not knowing.
Our office is located on campus in Maverick Hall of Gage Complex. If you or your student has questions, we encourage parents and students to stop in, call (507) 389-5498 (on-campus), 1-800-722-0544 (off-campus), or visit our FYE website.
The house feels empty. The quiet is almost as deafening as the chaos surrounding the last couple of months. Life has changed for your student, and for you.
A casual observer can see the change taking place in the students on campus. They are getting used to dorm food, roommates, conflicting priorities and their new life. Classes are in full-swing with papers being formulated, assignments due and group projects underway. Students are starting to make important life choices that will directly impact their success as a first year college student. It is an exciting and challenging time in the life of your student.
This can also be a challenging time in your life also. Much emphasis is placed on the successful student transition to the college environment. Very little attention, however, is placed on the change in family dynamics that occurs as a result of a child leaving for college.
Parents and families also go through a transition when a student goes off to college. Dr. Karen Much, Associate Professor and Director of the MSU Counseling Center, offers the following advice to parents and families as you begin your transition.
Sending your son or daughter off to college is a major transition, not just for your freshman, but for the entire family as well. Whether you decide to change your son or daughter's room into an office, offer it to a younger sibling, or rent it out to Uncle Ned, it is a time of major change. Take this opportunity to discuss how things will be different — like what to do about that old curfew, who pays for what on the credit card you sent to school with your student, and how often you are willing to do your student's laundry during weekend visits.
As for your freshman, he or she may be learning how to share a room for the first time, figuring out how to get to class without a parental alarm clock, and almost every student gets the privilege of discovering what cafeteria foods are agreeable. As your son or daughter is learning that not all grilled cheese sandwiches are created equal and living in the residential hall is noisier than anticipated, he or she is also making an educational transition. Most students struggle initially with the increased demands of collegiate coursework, even those who got straight A's in high school.
College courses are typically more demanding than high school, and most professors do not visit students in their residential halls to ask them why they have not completed an assignment or turned in a paper. At any time, if your son or daughter is struggling academically or feels like they do not understand a class; encourage them to speak with their professor about it (the earlier the better). They may also want to visit other appropriate university offices, such as the Center for Academic Success, the Counseling Center, or their advisor.
Students also may struggle initially with adapting to the college environment. Not only are they no longer living in their familiar home, all the friends they have attended school with for sometimes several years are no longer around. Students who experience homesickness usually find that it passes within a few weeks. Any student who would like help dealing with homesickness or transitioning to college in general may want to schedule an appointment with a psychologist in the Counseling Center to discuss their concerns.
Here are some suggestions to make the transition go as easy as possible for you and your freshman:
College students are usually too cool to admit that they like to hear from you, but most of them love contact from home (especially if it is not in the format of a lovey-dovey message that their roommate can hear). Most students will be happy to talk to you about how it's going, as long as you aren't quizzing them about whether or not they got up for class and did their homework each time you talk.
College students generally love a visit from parents and family members that includes a care package from home, a shopping spree, or going out to lunch or dinner. Of course, they won't admit this; see above.
College students have to make a major transition from high school to college, and it is usually rather challenging. Don't be surprised if you get a call from your student complaining that they are bored or they don't like their classes or they want to come home (or all of the above). Most often, this phone call is a reaction to feeling overwhelmed. Open your home to your student as much as you feel comfortable, but encourage your student to get involved rather than coming home every weekend. The happiest and best-adjusted students are ones that get involved in clubs, organizations, and other university activities which help them develop post high-school identities and help them feel like they belong. Many freshmen think about dropping out their first semester — typically, if they decide to complete the semester before making a decision about quitting school, they decide they want to stay.
If at any time it seems your son or daughter is going through more than just a transition, or you have questions about whether or not what they are experiencing is typical, please call the Counseling Center (507-389-1455) and consult with one of the psychologists on staff. We can help you determine if there is need for concern, and help you develop a plan of action, if appropriate. You may also want to encourage your son or daughter to schedule an appointment to be seen for an individual counseling session to help sort things out.
Living with another person is always an adjustment. Attending college is an adjustment. And, since living with someone else in a residence hall room combines both elements, it is likely that there will be days when your student is "getting along great" with their roommate and days they wished their roommate moved out.
What should you do if your student is describing their current roommate experience to you as less than ideal?
Conflicts are inevitable as both students adjust to this living experience and have different needs, values, likes and dislikes. Your student may simply want to vent to you or the experience they are sharing is simply a "sound byte" of their day or week. Avoid volunteering to intervene; your student may tell you less about their experiences in the future if that is your first reaction.
Instant Messaging or sending an email is not an effective way to deal with conflicts. Encourage your student to share face-to-face with their roommate their concern and what they need in this shared space to be successful.
"When your friends are in our room so much, I feel like I don't have any room to do my own things. How about we designate some times when no guests can come over?"
In my experience, most reoccurring roommate conflicts occur when students choose not to talk about their concerns with their roommate or try to be "too nice" when discussing their individual needs. At the beginning of the year, your student received a roommate agreement and they were encouraged to engage in a dialogue about these common sources of conflicts. Some students completed them while others threw them away. When you are hearing of a conflict, encourage your student to revisit the agreed upon expectations or, if they didn't complete a roommate agreement, encourage them to pick up another one at the front desk of their residential hall.
Do they want to practice their roommate conversation with you? Do they want your advice and guidance? Do they want you to ask them how the conversation went next time you talk? Recognize that how you want to help and how they want you to help them may be different. "Letting Go" and "Letting (your student) Grow" is difficult at times; however, helping your student to develop conflict resolution skills will provide them benefits in many future environments.
The Community Advisor (CA) can help mediate roommate conflicts and the Complex Director can help when the conflict involves a policy violation. Room changes also can give your student a "fresh start" in a different environment and students can find out what rooms are available by speaking with the Administrative Assistant at the front desk of their residential hall.
As you help your student navigate their college transition and find yourself stuck, needing advice, or wanting to know a "next step" please contact the Residential Life Office at 389-1011.
Torin Akey
Associate Director, Residential Life
It is just around the corner, so mark your calendars now for Family Weekend 2006,
October 13-15, 2006. All family members are invited to participate in the new tradition at Minnesota State University Mankato. There will be numerous events to entertain you, involve, and most importantly, inform you. You will not want to miss this opportunity to participate as a member of the MSU family and community.
Bill Watts, Co-Chair of this year's event says; "Make sure not to miss out on Friday night's events, Comedy Sportz is a wonderful interactive show that the whole family will enjoy. In addition, there will be great prizes given away at the Family Weekend Welcome in the Centennial Student Union Ballroom on Saturday Morning. And don't forget to register early for the Family Weekend BBQ to receive discounted tickets!"
Please don't forget to pick-up your free Family Weekend button at the Registration & Check Information table outside the Barnes & Noble Bookstore in the Centennial Student Union. Registration begins on Friday, October 13 at 4:30-7:30pm. Wear the button to various Family Weekend activities and receive discounts on admission. The first 1000 visitors to the table will receive a free gift. Also be sure to register your student to win one of five $50 flex-dollar prizes!
Friday, October 13 from 4:30 -7:30 p.m.
Saturday, October 14 from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Centennial Student Union Main Level (left of Barnes & Noble)
According to Clark Johnson, Student Relations Coordinator of the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, "Parents and students have the chance to enjoy breakfast rolls, juice and coffee as they meet Dean John Alessio and college faculty members. Tour WALTER, our world-class weather center and visit our nationally recognized Force Science Research Center for the study of officer performance. View a GIS Remote Sensing demonstration and check out our nationally renowned E-Museum. At 11:00 a.m., we will hold a panel of SBS Alumni who will discuss how their MSU education affected their life."
Many college open houses, socials and tours are scheduled from 10:00 a.m. until Noon on Saturday, October 14, 2006. The colleges hosting events include:
The night life in Mankato provides students and residents with a variety of entertainment possibilities. During Family Weekend 2006, the women's volleyball team will not leave their fans disappointed as they host St. Cloud State University as they battle over position in the North Central Conference. In addition to volleyball, the men's hockey team will take to the ice to battle the University of Notre Dame. Students get in free to both events with the use of their MavCard. However, if sporting events do not suit you, take advantage of the top-quality theater productions offered at the MSU Performing Arts Center. During Family Weekend 2006, Peter Pan will be performed in Ted Paul Theatre on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. The show promises to be very enjoyable for all ages.
For a complete list of activities associated with the open houses, socials and tours, as well as a complete listing of all events and times of Family Weekend 2006 website.
Exciting news! The MavCash vending feature of your student's MavCard is now set up to accept online payments. Please check out the information on the MavCard web page and click on the "MavCash Online now available" link.
Enrollment in the installment payment plan with the university is currently an automatic process; no application form needs to be completed. Students with an unpaid balance on their university account are automatically charged a $30 installment fee approximately one week after the first financial aid disbursement has occurred each semester. Students will receive e-mail reminders when installment payment dates are approaching. At this time, October 6 and November 3 are the remaining payment dates for fall semester. Go to the Important Dates page to view other important financial dates.
The Campus Hub representatives are happy to help you navigate the financial policies and processes that affect your student. Please remember, though, that federal and state data privacy laws prohibit our staff from speaking about any specific items that appear on your son's or daughter's records unless we have been provided with written authorization to release that information to you. Providing financial support does not automatically grant parental access to student financial records, according to these laws. Students who wish to provide this authorization can simply stop by the Campus Hub, 117 Centennial Student Union, to complete and sign the appropriate form. You may view this form online at the Forms page and click on "Authorization for Release of Information." We appreciate your understanding.
MSU students are expected to open, read and respond appropriately to e-mails sent from campus faculty, staff, or departments. Student Financial Services communicates a variety of important notices to our students via e-mail, which include tuition due date reminders, information regarding financial aid eligibility, and notices of account transactions. Please remind your student to monitor his/her university e-mail on a frequent, regular basis. As always, if there are any questions regarding the messages received, please encourage him/her to contact us at the Campus Hub right away. We're here to help!
| September 25-October 1, 2006 | Homecoming |
| October 13-15, 2006 | MSU Family Weekend |
| October 25, 2006 | Major Fair |
| October 27, 2006 | No Classes |
| November 9, 2006 | First Day of Spring Term 2007 Registration |
| November 15, 2006 | Deadline for withdrawal of individual full-term classes |
| November 22, 2006 | No Evening Classes |
| November 23-25, 2006 | No classes for Thanksgiving holiday |
Comments and questions about the Family Connection Newsletter can be directed to Parry Telander at parry.telander@mnsu.edu
