FastTrackSummer Orientation

Saturday, July 10, 2010

Supporting Your Transition

Mike Bergler, CFREExecutive Director, Constituent

Relations

* Welcome* A Parent’s Top Ten List* Door Prizes* Dismissed for Lunch!

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Welcome

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Roll CallOrange

CountySouthern CaliforniaNorthern CaliforniaOut of State

First child to go to college!Last child to go to college!

A Parent’s Top Ten List

A sampling of advice from Concordia and

other parents on how to manage this

exciting transition. 4

A Parent’s Top Ten List

#10 - Squeeze in a road trip, or at least a 1:1 night out for quality time.

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A Parent’s Top Ten List

Parents your 1:1 night comes later…

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A Parent’s Top Ten List

#9 - Go shopping!

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They need room supplies, but they also need Budgeting 101.

A Parent’s Top Ten List

#8 - Find a friend to talk to that can emotionally support you. 8

A Parent’s Top Ten List

When your student arrives on campus

#7 - Send mail! 9

A Parent’s Top Ten List

#6 - Encourage them to find the solution.

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A Parent’s Top Ten List#5 - Encourage them to get involved

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* Bible studies* Campus church* Clubs,

intramurals…

A Parent’s Top Ten List#4 - Get involved with Concordia as parents

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* Concerts on the Green

* Eagle Golf Classic* Women’s Holiday

Tea

A Parent’s Top Ten List

#3 - Communicate,

communicate,

communicate! 13

A Parent’s Top Ten List

#2 - Don’t change the locks! Or their room…

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A Parent’s Top Ten List

But set expectations for visits. Life will be different when they come home.

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A Parent’s Top Ten List

#1 - Turn to the Lord in prayer!

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Door prizes

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Welcome to the Concordia Family!

Thanks for coming to FastTrack. Have a blessed

day!

Mike Bergler, CFREExecutive Director, Constituent

Relations949-854-8002 x2586 (xALUM)

family@cui.eduwww.cui.edu/parents

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Tips On Supporting Your Transition

Derek VergaraDean of Student Affairs

Smile!

Show confidence and reassurance to your new college student. Reassure your child that they are making the right decision to go to college.

Don’t wait until move-in day or the end of August to discuss and show your thoughts and feelings about separating.

Prepare yourself for “the ride home”

Do Not Call Every Day

While closeness and open communication are essential qualities to have with your new college student, begin to curtail your daily communication with them.

No college student wants their Mom and Dad checking up on them daily.

Ask “Generalized” Questions(but not too many)

As parents, we believe that we have the “right to know” everything that goes on with our children…

“How was WOW (Week of Welcome)?” “Are you having fun?”

Listen with an Open Mind

Listen and resist judgment Don’t immediately give solutions and try

to “fix it” for them When asked, give them options and

resources to tap in to Give them the freedom to make their own

choices

Have a Discussion about “Facebook”, “Myspace”, and “Twitter”

Personal electronic websites are positive and negative

Encourage your student to be judicious Employers use these sites to research

prospective and qualified hires.

Encourage Them

Encourage them to take over the daily tasks of their lives if they have not already.

Encourage them to take responsibility for their own actions

Encourage them to explore life’s possibilities

Encourage Involvement

Inside and Outside of the Classroom Engage in their community Encourage to leave their “mark” at CUI!

Have Another Discussion About Alcohol and Drugs

In a recent survey of our current students, alcohol use/abuse and marijuana use are prevalent among our students

Alcohol Edu While alcohol and drug use are common,

CUI will not tolerate abuse of these substances.

Do NOT Make Surprise Visits To School

While surprise visits can be exciting, I encourage you to set a mutual date/time to visit.

Talk about visitation and respect their wishes

Although it may seem easy, entertaining parents/family is stressful and takes some maneuvering for the college student.

Resist the Urge to Decorate Your Student’s New Room

Impetus to building and strengthening roommate relations

Develops positive boundaries between parent-student

Leaves the student responsible and accountable to their own space in a large, “not so private” college community

Talk About Credit Cards and Finances Before School Begins

Discuss your partnership with financing their college education

Discuss the “financial strategy” for the next 4 to 5 years

Allowing the student into this realm will relieve much of the psychological stress associated with financing college

Be Interested, Not Critical, Of Course Selection

Students may change their academic major 3 to 4 times during their tenure in college.

Express interest in, rather than criticism, of their choices.

Ask yourself: “Who’s career aspiration is in question…mine or his/hers?”

Your Student’s Grades Are No Longer Sent Home Via US Mail

Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

All “educational” files are confidential If you have an investment in and/or a high

“need to know” your student’s grades, discuss and make a mutual agreement on this subject.

Welcome to the CUI Family!