Seasonal Student Issues

There's a seasonal ebb and flow when it comes to student issues. Here are a few things your student may be experiencing at this time:

• Exploration and acknowledgement of personal values
• Long-distance relationship strain
• Increase in feelings of loneliness and homesickness
• A desire to feel connected to the campus
• Roommate adjustments
• Experimentation with alcohol and other drugs
• Getting acclimated to a new type of academics
• Figuring out how to get organized and manage time
• Searching for a sense of belonging

7 Ways to Support Your Student at College While Fostering Self-Responsibility

1. Help Students Make Their Own Decisions. When you say, "Well, what do you think you should do?" during a phone conversation, you're offering your support but, instead of jumping in with foolproof advice, you're helping your student figure out her own answer.

2. Communicate without Over-Communicating. Check in with each other a few times each week via e-mail or phone. However, don't feel like you need to touch base every day-there needs to be some space in between so your student can gain a sense of independence.

3. Don't Solve Everything for Them. The tendency to jump in and "take care of things" is natural. Yet, students need to start learning to do these things for themselves. So, try not to fix things-instead, ask questions like "What steps have you taken so far?" to help your student take the lead and take self-responsibility.