Helping Your Student to Succeed

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Helping Your Student to Succeed

• Rosalind V. Alderman
• Associate Dean for Student Life

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Your role

• Why have this conversation?
• Parents DO make a difference in students lives
• Higher education is a partnership- you are a part
  of this partnership
• You have already given your students the tools
  they need to succeed!
• Survey data has enlightened how to help students
  succeed

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Top Ten Myths of Student Success

• The main focus of students needs to be on
  academics exclusively
• Making friends will distract students from their
  studies
• Having a job is detrimental to a students GPA
• Students need to figure it out on their own-
  asking for help is a sign of weakness, admitting
  defeat..

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Top Ten Myths cont.

• All students take good care of themselves
  physically and emotionally
• Getting involved in co-curricular activities as a
  freshman hurts a students GPA
• Living on-campus is a distraction for students

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Top Ten Myths cont.

• Students should wait until mid-semester to see
  how they are performing- and then seek resources
  as needed
• It is relatively easy to recover from a bad first
  semester
• What do you think?

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What does make a difference

• Not believing myths
• Communicating with your son/daughter
• Planning ahead for issues you may encounter
• Knowing that going to college is a transition,
  and transitions can be awkward and messy

• Remember each student is different
• Learning all you can while at orientation- get to
  know about campus resources
• Know you are not alone!

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More of what makes a difference

• Encouraging your student to become engaged in our
  campus community
• Service Learning
• International experiences
• Leadership experiences
• Experiential learning (internships, undg.
  research)
• Faith development

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Contact information

• Rosalind V. Alderman
• Associate Dean for Student Life
• ralderman_at_stmarytx.edu
• 210 436-3714