Keep in Touch—You’ll Help Your Student Succeed

It’s common for resident students to grow homesick when they’re away at school, even if they don’t always know how to put their feelings into words. Studies have shown that effective communication between parents and students can make a positive difference—reducing depression and anxiety and improving your son’s or daughter’s university experience. Here are some suggestions for maintaining frequent, and successful, contact:

• Call, text, e-mail or IM your son or daughter on a regular basis, but try to avoid being a “helicopter” parent! If you and your student have busy schedules, you may want to pick a specific time each week to regroup, such as Sunday recaps or mid-week study break sessions.
   
• Send family photos. While hard copies in the mail can be a pleasant surprise, busy parents and students may want to set up a shared photo gallery on a site such as Flickr or Kodak where they can upload, view, and comment on photos easily.
   
• Visit in person, especially on major occasions such as Orientation, Convocation, and Homecoming. Seeing faces from home is a powerful mood-booster.
   
• Consider attending a Pace sporting event or performance—you can see our athletic schedule on the Pace Athletics Web site or scheduled art events and performances on the Pace events calendar.
   
• Send care packages. Midterms are an especially stressful time for students, and you can help by sending instant meals and healthy snacks. Don’t forget that even commuter students need a little extra support during exam times; they could use care packages, too!
   
• Learn with your student. While you may not have time to tackle a full reading list, ask your son or daughter about his or her favorite courses or extracurricular activities so that the next time you come across a similar story online or in a magazine, you can share and discuss it.
   
• Don’t be afraid to tackle the difficult topics. Finances, health, relationships, peer pressure—college students face a number of complex issues that can affect not only their academic performance but also their personal well being. Discussing difficult issues with your students before and during their time at college can ensure that they are better prepared, both for today and for the future.
   
• Take advantage of Pace’s already existing networks. If the above seems a lot to tackle, don’t panic! Pace has set up a number of online services and support groups to help you connect with your student (and other Pace parents with similar experiences). Become a fan of Pace University on Facebook to stay up-to-date on Pace events and news. Connect with other parents through our Westchester and New York City Parents Association, and stay tuned for more tips in upcoming Keeping Pace newsletters!