September 2009, Issue 1

Welcome to the year's first edition of DU Parent Connection. This e-newsletter is a great resource for you to receive updates on what's happening at Dominican University. The newsletter is just one part of our growing parent program.

We have continued to offer the Parent Guide for new student parents as a resource on campus offices, services and programs. If you are an existing student parent and would like a copy of the guide please let us know. An online version is available at www.dom.edu/parents.

It's a very exciting time of year for parents who are helping students prepare to leave for college for the first time, or to return for another year of school. Hovering in the background of many parent's minds are concerns for their student's physical health and wellbeing. The Wellness Center at Dominican is prepared to take good care of students physical and mental health when they arrive on campus, so we coordinate student's health history, immunization records and the Student Health Insurance Plan. Our ability to provide excellent care to your student depends on our receiving preliminary paperwork  from each student before the fall term starts.

This fall, resident students are busy settling into their new home away from home here at Dominican University. While this is a very fun and exciting part of their college experience, it is also a time of change and transition. Many residents will have feelings of homesickness as they adjust to college life. If your son or daughter struggles with homesickness, encourage them to connect with their Resident Assistant (RA). RAs are students who are carefully selected for their ability to advise and aid resident students in everyday situations. RAs are a great resource for students who are homesick. They can help students get involved in programs and activities on their floor or around campus, or can help residents meet some of their neighbors and adjust to their new community. All RAs have been new Dominican students at some point, and can relate with the challenges of adjusting to a new school and environment. Sometimes students just need someone to talk to- and that's what an RA is there for.