Southern Oregon University Parent Guide
Welcome to Southern Oregon University
Your student’s success is our shared priority. I want to assure you that we are committed to working with you and your student to ensure that your expectations are met and even exceeded.
In order to realize this commitment, allow me to share what you can expect of us:
- Resources and expertise within the wide range of services we provide to help students enroll, achieve, and make positive choices;
- Environments conducive to success, from the classroom to housing to internships and service
- opportunities in the community;
- Intellectual stimulation and academic rigor—to prepare our graduates to solve complex problems and be leaders in their communities;
- Accountability for unreasonable behavior, provided in a developmental way that involves you when and if appropriate.
We also have some expectations of your student:
- Treat the educational experience as a job, spend on average two hours studying for every hour of class time (45 hours/week total for 15 credits);
- Utilize resources and expertise, seek out assistance when needed and offered;
- Engage in meaningful activities, from service to athletics to leadership, to create a context for what is learned in the classroom;
- Make good choices—for themselves and in relation to others;
- Make meaning of their experiences as they go so they can find their particular path to a fulfilling life.
And finally, we have expectations of you:
- Help your student make meaning by providing perspective, especially when times are difficult;
- Stay in touch—with your student and with us, to make sure your questions are answered and we are aware of any problems that might be more apparent to you than to us;
- Let us know if you have concerns, as we are always looking to improve;
- Respect boundaries, processes, and new directions—your student needs to remain at the center of decisions and responsibility for the educational experience.
On behalf of the faculty and staff of Southern Oregon University, I welcome your thoughts, input, suggestions, and concerns. I also look forward to seeing you on campus as frequently as possible, Orientation through Commencement.
All my best,
Jonathan Eldridge
Vice President for Student Affair
