University of Colorado at Colorado Springs Parent Guide
Advice to Families of Incoming Students
The Office of First Year Experience works to help students be academically and socially successful. We are glad that you and your student are now members of the UCCS community and look forward to getting to know you.
Studies have shown that families play an important role in helping make the first year of college successful. While this is a time to let students develop their independence, that doesn’t mean you will stop supporting them. Here are five suggestions for helping your student thrive.
Be realistic
Help your student create a study plan. Students should expect to spend at least two hours studying for every one hour they are in class. This means that if they are taking 15 credit hours, they should plan to study a minimum of 30 hours per week outside of class.
Set goals and expectations around finances. The first year of college is a time when students may rack up a lot of debt if they do not have a budget.
Encourage Involvment
Urge your student to participate in at least one club or organization at UCCS.
Advise your student to make connections with their professors.
Expect and encourage changes
Positive changes you are likely to see include making better decisions, improving study habits/time management, and expressing new ideas. Encourage and generate talking points so that you can stay aware of your student’s development. Negative changes could include poor sleep habits and lack of effective time management.
Be supportive and know your resources
Call the Office of First Year Experience at (719) 255-3688 to get connected to the resources that will be able to best assist you.
Stay in touch and send care pacages
Send a note, a card, a bag of cookies or some toiletries. What you send is not important, but it is important to let your student know that you love and care about them.
