Resources for Parents

Congratulations on your student’s successful transition from home to campus, high school to college classrooms, and kitchen table to Aramark. We know that it can be an adjustment for families as well as students, and offer the following gentle advice to help you support your student while also encouraging their growth at college.

• Your student is old enough to make their own day-to-day decisions.
• Your student is very capable of succeeding in college on their own.
• The foundation parents lay throughout elementary and high school serves to sustain college students through their four-year university experience.
• Ongoing communication is vital to your student’s success. Whether your contact is by telephone, email, Skype, or “snail mail,” it is important that you stay connected to your student while allowing for autonomous decision-making.
• Show interest for what is happening in, as well as outside of, the classroom (i.e., residence halls, campus committees, social groups, etc.).
• Attend campus events if you’re able, especially special events like Family Connection Days and Homecoming. These are great opportunities to get a look at what life at North Park is like for your student.

Remember that North Park offers many resources to students to help them answer their questions about academic life or extracurricular activities. Encourage your student to seek these out if they are experiencing challenges.