Division of Student Affairs

We are Family: Straight Talk for Clemson Parents
 

Welcome to Orientation 2009. As Clemson parents you are partners in:

  • The Clemson family
  • Your student's happiness and success
  • Key first year challenges
  • Helping your student

The following information is presented to parents as they attend summer 2009 Orientation sessions. Our goal with this presentation is to arm parents with the information they need regarding four key issues we see that affect incoming college students:

  1. Making the big adjustment
  2. New levels of academic rigor
  3. Academic major and career choices 
  4. Personal health and safety

For each issue, we offer Clemson resources to share with your student and suggestions for helping your student work through these new challenges. We view Clemson parents as partners in success; we hope this information will help you help your students be successful.

Student Issue #1: It’s a Big Adjustment

Students are dealing with:

  • Separating from family/friends/hometown
  • Roommates/communal living
  • Getting connected
  • Freedom and personal responsibility

Clemson Resources

You Can Help Them Adjust By …

  • Maintaining perspective
  • Listening more, intervening less
  • Encouraging use of campus resources
  • Consulting campus resources yourself
  • Resisting the urge to fix it for them

Student Issue #2: A New Level of Academic Rigor

Students are dealing with:

Fall 2008 Freshman Class

  • Average SAT: 1227
  • Top 10% of class: 50%

Cumulative GPRs after Spring 2009

  • 3.4 - 4.00         45%
  • 3.0 - 3.39         24%
  • 2.0 - 2.99         25%
  • < 1.99                6%

Retention to Second Year (2007 Cohort): 91.5%

Clemson Resources

You Can Help Them Be Successful By …

  • Remembering that university studies are not like high school
  • Asking specific questions
  • Coaching them through failures
  • Encouraging realism and accountability
  • Familiarizing yourself with academic policies and regulations
  • Pointing your student toward resources

Student Issue #3: Major Choice and Career Direction

Students are dealing with:

2009 National Freshman Attitudes Report:
  • 77%: I have a potential, attractive career in mind.
  • 59%: I have made a firm career decision.
  • 22%: I am very confused about what occupation to pursue.
  • 50%: I would like some help selecting an occupation that is well-suited to my interests and abilities.

Clemson Resources

You Can Help Them Refine Career Goals By …

  • Recognizing that exploration is a process
  • Listening more, directing less
  • Encouraging use of campus resources
  • Consulting campus resources yourself
  • Allowing your student to make this decision

Student Issue #4: Personal Health and Safety

Students are dealing with:

  • Self-care (Eating, Exercise, Sleeping, Health Maintenance)
  • Safe and responsible decision-making (Where I go and what I do)
  • Sexual responsibility
  • Alcohol

The Facts on Alcohol Use at Clemson

Fall 2007 Pre-Freshmen (Orientation Survey)

  • 57%: Do not drink alcoholic beverages
  • 43%: Drink alcoholic beverages
  • 40%: Drinkers who drink on a weekly basis         

Spring 2009 CU Freshmen (CORE Survey)

  • 22%: Do not drink alcoholic beverages
  • 67%: Drank alcohol within last 30 days
  • 47%: Drank > 5 drinks at one sitting within 2 wks    

Clemson students tell us about the negative consequences of alcohol use:

  • 43%: Did something they regretted
  • 42%: Had a memory loss
  • 23%: Alcohol negatively affected academics
  • 16%: Were physically injured
  •   9%: Were taken advantage of sexually    

(CORE Alcohol and Drug Survey, Spring 1009)

Clemson Resources

You Can Help Them Stay Healthy & Safe By …

  • Promoting balanced living
  • Empowering them to make healthy choices
  • Encouraging safety awareness
  • Arranging for continued preventive treatments
  • Providing health insurance coverage
  • Supporting CU community standards

Parent Resources

Suggested Parent Readings and Resources:

  • Letting Go:  A Parent’s Guide to Understanding the College Years  by Karen Levin Coburn & Madge Lawrence Treeger
  • You’re On Your Own (But I’m Here If You Need Me) by Marjorie Savage
  • Don’t Tell Me What To Do, Just Send Money by Helen E. Johnson & Christine Schelhas-Miller

Concluding Thoughts for Parents
Remember that it is important to maintain perspective when working with your student. Listen and keep the lines of communication open. Support your student, but resist the urge to rescue him/her. And finally, there are many resources available to you and your student through the Division of Student Affairs, including Parents' Council. We encourage you to learn about these resources and to use them.