First-Year Parents' Weekend
We look forward to seeing many of you return to campus Friday–Sunday, November 14–16, for First-Year Parents’ Weekend (FPW), hosted by the Wisconsin Alumni Association. During the event-filled weekend, be sure to join UW–Madison deans, directors, and Parent Program staff for an hors d’oeuvre reception beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Friday, following a question-and-answer session with Chancellor Carolyn “Biddy” Martin. At the reception, you can connect with other first-year parents and talk with UW–Madison staff while enjoying refreshments and entertainment.
Please visit the Web site www.uwalumni.com/fpw for a comprehensive list of events during FPW. The registration deadline is Oct. 31. For questions or more information, contact the Wisconsin Alumni Association at (888) WIS-ALUM (toll-free) or fpw@uwalumni.com.
Note: First Year Parents' Weekend is now open to all parents. Reserve your package today!
Homesickness
Starting college represents a major transition. Students are leaving all that’s familiar and often living in a new city, surrounded by new people. This transition often brings with it a strong range of emotions—one minute there is excitement and enjoyment, and the next, there is anxiety and loneliness. Most students feel homesick at some point during their first year; for some, it comes early in their first semester, for others, it occurs later on. As a parent, it is difficult to know that your student is feeling down. Your first inclination may be to try to “fix” things from home, or even to hop in the car or on a plane to be by your son or daughter’s side. In most cases, the best thing you can do for your student is to be a coach when this happens. Help your student to help himself or herself. Here are some tips for doing so.
New Student Leaders lead the crowd in singing “Varsity” at the Chancellor’s Convocation for New Students, a Wisconsin Welcome event held at the Kohl Center in August. In the background, left to right, are Dean of Students Lori Berquam, undergraduates Kim Roberts and Eli Judge, and Chancellor Carolyn “Biddy” Martin.
Actively listen and be reassuring. Let your student know that he or she is not alone in feeling this way. Many students, including those who are outgoing and confident, struggle with this adjustment—they just may not be talking about it. Let your student know that you love him or her, know that things will get better, and that he or she will succeed at college.
If living in University Housing, encourage your student to seek out his or her House Fellow. House Fellows (or Resident Assistants, as they are referred to on other campuses) are upper-class students who have training and experience in supporting students who are homesick. House Fellows have recently been in your student’s shoes and can relate to what your student is feeling. They can also point your student toward important campus services, upcoming events, and opportunities for being more involved in campus life.
Encourage your student to make friends and get involved. Joining an organization, volunteering, or getting a job are great ways to meet others and begin to feel connected to campus outside of the classroom. The options, however, can be overwhelming. To narrow down the choices, it may help to encourage your student to continue with something familiar, such as a hobby or an interest from high school. Ask him or her what sparks an interest. The continuity of something familiar in a new environment can be helpful in easing the transition.
If you do not see progress after a short while, encourage your student to contact the University Health Services Counseling Center. UHS provides an excellent and confidential resource. For urgent mental-health concerns, UHS offers 24-hour crisis intervention services by calling 608/265-5600.
For additional information about this topic, please contact the Parent Program.