Your student has successfully made it through their first semester of college, and one unlike any other – congratulations! From managing their own class schedule, to meeting project deadlines, to registering for the spring semester, students are developing important skills and habits. We can only imagine how proud you are of their many accomplishments. Now is the perfect time to celebrate the progress they have made! This is also a good time to check in with your student about their sleeping habits, grades, the content of their classes, and their majors (or majors they’re considering).

While it is not unusual for most students to not get a lot of sleep during “reading week” and finals, you and your student should discuss how much sleep they are getting. Most first-year students are not sleeping enough because they save all their studying until late nights and early mornings. You may wish to re-emphasize that it is important to use time between classes to do homework, and not catch up on sleep. Most students are studying a lot, but not studying wisely.

One person who can help your student with their studying habits is Brother Thomas Giumenta, C.S.C., the Learning Assistance Counselor for the Shepard Center. He can assist with time management, test taking, note taking, reading strategies, test anxiety, learning and memory strategies, and individual academic counseling. Brother Tom is also offering a course next semester for students who experience difficulties and challenges with academic work. All interested students can register for this 1 credit course, University Success – ED 102, through Self-Serve.

Another helpful resource which you should encourage your student to explore is the Learning Commons. The Learning Commons provides assistance that supplements classroom work. Students can connect with peer tutors in a variety of disciplines, including math, writing, speech, and international languages. If you missed our article last month, check out the new programs they have developed to support all UP students.

Grades will be posted for classes and be available to students on the Tuesday after Finals Week. As a reminder, grades are not “sent home,” so talk to your student and ask them about their grades. If your student has added you as a Proxy through Self-Serve for the student information view, you have permission to view their grades online via the Banner Self Serve Proxy system. After checking in with your student, you may notice a difference in the grades your student got in high school compared to the grades they are getting in college. Many students struggle in classes such as calculus, chemistry, biology, philosophy, physics, and macroeconomics. Never fear – as highlighted above, there is help available for students who need to learn how to better manage their time and get outside assistance to pass their courses. Remember that many first-year students struggle in their first semester, but do very well in the following semesters. It is all part of the learning process!