4 tips to set up first-year families for success
Sharon Brownlow, Director of Parent and Family Programs at Kennesaw State University and Mindy Miley, AVP of First Year and Bridge Student Services at College of Charleston joined us to share how they’ve helped first-year families have a strong start to the school year. Here are their four tips to guide families in those critical first several weeks and set them – and their students – up for success!
1. Guide parents on how they can support their student through the college transition
The college transition can be stressful for students. According to data from the University of Michigan, nearly 50% of incoming students show depressive symptoms – sharing support resources with families can help them help their students through potential challenges such as homesickness, belonging, and academics.
“What seems to resonate the most with families is creating content based on what they need and when they need it,” said Brownlow. “I try to think about content to help move them forward through those first six weeks, like checking in on their student’s mental health and sharing academic advising resources.”
2. Consider the content that first-gen families need
More first-gen students are applying to college. And their families are super engaged with their student’s institution – first-generation families in CampusESP have an average open rate of 69%! Kennesaw State and College of Charleston have pushed out conversation starters to help facilitate ways that families can support their new college student.
“We have a pretty large first-gen community and a lot of the information and processes can be complex,” said Miley. “It’s been effective to share conversation starters around topics such as finances, academics, and physical and emotional health to make it easier for those families to have open discussions with their students.”
3. Connect families with updates on their student’s progress
Providing families with important academic and financial information gives them the insight they need to support their student, encourage them to stay on track, and ultimately contribute to their long-term success. Student retention is 8% higher when a parent receives regular updates on their student’s progress.
“I try to make the most of the time during Parent and Family Orientation to share how KSU can help serve families best,” said Brownlow. “A huge part of that is just telling them about the family portal in general and showing them how they can use CampusESP for FERPA Management to stay connected, encourage their students, and help them succeed.”
4. Build excitement around important milestones and events
Sending a student to college is a big deal, and at the end of the day, families just want to feel like they belong. 40% of families want to feel more connected and involved in their student’s institution. Letting them know about events like Family Weekend and other opportunities where they can get involved is a great way to build affinity.
“Our first-year families are especially involved and want information as often as possible,” said Miley. “Parents like to read about accomplishments, but also what the timeline is, especially for our first-year students joining our institution. We try to make it fun and use as much humor as possible!”
Looking to dive deeper? Watch the full webinar below.
It’s clear – sharing the information that first-year families want and need from day one matters. Engaging your first-year families strategically will pay dividends.
Want to learn more about how CampusESP can help you influence student success?