Here are some topics you may want to discuss with your student before they begin school to prevent any misunderstandings or conflict.
Finances
- Will your student have a checking account set up? If so, who will be responsible for balancing the account?
- Whose name will the account be in?
- What will happen to any refund money that the student/family may receive?
- Who will supply spending money?
- How much spending money is needed?
- Will your student be getting a job at school?
- Will your student have a credit card? If so, who will be responsible and what are the limitations?
Bills, Bills, Bills
- Who pays for tuition? How?
- Who pays for room and board? How?
- Who pays for school supplies? How?
- Who pays other bills (phone, car, etc.)? How?
- Can your student charge expenses to their student account?
No Place Like Home-Commuter Style
- What rules are they expected to live by when they are home (curfew, housework, use of car, etc.)
- What will transportation options be to get to class?
- Will your student share their class schedule so you know when they will be coming and going?
- Are friends allowed to come home?
- What additional responsibilities will your student have living at home? Laundry? Housework?
No Place Like Home-Residence Hall Style
- How often will your student come home?
- What kind of rules will there be while home on a holiday break?
- Are friends allowed to come home?
- How often will you plan to visit?
- Will you come for Family Weekend or other special events?
- How much notice will be given before a visit?
Communication
- How often will we talk on the phone? Should we set a time?
- Who calls whom?
- Can we email/text each other?
- Can we send letters or cards?
There’s something I’ve got to tell you
- What do you want to know about their life?
- What do you feel comfortable sharing?
- What will they want to know about family events?
- Do parents get to know about grades? Progress in classes? Dating relationships? Roommate issues? Homesickness?
- What is shared about any disciplinary trouble?
Miscellaneous
- Will your student add your phone number/email address to the campus emergency alert system?
- Will you be added as an additional user to view bills?
- What kinds of things does your student still need to purchase for school? Who is responsible for this?
- If you live in a blended family, what issues arise out of that? (Who pays for what? Where are breaks spent? Who makes decisions?)
- What insurance coverage does your student have-health, personal, car?
Expectations Table
As a family, fill in the table below as a guide to assist in conversations that may take place between a new student and family members. This helps both parties understand what the expectations are before the topic may arise.
| Topic | Student Expectation | Parent Expectation |
|---|---|---|
| Student decides to drop a class | Tell my parent beforehand so it doesn’t disrupt any loans or insurance coverage | Be understanding, expects student to receive academic advising, and check to check with financial aid office before making decision |
| A bill is due at the beginning of the month | ||
| Student gets a job | ||
| Student receives final grades for semester | ||
| Student decides they want to switch roommates, or move-out of Residential Hall | ||
| Student has a roommate conflict | ||
| Student plans to take a road trip | ||
| Parent wants to visit student for the weekend | ||
| Student charges additional expenses to student account | ||
| Parent can't get ahold of student at agreed upon time | ||
| Student has a medical emergency | ||
| Student has a psychological emergency |