Encouraging Academics

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College is a time for discovery. Within the first year, students gather knowledge, develop coping skills and formulate new ideas to shape their futures. During this initial period, students need time to adjust to the differences between the demands of high school versus those of college. Many good students discover their high school study habits are not adequate to succeed at the same level in college.

Therefore, it is not unusual for an "A" high school student to receive a "B" or "C" in college. That's why it is so important at Stetson that all first year students get started on the right path, both academically and socially, and we offer many programs to help students succeed.

As a parent, you may feel that something is wrong if your son or daughter begins to question their major. It is however, not unusual for a student to change his or her major after the first semester. After all, how many of us knew definitively "what we wanted to do when we grew up," when we were 17 or 18 years old?

Because we recognize this, the university offers degree programs with similarities in the core courses to allow students to make a change, if necessary, without falling behind schedule. If students become undecided about their major, there are numerous resources at the university to help them make a decision; their Academic Advisors, University Career Services, faculty, staff, academic groups and clubs.

And, last but not least, when you want information about your student's grades or academic progress, the most effective way to get that information is to ask your son or daughter. That's an important element in your positive involvement in their academic experience. Any information that is released directly by the university to parents is limited by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. However, if you're ever concerned about any aspect of your student's life, we want you to call. We rely on our parents to help us identify students who need a little extra help or encouragement.

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5 Tips from the Academic Resource Center on Encouraging Academics:

  1. Let go and encourage independence in your student so that he might have ownership of his time at Stetson.
  2. Encourage her to make partnerships on campus so that she has a support group and assistance here.
  3. Be interested, ask questions, but don't give answers; remember part of the journey is finding his own answers.
  4. Affirm her individual strengths and nurture her interests.
  5. Celebrate his victories and in his areas for improvement, offer guidance, support, and a listening ear so that he might find his own path.

For more information please visit their website: http://www.stetson.edu/administration/academicresources/