Parent Transition 101Student Support Services

www.mylaurier.ca

www.wlu.ca/learningservices

A thought…

“The journey into adulthood is equally thrilling and even more treacherous than a downhill bicycle trek and good company is hard to find. The early years of the journey into adult life are particularly difficult because they are marked by profound transformation – transformation from reliance on external authority to taking ownership and responsibility for one’s life.”Baxter, Magolda Marcia, Helping Students make their way into adulthood. Jan – Feb. 2002, pg. 3

Topics for Discussion

• What to expect

• A Time to Talk…

• Common Questions

• Student Support Services

www.mylaurier.ca

What to expect

Honeymoon

Culture Shock

Initial Adjustment

Isolation

Acceptance & Integration

Adapted from: The W-Curve Hypothesis Model, Gullahorn and Gullahorn

A Time to Talk

• Take 5 minutes to fill out the survey

• Let’s talk…• Communication, Communication, Communication• Open dialogue

www.mylaurier.ca

Most common questions…

• How safe is the Laurier campus?• What should my student pack for residence?• Is my student able to use Health Services if they

opt out of the Health Plan?• How does the meal plan work?• Laptop or Desktop & Printer?

www.mylaurier.ca

Final Thoughts

• Familiarize yourself with the many Student Services that support students academically and personally

• Encourage your students to Read, Read, Read

• Communicate openly and often

• Encourage your students to get involved

• Residence Life • Athletics

• WLUSU • LEAP

www.mylaurier.ca

Student Support Services

Academic Support Services– Accessible Learning Centre– Central Academic Advising Office– Mathematics Assistance Centre– Study Skills & Supplemental Instruction Centre– The Writing Centre

Bookmark: www.wlu.ca/learningservices

Accessible Learning Centre

• Supports students with disabilities so they can reach their full academic potential

• Require documentation

• An accommodation plan is created

• Services range depending on the individual student needs

Location: 1st floor, Arts Building

Central Academic Advising Centre

• Central location for students to seek academic advice• First point of contact should be the Academic Advisors

– List of Academic Advisors by program

(name, email, phone number, location)

• Website offers a central place to find information – Undergraduate Calendar - academic requirements– Career possibilities - What can I do with my degree?– Post-Graduate Education (Teachers’ College, Law Schools,

Grad Schools, etc.)

Location: Library

Mathematics Assistance Centre

• Students in first-year calculus or other math courses are strongly encouraged to use this service – Offers structured homework session– Individual consultations– Diagnostic testing available – self-evaluation– Online self study program available

• Data shows students who use the service significantly benefit from the support

Location: Bricker Academic Building

Study Skills

• Time management skills are important – Strongly encourage your students to attend these workshops!– So important….we offer several workshops on campus, in residence,

and at the athletics centre and online for distance education students• Also offer several other workshops

– Overcoming procrastination, textbook reading, note-taking, multiple choice….

• Incentive in place – Complete 8 workshops, notation on the Co-curricular record (non-academic transcript)

• View our online workshops!• Individual consultations available

Location: Macdonald House

Supplemental Instruction (SI) Centre

• If a course is SI supported, it’s a clue that is a difficult course …. Strongly encourage your students to attend the SI sessions! – Structured peer study workshops designed to support difficult

courses such as chemistry, calculus, economics, mathematics and physics

– Led by senior students– 1-1/2 hour workshops held twice a week– Offered during the week and on weekends– Over 1000 students attended last year, and our data shows students

benefited from the support

Location: Macdonald House

The Writing Centre

• The Writing Centre can help students understand how to improve their writing at the university level– Offers individual consultations– Several workshops on campus and in the residence

facilities– Extensive resources, including handouts and online

materials• Drop-in hours! Sunday afternoons and some

evenings…. great way to become familiar with the services!

Location: Library, Main Floor

Learning Services

• Encourage your student to be proactive!• Remind them that academic support is available!• Ask them to bookmark Learning Services on

their computer!• Communicate – enjoy the academic journey!