September 06, 2019

Shocker Family Newsletter – September 2019

By Shocker Family Association

Shocker Family Newsletter

September | Issue 1

Fall seems to have come to Wichita a little early this year, bringing slightly cooler weather with it. Well, it’s still definitely shorts and iced drinks weather, but it’s not as hot as one might expect this time of year. Students are settling into their routines and getting involved in on-campus groups. Many are buckling down for their first exams of the semester; now is a great time for students to get familiar with their on-campus resources!

Family Weekend

Family Weekend is a great opportunity for parents and families to come to campus and visit their students after they’ve had the chance to settle in, get comfortable and learn their way around. The university offers a variety of events and activities for Shockers and their families to attend together, which can be a great way to spend time with your student, as well as for your student to show you their favorite places to be on campus!

This year, Family Weekend will take place October 4 and 5. Check-in will begin at 3 p.m. in the Rhatigan Student Center on Friday, Oct. 4. To learn more and see the full schedule, check out wichita.edu/FamilyWeekend. Registration closes on Sept. 27, so don’t wait!

Did you know?

We have two ways for you to stay informed of goings-on on campus. The first is the Rave Guardian App, which is a mobile app that turns any smartphone into a personal safety device. With Guardian, users can create a profile of information about themselves, and invite family and friends to their safety network. When needed, the user can request one or more of their guardians to virtually walk with them on or off campus. Click here to learn more about Rave Guardian.

ShockerAlerts texts are another way to stay informed of any on-campus situations by allowing students to receive alerts in the amount of time it takes to send a text. While a myWSU ID is necessary to register to receive alerts, students can register up to three phone numbers, which can include those of family members as well as their own. For more information and instructions, click here.

What’s going on?

Your student has started settling into their new college routine. They’ve had time to get a feel for how their instructors teach and have reviewed the syllabus from each of their courses. They’ve also started to figure out what kind of activities they want to get involved in.

Your student might also be feeling a little overwhelmed as their first exams will usually be around the fourth week of the semester. Remember this is a time your student needs to work through independently, with a little support from home. Encourage your student to start asking for help when they need it so that they have enough time to benefit from the assistance they will receive. Many times, if a student waits until midterms to turn things around, it may already be too late.

How can families help?

  • Around September and October, students can begin experiencing mental health issues such as stress and homesickness. Consider performing a mental health check-in to help your student feel supported and to encourage them to seek resources if necessary. You can also read Kayla Deines’ new blog post on the subject of homesickness for some insight into the student experience. If you have concerns about your student’s wellbeing or safety, contact the Care Team.
  • Encourage your student to ask their instructors for assistance if they need it. Tips on talking to instructors can be found online at wichita.edu/success. Students can also visit wichita.edu/tutoring to find academic support resources and sign up for free tutoring.
  • Test anxiety is common at this point of the semester. If your student would benefit from tips on exam preparation, have them contact the Office of Student Success at (316) 978-3209 or by emailing student.success@wichita.edu. Another resource for anxiety can be found with the Counseling and Prevention Center, which you can learn more about at wichita.edu/CAPS.
  • If your student is considering dropping a course, encourage them to speak with an academic advisor. As students start making changes to their schedule, they need to keep in mind course sequencing for their major, refund rates and financial aid implications. An academic advisor can help them make the right choice.
  • Communicate with your student about how often you expect them to check in with you, and keep an open mind as to why your student may want to change the frequency of communication.

Events in September

As the first full month classes are in session, September is a busy one for on-campus events. Here are some upcoming events for your student to get involved with:

There’s more! Your best resource for on-campus events can be found at wichita.edu/Calendar.

Questions? Comments? The Shocker Family Association can be reached at 316-978-3149 or shocker.family@wichita.edu.