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Communications : Past Articles of Interest |
Parents
influence the decisions students make
From the Orientation 2004 Parent Newsletter
As your student begins college, you know that you must trust your child to make
good decisions. Whether students are living on campus or at home, they will face
new challenges, enjoy new experiences, and increasingly take steps toward independence.
You can be assured that the lessons you’ve taught and the
standards you’ve set for your student for the past 18 years will have an
impact on the choices he or she makes. Students do consider their parents’ values,
even as they test their limits and take new risks as part of their transition
to adulthood.
You have probably talked with your student in the past about your expectations
related to partying, academic achievement, finances, and other issues related
to personal responsibility. They will remember those conversations, although
they may sometimes make choices
you would prefer they didn’t.
Chemical health questions?
Parents who have questions or concerns about alcohol or other drug use at the
University can contact:
Marguerite Zauner, M.P.H.
Substance Abuse/Health Promotion Specialist
Boynton Health Service 612-624-0911
mzauner@bhs.umn.edu Your
continued communication is important throughout the next four years. You can
help now by talking about the differences between what your student is likely
to have experienced in high school and what she or he may encounter in college.
During the next year, part of your role as a college parent is to remind your
student about the resources available at the University of Minnesota and the
importance of advocating for herself or himself. As an example, heavy drinking
among college students is a serious national problem, and non-drinkers may sometimes
need to speak up to
avoid suffering the effects of other people’s drinking. Roommates and neighbors
don’t want to clean up after their friends or lose sleep and study time
because of a drunken roommate.
A common frustration among college parents is that access to their student’s
academic records, including grades and financial information, is controlled by
the student. (Read the article "Data
privacy—parents’ access
to student records.")
Please talk with your student this summer about how and when he or she will share
this information with you.
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University alcohol consumption policy
Some students believe that underage drinking goes unchallenged at the University of Minnesota. On the contrary, the University is committed to enforcing state laws and campus policies related to the consumption of alcohol.
Students under the age of 21 are prohibited from consuming alcohol anywhere on campus, and all students who reside in one of the University’s substance-free residence halls are prohibited
from consuming alcohol in those halls.
There are sanctions for students who violate the alcohol policy, including alcohol assessments, educational workshops, probationary status in housing, and expulsion from the hall for repeated or extreme violations. |
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