Helping Your Student

Parents . . . Having your child begin a college education can be a stressful experience for you, especially if your child hasn’t lived away from home before. During this important time of transition for the family, many parents wonder what to do, how to help their children when they are away from home. Following are some tips on what you can do to help your child from a distance.

Here are some ways you can express your caring and enhance your child’s experience at Mitchell Tech.

1. STAY IN TOUCH!
   Even though your child is experimenting with independent choices, he or she still needs to know that you’re there and are available to talk over both normal events and difficult issues. Make arrangements to text, call, or Facetime your child on a regular basis.
    
2. ALLOW SPACE FOR YOUR CHILD TO SET THE AGENDA FOR SOME OF YOUR CONVERSATIONS.
   If he or she needs help or support, the subject is more likely to come up if you aren’t inquiring pointedly about what time he or she came in last night!
    
3. BE REALISTIC WITH YOUR COLLEGE STUDENT ABOUT FINANCIAL MATTERS.
   Most students come to school with a fairly detailed plan about how tuition, fees, books, and room and board will be paid for, and what the family’s expectations are about spending money. Being specific at the outset may help avoid misunderstandings later.
    
4. BE REALISTIC AS WELL ABOUT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ATTENDANCE, AND GRADES.
   Learning how to work independently, having regular attendance in all courses, and acquiring good study habits are some of the skills your child needs to develop while enrolled at MTI. Depending on his or her past academic performance, your son or daughter may find courses very challenging. It’s important that he or she understand that technical education will not be an easy ride.
   
   Every student has to work at doing well, whether he or she was a straight “A” or “C” average student in high school. A significant difference between technical education and the typical college academic environment is that instructors at technical colleges usually have strict attendance policies. Grades are often affected by a student’s attendance. Encourage your student to attend regularly, and to communicate with his or her instructors when unforeseen events come up that will prevent him or her from going to class.
    
5. IF YOUR CHILD DOES EXPERIENCE DIFFICULTIES AT MTI, ENCOURAGE HIM OR HER TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO STUDENTS.
   For academic issues, talking with department instructors is the first step, but the Center for Student Success staff are also available to help.  For personal issues, confidential visits may be arranged with a Student Success Coach. If your child requires services beyond the scope of what is offered at Mitchell Tech, the staff maintain strong working relationships with resources available within the Mitchell community. Everyone is willing to help your son or daughter find the assistance he or she needs to be successful.