Welcome Parents of New Students
On behalf of the Dean of Students, welcome to our Guide for New Parents. We hope to ease the transition for parents and students as they prepare for their Sewanee experience. Please explore the links for more details:
What Your Student Needs To Do:
- Visit the To Do page and submit the appropriate information. Your student will need to complete each form on or before the deadline, and we encourage submissions before the deadline! Each form is essential in helping us to prepare for his/her arrival.
IMPORTANT - If you're not quite ready to let go (you still have another month or two), then here's how you might help ease your transition:
- New students must have a physical examination and immunization records submitted by August 5. Many students have had little responsibility for their health care. We recommend that parents prepare students for navigating their own healthcare. Help them make an appointment with your primary health provider asap and walk them through our Student Health Form.
- You can also help your student in understanding your health insurance coverage and with submitting health insurance information.
- Share your student's new mailing address with family and friends in order that they may mail encouraging notes and packages during the first semester. The address: Your Student's Name, 735 University Avenue, Sewanee, TN 37383-1000.
Ten Tasks New Parents CAN DO for Their Student:
- Tell Us About Your Son or Daughter (use this link to tell us what your son or daughter will not).
- Review information on PRE Orientation (a unique opportunity for new students). PRE is operated similar to a camp in that parents accompanying the participants will not be able to see them until PRE is over. For this reason, we encourage parents to arrive on Saturday, August 20th in order to help their son or daughter completely move in to the dorms. However, those parents who will be arriving with their son or daughter for PRE are invited to a parents' reception with the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. John McCardell, and his wife, Bonnie, at Clement Chen Hall, home of the Vice-Chancellor, on Wednesday, August 17th, 3-5 p.m.
- Review information on New Student Orientation. This will help you better understand where your son or daughter should be during their first few days on the mountain. All new students may move in to their dorm rooms on Saturday, August 20th beginning at 1 p.m. All new students will receive specific dorm room assignments at the end of July.
- Review the schedule and prepare to attend Parent's Orientation.
- Make arrangements to attend Family Weekend on September 30-October 1, 2011.
- Review What Students Should Bring (please keep in mind that students share a space, roughly a 10x12 space. If you need a 10 x10 uhaul to move, you're probably bringing too much).
- Become familiar with Academic Matters (information on the academic programs of the college).
- If applicable, read our Financial Aid Information (general).
- Have your son/daughter write the first tuition and fees check to the University. It can be very awakening for a student to understand the costs and privileges associated with attending college.
- Talk to your student about responsible citizenship. Cover topics like: peer pressure, making friends, alcohol use, time management, relationships, honesty, plagiarism and exercise.
Finally...
Most parents have been framing students choices for them and then allowing the student to make a final (but limited) decision. This is a good strategy for school-aged children, but your student will now need to both frame choices and make decisions. Sometimes, students will need a consultant to coach them through the early stages, listening and being available are good roles to fill.
When you visit your daughter/son, try to make friends with other parents. Many parents look forward to returning to the Mountain, not only to visit their student, but to also reconnect with their new parent friends.
We wish you the best in this transition.
How Sewanee Prepares for the New Academic Year
By mid-August over 200 student leaders will return early to Sewanee to participate in a series of leadership workshops. Leadership topics include Wilderness Advanced First-Aid, emergency response, mental health challenges, effective communication, University policy and procedures to only name a few.
Many university offices offer leadership positions with the aim of engaging and investing our students in our community. As our students return to the Mountain, we are all reminded of the reasons that we love our work. Students return with a contagious enthusiasm that keeps all of us energized.
We are always very excited to welcome our newest students into our community.
(If you have specific questions about New Student Orientation or Residential Life, please have your student call the Residential Life Office at 931-598-1446. For all other questions, have them call the Dean of Students Office at 931-598-1229.)
