Dear Parent & Families,
This time of year can be a time of happiness but also stress for students. Your student may be looking forward to being with friends and family over the holidays while facing the reality of the end of the semester papers, exams, and final grades. We’ve geared this newsletter to cover both of those aspects.
First, don’t forget Giving Tuesday is coming up on Tuesday, Nov. 29. This is a great opportunity to help your student by directing your support to a sport, club, or other activity they’re involved in. And thanks to the Alumni Council Challenge, every donation of $10 or more has the chance to help your chosen fund pull down bonus funding. See the Giving Tuesday website for all the details on how you can BE COUNTED. Students can also participate in non-monetary ways, such as volunteering or donating canned food items, and increase the chances of their chosen fund qualifying for a $2,500 challenge grant as well!
Second, to get your student (and maybe you, if you’re able to come to campus) into the spirit, we offer three opportunities in early December to hear holiday music. The Dec. 9 performance by the incomparable New York Voices offers a student discount on the ticket price (regularly $22, tickets are just $5 using promo code StudSeat).
And lastly, to help your student handle the stresses of the end of the semester, the Office of Student Success Services (OS3) offers a comprehensive guide covering everything from academics to health to residence life.
What To Do If/When Your Student is Struggling
By Joanne Goldwater
Associate Dean for Retention & Student Success/Seahawk Family Liaison
Office of Student Success Services (OS3)
The Beatles song, “Help! I need somebody / (Help) not just anybody / (Help) you know I need someone, help” comes to mind as we present this article. No matter how old or young your student is, there will be times when they need you, your advice, your support, your guidance. Will you know how to provide that help while they are attending SMCM? After reading this article, you WILL be able to provide some answers and directions to your student.
Academic: If your student has a grade below a C- (or, for biology majors and education minors, below a C in their major courses) and/or they have racked up too many absences in a course, they likely received a midterm deficiency last month. If your student is having academic problems, you may try asking them:
- Have you spoken with your professors and/or your academic adviser during their office hours? Professors are the experts in their fields. Encourage your student to meet with them regularly outside of class.
- Does the course have a Teaching Assistant (TA) or Peer-to-Peer Mentor (P2P)? Many courses have students serving as TAs or P2Ps. Sometimes, peers explain concepts to other students differently than how the professor explains them, and students may understand the explanation from their peers a little better. Encourage your student to meet with the TA/P2P during their office hours.
- Does the course have recitation sessions? Have you been attending these review sessions? Many of the STEM courses offer recitation sessions in the evenings (and some are offered on Sundays). Your student can attend these review sessions to get help with problems, concepts, etc.
- Have you gotten a tutor in the subject(s)? Students can obtain FREE tutoring by emailing tutoring@smcm.edu, calling 240-895-4388, or stopping by OS3 in Glendening Hall 230.
- Are you working with an academic coach? OS3 provides tips/strategies for time management, breaking up assignments into smaller chunks/tasks, note-taking, study skills, test-taking skills, avoiding procrastination, sleep habits, etc. We have professional staff who provide academic coaching. We also have Peer Academic Success Strategies - PASS - Specialists who are specially trained students who provide coaching. Encourage your student to email os3@smcm.edu, call 240-895-4388, or stop by OS3 in Glendening Hall 230.
- Have you used the Writing & Speaking Center? Located on the first floor of the Landers Library, the Writing & Speaking Center can help students who have writer’s block, need an extra pair of eyes to review a paper before it is submitted, provide tips for making oral presentations, etc. Students can schedule an appointment by going to https://www.smcm.edu/writingcenter/.
- If your student was approved for academic (or residential) accommodations, ask if they are using their accommodations. If they need (additional) accommodations, please suggest that they meet with our colleagues in the Office of Accessibility Services (OAS) in Glendening Hall 254 or call 240-895-2250.
Emotional Health: We know that students can feel overwhelmed by academic work, issues with friends/family, etc. You might want to suggest the following support systems:
- Use the Wellness Center Counseling Services. Students can use walk-in hours (Mondays - Fridays, 1-3 p.m.), or call 240-895-4289 to schedule an appointment with one of the counselors or with the contractual psychiatric nurse practitioner. (Note: Students must be receiving services within the Wellness Center or have an outside provider to be enrolled in medication management services.)
- Use the Protocall counseling hotline (240-895-4200). This free service for our students is available 24/7 and staffed by professional counselors.
- Use our new Case Manager, Lolita Hope. Lolita can connect students to off-campus resources such as the Department of Social Services, the St. Mary’s County Health Department, etc. Lolita can be reached at lchope@smcm.edu, by calling 240-895-4289, or going to the Wellness Center.
- For resident students, encourage them to talk with their RA or RHC. If there are roommate issues, maintenance issues, etc. the RA or RHC can help the student resolve them.
- For Title IX issues, students can speak with the Title IX Coordinator, Michelle Carter, J.D. Michelle can be reached at mmcarter@smcm.edu, by calling 240-895-4105, or stopping by the Lucille Clifton House.
Physical Health: If a student is not feeling well physically, here are some suggestions for you to share with them.
- Go to Health Services at the Wellness Center ASAP. Students can call 240-895-4289 to schedule an appointment with one of the nurses.
- If it is urgent, they can visit one of the urgent care centers in Lexington Park.
- If it is an emergency, someone should call 911 for an ambulance to take them to MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital in Leonardtown (301-475-8981).
- If your student is ill, encourage them to notify their professors that they will be out of class that day due to illness. If the student needs to miss more than one day of classes, they should go to the Wellness Center. Staff will notify the associate dean for retention & student success who will notify the instructors of the absence and request, if appropriate, that the student be allowed to access classes for a few days via Zoom. (Please note: remote access may not be available for all classes.)
Housing: Roommate issues can be difficult to manage, especially if your student has always had a room of their own. Encourage your student to communicate openly with their roommate, using “I-statements” (“I like…”, “I don’t want…”, etc.). Try asking these questions:
- What issues are you having with your roommate? Ask for specific examples.
- Have you spoken with your roommate about [fill in the issue]? When did you have this discussion and what was the outcome?
- Have you spoken with your RA about [fill in the issue]? When did you have this discussion and what was the outcome?
- Have you spoken with someone in the Office of Residence Life? Your student can contact them by calling 240-895-4207 or going to Glendening Hall 150.
Small struggles are manageable and can help students learn useful strategies that will help them become resilient. However, if they become big struggles, your student may need your help. If you need assistance or advice on how to provide support to your student, please feel free to contact us (families@smcm.edu, 240-895-4388)! Let’s partner to provide the best possible college experience for your student.