Supporting Your Student

As your student gets ready for college, remind them to keep referring to their New Student Checklist; and check their Colgate email frequently; all summer, they are receiving regular emails with required tasks and deadlines on their to complete over the summer. We mention a few of the most important ones below.

If any questions arise, encourage them to reach out to newstudents@colgate.edu themselves; it will be great practice for navigating college.

Preparing for More Independence

What can parents, family members, or guardians do to help their student prepare for the independent environment they will experience at college? This Colgate Family Talk video features Dr. Melissa Sporn, a clinical psychologist with a speciality in developmental adjustments in adolescents and emerging adults (and mom of Samantha, Class of 2022!) and Dawn LaFrance, assistant vice president of counseling and psychological services.

Teaching Independent Life Skills

The summer before college is a perfect time for families to help their students gain valuable practical knowledge and prepare for a productive semester. For example, “adulting” involves making one’s own appointments as well as mundane activities like doing laundry and money management. Kimberly Yavorski’s Collegiate Parent article “Teach Your College Student Independent Life Skills” provides tips on inviting them to help or look on ­— it doesn’t have to be obvious you’re trying to teach a lesson!

New Student Checklist Updates

Summer Reading

Have you noticed your student reading Poverty, By America by Matthew Desmond? Over the summer, all incoming students have a shared reading assignment. The Summer Reading is their first academic work as a Colgate student — their first opportunity to engage with faculty and staff in the practice of the liberal arts.

As part of the assignment, your student will introduce themself to their faculty adviser, who will be their First-Year Seminar (FSEM) instructor, and their administrative dean so that they can get to know them better; they will also write an essay that responds to a prompt. Due on August 7, the assignment is the foundation for a variety of related events throughout their first year at Colgate. The cost of the book is included with tuition.

Housing

Living on campus provides opportunities to develop skills for living and learning, relationship and community building. Living in residence is integral to the Colgate education your students will receive.

Incoming students will be assigned to their Residential Commons according to the First-Year Seminar (FSEM) they will be taking. This will help to bridge the living and learning parts of the experience. They will be notified of their room assignment and roommates in late July. We encourage students to communicate with their roommates to get to know them before arriving on campus.

We recommend that students take ownership of their preparations, such as shopping for room supplies. These are ideal moments to build the independence that will help them succeed in college. Our move-in guide offers helpful information and tips; be sure to have them check out the Dos and Don’ts in particular.

As you support your student in their preparations, take note of the following:

• Layouts vary widely, so we recommend they wait to purchase any items that would be specific to their space (such as storage items) until they know more about the room assignment. It is often beneficial for students to have a few days on campus to determine any additional needs. They will be able to find items locally or have them shipped.
• We suggest that roommates coordinate shared items such as microfridges, fans, etc., to avoid duplication.
• There are a number of prohibited items, including candles, wax or oil burners, potpourri, incense, halogen lamps, lava lamps, appliances with open heat sources like hot plates, air conditioners, space heaters, and other items.
• Your student is welcome to send packages, catalog, or online orders to campus.  They can find their CU box number in their student portal which will be available at the end of July. Mail Services is extremely busy at the beginning of the semester; therefore, we recommend your student bring all essential items (bedding, towels, toiletries, medicine) with them.
• Learn more on the Residential Life Policy page.

Important To-Dos and Dates

Information about upcoming deadlines you may want to be aware of.

July 17

• Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Course Due (required)
• Data Security and Privacy Training Due (optional)

August 1

• Deadline to Enroll or Waive: Student Health Insurance Decision
• Financial Responsibility Form Due
• Fall Term Student Account Payment Deadline

August 7

• Summer Reading Assignment Due

Campus Updates

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Thank you for your support!

Sincerely,

Ryan Dugdale ’25 and Samantha Wotring ’25
2024-25 Editors-in-Chief

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