Are you going to class? What’s your favorite? What’s your least favorite? Which is the hardest? (One of students’ biggest complaints is that a parent isn’t around anymore to ask them about how their day went. So, they don’t feel as if they need to be as responsible...)

Keep asking how classes are going. Reassure your son or daughter that if he or she tells you that they are having trouble, you won’t be upset if he or she is giving it their all. I can’t stress how important going to class is to academic success.

Ask them if they are meeting any cool people... What are their out-of-class relationships like? Many times, these relationships, or lack thereof, can be the reason for academic difficulty. Encourage them to create positive relationships.

Don’t assume that just because your son or daughter was a star student in high school that this will be the case in college. There are so many reasons that students have problems. Reassure them that if they are having trouble, that many Straight “A” high school students have had problems in college.

The best gift you can give your student is a daily planner. Encourage them to use it to enter homework assignments and residence hall closing days and times, as well as exam dates. This is one of the major reasons students enter into academic difficulty. They don’t know an assignment or test is the next day.

Although I am certain that you are a loving, supportive parent, if your son or daughter has an issue on campus, encourage them to try to take care of it themselves instead of you calling for them. One of the hardest things for your student to learn is the importance of asking questions. They need to learn how to ask people for help when needed and solve problems on their own.

Encourage them, if they are having academic issues, to go and see their professor or instructor. Professors are human, too! Usually, a professor is very understanding of your son or daughter’s situation if they know he or she has been making an effort in their class and has regularly attended.

Encourage your son or daughter to get involved with some sort of campus group. Students who do join a group are, for some reason, more likely to succeed. Have your student check with their hall director - they're often looking for new Hall Council members!

Encourage your student to not work at a job that is more than 20 hours a week, if it can be avoided. Statistics show that individuals who work more than this have a higher percentage of academic difficulty.

Ask them about their health, and ask them to be honest. Even if they are having a small problem, sugest that they go to the Health Center. If it turns into a bigger problem, their grades could be at stake.