RESOURCES FOR FIRST-YEAR FAMILIES
Your Villanovan’s first year will be filled with discoveries, new responsibilities, opportunities and challenges—they’ll begin to learn who they are, what they enjoy and what they want for their future.
The Office of Parent and Family Relations is your partner as we—together—support the growth and success of your Villanovan. By connecting you to information, resources and events (online and in-person), we hope you will better understand our University and all that’s in place and available to your student as they begin their journey toward independence at Villanova University.
COMMUNICATION
One change from high school to college is the way in which parents and families receive information. Villanova communicates with families throughout the year regarding certain events and some news items. Otherwise, due to federal regulations and to maintain student privacy, all communication will go to your Villanovan, and they are encouraged to share and discuss with you.
Through the Division of Student Life and the various departments within it, parents and families can look forward to:
VU101 and Transfer101: Weekly email containing important new student information from the Office sent by the Office of New Student Orientation. Sign up to receive a copy of the email sent to students.
First-Year Family Guide: a printed and mailed guide that connects new families to opportunities, information and resources across campus prior to Orientation. Be on the lookout for your resource roadmap to arrive in your mailbox early in July.
Parent and Family Connection enewsletter: a monthly publication containing important information benefitting Villanova families. New families will begin receiving this in August. Sign up and be sure to add parents@villanova.edu to your list of contacts.
Social media: although email and the web will be our primary means of communication, you can follow us on the Villanova Parent and Family Instagram account.
THE TRANSITION FROM HIGH SCHOOL TO COLLEGE
Here are some areas to consider as your Villanovan's experience begins and evolves over the next four years.
Adjusting to a new roommate is a big transition that many students are excited for and enjoy. For some, living in close quarters with limited privacy is an adjustment, and as a family member, you may hear things like, “My roommate is messy” or “My roommate makes too much noise in the morning.” When your student talks about this with you, they may be looking for guidance, encouragement and support to manage the conflict. You may be inclined to call the University to try to solve the problem. Instead, allow the student to solve the problem themselves. Encourage them to contact the RA and request their assistance or to reach out to the Residence Life professional staff.
Your student will confront choices about alcohol and other substances while in college. You want them to make wise choices, and so do we. Sometimes a poor choice can impact a student's life long after the party is over. Remember, excessive drinking and substance use are not the norm and students have a good time at Villanova without them.
Talk with your student about choices and the consequences of their actions. The conversations you have will strongly impact the decisions they make while away at college and lead them to healthier choices.
Students receive grades twice a semester: at midterm and at the end of the semester. Villanova does not mail grades home. Your Villanovan will have access to their grades and can share them with you if they choose to do so through proxy access, which provides students the ability to grant permission to parents or guardians to view certain information (including grades). Learn how to set up proxy access.
Although family members may feel they are helping by calling or emailing a professor or college on their student’s behalf, it is not recommended. Federal regulations prohibit University faculty and staff from discussing most information with anyone other than the student. Additionally, allowing the student to manage their academic life by contacting professors, scheduling tutors and selecting courses is an important piece of growing their independence and navigating responsibilities.
For most first-year students, the Office of the Registrar schedules the first semester of classes. Students can make changes after they arrive on campus and have an opportunity to meet with their advisor. By Orientation (in August), each college assigns new students an academic advisor with whom they work to schedule classes in future semesters. Usually, students register for spring courses in October/November and for fall courses in March. For second semester and beyond, students register for classes on their own online after meeting with their academic advisor. The advisor helps the student understand degree requirements. Fulfilling the requirements is ultimately the student’s responsibility. Students are encouraged to track and plan their academic progress towards degree completion with Degree Works, an online auditing tool for Villanovans that provides students with an academic roadmap that lays out their required courses, tracks their credits earned and updates their GPA status each semester.
Some students may wish to transfer from one of Villanova’s colleges to another. Admission to another college is not guaranteed and a student who transfers may need to take additional courses. In this case, some will choose to take courses in the summer in order to graduate with their class. When considering these options, students should meet with their advisors to ensure they will graduate on time.
Some students start their first year with a major, but most students follow a more general program their first year and then pick a major within their college during their sophomore year. Most first-year students won’t be able to make a decision about a career until they are much farther along in their academic journey.
When talking with your Villanovan about choosing a major, we suggest an open and honest conversation about their career goals, professional options, personal interests and academic strengths. Encourage your student to pursue a major that interests them.
NEW STUDENT ORIENTATION AND FAMILY RESOURCE FAIR
New Student Orientation is required for all incoming students and provides programming and activities designed to help them thrive both inside and outside the classroom.
During Opening Day of Orientation (Thursday, Aug. 22), Parent and Family Relations will host a series of information sessions as well as a Family Resource Fair. Immerse yourself in the Villanova community, learn about the academic and student experience and connect with Villanova campus community partners.
DOWNLOAD OUR FIRST-YEAR FAMILY GUIDE
