Welcome to the Badger club Parents! As the guardian of your Badger cub(s), you're probably wondering what you can do to help support your first-time college student as they prepare to attend Snow College and during their stay in on-campus housing. We know you have lots of questions, some of which we will try to answer here, but be sure to check out our Frequently Asked Questions page for even more information. We recognize that parents and families are important partners during a student's transition to living independently on campus, so we've gathered some questions and concerns that parents and families often have during this new, exciting, and sometimes anxiety-inducing time. Please browse this page, and the resources linked within it, to better understand your crucial role in your student's success and what resources are available to them here on campus.
The first year of college is an exciting, yet challenging, experience. Your students may be leaving home for the first time and feeling a great deal of anxiety about what lies ahead. Your role during this time is an integral part of the experience. How you respond to your student's concerns can have a great impact on their adjustment and success.
Being a parent of a first-year college student can be difficult at times. You feel frustrated and helpless. You must be prepared to listen and answer such concerns as "I don't like my roommate" or "this professor doesn't like me," or even "I want to come home." These are common concerns and you play an important part in the valuable process establishing independence for your student.
You should challenge yourself to be supportive while allowing your student to take the proper steps towards adulthood. You can empower your student with the skills and resources needed to make responsible decisions. Even while at home, parents play an important role in the process.
Resident Assistants (RAs) are returning college students who have been trained to help support students outside of the classroom. Residents can go to any RA in their building/community for assistance, guidance, someone to talk to /confide in, or if they need help mediating roommate conflict. RAs also plan fun activities to help develop the community in the building and get students to bond and grow closer together to form a community of care and friendship. RAs will periodically check in on residents to see how they are doing. RAs are also on-duty every evening beginning at 8pm and until midnight or 2am on the weekdays and weekends respectively. During that time, residents can easily access an RA for lockout assistance, questions, or if they need help with roommate conflicts or anything at all.
Resident Directors (RDs) supervise RAs, work as a paraprofessional in the Office of Residence Life (ORL), and oversee the administrative and overall community development aspects of the community they oversee (The Suites, Castilleja, Anderson & Nuttall Halls, Mary Nielson & Snow Halls). These 4 RDs are also students with previous leadership experience plus additional training and are another resource to residents. At any given time, one of the RDs is on-call 24/7 (435-851-7628) to help with emergencies after business hours.
Our full time Housing Professionals are here for one reason, to serve students living on-campus. Please reach out to us! We are happy to help our Badgers in any way that we can and love it when they visit us in our office. Our doors are always open to our residents so please encourage your students to utilize us as a resource. Sometimes students don't want to ask for help because they're nervous or afraid, please know that they have no reason to be afraid to ask for help. Whether they feel more comfortable speaking to an RA, RD, or Office Staff member we assure you that they are in good hands and we all will work our hardest to support your student. Students can even reach out to us if they are having issues unrelated to housing! We are happy to be a listening ear and someone who can help get them connected to other campus resources to help them. We work very closely with the Counseling & Wellness Center and many other student support offices with which students can benefit from. Help us help your students by encouraging them to reach out when they have questions, concerns, or issues while attending Snow College.
Homesickness—It is common for first-year students to feel homesickness, especially during the first six weeks on campus. You can help by listening to your student and validating their feelings, offering to come and visit, or encouraging your student to speak to a residence hall staff member or the counseling center.
"There is nothing to do here"—First-year college students sometimes struggle to get involved. Although students do have to take some initiative, opportunities to get involved are available at virtually every corner—intramural activities, student leadership organizations, athletic teams and events, student clubs, and social campus events. Refer your student to the Office of Student Life and Leadership to find an organization or activity that fits their interests. Residence hall staff regularly offer social and educational programs right in the building, giving students an opportunity to interact with fellow Badgers and learn skills that can help in class performance.
Academic Anxiety—Academic anxiety is common among first-year students. If you sense that your student is experiencing anxiety related to classes or coursework, a number of resources are available to help: class instructors, community directors, resident assistants, various tutoring resources, the Student Support Services the Academic Advising Center, and Counseling & Wellness Center.
Roommate Conflicts—Quite often, roommate conflicts arise because roommates fail to communicate their expectations to each other. If your student has a problem with a roommate, encourage them to sit down and calmly discuss the situation with their roommate. If you feel they may need assistance, refer them to the Resident Assistant, Resident Director, of any of our Office Staff. Staff will attempt to first resolve any conflicts with a roommate agreement. Most students find it extremely beneficial to complete a Roommate Agreement/Contract at the beginning of the school year when all roommates sit down together and discuss rules for the room (this meeting is facilitated by an RA). The roommate agreemtn becomes an extension to the Resident Rights & Responsibilities expectations should problems arise.
We take many steps to ensure the safety and security of our residents, including keeping hallway entrances locked 24 hours a day and making sure that a staff member is on duty in each area every evening.
Even though Snow College takes these precautionary steps, we rely on the students in our communities to take proactive steps to ensure the safety and security of all of our communities. Developing simple habits from the moment your student arrives on campus can help avoid big problems and headaches in the future.
Fire Safety
When the fire alarm sounds, your student is required by law to evacuate the building, even in the event of a false alarm. The Campus Fire Marshall will administer fire drills randomly during the academic year. All individuals are to proceed 100 feet away from the building. Students who do not vacate will be subject to judicial action. Any student who knowingly or accidentally causes a fire will be handled through the Office of Residence Life judicial conduct process.
Sprinklers & Detectors
Sprinkler heads and smoke detectors must not be tampered with, covered, or used as a means to hang personal items. Some of our facilities are equipped with sprinkler systems that will extinguish most major fires. These sprinklers put out 250 gallons of water per minute. You may end up flooding your room and many others at the same time. Similarly, smoke detectors are crucial to preventing injuring should a fire be present, it's very important that these systems remain unhindered. Snow College is not responsible for the loss you may incur as a result of someone else's negligence. A resident who knowingly or accidentally causes a sprinkler to activate may be charged in the judicial process.
Snow College Food Services provides dining, catering, and concessions on campus. For students living in Anderson Hall, The Suites, or a traditional style room in Snow Hall or Nuttall Hall, a meal plan is mandatory. For those students living in other areas of campus housing (Castilleja Hall, Mary Nielson Hall, cooking apartments in Snow Hall or Nuttall Hall, married student housing Greenwood Hall and the The Cottages), a meal plan is optional. For complete costs, terms, and details about meal plans, please review the housing Price Guide.
With few exceptions, Snow College students are at least 18 years of age. As such, they are considered adults by both law and practice. We work to create a living environment where students can grow and develop while understanding that part of the maturation process includes testing limits and boundaries. However, an adult student is expected to be responsible for their actions.
Housing Contracts
The housing contract is signed by your student. All policies and procedures outlined within it, the terms and conditions, and the Rights & Responsibilities Guide apply to the student and must be followed.
Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
Because Snow College is a state institution, we must follow the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) which prohibits Residence Life and Housing from releasing any information—besides the most basic information—about the student without the student's permission. This applies to family members, parents, and legal guardians. Housing administrative staff will use their best judgment about discussing roommates, finances, complaints, or other problems without the student's permission. In the case of a emergency, we may choose to speak to family members.
Additional Parent Resources
For more information and resources, please check out the Welcome Badger Parent Page for general Badger-parent related topics.
