Bobcat Families
The Georgia College Parent and Family Newsletter
June 29 - July 3
- Move-In Day Prep
- Parent Information Webinars
- Bobcat Parent Drop-In
Move-In Day Prep
Now that your student has received their housing assignment, coming to college feels real! With less than six weeks to go until move-in day, you might be feeling overwhelmed at all there is to do.
The first step will be for your student to contact their roommate and suitemates or apartment-mates. Coordinating early who is bringing the mini fridge, TV, area rug, and other shared items will make your shopping process simpler and reduce move-in day confusion. Once students select their move-in date and time, it will also be helpful to share when everyone is arriving. The last person to move in may feel disadvantaged if some of the space has been "claimed", so open communication in advance can help set mutual expectations.
In terms of specific items you should buy, there are a million articles online about must-have items for a college dorm. One of my favorite college parent blogs, Grown & Flown, has tons of current articles about how to shop smartly, economically, and peaceably with your student. University Housing at Georgia College publishes their own list of basic items to pack. A few items that most parents consider "game-changers" are a mattress topper, an area rug, and a small air purifier. Remember, as you're shopping, that your student has access to Walmart, Amazon, and even a drop-off from you if there is something they can't live without.
For more information about preparing for move-in (including what NOT to buy), visit the Move-In 2020 page from University Housing. In the coming weeks, we'll share more information about what to expect on the day-of. In the meantime, happy shopping!
We will continue to give you the latest and best information we have on hand. Recognizing that this situation is constantly evolving, you may find that information also evolves. When that happens, we will keep you up-to-date through this newsletter as well as www.gcsu.edu/return.
Parent Information Webinars
The Office of Parent and Family Programs wants all of our Bobcat families to feel empowered to help their student when they face challenges. Students grow and become independent from navigating those tough spots, but they'll need your support to nudge them along. That's why we want to make you familiar with certain services on campus that support your student -- so you can point them in the right direction to overcome a challenge.
In the month of June, we hosted three webinars for parents that you can view at these links:
- Student Health Services, with associate director and nurse practitioner Stephanie Welch. Stephanie discussed the services available through the on-campus clinic, telehealth options, insurance options, and how HIPAA applies to your college student.
- Student Disability Resource Center, with director David Anderson and assistant director Rebecca Miles. David and Rebecca explained the process for obtaining accommodations for diagnosed disabilities, examples of student support available, and a comparison of high school accommodations to college.
- The Learning Center with programs manager Rebecca Cofer and director Jeanne Haslam. Rebecca and Jeanne shared the many tutoring and facilitated study options available to students in STEM classes.
Bobcat Parent Drop-Ins
Register for a Thursday morning drop-in here. In addition to the morning sessions, we will hold an evening session at 5:30 p.m. on July 16. Register for the evening session here!
Contact
Email: emily.jarvis@gcsu.edu
Website: gcsu.edu/parent
Location: Parks Hall 206
Phone: (478) 445-8566
Facebook: facebook.com/bobcatfamilies