A Letter to Cowboy Parents

Thursday, October 13, 2022

It’s been 57 days since your student left home and moved to campus with us. What a monumental transition – for them and for you! This letter is for the parents and the families of our Cowboy student body.

The biggest concern we hear from parents is simple: Who’s taking care of my kid? If there’s one resounding message we want to reassure you of, it’s that we are here for your student. From the day they stepped on campus, we’ve been committed to helping them feel at home in our Cowboy Family, providing them the resources and opportunities to make the most of their college experience. The culture of care at OSU is real, and we hope you rest assured knowing they have a whole community of Cowboys looking out for them.

As the weeks pass in the fall semester, your student may start to feel stressed as they navigate the transition to being a full-time college student: their first round of tests, managing their own schedule, living life away from the home they’ve always known. If your student is struggling to find their community on campus, encourage them to find an event to attend or join a student organization. There’s something for everyone here, and the out-of-classroom experiences are an equally important part of an education from OSU.

We know your student’s mental health is top of mind for you, and it’s at the forefront of our concerns too. We have mental health resources for our campus community completely free of charge. You can find more information about counseling, self-help resources and more on the OSU Cares site.

Encourage them to get some sleep, eat well and exercise. These preventative measures are known to decrease stress levels and improve performance in the classroom. If they are in need of accommodations, reach out to Student Accessibility Services and they will be more than willing to help.

Of course, it’s never too early for your student to be preparing for their future career (that’s why they’re here, right?). OSU Career Services can help with that. Whether they’re struggling to know if they’re in the right major, looking for internships or needing help with polishing their resume and interview skills, we are here to make sure they are prepared for a career and life after graduation.

We know transitioning to college can be a scary time for your student, but also a scary time for you as you navigate life without them at home. Your student is living out their dreams at OSU, and we know how proud you are of them. Just know they have a family here too, and we are here to help them thrive during their time as a Cowboy.

Sincerely,

Dr. Doug Hallenbeck
Vice President for Student Affairs