Changing Times
Heading off to college is a major transition for not just the student, but the whole family. Mixed emotions of all sorts may go along with the transition of college life. Feelings of being happy, proud and excited about your student going off to college may also be mixed with feelings of loss, grief, and anxiety.

Parent Involvement
First and foremost, stay in touch and involved with your student. Identify a pattern of communication that works best for you and them. Some students and parents may talk every day, which can be perfectly healthy. For many families, one or two times per week is a good way to stay in touch. E-mail and texting offer good ways to communicate, provided your student is comfortable with that level of contact.

Draw a distinction between “intervening” and “supporting” your student. “Intervening” is when parents are doing things or making the decisions for their student because they think they will get better, quicker results. “Supporting” or mentoring your student is when you are there to help guide them and share wisdom and give encouragement, but let them make their own decisions. When students know that you are available for support, they are more likely to ask for it, verses being told what to do and then building barriers with you.

Signs of needing help
Not hearing from your student for several days may be a very good sign. Usually, students are busy getting acclimated and developing their new life at the university. Hopefully they are learning to manage on their own and make their own decisions. But, some students may experience more serious problems and may need assistance. Parents need to watch for signs in detecting such problems. If you notice in conversations that your student is showing signs of extreme, or out-of-character behavior, start asking them questions and try to learn what it is that is affecting/upsetting them. Watch for signs in eating disorders, anxiety, depression, etc., where your student is acting out of their normal.

The Esry Student Health Center located in the Blum Union is available for ALL students if they are sick or in need of any medical information. Go to www.missouriwestern.edu/student-services/health-center/ to find out more information.

Missouri Western has traditionally had a low crime rate. Campus crime statistics and services provided by the University Police Department are available at www.missouriwestern.edu/policedepartment.

The Center for Academic Support (CAS) is a great resource for students to get academic assistance individually from tutors or formal study groups. The CAS is located in the Hearnes Center. More information about their services can be found at https://intranet.missouriwestern.edu/cas/.

Student Employment serves to connect students with meaningful job opportunities while pursuing a degree. There are work-study jobs on campus, if a student qualifies. There are also on-campus and off-campus job opportunities that students can apply for. Go to https://www.missouriwestern.edu/hr/students/ for more information.

The City of St. Joseph is very supportive of Missouri Western and its students! Local banks have numerous ATM machines on campus and many provide free checking and debit card services.

Suicide Prevention and Awareness
Partners in Prevention

Partners in Prevention is Missouri's higher education substance abuse consortium dedicated to creating healthy and safe college campuses.

Learn More
Counselors at Missouri Western do a great deal of counseling. They assist students with any personal problem which may be interfering with their academic pursuits.
Counselors do not share information about students with anyone except other counseling staff. For example, if the faculty member or coach refers a student, information will not be shared with the referring party without the consent of the student. An exception to this policy occurs if the student is deemed a danger to themselves or someone else. At this point, a counselor has the duty to warn and this will usually involve sharing confidential information. Counseling records may also be subpoenaed.
Counselors at Missouri Western do not provide long-term therapy. Typically, the counseling sessions run from 5 to 8 weeks. Counselors will assist students with needs for longer-term therapy to find a suitable treatment program in the community.
Counselors avoid accepting a client that is seeing another counselor without the permission of the initial counselor. Students who wish to see a different counselor need to secure permission from their present counselor.
Missouri Western counselors do not see spouses or other family members that do not attend Missouri Western.
Counselors do not usually help students plan schedules. Incoming students may want to talk with an admissions counselor about programs and classes. Enrolled students should see their advisor for this type of help.