Welcome from the Dean of Students Welcome, again, to the Clemson Family! I appreciate that the time leading up to your student’s departure for Clemson was likely bittersweet — there are so many conversations you wanted to have, so many things you wanted to make sure they were prepared for, and so many people they (and, you) wanted to spend time with — I’m confident the time flew by and hope that you have embraced your role as full-fledged members of the Clemson Family. As I shared during the Straight Talk for Parents session at Orientation this summer, I hope you found a way to ensure your student knows that you are the parent they can call should they need someone to listen, to brainstorm with, to receive sympathy from and/or to be referred to resources on or off-campus prior to leaving them on campus. To that end, please remember that the staff in the Dean of Students Office is here to support your student’s engagement, satisfaction and success and to answer any questions or concerns you may have throughout their journey. You can learn more about my office at: clemson.edu/administration/student-affairs/dean. Please contact us at any time – we are family after all! I want to leave you with some key points to consider about your students first few weeks at Clemson in an effort to help normalize the experience for you — I look forward to seeing you during Family Weekend! Most sincerely yours, Shannon
	What to Expect During the First Few Weeks of the Semester Your student will likely communicate frequently, especially during the first 1-2 weeks of the semester, until they make solid connections at Clemson – please know that a drop off in frequency of contact after the first week or two likely is indicative of them making friends at Clemson; however, be sure to stay in touch, provide encouragement and support and promote balanced living – call and write even if they don’t always respond (snail mail including packages are especially welcomed). If you leave your student on move-in day and are unable to articulate the important life advice you intended due to an avalanche of emotions, take the time to write a letter, in your own hand if possible, telling them what you wanted to say — trust me that the message will stick and likely be treasured, always. Continue to show interest in their full Clemson experience without injecting comments about college being the “best four years of their life” – if their initial experience is not living up to that adage they may hesitate to share that information with you for fear of disappointing you or doing something wrong. Ask about their schedule – how are their classes, how are they spending their time outside of class, who are they spending it with, where they are going (try to discern safety planning and awareness), and what are they doing (without making each conversation an inquisition!). Ultimately, you know your student best and what your family expectations and values are – if your student seems reluctant to talk with you (more reluctant than usual), unwilling to talk about activities with friends, demonstrates mood swings and/or has been in trouble with CUPD and/or the Office of Community and Ethical Standards – determine how best to address these concerns early rather than allowing bad patterns to emerge and negatively impact their success (if you are unsure where to start, contact the Dean of Students Office or New Student and Family Programs and we can work with you to determine the best resources based on your specific concerns). Find ways to reaffirm your belief in your student and their abilities – they will face issues and challenges of all shapes and sizes, at Clemson and beyond. To the extent possible, encourage them to resolve the problem – certainly they should brainstorm with you, seek guidance from you, avail themselves of resources – but the confidence they will gain from resolving issues for themselves will serve them well!
	New Student and Family Programs New Student and Family Programs is an office dedicated to building a successful transition to families and students to Clemson University. We work to provide opportunities starting from orientation that continue through graduation that are essential for academic success. Our office is here to provide guidance about any on campus resources, and serve as a central sounding board for any questions or concerns you may have. Our goal is to enhance the experience for students and families to guarantee the best education experience. Here is a list of some of the things that are offered out of our office: • Orientation (Freshman and Transfer) • Clemson Connect (Academic experience in the first week) • Family Press Newsletters • Family Weekend • Seasons of Change Calendar • Family Podcasts • Transfer Trek • Parents’ Council • Parents’ Council Advisory Board • Student Ambassadors • Welcome Leaders • Veteran Resources • Connections • Underrepresented Student Resources We would like to introduce Mrs. Paige Kegley to you, as she will be working primarily with our Clemson Families. She oversees all family events and communication coming from our office. If you have any questions related to family, please contact Paige at pkegley@clemson.edu or 864-656-0515. We are excited for another year here at Clemson and wish you the best as the fall begins. We are here to support you and look forward to working with you! If we can be of any assistance, please check out our New Student and Family Programs website, or feel free to contact us at CUfamilies@clemson.edu or call at 864-656-0515. Jeff Brown Associate Dean of Students and Director of New Student and Family Programs Rebecca Atkinson Associate Director Paige Kegley Associate Director Chris Trudell Associate Director Karen Erickson Administrative Assistant Evan Jaynes Graduate Assistant Erin Mayor Graduate Assistant
	Tips to Start the Semester Off Strong • Reassure your student that college is a big adjustment. The things they are feeling are common and they are not alone. • Talk to your student to be sure that they have met and talked with their Resident Assistant (RA), Welcome Leader or Orientation Ambassador (OA). These students are important to build a relationship with, as they will guide them to being successful at Clemson. • Encourage your student to get involved! There are many opportunities at Clemson that will aid your student to feeling at home. A great start to meeting organizations is at Tiger Prowl! • Remind your student to subscribe to the Emergency Alert System. They can also add you! • You are a part of the Clemson Family now, so remember to support your student and wear ORANGE on Friday’s!
	Student Affairs has developed a new branding campaign. Using feedback from focus groups, multiple surveys and test layouts involving students, staff, faculty and parents, the word Experience kept rising to the top. In Student Affairs we provide opportunites for Experiencing involvement, learning, fun, etc. Be watching for brands attribute and more coming soon powered by Student Affairs.
	Stay Connected to Campus Events.		Dates to Remember For upcoming events and information, please visit the Clemson University calendar or the academic calendar. Highlighted Upcoming Events Aug. 18–19 — Clemson Connect — Students Only Aug. 19 — TigerProwl Involvement Fair (2-5 p.m. Bowman Field) — Students Only Aug. 19 — Sorority Recruitment Begins Aug. 20 — Classes Begin Aug. 26 — Last Day to Register for Classes Aug. 31 — Fraternity Recruitment Begins Sept. 2 — Last day to drop a class or withdraw from the University without a W grade Sept. 5 — First Friday Parade Sept. 6 — Tigers vs. SC State @ Home Sept. 8 — NPHC Orientation