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TIGER CUBS
EARLY ACADEMICS
During your student’s transition through their first year at college or at a new college,
there may be several highs and lows you experience as your student calls and texts home
throughout a day, week or month. Ultimately, we want the same outcome as you — for your
student to be safe, healthy and successful at Clemson University. The information gathered
in the next several sections is designed to help you understand the transitional experience
and how Clemson assists students through the process.
ACADEMIC SUCCESS
At Clemson, we found the following four practices are key strategies for persistence through
higher education and academic performance:
1. Attending Class
Today, so many high schools have different attendance policies; therefore, it is easy to see
why students have different points of view on attending class. In higher education, class
attendance is the number one way to stay on track with academic progression and engage
with faculty.
2. Time Management
Time management is something students constantly experience throughout their time
in college. Time can get away from students, trying to balance a full course load, maintain
friendships or make new ones, stay involved on campus and perhaps work part time. All of
this combined can cause concern for anyone attempting to manage time wisely. Attending
college should be treated as if it were a full-time job. A full-time job requires roughly 40 hours
a week. An average course load is 15 hours per semester, so you could look at it this way:
30 hours of study + 15 hours of class = 45 hours per week.
3. Communication with Faculty
At Clemson, we found faculty-student interactions significantly support academic success
and performance. Faculty are excited about their field of study and want to engage students
in the field. Faculty also administer the grades each semester, so a student who takes their
time to get to know their faculty member will stand out and become known to them.
4. Encouraging Students to Seek Help Early
One of the best ways to combat getting into trouble with grades is by asking for help.
Encouraging your student to seek help will not only improve their classroom experience but
likely their personal life as well. There are many places to look for help at Clemson: resident
assistants (RAs), academic advisers, faculty members, Student Affairs staff members and
Counseling and Psychological Services counselors, among others. There is help all across
campus. The best place to start is by encouraging your student to seek help from someone
if they need it.
ACADEMIC SUPPORT
Academic Success Center
During their first semester of enrollment at Clemson, students may find the academic
expectations and rigor at Clemson to be at a higher level than expected. The Academic Success
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
•
Ask your student if they have been
going to class.
•
Ask about their classes.
•
If you have concerns, contact the
Office of Advocacy and Success.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT
•
Encourage your student to start a
schedule to use on the weekdays,
allowing time to work between classes.
•
If your student is struggling, have
conversations with them about their
schedule and how they are balancing
their social and academic life.