Helping Students — and Parents — Transition to College Life

As life transitions go, beginning a college career is a big one — and not just for the student beginning their college journey. That’s why Felix Pizzi and the rest of the team at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU) are equipped to help students and their families navigate the change.

Pizzi, assistant vice president of the SNHU Student Health and Well-being team, said university staff begin talking about the transition with students and their supporters during two summer orientation sessions.

It’s a time for students to take more responsibility to advocate for themselves, learn about and ask for support services they require. Meanwhile, parents and other supporters need to adjust to new confidentiality rules for health and educational records they may be unaccustomed to.

In a recent New Hampshire Magazine article, Pizzi recommended having a plan in place, both for the often-emotional good-bye on move-in day as well as the coming weeks and months — arranging to speak on the phone on certain days, for instance.

Pizzi advised parents to begin talking about the upcoming changes ahead of move-in day, especially with any care providers who have helped their student during high school.

“This is an important transition time,” he said. “Make sure that you speak with (the student’s) current supports at home (so) you have some intentionality around how is it that you’re going to be able to succeed through the transition of starting school.”

Perhaps most importantly, he said, is for parents and supporters to remember that while their student will need to be more independent, parents are still central pillars of their support system. SNHU staff may not be able to divulge confidential information about students, but they always welcome information from concerned parents so support can be offered.

“So, from the Wellness Center and the CARE Team, Public Safety, Student Affairs — there's always a sense that if a parent has a concern, we’re always glad to pick up the phone,” he said.”

Joe Cote is a writer and organic marketer at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU), where he has worked since 2016. Previously he spent more than a dozen years as a reporter and editor at weekly and daily newspapers in Vermont and New Hampshire. He lives near SNHU's Manchester, New Hampshire campus with his wife and daughter. Connect with him on LinkedIn.