Support Your Student with Finding Connection at WWU

Whether your student is living in the res halls, off campus, or commuting from home, it can be hard to make friends and connect somewhere new. The good news is that there are a lot of helpful resources available to support your student’s ongoing transition to Western! So in your next call, text, or conversation, you might mention a few ways to help them discover how to find and create community in their new life.
 
Three quick tips if your student is feeling lonely:

  1. Normalize it and stay hopeful. Try saying, “Lots of students feel this way at first. It will not last. What is one small step you can take today to feel a little more connected?”
  2. Encourage one micro-connection a day. Suggest something doable, like stopping by a club fair table, saying hello to a neighbor on their floor, attending a free campus event, or sitting with a study group for 20 minutes. Small steps add up.
  3. Nudge toward resources and routine. Recommend a steady sleep schedule, regular meals, and movement. Point them to campus supports like Counseling and Wellness, Recreation, and Student Activities. If they feel stuck, help them make a same-week appointment.

WWU Email

Remind your student to check their WWU email account for notices from their academic programs, student clubs and organizations, or student support services about upcoming activities, campus-wide events, and other engagement opportunities. 

Housing Connections 

On Campus: Ask your student if they’ve talked to their RA or Res Hall Director about feeling disconnected, and for recommendations about current or upcoming Res Life activities and events they can check out. 

Off Campus: Encourage your student to consider joining the Off Campus Living Peer Advising Program for connection and support from current students living off-campus, waiting to connect with them (one-on-one) throughout the school year! Questions? Weekly drop-in office hours are available!

Student Activities

Ask them about checking out WIN (Western Involvement Network) to see meetings, club activities, and campus events. Encourage your student to try to drop in to at least one activity a week. 

Be Well WWU

Encourage your student to invest in their emotional health and make time to build social and self-care skills by attending Wellness groups and events through the Counseling and Wellness Center, or connecting with peer health educators. Sign up for the BeWell newsletter to find out how to build skills to thrive in their new home away from home. 

Volunteer

If your student finds it fulfilling and interesting to volunteer, there are opportunities to do so here at Western or in the community through the Work Study Center and the Community Service Center.

Family Resources

Make sure to sign up for the WWU Family Connection newsletter so you can be ready with great suggestions on how to help your student navigate and find connection through the latest resources and programs. You might also find it useful to reference the Community Connections section of the Viking Resource Hub, and the Forming Support Networks section of the First-Generation Family Toolkit.

Have questions? Let's chat! Feel free to schedule an appointment during our Office Hours for families and students!