New Student Welcome

Owned by Suzanne Wenger
Jul 05, 2024
5 min read

On this Page:

Falk College Parent and Family Meeting

What’s going on during welcome weekend?

Below is a typical outline of events which take place during the new student’s welcome weekend:

Friday

  • Dean’s Reception

  • Dean’s Welcome (for students only)

  • New Student Orientation Meeting

  • New Student Department Meetings

Saturday and Sunday

  • Students meet with Peer Advisors on Saturday morning

  • Schedule adjustments are made with peers or faculty/staff

How does Falk College support students?

Academic Advisors

  • All First Year Students are assigned Academic Advisors in the Office of Student Services (first year students and undeclared students).

  • They also have a secondary major advisor who will play a larger role beginning in their sophomore year.

First year advising

Successfully transitioning from high school to college involves: 

  • Learning to be a college student

    • Importance of self-efficacy and ownership

    • Learning to balance your academics with other aspects of your life

    • Recognizing that college is harder than high school and requires more work and self-discipline

    • Treating yourself and others with respect

    • Developing realistic goals and expectations

    • Taking care of yourself both proactively as well as learning to handle stress effectively

    • Following SU policies and procedures including deadlines (e.g. add/drop, withdraw, the Intra-University Transfer Process, declaring majors and minors)

  • The importance of communication

  • Learning and using SU technology (MySlice, Blackboard, etc.);

  • Learning the registration process;

  • How and when to seek support (e.g. Student Services) and resources on campus.

What’s a Peer Advisor and what do they do?

  • Contact your student through email or a phone call during the summer to introduce themselves

  • Will meet with students on Saturday to answer general questions and to help with schedule adjustments

  • Provide pre-registration support

  • Resource throughout their first year

  • Assist Gateway leaders

The Falk College Office of Student Services

We are your One Stop Shop!

Mission Statement

The Office of Student Services strives to provide a caring, comfortable and confidential environment where students can discuss academic, social and/or emotional concerns. In addition, we provide advising for undeclared students and track all requirements for degree completion.

Our Approach

Our department uses a strength-based advising and counseling approach when working with students so we listen to your concerns, identify your strengths and challenges and work towards positive solutions. We like to take a proactive (rather than reactive) approach to situations, both academic and personal, so we prefer to see students when their concerns first arise so we can work on solutions before a crisis occurs or things are “too far gone” to make an impact in the semester.

General Student Support Services

Typical issues that students talk to us about are:

  • Concerns with their classes/grades

  • Time management (fitting everything in and developing a balanced schedule for school and play)

  • Study and learning strategies

  • Learning disabilities (whether already diagnosed or suspected)

  • Relationship issues (roommates, friendships, romantic)

  • Depression and anxiety

  • Drug and alcohol Issues

  • Homesickness

  • Sexual orientation and gender identity issues

  • Getting connected and making friends on campus

  • Lifestyle concerns (sleeping, eating, developing routines, etc.)

  • Health issues (personal and/or family)

  • We also collaborate with many other resources on campus and may connect you to them if it would be helpful for your particular concerns (see Campus Resources)

Specific Support Opportunities

  • Academic Advisors provide support to students with various disabilities

  • Support for students with mental and/or physical health issues

  • Support counseling for students on academic probation

  • Facilitating referrals to other relevant services on campus or in the community

Transitioning to College life

First-Year Seminar

First-Year Seminar (FYS) 101 is a 15-week, 1-credit course that engages all first-year and transfer students in guided conversations, experiential activities, and written assignments about transitioning to Syracuse University campus life, exploring their identities as they situate themselves in a new context, and understanding how they will relate to and interact with other students, faculty and staff in contributing to a welcoming, inclusive, and diverse campus community.

Students will explore the areas of belonging, interdependence, health and wellness, development of identity, socialization, prejudice, discrimination, bias and stereotypes within their FYS 101 section, in University-sponsored experiential activities, and in school/college level sponsored experiential activities. To facilitate meaningful small group discussions, each class hosts no more than 19 students from multiple schools and colleges. Each section will be led by a pair of facilitators selected from experienced staff, faculty, graduate and undergraduate students.

As part of FYS 101, the Home College Experience (HCE) provides discipline-specific opportunities for you to connect to and build community within your home school or college. Special programming includes interactive outdoor events, performances, registration fairs, engagement opportunities with major-based student organizations and more. These experiences are essential to students successfully building community, and a sense of belonging, as well as strengthening their academic identity.

The activities scheduled for these experience weeks will vary by school/college. Students should follow their home school/college’s instructions and email communications regarding where to go.

How can we work together to promote your student’s success?

We are partners

We are partners in helping your student successfully navigate their way through their college experience.

Your relationship is changing

You are moving from a Parent-Child to a Parent-Adult relationship. College students need to learn how to do things on their own and figure things out (using critical thinking and problem-solving skills). Will they always be successful and make the right decisions? Maybe not, but we will work together to help them learn from their mistakes.

Tips for New Students

Promote Communication

  • Do communicate your caring and support.

  • Do set up communication expectations.

  • Do ask more general and open questions like:

    • What kinds of things did you do today?

    • What kinds of things are you learning?

    • What do you think is going well?

    • What kinds of challenges are you finding?

    • The goal is to get your student to have a two way conversation with you

    • Share what’s going on in your life.

  • Help siblings stay in touch (e. g. Skype, face time).

Academic Success

  • Go to classes.

  • Time management (readings, assignments, studying, preparing for test and projects, socializing).

  • Encourage them to talk directly to their Professors and/or Instructors, Teaching Assistants. Everyone has office hours or they can make an appt.

  • Ask for help and use available resources.

Social Success

  • Join a club or organization – Student Involvement Fair is usually around September.

  • Connect with other students in your classes – find study buddies.

  • Room and residence hall mates.

  • Participate in campus activities – speakers, movies, exhibits, sport and art events. Get the daily SU email newsletter, Falk Talk to find out what’s going on.

  • Participate in community and volunteer activities.

Information for Parents

What should I do as a parent if my child is having difficulties?

What information can be shared with parents?

  • SU complies with FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) to maintain the confidentiality of student records

  • Students can give consent for parents to view their grades through MySlice (“Share my access”)

  • Generally, students will need to sign consent forms to share other information with parents

  • However, parents will be notified in emergency situations or if the well-being of a student is in question

When to say goodbye

During a typical Welcome Weekend, parents leave after lunch on Friday. Students will be heading to College and Department Meetings. Student will need time to meet people in their dorms and get organized for classes on Monday.

Parental support