Planning for Next Year
The New Student Academic Services unit housed within Student Housing and Dining Services is comprised of Orientation and Residential Academics. Our team is dedicated to supporting your students transition into and through UC Davis. It’s June and the 2022-23 academic year, has come to a close. If this was you and your student’s first year at UC Davis, congratulations. This was a huge year of transition for both of you, and you made it.
In last month’s newsletter we discussed your student’s options for summer and things to consider. If you or your student are still planning for summer, take a look at some great options discussed.
This month, we are focusing on conversations you and your student can have over the summer to prepare for living off campus next year. If your student lived with us in Student Housing and Dining Services, there were a lot of resources provided that eased their transition into the university, such as meals, convenient access to campus, programs and events to help find community and succeed in all areas of life, and academic support such as tutoring, academic peer mentors and convenient study spaces.
If your student is moving off campus next year, they will still have access to the many resources the university provides, but it will not be as convenient as it was living on campus. It is helpful to talk to your students and come up with a plan to help them be successful next year. Below are some topics and questions to consider discussing:
1. Finances
1. How will your student manage their finances?
2. Would a budget be helpful, and if so can they create one?
3. Will they need a job and if so, how much money will they need each week?
There are many student employment options at UC Davis. If your student is looking for a job, they should check out Handshake for job opportunities on and off campus.
2. Managing Time
1. If your student is living off campus they will need more time for commuting back and forth to campus.
2. How will they get to campus?
3. How long will it take?
4. What will they do with the time in between classes? Will they go home or find a place to study on campus?
There are many workshops available to students, including workshops on time management through the Office of Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Services.
3. Basic needs
1. What will they do for meals each day?
2. When and where will they grocery shop?
3. Will they buy food on campus or bring their food to camps?
4. What needs to be prepared in advance and when will they do that with their busy schedule
5. Are there any concerns about paying for rent?
UC Davis has a Basic Needs Center, called Aggie Compass. More information can be found here.
4. Studying
1. Where will your student study?
2. Is there a place in their house or apartment complex conducive for studying? Where on campus do they want to study?
3. What are the options available?
The Office of Educational Opportunity and Enrichment Services provides workshops on studying too!.
There may be other topics that are important to you and/or your student, and we encourage you to discuss those too. The topics suggested are ones that we know are common for students to struggle with.
The biggest takeaway is that if your student is moving off campus for the first time next year, or has been living off campus but still struggles with some of the topics listed above, they are not alone and there are many campus resources to help them. It is important for them to be aware of what they are struggling with and take initiative to ask for help as soon as they realize they are struggling.
If you have been following our newsletter content each month, thank you, and we hope that you have found it to be valuable not only for your student’s transition into UC Davis, but your transition as well. It is a big transition for everyone, and we hope this information made it a bit easier.
We are always looking to improve our content, if you have feedback or ideas for academic or career topics we could include to better serve next year’s families, we would be glad to hear them. Please send them to Erika Reynolds at erreynolds@ucdavis.edu.
One final reminder, summers are meant to be enjoyed, and I hope that you and your student are able to find time to incorporate those things that bring you joy. You and your student deserve it!