DPU & You

Moving from high school and home to college, with significantly greater intellectual rigor and personal freedom, can be a difficult transition. The college experience is often remembered as the best time in a person’s life, but the day to day process is not always easy, and students will inevitably experience frustration and disappointment. The greatest gift you can give your student is to allow them the chance to work through their problems independently, with your support and guidance but not intervention. This will help him or her grow, mature and develop new skills to deal with future challenges.

Desired Outcomes for Parent Involvement

Everyone who works at DePauw is dedicated to creating an environment that supports each student’s academic success – our primary mission. Information for parents is provided to help you better understand the student experience at DePauw, to help you support student learning, and to empower students to take personal responsibility for their social and academic choices. We view your student, and will work with him or her, as an emerging adult.

Families Contribute to Student Success by:

  • Understanding and supporting DePauw as an intellectual community that expects academic engagement, personal integrity, respect for the diversity of people and ideas on campus, and civility.
  • Learning about the significant challenges that students will face academically and socially and the resources available at DePauw to help them succeed. Information about student support services may be accessed at www.depauw.edu/admin/acadservices.
  • Supporting the University’s goals for student learning and personal development:
    • Students place the pursuit of knowledge and academic honesty at the forefront of their DePauw experience
    • Students establish personal goals and a plan to achieve their goals
    • Students make responsible choices about academic pursuits, career planning, social interactions and community engagement
    • Students learn about and respect the values and beliefs of others
    • Students challenge themselves to seek new experiences to enhance intellectual and personal growth
    • Students show care and respect for all community members
  • Supporting your student as he/she faces academic and social uncertainty and learns new skills that are appropriate in challenging situations.
  • Encouraging your student to problem-solve and to seek support and assistance independently.
  • Allowing your student to accept the consequences of his/her actions and take responsibility for personal errors.
  • Urging your student to learn from disappointments and mistakes, and to formulate plans to avoid these problems in the future.
  • Knowing when to step in to help your student and when to hold back and empower them to take the initiative.
  • Watching for any indication that your student is unable to cope with academic or personal stress, or is taking unhealthy risks with alcohol or drugs. Discuss your concerns openly and help your student develop a plan to address the problem. If your student’s physical or mental health is endangered, contact appropriate campus authorities immediately.
  • Knowing that the University celebrates your role as parents and sees you as an integral partner in supporting student success.

DePauw Supports Student Success by:

  • Hiring gifted and caring faculty and staff members who will take enormous interest in facilitating your student’s DePauw experience.
  • Providing helpful information on the Parents section of the Web site and through occasional newsletters.
  • Sending Parent emails to alert you to important campus activities and to provide helpful information throughout the year. Opt-in for email communication by sending your email address to parents@depauw.edu.
  • Hosting family activities including events during Opening Day, Family Weekend and Little Sibs Weekend.