For Parents

• Research shows that students who perceived their parents were more permissive about drinking during the students senior year of high school were significantly more likely to transition to weekly alcohol use, heavy episodic drinking, and experience consequences from drinking in college (Walls, Fairle, and Wood, 2009). We can assume parent’s expectations have similar impacts for other drugs including cannabis, prescription drugs, and narcotic drugs.
• Underage drinking is not permitted in our country or on our campus and has consequences. Set expectations that match the values and community standards of Ursinus College. Understanding our policy and expectations is important so we invite you to read the code of student conduct along with your student so everyone is on the same page.
  • All student behaviors that violate policy will be addressed through the community standards process with an educational approach. We are an educational institution and we want students to learn from their experiences.
• Sexual misconduct will not be tolerated. Students need to understand consent and how alcohol impacts and can negate consent. We will do a lot of educating on this, including a required Online Wellness Course due before first-years move-in and a Consent Event required of all new students during August orientation. Ask them about these activities and events to gain their perspective and remind them they are important.
• Consistency between our messages and yours will help your student understand and live out their values around healthy relationships and boundaries.

Make it normal and common to check in on their overall wellness - including all 6 dimensions: physical, mental, social, spiritual, intellectual, and financial.

• • Check out this newsletter that we provide at Bear Beginnings in May on tips for tough conversations called the Parent’s Guide: Conversations about Substance Use. The newsletter includes specific tips and techniques for starting and continuing these conversations including the when, how, and offers conversations starters. This and more can be found on the CampusESP Family Portal.
  • Spend more time listening than speaking. Share your knowledge but ask questions and then actively listen.
  • Be cautious about sharing your own stories from college days as it can come across as glamorizing use. Life is different now and the substances have changed.
    • The cannabis that was around in the 60s-70s had a THC level of 1% and it went up to 3% in the 80-90s. Today, the average THC level is 13% but it can be much higher depending on the type and how it’s used (inhaled vs ingested, etc)
    •  Decades ago, the most common alcohol consumed was cheap beer. Now it’s liquor, either in shot form, or through fancy seltzers that don’t taste like alcohol and can lead to quick and high consumption rates. 

If you take time to learn about one topic, please become familiar with warning signs of distress.

• Distress can take many forms and can come from a variety of situations. All students will react differently to the challenges of college life. Please review the resources on our page detailing warning signs of distress. Understand the warning signs yourself and help your student understand them too - for themselves and for their friends. There are many resources at Ursinus to help your student succeed and deal with the challenges they might face. Reach out with questions or to consult.