Important Topics to Discuss with Your Students in December

Your students are heading into the last weeks of their fall semester, which means that assignment deadlines and final exams are on the immediate horizon. Here, at Idaho State, we are offering many services and activities to help students destress and find the support they need to finish the semester well, but there are some important topics you  might want to discuss with your student even in the midst of this very hectic time. 

If you have students who will be graduating this December, they have several business items they should be taking care of immediately. The Office of the Registrar offers a Degree Award web page to guide students through applying for graduation, confirming the name on the diploma is accurate, ensuring all transfer work is assessed and/or included, and so on. Have your students ordered their cap and gown through the bookstore? Your students should have received an email from the Office of the Registrar covering all of these details, but checking in with them can help avoid any unpleasant surprises for those preparing to graduate. 

Both graduating and continuing students with transfer credits who want to make sure those classes qualify for inclusion can reach out directly to gradisu@isu.edu or contact the Registrar’s office at reginfo@isu.edu or (208) 282-2661 for assistance.

Continuing students should be speaking with their advisors about registration for spring. We want your students to feel confident in their major and in their selection of courses. We also want them to be able to register into the classes they want and need, so now is the best time to talk to an advisor and get those classes secured.

This is also the time of the semester when students may need extra help coping with challenges. Our CATS (Counseling & Testing) Center offers lots of stress-management tips and resources. Special testing accommodations are available for students who qualify. Benny’s Pantry is stocked with food items to see students through lean times, and our Student Care and Assistance resources are available to assist students in crisis situations. Good self-care and play are critical components of general wellbeing, so ask if your students are checking out the U ROAR! web page for opportunities for fun and connection.

We have so much more to help support your students, but you are their first and most important resource. Chat with your students about how they are doing as the semester concludes. If they need help or another resource not listed here, but you’re not sure who to talk to, email us parent@isu.edu, and we’ll help you find what you need.