Parents

Information for Parents and Guardians

Message from the Vice President of Student Affairs

Families are partners with us at Chowan University! The families of our students play an important role in the CU community.

Chowan students enjoy vigorous academic opportunities as they call Chowan “home”. We also afford students the possibility of developing their mind, body, and spirit. Their out of classroom experiences consist of leadership opportunities, social activities to complement what they are learning in the classroom.

Parents and families have an integral role in the success of their students. The stronger the partnership between families and the university community, the more we are able to help our students achieve their educational and personal goals. You are strongly encouraged to familiarize yourself with our campus community and access the resources you need to help make your student’s Chowan experience a positive one.

Let me assure you the University understands and values the special relationships that can exist between students, parents/guardians, and the University. Developmental and legal issues (such as FERPA) guide and at times limit the amount of information the University may share with parents/guardians. Whenever possible, the University will approach its relationships with parents/guardians as partners in the development of our students. The University reserves the right to notify the parents/guardians of dependent students whenever a student is found responsible for prohibited behavior.

There are tips below, we hope will be helpful to you. These parent resources will direct you to the various offices on campus that can assist you and answer questions. Make sure you have the university calendar accessible so you will know when your student will be on breaks and when we are closed.

Looking forward to being a partner with you in your student’s success!

Dr. Montrose Streeter
Vice President for Student Affairs

Fall 2020 Safe Reopening

The top priority of the University is the health and safety of our students, faculty, staff, and campus community.

The University will continue to develop and revise guidelines that address the expectations of all members of the community, personal safety practices, staffing options, workplace environments, emotional wellbeing, on-campus visitors, modification of facilities, and workplace education as we prepare to resume on-campus life for fall 2020. Now more than ever, it is imperative that the Chowan University community live and abide by the core values of the University.

The University has created a webpage (chowan.edu/reopening) for the source of information for the fall 2020 resumption of on-campus living and learning. These plans are not yet comprehensive. We encourage you to check back frequently as details and announcements are made throughout the summer. The University has also created reopening@chowan.edu as a method to ask questions related to the reopening of the University that cannot be found on the reopening webpages. Updates to University operations can be found at chowan.edu/coronavirus.

Accessing Your Student's Information

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law designed to protect the privacy of a student’s education records. FERPA gives parents certain rights with respect to their children’s education records at Chowan University. These rights transfer to the student, or former student, once he or she becomes an “eligible student” by beginning to attend Chowan University. The university may also disclose, without consent, “directory information.” The university considers the following items to be directory information: name, class, photograph(s), full-time or half-time status, home town and state, university e-mail address, date and place of birth, major field of study, participation in officially recognized activities and sports, degrees honors and awards, and dates of attendance. Chowan University students have the ability to access their own student records using their MyCU account.

The Value of Values Education

Chowan University is known for having “Faith in your future.” Much more than a tagline, our mission is to provide an education that transforms ordinary students into extraordinary graduates.

We do this in good faith, trusting God in the person of Jesus Christ, with optimism for each student’s success. Our faculty come to Chowan to teach, advise, and engage students in the classroom, on the fields and courts of competition, and throughout extra-curricular activities. Faith in action underscores all that we do.

It is not enough to teach students how or what to think; we teach students how to live with honor and conscious using their head, heart, and hands.

“Jesus grew in wisdom and maturity and in favor with God and man.” Luke 2:52

Head: We Teach
At Chowan students will take classes in the disciplines of Science, Fine Art, Literature, History, Health, and Religion. But more importantly, you will learn how each discipline relates to the others. Our integrated education produces exceptional thinkers who can make sense of the world in which we live.

"And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others." - 2 Timothy 2:2

Heart: We Advise
The faculty and staff who surround our students walk alongside them and inspire their professional and personal dreams with passion. Faculty advisers mentor students one-on-one and consistently model and encourage right and healthy decision making.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will." - Romans 12:2

Hands: We Engage
Opportunities for service abound to members of the Chowan community. Students join faculty and staff to translate what is taught and what is learned into what is done. From clothing the needy in our community to loving orphans with HIV/AIDS in South Africa, we take seriously our mission to provide Light and Truth in the name of Christ Jesus.

"Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." - Matthew 25:40

We provide a liberal arts education that challenges the whole student. The transformed lives of our students give value to what we do at Chowan University.

"We offer a unique community of student peers, an expert faculty, and an administration that truly understands the importance of Spirit and faith. This Chowan Spirit guides students as they enter our University to experience a truly personalized education – only to emerge as adults ready to make their mark in a host of professions."

- Dr. Kirk E. Peterson, President

Resources

Tips for Parents/Guardians

At Chowan University, we are committed to providing a personalized, affordable education that fits the needs of your students. Parents and guardians play an important role in helping students find a good fit and select a university to further their education. The information on this page is intended to direct you to resources that can help with your decision-making process and provide support throughout and beyond their enrollment. As you and your student prepare for college there will be a lot of expectations and emotions. Please know that we are here to help.

We encourage parents and guardians to visit campus with their students and to be involved and supportive of their student's educational endeavors. Here are a few tips to help provide parent support:

Communicate
Whether they are seeking your advice or simply wanting you to listen, keeping connected and engaged with your student while they’re in college is important.Calling, texting, emailing instant messaging and social media are all at your disposal but don't over do it.

Embrace their emotions
Your student has relied on you for the past 18 year (give or take of few) of their life and now college brings a sense of rite of passage to a new found independence. Your student will experience ups and downs in college as one would expect with a major life change. Remember that you have seen their past 18 years of ups and downs and use this common ground to help guide them through, help them set goals, become involved and reach their goals.

Meaningful Conversations
It can be difficult to get information out of your student. Don't use close-ended questions like "how was your day?" that can lead to one-word answer such as "fine' or "okay." When you talk to your student try to focus more on their courses then their grades. Have them share with you newly read works of literature, intellectual theories, new passions, organizations they have joined and so on.

Evolve
The temptation will be great to directly involve yourself with every hurdle your student encounters while at Chowan. While your counsel is key to your student’s success, encourage them to find solutions on their own. There are numerous campus resources, such as Academic Success, their Academic Advisor, Campus Ministry and The Tutoring Center to name a few, available to help. Familiarize yourself with the University’s resources so you, too, can become a resource for success.

Expect Change
You should expect change to occur over the next four years while your student is not only expanding their knowledge but learning about themselves as well.

Have patience, laugh and smile with and embrace your student often!

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