Student Life

Residence Life > Frequently Asked Questions - Parents

My son/daughter is having a difficult time with his/her roommate. What advice should I give him/her?
Suggest to your student that they revisit the roommate contract with their roommates. If they have trouble confronting the situation suggest that they go and speak with a Resident Assistant (RA). RAs can provide support and help them to communicate with their roommate.

Updating the roommate contract and working with the RA failed. My son/daughter is still having trouble with his/her roommate. What is the next step?
If direct communication and revision of the roommate contract are not working, the next step is to have the Residence Director conduct a mediation. Mediations are conducted to create a binding roommate contract. Violation of the Roommate Contract may result in judicial action. It is important that students themselves self-advocate and assert their needs throughout this process.

I want my son/daughter’s roommate removed from the room. My child is not causing the problems in the room and did not break the roommate contract. How can you make this happen?
It is the policy of the Office of Residence Life to exhaust every possible means of solution before granting a room change. This process may take between two to four weeks. Students bringing forth the complaint are asked to consider moving to improve their situation and environment. The Assistant Director must approve all room changes.

What is the room change process?
We ask that students remain in their room assignments until the end of the add/drop period before making a room change request. After the add/drop registration period, students may pick up and submit a Room Change Application. Room changes are not guaranteed since all room changes are granted on a space available basis. Room Change Applications are available in the Office of Residence Life.

My son/daughter is having trouble with study skills and test taking. Is there a place on campus where he/she can go for help?
There are several places your student can go for assistance with study skills and test taking. The Counseling Center, located in Hotchkiss Hall, offers study skills workshops in the Fall and Spring for all students. The Learning and Teaching Center(LTC), located in the Science Library, has workshops on test preparation, note taking, and presenting speeches. Additionally, the Office of Student Affairs is an excellent resource for information and referrals for students who need help with their academic work. Every semester, the Office of Student Affairs and the Learning and Teaching Center present the Interact program, a series of academic workshops presented by faculty in the residence halls.

My daughter/son needs a tutor.  Where can she/he go for help?
Tutors are scheduled through the Learning and Teaching Center. Most academic departments have tutors or can provide some assistance. Suggest that your student look into working with a tutor early to build a relationship and provide assistance well in advance of their first exams.

Will the Writing Center proofread my son/daughter’s paper?
The Writing Center does not proofread student work. The Writing Center offers free tutorial assistance, information, and resources to students who wish to become better writers or who need to work on unfamiliar writing assignments (e.g., lab reports, cover letters, research papers). Many professors require that their students use the services of the Writing Center.

Are there any books that I may wish to purchase for my son/daughter to aid in his/her transition to college?
Some recommendations are:
“Making College Count: A Real World Look at How to Succeed In and After College” by Patrick S. O’Brien
“Internship Success” by Marianne Ehrlich Green
“The Real Freshman Handbook” by Jennifer Hanson
"Making the Most of College" by Richard Light

Do you have any recommendations on books that parents may wish to explore?
“When Your Kid Goes to College: A Parents’ Survival Guide” by Carol Barkin
"Making the Most of College" by Richard Light

The Office of Residence Life invites you to call with additional questions about our residence life program. Please call us at 847-735-6232 or e-mail reslife@lakeforest.edu.