Advise Your Student To...

1. Go to class and establish a study schedule.

Attending class is the first step in learning. Students should set aside two to three hours of studying for every hour in the classroom. Good time management is one of the essential skills for a successful student. The Center for Academic Excellence can help with managing a schedule and other academic concerns.

2. Understand major and University requirements.

Whether students have declared a major or not, they will need to fulfill certain requirements. Inevitably, there will be prerequisites. Learn graduation requirements; these are called distribution courses and University requirements. The online Hofstra University Undergraduate Bulletin (bulletin.hofstra.edu) lists all major, degree, and University requirements. Hofstra’s advising deans in the Center for University Advising are also a great resource.

3. Meet with their advisors and professors.

Advising is about more than course selection. Your student’s advising dean and/or faculty advisor can assist with goal-setting, discovering your student’s strengths and interests, discussing major selection, and exploring career possibilities. Your student can also connect with their academic success advisors, who will help strengthen their time management, organizational, and study skills. Students should meet with each of their professors at least once a semester and visit them during office hours. They can discuss their progress in the course, review paper drafts, and learn how to best prepare for exams.

4. Prepare for making healthy decisions.

Asking questions and starting a conversation with your student about alcohol, drugs, and sexual violence will guide them in making healthy choices. Please see the information about the health and counseling services, campus recreation, safety, and prevention and awareness initiatives at Hofstra. See our guide for approaching these important conversations at hofstra.edu/fo.

5. Take time to socialize.

Making friends is one of the best experiences in college. Students should take time to socialize and meet new people. Students can join a club or ask a classmate to study one evening. Look for opportunities at the Offices of Student Leadership and Engagement, International Student Affairs and the Department of Campus Recreation. Students may log in to GetInvolvedHU through My Apps in the Hofstra portal, which lists all the Hofstra clubs and organizations. Encourage your student to balance work and play.

6. Be familiar with Hofstra’s emergency procedures.

Student safety is the top priority at Hofstra, and students play a part in keeping our campus safe. They should have Public Safety’s emergency phone number (516-463-6789) and services phone number (516-463-6606) in their cellphones. Students may read about Hofstra University’s emergency management plan and fire safety guidelines in the Guide to Pride (hofstra.edu/guidetopride). Many parent questions about emergency situations are answered at hofstra.edu/emergencyparents.

7. Learn about financial aid and billing.

Financial aid is an ongoing process, so students will need to know what forms to complete, what scholarships they are eligible for, and when financial aid is disbursed. The Student Financial Services sends official emails to your student’s Hofstra Pride email account only. To maintain updated billing information, please ask your student to authorize you for the eBill. Visit hofstra.edu/sfshowto for step-by-step instructions. To protect your investment in your student’s education, you should consider purchasing the optional Tuition Refund Plan available through A.W.G. Dewar Inc. (hofstra.edu/tuitioninsurance).

8. Talk about the FERPA Authorization Form.

Parents should encourage students to own their college journey. However, there are times when you will need to discuss the details of their accounts with us. Your student may elect to authorize you through the FERPA Authorization Form, available on the Hofstra portal at my.hofstra.edu (MyAccount in the upper right corner), which will allow the University to discuss details of financial, academic, and other records with you, as per your student’s wishes. The completion of the FERPA Authorization Form is also needed for your access to Family eSpace. More information is available at hofstra.edu/familyespace.

9. Early in the spring semester, look into housing options for the next academic year.

Room selection takes place each March and April. Before then, students should talk to possible roommates and suite mates. Commuting students looking to live on campus are also invited to apply. The housing application opens online through the student portal in early March. See more information at hofstra.edu/housingselection.

10. Explore internships and student leadership opportunities.

It is a good idea for students to explore internships and leadership opportunities early in their academic careers. The experience can help students choose a major and/or a future career path. During their first year, encourage your student to visit the Center for Career Design and Development for major exploration (hofstra.edu/career), the Office of Student Leadership and Engagement for leadership and club opportunities (hofstra.edu/osle), and the Office of Commuting Student Services and Community Outreach for community service opportunities (hofstra.edu/commuting).