Indiana University East is a regional campus of Indiana University located in east central Indiana, a primarily rural demographic. We do not have campus housing, so many of our campus-based students commute anywhere from five minutes to an hour away. With almost one-third of our students identifying as first-generation college students, having support from their family is critical to their success.
In 2022, the staff in the Office of Student Success (OSS) created the POPS (Parents and Other Partners) Newsletter. This was the brainchild of several staff members who were compelled to engage the supporters in students’ lives – communicating with them regarding important information and ways they can advocate for their students. One of our success coaches was a first-generation college student and explained that her parents loved her and wanted to support her in college but most of the time did not have the knowledge or connection to help her navigate higher education. She was mostly on her own.
We first created a timeline of important topics, and which months needed specific information, basing our plan on knowledge about student affairs and academic/financial timelines. We created the June/July edition and handed it out to every family that attended the New Student Orientation. “Family” includes significant others and any supporter in a student’s life. During the introductory session with students and their parents/families/partners, we shared the purpose of the newsletter and encouraged them to sign up to receive it – either via a PDF attachment in an email or a printed copy through the USPS. Newsletters are sent/mailed at the beginning of each month. We only send them during the student’s first year, concluding with the May edition. Information and topics covered have included:
- Tips for the First Year (for parents and students)
- FERPA breakdown (what it is, what it means, how you can still be in “the know”)
- Monthly office/campus resource highlights
- Financial Aid check-ins and important dates
- Daily habits for successful students
- The Art of Asking for Help
- 5 Easy Places to Ask for Help at IU East
- Life Skills for College Students
- Bursar/Billing dates
- Financial Literacy
- Veteran benefits
- Managing stress
- Your student’s changing relationships
- Mental health articles and resources (including what to look for in their student)
- Explaining our Student Engagement Roster (flags early alert) and the importance of students reading the feedback from instructors
- Semester class registration and scheduling academic advising appointments
- Scholarship opportunities
- Events and student organizations
Before committing to doing the newsletter in the 2024-25 academic year, we decided to survey recipients in May 2024. Only three responded to our survey, so we did not get a depth of feedback. However, of the three, all of them said receiving the newsletter was helpful to them, highlighting the importance of the reminders of deadlines for their student.
The best qualitative story of the impact took place in November of 2024. The director and administrative secretary of OSS noticed an older gentleman walking slowly up to the building entrance. The director greeted the man who seemed to need physical assistance. She escorted him to chairs in a waiting area near the Bursar’s office. He mentioned having been sick and was weak because he was recovering. He had a personal check in his hand weak because he was recovering. He had a personal check in his hand and mentioned that he had driven to campus to pay his daughter’s balance. He mentioned having seen in the newsletter that students were encouraged to check their bursar bills. He asked his daughter if she owed anything, and she said she did not. He urged her to check anyway, and she discovered that she did owe a small balance due to a schedule change she made mid-semester. The director connected him with someone from the finance office who was able to assist him. When asked to which newsletter he was referring, he said, “That newsletter you told us about at orientation.” He added that they put it up on the refrigerator every month when they receive it in the mail.
We were grateful to see the newsletter impact in action and are committed to continuing this important engagement tool with all our first-year student families, but most importantly the families who are navigating college for the first time together.
For more information on Indiana University East's approach, please visit their website here.
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