Southwestern University, like you, is focused on one outcome - the success of our students.

Southwestern’s academic and student life programs seek to engage students’ minds and transform their lives through a rigorous liberal arts education and a vibrant residential campus.

To achieve this, our objectives are very likely similar to your own. We aim to help your student develop into an intelligent, resilient, responsible, productive, well-rounded young adult prepared to contribute “toward the well-being of humanity.”

With these shared aspirations, we ask for the parents and family members of Southwestern students to partner with us. Taking responsibility for one’s own education is central to the Southwestern Experience. Southwestern offers an extensive network of resources so that students can help themselves, solve problems and build the confidence to manage their own education. By encouraging students to utilize these resources, they develop competencies that will serve them well in life.

You can help us ensure the success of your student by…

• Asking questions. Encouraging your student to contemplate possibilities rather than providing answers will help them develop problem-solving skills.
• Encouraging your student to resolve issues by identifying and using available resources. Avoid the temptation to “fix” problems for them.
• Helping your student understand that process is valuable in an educational environment. For example, learning to negotiate differences and to manage conflict are important life skills.
• Avoiding the temptation to get overly involved in processes that are designed for students to do for themselves. Of course, as parents, you are rightly interested and invested (intellectually, emotionally and financially) in your student’s education. You are the most important force in your student’s life. Just as you shaped the values your student now holds, you have an important role in shaping your college student’s emergence as a young adult.

We invite you to share our hope - that Southwestern students and graduates will be confident, self-motivated young adults in charge of their life, capable of dealing equally well with both challenges and opportunities and prepared to contribute to the world.