Dear Hope Families,
I hope you are enjoying the summer with your loved ones. Here at Hope College, we are busy preparing for the arrival of our students. Our campus community is eager to greet all our students — both new and returning students — in person.
One of the best parts of the new academic year is having new opportunities to learn each student’s unique story. You have been an important part of your student’s story, and I want to thank you for all you have done to pave the way to this moment, whether your student is entering their first year or their last semester at Hope. The familiarity of the high school years is behind them, and soon they will be engaged in the learning culture of Hope College. Your student will experience academic rigor, develop new and different relationships, and engage in meaningful activities.
Before the fall semester begins, I encourage you to create some special time to talk with your student about their Hope journey. As the father of three college graduates, I know it can be difficult to start and have these conversations. Need some help? The following questions may prompt good discussion with your student:
- What are you most looking forward to this year? What are two or three questions that you hope to answer this year?
- When it comes to managing your time, what will be the biggest challenge? How do you plan to deal with that challenge?
- What are you most anxious or nervous about? Classes, roommate, exams, internships, graduation, being away from family?
- What are one or two ways that we, as a family, can support you?
With just a few until the start of the 2019-20 academic year, you and your student probably have a lot yet to do! It’s a busy time for all of us, but at Hope, we are always here to answer your questions. Please feel free to contact me at 616-395-7800 or email sdev@hope.edu.
Thank you for being a part of the Hope family!
Sincerely,
Richard A. Frost
Vice President for Student Development
Dean of Students