Your Go-To Resource for Residence

We know how important it is for families to stay connected and informed while their student navigates university life. This page is designed to help you understand how to reach out to our Residence Life team, what to expect when you do and how you can best support your student’s growth and independence. Whether you're looking to connect with staff, understand our approach to student support or prepare for the transition ahead, you'll find helpful guidance and resources below. 

How You Can Support Your Student

We want to support your students in becoming independent citizens, but your encouragement makes a difference as well. We hope you can be a source of empowerment for your students to take charge of their university journey. To do that, we encourage you to: 

  • Support students in initial reach out (e.g. writing the first email or making the first call to a resource)  

  • Show them where to find helpful resources   

  • Encourage them to engage with staff and services independently 

  • Reinforce accountability by encouraging them for their actions and pursue restorative solutions  

  • Motivate them to have challenging conversations with peers to build essential communication skills  

As parents, your goal is to make sure your student has a successful and enjoyable university experience. It is natural to want to navigate processes and engage on their behalf. We encourage students, however, to develop these skills whilst surrounded by high levels of accessible support resources.  

Transition and Communication Plan

When students enter university, they are met with new challenges, especially around independence. As students adjust to campus life, you may notice changes in their routines, such as sleep patterns and communication habits. Anticipating these shifts and discussing a communication plan with them before move-in can help ease the transition for both students and families. When creating your communication plan, consider the following questions: 

  • How often will your student check in with you?  

  • What’s the maximum amount of time you’re comfortable going without hearing from your student before contacting university staff? 

  • Is your student open to sharing the contact information of their roommates/friends? 

We encourage families to revisit this plan regularly. As your students’ academic and social schedules change throughout the year, their ability to connect may change as well.  

Your Student May Be

A quick guide to supporting your student through some common challenges: 

Feeling Disconnected from Their Community

Encourage your student to reach out to residence life staff and attend residence events. These are great ways to meet people and make residence feel like home

Having Roommate Concerns

Suggest your student speak to their Residence Don for support and guidance on next steps  

Struggling with Their Mental Health

Remind your student that it’s okay to ask for help. Encourage them to reach out to residence staff or contact Residence Counselling directly at needtotalk@uwo.ca 

Looking to Get Involved in Residence 

Encourage your student to join residence council, become a floor representative or ask their Residence staff about other involvement opportunities  

Struggling Academically 

If your student is finding coursework challenging, they can connect with their buildings Residence Education Advisor (REA) for academic support.   

Seeking Support on Campus 

Residence staff can help your student navigate campus resources and find the right support for their unique needs. 

Needing Residence Accommodations or Accessibility Support 

If your student requires accommodations, Residence Staff can assist in connecting them with the appropriate services 

How to Connect with Our Team

Depending on which residence your student lives in, you can email the building’s Residence Life Coordinator. Their office hours are typically Monday to Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m., with an average response time of 48 business hours. 

For quicker assistance, you can call the front desk of your student’s residence.  

Find My Student's Building Contact

What to Expect When Connecting With Us

We aim to support your student’s journey toward independence. When you reach out, you can expect us to: 

  • Gather information to decide appropriate next steps 

  • Connect directly with your student to navigate concerns  

Respecting Student Privacy 

We value your involvement, but we also prioritize student confidentiality. With your students’ consent, we’re happy to keep you informed on how they’re progressing. Most inquiries will be redirected to your student for follow-up. 

Our Role and Scope 

We’re here for emergencies and meaningful support—whereas requests to wake students up for exams are not appropriate for our staff. Those types of situations are important opportunities for students to develop life skills and we encourage you to consider those scenarios when creating a communication plan with your student. 

Parent eNewsletter Subscription

Stay up to date with important information about residence! Your student will have the opportunity to provide your email address in their myHousing Portal. Ask them to log in and provide your information to subscribe you to our emails.

myHousing Portal