Information for Parents and Caregivers

An Overview of the Wingspan

The Wingspan is a comprehensive academic support center available to all KU students. We provide a variety of programming, including tutoring, writing support, peer academic coaching, and Supplemental Instruction. All of our services are FREE for KU students. You can explore the rest of this website for detailed information on each service.

Can you contact the Wingspan with questions?

Of course! We'd love to tell you more about our services and how we assist students. You may contact us at 785-864-7733 or learning@ku.edu. You are also welcome to follow us on Instagram through @kulearningwritingcenter for updates throughout the year.

While we are happy to answer your general questions, please let students make their own Wingspan appointments. Also, we are not able to provide information about an individual student's use of our services, experience within a session, or other academic data like grades.

Tips for Supporting Your Student's Academic Success

Here are a few suggestions for being supportive while promoting your student's agency:

• Check in with your student frequently. College is a big transition for all students regardless of how far they are from home or how well they did in high school. Just showing you care and asking how classes are going makes a big difference! Different stressors occur throughout the academic year as well. See this stress calendar for potential check-in times and topics.
• Empower your student to access our resources and advocate for themselves. College is a time for students to grow personally and academically. It's important that they learn to ask for assistance, speak up when there is an issue, and take responsibility for their success. They can do this by using support services like the Wingspan, making their own appointments, and asking questions when they have them.
• Normalize your student’s experience: the college transition is difficult for all students regardless of their previous academic behaviors, habits, and tendencies. It's completely normal to have questions and seek assistance throughout college! 
• Demystify and destigmatize collaborating with the Wingspan to learn and write. While attitudes have changed a lot recently, there are still a lot of myths about tutoring and academic support. Our services are for all students and everyone can benefit from them. Using academic support does not mean a student is failing or even struggling - in fact, many students who use our services are doing well in their classes and simply want to continue succeeding. Remember that students spend a lot less time in class during college and a lot more time studying and writing outside of class. The Wingspan provides a variety of ways for students to get structure, community, and answers in those times outside of class.

The Academic Stress Calendar for Caregivers

What are the most stressful times for students? We're glad you asked! While there are obvious times with heightened stress, like midterms and finals, different challenges occur throughout a semester. For example, the first week of class can be overwhelming with lots of new people and homesickness might set in after a few weeks. We have a useful resource - a stress calendar - that identifies the stress points throughout a semester and how you can support your student during those times.

Click here to access the Academic Stress Calendar for Caregivers

Orientation Slides

We've attached the slides from the Wingspan's presentation for parents at the 2025 orientation below in case you wanted to review them again or missed our session. 

Click here for the slides from "So, You Think Your Student Will Do Fine in Class? Academic Success Primer with the Wingspan: Center for Learning and Writing Support"