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Parent’s Role in First Year

Parent’s Role in First Year. Using parents as tools to aid in the First Year Transition Leslie Gloor Duncan – The University of Western Ontario. Outline for Presentation. Background Programs Offered Discussion Topics. Background .

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Parent’s Role in First Year

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  1. Parent’s Role in First Year Using parents as tools to aid in the First Year Transition Leslie Gloor Duncan – The University of Western Ontario

  2. Outline for Presentation • Background • Programs Offered • Discussion Topics

  3. Background • The University of Western Ontario (UWO) has decided that instead of combat the involvement of parents in the first year transition, we can use parents as catalysts of information • Each summer UWO offers a transitional program – Summer Academic Orientation (SAO)

  4. Parent participation in the program has increased over the last 4 years. • In 2002 we saw approximately 4100 students and about 2800 parents • In 2003 we saw approximately 4400 first year students and about 3600 parents • We anticipate parent involvement to continue for the next number of years

  5. The Centre for New Students at UWO coordinates with other campus partners to offer the following programs: Recruitment Presentations Summer Academic Orientation (SAO) Parent Orientation at SAO SAO Manual Parent PurpleCircles Site Programs

  6. Recruitment Presentations • Our Undergraduate Recruitment office travels for 11 weeks in the autumn • Normally the Liaison Office coordinates parent information sessions with schools and school districts • Parent sessions and University Fairs are one of the first contacts with parents of potential university students

  7. Summer Academic Orientation • SAO runs each summer for 9 weeks • Typically it begins in mid - June and runs until mid – August • The SAO program is the first welcome to first year students and their guests (usually parents)

  8. Goals of Parent Orientation • Validate the parents’ feelings • Address concerns • Educate parents about the university adjustment • Inform parents of university policies, procedures and resources • Build trust by putting a face on the university • Allow parents time to relax and reflect

  9. Parent Orientation • The parent program starts at 9:00 am each day and runs until approximately 2:30 pm • Parents receive information about student services on campus (Housing, CFNS, SDC, SHS, Libraries, Budgeting and Fees) • They are given an SAO Handbook • They attend a workshop on talking to their student about transitional issues and in groups they discuss their expectations of the University

  10. SAO Handbook • The SAO handbook is a resource guide that is given to students and parents • The book lists all services to students and is a tool that can be used not only in a student’s first year at university but throughout their entire undergraduate career.

  11. Parent PurpleCircles • We have introduced an online interactive community for parents • The website has a discussion area, an area to post files, images, web resources and important dates. • Presently we have 390 parents who are connected through this site

  12. Parent PurpleCircles • Discussions began in September when students were arriving on campus and parents were sharing their mixed emotions of sadness and excitement to each other • The discussions then led into residence questions, recommended books, holiday gift giving ideas and more recently registering for year two

  13. Parent PurpleCircles • The site has been an excellent addition to what can sometimes be an information gap • In reviewing page statistics September was the busiest month for page views with 5489, November was second busiest with 4497 and January was third busiest with 3041. • So far there have been 20,000 page views since September.

  14. If you would like to preview the site you can visit: http://purplecircles.uwo.ca/parents

  15. Discussion • Is anyone doing anything that is unique and very successful for parents? If so, please share. • When do we draw the line? • How much is too much?

  16. Conclusion • Parents are more involved in their student’s life • Working in Student Services, we need to balance the needs of the student and the needs of the parent • Our first priority is the students!

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