Parents as Partners:
The What, Why, and How of
Designing an Effective Parent
Orientation Program
Presented by:
Katie Granholm, M.S.
University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
granh013@umn.edu
Today’s Students
Today’s students are
• Respectful of social conventions &
institutions; authority oriented
• Financially dependent on their parents
• Close to their parents
• Initiating communication with parents;
parents are their “best advisers”
• Savvy in technology—and use it all the time
Today’s Parents
Today’s parents are
• Accustomed to guiding their students’
activities
• In close contact with their students
• Frequently college grads themselves
• Experienced in changing institutions
• Technologically savvy
College Costs
• Rising college costs
• Families finance the cost of a college
education.
• GenX parents are a consumer-drive
generation- have options, used to shopping
around for best “value”.
• Parents expect a high return on investment.
Parent and Student Relationship
• 70% of students say they communicate with their parents
“very often”. (National Survey of Student Engagement, 2007)
• Most students perceive their parents’ involvement to be “just
right”. (Higher Education Research Institute, 2008)
• Students who frequently communicate with their parents
and follow their advice are more likely to participate in
college activities and are more satisfied with the college
experience. (National Survey of Student Engagement, 2007)
• “A healthy student-parent relationship is positively linked to
overall college adjustment, including academic achievement
and affective health, and these issues are all clearly
demonstrated factors in student retention.” (Austin, 2003, p. 138)
Views on Parental Involvement
• Effectiveness of “letting go” messages
• “Helicopter” Parents
– Stereotypes and realities
• Parents as partners
Parents’ Role in the Transition Process
• Changes over time
• Parents’ role during the “senior
summer”
• Parents’ role in first-year student
success
• Parents’ role long-term
Who Works with Parents
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Admissions
Orientation
New Student Programs
Financial aid
Housing….
What is the Role of Parent Orientation?
• In the absence of meaningful connections on campus,
students will turn to parents for advice and guidance.
• Familiarize parents with the resources available to new
students and parents
• Educate parents on issues related to student
development and the adjustment process
• Acknowledge the adjustment process that exists for
parents/family members
• Build an affinity with the University: need for parents to
feel connected to the institution
Best Practices in Parent
Orientation
“Benchmark programs successfully achieve balance
with the following goals:
• Educating parents on first year academic and social
transition issues;
• Identifying that consistent, trustful, and respectful
communication helps with separation issues and supports
attitudes and motivations helping students meet
expectations;
• Parental encouragement and interest with student
experiences helps them optimize college opportunities;
• Providing information on programs and services helpful to
learning.” (Hatch, 2004. p.44 )
What makes Parent Orientation
Effective?
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Clear Goals and Objectives
Collaboration
Institutional Commitment
Based on assessment of parent, student,
and institutional needs
• Assessment and feedback are shared
Questions to Consider
• When developing a parent orientation schedule, ask:
– What do parents need to know about the college
experience?
– What support do your students need from their parents
during their transition?
– What information do parents need to know in order for
their students to be successful here?
– What are parents most concerned about at the time of
orientation?
– How do we want parents to be involved in the college
transition process?
Needs of Parents at the Time of
Transition
Changing
Relationships
Academics
Safety and Wellbeing
Finances
Needs Assessment
• Institutional Feedback
– What are your partner departments telling you?
• Survey of Parents
– Predict their student’s adjustment to college life issues
– Main anxieties and concerns at this time
• Survey of Students
– What role does your parent play in your transition into college
life?
– How can your parent better support you?
• Parent and Student surveys can be conducted before on-campus
orientation, at admissions visits, by mail or email, at or following
on-campus orientation.
Additional Considerations
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Key Players
Program Design & Logistics
Program Content
Implementation
Determining Success
Key Players
• Who has a stake in Parent Orientation?
• What key departments provide services related to
parent’s concerns, anxieties, questions, and also
provide timely and relevant information?
• Who can be most helpful in getting your program
off the ground?
• Your office, parents, college/academic constituents,
departmental partners, sponsors, others?
Program Design & Logistics
• What are your desired outcomes?
• What is the ideal format for your program?
• Time-frame: program concurrent to student
orientation or separate
• Weekday vs Weekend program
• Budget
• Space
Program Content
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Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Residence Life or Commuting Information
Campus Tour
Academic and Social Support Resources
Financial Resources
Academic Expectations, Requirements & Policies
Faculty/Staff Interaction
Campus Involvement
Freshmen Seminars or Extended Orientation Programs
Student Development & Transitional Issues
Interaction with other Parents
Implementation
• Staffing and oversight
• Presenters/Facilitators
– Consistency & Reliability
– Dynamic presentation style
– Relevancy
• Program Format
– May depend on space & time considerations
– Passive vs. active programs
– Interaction with other parents, students, staff
• Promotion & Marketing
Program Evaluation &
Assessment
• How will you determine success?
– Accomplishment of learning objectives, active
participation, attendance?
• Program Evaluation
– Go beyond demographic and satisfaction based
questions.
– Eg: “After attending Parent Orientation, I have a better
understanding of the student experience and resources
available at the University.”
• Post-Orientation Follow-up
– Web polls, online survey, focus groups
Overview of U of M Parent
Orientation Program
• Program for the parents/guests of incoming
freshmen and transfer students
• Concurrent with student program
• Saturday program option
• Costs:
– Freshmen: $25 (advance registration); $35 (on-site); $25 evening
program
– Transfer: No charge
• Promotion and Communication
Learning Objectives
By participating in Parent Orientation, parents will:
• Have a better understanding of the U of M student
experience and the resources available to students
and parents.
• Feel more connected to the University.
• Feel better able to support their student and
empower him/her to take responsibility while
enrolled at the University.
• Understand the academic expectations of their
student.
Parent Orientation Schedule
8:30-10:30
10:30-10:50
10:50-11:05
11:10-11:45
11:50-12:20
12:20-1:15
1:30-2:20
2:35-2:55
2:55-3:40
3:50-4:05
4:05-4:30
4:50-5:15
Optional Morning Activities (with student)
University Welcome (with student)
Overview of Parent Orientation
One Stop Student Services (financial aid, billing, registrar)
Health & Safety
Lunch
College Meeting
Break
Housing/The Commuting Life
Changing
Pieces of the Puzzle: Campus Life Issues Preview
Relationships
Coaching Your Student
Academics
U Card/ Reconnect with Student
Safety and Wellbeing
Finances
Lessons Learned
After participating in Parent Orientation,
• 98% report feeling better prepared to assist their
student in his/her transition into the University.
• 98% report having a better understanding of the
student experience and the resources available.
• 96% report feeling more connected to the
University.
• 78% of parents understand what is expected of
their academically.
Lessons Learned
Parents who did not attend Parent Orientation:
• Are less satisfied with university’s communications,
services, and programs
• Feel less connected to the university community
• Visit student in person more often
– 53.8% of non-PO parents visit one or more times a month
– 31% or PO parents visit one or more times a month
Filling in the Gaps
• Underserved Populations:
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Parents of commuters
Parents of transfer students
Parents of first generation college students
Parents of students with disabilities
Non-Traditional parents: single, guardians, foster
Parents of students of color
– Parents of high-need students
Orientation: Groundwork for the
College Years
• Consistency in message and policy
• Clarified expectations
• What comes next?
Tips for Success
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Consistency in tone and messaging
Address “first-fears first”
Listen to your audience
Draw on your resources
Next Steps
• Find out what parents need
• Find out what the institution needs
• Pull together your campus partners to begin
the discussion
• Decide what is realistic and take action!
Additional Resources
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University of Minnesota- Orientation & First-Year Programs: www.ofyp.umn.edu
U of M Parent Program: www.parent.umn.edu
Colorado State University Parent Orientation Schedule:
http://www.orientation.colostate.edu/preview/familyschedule.cfm
University of Michigan- Ann Arbor Parent Orientation:
http://www.onsp.umich.edu/parents_family/orientation.html
NODA & FYE Parent Guide: “Empowering Parents of First-Year College
Students: A Guide for Success”
http://www.nodaweb.org/about/publications/parenthandbook.html
Administrations Promoting Parent Involvement- Annual March Conference in
Boston- contact: S.Brown@neu.edu.
NODA Parent & Family Network:
http://www.nodaweb.org/networks/parentfamily.html
References
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Austin, D. (2003). The role of family influence on student success. In Ward-Roof, J. & Hatch, C.,
Designing successful transitions: A guide for orienting students to college. Columbia, SC: The National
Resource Center for the First-Year Experience and Students in Transition.
Hatch, C. (2004) Parent and Family Orientation. In Fabich, M.J., Orientation Planning Manual: 2004
Edition. National Orientation Directors Association.
Higher Education Research Institute. (2008). The American freshman: National norms for fall 2007.
Retrieved February 9, 2009, from http://www.gseis.ucla.edu/heri/PDFs/pubs/briefs/brief-01240807FreshmanNorms.pdf
National Survey of Student Engagement. (2007). Experiences that matter: Enhancing student learning
and success. Retrieved February 9, 2009, from http://nsse.iub.edu/NSSE_2007_Annual_Report/