1 / 16

Enhancing First-Year Transition: Parental Involvement at University

Learn how using parents as resources aids in first-year student transition. Discover programs offered at University of Western Ontario to engage parents in orientation and ongoing support. Explore the benefits and challenges of parental involvement in students' university journeys.

fleta
Télécharger la présentation

Enhancing First-Year Transition: Parental Involvement at University

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  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!

More Related