Hundreds of freshmen and their families have been visiting theWest Virginia Universitycampus during June as part of theNew Student Orientation program. But for some parents, their experience on the college campus also includes homework assignments and a trip back into the classroom.
Parents of incoming WVU freshmen now attend Parents University 101, a special class that provides them with insight into the University campus and its resources, along with information on how to help support their students during the first semester of college.
The one-hour session, sponsored by theMountaineer Parents Club, walks parents through the key events, deadlines and situations students might experience during their first semester at WVU . It also provides valuable pointers and information on University resources.
Much like we ask all freshmen to attend an orientation course, we are providing an opportunity for parents to do the same,said Sabrina Cave, executive director of the Mountaineer Parents Club and co-presenter for Parents University 101.We are providing vital information and insight, so they are ready to support their student through the transition into college.
During the class, parents learn about important campus services to help their students work with academic advisers, secure housing, maintain health and wellness and get acclimated to the WVU community through student and volunteer organizations.
We began to realize that during New Student Orientation parents receive an overwhelming amount of information,said Katie Utterback, WVU parent advocate and co-presenter.Parents have told us the structure and organization of the Parent University 101 class allow them to put all this knowledge into some working order.
Parents also learn about major events on campus such as move-in day, Welcome Week, midterm exams andFall Family Weekend.
Finally, parents are prepared to help their students deal with adding and dropping classes, developing strong study habits and making the transition from high school to college.
Parents attending the class receive a syllabus, parent handbook and planner. Cave and Utterback lead the class and are often joined by faculty members who share their expectations of new students.
The response has been fantastic, and virtually all of our sessions have been presented to a packed house,Cave said.Although we cover a great deal of information during the class, parents who were unable to attend are also able to learn more about campus resources at our Web site ( http://parentsclub.wvu.edu/ ).