Getting Involved With Your Child's College or University
SaveThis article offers some tips and avenues for parents looking to engage with their child's campus experience.
By Kaley White
Increasingly, parents play a significant role in their child's education even after they have graduated from high school and started college. A 2024 Family Engagement Report found that families are more eager to be involved with their students' institutions. Thirty-seven percent of families seek more opportunities for involvement on campus and forty-six percent of families want colleges to offer more opportunities to connect with other parents (Campus ESP, 2024). Engaging and getting involved with your child's college experience from a distance can positively impact their success and overall well-being. Curious about how to get involved? This article offers some tips and avenues for parents looking to engage with their child's campus experience.
Keep in Touch With Your Child
One of the easiest ways to stay involved with your child's college experience is to keep in touch with them. Regular communication — while being mindful not to be overbearing — can help you stay up to date on your child's academics, social activities, and any challenges they might face. Make an effort to check in with your child regularly, whether through phone calls, texts, or video chats. This will show your child that you are interested in their college experience and are available to support them whenever they need.
Attend Parent Orientation Events
Many colleges and universities offer parent orientation events for parents of incoming students. These spaces are an opportunity to learn information about the college experience, gather insight on the resources available to students, and understand the ways that you can help support your child's academic success. Attending these events can help you better understand what your child will experience in college and how you can help them navigate the challenges that may arise. Can't make the parent orientation? Reach out to the student orientation or student life office to see if they offer virtual programming and other resources for parents looking to engage.
Attend Campus Events
Many colleges host a variety of events throughout the year, including sporting events, performances, academic lectures, and social gatherings. If you're unsure how to find these events, look on the school website or get in touch with the student life office for a schedule. Attending these events with your child can help you connect with their college community and show your support for their activities outside of the classroom. It can also give you a glimpse into your child's campus life and help you better understand their interests and passions. Some easier opportunities to build community may occur by attending sporting events, football and basketball games especially. If you're not a sports person, see if your child's institution offers a parents weekend, homecoming, or holiday events.
Get Involved with Parent Organizations
Many colleges have parent organizations or groups dedicated to connecting parents with each other and with the college community. You can usually find these groups on Facebook, LinkedIn, or other social networking websites. Joining one of these groups will provide you with a network of parents who are also invested in their child's college experience. As you get to know other parents, don't hesitate to suggest in person meet up's with those who are local or virtual meet up's for those who don't live locally. Other parent organization events might include fundraisers, family weekends, welcome weekends, reunions, and other activities that can help you stay engaged with your child's college community and support their academic success.
Help Your Child Navigate Challenges
College may initially be a challenging time for your child, particularly if they are leaving their home and community for the first time. In addition to normal life stressors, your child may encounter other obstacles along the way like learning to navigate college courses, internships, and campus social life. It's important for parents to be available to listen, offer support, and help their child navigate whatever problems arise. While it might be tempting, do not solve your child's problems for them. Rather, be a supportive and understanding ear and offer suggestions. This can make a big difference in your child's college experience.
Stay Informed About Resources Available to Your Child
Colleges and universities offer a wide range of resources and support services for students, including academic advising, counseling services, tutoring, career development programs, study abroad and internship networks, and more. If you're looking to get more involved with your child's campus, stay informed about the resources available to your child. Encourage them to take advantage of these support services when needed. Being aware of the support available on campus can help you guide your child to the resources that can help them succeed in college. Many school websites will have specific and specialized tabs and/or landing pages devoted to these resources. The webpages might include things about the location of each service on campus, how to utilize the resource, and contact information for associated staff.
Parent-Led Advocacy
Another way parents can stay engaged with their child's campus is through advocacy. This might look like joining parent associations or advocacy groups working to support the needs and interests of students. If your child's college doesn't have such organizations, get creative about your involvement and consider seeing what types of organizations operate in the nearby community. Participating in these organizations can help you stay informed about important issues on campus (or in the surrounding community), advocate for resources and support for students, and work to create a positive and inclusive campus atmosphere.
Parents can also communicate with college administrators and faculty members to address concerns and provide feedback on campus policies and programs. Many university administrators will utilize this feedback to improve student, parent, and campus experiences. Actively engaging in advocacy efforts enables you to play a vital role in supporting your child's educational experience while also ensuring that their needs are met on campus.
Staying engaged and involved with your child's college experience can have a positive impact on their academic success and overall well-being. It can also help you build another community and connect to other parents with shared experiences and interests. Keeping in regular communication, attending campus events, and getting involved with campus parent organizations and advocacy shows your child that you are invested in their college journey and campus experience.
Remember, be creative in your pathways to involvement. This article does not provide an exhaustive list of ways to get involved. If you have trouble connecting in person to campus events, do not hesitate to reach out to the student life office and inquire about virtual events or other resources for parents. Increasingly, campuses offer virtual programming and lean on social media groups for parents to increase accessibility and reduce obstacles for campus involvement.
Kaley White
Kaley earned her M.S.Ed with distinction from the University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education. As Director of Special Programs, Kaley manages the day-to-day operations of the SAGE Scholars Newsroom. Alongside a team of writers, she generates timely resources to help bridge the gap for students transitioning from high school to college. She currently resides in Philadelphia.Articles & Advice
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