Still Plenty of Openings for Family Connection
Wednesday, June 27th, 2007
The Family Connection Program was created for parents and family members to receive valuable information about the services available to students.
Some of the topics discussed during the two day session are campus safety, financial aid and scholarships, faculty expectations, career services and many more. We also have presentations focused on issues most important to your students as they begin their college careers as well as a presentation to address the evolving relationship between students and parents.
Because we know that students retain information differently than parents we separated the programs so that each group receives information in a way that best suits them. Parents will depart from their students on the morning of the first day, will visit with them in the afternoon for about 30 minutes, and meet up again at the Lobo Lunch on the second day.
“We believe this separation is also important so that the student can learn to utilize university advisement as they register for classes and begin to create relationships with university departments and fellow students,” says Family Connection Coordinator Aaron Salas.
So if you have not signed up to attend the program while your student attends LOBOrientation, we still have plenty of room available for you. You can make your reservation with your student at our website, www.unm.edu/~nso. Have a great summer and Go Lobos!
Top 5 concerns parents have about attending the Family Connection: program.
1. “My student has already signed up for a session and I didn’t sign up, can I still attend the same session?” Yes! All you have to do is call 277-3361 or email us at nso@unm.edu to let us know that you want to come. We will need the name of your student, the session that he/she is signed-up for, and the name(s) of the family member(s) attending
2. “My student thinks that if I go to orientation I will just be bothering her the whole time I’m there.”
Students and family members will go through separate programs and therefore only see each other during registration, in the afternoon of day 1 and at end of the program during Lobo Lunch. Remind your students that you are there to support them, not to interfere while they are having fun at orientation.
3. “I already have a student attending college and have been through orientation only a few years ago so I really don’t need to attend again.”
Many things have changed on the UNM campus in the last couple of years. Not only do we have a new president and provost, but we also have many new buildings and new programs. Make sure to check out our new Student Union Building and the Freshman Academic Choices, a new program specifically aimed at your student succeeding in their first semester.
4. “I am very busy at work and do not think that I will be able to get off two whole days to attend the session.”
Parents can attend the orientation program as a tag team so each parent will attend one day each. The program is also very flexible in case parents have to leave for a meeting, go to the office or just run a few errands.
5. “I am from out of town and have no place to stay, while my son stays in the dorms what can I do?”
We have secured special rates with the AmeriSuites at the Albuquerque Airport to accommodate all guests during orientation. You can call 242-9300 to make a reservation and make sure and tell them you are with LOBOrienation. If you would like, you also have to option of staying in the dorms on campus. Make sure your student includes that with their reservation form.