Parent Orientation

What is Parent Orientation?

Parent orientation at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs (UCCS) is designed to help you, the parent, understand more about what UCCS has to offer your student and what you can do to help your student. This orientation is separate from your student's orientation and is meant to best assist you with your own unique questions and concerns related to having your student go to college.

Our friendly staff will lead you through your day and answer any questions you have during orientation. Your orientation and your student's orientation will run during the same time frame. We will help you to meet back up with your student at the end of the day.

Parent Orientation Checklist

In order to ensure that you are prepared for Parent Orientation please complete the following items prior to arriving on campus:

1. Talk with your student about what you have questions about. Your student might already know the answers to some of your questions.

2. Think about joining the Parent's Association. This group offers many tips and insights to parents at UCCS. It is an excellent resource for you when you have questions or concerns about your student.

3. Be prepared to spend a majority of orientation away from your student. Helping your student to be independent is difficult. We understand this. We also know that you cannot be with your student in classes. To help your student begin to learn the UCCS campus and meet other new students we separate our student and parent orientations so that each of you can learn what you need to learn to be prepared.

4. Remind your student to do everything on the student checklist. Transfer and freshman students have different items they need to take care of prior to orientation. If your student needs help, call the Orientation Office at 719-255-3098.

5. Relax! Orientation is busy, but it's a fun day for you to learn more about your student's new school. We will do our very best to make sure that when you leave UCCS you will feel confident that your student made the right choice to attend here.

Parent and Family Orientation schedule

Please note that this is a sample schedule. Your actual schedule may be slightly different. The Freshman Parent and Family schedule is first, followed by the Transfer Parent and Family schedule.

Freshman Parent and Family Orientation Schedule

8:15-8:45a Check-in and Breakfast Upper Plaza outside University Center
Pick up your orientation materials and enjoy a bite to eat on us!

9:00-9:20a Welcome Berger Hall in University Center
We start your morning off right with an introduction and warm welcome from our Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Enrollment Management, Homer Wesley.

9:20-10:00a Now that your student is a Mountain Lion Berger Hall in University Center
This presentation will cover a variety of topics, including an overview of the day, information from the Financial Aid Office and Student Financial Services, and what your student can do with their Lion One Card.

10:00-11:00a College Academics 101 Berger Hall in University Center
Ever wonder how your student will be able to complete all the credits before graduation? We will take a few minutes and talk with you about our Student Success Office advisors and briefly discuss with you the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and what this means for you as a parent or family member. We will conclude with our Director of Freshman Seminar talking with you about our amazing Freshman Seminar class and what it can do for your student.

11:00-11:15a Break and travel time An OWL will lead you to Centennial 203
After a morning full of presentations we will have a short break and then take you to Centennial Hall where we will continue with Parent Orientation. Staff will be around to guide you to the next location

11:15-11:30a Public Safety Centennial Hall 203
Director of Public Safety Steve Linhart will talk with you about how your student can stay safe on campus.

11:30-11:50a Student Panel Centennial Hall 203
You will be able to ask questions and hear from current UCCS students about their experiences here at UCCS.

11:50-12:20p Now that you're the parent of a college student & questions for the way home Centennial Hall 203
Ever wonder what goes on in the mind of your student? Or what to do now that your student is no longer in college? Assistant Director of First Year Experience, Ellen Pettijohn, will talk with you about what you can expect from your new college student and help you think of questions to ask while you travel home.

12:20-12:30p Travel to meet with students An OWL will take you to your student(s)
During this time staff will accompany you to meet up with your college students prior to the next activity.

12:30-1:00p IDs (with students) University Center Information Desk
A staff member will take you to meet your student and then there will be time for your student to obtain a Lion One Card.

1:00-2:00p Lunch (with students) Berger Hall in University Center
Enjoy a delicious Mexican meal provided by Sodexo catering. Faculty and staff will be joining you to talk with you about UCCS.

2:00-3:30p Breakout sessions (see list on back of page) University Center 3rd Floor (varies)
During this time a variety of breakout sessions will be offered on topics about UCCS. Descriptions for these breakout sessions, along with time and room number are listed on the back of this sheet. Each session will be 25 minutes long with a five minute break afterwards. At the end of the breakout sessions we will have staff available to guide you to meet back with your student's group.

3:30-4:00p Brief campus tour (with students) An OWL will take you to your student(s)
A staff member will again take you to meet your student and then your student's OWL will guide you on a short campus tour.

4:00-5:00p Resource fair, campus tours, Math Placement test (with parents and families) Upper Plaza outside University Center
You will end your day with the chance to ask any unanswered questions to office representative at the resource fair. Extended campus tours will be going on during this time and will be announced in the Upper Plaza prior every 10 minutes. The Math Placement test will also be available during this time. If your student needs the Math Placement test talk with an OWL about its location.

4:00-5:00p Future Mountain Lion Resident Info Monarch House in Summit Village
Interested in on-campus life? Meet with Residence Life staff and learn about the different room types, application process, and see a tour room.

Breakout Sessions

2:00-2:25p, 2:30-2:55p, 3:00-3:25p Campus Resources University Center 309
Want to learn more about all the different resources available to your student while they attend UCCS? Hear from a panel of members from the Student Health Center, Counseling Center, Parking and Public Safety, IT and Helpdesk, and Bookstore about all the services they offer students.

2:00-2:25p, 2:30-2:55p, 3:00-3:25p Money Matter Part Two University Center 302
Still have unanswered questions about paying for your student's tuition, or student loans, scholarships, and more? Stop by this session and have time to talk with members of the Financial Aid Office and Student Financial Services/Bursar's Office.

2:00-2:25p, 2:30-2:55p, 3:00-3:25p Academic Resources University Center 307
Concerned that your student might need extra help with classes? Come to this session on academic resources and hear about our Centers for Academic Excellence, First Year Experience Office, and tutoring opportunities for your student.

2:30-2:55p, 3:00-3:25p Getting Involved at UCCS University Center 303
With over 200 club offerings, a variety of entertainment opportunities, including large-scale concerts, significant speakers, comedians, mentalists, illusionists and the like, UCCS provides involvement opportunities for everyone! Add to that many outlets for leadership development, and you have a robust student experience that promotes exploration, creativity, character development and fun! Join Brad Bayer, Executive Director of Student Life and Leadership, as he shares information about all the unique and engaging involvement options at UCCS.

2:00-2:55p Tour the Recreation Center Meet in University Center 3rd floor lobby
Want to see where your student has the opportunity to stay active while on-campus? One of our Orientation Welcome Leaders will walk you to the Recreation Center and show you around inside. We have gyms, pools, workout equipment, and a rock-climbing wall. Due to the distance of the Recreation Center from the University Center, this tour will take two sessions to complete.

3:00-3:25p Tour the University Center Meet in University Center 3rd floor lobby
The University Center at UCCS is a hub of student life. In it we have the dining hall, coffee shop, Office of Student Activities, MOSAIC office, Copy Center, meeting rooms, Clyde's, pool tables, Ent, Information Desk, and much more! Join us as one of our Orientation Welcome Leaders takes you around and shows you what your student can do between classes.

Transfer Parent and Family Orientation Schedule (times will vary)

8:15-8:45a - Check-in time & Resource Fair
9:00-9:10a - Intro: Campus Resources & Student Health Center
9:10-9:20a - What you can do with your Lion One Card
9:20-9:35a - Money matters
9:35-9:50a - Public Safety
9:50-10:10a - Student Life
Families and Students split
10:10-10:30a - Transitioning to Transfer: How to continue to help your student help themselves (Parents and families only)
10:30-10:50a - Student Panel (Parents and families only)
10:50-11:20a - UCCS Academics: Advising, FERPA, how classes transfer, how to purchase books, etc. (Parents and families only)
11:20-11:40a - Now that you're in the Mountain Lion family (traditions, Parent Association (Parents and families only)
11:40-12:00p - Break (Parents and families only)
12:00p - Campus Tour
12:00-1:00p - Get IDs