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Parent Program at Academic Orientation
As a parent of an incoming freshman, you are invited and encouraged to attend UMD’s Academic Orientation Program. In fact, there is a special program for parents that runs concurrently with the student program. At Academic Orientation, parents will find out information about UMD resources such as housing, academic support services, financial aid, and health services. Parents will also have an opportunity to ask current students questions regarding student life at UMD and take a campus tour.
Parent Program Schedule
The following is a schedule of events for parents at Academic Orientation (the day begins in the Ballroom, Kirby Student Center):
| Time | Event |
| 9:15 a.m. |
Check-in for Students |
| 9:45 a.m. |
Introduction, Welcome & Overview |
| 10:30 a.m. |
Collegiate Welcome & Information |
| 11:15 a.m. |
Parent Information Session |
| 11:20 a.m. | Health Services |
| 11:40 a.m. | Housing and Residence Life |
| 12:00 p.m. | Student Panel |
12:45 p.m. |
Lunch (on your own) |
| 1:30 - 2:30 p.m. |
Campus Tour |
| (OR) | |
| 1:30 p.m. | Career Services |
| 2:00 p.m. | Supporting your Student |
| 2:45 p.m. |
Financial Aid Information |
| 3:30 p.m. | Meet Student Kirby Student Lounge |
| 4:30 p.m. |
Program Ends (approximate time) |
Parent Information Regarding Advisement and Registration
Will I be with my son or daughter during the advisement and registration process?
During advisement and registration, your son/daughter will be meeting with a faculty member and a peer student adviser to develop his/her class schedule. During this time, separate activities are scheduled for parents. Why are there separate programs during advisement and registration? Academic Orientation marks the beginning of your son/daughter’s college career and is a new stage in his/her life. With this new beginning, comes an increased need for independence and self-sufficiency on the part of students. Since course selection and academic planning are vital components of your son/daughter’s college career, it is important that he/she becomes familiar with the process from the beginning. We prefer to help develop self-sufficiency in this process at orientation when one-to-one assistance and instruction are readily available. As a result of this personalized service, our hope is that students will have the ability to initiate and complete the advisement and registration process (with help from their academic adviser) throughout their undergraduate careers at UMD.How can parents help students prepare for the advisement and registration process?
Even though you will not be present during the advisement and registration process at Academic Orientation, we value your support and feedback concerning this process. You can help your son/daughter prepare for advisement and registration by reviewing the enclosed Pre-Advising Handbook with him/her. Encourage your son/daughter to develop a list of questions and concerns and bring them to Academic Orientation. You can also review the Liberal Education Program worksheet <http://www.d.umn.edu/catalogs/current/umd/libed.html> and major requirements worksheet <http://www.d.umn.edu/catalogs/programs/Majors_College-Degree.html> and help your son/daughter identify classes he/she is interested in taking.What happens during advisement and registration?
During advisement and registration, your son/daughter will work one-on-one with a faculty member or academic adviser. This person will help your son/daughter develop a class schedule in light of liberal education requirements, lower division major requirements, and major/minor interests. Your son/daughter will also work with a peer student adviser. This student will help your son/daughter navigate the web registration system and other on-line resources, provide a campus tour, and share insight on student life at UMD. Following the advisement and registration process, you will have an opportunity to reconnect with your son/daughter and review his/her class schedule. At this time, we encourage you to approach a staff member with questions and concerns regarding your orientation experience and/or your son/daughter’s class schedule.
Can we stay overnight in Duluth before or after Orientation?
Absolutely! There is a lot to do in Duluth and Superior, whatever the season. We welcome you to stay overnight and explore the Twin Ports community. There are several local hotels and motels that offer discounted rates to parents and families of UMD students. Click here for more information.