Family Engagement
Welcome to the DU Family!
New Student & Family Programs support the transition of new students and their families to the University of Denver. This is your students' support system as they begin to navigate and learn about all the opportunities and resources our institution has to offer them.
We are eager to welcome your student to our DU community! As a reminder, components of their New Student Welcome Experience at DU include:
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Discoveries Online Experience (May-August): a series of required online modules via Canvas to provide essential information and a virtual orientation to support resources in our community to be completed before they arrive on campus. Canvas is our Learning Management System at DU and will be used for all student courses. We hope that this pre-arrival introduction to the Canvas platform will help prepare your student for future use when they begin taking classes this fall. The first module of the Discoveries Online Experience will provide a general overview of the system.
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Discoveries Orientation (September 3-8): a required in-person orientation that takes place the weekend before classes start. This experience is designed to orient your student to our campus, introduce campus resources and support services, as well as provide time and opportunities to connect with other new DU students. Be sure to participate in Family Orientation during this time.
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4D Peer Mentorship: all new students are assigned a current DU student leader to support their transition to DU.
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First Ascent: an experiential opportunity that is personalized to new students, allowing your student time and space to self-reflect and enjoy nature while connecting with their peers at our breathtaking Kennedy Mountain Campus (KMC).
DU Family Experience & Engagement Opportunities
Be sure to stay engaged with our office by joining our DU Family Experience. This platform provides parents, families, and support systems with access to our DU Family Newsletter, general university information, list of important dates and events, and specialized information related to various communities you opt into.
Additional resources and ways to stay connected include:
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DU New Student & Family Programs Facebook Page: provides general updates and reminders about engagement opportunities.
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DU Family Webinar Series: we offer monthly webinars to help you support your student’s DU experience. Check out recordings and register for some upcoming webinars!
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Family Orientation – all parents, families and support systems are invited to participate in our winter Discoveries Orientation taking place on Tuesday, September 3, 2024. Ensure that your student registers you today! We strive to host inclusive, accessible events that enable individuals of all abilities to engage fully. To request an accommodation or for inquiries about accessibility, please contact us at families@du.edu or by telephone at 303-871-6080.
If you need information about parking or accessible entrances, please use our Digital Map: https://www.du.edu/site-utilities/maps
Do not hesitate to reach out to New Student & Family Programs as you have questions or need assistance through the University of Denver journey.
New Student & Family Programs
303-871-6080
families@du.edu
Fall Webinar Series
New Student & Family Programs invites you to a series of webinars hosted throughout the fall quarter in partnership with other campus resources for you and your student. Click on the months and topics below to register, watch the recordings, or learn more!
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September 28- Supporting Your Student's Mental Health
Join New Student & Family Programs with partners from Health Promotion to learn resources from the Mental Health Tool Kit to support your student's mental health and well-being on campus.
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October 26- Coaching Your Students for Using Campus Resources
Join New Student & Family Programs in partnership with Academic Advising and Student Success Coaching to learn more about how to coach your students to utilize campus resources that are available to them.
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November 30- How the FAFSA Simplification Act Affects You
Join New Student & Family Programs and the Financial Aid team to learn more about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) application for the 2024-2025 aid year! The FAFSA Simplification Act was passed by Congress in 2020 and represents a significant overhaul of the processes and systems used to award federal student aid. This includes the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form, the need analysis that determines federal aid eligibility, changes in terminology, and many policies and procedures for schools that participate in federal student aid programs.
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December 21- Candid Conversations: Navigating Tough Topics with Your College Student
Join New Student & Family Programs as we share our expertise on how to have candid conversations and navigating tough topics with your college student. We will share our best practices and then open it up to discussion to allow you to ask questions, share insight, and meet other DU parents and family members.
Thank you, DU Families!
As we reflect back on Move-In and Discoveries Orientation, we want to thank all the parents, families, and support systems that helped welcome the new class of students to University of Denver! We had a wonderful move-in and Discoveries Orientation week!
Did you miss our New Student Convocation & Family Farewell event?! You can now view the full recording of our New Student Convocation and Family Farewell event hosted on Tuesday, September 5th where we welcomed our new class of students to DU! Click the link below to view the recording.
New Student Convocation & Family Farewell 2023
If you have other questions about Family Orientation 2023, please reach out to us at families@du.edu or call our office at 303-871-6080.
Summer Webinar Series
New Student & Family Programs invites you to a series of webinars hosted throughout the summer in partnership with other campus resources for you and your student.
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Welcome to DU: New Student & Family Programs
May 25, 2023 2:00pm MT
Join New Student & Family Programs and campus partners for the official welcome as a new family member to the DU community! We will share resources and provide an overview of the summer timeline for new students.
Watch the Recording
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FERPA for Families – Financial Aid, Billing, Scholarships
June 8, 2023 2:00pm MT
Join New Student & Family Programs and colleagues from the Bursar, Registrar, and Financial Aid office to learn more about FERPA, billing, and scholarships.
Watch the Recording
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Health Insurance, Immunizations, & Wellbeing
June 22, 2023 2:00pm MT
Join New Student & Family programs and colleagues from our Health & Counseling Center to learn more about the Health Insurance and Immunization requirements for new students.
Watch the Recording
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New Student Advising and Registration Webinar
July 10, 2023 6:00pm MT
Join New Student & Family Programs and colleagues from our Academic Advising office to learn more about summer course registration for students and student success support information.
Watch the Recording
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Preparing for Move In & Discoveries Orientation
July 27, 2023 2:00pm MT
Join New Student & Family Programs and colleagues from our Housing and Residential Education team to learn more about how to prepare for Move In. We will also provide an overview of the Discoveries Orientation schedule for your new student.
Watch The Recording
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Involvement & Student Engagement
August 10, 2023 2:00pm MT
Join New Student & Family programs with the Office of Student Engagement to learn more about how your student can get involved on campus through student organizations, fraternity and sorority life, and much more!
Watch The Recording