Family Orientation

Family Welcome Lounge and Wish Wall 

Join us in the Community Commons gallery for resources and to write a wish on the wall for your new DU student! 

Veteran and Military Services: VMR Orientation: GI Bill User Orientation
Veterans and Military Resources (VMR) a department in the Dean of Students Office in the Division of Student Affairs and Inclusive Excellence at the University of Denver (DU), in partnership with your school certifying officials from the Registrar's Office, will bring you essential information about how your GI Bill is used at the University of Denver, ways to get involved in student life, and resources available to you! ​

Each session is identical; you can expect the same information from both.

Student Disability Services (SDS): Information Session
Join the Student Disability Services staff for a detailed overview of the accommodation request process, documentation requirements, and a discussion about potential accommodations. Time will be reserved for individual questions.​

• Student Session: 1pm-2pm Community Commons 2600 ​

• Family Session: 1pm-2pm Community Commons 1600

Family Orientation Sessions - 

1:00pm - Coaching your Student Through the DU Curriculum
What classes will be the best fit for your student? How can they explore the curriculum in a way that aligns with their passions, goals, and future plans? As a family member, you play a key role in supporting your student as they navigate their academic journey and experiences at DU. In this session, the Student Success team will introduce you to the distinctive features of the DU Common Curriculum and the many ways students can intentionally customize their academic experience. You'll also learn how to use a coach approach strategy to better support your student—helping them reflect, explore options, and take ownership of their college path.

2:00pm - From Emptying the Nest to Flocking Together: Student and Family Well-being During the Transition to College 
The transition to college can be a time of great pride and excitement, but also one of change that can lead to anxiety, feelings of loss, role uncertainty, and loneliness, both for students and their family members. In the face of these difficulties, how can family members support one another to enhance student and family thriving? During this presentation, new families will learn about research that addresses this question, as well as the DU 4D Experience. They also will take away strategies for communicating, establishing rituals, creating schedules and rhythms, and establishing roles that facilitate new student and family well-being.

3:00pm - Navigating the Transition: When to (Not) Be Concerned 
It’s normal to worry about your student during this large transition, but it can be difficult to know when and how to check in on your student’s well-being. In this session, DU’s Thrive Health Promotion Team will help you understand which behaviors are “typical” for college students, and which may warrant some concern. Half of this session will focus on conversations around mental health, including what levels of stress and struggle are common, how to navigate potential changes to your relationship, and when to seek higher levels of support. The other half will discuss how alcohol and other substance use can impact personal and academic well-being and how you can support your student’s safety through a harm reduction approach.  

4:00pm-4:30pm -  Navigating Student Privacy & Support: Understanding the SRR Process and Your Role
As your student begins their college journey, your role in your student’s life evolves in meaningful ways. This session will provide you with an overview of the components of the Student Rights & Responsibilities (SRR) process, explaining what information SRR can and cannot share consistent with the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), the Honor Code, and other University Policies and procedures, and how your Student can utilize their right to a Support Person during the SRR process. SRR will also explore with you how to balance being a supportive presence and encouraging independence, while remaining consistent with the role of a Support Person during the SRR process. As a member of your student’s support system, you will leave this session with information about the SRR process, the Support Person role in the SRR process, and strategies to remain engaged whether or not you are your student’s selected support person.

Family Resource Fair 

Visit with various campus resources all in one location! Get your final questions answered.