North Georgia plans Fall Family Weekend for September
7/25/2010 9:43:28 PM
(July 26, 2010) - Shortly after their child leaves for college, many parents begin wondering how their son or daughter is faring. Are they making friends? What are the professors like?
North Georgia College & State University invites parents to come to the Dahlonega campus to see for themselves during this fall's Family Weekend, planned for Sept. 25-26.
Dr. Laura Whitaker-Lea, associate dean of students, is the main organizer of the event, which is in its second year.
"Parents, whether they're parents of new students or continuing students, drop them off and move them in in mid-August, and by the end of September students are hopefully making new friends, engaged in their academic work, and involved in student organizations or athletics," Whitaker-Lea said. "We want parents and families to visit campus and have a better understanding of what their students are involved in and what our campus is all about."
The impetus behind the Family Weekend is to answer the questions from parents who are becoming more involved in their children's lives.
"Parents increasingly want to be more involved in their children's lives, and we welcome them on our campus," she said.
When parents come to visit, they most often want to know about resident halls, campus security, and students' friends and professors. Visiting parents also want to know what career opportunities the future may hold for their student, Whitaker-Lea said.
"'Will my student be able to get a job when they get out of school? What is it they are learning here that is so valuable to them that they can't get elsewhere?'" Whitaker-Lea said. "Parents want to know what makes North Georgia unique."
Events planned for this fall's Family Weekend range from campus tours to a showcase of faculty talents. Saturday also will include a picnic lunch featuring the university's campus organizations. Sunday includes a Distinguished Military Student review by the university's Corps of Cadets. During the weekend, parents also will get an update on the renovation and construction projects going on across campus. The campus bookstore and Library Technology Center also will be open during the weekend, Whitaker-Lea said.
The members of the campus community -- staff and faculty -- want to build a relationship not only with the students, but with their families, Whitaker-Lea said.
"We want to build that relationship with families because it takes everybody for that student to be successful," she said. "It's not just a matter of a parent writing a check, it's a matter of a parent or family member really having a clear understanding that their student is very busy with the Corps of Cadets or absolutely loves participating in the Student Government Association or any number of those kinds of relationships that students build. We want parents and families to have a sneak peek at that."