Parent Day

Greetings, Parents & Family Members -

We understand that your student's first year comes with plenty of questions. Our office provides Parent & Family Programs to support your family during this transition. Explore the options below to learn more information about this annual event.

Parent & Family Day Goals

Parent & Family Day is designed:

To help you become a partner in your student's success by learning key information about the academic opportunities, support services, and experiences outside of the classroom that are available to students.
To offer an opportunity to ask questions based on real experiences your students are already having, including the many transitional issues that challenge both students and families.
To provide you with the opportunity to meet college administrators, faculty, staff, and orientation leaders who support and educate new students as they begin the journey toward graduation.
To learn information about resources and services available to CSUN students.

Parent & Family Day Program

Parent & Family Day Schedule - typically hosted in October annually

Agenda Overview:

8:00 AM- Check-in and light Breakfast
8:30 AM- Campus Tours (English & Spanish) and Tradition of the Rose
9:45 AM- University Welcome
10:15 AM- Overview of Sessions
10:30 AM- Session A: Department of Police Services, University Counseling Services & Student Health Center, Student Housing
11:20 AM- Session B: Student Life, Financial Aid, Advising Hub
12:15 PM- Lunch/Parent Conversations
1:30 PM- Session C: Department of Police Services, University Counseling Services, and Housing
2:20 PM- Session D: Student Life, Financial Aid, Advising Hub

Agenda Detailed:

8:00AM- Check-in & Campus Tours with the Tradition of the Rose

Parents are encouraged to grab some light refreshments (provided) and take a tour of the campus guided by CSUN’s New Student Orientation (NSO) Leaders. Both English and Spanish speaking tours will be available. Campus tours will start every 10 minutes. The last tour will begin at 8:30 am and each tour will do the Tradition of the Rose. A symbolic CSUN tradition where individuals place roses at the foot of the Matador Stature to celebrate major accomplishments and milestones such as birthdays, engagements, successful semesters, and graduations.

9:45AM- University Welcome

10:15AM- Overview of Sessions

Advising Hub

This presentation will focus on informing parents of academic information that is central to a freshman's success. Parents will be introduced to the role they can play in supporting and reinforcing student academic success. The discussion should include what their student was told about graduating on time, units required, declaring a major, important dates to remember (midterms, finals), advisement and registration, and other University Policies and repeating courses.

Student Life

This presentation will focus on the importance of engagement in co-curricular activities as means to promote student success and will discuss how parents can support student involvement. Parents will be introduced to the Student Conduct Code, student records access policies, and University practices and resources that combine to promote a secure campus environment.

Student Housing

This presentation will focus the safety regulations and policies for student housing. Parents will be introduced to applications, pricing of the dorms and meal plans, different types of housing and general area accessibility for students.

Department of Police Services

This presentation will focus on the Cleary Act, procedures on campus emergencies, parking benefits such as lock out assistance. Parents will also learn about the resources and programs students have such as Matador Patrol and how to contact the Department.

Financial Aid

This presentation will focus the application process including deadlines, documentation needed, timelines for parents and students. The presentation will share the differences in loans, grants, and scholarships in addition to the different programs students may apply too for financial aid.

University Counseling Services & Student Health Services

This presentation will focus the vaccine mandates, the cost range of services and programs, and hours of availability. Parents will understand the importance of health as it relates to students success and how to contact each services in case of emergencies.

10:30 AM- Session A

11:20 AM- Session B

12:15PM- Lunch & Parent Conversations

Lunch will be provided base on your reservation form and you will be able to have round table discussions on several topics with other parents and campus partners.

1:30 PM- Session C

2:20 PM- Session D

For more details of what each presentation is about, please look under the following tab "Program Activities, Presentations, and Speakers"

Event Location & Parking Location

Event Location: University Student Union (USU)

Event Location:

Parent & Family Day will take place at the University Student Union which is located on the west side of the University. Please join us for a small breakfast consisting of coffee, orange juice and freshly baked pastries. Breakfast will be next to the registration table between 8am and 9am at Plaza Del Sol located inside the University Student Union.

The program will officially start at 9am in the room called Northridge Center which is located inside the University Student Union.

Parent & Family Day Parking:

As we get closer to the event date, a parking permit will be sent to those who have registered for the event by email. Please print the parking permit prior to arriving on campus and there will be parking permits at the check-in area.

Program Activities, Presentations, and Speakers

EXAMPLE OF ACTIVITIES, PRESENTATIONS, AND SPEAKERS (from 2019 on-campus program)

PARTNERING WITH THE UNIVERSITY
Dr. William Watkins, Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students
Student Life: This presentation will focus on the importance of engagement in co-curricular activities as means to promote student success and will discuss how parents can support student involvement. Parents will be introduced to the Student Conduct Code, student records access policies, and University practices and resources that combine to promote a secure campus environment. There will be an opportunity for questions following this section

Dr. Elizabeth Adams, Associate Vice President for Undergraduate Studies
Academic Success: This presentation will inform parents of academic information that is central to a freshman's success. Parents will be introduced to the role they can play in supporting and reinforcing student academic success. The discussion should include what their student was told about graduating on time, units required, declaring a major, important dates to remember (midterms, finals), advisement and registration, and other University Policies such as executive order 665 and repeating courses. There will be an opportunity for questions following this section.

BREAKOUT SESSIONS:

POLICE SERVICES & CAMPUS SAFETY/EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
Department of Police Services
This session will inform parents of the capabilities of the Department of Police Services in providing safety, security and law enforcement services for the California State University community. Information will also be provided on crime prevention programs, emergency preparedness resources and educational opportunities that promote personal safety and the protection of property. The discussion will help parents understand the campus partnerships that help reduce the risk of victimization and foster safety within the campus community. A new video on active shooter awareness will be shown, followed by discussion on how this video is being introduced to students on campus. If time permits, there will be an opportunity for questions following this section.

THE FIRST YEAR TRANSITION TO COLLEGE
University Counseling Services
This presentation will focus on the common challenges first year students’ face when coming to college and common challenges parents face when their child goes to college. The discussion will provide strategies and tips on how parents can support their student in the first year and promote student success. A question and answer period will follow.

MEETING THE COSTS OF COLLEGE
Financial Aid and Scholarships
This session will review the costs of attending CSUN; provide insights into factors that may contribute to future changes in costs, suggest ways that students can assist in managing costs while in college, outline sources of financial aid, and discuss the role parents can play in meeting college costs. A question and answer period will follow.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How many guests can you bring to Parent & Family Day?

Each family can bring up to 3 guests as this event does have a guest limit.
Children under the age of 10 are not included the total of 3 guest per Family.

How will you receive communication?

Upon registering, all communication will be sent to the CSUN students' email.
Please connect with your student for more information.

How much does this event cost?

Parent & Family Day is completely FREE
No additional costs will be added to the students' accounts for attending this event.

Where can you stay?

Hilton - 7.9 miles away (see directions for the Hilton Hotel)
Radisson - 4.7 miles away (see directions for the Radisson)
Extended Stay America 1.6 miles away (see directions for Extended Stay America)

What materials should you bring?

Our office will provide a handbook with a notes section, but feel free to bring additional materials to write on such as a notebook
Please bring a writing utensil (pen, pencil, etc.)
There will be a University Touring option and the tour will be completely Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible.
Feel free to bring a your own water bottles/canisters as there will be water stations located throughout the campus.

What are off-campus activities you can do before or after Parent & Family Day?

Brunswick Matador Bowl -1.5 miles miles away (directions for Matador Bowl)
Lake Balboa-5.2 miles away (directions for Lake Balboa)
Sherman Oaks Castle Park -8.5 miles away (directions for Sherman Oaks Castle Park)
Skateland Skating Rink-1.1 miles away (directions for Skateland Skating Rink)
Ultrazone (LaserTag)-9.9 miles away (directions for Ultrazone)
Northridge Fashion Center 10-1.5 miles away (directions for Northridge Fashion Center)
Winnetka Theaters 21-2.7 miles away (directions for Winnetka Theaters)
AMC Promenade 16-7.7 miles away (directions for AMC Promenade)

Campus Resources

We have compiled multiple links for you to gain further knowledge of the resources CSUN has for you and your student. Feel free to contact any departments directly or our office, the Office of Student Development and Transitional Programs with any questions, concerns or comments.

Degree Planning Guides

Department of Police Services

General Education Honors Program

Parents Supporting Academics and Personal Development

Student Health

Student Services and Classes

Student Service Centers and Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) Advisement

University Catalog