Family Programming
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 offered programs.
Parent & Family Programs are designed:
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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.
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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.
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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.
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To learn information about resources and services available to CSUN students.
Dual-Program Orientation
This year our office will be offering several "Dual-Program Orientation" dates. This option allows for up to 2 Parents or Family Members to attend orientation also. Two orientation programs will occur simultaneously; one traditional NSO program for your student, and another designed specifically to meet the needs of parents/families.
Dates
'Dual-Program' dates will be available through July and August and your student can begin registering for this orientation program type beginning in June.
Schedule example for a Dual-Program Orientation day
Agenda Overview:
- 8:00 AM- Check-in, light Breakfast, and Group Meeting
- 9:00 AM- Campus Tours and Tradition of the Rose
- 10:35 AM- University Welcome
- 11:00 AM- Supporting Your Student's Success in College
- 11:40 AM- Student Engagement & Well-Being
- 12:00 PM- Resources & Services Fair/ Lunch
- 2:00 PM- Creating a Safe and Supportive Campus Environment: Student Expectations, Campus Safety, Rules, & Regulations
- 3:00 PM- Financial Aid & Scholarships
- 4:40 PM- Health and Wellness
Agenda Detailed:
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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. |
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9:45AM- University Welcome |
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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. |
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10:30 AM- Session A |
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11:20 AM- Session B |
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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. |
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1:30 PM- Session C |
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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"
The following session overviews are examples of topics covered during a Dual-Program Orientation day; these session overviews are listed in alphabetical order.
| Session Name | Session Description |
| Campus Tour | Campus Tours will introduce parents to key service areas of the campus, promoting resources designed to support academic, social, and cultural needs to enable success. During the tour, parents and families will also be introduced to the Tradition of the Rose, a symbolic CSUN tradition – Individuals place roses at the foot of the Matador Stature to celebrate major accomplishments and milestones such as birthdays, engagements, successful semesters, and graduations. |
| Check-In & Group Meeting | In these group meetings students and parents/families will be provided with campus facts and information, lead to key locations students should be familiar with on campus, and informed of services/classes offered in the buildings pointed out. There will also be opportunities for students and group members to share informal information about college life and discuss any concerns that students may have. Orientation leaders will be prepared to answer any questions that students and/or parents/families may have or provide guidance as to where a student can be better assisted. This group will allow students to develop an initial network of support at CSUN through interaction on the day of Orientation, during Welcome All Matadors Week and the Presidents Celebration, and will follow-up with contacts on emails and informal gatherings from orientation leaders/mentors. |
| Creating a Safe and Supportive Campus Environment | This presentation will discuss the university classroom, including differences between high school and college, appropriate classroom conduct, meeting faculty expectations, ethical issues (i.e. cheating, plagiarism including using the Web and internet resources for cheating), the student conduct code, and campus community standards. Also discussed will be campus, local, state, and federal laws as they relate to student safety and well-being, including sections on Title IX, sexual assault, Violence Against Women Act, student records, and FERPA rights, and credit card information. The Department of Police Services will also speak on campus wide safety implements on a range of topics and situations. |
| Financial Aid & Scholarships | Focusing on financial assistance and scholarships as a means to cover the cost of attending CSUN. Information presented will cover types of financial aid available, eligibility requirements, application information, deadlines, and scholarship opportunities. |
| Health and Wellness | This session will inform parents about how the campus supports student physical and mental (therapy and emotional support) health. Presenters will focus on the importance of health during a student's academic journey and how to utilize/access the many resources and services. This will include current CSU policies in place (i.e. vaccine requirements, etc.) Also, this presentation will cover challenges and struggles students and parents face and how to collectively assist them and provide effective ways for the important transition young adults navigate during this developmental time in their lives. |
| Resources & Services Fair / Lunch | Departments/Service areas will directly interface with attendees during a Resource/Services Fair. Lunch will also be provided. |
| Student Engagement & Well-Being | Focusing on the importance of student life, information highlighted include campus resources and services dedicated to student engagement and well-being during a student’s academic journey. Co-curricular programs and services discussed will include leadership, volunteering, service-learning, and basic needs. |
| Supporting Your Student's Success in College | Focusing on academic based information central to a freshman's success, Parents will be introduced to the role they can play in supporting and reinforcing students academically, and include information about units required, declaring a major/minor, important dates to remember (midterms, finals), advisement and registration, repeating courses, and other academic policies. This session will also focus on parents encouraging a “Growth Mindset”, and through CSUN’s supportive resources (staff, tools, programs, etc.) students can embrace challenges and persist in the face of obstacles which will be opportunities to learn and grow. |
| University Welcome |
For more information on student sessions during a Dual-Program Orientation, please visit https://www.csun.edu/nso/first-time-freshmen-orientation.
Event Location:
Dual-Program Orientations will begin at the University Student Union which is located on the east side of the University. Please join us for a small breakfast consisting of coffee, orange juice and freshly baked pastries.
The program will officially start at 9 AM, starting with a Campus Tour with your student and other participants.
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; additional parking permits will be provided at the orientation check-in area.
- How many guests can you bring to a Dual-Program Orientation?
- Each student can bring up to 2 registered guests as this event does have a guest limit.
- 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 attendance costs for Dual-Program Orientations is covered in the required orientation fee automatically assessed to your student; parents/family will not need to pay additional attendance costs for participation in a Dual-Program Orientation.
- 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 Campus Tour 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)
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.
General Education Honors Program
Parents Supporting Academics and Personal Development
Student Service Centers and Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) Advisement
Saludos, Padres y Familiares! Haga clic aquí para el sitio web del Día de padres en español.
If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact the Office of Student Development and Transitional Programs at(818) 677-4100 or email us at orientation@csun.edu
Disclaimer: This website contains information that is authorized and available at the time of publication. Its content, including dates and fee amounts, is subject to change without notice or obligation.