At ODU, we believe that parents, family members, and supports can be important to each student’s success. As your student explores, discovers, and rules their new student experience, we have opportunities for you to be engaged and connected.
Discover Your Pride: Monarch Orientation
Discover Your Pride is a one-day on-campus orientation experience for new students. Parents, family members, and supporters are welcome to join.
During orientation, students will build connections with their community, assemble and interact with their distinctive success team, and prepare for pathways to enrollment and engagement.
Registration information will be sent to students who have completed all Make Me A Monarch timeline tasks. Discover Your Pride will begin in mid-June and sessions will continue throughout July.
The cost for family participation is $50 per person and is due at the time of registration.
Monarch Family Connection Newsletter
The Family Connection Newsletter is another great opportunity to support your students’ success. The newsletter is sent monthly to parents and family members provided by the student.
Monarch VIPS (Very Important Parents and Supporters)
Monarch VIPS is a seminar class created just for family members of new students. By participating in this online course, parents, family members, and supporters will:
- Explore ways to support students in building meaningful connections.
- Identify and navigate campus resources available to students.
- Understand the role of various campus support services.
- Encourage students to proactively seek assistance when needed.
Parent and Family Checklist
As your student prepares for their next steps as a Monarch, what should parents and supporters be marking off their list? Review our checklist below!
- If your student is an incoming freshman, join the Monarch Family Portal! As a member of the Monarch Family Portal, you’ll be up to date on campus news, announcements, and events.
- Attend Discover Your Pride with your student. If your student is not yet registered for Discover Your Pride, they can do so via their New Student Checklist, located in their myODU Portal. Make sure they are registered by July 1!
- Ask your student to update their Proxy Access in LeoOnline.
- Consider joining Monarch VIPS, our parent and family seminar course.
- Begin having important conversations surrounding transition with your student:
- What are their expectations around communication as they progress through their first year? What are yours?
- What feelings are they navigating as they prepare for their support system to change?
- What would they like you to have access to in regards to their student account?
- Prepare for move-in.
- Make sure you know how to get in contact with our office:
- Email: familyconnection@odu.edu
- Phone: (757) 683-3428