Teaching the Art
of
New Parent Transitions
Matt Burchett & Dr. Darrell Gwaltney
Belmont University
Context
Belmont University
Founded: 1890
Location: Nashville, TN
Affiliation: Faith-Based
Students: 4,500 graduate/undergraduate
Majors: 73
Predominant Major: Music Business
US News and World Report Masters Institutions Ranking: 10
Mascot: Bruin
History
In the mid-1800s, the campus was known as Adelicia Acklen’s Belle Monte estate. The antebellum mansion remains today,
flanked by university buildings separated in age by a century. The first educational institution on the estate was the original
Belmont College (1890-1913), offering elementary school through junior college education to young ladies. The school merged
with Ward Seminary to become the prestigious Ward-Belmont School for Women (1913-1951) and in 1951 became the coed
Belmont College. In 1991, the college became Belmont University and, this year, began the 114th year of higher education on
this site.
Parent & Family Philosophy Foundation
“But the proper aim of giving is to put the recipient in a state where he no longer needs our gift. We feed children in order that
they may soon be able to feed themselves; we teach them in order that they may soon not need our teaching. Thus a heavy task
is laid upon this Gift-love. It must work towards its own abdication. We must aim at making ourselves superfluous. The hour
when we can say “They need me no longer” should be our reward.”
The Four Loves, C.S. Lewis 1960
Teaching the Art…
Division of Autonomy
Parent programming begins with a focus on empowering students by providing them the means to accomplish institutional and
personal tasks.
Redirecting Attention
Educating parents by creating connections and providing knowledge that guides them through the educational process.
Reciprocity of Influence
When we give a little, we get a little.
Student Responsibility
The education is the students’. Effective parent programs are grounded in encouraging students to take personal responsibility
for their education.
Celebrating the Transition
Teach parents the art of celebrating the transition. Parents can slowly teach their students independence if they are equipped to
do it themselves.
“I see in my son/daughter their unique design. It is my intent to help him/her succeed on this new journey. I will support
him/her in developing personal ownership of his/her experiences. In so doing, I promise to:
Respect the changes I see in my adult son/daughter by encouraging independence.
Trust in my son/daughter to take responsibility for his/her own actions; allowing his/her own heart and mind to guide on
the journey.
Offer help when it is asked of me and encourage my son/daughter to access the resources that Belmont provides to
foster his/her own success.
Most of all, I am excited for the experiences which lie ahead for my son/daughter at Belmont. My hope for him/her is
that he/she discover his/her God-given abilities that will lead him/her to engage and transform the world.”
Determining Boundaries
Teaching appropriate boundaries help students create appropriate and healthy distance from their parents.
Programs & Timelines
These educational objectives for teaching new parent transitions will help you build around a philosophical foundation. Yet, we
know that any philosophy has to have legs to walk on.
Parenting 101 consists of three primary initiatives: to inform them of, and engage them in conversations involving the
transitional issues affecting both they and their students; to introduce them to campus policies, culture, and traditions; and to
facilitate relational development and communication with other parents. These objectives are designed as the key components
of a comprehensive New Student Parent & Family Orientation program. The program is a unique collaborative effort within the
Division of Student Affairs, Office of Admissions, and Office of University Development that operates without a full-time parent
programming position or budget.
January through August
January 15 - New Student E-Newsletter: http://forum.belmont.edu/newstudents
March 1 - New Parent E-Newsletter: http://forum.belmont.edu/newparents
• Parenting 101 initiates communication with parents of incoming students the spring semester of the senior
year. After students register for New Student Orientation, parents receive the first edition of the interactive
online New Parent Newsletter. The newsletter contains: Belmont News, important administrative links and
contact information. Additionally, “Coming Up” and “Notification” sections alert parents to significant
events on campus, reminders of payment schedules, priority registration, FASFA, and housing deadlines.
June
Summer Orientation
• In concert with the New Student Summer Orientation program, parents have two full days of programming,
seminars, receptions, and engaging activities. Parents attend sessions on student financial services,
residence life, and FERPA to expose them to the administrative basics of the institution.
Parenting 101
Parent Calendar including Parent Transition Issues
July
BU2U
August
Opening Day
Matriculation
• The most significant event during Welcome Week activities is the annual Matriculation Ceremony. This event
serves to initiate the student and parent into the life of the university. Students are introduced to, and state
aloud, the university Honor Pledge and Statement of Values.
September-May (after enrollment)
Parent & Family Newsletter: http://forum.belmont.edu/parents
Parent & Family Weekend (New Parent Track)
Assessment
I felt welcomed at Towering Traditions Summer Orientation…
2004
2005
2006
98%
99%
99%
100%
98%
99%
The Towering Traditions website provided the information I needed… 2004
2005
2006
Students that Strongly Agree/Agree Parents that Strongly Agree/Agree Students that Strongly Agree/Agree
Parents that Strongly Agree/Agree 92%
93%
96%
97%
96%
95%
Welcome session…
2004
2005
2006
Freshman Students responded Excellent/Good
Freshman Parents responded Excellent/Good
95%
98%
96%
98%
97%
98%
Parenting 101 Sessions…
2004
2005
2006
Freshman Parents responded Excellent/Good
100%
99%
93%
2004
2005
2006
60%
98%
99%
2004
2005
2006
96%
95%
98%
93%
97%
N/A
96%
90% 97%
96%
95%
N/A 98%
91%
93%
92%
97%
99%
Professional staff members were knowledgeable and helpful…
Freshman parents responded Yes Interest Sessions
Parents (Excellent/Good)
Financial Aid and Student Accounts Residence Life Campus Security Information Technology and Bookstore Student Health and Wellness Academic Roundtable New Initiatives
The New Parent Online Newsletter was helpful…97% parents Strongly Agree/Agree.
The New Student Online Newsletter was helpful…93% students Strongly Agree/Agree.
I downloaded the Towering Traditions Orientation Brochure…327 parents (69%) and 404 students (75%).
Closing Session…95% students and 98% parents responded excellent/good.
Anecdotal
“I just wanted to drop you a note to let you know how impressed I am and comfortable I feel with Belmont University. The effort put forth to
engage the students, the convocation classes, the ceremonies – all of it will help to mature my daughter. Her school experiences up to now
have been so awesome that I wasn’t sure I could find teachers and staff as dedicated to my child – but I was wrong! God Bless and
thank you!”
“This was well-run, informative, friendly, helpful, etc. So helpful to feel that this is a community that values not just our student, but
our family and has given us tools to transition. Knowing that this is a school where God is in the center of everything is reassuring and
important to us. Dr. Bridges even drove us to our hotel when the battery died in our car! Thank you!”