Parent and Family Programs

You’re a proud parent / family member. And we’re a proud community of Beavers who are just as invested as you in your student’s growth and success at OSU!

The Parent and Family Engagement Program is designed to bridge the transition from family to college life by keeping parents and families informed and engaged alongside students throughout their OSU journey. We encourage you to be a vital partner in this process! That’s why we will be sharing meaningful communications, tips and ongoing opportunities to help you support and empower your student as they find their footing on campus and thrive as part of the Beaver community.

Stay Connected with your student and OSU! Consider this page your one-stop-shop for the latest communications, updates about campus life and happenings, student health and safety, helpful resources, alumni achievements and much more.

Get Involved by volunteering (virtually or in-person!) alongside other OSU parents for committees and events that bring Beavers and their families together to interact and build strong connections that support students and OSU.

Be an Active Participant in your student’s success! Communicate. Advocate. Network. Volunteer. Donate... and encourage fellow OSU families to do the same! We all play a vital role in our students’ ability to live, learn and thrive at OSU. Your involvement helps Build the Dam for your student and others Beavers who follow.

Mother and daugther smiling in a student dorm with bunkbed behind them

Parent and Family Council

The Parent and Family Council will meet twice a year (hybrid model with both in-person and digital options) around Parent and Family Weekends sponsored by the Office of Student Orientation.

Join the council

Helpful Links for Parents and Families:

Sign up to receive the Beaver Family Newsletter.

Read the latest editions:

Winter 2023

Fall 2022
Spring 2022
Winter 2022
Fall 2021

Additional Resources:

>> Apply for OSU’s new Parent and Family Council

Calling all proud Beaver parents/families... do you want to be an active participant in your student’s success? If you have a current OSU student, we encourage you to apply for our new Parent and Family Council! The Parent and Family Council will meet twice a year (hybrid model with both in-person and digital options) around Parent and Family Weekends sponsored by the Office of Student Orientation.

What is it? The Parent and Family Council is a community of dedicated individuals who are actively engaged in their students' college experience. The council helps educate and connect parents to OSU and seeks to encourage families to support the university through volunteering, mentoring other families and philanthropic generosity.

Why join? It’d be easier to ask “Why not?” But here are some key reasons to join:

Meet and build strong connections with OSU administrators, parents and families at special events for council members.
Become more knowledgeable about university resources and programs that support student success.
Deepen your connection to OSU by attending campus and regional events, volunteering and supporting initiatives that benefit current students.

Member opportunities:

Attend council meeting each year (either virtual or in person).
Become a resource to expand mentoring and career opportunities for students.
Volunteer at campus and regional events such as orientation; Black & Orange Days, Move-in Day and Family Weekends.
Engage with fellow parents, act as parent ambassadors for both prospective and admitted students in your area, advise OSU/OSUAA on key topics and areas of interest for current parents and encourage other parents to get involved!

Apply today to be on the Parent and Family Council.

>> Beaver book recommendations for new OSU parents/families

“Out to Sea: A Parents’ Survival Guide to the Freshman Voyage” by Kelly Radi

Leaving the nest is a major transition for all involved. That’s why we highly recommend this easy-to-read, informative guidebook that acknowledges that the college transition can be stressful and emotional for both students and their parents. With warmth, humor and real-world advice, the author covers such things as staying connected, mentorship parenting, money matters, roommate relations, health and wellness and much more.

“How to College: What to Know Before You Go (And When You’re There)” by Andrea Malkin Brenner and Lara Hope Schwartz

We understand that the transition from high school (and home!) to college is a major one for parents/caregivers and students alike. That’s why we recommend this informative and comprehensive book that helps answer common questions and provides valuable resources for first-year students and their families. It is a practical and thorough primer that can help ensure a smooth transition and set your student’s foundation for success at OSU.

>> No Parent Left Behind.

When Esther Vega saw her mother, a second grade teacher, struggling to get her students connected for remote learning in spring 2020, the Honors College industrial engineering major also saw an opportunity: get parents involved. Read the story.

>> For students - Volunteer opportunities

OSU students have the power to shape their community, their campus and their world. Volunteering is a proven way to get connected and meet like-minded classmates who want to make a difference. Future employers also value volunteerism. See the wide variety of online and in-person opportunities here.