Cue the applause. Toss the confetti. Throw your hands in the air. THEY'RE IN! Special congratulations go to you, too, parents and families! With your support propelling your student this far, they're now here—joining a university dedicated to their success and ready to cheer them on as they realize their limitless potential.
Your Student is College-Bound. Are You Ready?
The first year of college is a big transition for students and families alike. Even though your student is taking flight from the nest, you'll continue to play a critical role in their life. You'll go from caregiver to coach and a resource for guidance and support as your student embraces their independence.
Just as your student will quickly come to know that Widener faculty and staff are committed to their success—we hope you know that we've got your back, too. In addition to Parent & Family Orientation, we've compiled a host of resources to help you make the transition as smooth as possible. Here we go! We're in this together.
A Message from Widener President Dr. Stacey Robertson
We are so glad that you are here. Your role in your student's life may look different, but it’s as important as ever. We invite you in being a partner alongside the university in supporting your student in their college journey. Our mission is the same—we’re dedicated to your student's success together.
They're in! Now what? The Essential Steps
We can’t wait to welcome your student and YOU to Widener. Through our Pride Experience orientation programs, we’ll make sure their transition into college life goes smoothly.
First thing's first—has your student "committed" yet?
Committing to the university is your student's first step to becoming a Widener student. This includes:
Attending Admitted Students Day (held in January and April)
How to Help Your Student:
Encourage accountability to stay on track with their student checklist. Please remind your student to frequently check their Widener University email account and start tackling their essential new student tasks. Widener University will communicate exclusively with committed students at their Widener email account starting June 1. All to-dos can be found in their Admissions Portal as well as the New & Incoming Student checklist webpage.
Now that you've celebrated your high school graduate, it's time to get them ready for college!
They'll have plenty of opportunities to engage with Widener during the summer.
As your student attends Summer Registration, you're invited to join us for Parent & Family Orientation—a day of resources and support just for you. Here, you'll meet with helpful offices and departments and get connected to campus resources available to your student to make their transition to college a smooth one.
How to Help Your Student:
Familiarize yourself with the Orientation program schedule. We encourage all parents, families, and guests to familiarize themselves with the Pride Experience 1: Summer Registration program schedule. Parents, families, and guests will participate in their own orientation program separate from their student. This is a great chance to ask questions directly to the faculty and staff supporting you, your student, and their family in the upcoming years. To review and download a copy of the schedule, please visit our New & Incoming student pages
Suggest summer activities that will help with college readiness, like earning an income and building financial literacy, exploring academic goals early, expanding their horizons through travel or volunteering, etc. Exploring Widener's Pre-Orientation program is also a great option!
Did you blink? Summer always flies by. Here we go!
It's time for your first-year student to start their college journey with Fall Orientation—an official welcome-to-Widener experience.
How to Help Your Student:
Review the SCOOP 2 newsletter mailed in early August.
Familiarize yourself with your student’s arrival date, orientation date, move-in time (if applicable), and other important details by checking out the Pride Experience II: Fall Orientation and Living On Campus FAQ pages. When you arrive to campus, you'll be greeted by our Widener student and staff move-in helpers. While they'll help ease the "lift" of moving in, be sure to bring plenty of water—and tissues!
You and your student have got this!
And we've got your backs every step of the way.
How to Help Your Student:
Encourage independence! More than just doing their own laundry and knowing how to cook a healthy meal, encourage opportunities to build confidence when it comes to managing their own finances, living space, and schedule. Do they have a question about college? Let them take the lead contacting the university to get answers.
Stay in touch and find your mutual desired balance of communication.
Encourage them to explore and engage. College life opens doors to so many opportunities!
Most importantly, encourage them to trust themselves and their ability to make their own decisions.
Resources to Help You Support Your Student
From the moment your student opens their acceptance letter to the start of classes and beyond—you bet we have a resource for that! We invite you to partner with the university in supporting your student's college journey by exploring our extensive resources.
Access a hub of resources and opportunities to prepare your student to step foot on campus with confidence. You'll find important summer registration, pre-orientation, and orientation information, and so much more.
Consider the Pride Guide you and your student's north star—a place to refer back to anytime you need guidance to help your student make the most of their first year and beyond.
We've compiled answers to your top questions, a list of helpful office contacts, a parent-to-parent advice column, and guidance for tackling tricky conversations about mental health, alcohol and drug use, and living independently.
It's also common for students to consider different academic majors. Our interdisciplinary curriculum celebrates academic discovery. It all starts with ASC 101, a course your student will complete during the fall semester of their first year. With more than 30 options, each course centers on a significant question that prompts students to examine our world's most pressing—and fascinating—issues.
In addition to ongoing support from their academic advisor, students can also consider pursing Exploratory Studies to experience a variety of disciplines while staying on track.
It's also common for students to consider different academic majors. Our interdisciplinary curriculum celebrates academic discovery. It all starts with ASC 101, a course your student will complete during the fall semester of their first year. With more than 30 options, each course centers on a significant question that prompts students to examine our world's most pressing—and fascinating—issues.
In addition to ongoing support from their academic advisor, students can also consider pursing Exploratory Studies to experience a variety of disciplines while staying on track.
Health & Well-Being
With a focus on campus-wide health and well-being, students also have access to Counseling & Psychological Services, Student Accessibility Services, Student Health Services, Pride Pantry for no-cost, judgement-free access to food, as well as trained supportive teams for one-on-one guidance.
We also understand the role that well-being plays in academic success. Our Office of Student Success and Retention keeps an open line of communication with students and monitors for any concerning signs in academic performance—ensuring students have access to the resources and guidance needed to stay on track in a healthy, supported way.
With a focus on campus-wide health and well-being, students also have access to Counseling & Psychological Services, Student Accessibility Services, Student Health Services, Pride Pantry for no-cost, judgement-free access to food, as well as trained supportive teams for one-on-one guidance.
We also understand the role that well-being plays in academic success. Our Office of Student Success and Retention keeps an open line of communication with students and monitors for any concerning signs in academic performance—ensuring students have access to the resources and guidance needed to stay on track in a healthy, supported way.
Feeling a Part of the Pride
Here, we're committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. All members of the Widener Pride are embraced and supported by an inclusive community, because "We're all Widener" is more than a saying—it's a way of life. Resources include a Safe Space Ally program, gender-inclusive housing, all-gender restrooms, and more. If your student is having difficulty finding their home at Widener, residential students are encouraged to talk to their Resident Assistants (RAs). Commuter students can find support within the Commuter Student Association.
Students can also build their community by getting involved on campus—whether that means joining a club or intramural sport, stepping on stage with Widener music, dance, and theatre programs, and more.
Here, we're committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. All members of the Widener Pride are embraced and supported by an inclusive community, because "We're all Widener" is more than a saying—it's a way of life. Resources include a Safe Space Ally program, gender-inclusive housing, all-gender restrooms, and more. If your student is having difficulty finding their home at Widener, residential students are encouraged to talk to their Resident Assistants (RAs). Commuter students can find support within the Commuter Student Association.
Students can also build their community by getting involved on campus—whether that means joining a club or intramural sport, stepping on stage with Widener music, dance, and theatre programs, and more.
Don't Forget to Connect with the Pride
Widener shares a newsletter with Pride families, like you, to help you stay connected to all the great things happening on and off campus. Your role as a guide and support to your student is critical, and we want to do everything we can to make it a positive experience for you. Make sure you're signed up and that we have your correct contact information!
And, while you're at it—we welcome you to like/follow/subscribe to all things Widener on social media. There, you'll get real-time updates about the latest and greatest happenings—you may even spot your student in some of our featured content!
Love Widener? Let it be known! Download a Welcome to the Pride lawn sign to print at home or professionally, and stock up on Widener swag. From apparel, drinkware, blankets, keychains, and more at our online bookstore to yard signs and flags (talk about curb appeal!), there are plenty of ways to show your pride.
Each resident student can receive mail at our on-campus post office located in the bottom level of the University Center. Let them know you're thinking of them by sending a care package! Mail to:
[Student's Name]
Widener University
1 University Place
Chester, PA 19013-5792
There's always something happening on campus—and you're often invited! Join your student for Widener Pride varsity athletics games, stargazing at our NASA-grade observatory, catching a live performing arts or campus speaking event, and more. Stay informed with what's happening on campus and check in with your student about what interests them most.
You can also plan a special weekend to explore our area. From enjoying Media's quaint restaurants and shops; catching a game at the Philadelphia Union, or heading downtown to experience everything Philadelphia has to offer—there are ample opportunities to make memories.
As a parent, this entire website is dedicated to you. While we think all of the content is great for a read-through, we've highlighted a few stand-out sections to support you on your journey. Have fun exploring!
