A new University website allows parents to explore on-campus resources, scholarships and financial aid information to stay connected with their students, according to a March 6 UT Instagram post.
The portal allows family members to join different communities such as Campus Safety, Health & Well-being, and Financial Aid & Scholarships. They can also share recent University news with their students and ask questions regarding community posts. Parents can choose to sign up for a newsletter called the “Burnt Orange Bulletin,” which contains a summary of the posts made in the communities a family member is a part of.
“We believe that our Texas parents, family members and supporters are our partners when it comes to student success,” according to the portal. “Our goal is to share important campus events, deadlines and opportunities with our students’ support system and provide personalized content to fit your student’s needs.”
To use the portal, family members can create an account by inserting their personal email and creating a password. They can also create an account by connecting their Facebook, LinkedIn or Google profiles.
Jenny Smith, associate director for Texas Parents, a department within the Division of Student Affairs that serves students’ families, said her office previously sent out communications to parents and families through email. However, the new website provides a single location for families to access all the information regarding on-campus resources.
“I know that when I have information as a parent, I feel more connected to the University,” Smith said. “That’s what we want to seek to foster with the portal.”
The portal will also soon allow families to register for Longhorn Orientation, Smith said. This year, the event will have a welcoming session for families to attend with their students.
“Our big push this year is to get all of our parents and families registered in the portal,” Smith said. “On April 6, when (the orientation portal) opens, they can go in and register to support their student during orientation.”
Smith said the portal’s resources are available to anyone interested in supporting a student.
“What’s nice is that (the portal is) literally open,” Smith said. “If you’re a grandma, a mom, a neighbor that just happens to support a student that’s here, you can jump on.”
In the future, Smith said the University plans to display open student positions within the Office of the Dean of Students in the portal. This allows families to learn about employment opportunities for their students.
“Student success is what we are trying to promote,” Smith said. “We can do that by equipping, educating and empowering our parents and family members.”