Parent and Family Resources

The resources and information below have been collected for easy access by the parents and families of �Ա��Ƶ students.

Parent & Family Resource Guide

This guide explains to parents and family members what to expect and how things work at �Ա��Ƶ. It also provides information about resources and where to turn for assistance to support your student’s success.

Download guide (PDF)

Important Dates

The key dates of each academic year, including breaks, recesses, and commencement, are presented in the University’s Academic Calendar.

Academic Calendar

Parent & Family Newsletter

Sent quarterly via email, the Parent & Family Newsletter covers timely topics and milestones tied to the academic year cycle. In it, you’ll find:

Articles and campus updates to help you support your student’s learning and development
Information on events such as Family Weekend
Upcoming deadlines

�Ա��Ƶ strives to be an open, safe, and welcoming learning environment for all students, faculty, staff, and others in our extended community. Learn more about our initiatives and support resources.

Emergency Email Communications

During a campus emergency, the University’s primary concern is life safety, so communications are directed first to those on campus: students, faculty, and staff.

In the event of an emergency, please understand that the Emergency Response Team must first secure life safety and physical safety. �Ա��Ƶ must direct communications to the campus community first, focusing its resources on managing the emergency and keeping the community safe. �Ա��Ƶ will email parents and family members with information as appropriate and when possible. Your patience and understanding will be appreciated.

It is important to remember that in the event of an emergency, telephones (both landlines and cell phones) will be critical tools for emergency managers. Please refrain from calling �Ա��Ƶ for information; instead, look for information on colgate.edu and in emails.

Every effort will be made to keep parents and family members well informed in ways that help them to support their students’ continued well-being and growth at the University. In extended situations where the scope of an incident and those who are affected changes over time, �Ա��Ƶ will adjust the notification recipient lists accordingly.

Family Emergencies

If you have a family emergency and can’t reach your student, call Campus Safety at 1-315-228-7333.

�Ա��Ƶ has a legal responsibility to protect students’ privacy at the same time that we fulfill our educational commitment of supporting their transition to independent adulthood. Just as they are now responsible for managing their daily schedule, making their own dietary choices, and learning to live and study with people who have experiences, ideas, and backgrounds different from theirs, students are also responsible for deciding when and with whom they share personal information. Federal law protects that right.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), passed by the U.S. Congress in 1974 and sometimes called the Buckley Amendment, prevents colleges from sharing personally identifiable information or education records without students’ express consent.

Personally identifiable information includes, but is not limited to: Social Security Number, student identification number, residency status (citizen, permanent resident, non-resident alien, etc.), gender, race/ethnicity, religious preference, and passwords.

Education records include, but are not limited to: grades/GPA, academic transcripts, class schedule, test scores, academic standing (e.g., on academic warning), number of currently enrolled course credits, completed or outstanding graduation requirements, financial aid status or account information, and other matters such as petitions, leave requests, disciplinary information, health records, and residence hall.

What does this mean? At the college level, parents (who under FERPA are considered a “third party”) have no inherent right to the above kinds of information. As the U.S. Department of Education states in its FERPA Guidance for Parents, “When a student reaches 18 years of age or attends a postsecondary institution, he or she becomes an ‘eligible student,’ and all rights under FERPA transfer from the parent to the student.”

Therefore, staff and faculty members can not discuss a student’s academic standing or record with a parent without the consent and signature of the student. Observing the law also supports the notion that students should make contact with campus departments themselves when they need assistance or encounter an issue.

Of course, you can certainly ask your student to share their progress and concerns with you. And we encourage you to talk with your student — to ask helpful guiding questions and provide experienced support — throughout their college years.

U.S. Department of Education

Billing and Payments

Financial Aid

’Gate Card

About the ’Gate Card

Overview of Health, Safety, and Wellness

Insurance

Off-campus study health insurance and emergencies

Local Hospital

in Hamilton is located at 150 Broad St in Hamilton, adjacent to �Ա��Ƶ's Student Health Services. Services include:

Primary Care
Emergency Services
Laboratory Testing
Medical Imaging
Urgent Care
Wellness Center
Cardiology
Gastroenterology
Orthopedics/Physical Therapy
Radiology
Rehabilitation Services
Respiratory Care
Primary Care
Pulmonology
Urology

Knowing what to do and who to reach out to can give our students a sense of empowerment and agency:

Review �Ա��Ƶ’s Safety Preparedness Guide.
Be sure they are registered for �Ա��Ƶ Alert Texts (In the ).
Have the �Ա��Ƶ Guardian app on their phone; they can contact Campus Safety through it.
Have Campus Safety ‘s number (315-228-7333) in their cell phone. In on-campus emergencies, calling campus safety directly is the best option for police, fire, and medical assistance. From a classroom phone, dialing 911 will reach campus safety.
Remind them that all community members are partners in safety and security.
- Keep their residential buildings and spaces locked, whether occupied or unoccupied.
- If they see something, say something. Immediately report potentially dangerous conditions, safety hazards/risks, and unusual or suspicious activity or behavior.
What to do If they see /sense danger
- Remove themselves from danger.
- Do not approach the person.
- Be prepared to give a full description of the individual, as well as his or her location.

Campus mail services

Transportation (regional and state travel)
�Ա��Ƶ Shuttle (on campus and in Hamilton)
On-Demand Shuttle (to airport, bus stations)
Bus Transportation for Breaks
Maps & Travel

is edited by Chelsea Petree, Ph.D., who is the director of Parent and Family Programs at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Each contributor to College Ready 2023 is a current or former college administrator who has worked extensively with parents and families of students. They are all members of AHEPPP: Family Engagement in Higher Education, the only professional association in the world dedicated to parent/family involvement in the college experience. These contributors are experts in the field overall and in the chapters they penned.

A Spanish Language Version is available.

Edited by Chelsea Petree, PhD.

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The goal of is to help you navigate your student’s sophomore year, including the challenges and the joys it will bring. Chapters are written by professionals in the areas of family engagement, mental health, study abroad, career services, and the second-year experience. The content will help you guide your student on their journey with information, resources, and conversation starters.

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By UniversityParent
This book is packed with practical advice and insightful reflections. Chapters unfold organically, season by season, taking you from summer as you pack and plan, through the challenges and transitions of autumn, and on into spring. Our expert contributors answer your questions — even the ones you didn't know you had.

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A reality check on the process of students leaving home; with practical tips for supporting your student in the process. Marjorie Savage is the leading national expert in family engagement programs in higher education and an AHEPPP Founder.

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