FAQ

Below are some of the common questions that we receive about the Family Connection Program. If you have a question about this program that is not addressed below or elsewhere on the Family Connection website, please contact Lisa Lindquist, Family Connection Coordinator, at ldelgado@unm.edu or 505-277-3361.

Is it really that important for family members to attend?

Yes. According to one parent, “This program helped relieve any anxiety I might have had, and actually got me excited to share this college experience with my daughter.”

Research has shown that family is the primary source of encouragement in pursuing a college education and is a big source of motivation for finishing a degree. With college pressures such as finances, maintaining grades, and taking exams, students will need your moral support.  Over 99% of those attending a Family Connection program in the past five years said they would recommend this program. Don’t miss it!

I already have a student attending college and have been through orientation so I really don't need to attend again, do I?

Many things have changed on the UNM campus in the last couple of years. We have many new staff, faculty, buildings and new programs. Make sure to check out the growing number of choices available through Academic Communities, a program specifically aimed at your student succeeding in his or her first semester.

Will I be with my student during orientation?

No. After our welcome session, students and parents are separated. Therefore, you should discuss important issues such as class selection and major exploration before the Freshmen Orientation program begins. Academic advising will be accomplished with the student, the academic advisor, and the Freshmen Orientation staff. Family members will not be involved in the selection of classes.

Students should arrive to our check-in area with all necessary information and overnight materials in hand.

Can others besides parents come to the program?

Yes. Siblings, aunts, uncles, guardians, and grandparents are all welcome. However, siblings and others under 18 quickly become bored with our detailed presentations. We strongly recommend that children under 12 not attend.

The program is not designed for the student’s best friend, girlfriend/boyfriend, or spouses; therefore, they will feel out of place in the Family Connection Program, and will not be allowed to participate in the student program.

How can I register for the Family Connection Program?

Please let your student know that you want to attend the Family Connection Program. Your student can sign you up as a "guest" on his/her online Freshmen Orientation reservation form. If they have already signed up without you, they can still add you onto their reservation by logging back in and modifying their reservation.

Click here for more information about registering for the Family Connection Program.

My student has already signed up and I didn't. Can I still attend the same session?

Yes! All you have to do is ask your student to go back online and modify the reservation. They can add your Family Connection reservation to their reservation by updating it online in the "guests" section. Be sure to select a payment option after you are added as a guest.

How can I help my student prepare for orientation?

A great way to help your student prepare is to have an open conversation about your expectations of each other. Encourage your student to think about goals that he or she wants to accomplish in school. Thinking about future career goals will also help in determining potential majors for the student. Using this time to truly listen to your student will be a useful exercise in preparing for the upcoming transition that you are about to experience.

My student thinks that I will just be bothering her at orientation. Are family and guests with students all the time?

Students and family members will go through separate programs. Remind your students that you are there to support them, not to interfere while they are at orientation.

Where can I find a campus map?

Click here for a map of UNM's Main Campus.