[Brad] It's time now for the Bulldog Conversation Brad Radice back with you,
and I'm joined by Susan Doyle, Director of Parent Programs here at Samford, and
Susan we are here talking about Family Weekend. It's hard to believe but it is
next weekend already. [Susan] Oh and parents cannot wait to come back and visit their
students and see all the changes that have happened and things that they've
gotten involved in since move-in day, and we can't wait to welcome them to campus.
[Brad] Talk about that excitement our students are dropped off in late
August and for many this will be the first time that they've seen their
student since that day they dropped them off particularly for the
freshman students. [Susan] And freshmen parents are the ones who show up in mass for for
family weekend and for them it is exciting to see how their students have
adjusted. They've made friends they've gone to classes they've had some of
their first tests they've gotten involved in organizations and so for
most parents it really is a reassurance that it's a good place and that
their students are settled and happy. [Brad] Paint us a little bit of a picture if
folks are on the fence about coming of how this place is invaded by parents and
the quad is packed, the football game is packed, the energy level around here is
bar none. [Susan] It is one of my most favorite weekends on the entire calendar and
I think there would be a few thousand people who might agree. Parents love to
come to campus there are so many things that they can enjoy when they get here
and as your as you said there are will like welcome several thousand as of
right now I think we have probably something in the neighborhood of around
eight hundred families who've registered to be here. We have a lot of grandparents
coming this year they're interested in seeing what their students are
doing so, it is it's fun for the whole family from little brothers and sisters
all the way up through grandparents [Brad] You're in charge of this
deal and you set such an amazing schedule and one thing that is was
introduced a few years ago that has just really taken off is the Parent Academy
tell us a little bit about that and the opportunity with that. [Susan]
What I kept hearing parents say during freshman orientation was something to
the effect of, 'I am so jealous of what my student is about to get to do man I wish
I could go back to college', so we decided that it would be a wonderful opportunity
for parents to get to experience the academic side of Samford. It's easy for
parents to plug into a an athletic event, an arts event, but they don't get to go
into the classroom. So we recruit faculty members from across the whole
campus, undergraduate and graduate, all areas to teach a class just for parents
on Friday afternoon and those spots require pre-registration because it's
limited seating. Some of them even require a little homework before they
get here but parents love it and our faculty rise to the occasion and show
off to be the great the great professors they are. [Brad] And whether it's learning or
catching a play or a soccer game there's a lot for people to do. [Susan] There is
a lot. One thing that that the whole family could enjoy once they get here is
to grab from our registration area in the Howard Room a copy of what we've
called our tiny Sam Scavenger Hunt. It's a copy that has 30 photographs that
are about an inch in size from items across the quad, and we we hope a lot of
families get out and and just enjoy the afternoon together wandering around
trying to find those tiny little things. [Brad] And well that's fun there's a lot on the
line for that if you complete it too. [Susan] It is it's like the the prize is a basically a
weekend package for Step Sing and we all know how important it is to come back to
Step Sing, these are our two signature events for families. Family Weekend and
Step Sing then in February. So it's worth doing. [Brad] One event on Saturday morning
which has really become a signature event of this weekend is the Parents
Association Breakfast, how can parents be involved outside of just this weekend, is it
joining the Parents Association? Are you automaticly members when you are
a parent of a Samford student? [Susan] Once you once your student does come here you do
become a member of the Parents Association and we have a group of
parents right now working on what that means. Ways to create value to that. Ways
to provide a deeper involvement with the university for those those parents who
desire it. So we'll be sharing some of that at this year's Parent Association,
another thing we're going to do is to tell the story of the first recipient of
the Samford Parents Scholarship fund. Something that was begun a year ago and
parents parents will get to see just what a neat story it was, that they were
able to help a student who really needed help in a crucial time. [Brad] So it's next
weekend can people still go online and register? [Susan] Registration online closes
Sunday evening midnight I guess 11:59 p.m.
after that registration can take place in the Howard room. You can walk in we will
accept walk-in registrations but many things will be sold out and seats for
parent Academy will be filled so it's really best to get the registration done
before tomorrow night at midnight. [Brad] Perfect, thanks to Susan Doyle joining us
here on the Bulldog Conversation. Family Weekend it's here next weekend it's a
sight you'll definitely want to see. I'm Brad Radice and you have been listening
to the Bulldog Conversation here at Samford University.