Parent, Guardian, and Guest Orientation
Welcome Parents, Guardians, and Guests!
***In-person Parent and Guest Noma Nation Orientation is available for First-Time First-Year Parents (Parents with students coming to SSU directly from high school) during the July Advising and Registration days.
Parent and Guest Noma Nation Orientation is a great opportunity for parents, guardians, and mentors to learn what Sonoma State University has to offer their students, but also how SSU keeps some of their biggest supporters in the know.
Aside from the chance to experience on your own what your students will experience in their time at SSU, it also is a space where you can learn more about the resources we have in place to support our students, how to be the best support for your student, ask the questions that are really important to you, and learn more about how we can be partners in your student's success here at SSU. Orientation is optional for parents and guardians, and your student will not be impacted if you are unable to participate!
Noma Nation Orientation for students entering SSU in Fall of 2024 will happen in Three Parts:
Part One - Advising and Registration for Students
This component is geared towards helping our new Seawolves learn about the Advising and Registration Process. New students will receive personal advising, register for classes, and will be given the resources they will need for this process. As noted above, Parents and Families of First-Time First-Year students will also have the option to attend an in-person Parent Orientation while their student is being advised and registered for classes. All parents of First-Time First-Year and Transfer Students will also be given the opportunity to virtually attend our, "Ask Me Anything" live streams on Tuesday nights in June and July (see below for more information).
Part One - During Advising and Registration for Parents
(this is the same date as your student's advising and registration date)
Monday Schedule:
Friday Schedule:
Part Two - Ask Me Anything: Seawolf Summer Success Series: Ask Me Anything Virtual Livestreams and Q & A.
This virtual portion of Orientation will take place on five Tuesday evenings in June and July. The "Ask Me Anything" virtual meeting will highlight information that will be important to know prior to Orientation Part Three and the start of the semester.
Note: For parents of Transfer students, we have found that not many parents signed up to attend in person. Based on that, and to be accommodating to parents who are not able to attend orientation in person, we created the Ask Me Anything: Seawolf Summer Success Series. These are live-stream presentations with an open Q&A. The sessions are offered in June and July. Please join us.
SSU’s Culture of Care and Disability Services for Students (DSS)
Tuesday, June 18 at 6:00 p.m. (PST)
Doing Business at SSU: Seawolf Service Center and Financial Aid
Tuesday, June 25 at 6:00 p.m. (PST)
Dining and Living On Campus: Residential Education and Campus Housing (REACH) & Culinary Services
Tuesday, July 9 at 6:00 p.m. (PST)
Your Academic Success at SSU: Resources and people who are here to help you succeed
Tuesday, July 16 at 6:00 p.m. (PST)
Wrapping it all up: University Bookstore Seawolf Bundle, Wolfbucks, Seawolf Living & What to Expect Next During our Week of Welcome in August and Beyond!
Tuesday, July 23 at 6:00 p.m. (PST)
If you cannot make it to one of the live streams, we will be putting up a link to the recordings complete with the Q&A, within a week after the event. (Click on the topics above after the event to watch the recordings)
Part Three - Seawolf Week of Welcome - August 16 - 19
Move In Day is taking place on Thursday, August 15.
For Parents
As you help your student settle in on Move In Day, we have some special activities planned just for you! After a bustling day, take a moment to unwind and celebrate you and your student's accomplishments. Join us for the Parent and Family Association Parent Reception from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the Wine Spectator Learning Center. Join us for a glass of wine and small bites. And get those last minute questions answered by staff and faculty.
Afterward, commemorate this milestone with a Seawolf Family Photo at 4:30 p.m. by the picturesque lakes. We look forward to seeing you there!
For Students
By day, during the Week of Welcome (WOW) we will cover more information that the students will need to know to be successful at SSU and in college. On Friday, August 16, and Monday, August 19 we will meet to talk about some of the challenges they might face in college and share resources that are available to them, host some student panels around a variety of topics, as well as introduce them to a plethora of student support services that they will have access to. We will also help them learn how to navigate SSU with our highly popular and competitive Seawolf Search, Academic, and Library Open Houses as well as our first big club fairs!
By night, we will provide activities and events that are designed to show our spirit, create community, and share our Seawolf Traditions! Enjoy our annual events Nook and Cranny which fill all the space in the Student Center and Recreation Center, Mentalist and Hypnotist show, Free Pizza Comedy Night, Potentia: Our New Student Welcome, RecFestand Culturefest, DJ on the Green, and More!! Oh, and we cannot forget about BIG NITE 2024! Don’t tell anyone else, but we hear that Lobo is going country!
While we know some of you parents will want to stay and try to sneak into some of the awesome nighttime events, we hope you all will understand how pivotal some of these first moments are to make those connections that will sustain them all through their college years. There are lots of other attractions around Sonoma County for parents to explore in the evenings
What does Parent and Guest Noma Nation Orientation cover?
The Parent/Guest Participation fee is $55/person. This will cover meals and snacks during Parent Orientation, parking during orientation, and some SSU parent swag. Throughout the day, you will be introduced to various campus support services and programs designed to help your student succeed. Some of these services include expectations of our Seawolves, SSU's Basic Needs Initiatives to help support students, Health and Wellbeing, and some in-person time with Summer Series folks for any last-minute questions. You will also have the opportunity to connect with other parents and get to know the community of Seawolves both you and your student will be joining. Lastly, you'll hear from parents of SSU students who have come before you so they can also answer any questions you may have.
***The $55/person fee is only for the Parent/Guests of First-Time First-Year students. The in-person Parent/Guest programming occurs on the same day as the First-Time First-Year student's July orientation session.