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Contents Undergraduate and Learning
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College heeds parental adviceOnce students leave for college, parents often feel left out of the information loop. So, in the fall of 1996, the college started the Parent and Family Advisory Board. Every semester, parents attend a session where they provide input to the college from their standpoint. "Just like our industrial advisory boards at the department and college levels, we are now involving parents in helping us plan for our students' needs," said Howard Shapiro, assistant dean of engineering. "Also, we want to get parents more involved so they better understand the transition of going from a high school classroom to a university-level classroom." By providing feedback, about 20 families helped plan and improve the college's orientation program and Web page. Sherrie Wells, mother of engineering freshman Patrick Wells, attended the advisory board meeting last fall. "I think it's a really neat idea," the Ankeny, Iowa, resident said. "I've always thought it was important to get involved in whatever my children are doing. I hope more parents attend the sessions, because the more diverse a group is, the better the ideas that are generated." |