Your student isn’t the only one who has joined the Clark community. This is a special time for your entire family, and we want you to stay involved and informed during their time with us. We hope you will be able to learn more about Clark University, visit campus when you can, and discover the difference a Clark education can make.
Family Orientation

Welcome to the Clark Family
Supporting Your Clarkie
Sending a student off to college is a major milestone for parents and families, often accompanied by a variety of feelings — including pride, excitement, anxiety, and trepidation. Letting go is rarely easy, and it can be hard to adjust to having a student away from home.
However, it’s important to keep in mind that:
- Most students make the adjustment to college life quite successfully.
- One of the major aims of the college experience is for young people to develop the capacities of self-responsibility and independent action.
How can you help your student adjust to college life and become more independent? Offer your love, support, understanding, and encouragement. You can stay engaged by:
- Asking questions and encouraging your student to solve problems, research possibilities, and take advantage of the many academic, co-curricular, and support services that Clark offers.
- Gently reminding your student to get enough sleep, physical exercise, and nourishment so they can do their best work and stay healthy.
Thursday, August 24: First Year Families Orientation
Please Note: Pre-Orientation Programs
All Pre-Orientation programs (ACE, Connections, Fall Athletes, Bridge to Clark: Student Accessibility Services) and Transfer Student Move-In Day and Orientation offer a Family Welcome and the opportunity to learn more about Clark’s resources.
Webinar Series
We encourage parents and families of new undergraduate Clarkies to participate in the Summer Orientation Webinar Series to gather more information and ask questions of administrators and staff. Beginning in May, families with emails on file will receive regular communications from the Orientation team throughout the summer to help prepare for the beginning of the Fall semester and orientation.
When your student arrives on campus — whether on Thursday, August 24, for First-Year Student Move-In Day or earlier for one of our pre-orientation programs or experiences — a family welcome and orientation are included in the afternoon activities.
As college is a transition for students and families, we also offer a Clark Families Orientation Webinar Series once the semester begins.
Tuesday, September 5, 7 p.m. ET
Supporting Your Student’s Success at Clark: A Partnership
We are excited your students and your family have joined our community. The Division of Student Success, University Police, and the Title IX office will share information on the policies, safety, expectations, and supports of our Clark community, with special attention to life on campus and residential learning and how you can best support and engage your student.
Wednesday, September 20, 7 p.m. ET
Academic Support & Engagement Opportunities
As we enter the heart of the semester, we invite families to learn more about the opportunities in and outside of the classroom for your student to experience all that Clark has to offer. From internships to academic support, study abroad and away to engagement in clubs and organizations, and all the ways to get connected to Worcester, this webinar will share more about the first semester and the curricular and co-curricular opportunities your student may be experiencing.

Division of Student Success
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2nd Floor,
Shaich Family Alumni and Student Engagement Center - 1-508-793-7423
- success[at]clarku[dot]edu
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9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday through Friday