University of La Verne’s SOAR Parent Academy: Empowering Parents for Student Success.
In the summer of 2020, amidst the unprecedented challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, the University of La Verne launched the SOAR Parent Academy (SPA). This innovative program was designed to bridge the gap created by the sudden shift to online learning, ensuring that parents remained engaged and informed about their students’ academic journey.
The Genesis of SOAR Parent Academy: When it became clear that in-person SOAR (Student Orientation, Advising, and Registration) sessions would not be possible, the university swiftly adapted. The SOAR Welcome themes were converted into engaging videos and integrated into our admitted student portal. These videos became a crucial resource for all new freshmen and transfer students, guiding them through essential information and helping them complete requirements to schedule advising and registration appointments.
A Dedicated Resource for Parents: Recognizing the importance of parental involvement, the SPA was created to complement the student-focused SOAR videos. Parents of new students were invited to participate in SPA. The academy offered curated themes that directly addressed parents’ needs, helping them understand key academic information, FERPA regulations, and the Path to Graduation.
Goals of SPA:
- Enhance Understanding: Equip parents with the knowledge to navigate academic processes and support their students effectively.
- Foster Partnership: Encourage a collaborative approach between parents and the university to ensure student success.
- Areas of Interest: Academic pathways, career readiness, and interpersonal relationships.
Continuing the Tradition: The success of SPA in 2020 led to its continuation to date, maintaining the same arrangements and commitment to supporting both students and their families. Through SPA, the University of La Verne has created a lasting legacy of partnership and empowerment, ensuring that parents are well-prepared to support their students’ academic endeavors.
Signing up:
If your college-bound freshman or transfer student will attend the University of La Verne in the fall semester, join us at SOAR Parent Academy and be a part of your student’s journey to success! Parents can sign up in spring semester for one or all of our summer sessions. 🚀📚
Understanding the Path to Graduation and MyDegree Tracker
Learn about the Path to Graduation and what it takes to earn a bachelor’s degree. Learn how to read and interpret your student’s degree audit as they make academic progress toward graduation. We recommend taking this session as the first of a two-part series. If you sign up for this session, also sign up for part two of this series, “The Value of Full-time Enrollment, Building a “16 to Finish” Plan”.
The Value of Full-time Enrollment, Building a “16 to Finish” Plan (Part II)
Learn how your student can build an educational plan within MyDegree Tracker. Understand how your student and their advisor can build multiyear academic plan that can help earn the degree faster, saving time and money. We recommend taking this session after attending the first part of this two-part series, SOAR Parent Academy: Understanding the Path to Graduation and MyDegree Tracker.
Empowering Student Success: Leveraging FERPA and Parent Collaboration at La Verne
Learn about the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and how we can leverage it to help your student to succeed at La Verne by collaborating with parents.
Help Support Your Student’s Career Choices
Learn about the Career Center resources available to all students. Learn about our workshops, employer events, and online technology platforms that support our student’s career choices.
Training Wheels Off! (New, Summer 2025)
To let go does not mean to abandon. For the parents of our students, it means to release the traditional responsibilities of daily parenting, and to trust that a connected community of responsible adults will be there to continue guiding your child as they transition into their next stage of adulthood.
Learn from two of LV’s faculty the kinds of life skills that are embedded into their teachings, and how they help students to do things like show up for class, balance time and activities, regulate social media consumption, build healthy friendships and relationships (and avoid toxic ones), and utilize LV’s vast resources for health, tutoring, counseling, and much more.
The session will last about 30-45 minutes, with the last half devoted to answering live questions.
(Co-teachers John Bartelt, Ph.D., & Linda Bartelt, M.Ed.)