Parents Council Advice

A Parent’s Perspective on How to Get the Most out of Your Covenant College Years

Compiled by the Covenant College parents council

1. If possible, make it a priority to attend Family Weekend in February. The student development staff works hard to make this a meaningful time for parents. It’s a great way to get to know staff and faculty members who impact your students daily, and it’s planned at a time of the year when many students are ready to see a familiar face from home.

2. Get to know your student’s resident director. If you can’t meet them face-to-face, send them a brief email letting them know you are praying for them and appreciate their ministry.

3. If you’re able to visit campus during the semester, make it a point to get to know some of your student’s friends. Take them out to dinner or share a meal with them in the Great Hall.

4. Encourage your student to bring friends home during breaks and holidays or for a quick weekend if you live close by.

5. Did you know that Covenant has a webcam that you can access online with up-to-the-minute weather updates? You may even find a way to synchronize things with your student to access the webcam while they’re standing in front of it.

6. Take time to check out the student profiles available on the Covenant website. It’s a great way to learn more about student life at Covenant and “meet” some of the students that make up the community of Covenant College.

7. ScotsCasts are available on Covenant’s website and provide wonderful glimpses into campus life. Hear from current students, faculty, staff, and alumni in their own words.

8. Did you know you can stream and download all of the chapel messages your students hear every week? They are available at iTunesU and on SoundCloud.

9. Check out View, Covenant’s biannual magazine for alumni, parents, and friends of the College. Free print subscriptions are available, and it can be accessed online. Each issue is full of informative and thoughtful articles related to the College and its mission.

10. Visit Covenant’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages to experience daily life on campus and to access photos of special events like Move-In Day, Mountain Affair, Homecoming, and much more.

11. Make an effort to attend a local church with your student. It’s a wonderful way to meet some of the men and women who will influence your student during their college years. Family Weekend is a great time to do this.

12. If you visit campus during the week, make a point to connect with faculty and staff members who have influenced your student. You would make their day by letting them know how much your family appreciates their investment in your student.

13. If you live near a college where Covenant’s athletic teams occasionally play an away game or match, attend a game and support the Scots. The team and coaching staff will appreciate your support and you will be blessed in return.

14. Did you know that the Parents Council coordinates a prayer network among Covenant parents and sends a monthly prayer email? It’s a great tool to help you pray more effectively for the College and its mission. Sign-up information is available online.

15. If you belong to a PCA church, make sure your local congregation participates in Covenant College Sunday (typically in mid-October, during fall break). Encourage your own student to consider giving a short testimony about their experience at Covenant.

16. Invite faculty or staff to speak or preach at your church or local school for special events.

17. Offer to host Covenant visitors when they come to your area. Having an admissions representative or other faculty/staff member stay in your home overnight is a rare opportunity to learn new and interesting things about what makes Covenant unique. Contact Marie Fennema to let her know that you’re interested in hosting visitors.

18. Connect with Covenant students and parents in your area. Some Covenant parents have done this through participation in monthly prayer groups, by hosting social events for students over holidays, or planning area meet-and-greets for incoming freshmen.

19. Use your unique talents and abilities to contribute to the work Covenant is doing. Some parents have built sets for our theatre department, supported a Covenant club, and much more. Consider what talents you have that might be useful to the Covenant community.