Fall 2004
		It is always a pleasure to welcome a new set of parents to the larger Binghamton University family. Remember, you are not alone. Thousands of Binghamton parents share similar fears, hopes and dreams for our students. It is also a pleasure to welcome back the parents of our returning students. If you are a “returning” parent, try to reach out and connect with some of our “new” parents. The discovery that there are others who share our questions, concerns and good fortune (depending upon our perspective) can help us during challenging times. My wife and I have survived the passage of five children through college. We learned a great deal from their educations, and like other experienced parents, will try to make it easier for those who are going through this for the first time. Some advice for “new” parents: In this age of vicarious experience, we are tempted to think of going to college as something we parents do for ourselves. But a reality hits home usually midway through the fall semester — this education is truly for and about our children.
		Yes, we are highly invested in the endeavor, but it is for their growth and for them to manage, albeit with our help. My second bit of wisdom for you is this: You will adjust to having a child away at college. Rest assured, our duties are not yet over. Cell phones and e-mail keep us in touch with our children more than we probably need to be, according to experienced parents. Be ready for requests for advice at the oddest times. Such advice would never have been heeded, let alone sought, a short time ago. My advice about giving advice is to teach your students how to find, independently, the help they need here on campus. They do much better when they shoulder the responsibility for their own lives. Now, for you experienced parents, we would like to hear some of your Binghamton University stories. What advice would you give to newcomers? What wonderful things did you discover about this place that you did not expect? How did you deal with a difficult or unexpected situation? What were some of the key factors in your son’s/daughter’s decision to study here? What are some of the fun parts about being a Binghamton parent? Let us know of any stories that may be worth sharing, and we will try to get the word out. All parents need to be aware that this year our primary communications mode will be electronic: e-mail and Web-based. Please get online and visit the parents’ pages of our website, alumni.binghamton.edu. You may also find the online news-letters interesting: Harpur Hotline at harpur.binghamton.edu/hotline and Alumni Connect at alumni. binghamton.edu/AC. We will also have a regular Parents Online Newsletter (PON) that will point you to key campus webpages. We hope to share a few stories from other parents and people here at Binghamton in upcoming issues of the PON. So please, send your e-mail address to alumni@bingham-ton.edu. Tell us how you have connected with other parents, and how that has worked for you. We would like to share the best stories with other parents in upcoming newsletters. As always, our retired parent relations specialist — volunteer Geof Gould — and the entire staff in the Alumni and Parent Relations Office, remain ready to help whenever possible. Regards, Richard Heck Director of Alumni and Parent Relations rheck@binghamton.edu
								Welcome to New and Returning Student Families! Whether your son or daughter is a freshman, new transfer student or returning for another year at Binghamton, he or she is part of the most talented student body yet at the University. The new freshmen class includes 2,150 students chosen from an all-time high of 19,924 applicants. Transfer students number 750 and were selected from 2,900 applicants. Approximately 300 freshmen come from dozens of states and nations, and nearly 700 are students of color. The mean grade point average of freshmen is a 92, and average SATs range from 1235 to 1240. This makes for an increasingly talented, diverse and interesting student body. Parents, you ought to be proud that your students were admitted to one of the most selective public universities in the nation. We feel fortunate to have them here and look forward to their growth and participation in the life of Binghamton University.
								IN THIS ISSUE: Making the most of it. Career Development Center Fall Programs and Events Online Alumni Career Network. Athletic update. Campus News Services to Ensure Good Health Getting to Campus During Major Local Construcion Academic Calendar
				BINGHAMTON UNIVERSITY State University of New York | PO Box 6000 | Binghamton, NY 13902-6000 | last revised 4/03