UAlbany launches college class for parents

ALBANY, N.Y. (NEWS10) -The college experience is different for every student and parent. Some are from the Capital Region while others are hundreds of miles apart, like the Wiseman family. Saying goodbye after move-in day wasn’t easy.

"They were here until probably like 7 p.m. and they didn’t get home until 10, 11ish. We just stayed, we went to Wal-Mart, they helped me unpack, and they didn’t want to leave. It was just sad, and I cried right away as soon as they left," said Vienna Wiseman, a freshman at UAlbany.

Vienna’s mom Nicole calls her every night from Staten Island. One of the things they talk about is a free class her mom is taking – Great Danes 101. It’s a new course for 2024 that teaches parents all about UAlbany.

"If we can demystify the college experience for family members and help them understand how to be the supportive coach for their new student, that’s helping their student become more successful as a Great Dane here on campus," said Linda Krzykowski, Executive Vice President for the first-year experience.

Every week, Professor Krzykowski has online office hours with the 400 family members who are signed up. There’s a variety of topics from majors and minors to the resources available on campus.

Nicole Amitrano Wiseman, Vienna’s mom said, "As a parent, letting go of my first child; it was so overwhelming to me and this class, even though it’s only two weeks in, it has just been such a welcome addition in my life to put me at ease."

For parents who can’t log in for the weekly chats, they can review all the lessons at any time. There’s even a midterm available when Great Danes take theirs.

Families are welcome to come back to campus for the upcoming family weekend. It runs from the 27th to the 28th of September and there are in-person office hours for parents enrolled in Great Danes 101.