Dear KU Parents,

Welcome to the Jayhawk Family!  Yours is an important and somewhat unique role: the parent of a current KU student.  Please know that we are very happy to have your student at the University of Kansas and will be doing our best to provide support and assistance every step of the way.  We also have a special program just for KU parents: the KU Parent Association.

The KU Parent Association (KUPA) is an association without dues or meetings, yet with benefits.  KUPA is an easy entry point into the University and its many services.  To begin receiving our monthly electronic newsletter to stay informed about University life, please sign up at: www.vpss.ku.edu/KUPA/listserv.shtml.  

KUPA is staffed through the Office of the Vice Provost for Student Success.  Our goal is to keep KU parents informed and to provide assistance as needed.  The KUPA telephone number is 785-864-KUPA (5872) and is available from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. (central time), Monday through Friday.  You may never need to contact us; however, if you do, you can do so with assurance that your call is welcomed and that we will do whatever we can to help you help your student.

Your role as a parent will continue to be very important throughout your student’s college career.  Your college student will change while at KU: intellectually as well as socially and emotionally.  You will change, too.  For you and your student, this is likely to become an important time to redefine your relationship as your student matures into the independent adult you have prepared him or her to become.  It is a delicate balance – but one that you have been through many times before.  Please know that my colleagues and I are here to be of assistance and support.

I encourage you to explore the parent resources web page www.ku.edu/parents
as well as the KU web site www.ku.edu to learn more about the many services KU provides for students.  If you have a question and cannot find the answer, please feel free to email us at parents@ku.edu or call the KUPA number (785-864-5872).

Again, welcome to our Jayhawk Family!

Rock Chalk!

Marlesa A. Roney, Ph.D.
Vice Provost for Student Success