What is Freshman Parent & Family Orientation?
Parent & Family Orientation takes place alongside the Freshman Student Orientation program and empowers you to become informed partners in your student's success!
Navigate Campus Resources and Systems
Gain a comprehensive understanding of the essential university infrastructure and administrative processes ranging from academic requirements and housing logistics to financial aid, community safety and student wellbeing.
Build UCSB Community Connections
Meet the dedicated people behind UCSB by hearing directly from academic deans and connecting with university staff, allowing you to understand our individual roles in your student’s learning and development while establishing a lasting network for support long after Orientation concludes.
Begin the Family Transition
Discover meaningful ways to champion your student’s success at UCSB by hearing firsthand accounts of campus life from current students, while gaining the tools to navigate and embrace the significant transition your own family is about to experience.
While Orientation is optional, it provides an invaluable head start for a successful college career, with approximately 95% of freshmen choosing to attend. Although parent and family participation is not required, joining your student allows you to gain a deeper understanding of the UCSB experience and the journey ahead. You won't be alone—more than half of our incoming freshmen bring at least one parent.
Parent & Family Program Schedule
The following is an unofficial program overview for Parent & Family Orientation alongside the Freshman Orientation program. Your official Orientation schedule will be provided at check-in for in-person sessions, and a few days prior to online sessions via email.
Day One
- 7:30 - 9:00 AM Check-In +
- Receive your program materials
- Campus Tours: Tours include a Library Tour, University Center Tour and General Campus Tour and depart at multiple times
- 9:45 AM Welcome Assembly +
- 10:45 AM Dean's Address, Academic Expectations, and Student Wellbeing
- Hear directly from academic deans and college academic advisors about the academic expectations at UCSB
- Presented in both English and Spanish
- 12:40 PM Lunch in Carrillo Dining Commons +✧
- 1:45 PM Day One Breakout Sessions +
- Sessions held relating to multiple campus resources: the Education Abroad Program, Recreation Center, Educational Opportunity Program and more.
- 3:15 PM Steps to Enrollment Presentation
- Understand academic support, financial aid, and student health information
- 4:45 PM Housing & Move-In Workshop
- Plan for move-in weekend and the UCSB Housing process for freshman year and beyond
- 6:00 PM Dinner in Carrillo Dining Commons +✧
Day Two
- 7:30 AM Breakfast in Carrillo Dining Commons +✧
- 9:00 AM Safety and Wellbeing Presentation
- Hear from various departments involved in student safety and wellbeing
- 10:20 AM Student Viewpoint Panel
- Ask questions to current students about life at UCSB and their college transition
- 11:45 AM Day Two Breakout Sessions +
- Connect with departments at our Student Resource Fair or additional presentations from Fraternity and Sorority Life, Veterans and Military Dependents and more.
- 12:30 PM Lunch in Carrillo Dining Commons +✧
- 1:30 PM Your Student's First Year Presentation
- Learn strategies to support your student and yourself through the academic, financial, and social transition to UCSB
- Presented in both English and Spanish
- 3:00 - 4:30 PM End of Program
- Students will conclude their Fall quarter course registration between 3:00 and 4:30 PM which is the conclusion of the Freshman Orientation program
Reminder: These times are approximations. Times will vary slightly for online sessions. Always refer to your official program schedule or email communication from Orientation Programs for exact times.
+ Activities where parents and students are together. See Freshman Orientation Program Information page on this website for Freshman Student Program Overview.
✧Our campus dining commons can accommodate many diets with a variety of food options available. Dining commons menus will be posted online for the current day, plus six days in advance, and guests may use this Food Facts Tool to identify common allergens and determine safe foods to consume. Additionally, for guests with medically required gluten-free diets, there is a secured, Gluten-Free Cabinet in each dining commons that can be accessed with advance notice and coordination with our Dietitian. Any guests following a medically required gluten-free diet should contact orientation@sa.ucsb.edu at least seven days prior to their Orientation session.
2025 Freshman Parent & Family Orientation Session Dates
Summer 2026 Program Dates will be updated in April 2026
Because the Parent & Family Orientation Program runs alongside the Freshman Orientation sessions, the dates for the two programs are the same.
Your student will add you as guest(s) in the Parent & Family Orientation Program when they reserve their Freshman Orientation session date. If you are not sure if you will be able to attend, your student can reserve their space in an Orientation session and sign in later to add you as a guest.
Overnight Information for Parents & Family
Parents & Families must make their own overnight accommodations
While students have the option of staying overnight on-campus as part of their Orientation program, all guests must make their own overnight accommodations. The Parent and Family Orientation still includes four meals on campus as part of the program cost.
If you want to stay on UCSB property, San Joaquin Villages, the Summer Inn, and the Club And Guest House offer overnight reservations open to the public.
The Hotels and Lodging section of our website contains a list of hotels in the surrounding areas of Goleta and Santa Barbara. Quick disclaimer: UCSB does not specifically endorse or have any formal affiliation with any of the hotels listed.
Fees & Billing
Summer 2026 Program Fees will be updated in May 2026
2025 Freshman Parent & Family Program Fees
In-Person Program
- 2-Day Parent & Family Program: $205
All in-person program fees include meals. Overnight accommodations are not provided for parents and family; overnight accommodations are only provided for students who select the program with overnight accommodations.
Online Program
- 2-Day Parent & Family Online Program: Free
For parents and family to receive information via email about the online Parent & Family Orientation Program, students must add them as guests including their email information when they reserve their online sessions through the Orientation reservation system.
Orientation Programs is a self-supported department funded 100% by program fees; no state or campus funding is provided to offset the costs of the program. In addition to covering staff salaries and programmatic expenses, the orientation fee covers the cost of all new student education requirements and courses designed to introduce new students to the University.
Billing Information
Program fees for all participants will be billed in the Fall on the student's UCSB BARC billing statement. Students are required to pay the full amount of fees for all participants, including parents and family, who attended UCSB's Orientation Program. Fee payment deadlines will be noted on the BARC statement. Fees are assessed per person.
Orientation fees are ONLY billed through a student's UCSB BARC statement for Fall quarter. We do not accept check, credit or debit card payments directly to our department.
Financial Assistance
If financial concerns are keeping you or your student from participating in Orientation, please consider the following:
- No payment is due when you make a reservation, students won't be charged until late August through your Fall BARC billing statement along with all other UCSB tuition and fees.
- UCSB offers a payment plan for quarterly fees and charges. See the UCSB Billing website for information about whether a payment plan would be helpful to you.
- UCSB Orientation Programs offers a limited number of fee reductions. Fee reductions are available to eligible students from families with an annual income of $45,000 or less. These are awarded based on need and in the order we receive applications under funds and depleted.
- Fee reduction applications will not be processed if it is not connected to an Orientation reservation. You must reserve your space in an Orientation session for your fee reduction application to be considered. There is no payment due when you make a reservation.
Parent Comments
"Orientation reinforced our belief that UCSB is a great teaching school. As alums, we felt we were already familiar with UCSB and attended Orientation only to support our son. The program far exceeded our expectations. The content was appropriate; the presentations effective. Our fears were explored and addressed, and our hopes reborn."
"After attending Orientation we feel like family. My daughter remarked that she already feels like UCSB is home. This has been a terrific experience."