Mission

The Dickinson Parents Council is a voice for the parent constituency by providing advisory support to the college administration. The council fosters relationships with all members of the college community, promotes the quality reputation of the college to outside constituents, and enhances student life through volunteer services.

Description

This leadership group is comprised of Dickinson parents who are leaders in the world of business, their own profession, or educational and civic life. While not a policy making group, its purpose is to serve as an informal advisory board to the president and his senior staff on various college issues. The council provides advice and assistance to the administration in the areas of admissions, career services, student life and college relations.

Responsibilities

1. Assist offices (Admissions, Career Center, Communications and Student Life) by providing direct feedback about programs.
2. Provide advice on issues identified by the president and his senior staff and/or council members which are deemed important to the growth and development of the college.
3. Attend two scheduled meetings on campus. (The fall meeting is held the Friday of Family Weekend and the spring meeting is a Saturday in April.)

Admissions

• Participation in the Dickinson Volunteer Network (DVN). The DVN is a volunteer program for the Admissions Office that includes participation from alumni, parents, students, and friends of the College. The program teaches volunteers how to be ambassadors for the Admissions Office reaching out to potential students throughout the country and abroad to help recruit for Dickinson.
• Agree to participate in the “I Got In” website by having your contact information listed for parents of prospective students and allowing them to contact you with questions.
• Host and/or attend local fall, spring, and summer events for prospective, accepted, and enrolled students (i.e. accepted student days, receptions for admitted students and freshman send-off parties, etc.).

Career Services

• Agree to be listed in Dickinson Works, a networking database that enables students to search out alumni and parents in certain career fields, and agree to assist and/or mentor students who contact you about career plans.
• Provide the Career Center with internship/job opportunities for students or leads of internships/job opportunities at your own organization or through other connections.
• Participate in projects such as career fairs and/or receive training to be a “career coach” and assist other parents with their students’ career planning.

College Relations

• Attend Family Weekend and represent the Parents Council at events throughout the weekend.
• Assist the College at other events on and off campus that are designed to involve parents in the life of the College (i.e. new student receptions, orientation, senior week/commencement).
• Provide feedback to the Office of College Relations about the programming of Family Weekend and content of parent newsletters.