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Parent Resources and Information
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
for families of prospective and current students
Families of prospective students
How can we schedule a tour of the campus?
Visit the Undergraduate Admissions Web site.
What is New Student Orientation, when is it, and why should my student attend?
Orientation for freshmen takes place the summer before your student enters Brockport. We offer five orientation sessions in June and July. Each session carries a specific academic focus which creates opportunities for students to network with each other and faculty in their chosen area.
The overnight program includes course information, academic requirements and addresses the transition from high school to college. We also offer social opportunities for students. Visitors stay on campus, receive academic advisement and take a required Computer Skills Exam. Parents and family members are welcome to attend - we offer a separate program specifically for them. Information about summer orientation becomes available in the spring months.
Transfer students attend a SOAR (Spring/Summer Orientation, Advisement & Registration) session through Academic Advisement. These day-long programs assist transfers in course registration, educate them on policies and help them acclimate to the campus. Transfer students receive information about SOAR once they have submitted their tuition deposit.
Does the College at Brockport offer on campus health services?
Yes the College at Brockport's Student Health Center is located in Hazen hall. Some of the services include prescribing medication, appointments with a physician and routine physicals. For more information and a comprehensive list of services, visit the Health Center homepage.
The Student Health Center is open to all Brockport students. Those students who have paid the mandatory health fee are not charged for visits, although fees may be charged based on services needed. The Health Center is regularly staffed by registered nurses and nurse practitioners.
What is there to do on campus?
Brockport, in conjunction with the Brockport Student Government, funds more than 50 student clubs and organizations. Some are more academically focused, while others are strictly social. Each semester, flyers and e-mail notifications are distributed to students, encouraging them to get involved and participate in these and other cocurricular activities.
Can freshmen and new transfers have cars on campus?
Yes! Parking for freshmen is restricted to specific lots. To receive a parking permit, students must stop at Raye H. Conrad Welcome Center (or order online). Students can purchase a semester or year permit.
Do students HAVE to have a car to get around?
No. In fact, not having a car is a great way to save money. The walk from the high-rises to Hartwell Hall (the furthest distance students usually need to walk) takes about 15 minutes. Should students need a ride to Main Street, area banks or Wegmans, they can rely on OTS (Orleans Transit Service), an inexpensive shuttle that drives around the campus and Village of Brockport.
How do the meal plans work?
There are six meal plan options on-campus students can choose from. Each plan takes into account how much and where your student plans to eat. Meals (all you care to eat) can be used in Brockway or Harrison dining halls. Dining dollars can be used in the previously mentioned dining halls and other dining locations, such as the Union and cafe's around campus. Students can purchase a combination of meals and dining dollars, allowing them to economically eat in the dining halls and alternate locations for light snacks or beverages between classes, late night snacks, etc.
If students run out of dining dollars, more can be purchased through Dining Services online or at Brockway Hall. If a student buys a fall semester meal plan too large for them to manage, their balance will be carried over to the spring semester. Spring balances will NOT be carried over to the following fall semester.
Are there jobs available on campus?
There are many jobs available on campus for work study and non-work study (or temp service) students. To find these positions, students can visit JobShop, or stop into the Career Services office in Rakov Center. Students usually find jobs at any of the nine dining locations, recreational services, the library, or some academic departments.
What are some local banks in the Brockport area?
- Banks in the Village of Brockport include:
- Chase Manhattan Bank
- ESL Federal Credit Union
- First Niagara Bank
- HSBC Bank USA (with ATM on campus)
- M&T Bank (with ATM on campus)
What type of housing is available on campus?
First year students can live in suite or cooridor style halls. In the suites, your students will have a roommate, two other suite-mates and a bathroom they are responsible for maintaining. In the corridor style, there are eighteen to twenty people per section, each having a roommate. In the corridor buildings, about twenty students share the bathroom and shower areas (which are cleaned daily by maintenence staff). Transfer students have these options available as well as six-person suites.
In fall of 2007 we opened our Campus Townhomes! These apartments are first available to upperclass students (seniors, then juniors). They include four single rooms, a full kitchen with appliances (including a dishwasher), air conditioning, two full bathrooms, a somewhat furnished common living room and private entrance.
Visit Residential Life's Web site for more information.
What is the structure of residence halls?
A Resident Assistant (RA) lives in every section of each building. They are responsible for upholding the college’s policies, and serve as counselors, advisors and friends to their residents. Along with the RAs, a Resident Director (RD) also lives in each building. RDs are professional employees of the College at Brockport. Together, the RAs and RD provide a supportive and effective learning environment. Residential Life staff is trained extensively before students arrive to assist students in any way necessary.
Are the residence halls secure?
There are 13 residence halls on campus. To gain access to each hall, students must swipe their EagleOne ID card (their student ID) before entering the building. After 8 p.m., students must show their EagleOne ID card to the Night Desk Attendant to verify that they are a resident. All guests are signed in under a resident’s name. Every night, an RA is available at the main desk to answer questions. Each residence hall also has a community police officer that assists in keeping the halls secure at all times.
Does University Police actively patrol the campus?
University Police is committed to maintaining a safe and secure campus for students, faculty, staff and visitors. They focus on crime prevention, deterrence and personal safety education. Each residence hall has a community policing officer to provide information to students, and University Police patrol campus after dark on foot, by bicycle, and by car.
Do you have any helpful hints for parents sending their children off to college?
It is easy to take over the college process for your student; make the calls, fill out the forms, ask questions, etc. Although doing so makes you feel at ease about your student’s transition, it doesn’t do them any good. It’s time for them to test the waters, take on responsibility and make their own arrangements and choices. You may be surprised at how well-organized and prepared for college they really are.
Educate yourself on FERPA: Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act. Your student’s records are protected by the law and will not be released to anyone who does not need them for professional purposes. Family members are NOT able to obtain academic information about their relatives unless they have written permission from the student.
Families of current students
How can I find out my student’s grades?
According to the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), only students have the ability to disclose information about their educational records after entering a postsecondary institution. Family members cannot obtain information regarding a student’s records unless written consent from the student is given.
Who does my student go to with questions about academics, degree requirements, etc?
- Students are assigned an academic advisor. An academic advisor is not the same as a school counselor and offer assistance in a different way than your student’s high school counselor does. For instance, academic advisors do not readily accept or expect calls from parents. Advisors are assigned to help plan your student’s academic program, tailoring it to fit their career goals.
- If you do have concerns and need to contact the college, please contact our Parent/Family Helpline or the First Year office. We can help guide your student and make recommendations to them about where to go to get help with what they’re having problems with.
- If your student does need to speak to someone about other issues (emotional, overall well-being, etc.), there are six full time counselors available through the campus Counseling Center, located in Hazen Hall. For more information visit the Counseling Center’s Homepage
- Refrain from calling an office for your student unless it is an emergency. Instead, encourage your student to find out what office to call and to do it on their own.
Will Brockport assist my student should they have a disability?
Yes. At the collegiate level, the student becomes their own advocate. It is strongly recommended that students visit the Office for Students with Disabilities before or early on in their first semester. This office works closely with students and faculty to ensure that students’ needs are met. Among the many other services available, they can provide note-takers, oral and sign language interpreters and tape-recorded lectures.
Although Brockport has many services and accommodations for students with disabilities, it is important to remember that the services students receive in college may differ from what they are accustomed to in high school or at their previous institution.
The disability law in high school is IDEA (an educational entitlement law) promoting student success with parental involvement.
The disability law in college is ADA & Section 504 (justice discrimination law) promoting student access based on student self identification & student responsibility to provide current documentation of disability and accommodation needs. Contact Brockport's Office for Students with Disabilities for more information.
If my student is homesick and talks about coming home every chance he/she gets, should I encourage them to stay on campus?
Yes. There are so many great things to do at the College at Brockport! Encourage your student to become involved in the numerous student organizations, activities, and events, and suggest stopping by the Brockport Student Government Office or the Campus Life Office (both located in the Student Union) for more information on the opportunities available.
If you are concerned that your student is having trouble adjusting to college or you find they may need further help, you might want to encourage them to visit the Counseling Center where he/she could benefit from individual or group sessions, a workshop, or developmental programming. Sessions are confidential, and the highest ethical and legal standards associated with the profession are maintained, and are completely free of charge.
My student is interested in playing a sport. What varsity sports are available?
The College at Brockport is a Division III institution. Click here for a complete list of men’s and women’s varsity sports.
Varsity sports aren't quite what they were thinking? Your student can also get involved in club and intramural sports!
How often should I be in contact with my student while they’re at college?
This is a personal choice among families and an expectation we recommend you set before they begin their first semester. Some families set a weekly schedule (a phone call every Sunday night regardless), while others wish to talk more often than that. E-mail, instant messaging and texting are great alternatives to keeping in touch with your busy student. With that in mind, remember that every student loves old fashioned mail once in a while!
Whether you have been in daily contact with your student or just exchange the occasional e-mail, you may discover unexpected changes in your student. This is normal and part of their journey into adulthood. Ask questions, engage in conversations about all they’re learning and enjoy watching them grow.
