Summer Welcome Receptions 101

For some, the summertime is bit more relaxing than when classes are in session.  But for the Office of Parent Programs, the onset of summer begins their busiest time of year. Over the next three months,
Mahri Barnes ’10
,
parent engagement coordinator
, and her colleagues on the Strategic Engagement and Development team will organize 31
Summer Welcome Receptions 
across the nation to welcome the Class of 2019 to the Chapman Family.  Learn more about this series of events from our parent programs expert, Mahri.

Where do they take place?


The events take place each summer from late May to mid-August across the country. This summer, there are 32 events in locations
from New York to Hawaii to right here in Orange County
. They are hosted at the homes of parents and families of current Chapman students, alumni and other members of the Chapman Family.

2014 Summer Welcome Reception in Huntington Beach

Who goes to a Summer Welcome Reception?


While Summer Welcome Receptions are geared toward incoming freshmen and their families, we invite other members of the Chapman Family to join us, as well. Current parents can share advice with incoming parents. Alumni can share stories about their Chapman experiences. Current students can chat with incoming freshmen and answer questions about college life. These events are a great way to show incoming families how close and supportive the Chapman Family is.

What happens at a Summer Welcome Reception?


As students and families arrive, they take a family photo with a Chapman pendant. Upon checking in, parents are also invited to submit their information, via our parent connection form. This form is later emailed out to all the parents who attended the reception, so that they have the contact information of other Chapman families who live in their area.

The majority of a Summer Welcome Reception is spent mixing and mingling. The event host provides light refreshments for guests. During each reception, there is a presentation from a team member from the Office of Parent Programs covering relevant topics such as statistics about the incoming freshman class (class size, average GPA states represented). After the reception, students and parents are emailed the family photo that was taken upon their arrival to the reception, along with any other general photos from the event.