Sessions & Schedules | Costs | Refunds | Dining | Parking | Lodging | What to Bring | FERPA

We cordially invite you to attend the Family Orientation Program for parents and family members of freshman and transfer students entering LSU. Any member of your family or any guest concerned with the student’s educational future is invited to attend.  We know that students make better decisions when they discuss their academic and campus life choices with their family. The goal of Family Orientation is to provide you with information you need to participate in these decisions.  

We recommend that you register for an orientation session when your son or daughter registers for orientation. However, you may wait and register on site the day that your session begins.

Parent & Family Programs is located within the Division of Student Life. Through orientation programs, campus events, and ongoing outreach and education, Parent & Family Programs fosters the connection for the families of current students to the University community. Supportive family structures enhance a student’s ability to develop and facilitate a healthy transition into the University community. Parent & Family Programs seeks to foster a strong relationship with families through collaboration with constituents across campus.  Please click here for more information on how you can become involved with Parent and Family Programs at LSU or for information on how to join the LSU Family Association.

Sessions & Schedules

Program Itineraries for each program will be posted as soon as possible once they are finalized. PLEASE NOTE:  Draft itineraries are subject to change.

Costs

To complete the reservation process, you will be asked to submit your payment for both the student and family orientation fees using your Visa, MasterCard, American Express or bank draft.  A 2.5 percent non-refundable processing fee will be added to the total payment amount.

Refunds

To cancel your reservation, write to:

Office of Orientation
Attn: Joyce Turner
137 Johnston Hall
Baton Rouge, LA  70803
 

PLEASE NOTE:  WHEN SENDING CORRESPONDENCE TO THE OFFICE OF ORIENTATION, PLEASE DO NOT SEND ANYTHING VIA CERTIFIED MAIL.

Or fax your request to the office at 225-578-7899, or email your request to jlturne@lsu.edu.

Once you register for an orientation program, we will have reserved space for you at orientation and in the testing sessions, and prepared your supplies.  Therefore, when your written cancellation notice is received by the deadline listed below, a refund of your fees may be issued upon the conclusion of the program. Your refund will come in the form of a check in the mail.

(Note: this refund applies only to the Orientation portion of the fee.   If you requested housing during FOAP Sessions 1 - 8 and require a refund of your housing fees, please click here to request a refund of your housing fees.  Please note that you must request a refund 10 business days PRIOR to your scheduled arrival date in order to be granted a refund for any housing fees paid.   Requests for refunds after this deadline will not be granted.) 

45 - 31 days prior to the event = All charges refunded
30 - 11 days prior to the event = Registration charge minus Administrative Fee* refunded
10 - 0 days prior to the event = No refund

*Administrative Fee that will be retained:
Spring Freshman Orientation - $30
Spring Invitational - $30
Summer Freshman Orientation - $30
Freshman Orientation, Advising and Preregistration - $30
Transfer Orientation - $15
Family Orientation - $15

Dining

While on campus, you are invited to dine with LSU students and employees at several of the on-campus facilities. You will be given a flyer when you arrive at orientation that will list all available dining options.

Parking

A parking permit with instructions will be included in the confirmation email which is automatically sent to the student when registration is completed.

Additionally, a parking permit will be included in a reminder email sent to all registered family members approximately one week prior to each program.

Parking lots can be located on the Office of Parking, Traffic, and Transportation's campus map. There is also the option of campus transit, visit the Tiger Trails website for more information.

Please note that some areas of campus are also restricted to traffic unless the appropriate permit is displayed, visit the Parking, Traffic, and Transportation website for more information.

Lodging

Lodging through LSU Residential Life is only available to student participants during our Freshman Orientation, Advising and Preregistration Programs in June and July. Parents and family members must choose from the following lodging options.

There is one option for on campus lodging and several major hotel chains conveniently located near the LSU campus. Special room rates may be available for those participating in orientation programs at LSU. For reservations or additional information, contact the hotel of your choice. Please note that some hotels/motels will not reserve rooms for persons under the age of 21.  Please be sure to inquire about this stipulation if you are a student under the age of 21 and are travelling without a parent or family member. You are advised to make reservations early. Please use the code listed below the telephone number when making reservations. The Office of Orientation nor the hotels can guarantee rooms will be available. The listed price does not include tax.

What to Bring

• Reservation confirmation (to be emailed to your student upon receipt of payment)
• Parking permit (to be emailed to your student upon receipt of payment and also to be emailed to any registered family members prior to the orientation program)
• A writing instrument (students should bring a black ball point pen and several sharpened No. 2 pencils)
• A tablet/notebook to take notes during Family Orientation sessions
• Something to carry materials/belongings
• Cash for meals and t-shirts (We will be selling LSU Mom and Dad t-shirts and “I Bleed Purple and Gold t-shirts for $10 each
• Money to join the LSU Family Association or you can join online before you arrive at http://family.lsu.edu/how-join.
• An umbrella
• A sweater or jacket (some of the meeting rooms vary in temperature)
• Comfortable shoes (LSU is a walking campus)

Additional Resources

2012 Experience LSU

FERPA

About The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 (also known as the Buckley Amendment) is a federal law that helps protect the privacy of student education records. The Act provides students the right to inspect and review education records, the right to seek to amend those records, and the right to limit disclosure of information from the records. The intent of the legislation is to protect the rights of students and to ensure the privacy and accuracy of education records. The Act applies to all institutions that are recipients of federal aid administered by the Secretary of Education.

What information may I have access to?

Anyone can request directory information. The student also has the right to withhold any directory information they wish to withhold from any third party. A third party is anyone inside or outside of the University who does not have an “educational need to know” the information in the student record as a necessary part of their job.

Under FERPA, parents are third parties, with no rights to the record, although FERPA does include a provision that a parent could access the record if the student is listed as a dependent on their most recent federal income tax form. It is viewed as a matter of discretion as to whether or not the institution incorporates this provision into its policies.

What is Directory Information?

Directory information is information contained in an education record of a student that generally would not be considered harmful or an invasion of privacy if disclosed.

LSU has established the following as directory information, and it may be released to those requesting it unless the student specifically requests otherwise by submitting written notification to the Office of the University Registrar.

• Student’s name, local address, and telephone number
• Student’s home address
• Student’s email address
• Date & place of student’s birth
• Student’s major field of study/classification
• Student’s participation in officially recognized activities and sports; weight and height of members of athletic teams
• Dates of student’s attendance
• Degrees, awards, and honors received by student
• The most recent previous educational institution attended by the student

LSU will not disclose any other information without written consent from the student, with some exceptions as provided by FERPA.

Students have the right to refuse the disclosure of personally identifiable information as directory information subject to other overriding provisions of law. To withhold directory information, students must fill out the Request to Prevent Disclosure of Information form located in the Office of the University Registrar, Room 112, Thomas Boyd Hall.

If a student has chosen to restrict the release of directory information, NO information can be released without further written permission of the student. Should someone inquire about an individual who has restricted the release of his/her directory information, the appropriate faculty/staff response is, “I am sorry. I do not have any information on any such person.”

For more information concerning the privacy rights of students, please refer to the Official University Policy Statement, PS-30.

May I access my child’s student records?

At the post-secondary level, parents have no inherent right to access or inspect their son or daughter’s educational records, regardless of age, unless granted in writing by the student or the student is a dependent as defined by the IRS. The right of access is limited solely to the student.

LSU does have a system in place whereby students can give third parties access to particular sections of their LSU on-line account information.  "myProxy" is available to students.  In order to give a third party access to their account the student must invite them to join via myProxy on their myLSU account.  From billing information to grades and schedules, students have the ability to allow third parties access to their information if they choose to do so.

May I view my child’s grades, exams, or academic progress?

Final grades, grades on exams, and other information about academic progress are examples of the confidential information that makes up part of a student’s educational record. This information is protected under FERPA and parents do not have access to it unless the student has provided express, written authorization, or the student is a dependent as defined by the IRS.

What about emergency or crisis situations?

If non-directory information is needed to resolve a crisis or emergency situation, an educational institution may release that information if it determines that the information is necessary to protect the health or safety of the student or other individuals.

In Summary

In summary, the record belongs to the student. Parents only have rights to directory information and access to records granted by the student. This means that parents cannot request grades, the academic transcript, or a class schedule unless the student signs a release indicating that they want to release the information, or the student is the parent’s dependent.

FERPA Questions or Concerns

As a parent, you do have a right to request and receive directory information. You may direct general questions to the Office of the University Registrar.

Patti Beste, Senior Associate Registrar
Office of the University Registrar
Louisiana State University
Room 112, Thomas Boyd Hall
Baton Rouge, LA 70803

Website: www.lsu.edu/registrar
Telephone: 225-578-1690
Email: registrar@lsu.edu