Parents & Families

Family Orientation at the College of Charleston

We provide a Family Orientation during our student sessions. We specially designed this for parents, family members, and supporters. Family Orientation helps you engage with the CofC community and discover how to support your student in college.

Registration Details:

When your student signs up for Orientation, they can say how many family members will join Family Orientation. The cost is $35 for each family member aged 12 and older. This fee will be included in your student's semester tuition bill.

Confirmation & Next Steps:

About a week after you fill out the orientation registration form, students can check the confirmed orientation date in MyPortal. Be sure to review our new student checklist for important next steps!

Families should also review the Parent and Families webpage for more information.

Family Orientation Features:

During Orientation, we have sessions for families. You can also enjoy activities with your student. Some sessions, like academic advising and registration, are only for students because of space limits. Still, there will be many chances for families to get helpful information and engage.

Need to Change Your Registration?

If your student didn’t sign up family members for Family Orientation, that’s okay! We can still add them to the registration. For help, contact our New Student Programs team at 843.953.2017 or email orientation@charleston.edu.

We can’t wait to welcome you to the College of Charleston! We’re here to help you and your student transition smoothly into this exciting new chapter.

Family Orientation topics include:

  • Academic Advising and Planning
  • Academic Support through the Center for Student Learning
  • Safety on campus and in the city
  • Student Health Services
  • Dining Services
  • Treasurer's Office
  • Campus Bookstore
  • Counseling Center
  • Campus Housing & Residence Life 
  • Financial Aid
  • Campus Technology and Website Navigation
  • Career Center

The summer programming will also include opportunities for a campus tour and small group discussions with faculty and staff. 

Additional Information

There's so much to learn when you go to college. New Student Programs is here to make the transition easier.
  • Orientation Questions & Accommodations

    For questions about New Student or Family Orientation, call the Office of New Student Programs at 843.953.2017 or email orientation@charleston.edu. The office is open Monday - Friday, 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. EST.

    If you or your student has questions about accessibility or accommodations needed during Orientation, please get in touch with New Student Programs at least two weeks before your scheduled Orientation so we may arrange appropriate accommodations.

  • Join us for our Family Webinar Series

    The New Student Programs staff hosts a series of live webinars for families during the summer and academic year. These webinars can be accessed via Zoom. Questions can be sent before the webinar date to parents@charleston.edu, or you may ask questions in the Zoom chat. Webinars are recorded and posted on the College of Charleston's New Student Programs YouTube channel. 

    2026 Webinar Series 

    Dates and Zoom links for webinars will be posted on the CofC Parent & Family Experience platform. 

  • Family Orientation Schedule

    When you and your student arrive for Orientation at the College of Charleston, you will receive your respective schedules at check-in. The schedules for family members differ from those for students, with specific sessions tailored uniquely for families.

    Note: The family orientation schedule posted below may differ if your student is admitted as University Honors.

    Summer

    Two-Day Family Orientation for Freshman:

    • Check-In: Families should arrive at Cougar Mall between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m.
    • Day One: The orientation program for families starts at 8:45 a.m. and runs until noon. During this period, students will engage in their own activities. After a lunch break, families can attend concurrent sessions from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m. An information fair and reception for both students and families is scheduled on Rivers Green from 4:00 to 5:00 p.m., weather permitting.
    • Day Two: Family programming continues from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

    August Freshman Session:

    • For students attending the August 13-14 freshmen session, families may participate in a one-day family orientation program on August 13. Students attending the August 13-14 orientation who opted to live on campus can move into their residence hall the afternoon BEFORE their orientation (August 12). 
    • Families with students admitted as University Honors should follow the family orientation schedule provided by the Honors College. Questions about University Honors orientation, August move-in or University Honors course registration should be directed to the Honors College by email or call 843.953.1252.

    One-Day Family Orientation for Transfer Students:

    • Check-In: Families should arrive at Cougar Mall between 7:30 and 8:30 a.m.
    • Program: The orientation day begins with breakfast and an overview of academic and student support services, concluding at noon. While families participate in these sessions, students will follow their own schedules. After lunch, families can attend concurrent sessions from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m.

    Call the Office of New Student Programs at 843.953.2017 or email orientation@charleston.edu for additional questions about new student or family orientation. 

  • The CofC Parent & Family Experience

    The CofC Parent & Family Experience is an essential resource tailored specifically for parents and families of students at the College of Charleston. This comprehensive, Internet-based tool provides access to important information about campus services, opportunities for your student, key dates, announcements, and resources to support your student's success at CofC.

    You can personalize this portal according to your and your student’s needs, selecting how often you wish to receive newsletters from the College. If your incoming student is attending Orientation, your parent email will be automatically added to the parent portal if it is on file with CofC. You can easily sign up now if you do not receive a welcome email or wish to subscribe manually.

    Details about New Student and Family Orientation will be posted on the CofC Parent & Family Experience portal. We recommend that you start using this platform right away. You can log in directly to the portal or access information through the newsletters you receive. Be sure to complete your profile to select the communities you want to join based on your interests, ensuring you receive the most relevant updates and information.

    Note: This Parent & Family Experience communication platform will not be used to disseminate Cougar Alerts for campus emergencies. Parents, visitors, potential students, and community members who wish to be notified in case of a campus emergency can text the word cougaralert to 333111 to automatically receive Cougar Alert emergency notifications via text messages.

  • Orientation Community Service Project

    For the upcoming orientation sessions, we are asking for donations for the College of Charleston food pantry - the Cougar Pantry.  

    We have the goal of donating a total of 1,000 items!

    We encourage all students and families to help us reach our goal by donating needed items. If you do not want to purchase items ahead of time, you may visit the Walgreens and the CVS within walking distance of campus. You can also drop them off at check in or at the New Student programs office. 

    Please do not donate expired food as the food pantry is not able to distribute it. 

    Top Items Needed:

    • Peanut Butter and Jelly
    • Pasta and Pasta Sauce
    • Cereal
    • Granola/Protein Bars, Pop-Tarts, Single Serve Snacks
    • Canned Meats
    • Stove-Top, All-In-One-Meals (Rice, Mac-N-Cheese, Mashed Potatoes, etc)
    • Spice and Cooking Basics
    • Hygiene Products

    Online Monetary donations can be made here. 

    • To ensure that the Pantry receives your donation, please search Cougar Pantry under DESIGNATION. 
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The CofC Parent & Family Experience

This is the best place to find information about campus services, opportunities for your student, important dates, announcements and information that supports your student’s success at the College of Charleston.

Sign Up for the Parent Portal
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