Julie Lythcott-Haims
Dean of Freshmen and Undergraduate Advising and Research

What can parents expect during the first year?

Expect great change. You may not anticipate the degree to which your child’s confidence can be affected by being in a group of extremely talented peers. You can help by underscoring the importance of effort over outcome, and by telling your child (and believing) that they are not failures if they are no longer getting all As. 

How do federal privacy laws affect your dealings with parents?

As a university educating young adults, our primary relationship is with the student being educated. Federal laws recognize a student’s right to privacy, so there are a limited number of things we can share with you and we don’t usually call you unless there is an emergency. However, you are a key partner in helping us work with your student. If, for example, a student is seriously abusing alcohol, or if we have concerns about a student’s ability to remain enrolled, we believe parents should be involved. We will take the initiative to involve you after first urging your student to do so on his or her own.

If a first-year student experiences a crisis, who will know?

The faculty or staff person living in the residence (known as the Resident Fellow), or an instructor who sees a student regularly will probably be the first to sense something is wrong, and they will be in close touch with the academic director and residence dean assigned to the residence to ensure the appropriate follow-up takes place.  A dean in undergraduate advising will become involved in the most serious of situations.

Whom do I call if I think my first-year son or daughter is in crisis?

For an emergency, call Stanford Police directly at (650) 329-2413.  For less serious situations, contact our parent helpline at mykidis@stanford.edu or (650) 725-0649 during business hours. After you speak with us, a set of conversations will occur among the people most involved in the student’s life. Keep in mind that it can be tricky if you ask that we not reveal that you called, because it is hard for us to intervene out of the blue.

Do you have advice for the parents of first-year students?

As a parent myself, I know the depth of love that exists between parent and child and the extent of parental concern. I encourage you to trust that you have done a good job raising your son or daughter. Know that they are on the verge of becoming independent adults who need to be in charge of their own lives. If you sense that they need help making sense of competing opportunities, or with feeling a sense of belonging, or if they seem to be struggling, remind them of the guidance available on campus, starting with their academic director. At Stanford, we expect students to be in charge of their own decisions, but we don't expect them to go it alone.

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John Etchemendy
University Provost

Parents are Stanford's partners. The time we commit to helping you become informed about policies and services in turn enhances your children's educational experiences. We look to you, especially, to encourage your children to pursue a wide range of subjects and experiences. Never again will they be around this many smart and interesting people. If they do not intellectually explore now, they may never have the chance again.

It is important that you help them become independent adults. Let them pursue whatever intellectual passions most stir their imagination. Help them through experiences they choose to label as failures or mistakes, even if they are not. Many of them are encountering their intellectual equals for the first time. They need to know their best effort is all we expect.  Go to Top

Greg Boardman
Vice Provost for Student Affairs

One of my most important roles as vice provost is being an advocate for students, a responsibility that I welcome and take very seriously. The staff in the student affairs division believe, as I do, that we are here to enhance students' experience both within and outside of the classroom. For most students, the college years will be transformative and characterized by learning that occurs in different and sometimes unexpected settings. It is our privilege to help students thrive by supporting them as they explore all the opportunities that Stanford has to offer while they pursue their own unique educational, professional and personal goals.  Go to Top

John Bravman
Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education

As an alumnus, faculty member and vice provost for undergraduate education, I have experienced life at Stanford from several different perspectives. I can assure you that your son or daughter has joined a community that is exceptional both for its talents and its diversity.

Stanford offers students access to extraordinary resources, including libraries, laboratories, studios, computer facilities and, most important, a remarkable collection of people. Because Stanford is a research university that is complemented by an exceptional residential education system, learning takes place not just in the classroom, but through service internships, public lectures, field trips, theatrical productions, films and in the residence halls. Your son or daughter will develop special relationships not only with fellow students, but with faculty, who are involved in mentoring students from freshman-year seminars through senior-year projects. One of the best parts of my job is working with students, and I look forward to welcoming your son or daughter to our community.  Go to Top

Norman Naimark
Robert and Florence McDonnell Professor of Eastern European Studies and Burke Family Director of the Bing Overseas Studies Program

It's an essential part of anyone's education to become involved in a different culture and a different way of looking at the world. Going abroad provides perspectives on other countries, but also on one's own. There are many exciting opportunities at Stanford, but overseas study is one students should not miss. I advise parents to encourage their students to go abroad. Don't let your students get so worried about the future that they don't see the larger world around them.  Go to Top

Laura Wilson
Chief, Stanford Department of Public Safety

I hope parents tell their kids that, even though Stanford is a safe place, they need to take proactive steps to ensure their own safety and security: Don't leave your laptop unattended; don't leave your doors and windows unlocked; do not let people you do not know into your dorm. And, parents need to talk to their adult children about the relationship between alcohol and sex. Discussing this issue can be uncomfortable, but it is a very real issue on college campuses. We consider ourselves to be part of the overall academic mission of the university. We are educators. Law enforcement is a tool we use to educate, but it is not the end goal. Our goal is to help the community help itself be safe.  Go to Top

Dr. Ira Friedman
Associate Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Director of Vaden Health Center

I get lots of questions about Stanford's plans to prevent and respond in the event of an outbreak of disease. Although we will always be vulnerable, I can reassure parents that we work very hard to keep a single case of a disease from becoming an outbreak. Our policies requiring immunization among students are our most effective deterrent to stopping outbreaks of illnesses. Also, we educate students about steps they can take to safeguard their health. Finally, Stanford has a very well developed safety net, which includes an early warning system to detect clusters of infectious disease. There are professional and student staff living in all residences who are vigilant about raising questions when they are concerned.  Go to Top

Dr. Alejandro Martinez
Senior Associate Director of Counseling and Psychological Services

Parents should know how important they continue to be in the lives of their students. This may seem obvious, but students want to show parents they can succeed and make them proud. That can be a source of strength, but it also can be punishing when they don't feel they can meet the standards set by parents. Grown children still need their parents, just in a different way. It's the difference between when we used to drive our children everywhere. There comes a time when they drive, and we sit next to them. Eventually, they drive on their own.  Go to Top

Eric Montell
Executive Director of Stanford Dining

At Stanford, we proudly serve a diverse student population, so we are prepared to accommodate special dietary needs for many reasons: medical, allergy, religious or otherwise. For instance, five years ago, we created the nation's first peanut-sensitive dining hall. We offer vegetarian, vegan and halal options in each of our dining halls for every meal, and special dietary meals are prepared on request. We encourage students to meet their dining hall manager and let them know of any special dietary needs they have. We welcome feedback from parents, also. Contact us at diningplans@stanford.edu.  Go to Top

Karen Cooper
Director of Financial Aid

Over the past five years, we have worked to improve our electronic processes. Our goal has been to free ourselves up to be available when we need to have a conversation with a student and family. If a situation changes, families should come talk to us. My favorite part of this job is that I work at an institution that supports what I do. They demonstrate it over and over again with a commitment of funds to the financial aid program. It gives us flexibility and allows us to deal with students on a case-by-case basis.  Go to Top