Colorado State Parent & Family Programs

Hello, RamFam!

For our new incoming parents, support systems, and families, you are invited to attend Ram Welcome 2024!

Ram Welcome is an experience for both students and their parents/supporters that provides programming, fun events, and interest sessions throughout the week. For families and parents, programming will occur August 12th-14th. Students have their own separate Ram Welcome schedule to follow.
To find the Ram Welcome schedules, you can go to https://otp.colostate.edu/ramwelcome/fall-ram-welcome/ and click on both the parent schedule and the student schedules.

We are excited to see you all on campus!!

Colette Sterling, Parent and Family Programs - Assistant Director

Fall Ram Welcome - Orientation and Transition Programs August 12-18, 2024 The next part of your orientation experience is to engage in Ram Welcome! All new students are expected to participate in Ram Welcome. Build upon your orientation experience and begin your successful adjustment to Colorado State University by exploring academic programs, engaging...

Happy Finals Week, RamFam!

We wish you and your students well as they get ready to power through this finals week and end out their Spring semester!

For those of you who have students that live on-campus and will be moving out (and/or returning in the Fall to their on-campus residence), there is new information in the CSU Family Connection about parking, how to navigate moveout, and more regarding current and future Housing plans!

Log in and find that information at colostate.campusesp.com!

Greetings, RamFam!

As we get to the end of the semester, we wanted to remind you that a plethora of information is up on the CSU Family Connection regarding move-out processes and how your student can get prepped, study abroad opportunities for First Year students, and more.

Log in to https://colostate.campusesp.com/users/sign_in to find these articles and more resources!

Login | CSU Family Connection

RamFam,

We sent this message out through the CSU Family Connection, but are also sharing it on our socials as well. This was sent to CSU students this morning. Please reach out by email at [email protected] of you have questions or concerns.

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Dear CSU Community,

Today we are happy to share that Colorado State University will move to an exciting new commencement format starting in May 2025 at Canvas Stadium. With this new tradition beginning in Spring 2025, CSU’s graduating class will be able to celebrate their achievements all together during one university-wide ceremony each year. In addition to this university-wide commencement ceremony, Departments will host recognition events where each student’s name will be read and families can gather with the faculty and staff who have taught the students and helped them every step of the way.

For Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 commencement, we will retain the individual College-based ceremonies that CSU has historically hosted. These will be the final College-based ceremonies CSU will host before transitioning to the new university-wide format. In order to allow students and families adequate planning time and maximum flexibility, students graduating in Fall of 2024 may choose to participate either in their College’s Fall 2024 commencement ceremony or in the new all-university ceremony in Spring of 2025.

With the new format starting in Spring of 2025, CSU will no longer host both fall and spring commencement events. Instead, the University will invite all graduating students and families to come together each spring. Graduates will participate in one large celebration featuring a prominent commencement speaker, as well as in the smaller events where Departments will acknowledge each student individually. This will unify our whole Ram community and will also allow us to celebrate each student in a more intimate setting.

This shift aligns with other leading universities and brings opportunities for memorable traditions and broad campus engagement. The new format responds to feedback from students, faculty, and staff, and comes after a thorough review of the best ceremonies from around the country.

Whether you are a student or family member, or a member of our faculty or staff, there will be a lot of planning ahead and more information to come. Here are the most important details to share now:

Spring 2024 and Fall 2024 commencements will be unchanged.

Our first university-wide commencement will take place Friday, May 16, 2025, at 9 a.m. at Canvas Stadium.

Starting with the first university-wide commencement in Spring 2025, Departments will host individual recognition events where student names will be read and diploma covers issued.

Summer 2024 graduates are invited to participate in Spring 2024, Fall 2024, or Spring 2025 commencement.

Fall 2024 graduates are invited to participate in Fall 2024 or Spring 2025 commencement.

Spring 2025 and Summer 2025 graduates should plan to participate in the Spring 2025 ceremony.

Fall 2025 graduates are invited to participate in Spring 2025 or Spring 2026 commencement.

As planning moves ahead, details will be available on the Spring 2025 Commencement webpage. There will be many opportunities to ask questions and engage so that everyone knows what to expect and how they can participate in making this first university-wide commencement a great Ram experience. https://commencement.colostate.edu/spring-2025-commencement/


Go Rams!

Amy Parsons
President

Marion Underwood
Provost and Executive Vice President

RamFam of Third, Fourth, and Fifth Year Students,

The Alumni Association is hosting their annual Serving Up Success Professional Dinner on Wednesday, April 3rd, from 5:15 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. in the Lory Student Center. This event is designed to create a safe space for students and alumni to come together for students to practice their networking skills, ask questions from professionals as graduation approaches, and to start seeing the larger CSU picture of the CSU community.

Here are some highlights to the event:

· FREE Professional portraits/Headshots offered to all students
· FREE plated dinner for all students
· FREE dessert
· FREE customized business cards for students to use during networking times
· FREE advice, connections with fellow students and alumni, and fun!

The link for students to register for this free event is here:

Colorado State University Support Colorado State University via an online gift, event registration or survey participation.

CSU Orientation and Transition Programs is now looking for Ram Welcome Leaders for 2024! Click on the article below to find out more information on how your student can apply!

Have your student apply to be a 2024 Ram Welcome Leader today!! Dear Parents, Families & Supporters, We hope this email finds you well! We’re excited to share an upcoming service opportunity for your student to serve as a 2024 Ram Welcome Leader at Colorado State University. Let’s journey back to those first few days on campus...

Good morning, RamFam!

Have you tried logging in or converting your account in the CSU Family Connection? This official hub from Parent and Family Programs is the main, central source for you all as members of the Ram Family to receive accurate, up to date information from CSU.

Log in today! We have partners from across campus posting content to share with you and your student.

Hi folks!

For those of you that missed or weren't aware of our off campus housing virtual program hosted with Off-Campus Life called "What's the Deal with Off-Campus Housing?", you can now watch the recording! The video is available at colostate.campusesp.com and should be at the top of your feeds as you login.

Are you or your student thinking about living off campus? Is the process overwhelming?

There are so many things to consider! Join Off-Campus Life and Parent and Family Programs to learn about resources provided by Off-Campus Life as an office, city ordinances, and upcoming events that your student can explore for the Spring '24 semester! Check the banner image for info on how to join!

TUESDAY ZOOM LINK - https://zoom.us/j/93839196484
WEDNESDAY ZOOM LINK - https://zoom.us/j/92218517185

RamFam!

This week is the last week you can fill out our 2023 Biennial Survey!

(https://colostate.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8qBtwrYzHXjrgR8)

We want to hear from you about your experiences at CSU, whether things have been good, bad, or somewhere in between! This is the largest survey we currently do, so now is your chance to be heard!

The Biennial Survey closes this Friday, December 8th.

Are you getting ready to fill out the new FAFSA for the 2024-2025 academic year? Log into the CSU Family Connection to see a new FAFSA bootcamp video for families with dependent students now.

Login | CSU Family Connection

Hello RamFam!
We know there are many of you who come to campus with your student for our home football games. As a reminder, here is the "need to know" on transportation to, around, and from campus for these home games.

There are a variety of ways to get to the game and important things to note about parking on campus during game days:

• Transfort buses (including MAX until 10 p.m.) will be running on game day, and Spin e-bikes and e-scooters will be available. Parking for Spin vehicles and personal bikes/scooters is available at the bike racks northeast of the stadium and throughout campus. Bikes and scooters are not allowed within the security border of the stadium.

• Regular CSU parking permits are not valid on game days when football games are played at Canvas Stadium. Faculty, staff and students who wish to attend the game and park on campus must pre-purchase a single game or season pass parking permit through Athletics. Find out more information on how to acquire valid parking for attending home football games.

• Faculty, staff and student employees who need to be on campus on game days must have a special game day parking pass or arrange alternative transportation to campus. Special game day parking passes must be requested in advance from your college dean, department chair, unit head or supervisor.

• All CSU parking spaces, including street and hourly spaces, are reserved for game day ticket holders only. Please ensure vehicles are moved by 9 p.m. Friday to avoid citation or towing. Designated spaces in Lot 195 at Moby Arena must be empty at 4 p.m. on Fridays; please watch signage carefully when parking in that lot to avoid towing.

• Students who live on campus must move their vehicles as part of the university’s repark program. Please ensure all vehicles are moved to the correct re-park lots by 9 p.m. the night before a home game to avoid citation or towing. Vehicles can return to their permitted residence hall lots 4 hours after the game. The student re-park map is available for all Residence Hall students, and information on all game day regulations can be found on the general Football Game Day site. Students who are leaving campus for fall break prior to 4 p.m. on Friday must repark their vehicles in a permitted repark lot to avoid ticketing or towing.

• Road and parking lot closures can impact department vehicle rental processes. Employees who have rented a university vehicle or chartered a bus on a game weekend should contact Transportation Services to coordinate pickup and drop off for their rental.

• Due to the men’s basketball game at Moby Arena, lot 195 will close at 4 p.m. Any vehicles trying to access the lot after 4 p.m. on Friday evening will need to purchase a parking pass for the basketball game.

https://csurams.com/sports/2022/2/23/football-parking-tailgating has this info and more!

Parking & Tailgating - Colorado State Athletics CANVAS STADIUM OVERNIGHT PARKING Ahead of the 2023 football season, Colora...

Fall Break Info is available now! Log into colostate.campusesp.com to see more.

Important Fall Break Info for Residence Hall Students Important Fall Break Info for Hall Residents The semester is flying by and Fall Break (Nov. 18–26) is only a few weeks away. All residence halls will be open during Fall Break, however students must register to stay in the halls. The cost is $40 per day. Break dates...

RamFam,

Every two years, Parent and Family Programs (our office), sends out our biennial survey. This survey is meant to give you an opportunity to share your experience with us and with CSU, to help us improve everything from how we talk to families during orientation, to the kinds of programs we offer, to how we might be able to include new ideas for future members of the Ram Family! This survey can be done on your phone or with your computer or tablet.

This survey is huge to us, as it gives an impressive snapshot of how families like yours are interacting with CSU, and also holds us accountable to you! Please consider filling this out - it means a lot to us to hear from you! And thank you for your efforts!

FILL OUT THE SURVEY USING THIS LINK

https://colostate.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_8qBtwrYzHXjrgR8

Homecoming and Family Weekend Parking Friday, Oct. 13 Friday Night Lights (bonfire, lighting of the A, and fireworks) kicks off on Friday, Oct. 13 at 6 p.m. The event will conclude with a fireworks show on the West Lawn of the LSC starting at about 7:15 p.m. Hughes Way is...

Howdy RamFam!!

Are you looking for all of the most recent updates from CSU, Colorado State Parent & Family Programs, and other offices on campus, as well as helpful information on the transition to college?

Log in to the CSU Family Connection at colostate.campusesp.com, and stay up to date with all things CSU! For example, we will be sharing the Homecoming and Family Weekend schedule soon on the platform.

Hello RamFam!

Did you know you can opt to receive text alerts from Colorado State Parent & Family Programs? To do so, all you need to do is log into colostate.campusesp.com and choose to opt in to receive alerts on major programs, campus closures, weather alerts, security alerts, chat with staff, and more!

Let’s go Rams! CSU’s first home football game against Washington State is this Saturday, September 2. Residence hall student repark is Friday, September 1, 4p-9p. In addition to the Around the Horn, shuttle service with NOCO Party bus will run 6p-10p between Lot 740 on South Campus and the Lake Street Garage. Vehicles can return to their normal lots beginning four hours after the game ends.

Going to the game? Transfort routes are free! Consider parking at the Max park-and- ride stations or the downtown parking garages and riding the Max to campus. Visit http://ridetransfort.com/gameday for more information. Click here for more information about gameday at CSU.

Howdy RamFam!

Did you know that almost all of the communications coming from Parent and Family Programs and many other offices on campus has changed? Are you sick of googling for information? Tired of using Facebook to get answers? Are you unsure what is happening on campus?

Parent and Family Programs now uses the CSU Family Connection (colostate.campusesp.com) to do the following:

1. Host up to date articles that introduce you to new resources, events, programs, and conversations about the college transition, all from official CSU sources and offices from across campus. This also allows you to send this information to your student through email or social media!

2. Get you text alerts for campus closures, emergencies, weather closures, and more.

3. Offer a customized newsletter system where YOU choose what you want to see - no more bulky newsletters from our old listserv.

4. Grant you access to community spaces where you can engage with parents/supporters who are going through something similar based on region, student's year in college, your interest areas, and identities.

This is NOT FAMweb. FAMweb is only for FERPA-compliant access to your student's record. The CSU Family Connection is a bridge to help you stay "in the know" with all things CSU and family support, with accurate information.

Bustang to Denver is 50% off through the end of September! Details and schedule at ridebustang.com.

Hop on Bustang’s RamsRoute for a ride from CSU’s main campus to Denver every Friday afternoon. The bus returns to campus on Sunday afternoon.

Want to head down to Denver another day? Board the Bustang North line seven days a week at Fort Collins Downtown Transit Center. Students can access the Downtown Transit Center from CSU using a quick, free connection on the MAX (ridetransfort.com/max).

Less than 30% of CSU students purchase a parking permit, many choose to use a combination of our great alternative transportation options from bikes and escooters to the campus shuttle or transit.

But, if your student brought a vehicle to campus, don’t forget that CSU is a paid parking campus. State statute prohibits the use of tuition money to fund parking related maintenance or construction. Parking permits can be purchased online at Purchase a Permit | Parking & Transportation Services | Colorado State University (colostate.edu) (https://pts.colostate.edu/purchase-a-permit/) or pay to park in hourly parking lots utilizing the ParkMobile app. Overnight parking for off-campus students is available at lot 740 by the Veterinary Teaching Hospital on south campus.

Hello CSU RamFam!!

Did you attend the Ram Welcome Experience 2023 and/or your student's move-in for early move-in on Saturday August 12-13, or during/after main move-in from August 14-16?

Parent and Family Programs and Orientation and Transition Programs want to hear from you! We want to hear what you loved, what didn't work out so well, and what you wish you could have seen from us - your input deeply informs how we frame the Ram Welcome experience for incoming future students and their families. Your data is safe with us, and will only be used to inform our programmatic efforts and stays with CSU only. We will close the survey on Wednesday, August 30 at 4PM MST. Please consider sharing your story with us at the link below:

https://colostate.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eYi1RBoaZcMevTE

We deeply appreciate it!

Parent and Family Programs Staff

Orientation and Transition Programs Staff

Online Survey Software | Qualtrics Survey Solutions Qualtrics sophisticated online survey software solutions make creating online surveys easy. Learn more about Research Suite and get a free account today.

Students ride free on all Transfort routes, including the CSU campus shuttle, Around the Horn, a great way to see our beautiful campus. Students can find their best route to campus at ridetransfort.com. Want to get out into the city? Take a ride on the MAX line, connecting CSU to shopping, restaurants, and historic Old Town, https://downtownfortcollins.com/event/csu-welcome-week/.

Check out a Spin e-bike or e-scooter, conveniently located throughout campus and Fort Collins, using the Spin app. Use code BACK2CSU for $5 off your first Spin ride.

GOOD MORNING RamFamily of incoming 2023 Fall students!!!

Today is the day, Ram Welcome 2023 is here! After you are done moving your student into their halls, or if your student is a commuter and you are helping them get ready for the Fall, there is programming for both yourselves as parents and supporters, and there is a seperate programming track for your student!

For the Parent, Family, and Supporter track of Ram Welcome programs, please click here! (https://otp.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2023/08/PF-2023.pdf)

To see the different student tracks for Ram Welcome, please click here! (https://otp.colostate.edu/ramwelcome/fall-ram-welcome/)

We look forward to seeing you today, Tuesday, or Wednesday! Our staff will be at Canvas Stadium handing out swag and answering your questions from 12-3pm today and Wednesday, and then 1:30-4:30 on Tuesday. For any Housing concerns, please reach out to Housing and Dining directly! (https://housing.colostate.edu/housing/)

We wish you the best with your student's move-in, and breathe - we are finally here!

Hello RamFam!

For our incoming members of CSU, we have had to make some small changes to our schedule for Ram Welcome for parents, families, and supporters. Please see the changes and our new parent-track Ram Welcome schedule here -

otp.colostate.edu

Hello, RamFam!

We would like to officially welcome you back to campus for the Fall 2023 semester!

There is a LOT of information being sent to both you and your student, and the best way to receive that information is to log into the CSU Family Connection (https://colostate.campusesp.com/signin). There are multiple articles that are super helpful for our incoming RamFam, including move-in information, Ram Welcome information, and more!!

The CSU Family Connection is the official, main source of accurate and timely information from Parent and Family Programs and Colorado State University, which includes many other offices.

Parking and Transportation Services is excited to welcome you to campus for student move-in week! Check out the dedicated unloading and courtesy free parking areas to support the move-in process. The free campus shuttle, the Around the Horn, runs every 20 minutes and is a great way to get around our beautiful campus. Route information can be found at http://ridetransfort.com/routes/horn.

Planning to keep a vehicle on campus? Parking permits can be purchased online at Purchase a Permit | Parking & Transportation Services | Colorado State University (colostate.edu). Permits are linked to the license plate, there is no physical permit to display.

Hello RamFam!!!

Parent and Family Programs is excited to share, in collaboration with Orientation and Transition Programs and many other offices, that the Ram Welcome 2023 schedule is now available for incoming parents, supporters, and guests!! (https://otp.colostate.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/62/2023/07/PF-Website-Version-2.pdf)

Check this out before your student moves in, and determine what you can attend. Keep in mind that programming will look relatively the same each day so if you only intend on remaining in town the day of your student's move-in, no worries!

Another thing, is that your incoming student will have their own schedule to follow which can be found by clicking here (https://otp.colostate.edu/ramwelcome/fall-ram-welcome/)

Welcome to CSU, new members of the RamFam and see you soon!

Parent and Family Programs Staff

Fort Collins is a platinum-rated bicycle friendly community with 50 miles of bike paths and dedicated low-stress bikeways. Visit pts.colostate.edu/students/bicycle for FAQs about bringing a bike to campus and to explore CSU’s many free bike education programs.

Not bringing your own bike to campus?
If you’re bringing a bike, don’t forget to visit Colorado State University Police Department during move in to pick up a free U-lock when you register your bike. Bike repairs as well as rentals by the semester and year are available through the student-run bike repair center, The Spoke (thespoke.colostate.edu).