The University at Albany recognized the need to better engage families—especially those unfamiliar with higher education—to support their students’ success. To address this, they launched Great Danes 101, a semester-long, self-paced online course through ParentLingo. This innovative course equips families with essential knowledge about academic schedules, student autonomy, and available university resources, enabling them to provide timely and effective support.

Aligned with key academic milestones like midterms and Family Weekend, the course offers bilingual content in both English and Spanish, ensuring accessibility for UAlbany’s diverse student body, including its 30% first-generation students. Through weekly Zoom office hours and on-demand sessions, families gain practical strategies to guide students through challenges such as homesickness and academic stress.

By simplifying complex college processes and empowering families to engage meaningfully, UAlbany has fostered a stronger support network that aligns with its mission of holistic student success—ultimately creating a seamless bridge between home and campus.