Student Affairs hosts first Parent Summit

Members of Bloomfield’s First Year Parent Engagement program were treated to a special afternoon event on Oct. 26, as the Division of Student Affairs held its first-annual Parent Summit in the institution’s Student Center.

Combining roundtable discussions and informational sessions, parents of first-year students were treated to an educational and enriching experience as part of the Program’s first year-round set of initiatives.

“Bloomfield College recognizes the importance and value of parental engagement in the students’ college experience, especially during the first year,” Vice President of Student Affairs and Dean of Students Dr. Patrick Lamy said of the program. “We are convinced that the level of engagement fostered by our new program can have a major impact on the student’s ability to successfully complete their education, and our Parent Summit is just another example of our continued effort to help our students complete their education.”

Participants in the day’s festivities were treated to a pair of special guests, as A Vision in Motion Speakers Bureau’s Gian-Paul Gonzalez – the man behind the famous “All-In” motivational speech that helped lead the NFL’s New York Giants to a Super Bowl title in 2011 - challenged parents to be connected and all-in for their child’s education with an inspirational presentation to cap the morning session.

“It was an honor to speak to the parents of Bloomfield College students,” Gonzalez said of the afternoon’s event. “They are truly ‘all in’ for their children, and the positive impact they have on them is evident when they come out on a Saturday morning to support this great initiative.”

Prominent Jazz musician Keith Marks and an accompanying band also serenaded the crowd during the lunch hour, providing an entertaining backdrop for the remainder of the afternoon. A question-and-answer session and staff evaluations capped the day, providing parents with the chance to help shape the next modifications to a Bloomfield College student experience.

“Our program affirms for parents that Bloomfield seeks their continued partnership in educating and supporting our new students,” Associate Dean of Student Affairs for Student Development and Support Services Rose Mitchell said. “We utilize parent feedback to help implement new and innovative ways to enhance the experience of our program. It is truly a collaborative effort, one that allows students, parents and administration to help shape the college experience. We couldn’t be happier with how the program is running in its first year.”

The First Year Parent Engagement Program will hold its next event Nov. 20, when they welcome parents and their first-year students to Cuban Pete’s Restaurant and Tapas in Montclair, N.J. for the program’s second Parent Social of the academic year. For more information on the program, visit bloomfield.edu/student-life/fypep. To learn more about A Vision in Motion Speakers Bureau, visit avisioninmotion.com.