Dear Harcum Parents,

Choosing a college is one of the most important tasks parents and children make. To make the right choice is a combination of careful thought, long discussion, research, planning and simple intuition. If you have made a Harcum education your choice, I thank you and welcome you to the Harcum community.

Whether your Harcum student is a commuter, or lives in an on-campus residence, the college experience still requires a period of learning and adjustment for student and parent. There are natural feelings of anticipation and concern, high hopes and anxiety over learning about the campus, meeting new people, exploring a new community and, for some, adjusting to living away from home for the first time.

During Harcum’s New Student Orientation, we’ll have many events and activities to help you and your child become acclimated. Orientation is held twice in the summer months and once prior to Spring semester. Before the beginning of classes in the Fall, Harcum holds Welcome Back days, when parents and students can learn about Harcum and become familiar with the campus environment.  Later in the Fall, we invite you to Family Day, when you can tour the campus, meet faculty, see what your children are learning and have some fun.

This is the time in children’s’ lives when they take responsibility for their education. No, you may not be there to remind them of what to do, and where they need to be!  Getting to class, completing homework assignments, preparing for tests and keeping in contact with their professors are all parts of the process that they’ll have to get used to.

I believe that your child will develop the pride and self-reliance that comes from personal accomplishment. At Harcum, we have a number of resources and support services at their disposal to help with the transition should they need it. We are committed to the success of each student. If you have any concerns, please contact me at jdetemple@harcum.edu.

Jon Jay DeTemple, Ph.D.  
President