parents family at graduation

Parents & Families

We're dedicated to the personal success of every student and ensuring they feel welcomed and supported every step of the way. We invite you, our Widener families, to familiarize yourselves with our vast network of support.

Welcome to the Widener Family

As the parent of a Widener student, you are part of the Pride family! We invite our parents and families to see themselves as our partners in supporting your child's educational experience. The Widener University Parents’ Network provides families with detailed information about all aspects of the university, with particular emphases placed on financial aid, campus safety, academic support services, involvement on campus, and service activities that support our civic mission.

Through the Parents’ Network, families also have the opportunity to raise questions or concerns to fellow parents as well as to members of the university administration. Every parent is invited and encouraged to join the Widener University Parents’ Network.

For more information, please contact us at parents@widener.edu.

There is no cost to join the Parents' Network, and you can attend an optional hour-long meeting once a year. Families can also freely access up-to-date information and FAQs on the university’s website and social media outlets.

We believe that when you have access to university news and the opportunity to have your questions answered, you will feel more informed and comfortable about your child’s initial transition into college and effectively support your child’s educational experience throughout their time here.

Follow the Parents' Network on Facebook

We send e-newsletters to parents to provide parent-related news and upcoming Parents’ Network events. To sign up to receive this email, please contact the Parents’ Network at parents@widener.edu.

The transition to college is challenging for both students and their parents. Going from high school to college is a major milestone, one that marks the student’s eventual transition into independence. However, neither student nor parent needs to handle the transition alone. Affordable Colleges Online created this online guide to help ease the transition process by addressing the common first-year challenges for parents and their children.

The guide helps parents prepare for the high school-to-college transition; explores the financial aid process; discusses concerns about housing and student independence; identifies on-campus resources for students; and offers resources for parents of high school students, college freshmen, college students, and graduate school students.

Access the Supportive Parents, Successful Students guidebook

Parent & Family Orientation Resources

Welcome HOME to The Pride! Partnership with our parents and families is key to the success of our incoming students. The Pride Experience 1: Summer Registration Program represents only the beginning of our meaningful journey together. Please take a moment to review the resources covered during our Parent & Family Orientation sessions in June and July.

Students Walking Behind the Pride

The Pride Experience Guidebook

This guidebook will help answer a variety of questions about living on campus, how students can get involved, academic support and enrollment services, pre-orientation programs, and much more! The guidebook also serves as a campus directory of phone numbers and email addresses.

Financial Aid Info

Widener University, Old Main building

A Sound Investment

A Widener education is one of the smartest investments your family can make—because the long-term value (in terms of career preparation, job placement, and opportunities for professional advancement and earning potential) far exceeds the costs.

Financial Aid Info

Discover Widener

Students in Dorm Room

Living & Learning Here

We want campus to feel like your child's second home. We've built a supportive, friendly, caring community for them to grow and flourish. In our residence halls and dining spaces, your child will forge lasting friendships. And through our many ways to get involved on campus, they will build memories that will stay with them for years to come. 

Diversity Workplace Student

Student Success & Support

Our network of support services will help your child find personal and professional fulfillment. Academic mentors and advisors will help them navigate courses and choose the experiences leading to career success.

Our team of dedicated professionals will keep an eye on your child's academic progress. Our early assessment and retention alert programs help identify struggling students so we can step in and help as soon as possible.

group exercise class

Health, Wellness & Safety

At Widener, we care about your child's academic and physical well-being. Learn more about safety on campus, recreational opportunities, counseling and student health services, and get answers to questions about insurance, forms, and much more.

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The FERPA Act: What Rights Do I Have to Information?

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) of 1974 (Buckley Amendment) was enacted to assure parents of students and the students’ themselves if they are over age eighteen, or attending a post-secondary educational institution, access to student records and to protect rights to privacy by limiting the sharing and disclosure of their records without their consent.

FERPA FAQs

The quickest, easiest way for parents to receive information about their child’s grades, financial statement, or other student information is for the student to provide it. Students can look up information online, print it off, and give or email a copy to their parents.

FERPA regulations allow, but do not require, higher education institutions to provide notice to parents when a student violates federal, state, or local laws related to alcohol or drugs.

The U.S. Department of Education is responsible for overseeing FERPA. Visit their website for additional information.

Learn more about FERPA

Download Widener's FERPA policy

Pride Perspectives

Students buy doughnuts at Phatso's Bakery

As I embark on a career as a human rights lawyer, these experiences have taught me everyone has a story, and you need to ask people about theirs to really begin to know and understand them.

Rebecca Westrom

Rebecca's Story
Cajua Robinson works with a client at iCore Fitness

For me, the opportunities at Widener to start this, join that, do this, allowed me to grow tremendously as a person. That’s what turned me into who I am.

Cajua Robinson

Cajua's Story
Markevis Gideon and business partners in front of Widener sign

Widener has exposed me to opportunities that forever shaped my life. Now, as a well-traveled entrepreneur with a young but growing business, I am excited to see how Widener University is still preparing graduates toward a path of excellence.

Markevis Gideon

Markevis's Story
Taylor Kohnow at her robotics co-op

I love all aspects of robotics and I’m learning a lot about what I want to do in my career from this experience.

Taylor Kohnow

Taylor's Story
Students participate in fundraising dinner

Widener has given me countless opportunities to engage in the City of Chester and to give back to those who may be less fortunate than me.

Kennedy Jones

Kennedy's Story
Psychology major Christie Birchall leads group

Widener helped me realize my track. The faculty in the psychology department provide a safety net and make it their job to find you a place in the field.

Christie Birchall

Christie's Story
All Pride Perspectives

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