Parent Involvement & Support

Parent Volunteers

With the help of parent and family members like you, UCLA Parent & Family Association volunteers have already welcomed thousands of students and families to campus, provided assistance with campus initiatives and supported the efforts of our office. Volunteer participation is unquestionably vital to the success of UCLA programs and events throughout the year. Volunteers assist with event planning, outreach to other parents and families, student support and fundraising phone calls.

You don’t have to live in Los Angeles to make a difference; our parent and family volunteers come from all over the world! Check out the map below to see where our current volunteers reside.

If you would like to be added to the volunteer list and receive monthly update emails about upcoming opportunities, complete the form here.

Current and Upcoming Opportunities

Bruin Day (April; all day) | Transfer Bruin Day (May; all day)
Welcome newly admitted students and families and help them decide if UCLA is the best fit for them.
New Parent & Family Orientation Sessions (July-September)
Join us on campus as we welcome new family members during a special discussion and lunch.
New Bruin Send-offs (July-September)
Join us in welcoming students and their families into the Bruin family! Celebrate with proud parents, alumni and UCLA’s newest students in fun a way. These events take place regionally.
Move-In Weekend (September)
Support new Bruin families as they move their students into the residence halls and speak about your experience transitioning to UCLA.
Bruin Family Weekend (Late October – Early November)
Join us at our most popular event! There are a number of opportunities to get involved with Parents’ Weekend; helping Parent & Family Programs welcome families, answering questions and distributing giveaways are some of the few ways our parent volunteers help out!
Office assistance (ongoing)
Periodic office tasks can use your support if you would like to spend a bit of time with our team when needed.

Check back here for future opportunities! In the meantime, explore this site to find out how you can:

Support UCLA Parent and Family Giving
Get involved with the Bruin Resource Center

Parents’ Council

What is Parents’ Council?

The UCLA Parents’ Council is the Parent & Family Association’s premier volunteer organization comprised of family members who serve as ambassadors for the University. Council members engage with current and prospective families to foster connections in support of the University, volunteer their time and talents to the campus community and represent the parent perspective on the UCLA experience.

Our Mission

In alignment with the broader mission of the UCLA Parent & Family Association, the purpose of the Parents’ Council is to enhance the student undergraduate experience by…

Providing families with a formal link to the University through peer-to-peer connections and leadership opportunities;
Equipping parent and family leaders with firsthand knowledge and resources to help themselves and other Bruin families support student success;
Engaging Bruin parents and families in initiatives and activities that support student and campus partner needs while building affinity for the University

Apply to join Parents' Council!

Applications to join Parents' Council open annually in April and typically remain open through the beginning of July. Each year, parents and families of undergraduate Bruins attending UCLA during that academic year are welcome to apply, including families of incoming first-year and transfer students. Look out for information about applications to join the 2024-25 Parents' Council in the spring!

Parent and Family Giving

Parent & Family Guide

FERPA & Third Party Access

MyUCLA helps students manage through their studies, and even after graduation. But sometimes a little more help may be needed.

Understanding FERPA

When your student was in high school, you were able to access their educational records with relative ease. At UCLA, we realize that you do not stop being a parent or family member when your student begins college. However, it is important to note that once a student turns 18, or attends a school beyond the high school level, the University cannot release information about the student to anyone. Information cannot be released to parents or other family members because of the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA). FERPA’s purview includes grades, disciplinary proceedings, billing and financial aid.

While you as a parent/guardian have an interest in your student’s academic progress, you are not automatically granted access to their records without their written consent. We highly encourage you to develop a relationship with your student that is based on trust and conducive to them sharing information with you about their college life.

The U.S. Department of Education is responsible for overseeing FERPA, and information can be found here. The UC System FERPA policy can be found here and UCLA’s FERPA policy can be viewed here.

Third Party Access

Third Party Access allows a student to give access to their account to another person, typically to parents. Students can grant access by individual function. Third parties can view Study List, Degree Progress Report, Grades & GPA, Registration Status, Holds, Billing and Receivables (BAR) Account, Financial Aid and Address. In addition, the student can elect to have their third party receive billing emails.

The student must agree that they have read and understand Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) restrictions before they create Third Party Access. Students can authorize third parties to have view-only access to their student records and direct access to their BAR account, allowing users to pay fees online through the URSA site.

Creating a Logon

In order to set up access, the third party must first create a UCLA Logon account. Users create and manage their individual UCLA Logon ID and password at http://accounts.iam.ucla.edu/. Passwords can be changed and reset, and security questions can be set up to help users remember their passwords. Once that has been established, the student logs on to MyUCLA and gives access to their third party. They must know the UCLA Logon ID and first and last name of the person they are adding. Validation is done to ensure the correct third party is getting access.

Once the student grants access, the third party logs on to MyUCLA just like if they were a student. They will only see the functions to which they have been given access. If your student is having trouble granting you access, please refer them to the MyUCLA Tutorial: Third Party Access.

For additional information about MyUCLA and hours of operation please visit the UCLA Registrar’s Office.