Resources for New Bruin Families
WELCOME! An informed and supportive family plays an integral role in a student’s educational success. The Parent & Family Association collaborates to help you understand the student experience, support student learning, and empower your students to take personal responsibility for their social and academic choices. Think of us as your first stop for everything you need to help your student thrive on campus and beyond.
Bruin Family Insights
UCLA's Parent & Family Association hosts Bruin Family Insights to equip families with knowledge to get to know UCLA better, and encourage your student to thrive during their time at UCLA and beyond. The Bruin Family Insights podcast concluded its fourth season in summer 2024. After a brief hiatus, Bruin Family Insights returned in spring 2025 with a new, hybrid format! First, a topic is introduced in a Q&A article with insights from experts within the UCLA community. After, families can attend a subsequent live discussion with said experts, which will then be shared out as a podcast episode. Visit our podcast page to check out all of our previous episodes, and learn where you can listen and subscribe!
Before there was a podcast…there was a YouTube Live series! Check out some of our past discussions* that may be helpful for new families:
Financial Wellness in College
First-Generation Students & Families
Going Greek: What to Know About Fraternity & Sorority Life
Navigating Housing & Residential Life
Transitioning to UCLA
*Please note: All YouTube Live discussions linked above were recorded prior to the pandemic.
Parent & Family Guides and Brochure
Looking to learn more about how to navigate the University and its resources? Check out these digital reading materials:
- Parent & Family Guide: This guide thoroughly outlines important topic areas that parents and families of college students should be aware of including communicating with your student and the University, academics, finances, growing independence, campus safety, personal wellness and much more. This is a great resource to review before your student begins their time at UCLA.
- Parent & Family Association Digital Brochure: This brochure summarizes the UCLA Parent & Family Association (PFA) and its major resources and programs for parents and families. Learn more about getting involved with PFA, resources specific to parents and families and more.
- CollegiateParent Insider Guide: This insider guide includes UCLA specific information, as well as articles that will help to support you and your student throughout your time at UCLA. This guide includes both English and Spanish versions, and you can also view these guides as PDFs (English guide; Spanish guide).
Bruinlink
Bruinlink, our digital newsletter, includes perspectives from
UCLA faculty, staff, parents and students. It is designed
to inform families of university trends, special events
and topics related to supporting a college student.
Note: Bruinlink is undergoing a name change and will be referred to as "Bruin Family Connect" beginning this summer!
Helpful Bruinlink articles for new families:
Parenting an Out-of-State College Student
Quick Tips for International Scholars & Families
Transitioning to College for Families of First-Generation College Students (Para leer en español ingrese aquí.)
Understanding UCLA’s Commonly-Used Acronyms and Phrases
What If It Doesn’t Go as You Hoped?
Parent & Family Helpline
Chat with a staff member about your questions/concerns, and receive curated resources to help you and your student navigate the transition to UCLA. The Parent & Family Helpline is available Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. PT.
Phone: (310) 794-6737 | Email: mybruinis@ucla.edu
Get Involved!
There are many ways to participate at UCLA. Parents and families can attend events on campus and in your region. There are also opportunities to volunteer at events throughout the academic year.
Become an Ambassador
Apply to become a member of the Parents' Council! This is a great opportunity to create your own Bruin experience. Representing families at UCLA, council members engage with current and prospective families and build partnerships with the University.
Applications to join the 2025-26 Parents' Council are now open! Parents and families of undergraduate Bruins attending UCLA during the 2025-26 academic year are welcome to apply, including families of incoming first-year and transfer students.
Deadline to apply: Monday, July 7. Applicants will be notified of their selection decision in early August. APPLY HERE.
Coffee Socials
Coffee Socials are informal gatherings held regionally and hosted by current UCLA parents/family members on a rolling basis throughout the year. These events provide an opportunity for parents to engage with one another on a regional level and foster connections and relationships between parents and family members of current UCLA undergraduate students.
Learn more about participating or hosting a Coffee Social here.
Note: The Coffee Socials program is undergoing a name change and will be referred to as "Bruin Family Socials" beginning this summer!
UCLA Alumni Association
As a Bruin, your student is a member of the UCLA Alumni Association. There is no need to wait until after graduation to benefit from the global network of over 600,000 living UCLA alumni. Students and families alike can access a plethora of resources to support any stage of development. From learning about and celebrating UCLA traditions to building out a professional network, the Alumni Association has you and your student covered. Encourage your student to join UCLA ONE (sign yourself up, too!) and find an alumni network near you to begin building your Bruin community.
Our Proud Partners
