Baylor Send-Off Parties Connect Families Coast-to-Coast

For incoming members of the Baylor Family, late summer is send-off season as students prepare to head to campus and officially become Baylor students. In communities from coast to coast, Baylor Send-off Parties are a fun step in that transition, a place where incoming Baylor families gather, make new friends and build a network right where they are.

This year, Baylor is hosting nearly 70 Send-off Parties, fun and informal gatherings where students and their families meet other incoming families making the same journeys and transitions as them. Around light snacks and simple activities to get to know each other, students hear tips from Baylor staff and students to enhance their Baylor experience, families develop a network right in their area and students build their friend base before they even arrive for Welcome Week.

“It’s always special to welcome students as they prepare for this exciting time in their lives as they come here and pursue God’s calling in their lives,” Gail Offringa, Senior Director of Parent and Women’s Programs and the mother of two Baylor alumni, said. “The parties are so welcoming, they’re in someone’s home, and it’s a chance to get to know people, make connections and to set a great foundation for their time here.”

It’s simple to see if there is a Send-off Party in your area, and registration remains available for upcoming parties. Click here to see a list of parties taking place, broken down by region. From there, you can register for the free event. 

Offringa notes that feedback from students and parents often highlights the long-term value of the connections that are built at these parties, particularly in areas farther from campus. 

“It’s great to know other local parents whose kids are at Baylor, because there's something different about walking alongside a community of Baylor people in your hometown.  We’ve found that many parents decide to get involved in some of our other programs like Parents in Prayer or Watch Parties. Whatever the case, it’s a great way to get even more immersed in the Baylor Family, and we’re excited to welcome them.”

Send-off Parties are made possible by family volunteers who welcome Baylor families into their homes. Baylor staff attend to support, but this unique Baylor tradition would not be possible without the welcoming spirit of other Baylor families. If you are interested in hosting a Send-off Party, email baylorparents@baylor.edu