By JOANNA MCINTYRE

Staff Writer

The Division of University Advancement now provides another way for parents to get involved with the university.

The Louisiana Tech Parents' Association was created by the Alumni Association in the spring of 2004.

"The purpose of the Parents' Association is to give this group of involved people an opportunity to receive all of the communications that members of the Alumni Association receive," Kyle Edmiston, the director of alumni relations, said.

"Parents have a tremendous amount of interest and concern for the university, and the Alumni Association Board of Directors felt that by creating the Parents' Association, it would be able to more actively involve the parents in university activities."

The $25 annual membership provides parents with the following benefits: the Louisiana Tech Magazine twice a year, communications about activities in the parent's particular home area, e-mails about upcoming events, Tech monthly e-news, the opportunity to receive Tech Updates daily via e-mail, the opportunity to purchase a subscription to The Tech Talk, a Louisiana Tech window decal and invitations to on-campus events.

"Although we are still in our first year of operation for this group, I feel that we have already achieved success with the parents that are members," Edmiston said. "As the association develops over the years and we add additional members and more activities, I feel that this will be an ideal way to keep parents involved in the school of choice for their children."

The Parents' Association has approximately 150 members.

During the summer orientation, parents were informed of the benefits and were given the opportunity to join.

No membership has been solicited beyond the summer orientation sessions.

Ryan Richard, the director of development and coordinator of alumni programs, assists in planning events for parents and alumni.

"We plan to mail out information to the parents of enrolled students next fall," Richard said. "I feel like the Parents' Association will continue to grow over the next few years."

Parents and alumni have the opportunity to attend Tech functions across the nation. Events are often coordinated along with a football, basketball or baseball game.

"This is a great opportunity for parents to become a part of the Tech family and to get more involved with the university," Travis Napper, Student Advancement Team member and a junior marketing major, said.

Parents can join the association online at http://www.latechalumni.org/association, or by visiting or calling Ryan Richard at 255-7950 in the Marbury Alumni Center.