Everything from thermal imaging cameras that see through smoke in fires to band uniforms to scholarships has been donated to the University by its Mothers and Dads Associations, the oldest parents organizations in the country.

And now, with over 9,000 members and $65,209 raised for scholarships, the associations are part of a nationwide trend showing an increase in parents' involvement on campuses. The organizations have been even busier in recent years as they continue their mission of communicating parents' and students' goals independently to the University and promoting the idea of family.

"My personal feeling is that (parents) have been supportive all their lives and should continue to be supportive," said Nancy Rotzoll, former executive director of the Moms Association. "It's necessary for them to recognize that their students are making a lot of decisions on their own and should respect that and work with them."

The associations at the University are different than parent groups on other campuses because most groups are run by representatives from the University. Here, the mothers, fathers and other family members of the students are part of a separate group that is not guided by the University and chooses where money will be spent and which issues will be supported. The executive director, Lisa Moore, is the only University employee assigned to work with the groups, but still doesn't have a vote during meetings. At many other universities, the parent groups are used as fundraisers for that university, Rotzoll said.

"The difference here is that we're marked for the purposes of the associations," she said. "We have a free voice."

Students at the University appreciate what the associations have been doing, although they may not necessarily know what those efforts are.

"I don't really know what (the associations) do, but I think they do their jobs well," said Michael Kidd, senior in commerce and son of Robert Kidd, president of the Dads Association. "I think it's a good thing ... We don't need any other organizations unless these are lacking somewhere."

The associations have been involved in all areas of the University, including health and safety on campus, student organized groups and tuition. When the latest budget cuts came, the groups were supportive in trying to help however they could to save money for the University, said Robert Kidd.

When members have questions and concerns about what the University is doing, they can go to the organizations' board of directors and voice those concerns.

"There was a time when it was brought to their attention that there was a problem with foreign speaking teaching assistants," Rotzoll said. "The input from the members made it easier to decide what to do."

Kidd added that the associations were instrumental in the legislation that was passed requiring that all teaching assistants pass a basic English test. Through their lobbying efforts over 10 years ago, teaching assistants must take workshops and speak English well enough for students to understand.

More recent projects include the annual tuition drawing where tickets purchased go to either a full year's or a semester's tuition for a University student. The money from the drawing will be used to help support activities for students as well as the University's office that helps manage the associations. Kidd said that an ongoing project involves research into student credit card use in the transition from living at home to living on their own.

"Once a student becomes recognized as an adult, they have the same rights and privileges as any other adult and we need to make sure parents are aware of that," Rotzoll said. "It's important to try to give parents ways to remain involved and supportive in this new period of their life."