Parent and Family Orientation Welcome Families of The Citadel's Class of 2029!

Welcome to The Citadel Family!

My name is Captain Taylor Skardon, and I work in The Citadel's Office of Parent Programs. I graduated from The Citadel in 1982 and served 30 years in the Navy. After retiring, my wife and I returned to Charleston to be closer to our families. I joined The Citadel staff, initially working as an Executive Assistant. In that role, one of the most difficult parts of my job was informing parents and families when their cadet faced separation from The Citadel due to serious issues. Often, the response was, "If only we had known."

Later, I transitioned to the Provost's Office, where I had the opportunity to explore how to improve communication with parents and families. Before starting, I researched existing resources and data.

So What Does The Data Say?

Studies indicate that:

College students whose parents and families are appropriately involved tend to achieve greater success. The key is "appropriately involved."
Despite the college administration's efforts to provide information, cadets will often still turn to you for advice.
The most effective parents and families maintain a supportive relationship with their cadets while allowing them to make their own decisions. Instead of directing them, foster a relationship where they feel comfortable seeking your guidance when needed – note, when they come to you.

Our Goals

Our office was established with three primary goals:

Inform parents and families so you can offer effective guidance when your cadets seek your advice.
Provide suggested topics for you to discuss with your cadets throughout the academic year.
Serve as a point of contact to connect you with the appropriate resources on campus or offer advice when requested.
Help parents and families have a positive experience during their cadet's time at The Citadel.

This Parent Orientation is designed to familiarize you with the college's services for students and, more importantly, to suggest important conversations you and your cadet should have before Matriculation Day and throughout the year. While the presentation might not be perfect, I believe it contains valuable information. I will also continue to add new modules as needed, so please check back regularly. If there are specific topics you'd like to learn more about, please let me know at parents@citadel.edu, and we will do our best to create a module addressing your needs.

Decision Maker to Advisor

College is a significant period of growth where your cadet will encounter new experiences and learn to make independent decisions. We recognize that each cadet and their family relationships are unique. Our hope is that your cadet will mature and come to value seeking your advice as part of their decision-making process – a process where they ultimately take ownership of their choices and their outcomes. There will be times when they face setbacks, as the system is intentionally challenging. However, it is in their response to these challenges where the most significant personal growth occurs. Learning to recover, take responsibility, and learn from mistakes is what makes The Citadel experience so impactful.

Picture of Taylor Scardon

There are critical issues I want to bring to your attention for you to discuss with your prospective cadet before they arrive at The Citadel. Some of these are particularly important because violating these policies will result in their inability to remain at the college. The two primary areas are violations of our Honor Code and our Drug and Alcohol Policies.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at parents@citadel.edu (preferred) or 843-953-6088. Email is the best way to reach me for a quicker response.

Again, welcome and Go 'Dogs!

Taylor Skardon '82
Captain USN (Ret)

Let's Get Started!

Click the "Let's Get Started!" button above to learn how to navigate this orientation.