When Fernando Guerrero went to college in 1979, he packed everything he needed into his Toyota, kissed his parents goodbye and drove himself from New Orleans to the University of Louisiana in Lafayette.

This year, when his daughter Camila started at Arizona State University in Tempe, Guerrero and his wife, Randa, of nearby Scottsdale, spent part of five days on campus, helping her move into the dorm and taking tours of the campus, meeting faculty and attending workshops and receptions.

In the past five years or so, colleges across the country are reporting huge increases in the number of parents clogging the freshman orientation programs meant for students only, said Joyce Holl, executive director of the National Orientation Directors Association, a resource for colleges. The trend has led the colleges to offer more orientation programs and activities just for moms and dads.

"This generation of parents is more involved in their children's lives, and it's not going to change necessarily when they go to college," said Holl, who works at the University of Minnesota. "Parents want to know what's going on on campus."

Holl's daughter is a sophomore living on campus but still calls her mom regularly, sometimes six times a day. Holl knows it's a bit much, she said, "but if I don't hear from her, I start to panic."

"You just need to know that they are safe and OK," she said, "no matter how brief the conversation. It's hard to let go."

Baby boomers spawned the term "helicopter parents" for their involvement — and sometimes excessive involvement — in their kids' lives, hovering over their every move from day care right up through college.

College officials tend to shy away from the term "helicopter parent" because of its negative connotation.

At Arizona State, they call them "engaged" parents.

"We find that students with engaged parents have a much more successful transition to college," said Amanda Barth, development officer for parent programs for the ASU Parents Association.

But being an engaged parent also means giving up the day-to-day hold on your student's life, said Mistalene Calleroz-White, dean of student affairs at Arizona State's Tempe campus. Now, the parents' role is to act like a coach or cheerleader. Be supportive, she said, but encourage students to cope on their own.

Families such as the Guerreros go on campus tours and attend workshops, where they learn about safety, tutoring and counseling, financial aid and dining, and get advice on how doting parents can let go. Colleges also take advantage of parents' presence on campus not only to familiarize them with programs and services but to hit them up to volunteer and raise money for the college.

Randa Guerrero volunteered at a parent reception; Fernando helped out at a weekend multicultural festival. The Guerreros were happy to help because the people at the parent association had been so helpful to them.

"Every time I was a little confused, I picked up the phone and they answered my questions," Fernando said. "It made my life so much less stressful."

Arizona State parents can also call a hot line or go online to ask questions and can log into monthly online chats. The chat scheduled for December will tell parents how to support students through final exams and deal with their return home for the holidays. More than 100 parents logged into the last of the series of chats, which began a year ago, Barth said, up from the 20 or so parents who first participated.

During orientation, the Guerreros helped Camila, who is 18, move in and met her roommates. They saw where she'd eat, watch TV and study. And they met her hall director, so they'd know whom to call if there were a problem.

"It's not just her experience," Randa said. "It's our experience."