Parents and Families

University of Michigan family photo

College is a major transition - for students, as well as for parents and families. However, plenty of information is available to make the transition as easy as possible.

The U-M Parents website is a detailed resource that provides information specifically designed to support parents and families. It contains information about academics, student life, health, safety, and financial, other many other topics. Student Life's Parents & Families website works in partnership with the U-M Parents website to provide an up-to-date quarterly newsletter, Family Matters, an information-packed newsletter designed for current Wolverines' parents and loved ones.

Parents and incoming students who don't know their way around campus will benefit from visiting Campus Information Centers (CIC). CIC offers maps and directions around campus, a building search, an acronym decoder, and plenty of other tools and resources for helping you find your way on campus. They are open 19 hours every day and are ready to answer any type of question you may have!

Our Family Matters Newsletter provides current information about campus life and offers resources that can help support you in your supporting role for your Wolverine. In addition, subscribers will receive occasional messages sharing the University's response to unexpected or emergency situations.

To receive Family Matters via email, submit your contact information using our new, streamlined online subscription form. It takes less than a minute to complete and takes effect immediately. To learn more about Family Matters, view the subscription options.

Student health and travel abroad insurance plans are also available through University Health Service (UHS).

If you are just interested in happenings around campus, check out the University Record, which puts out a daily newsletter containing University news.

Lastly, take a look around the Student Life website. You'll find information about all of the resources the University offers its students. If it's relevant for your student, it's relevant for you as a parent.

Your student’s life Beyond the Diag

Is your student living in an off-campus apartment this year? If so, you might want to encourage them to look into renter’s insurance. Read on to learn how renter’s insurance can provide your student with a layer of protection in the event of an unexpected event and tips to help you support your Wolverine in their insurance search.

Does your student need health insurance?

The University of Michigan encourages all students to have health insurance for life’s unexpected events. If your student needs insurance coverage, the U-M Domestic Student Health Insurance Plan (DSHIP) through Blue Care Network of Michigan has generous benefits at a very reasonable cost. Insurance cost for an individual student for the 2022-23 insurance plan year (coverage dates 8/24/22 – 8/23/23) is $2,288. Deadline for annual purchase is Sept. 30, 2022. Read on for highlights of the program.

Tuition insurance available for the 2022-23 academic year

The cost of tuition can be substantial, and students may need to withdraw from a term due to an injury, illness, or flare-up of a chronic condition. The U-M Tuition Insurance Plan is a voluntary insurance available to all Ann Arbor students, including in-state and out-of-state undergraduate, graduate and professional students. The tuition insurance significantly extends the university’s withdrawal policy and can help to pay back loans, grants, and scholarships, and can help students continue their education at a later time.

The Fall/Winter coverage purchase deadline is Sept. 9, 2022. Additional details are available on the University Health Service website.

Experience the sights, sounds of U-M during Parents & Family Weekend

An annual tradition, Parent and Family Weekend festivities offer parents, families and loved ones an opportunity to explore campus and the greater Ann Arbor area alongside their Wolverine. This year, Parent and Family Weekend takes place during Homecoming weekend, which is sure to bring an added dose of “Go Blue” energy!

While registration is now closed for this year’s event, read on to discover the wealth free, non-ticketed events that can immerse the family in our campus culture.

Convenient walk-in clinics offering COVID-19, flu vaccines

Throughout the month of September, your student can grab a bite to eat and a shot to help ward off the seasonal flu or protect against COVID-19. University Health Service (UHS) is partnering with Michigan Dining and Walgreens to host walk-in clinics offering the flu vaccine, COVID booster, and COVID full dose (both Pfizer and Moderna will be available). Entry to the dining halls is not required to attend a clinic. No appointment needed. Read on for the full list of September dates—and be sure to share with your Wolverine to help them feeling their best!

A sweet surprise

Michigan Dining is offering parents, families and supporters of Wolverines a new way to send sweet relief throughout the academic year. Surprise your student with a SnackMagic box! With a wide variety of products, including pre-assembled themed boxes, and countless ways to customize, help fuel your student’s success.

Dining Updates: Fall 2022 term

If you or your Wolverine are looking for a quick bite to eat while finishing moving room furnishings, consider a stop in one of Michigan Dining’s seven residential dining halls: Bursley, East Quad, Markley, Mosher-Jordan, North Quad, South Quad and Twigs. As part of extending a warm welcome to you as part of our Michigan family, Michigan Dining is offering complimentary entry for students and their helpers during move-in.

Read on to discover Dining's move-in hours of operation and where your hungry Wolverine can view M Dining locations' most up-to-date hours of operation, menus and current capacity while on the go this academic year.

Making the Most of Michigan!

Your Michigan student is starting a brand new chapter of their life. They’ll be navigating a different place and transitioning into college, and there are resources available to help! In ALA 171: Making the Most of Michigan, your student will learn how to navigate all of the academic and professional resources the University of Michigan has to offer to help them be successful in all of their future endeavors.