As the Thanksgiving break approaches, you may be looking forward to spending some quality time with your Michigan student, but if your student is the first person in your family to attend college, you may also be wondering what it will be like to have your college student back at home. How much have they changed since you last saw them? What will you talk about? Will they still be the same person you sent to Ann Arbor in September? Or perhaps, your student is unable to come home for the holiday. How will you stay connected across the miles?

The value of a Michigan education goes far beyond the classroom walls. Students who engage with the campus community outside of the classroom will not only have an impressive resume to accompany their diploma but also will have acquired a greater perspective on the world around us.

What are you grateful for?  

Perhaps you’re grateful for your student at the University of Michigan, bright and full of potential.

Perhaps you’re grateful for the university itself and the impact it has on your student, or its contributions over the last 200 years (see Bicentennial).

As we reflect on our blessings, please keep in mind an upcoming opportunity to express your gratitude: Giving Blueday on Tuesday, November 28, 2017.

Student Life at the University of Michigan sends warmest greetings and best wishes for the new year!  May your holidays be filled with laughter, peace, and love.

Look to M Gift Packages to deliver a hug!

Looking for a sweet Valentine’s Day treat to share with your student? MDining is launching new M|Gift Packages for Valentine’s Day. You can send your student a Baker’s Dozen of pink-sprinkled heart-shaped cookies for $12 that deliver a big hug on a cold day.

You helped the University of Michigan do it again! The fourth annual Giving Blueday took place on 11/28/17. It was a tremendous success, and funds raised are already positively impacting students on campus.

Here's a recap of the event:

Traveling abroad can be an exciting opportunity for students. They can experience new cultures, see historic sites, and make lifelong friendships. But students can sometimes get lost in the excitement and run out of money midway through their trip.  

Create a budget:  The best way to prevent this is to work with your student to create a budget. This may be the first time students set a budget and plan their spending, so it is a great learning opportunity!

If your student eats on campus, you can be assured that their food options are healthy both for them and for the environment.

Keith Soster, Director of Student Engagement, says, "Several years ago, Michigan Dining’s residential dining halls and administrative offices received the highest Sustainable Workplace certification by the Office of Campus Sustainability (OCS). Since then, in addition to making sure students have healthy options for their bodies, almost every aspect of dining is also a healthy choice for our environment."

Why are university unions important to students?

This spring the iconic Michigan Union will temporarily close for a significant renovation project that will address aging infrastructure, improve safety, enhance student spaces, and restore the beautiful architecture. Much time and planning has been spent on making the transition a smooth and steady process.

But you may wonder, "Why? Why are university unions so important to college students like mine?"

Is your student undecided about a major? They are not alone. Most students enter U-M undecided about their major. Even those who initially know what they want to study often change their plans.

Choosing a major is not easy for students. They may feel overwhelmed with the number of options available. They may be afraid that their choice of major will lock them into a career, lifestyle, and salary range for the rest of their lives. But the choice of major does not necessarily set a life-long path, because: