Congratulations! If you’re reading this, your student is probably graduating this spring. We hope this guide will help take some of the stress out of the big day (or days) so that you and your student can enjoy this momentous occasion.

Tip #1: There is more than one graduation ceremony for the University of Michigan. 

Understanding this concept will help you better plan and communicate with your student.

If your student is considering graduate or professional school, they are not alone. It's a common consideration for undergraduate students. 

M Gift Packages deliver virtual hugs to U-M students

Along with warmer temperatures and sunny skies, spring at U-M brings two traditions: the stress of finals studying and the excitement of graduation. Whichever event your student is experiencing, M Gift Packages can ease the anxiety and add a special, virtual hug by delivering snacks, drinks, U-M merchandise, and the message that you’re thinking of them.

Suggestions for a special graduation and finals packages include:

If your student lives in University Housing, please remind them of a few steps that need to be completed before they leave campus.

Instructions are available at Undergraduate Move-In and Move-Out.

Residence halls officially close 11:00 AM on Friday, May 3, 2019. Students who need to extend their stay need to apply by Monday, April 29, 2019.

Before departure, students should return their space to the way they found it when they moved in. 

U-M students now have access to a regularly staffed and accessible food pantry on campus, thanks to the initiative of their fellow students.

For years student volunteers with the Maize and Blue Cupboard have addressed food insecurity among U-M students by arranging for food donations and distributing them on campus.  

Alex Bryan, U-M Sustainable Food Program Manager, explains the evolution:

Winter semester finals are ahead, and students often feel like they have a foot in two worlds during this term. They aspire to complete the semester well and are simultaneously looking forward to what comes afterward.

As a result, students may experience significant pressure and stress. Fortunately, students tend to develop better self-management skills and academic strategies as they progress through college.

Exams are underway, plans are being made for move-out, and the summer spans before your student with endless possibilities.

If your student is still unsure about their plans, a great starting point might be to ask, If you could do anything this summer, what would it be? 

Here are ideas for keeping minds fresh and moving towards goals this summer. Your student may want to:

It's that time of year again. Spring is here, and summer is coming, though the snow that fell on campus in early March would've had us believing otherwise. You may be focused on your student's return home for the summer (for students who live in University Housing, see 2019 Move Out). There's so much to hear from them about how the academic year went—what they learned, what they loved, what they've become. Right now, students are still facing the final stretch.

It may surprise you to know that job and internship recruitment activities will begin as soon as your student arrives on campus for Fall semester 2019.

The University Career Center offers many opportunities for students to learn about various internships and jobs, and many of these take place early in the Fall semester. During upcoming events, students can engage with different employers to discuss opportunities for all majors.

Please encourage your student to attend any of these important 2019 Fall semester recruitment events:

Have a question? Here are some frequently requested phone numbers for offices within Student Life. Please make a note!