Skip to Content
U-M COVID-19 Response

Parents and Families

Stay Connected

Important information regarding ongoing labor negotiations at U-M

As you may already know, the university is in contract negotiations with the union representing graduate student instructors (GSIs) and graduate student staff assistants (GSSAs). The union has voted to authorize a strike, empowering the union’s leadership to call a work stoppage at any time. Earlier today, U-M undergraduate students received the below message from Provost Laurie McCauley. Your Wolverine’s education remains a priority and classes and instruction will continue. Additional updates from ongoing negotiations can be found on the University Human Resources website.

U-M’s response to shooting at Michigan State University

Vice President for Student Life Martino Harmon wrote to Family Matters subscribers to provide a statement on the shooting at Michigan State University and highlight key University of Michigan and Student Life resources for student safety and support. 

Update your email preferences

You are receiving this message because you or your Wolverine subscribed you to the Family Matters Newsletter, published by the University of Michigan's Division of Student Life. This fall, Family Matters Newsletter is moving to a new email platform to provide improved communications with our current Wolverines’ parents, families and loved ones.  

Current subscribers can also access this form to update their preferences at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of this and future Family Matters emails.   

Important Dates to Remember

As the Fall term begins in a matter of days, you may want to pencil in some of these important upcoming dates and events to help stay connected with your Wolverine.

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.

Our time with your student

Fall 2022 is upon us, and I am beyond excited to welcome you and your student to campus. A question I often get from parents and families is “What can I do to support my student when they’re away from home?”

As a parent myself, I understand the worry that can come with sending your student to college. When my daughters went off to college, I knew I couldn't be involved in every aspect of their student experience. Still, I didn’t hold myself back from encouraging them to get involved. 

That’s what I encourage you to do now. When you talk with your student, either during move-in or in the weeks and months of the Fall semester, encourage them to join clubs, get connected with their residence hall communities, find an on-campus job, and sign up for a Recreational Sports fitness class—anything that expands their horizons, who they know, and what they think they can do. 

A second and no less important thing that you can do is to talk to them about the importance of their role in a large, shared community. Our community is full of people of diverse backgrounds, beliefs, orientations, and aspirations. This is a beautiful opportunity for your student to learn and connect with their peers, and it is everyone’s individual responsibility to respect and foster this community. 

Update your email preferences

You are receiving this message because you or your Wolverine subscribed you to the Family Matters Newsletter, published by the University of Michigan's Division of Student Life. This fall, Family Matters Newsletter is moving to a new email platform to provide improved communications with our current Wolverines’ parents, families and loved ones.  

Update Your Email Preferences: Family Matters is Changing Email Platforms

Beginning next month, the Family Matters Newsletter is moving to a new email platform to provide improved communications with our current Wolverines’ parents, families and loved ones.  

To ensure you do not miss future editions of Family Matters, please complete our new, streamlined online subscription form before March 3, 2022. 

Published by the University of Michigan Division of Student Life, Family Matters is designed to provide you with the latest news from campus and access to resources that can help support you in your supporting role for your Wolverine. In addition, subscribers receive occasional messages sharing the University's response to unexpected or emergency situations.

If you no longer want to receive Family Matters, you can use our online unsubscribe form to opt out of future messages. Current subscribers can also access this form to update their preferences at any time by clicking the “unsubscribe” link at the bottom of this and future Family Matters emails. 

However, please be aware that being removed from the Family Matters group: 

  • Means you will no longer receive any future targeted announcements about the University's response to unexpected or emergency situations from Student Life.
  • Ensures you will no longer receive Family Matters newsletters, but does not remove your email address from other University of Michigan electronic communications to which you are subscribed.  

A COVID Update

Dear Parents and Families,

We wanted to make sure you were aware of the latest COVID-19 campus information as we approach the upcoming spring break.

On Friday, the Campus Maize and Blueprint website was updated with a university message, which included information on continued case number improvements on campus and in the county, testing guidance for spring break travel, U-M’s face covering requirement, and vaccination stats and booster compliance.      

As a reminder, your Wolverine was required to report their COVID-19 booster information by Feb. 4, or as soon as possible based on their eligibility. If they have not done so already, they should get a booster as soon as possible and upload their information using the form in Wolverine Access to avoid accountability measures. 

In addition, a new resource is available to help your Wolverine determine whether they are in compliance with the U-M vaccination policy, including the booster requirement.

To stay up to date throughout the week, you may also view the Campus Maize and Blueprint site. 

Pages