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Parents and Families

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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. 

Register for presidential search listening sessions

​Dear Parents and Families,

Beginning this week, campus community members are invited to attend a virtual listening session to share expectations for the new University of Michigan president and perspectives on the ideal candidate profile.  

We are writing to personally invite you to register to join your student and other campus community members and supporters at one of the following sessions: 

While each session will focus on a particular university constituency, individuals are welcomed to attend any session that works with their schedule. 

These sessions will allow Regents and members of the Presidential Search Committee to hear from you, and participants will be asked to focus their comments on two questions:

  • During the next three to five years, what priorities should the new president set to be successful?
  • What background, qualifications, and experience should the next president possess to be successful in advancing the University mission?

Registration is required to attend. 

In addition, those who are unable to attend or who would like to share additional thoughts are welcome to complete this online survey.

For additional information, visit the presidential search website.

A Campus Leadership Transition Update

​Dear Parents and Families,

We wanted to make sure you were aware of the U-M Board of Regents announcement Saturday evening removing Mark Schlissel as president of the University of Michigan and appointing Mary Sue Coleman as interim president.

This change in campus leadership comes after an investigation revealed that Dr. Schlissel failed to act in a manner consistent with the dignity and reputation of the University. 

Earlier today, President Coleman sent your student this emailed message, which affirmed her commitment to working with the campus community during this period of transition to advance the values and the excellence that define the University of Michigan.

During her career as a faculty member and administrator, President Coleman has been a national leader in higher education. She is president emerita of the University of Michigan, serving as the University’s 13th president from 2002-2014. 

Previously, President Coleman oversaw the groundbreaking partnership with Google to digitize the University’s 7 million-volume library, revitalized student living and learning experiences through a residential life initiative, and worked tirelessly to promote economic revitalization and innovation within the state of Michigan.

Additionally, we recognize that the nature of this news may elicit strong emotions among some members of our campus community. Campus resources are available for your Wolverine:

A COVID Update

Dear Parents and Families,

Today, University of Michigan President Mark S. Schlissel, Provost Susan M. Collins, and Vice President for Student Life Martino Harmon hosted a Campus COVID-19 Briefing, where they were joined by campus leaders to provide updates and information about campus conditions and resources. 

The leaders addressed COVID-19 cases and testing levels in the region and on campus, misinformation about quarantine and isolation housing, and the university's continuation of in-person classes.

Earlier today, your student received this emailed update, which included a link to the COVID-19 Briefing and other important information on the current mask policy extension, updated guidance for quarantine and isolation, and updates to the COVID-19 Data dashboard. Future briefings will be scheduled as needed and shared.

U-M’s Feb. 4 vaccine booster reporting deadline is approaching. Your Wolverine should get a booster as soon as they are eligible and upload their information using the form in Wolverine Access as soon as possible. Several on-campus, walk-in clinics are available next week for your student.

U-M continues to work collaboratively with campus health experts and academic leaders to advance our mission safely, monitor COVID-19 locally and beyond, and respond as conditions change. Thank you for your continued support as we navigate these unprecedented times together. 

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

A COVID Update

​Dear Parents and Families,

Our campus sprang back to life this week with our students’ arrival in Ann Arbor and the start of the winter term. The beginning of a new term often brings a mixture of emotions for our students, as they find their way to new classrooms and reconnect with friends—and during the pandemic, it also brings up questions related to COVID-19. 

Earlier today, your student received this emailed update, which included important information on the increase in COVID-19 cases in the state, region and on campus, the current status of our quarantine and isolation housing, the strong response to our COVID-19 booster requirement, and testing availability.

Additionally, Student Life emailed your Wolverine yesterday with information on what to do after a positive test specific to living on or off campus, including the need to report results.

Your Wolverine should get a booster as soon as they are eligible and upload their information using the form in Wolverine Access as soon as possible. Several on-campus, walk-in clinics are available for your student.

Our Wolverines have shown an incredible response to getting tested, receiving their COVID-19 booster, and following other public health safety measures to help our campus continue a robust residential experience into the winter term. 

U-M continues to work collaboratively with campus health experts and academic leaders to advance our mission safely, monitor COVID-19 locally and beyond, and respond as conditions change. Thank you for your continued support as we navigate these unprecedented times together. 

To stay up to date on the latest news and announcements from campus, you may also view the Campus Maize and Blueprint site.

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