2023-2024 Parent & Family Programs Calendar

2024 Illini Union Parent & Family Programs Office

The Parent & Family Programs Office and You

Our goals are to help Illinois families:

• Understand the experience your student is having in today’s higher education environment.

• Understand the developmental changes parents and families experience when children embark on their collegiate careers.

• Become effective mentors and coaches for your college student.

• Learn when and how to empower your student to take responsibility by establishing the appropriate level of involvement in your student’s collegiate career.

To help you accomplish these goals, we will:

• Establish regular communication with parents and families of all Illinois students by developing a critical partnership.

• Provide volunteer opportunities for parents and families that keep you connected to the campus community and encourage the development of relationships among fellow Illinois parents/families, the campus, and the Moms and Dads Associations.

• Educate you about your evolving role as the parents of a college student and your development as parents, including how your lives are changing and examining how you are feeling and thinking.

• Provide families of Illinois students with the information and tools you need to become effective mentors and coaches to your college students throughout their collegiate careers.

Parent Fund donations help:

• Encourage student development through educational, cultural, and professional programming.

• Enrich family and parent involvement, education, and learning opportunities.

• Enhance efforts to create an inclusive environment supportive of diversity.

• Increase funding for the safety and security of our students.

Please note: Some events/programs listed in the following calendar pages may be subject to date changes. Thank you.

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• (217) 244-7938

Parent & Family Programs Office

ADVICE FOR YOUR STUDENT: Maximize Your Summer Money

• Set a weekly budget and stick to it.

• Do not rely on credit cards.

• Keep spending to a minimum. Even little things can add up.

• Set a savings goal and revisit it after the first month.

PFPO website: go.illinois.edu/PFPO

Parent & Family Programs Office

PARENT TIPS:

How to prepare for the college transition

• Encourage your student to take advantage of campus resources and talk to others.

• Develop your own network of support to help you through this transition.

• Discuss with your student the importance of communications with one another.

• Take advantage of campus resources such as the Parent and Family Programs Office.

PFPO

on Facebook: /IlliniPFPO

Parent & Family Programs Office

PARENT TIPS: How to prepare for a successful move-in day

• Know what to bring. Find the packing checklist at housing.illinois.edu. Pack items in sturdy containers and ensure no box is too heavy.

• Encourage students to coordinate items with roommate(s) ahead of time.

• Keep winter items at home. Ship or deliver them when the time comes.

• Bring along two empty bins for taking back things that are not needed.

PFPO on Twitter: @IlliniPFPO

Parent & Family Programs Office

ADVICE FOR YOUR STUDENT:

Staying safe on campus

• Always lock your residence hall room door, especially when sleeping or when out.

• Keep a level head. Alcohol or other drugs compromise your safety.

• Be aware of your surroundings. Don’t wear ear buds or headphones when walking, running, or studying alone.

• Don’t walk alone, especially after dark. Call SafeWalks at 217333-1216 or Saferides at 217-384-8188.

• Keep eyes and ears out for email/phone scams.

PFPO website: go.illinois.edu/PFPO

Parent & Family Programs Office

PARENT TIPS: Helping your student through midterms

• Be understanding when your student is not in touch.

• Encourage healthy eating.

• Send positive items: encouraging text messages and phonecalls; cheerful e-cards, mail, and care packages.

• Don’t intensify stress by pressuring your student to earn straight A’s.

PFPO on Facebook: /IlliniPFPO

Parent & Family Programs Office

PARENT TIPS: Visit campus for Dads Weekend

November 10-12!

Spend time with your student at a variety of events co-sponsored by the Parent and Family Programs Office and the Dads Association:

• Pre-game BBQ

• Football game

• Sunday brunch

• And more!

For information visit go.illinois.edu/PFPO

PFPO on Twitter:

@IlliniPFPO

Parent & Family Programs Office

ADVICE FOR YOUR STUDENT:

Safe Holiday Travels

• Review airline regulations regarding carry-on items and checked baggage.

• Wait in public spaces where there are many people present.

• Keep your gas tank close to full in case of delays, detours, or freezing weather.

• Wear a seat belt, use headlights, pack an ice scraper, and keep windshield and lights clear.

PFPO website: go.illinois.edu/PFPO

Parent & Family Programs Office

ADVICE FOR YOUR STUDENT:

Elements of successful New Year resolutions

Keep Goals...

• Achievable. Set goals that are realistic within the context of your life.

• Measurable. Use quantifiable words vs. generalizations that are hard to measure.

• To the point. Keep goals short so they’re easier to keep in mind.

• Positive. State goals positively so they’re more appealing than negative ones.

PFPO on Facebook: /IlliniPFPO

Parent & Family Programs Office

ADVICE FOR YOUR STUDENT:

Planning college expenses

February is Financial Aid Awareness Month!

• Make a budget that considers tuition, fees, and books but also housing, meal plans, laundry, auto, and social expenses.

• Fill out a FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each year at studentaid.gov.

• Search for scholarships and campus employment at osfa.illinois.edu.

PFPO on Twitter: @IlliniPFPO

Parent & Family Programs Office

ADVICE FOR YOUR STUDENT:

Mental Health Tips

• Remember to stay in touch with family and friends back home.

• In addition to academics, it’s good to balance your study time with hobbies and attending campus events.

• Create a beneficial routine that includes good sleeping and eating patterns. Avoid all-nighters.

• Take advantage of campus resource centers such as the Counseling Center or Student Assistance Center for stress management, working with anxiety, or other challenges that many students experience.

• Check out campus academic resources, such as the Writers Workshop, and attend faculty office hours when you need academic assistance or have questions relating to your schedule or workload.

• Check out wellness.illinois. edu for information about campus mental health and wellness support.

PFPO website: go.illinois.edu/PFPO

Parent & Family Programs Office

ADVICE FOR YOUR STUDENT: Prepare resume for summer jobs

• Talk to staff at The Career Center! careercenter .illinois.edu

• Don’t go overboard –try to limit your resume to one to two pages.

• Make sure you include any volunteer and student leadership experiences.

• Don’t forget to clean up your social networking sites. Employers use Facebook, too!

PFPO on Facebook: /IlliniPFPO

Parent & Family Programs Office

PARENT TIPS:

Helping students say goodbye to friends

• Help your student look forward to what the summer and next year will bring.

• Stay tuned into your student’s emotions and offer to talk whenever they like.

• Speak up if you hear your student dealing with emotions in unhealthy ways.

• Be flexible when you pick up your student: they may want to say goodbye rather than leave right away.

PFPO on Twitter:

@IlliniPFPO

Parent & Family Programs Office

The mission of the Illini Union Parent & Family Programs Office, in collaboration with the Moms Association and Dads Association, is to help Illinois parents and families develop the skills necessary to become effective coaches and mentors to their students by providing high quality, accessible communications, tools, resources, and services. Our goal is to build long-term relationships with Illinois families, students, and the campus in order to promote a positive Illinois Experience.

go.illinois.edu/PFPO